"This ice soul is quite special. To absorb it, you must go to an extremely cold environment. Only such a place can break its outer shell and allow for gradual absorption."
After leaving the Frostveil Pavilion's territory, Su Min turned her gaze toward the vast white expanse in the sky. Beyond it lay the barrier of the Tianhan Snow Field—a place where ordinary humans couldn't survive.
Even Golden Core cultivators had to proceed with extreme caution, unable to venture too deep.
But for Su Min, who had already reached the Divine Transformation stage, it was nothing. The only issue was that the snow mist contained extremely violent and chaotic spiritual energy, which greatly restricted divine sense and spiritual perception upon entering.
However, this only affected humans. The demonic beasts that had lived there for countless years were unaffected—their eyes, senses, and innate abilities allowed them to withstand the extreme cold.
But these beasts had limited cultivation levels. While they posed a threat to Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, they were no problem for Su Min.
"Then I'll head in. I need to reach the late Divine transformation stage as soon as possible. That way, I'll have more means to deal with those fallen ones at the half-step Dao Comprehension stage. If I can reach late-stage Divine Transformation, I won't be weaker than the Dragon Princess back then."
The Dragon Princess's combat prowess had been extraordinary—she had first forced Liao Jie to his death, then battled the Black Serpent, forcing it to self-destruct and flee with only its primordial spirit intact. Now that she had reached the Dao Comprehension stage, her strength was even more formidable. None of the fallen dared to approach her ancestral lands. The same went for the Little Golden Crow's homeland, the Eastern Mulberry State.
But just as Su Min stepped out of Ice Peak City, she froze. The city was crowded, and the people inside were weak. It had been difficult for her to distinguish anything. However, the moment she passed through the city gates, she felt several piercing gazes on her back.
"One late-stage Divine Transformation, two mid-stage Divine Transformations. You're really going all out for a mere 'Golden Core' cultivator like me. But since you've come, you might as well stay here forever. It's not like I haven't wiped out sects before."
A trace of killing intent flickered in Su Min's eyes. This lineup was almost laughable. But if they were deploying such forces, there was only one conclusion—they were determined to get what they wanted. If Su Min didn't have it, they wouldn't let her off easily anyway.
In that case, there was nothing more to say. Pretending not to notice, she immediately dashed toward the entrance of the Tianhan Snow Field.
Meanwhile, in a pavilion elsewhere.
"Early-stage Nascent Soul, no mistake. But I don't know what kind of physique she has or what she's obtained. We must capture her now."
The leader spoke with a grave expression. The others also wore solemn looks. It seemed this woman had gained some benefit—perhaps even absorbed part of the ice soul's spiritual energy. Only that could explain how she had reached the Nascent Soul stage. Whatever the case, they had to catch her.
An early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator might be considered a local overlord in some small states, but in their eyes, she was nothing—just someone they could crush with a flick of their fingers. Not everyone was like Su Min, capable of contending with Nascent Soul cultivators while still at the Golden Core stage.
For ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators, the gap between them and the Divine Transformation stage was insurmountable. And with a late-stage Divine Transformation expert among them, they had nothing to fear.
"To be safe, let's attack together. If she dares to swagger out like this, she must have some trump card."
Soon, the three transformed into streaks of light and gave chase.
Now surrounded by three cultivators hunting down a mere Golden Core late-stage, they didn't even bother hiding their presence. Su Min didn't need to sense them—she could already feel two auras rushing toward her.
Of course, to make it seem normal, she deliberately adjusted her aura to the early-stage Nascent Soul level.
Soon—
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The three descended from the sky, blocking Su Min's path.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Facing the three, Su Min spoke indifferently. With her current cultivation, a late-stage Divine Transformation and two mid-stage Divine Transformations posed no real threat. Moreover, Yue Ningzi had already revealed the full background of the Xiumu Sect to her.
It wasn't about betraying allies—they were never allies to begin with. And given Su Min's status, Yue Ningzi wouldn't dare have any objections.
"Hand over the ice soul, or we'll have to invite you back for a chat."
The leader of the Xiumu Sect, the Xiumu Elder, spoke coldly.
"What if I refuse?"
Su Min smiled. But in the next moment—
Whoosh!
A sinister gust of wind swept toward her. One of the cultivators had lost patience and swiped at her with his palm.
But in the next instant—
"AHHH!"
A blood-curdling scream echoed across the desolate snow plains. The cultivator who had attacked Su Min had half his body blown apart in an instant. Even his primordial spirit had been shattered. This was a true, devastating injury.
"!!!"
The other two were stunned. They turned to Su Min in horror.
An early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator had just one-shotted a mid-stage Divine Transformation. That was impossible.
Not even Yao Xian'er could have done such a thing at this stage. This went beyond the definition of "monster."
"Who are you?!"
The Xiumu Elder's face twisted in shock as he stared at the faint green glow around Su Min. Even he couldn't have done something like this—this was pure physical power. Was this slender girl actually a man in disguise?
"Just a passing Kamen Rider. Since you've chosen death, none of you will leave alive today."
In the next moment, Su Min's hair turned snow-white, and flames flickered in her pupils.
"You're Su Min?!"
The Xiumu Elder's voice trembled. He had attended the sect assembly as his sect's representative and had witnessed Su Min's brilliance firsthand. However, he hadn't been qualified to participate in the final battle.
Though he was a late-stage Divine Transformation cultivator, the difference between late-stage Divine Transformations was vast.
Now, facing this situation, he realized he had provoked someone he shouldn't have.
"If you've made a move, then stay here forever. As for your sect—it doesn't need to exist anymore."
Looking at the three, Su Min casually tossed aside the severed arm she had just ripped off.
Her physical body was weaker compared to her spells—but only relative to her own spells. With the dual enhancements of the Eastern Azure Wood and Northern Water's Profound Origin, she could crush these three effortlessly.