The Dark Continent—Su Min had arrived here once again.
Just like before, she came without any fanfare.
There was no other choice. No matter how strong she was, she couldn't single-handedly suppress the entire Dark Continent. If she were to be surrounded and attacked, she would end up like Yao Xian'er back then, likely chased around frantically with no guarantee of escape.
Moreover, she hadn't even reached the late Unity stage, let alone the Mahayana stage. Killing those dark cultivators would be extremely difficult. They might not be able to defeat her, but if they chose to flee at the slightest provocation, she would have no way to stop them.
The previous Fortune Mountain God had only stayed to fight because she had severed his best escape route first.
When one's cultivation reached a certain level, the primary consideration became how to prevent the opponent from escaping. While Su Min feared no one in terms of speed alone, many situations weren't just about speed.
"Now, let's see who's left."
With great interest, she examined the jade slip before her. In the nearly hundred years since she left, no new Mahayana-stage cultivators had emerged here, excellent news.
After all, even in ancient times, Mahayana-stage cultivators were exceedingly rare. Even super sects those that had produced Emperors and possessed complete Emperor-level legacies, couldn't guarantee always having Mahayana-stage experts.
As for Xie Yingying's former sect, the Heavenly Yin Sect, it went without saying. Apart from its founder, the strongest had only been at the Unity stage. Thus, Xie Yingying could now be considered the second strongest in the sect's history, just one step away from being the greatest.
"You're the one—Dragon King of Jing River."
Soon, Su Min locked onto her target. Like the Fortune Mountain God, this was an early Mahayana-stage cultivator. However, his lair was in a river, hence the title "Dragon King."
Of course, rivers on this level of continent couldn't be underestimated. In her previous life on Earth, there had been a place called Yunmeng Marsh an absurdly massive lake system that, by modern standards, could even be called an inland sea.
This Jing River was similar—an extremely vast water system of lakes. Unlike the Heaven's Continent, which was divided into plates, the Dark Continent was one continuous landmass.
So how large was this water system? By Su Min's conservative estimate, it was significantly bigger than one of the three great states, the Great Luo Tian State.
If placed in her previous world, its water volume would have surpassed Earth's total several times over, perhaps even dozens of times. The exact amount was unclear, and Su Min had no interest in figuring it out.
"First, I need to find that guy's lair. I refuse to believe he's holed up like a turtle inside."
Having made up her mind, Su Min began formulating a meticulous plan. Though her combat style was wildly aggressive, her methods were anything but reckless. When she wanted someone dead, she would use any means necessary.
Over the years, many who were around her level or slightly weaker, had suffered from her ambushes. Some had died as a result, while others cursed her vehemently. With such successful practical experience, Su Min decided to employ the same tactics again. She aimed to visit a major city to gather information, so her destination was a massive riverside settlement.
As for currency in this mortal society, it was simply gold and silver. She had endless amounts of both. Not because she could refine them herself, but because the universe was vast, and such resources were absurdly abundant.
Before coming here, she had even refined an entire planet for fun, extracting large quantities of rare metals, most of which she discarded afterward. While she feared no radiation and could withstand all nuclear weapons with her bare body, she had no desire to become a walking radiation hazard. She only kept some gold and silver.
Now, she sat in an extravagantly decorated high-rise, facing a waiter.
"Three large fish—one steamed, one braised, and one prepared however tastes best. Also, three catties of beef and five catties of your finest liquor. Be quick... and keep the change."
"..."
As Su Min spoke, the entire tavern fell silent. Everyone stared at the woman before them, standing around 1.72 meters tall, undeniably statuesque, especially with her heeled combat boots. She was a beautiful woman.
But her order left everyone dumbfounded. Could she really finish all that?
"Right away, honored guest."
Unlike the other patrons, the waiter simply smiled. He had a good eye; though he couldn't discern Su Min's background, he could tell she wasn't someone to trifle with. He promptly took the money and hurried to the kitchen.
Along the way, he gleefully examined the silver ingot in his hand, its quality and weight were top-notch. This woman was no ordinary person. The fish would take time, but the liquor arrived immediately. An exquisitely crafted flask was placed before Su Min, who poured herself a cup and downed it in one go.
Then another. In the blink of an eye, she had consumed quite a bit. The onlookers were astonished—this woman drank and ate with a boldness rivaling any man.
Su Min paid no attention to their gazes. After her last visit, she had confirmed that hiding was unnecessary. She had already cast subtle suggestions on these people, they would forget her entirely in moments.
Besides, she wasn't here just for a free meal. At the edge of her vision lay a "great river"—though in truth, it was no different from an ocean.
Her purpose in dining here, apart from satisfying her cravings, was to find a way to legitimately infiltrate that guy's inner circle. Having drifted through space for nearly a century, her taste buds had long grown dull.
The principle of cultivation was to restrain one's desires, not sever them entirely. Thus, Su Min hadn't turned herself into an emotionless cultivation machine—she retained all the ordinary pleasures of life.
