Three days later, the plains before Yongzhou had become a hellscape.
The war had ended. The hundreds of thousands of grassland soldiers had scattered after breaking through the mountain pass, making pursuit impossible for Prince Yong's forces. Still, the spoils of victory were immense.
Even without counting the ragtag prisoners, the livestock alone—brought along for logistical support—was an enormous haul. The two old fools had emptied their entire household stockpiles to support the campaign. Although much was lost in the chaos, what remained was still abundant. More importantly, the battle had plunged the northern steppe into complete disarray. For the next hundred years, they likely wouldn't dare cross south again.
Such matters no longer concerned Su Min. Her goal had been achieved. What she needed now was a quiet place to enter closed cultivation. This time, it might take ten, maybe even twenty years.
Normally, breaking through to the next realm wouldn't require so long, perhaps a few months at most. A Foundation Establishment cultivator's natural lifespan reached around two hundred years, so a two-decade retreat would be considered excessive.
But Su Min was different. She had built her foundation upon the very laws of Heaven itself, forming what was known as the Heaven Path Foundation Establishment. To advance, she would need to refine and completely absorb the five elemental treasures. That process would be painstaking and drawn-out, yet entirely worth it.
Upon completion, she would gain Heaven's favor, a rare and formidable blessing. More importantly, this would form an unshakable base for her future Golden Core breakthrough. After all, more than ninety percent of Foundation cultivators never succeeded in forming their core. But for Su Min, time was no concern. Longevity was already on her side, and a few decades of effort were nothing in comparison.
As for her place of retreat, she had chosen the vast, desolate sands of the western desert. All she needed was to carve out a small cave-dwelling, and no one would find her for a century. Even if others entered the desert, they would be like grains of sand in the sea, completely unable to locate her.
Before she departed, however, she decided to bid Prince Yong farewell. She held a small measure of fondness for the old man, not for sentimental reasons, but because she had drained his faction's wealth down to the marrow. The century-old foundation of Prince Yong Manor had been put to excellent use.
And before she left, she offered him a parting gift.
"This is a Qi-Gathering Pill. It can raise a cultivator's Qi Refining level by one stage. It'll be useful to you. But keep this secret. If word spreads and draws vultures to your door, don't say I didn't warn you."
"Of course, of course..."
Prince Yong accepted the pill gingerly and handed it to his son for safekeeping. It was clear the gift was meant for him. An unexpected blessing, to be sure.
"Those fools are still drunk on victory. They're busy celebrating, too distracted to come knocking. So, I'll be taking my leave now."
The victory's impact would echo far and wide. Everyone involved would profit from it. For now, they were blinded by triumph, consumed by the scramble for fame and influence. None had thought to bother her yet, but once the celebrations ended, they would surely come seeking her one after another.
Su Min found that thought unpleasant. She had no wish to deal with fawning faces. Besides, one does not strike a smiling face, and she wasn't mad enough to do so either. Best to vanish before they remembered her. She had no interest in hollow prestige. With her strength and achievements, the glory of victory was already hers by right. No one dared contest it, and none were foolish enough to try.
"Ah… then take care. I fear this farewell may be our last. These two sons of mine, I leave them to your guidance, Lady Su."
Seeing that Su Min had made up her mind, Prince Yong knew better than to try and stop her. Supplying her had cost him dearly... but the returns had been even greater. After this battle, the Prince Yong faction would stand unmatched in prestige across the martial world.
In peaceful times, the scattered martial clans were little more than a nuisance. But now, with the Emperor of Wei looming as a threat, every ally counted. Even wandering cultivators could influence the tide.
Naturally, such bonds had to be preserved. Prince Yong had brought his two most important sons with him, knowing he might never see Su Min again. Yet his sons would inherit this relationship, this incense of goodwill. The road of cultivation was long and harsh. Having a master alchemist as an ally was a blessing beyond measure.
"By the way, regarding the materials you provided... I've decided to honor our earlier discussion. Here are some pill recipes—formulas for unranked and Tier One pills—and also the first layer of my cultivation method."
Su Min tossed him a storage ring. Inside were the recipes she had personally developed, along with the foundational layer of her technique. She left them behind for a reason. Her current talent had reached its limit, but once she broke through to the Foundation realm, that limit would be shattered. If others could learn from what she left behind, she too would gain benefits in return, whether karmic or practical.
"This…"
Even Prince Yong, usually calm and steady, couldn't help trembling slightly as he looked inside the ring. He didn't expect anyone to match Su Min's skill, but even producing a Tier One alchemist would bring immeasurable value to his house.
"Well then, I take my leave. We shall meet again if fate allows it."
Without hesitation, Su Min turned and walked away. In just a few breaths, her figure vanished into the distance.
"She's... gone."
"She's not someone who can be held," Prince Yong said quietly. "My body's already riddled with hidden ailments. I won't last much longer. Remember this, both of you. As long as you brothers remain united, our Prince Yong line will survive the chaos ahead."
"Yes, Father."
The brothers trembled at his words. Though born of the same mother and close by nature, the lure of power could still drive even blood against blood.
"There's one more thing. For the next twenty years, make every effort to gather high-grade medicinal herbs and rare materials. Seal them properly and preserve them well. When Lady Su returns, they'll be our bargaining chips."
"Yes."
The brothers exchanged glances. Clearly, their father was already planning far ahead. Of course, Prince Yong understood. No matter how powerful Su Min became, she would always need materials. Pills did not appear from thin air. Who could guess what realm she would reach by the time she returned? With such progress, her pill refining would surely reach even greater heights.
They had to be ready—to offer what she needed and request what they desired in return. Even if she took most of it as compensation, it would still be worth every grain.