Tianmu City—the largest settlement in Yuexing Province.
This remote pocket realm at the continent's edge lacked unified governance, instead being ruled by four sects, each led by a single Divine Transformation cultivator.
Such places avoided devastation primarily through isolation. The once-plentiful fallen ones had been nearly exterminated by incoming super factions, leaving only rare organizations like the Black Seal.
With the Skeleton Emperor and two other powerhouses still dormant, few fallen remained. More importantly, the top three had demarcated territories, this region clearly belonged to that Five Elements Sacred Body practitioner, keeping Black Seal members away.
Thus Tianmu City now thrived. When Su Min entered, she paused momentarily.
The city teemed with cultivators, all drawn by the Five Elements Mountain, oblivious that they'd been marked as prey while celebrating their bountiful harvests. Yet such places lacking absolute authority faced another issue, chaos.
"Truly a mountain of corpses and sea of blood. In some ways, these people differ little from those fallen ones."
Perched on a mountain peak, Su Min impassively surveyed the city. She clearly sensed countless corpses in surrounding forests, cultivators ranging from Body Refining to Foundation Establishment stages.
All victims of robbery-murders. The sight made Su Min rub her temples. This boded ill—Tianmu City would be dangerously chaotic. She might need to massacre extensively to intimidate the lawless elements.
"Thankfully I'm displaying late Divine Transformation cultivation. Nascent Soul or Golden Core would've been troublesome."
Su Min massaged her forehead, weaker displays might have forced her to reveal herself.
"Time to move."
Transforming into a streak of light, she reached the city gates. Upon entering, she immediately sensed hostile gazes.
"What a delicate girl, barely eleven or twelve, wandering here alone."
"No cultivation aura, possibly an expert. Ordinary girls here often end up in brothels."
"Hahaha, don't act. Look, the Savage Dog Gang is making their move. They're backed by one of the province's strongest sects, the Harmony Union specializing in yin absorption. That refined little thing would make an excellent cauldron."
As spectators commented, Su Min's eyebrow twitched. She sighed inwardly—her original appearance caused greater commotion, hence this form. But regardless of disguise, one problem remained unchangeable, gender.
Unwilling to become a muscular barbie doll, any form would attract scum.
"Seeking death."
Watching the approaching group—three Body Refining, two Qi Refining cultivators—Su Min spoke coolly. Opponents she couldn't have resisted when first transmigrated now meant nothing.
She walked past the leering men as if they didn't exist.
"???"
Bystanders froze—then gasped as the thugs collapsed lifelessly.
"Hiss—what happened?"
"Idiots—clearly that girl's a cultivator. Never provoke the elderly or children—especially tender-looking ones who might be older than your grandfather."
"Damn, some Eternal Child!!!"
"You fucking—"
"God, I want to slaughter them all."
Hearing the chatter, Su Min's temple throbbed. She'd simply crushed the thugs with her late Divine Transformation pressure, overkill for Qi Refining riffraff.
These human trash warranted no attention, but the comments grated. Though Tianmu City hosted many visiting cultivators, locals comprised the majority, all under the four ruling factions.
Moreover, cultivators rarely attacked ordinary people without cause. Killing brought no benefits while incurring karmic backlash, blind slaughter earned heaven's disdain, making tribulations deadlier.
With no gains and only losses, most cultivators avoided massacres, allowing commoners to survive.
But ordinary folk lacked perception of powerful cultivators. Combined with her youthful appearance, they couldn't comprehend what transpired.
"Hahaha, may I ask your esteemed name?"
As Su Min proceeded, boisterous laughter echoed as an imposing aura blanketed the streets, forcing bystanders to their knees.
"Greetings to Savage Lion Sect Leader, Kuang Batian!"
The brief introduction made Su Min narrow her eyes.
The shirtless, muscular man in his thirties exuded metallic luster under sunlight—his explosive power palpable. More notably, his late Divine Transformation cultivation matched her surface level.
"The four sect leaders here are all late Divine Transformation, weaker ones got eliminated long ago."
Maintaining polite composure, Su Min teleported before him.
"Call me Le Xi—a casual cultivator from abroad."
The vast world naturally hosted powerful rogues, so Kuang Batian simply smiled. "Honored Lady Le Xi, please grace our Savage Lion Sect with your presence."
"Oh?"
"You've come for the Five Elements Mountain—perilous, yet a rare opportunity for late Divine Transformation cultivators like us seeking Dao Comprehension. