Boom—!
As the final bolt of lightning struck, a pill materialized before Su Min, hovering in midair.
[Harmony Heart Eight Treasures Pill (8th-grade, 8-colored tribulation lightning)]: After consumption, it can elevate the cultivation of a Unity-stage cultivator.
"Here, take this pill."
Since she had already reached the late-phase of the Unity stage, further progress would require a breakthrough, something a mere eighth-grade pill couldn't achieve. She needed to refine a ninth-grade pill.
So this one was for Xie Yingying. After finishing its refinement, Su Min temporarily halted her work.
Time was running short. This pill alone had taken her a month. Now, she would hand it to Xie Yingying to help her break through. Reaching the late-phase of the Unity stage as soon as possible would be a tremendous advantage.
"Though it's a pity, Little Golden Crow probably won't get past mid-phase Unity."
Su Min rubbed her forehead in frustration. She didn't know what would happen next, but one thing was certain: if war truly erupted, the only way to survive was to grow stronger.
But Little Golden Crow wasn't like Xie Yingying. The corpses she had absorbed had left her with nothing.
"Have all the major sects arrived yet?"
Pushing those worries aside, Su Min turned her attention to more pressing matters, the upcoming sect assembly. The reason it was being held at the Immortal Gate was largely due to her influence.
Moreover, she had chosen to refine the pill within the sect, so the entire city had witnessed the dazzling tribulation lightning. As a result, Eastern Mulberry City was abuzz with excitement. Everyone was talking about one thing—the heavenly lightning.
The multicolored bolts descending from the heavens were both mesmerizing and terrifying. Even Unity-stage cultivators would find them dangerous, yet no one seemed to care about the risk. Instead, they watched in awe.
Some couldn't help but show greed in their eyes, but they quickly suppressed it. The Immortal Gate now had five Unity-stage cultivators, and countless Dao Comprehension-stage experts. Trying to forcibly snatch anything here would be suicide.
And even more terrifying, the alchemist responsible was none other than the fully realized Five Elements Sacred Body, with a battle record that spoke for itself.
"Eighth-grade, eight-colored tribulation lightning! Grandmaster Su has returned with a grand spectacle!"
Many were already whispering among themselves. Clearly, Su Min had done this deliberately—to announce her strength to the world. An eighth-grade, eight-colored pill was enough to drive any Unity-stage cultivator wild with desire.
"I wonder what kind of pill it is. Maybe it could make a mortal ascend to immortality in one go?"
"Are you out of your mind? A mortal would explode on the spot if they ate that. The potency of an eighth-grade pill isn't something even Divine Transformation-stage cultivators can necessarily withstand."
"I was just joking..."
But while the rogue cultivators chattered, the major sects remained grim-faced. Eighth-grade, eight-colored tribulation lightning likely wasn't her limit. After all, she had just returned, no one knew what she had experienced or how much she had improved in the past century.
This first refinement was just a warm-up. And her purpose was simple—
A warning and an invitation.
As the continent's top alchemist by a landslide, none of these sects had any reason to refuse her. An eighth-grade, eight-colored pill was something even their sects, at their peak when they still had Transcendence-stage cultivators, would consider rare. And now? It was practically unheard of.
So behind closed doors, frantic discussions were underway.
"We nearly offended the Immortal Gate to death last time. Now, we must tread carefully. With her status as an eighth-grade alchemist, she could easily annihilate any faction that crossed her, even a super faction."
The members of the Yao Clan huddled together, whispering. They had finally produced a Unity-stage cultivator, and with their heritage and imperial artifacts, they were now a true super faction.
But even among super factions, there were hierarchies.
Right now, they were keeping their heads down, not daring to make a sound.
The only consolation was that Su Min didn't hold grudges, because she settled them on the spot. Only when the power gap was too vast would she bide her time.
But the Yao Clan knew they were no match for the Immortal Gate, and since Su Min hadn't come after them again, they assumed the matter was settled. Still, they remained cautious, afraid of provoking her and having old and new grievances settled at once.
So when the invitation arrived, they had rushed over immediately.
The Yao Clan had accepted their fate, they wouldn't reach the pinnacle in this lifetime. Their goal now was simply to preserve their lineage, not to stir up trouble.
But the Dark Rebellion left them no choice. Those creatures would target super factions like theirs first. With no way to avoid it, they could only fight with everything they had. Though they had prepared an escape route, if it came to that, they would no longer be a super faction.
Imperial artifacts, legacies—all would be lost. Without those, their clan's techniques alone wouldn't be enough to maintain their standing.
"In this situation, we just need to follow Grandmaster Su's lead. Besides, with two Mahayana-stage experts backing her, things shouldn't go too badly."
They were pragmatic. They understood the purpose of this assembly, to form an alliance. This wouldn't be like the loose coalition against the fallen ones, where everyone acted independently. This would be a true, unified force.
Su Min had never bothered participating in previous alliances, but this time was different. Anyone who dared make trouble now would be cutting themselves off from the world.
And it wasn't just the Yao Clan. Every major sect and divine beast race felt the same.
