Lonely smoke rises straight into the vast desert; The setting sun sinks round over the long river.
Across the boundless sands, a lone figure in black robes streaked forward, her silhouette swift as the desert winds. It was Su Min. Upon entering the desert, she had blasted out a hollow within the sands and taken a rare, luxurious bath.
The robe she now wore was not a finished artifact, but one she had personally woven from rare silkworm threads—a humble garment whose sole enchantment was to ward off the wind and sand. With her current cultivation at the Qi Refining stage, no ordinary environment could threaten her. The discomfort she once felt was little more than irritation. Now, with the sandstorms barred and the brutal shifts of temperature rendered moot, the desert posed no more danger to her than a shallow stream.
Her resources were plentiful—an entire swimming pool's worth of clean water, tons of grain, meat, and vegetables, all sealed within her storage ring where time itself stood still. Though she traveled with neither escort nor baggage, her true retinue was a mobile fortress of supplies.Here it is—the largest city on the grasslands: Carl City. A pity...
The merchant guilds could not extend their reach here. No help to be had from them. She glanced down at the weathered map in her hand and sighed. Her safe arrival owed much to her cultivation and preparation. Ordinary travelers stood little chance—behind her stretched the so-called Death Desert, a graveyard for the unwary. Even the boldest merchants dared not venture here.
So close to Lingxi Prefecture, yet still cut off by the Boundary Formations. In the first chapter of the game, even players rarely came here. The reason was simple—this land was barren. Few alchemical ingredients, sparse monsters, scarce rewards. Only those chasing rare opportunities, as Su Min was, had reason to brave these wastelands. And worse yet—there were no clear maps of monster locations.
Tch.
Poor mountains and fierce waters, birthing only rogues. Seems the old saying holds true. Upon stepping into Carl City, Su Min pressed a hand to her brow. Though swathed in flowing gauze, her slender form could not be hidden. Not an inch of flesh was exposed, and yet the ethereal grace she exuded—now tinged with a faint divine aura after mastering the Great Sun Tathāgata Sutra—could not be concealed.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
The moment she passed through the humble city gate, all eyes turned to her. Desire. Greed. Yearning. Familiar gazes she had long grown numb to.
"Hmph!"
Su Min's reaction was simple—and violent. A cold snort, laced with the resonance of Buddhist mantras, thundered through the air. The blast struck directly at their spirits, leaving many staggering, some bleeding from their ears. She had no desire to stain this city with blood—but she would remind them, unmistakably, that she was no prey.
As expected, the prying eyes withdrew instantly. Satisfied, Su Min nodded. Understanding one's limits saves everyone much suffering. Besides... who would bring her information if she frightened them all away?
Hmm?
Even this backwater has a Qi Refining cultivator? Her sharp senses pricked at once. An unfamiliar aura—a cultivator's—was hurtling toward her at astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before her.
"Amitābha. Just now, I sensed a friend arriving from afar. Judging from your aura, you too must walk the Buddhist path?" The newcomer was a man in his thirties—or so he seemed. His long beard aged his appearance; without it, he would have looked quite young.
"I recently parted ways with a monk after exchanging teachings for several days. I have learned a few Buddhist sutras. I bear no ill intent. I have come to slay a demon." Before Su Min could finish, the man's face lit up.
"You have met my master?!" As expected...Su Min smirked inwardly. This monk was indeed that man's disciple. Without such a connection, he would never have reached Qi Refining so swiftly.
"We parted ways. He was but a projection, incapable of growing stronger. He has gone to pursue his grand cause of saving the world. I have come to destroy a certain demon." Su Min spoke calmly, her eyes closed, masking her wariness. One must not harbor ill intent, but neither should one be careless. Even if she did not mean him harm, vigilance remained. But then—
"You mean... that demon?" In an instant, the monk's face paled. The surrounding townsfolk, too, turned toward the distant horizon with terror in their eyes, as though the mere memory of the thing sent chills down their spines.
"Huh?"
Su Min frowned. Clearly, this was no ordinary foe.
"Please, come with me. Let us seek an audience with His Majesty the King. With your help, Master, surely we can prevail!"The monk spoke urgently, with no hint of deceit. Instead of greed, he showed only hope.
"Is it truly so formidable? You are a Qi Refining cultivator—and a Buddhist disciple at that. Surely you know many powerful methods?" Su Min's expression grew solemn.
The clam spirit she had fought before was troublesome because it could flee into the sea. Its direct combat power was mediocre—if not for its speed, she could have slain it easily. Yet now, even this monk—and the whole city—trembled at the thought of the demon.
Clearly, this was no ordinary hunt. But so be it. Whether gold or blood, merit must be earned through steel.