[Glazed Ice Azure Armor (Yellow Tier, Mid-Grade): A specially forged armor tempered by extreme heat.]
"Come, try it on," Su Min said. "This armor carries a trace of spiritual sentience. It will automatically adjust its size to fit the wearer's physique. In a way... you could say it's a self-measuring suit of armor."
Before her, the armor floated quietly in midair. Su Min had already inscribed her soul imprint upon it—meaning only she could wear it. As for those strong enough to forcibly erase her imprint? Whether or not she wore armor would hardly matter against such opponents.
In the next instant, the armor disassembled midair, the pieces swirling around Su Min like living scales. Within the blink of an eye, they clung perfectly to her body, forming a complete set.In the mirror, a striking, heroic female general now stood, radiant in shimmering azure-glazed armor.
"This feels amazing." Su Min smiled, admiring her reflection. "With this armor assisting me, my defense could even rival the Arhat's Golden Body. Tsk, tsk..."
Normally dressed in loose robes, her figure remained hidden from view. But clad in this tight-fitting armor, her supermodel-worthy physique was revealed in all its breathtaking splendor.
Knock, knock.
At his words, Su Min stirred. With a flick of her mind, the armor dissolved into light and returned to the ring on her finger. Though she had already stepped into the Qi Refining realm, wearing armor openly remained sensitive in this era. No need to cause unnecessary alarm. She lightly waved her sleeve. A burst of spiritual energy pushed the heavy doors open with a soft thud.
"Ugh..."
The prince at the threshold let out a low grunt. In that instant, he had felt as if a mountain had pressed down upon him. Both were cultivators of the Qi Refining stage—yet the difference between them was as vast as heaven and earth.
"What is it?" Su Min asked coolly.
Before he could recover, a faint, soothing fragrance drifted past—Su Min was already before him, forcing him to lower his gaze instinctively.
"You're Prince Yong's little cub, huh? "You've been in the Qi Refining stage for a while now. How do you feel?"
Her tone was casual, almost dismissive. Technically, she wasn't wrong. Her adoptive father had collaborated with the previous Prince Yong—this boy's grandfather. That made her and the current Prince Yong peers. As for this prince? He could only bow his head.
The strong make the rules.
That single, non-hostile spiritual pulse had just taught him the meaning of disparity.
~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~
"We've gathered materials over the past month, expending significant manpower and resources. It's just that the temperature in the senior's room has been extremely high recently. Now that it has recovered, I have brought people to deliver it here."
"Oh?"
Su Min glanced past him. Dozens of servants stood in formation, each holding a tray with exquisitely crafted boxes.
"Good."
Sensing the medicinal aura seeping from the containers, she smiled. These were precisely what she needed. Acquiring so many in such a short time couldn't have been cheap—this involved more than just wealth.
Political favors. Underground networks. Maybe even coercion.
But since they'd delivered, she saw no reason to withhold her end. With a flick of her wrist, a small vial landed in the prince's palm. The gravity of this exchange wasn't lost on him. Prince Yong had sent his strongest son to retrieve the pills personally—no room for error.
"T-This is—!"
The prince uncorked the vial, then froze. Five Qi-Inducing Pills. Each one capable of creating a Qi Refining expert. As someone who'd recently broken through, he knew exactly how valuable these were. Five pills meant five potential powerhouses—or five factions willing to sell their souls for one. The cost of gathering those materials? Worth every penny.
"A complete Foundation Establishment Pill recipe… Having a major faction's backing really is indispensable."
Su Min was equally pleased. Collecting these ingredients alone would've taken years. Handing over these pills was no loss to her.
"Tell your old man to keep up the good work." Su Min said, her voice silky yet dangerous. "As long as he can provide the intelligence and materials I need, I will reward you with a pill that can advance your cultivation by one level—without side effects."
Her words were like a devil's whisper, causing the young man's heart to race wildly.
Even he, a royal prince, found such an offer impossible to resist.
"Oh, and," Su Min added lazily, "your father sent you with another invitation, didn't he?"
"Y-yes. My royal father humbly requests an audience with Senior, to discuss certain matters."
"Lead the way," Su Min said, her mood evidently lifted.
After a month of forging and exhausting herself, a little rest—and a good meal—sounded rather appealing.
—
Prince Yong's Chambers
This time, the reception was far more lavish. Gleaming goblets of grape wine, sumptuous dishes stacked high—it was a veritable feast.
"Five Qi-Inducing Pills… Five Qi Refining experts."
Prince Yong exhaled sharply, the implications dawning on him. Like his son, his mind raced with possibilities.
"Sometimes," Su Min said, leisurely pouring herself a full goblet of wine, "a single pill isn't enough. Depending on the individual, they may need a second dose to break through. But if used properly, yes—five cultivators."
She spoke casually, downing her wine in one gulp. Her bold, unrestrained manner put many seasoned generals to shame.
Prince Yong nodded. "I'm aware. My son mentioned you possess pills to enhance Qi Refining cultivators. But those—"
"Giving you one now would be pointless." Su Min cut him off calmly. "That pill isn't meant for breaking bottlenecks. It's a booster—and can only be taken once. If your son consumes it too early, it'll be wasted. I recommend he take it around the mid to late stages of Qi Refining."
"I see."
"...Understood."
Prince Yong didn't press further. Such pills were undoubtedly rare—even for Su Min.