Ao Xue, now at mid-phase Unity, stood silently, gazing at the distant sky. With her powerful bloodline, she could hold her own against some late-phase Unity cultivators.
But only barely. By the Unity stage, human physiques had caught up, narrowing the gap with divine beasts. Gone were the days when a Golden Core-stage divine beast could pummel a Nascent Soul-stage human.
"Your Majesty, not just us, all the divine beast races have sent their elites. It seems no one plans to oppose this. As for the alliance leader… it's undoubtedly Grandmaster Su."
"Mm."
The position of alliance leader was already a foregone conclusion—Su Min, the eighth-grade alchemist. The Great Thunder Temple was out of the question. While Buddhism wasn't exactly despised, it was far from popular.
As for Yao Xian'er, though formidable, she paled in comparison to Su Min. The tangible benefits she could offer the sects were nowhere near Su Min's, and the fact that this was being held at the Immortal Gate made it clear, both sides had already agreed.
"The alliance leader… might as well be the ruler of the cosmos."
Many secretly envied her. The Heavenly Continent was the heart of the universe's strongest. These super factions alone could dominate the cosmos if they wished. And once this alliance formed, with the Dark Rebellion forcing unity, its authority would be absolute. This wasn't just an empty title, it came with real power.
Of course, many coveted the position. But they also knew their limits. In both strength and influence, they were no match for Su Min.
But while the ambitious ones seethed with envy, Su Min herself was nursing a headache.
Right now, she sat across from two people—Yao Xian'er and Tian Yang.
"You're putting me on the spot. The alliance leader's seat isn't an easy one to sit on."
She wasn't stupid, she knew exactly what this meant. But given her free-spirited nature, the responsibility chafed.
"Stop complaining. Even the two of us will have to follow your orders."
Yao Xian'er rolled her eyes. She had formed such alliances before and knew how troublesome they could be. Some factions would bear heavier burdens and suffer greater losses.
Compensation would be necessary—otherwise, the alliance would fracture.
Even she couldn't handle that. Only Su Min could.
After all, compensating others would require priceless treasures from them, but for Su Min?
She was an alchemist. Pills would suffice. A nearly cost-free solution.
So neither Tian Yang nor Yao Xian'er had any interest in the leader's seat.
Neither had ulterior motives, either. Yao Xian'er had once stood at the peak and long since moved past such things. Tian Yang, having reincarnated nearly a hundred times, had seen it all.
With two Mahayana-stage experts backing Su Min, no faction would be foolish enough to oppose her.
And if anyone dared refuse? Well, perhaps they had ties to the dark cosmos, a matter worth investigating.
The only unhappy one was Su Min. This was going to be a pain.
They said power turned people into cold monsters, but that didn't apply here. Power was directly tied to personal strength. If you were strong enough, authority was just a formality.
"I'll probably become a pill-refining machine. But fine—this way, I can consolidate the entire sect's resources to help me reach ninth-grade alchemy. With a Mahayana Pill, I might break through before the Dark Rebellion erupts."
"Your spiritual energy isn't sufficient yet. Even with a Mahayana Pill, you'd need at least a thousand years to refine it. Reaching Mahayana isn't that simple."
Yao Xian'er cut her off, and Tian Yang nodded in agreement.
Su Min's lips twitched. "Did they have to be so blunt?"
"Though… it's not entirely impossible. You reaching Mahayana is necessary."
But then Yao Xian'er's tone shifted.
"Huh? You have a way?"
Su Min blinked, then perked up. If Yao Xian'er said so, she must know something.
"After the assembly, once you refine the Mahayana Pill, I'll send you to a place where you can break through."
"Where?"
"Where I severed my cultivation. Back then, I cut away all my impurities, reducing myself to a mortal. Though I kept the essence, much remained. I didn't let it dissipate."
Su Min sucked in a breath. That place was undoubtedly Yao Xian'er's last resort—and she was giving it up?
Seeming to read her thoughts, Yao Xian'er added,
"That essence could help me, but not enough for a qualitative leap. I've embarked on a new path now, and I can't fully reabsorb it. So rather than waste it on me, it's better used to get you to Mahayana."
"Then… thank you. If you ever need my help, just ask."
Su Min hesitated but didn't refuse. This was a solution to her most urgent problem.
Once she reached Mahayana, she could face even late-stage Mahayana experts, perhaps even the so-called Residual Immortals. A perfected Five Elements Sacred Body had the power to slay immortals. And she had already surpassed the Five Elements Great Emperor.
She was confident in her strength.
"Many thanks for your generosity, Lady Yao. Unfortunately, the Great Thunder Temple can offer no such aid."
Tian Yang shook his head helplessly. Helping a Unity-stage cultivator reach Mahayana in a short time was beyond them.
"No matter. Let's prepare. This alliance must be settled within a week. I don't have time for endless debates."
Su Min nodded. Refining a ninth-grade pill would take considerable time.
And cultivators, with their long lifespans, could argue for ages.
Mortals might spend years haggling over a treaty. Cultivators? Half a year was just the beginning, with no upper limit.