"Mmm, delicious."
Savoring the flavors, Su Min felt genuinely happy. Only this could bring her back to her original joy. After reaching the Unity stage, food was no longer a necessity, with sufficient spiritual energy, she could survive without eating or drinking.
But Su Min felt that living like that would be too pitiful, worse than being a Pal.
"Can't find the target at all."
Though her mouth was busy enjoying the meal, her mind was entirely focused on the river system. Her current location was at the very center of this vast water network. With her soul power, she could envelop the entire area.
However, to avoid alerting her prey, she didn't unleash her full spiritual sense. Instead, she searched bit by bit, only to quickly realize she found nothing.
"No traces at all. Could he have split himself apart like the Fortune Mountain God? That would be troublesome."
The Fortune Mountain God had merged himself with the mountain's essence and, secretly, with the continent's ley lines.
To kill him, she had to sever his connection to the earth—otherwise, he could escape effortlessly. If this guy had similarly fused with the river's fortune or the underground water veins, it would be equally problematic.
That would mean she'd have to cut off all rivers and lakes across the Dark Continent to kill him. Setting aside whether that would turn the entire continent into a wasteland, the bigger issue was—she lacked the capability.
"Does he have any weaknesses? I can't just attack him directly."
Narrowing her eyes at the river below, Su Min fell into thought. Like the Fortune Mountain God, killing him required destroying his foundation.
That wasn't too difficult for her, the Five Elements Holy Body was incredibly versatile.
But the prerequisite was finding him first.
"Have the preparations for this year's Dragon King's Bride Ceremony been completed? If the number of children isn't enough, the Dragon King will be furious. Do you not remember the flood three years ago? It was horrifying."
"This year, we've gathered over a thousand boys and girls. Surely the Dragon King will be pleased. With so many dragon descendants, each can have one."
"Let's hope for good weather these next two years. Sigh..."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Su Min inconspicuously devoured an entire fish—bones and all—while pricking up her ears. At the same time, she employed a subtle technique to make everyone forget her presence. She then began pondering how to approach her target.
Clearly, the Dragon King's Bride Ceremony was the perfect opportunity. Thus, she quickly made up her mind.
Soon, the ceremony began.
Before a broad stretch of the river, tens of thousands gathered. Then came the thousands of bewildered children their limbs bound with red cloth, red balls stuffed into their mouths, placed one by one onto rafts. After a round of singing and dancing, the rafts were released, drifting into the river's depths.
Simultaneously, deep within the waters, figures with horned heads and masked faces emerged, one for each child. Su Min quickly confirmed their numbers matched the children's.
"Like that big dark face, these are just transport mechanisms. But this one consumes a person each—I can't sneak in."
Su Min grasped his method now just like the mountain god, he used superstition and natural disasters to intimidate the masses. If the sacrifices were insufficient, he would unleash calamities; if sufficient, he would refrain.
Clearly, he offered these people nothing only demanding tribute. Punishment without reward. And none of them realized that their so-called protector was the very source of their suffering.
How could such beings spare even a glance for mortals?
Thus, the disasters they suffered were either natural or directly caused by the so-called Dragon King. For a Mahayana-stage cultivator, a mere flip could bring life-shattering misery to countless souls.
"If I can't enter, then I'll have to charge in. Five Elements Cycle—Water as Sovereign, Waterflow Body."
At this moment, Su Min's hands shifted rapidly. Almost instantly, her physique underwent a subtle change—just as she had unlocked the Blazing Sun Body after obtaining the Nanming Lihuo, obtaining the Northern Water's Profound Origin first would have granted the Waterflow Body.
This physique allowed her to merge perfectly with water, ensuring she wouldn't be detected. Thus, she concealed her other four attributes, leaving only water to envelop her entire being. Her body then dissolved into liquid, merging with the river.
At the same time, the water clones each claimed a child, carrying them into the depths.
Su Min followed closely. However, this guy's methods differed from the mountain god's. The latter had activated soul fragments within the children, making them devour and slaughter each other, refining them into a delicious snack through survival of the fittest.
But this one was entirely different. The children weren't allowed to fight. Instead, once inside the water clones, they began dissolving—first their clothes, then their flesh, and finally their bones.
In less than a minute, the children were completely consumed, leaving no trace.
Su Min's pupils constricted slightly, followed by a hint of relief. Thankfully, she hadn't recklessly tried to blend in that would have alerted him immediately.
Then, the water clones began merging, carrying the children's soul fragments. In the blink of an eye, thousands merged into one, which then plunged into a watery network.
"Oh?"
Su Min paused briefly but, after a moment's hesitation, gritted her teeth and followed.
Then she froze, she had discovered the truth. This seemingly small cavern was actually part of an intricately arranged web spanning the entire Jing River's tributaries. At its center lay the river's origin.
"No wonder I couldn't find you."
Now understanding his secret, Su Min continued following the current. With her immense soul power and the Northern Water's Profound Origin aid, her presence went entirely unnoticed.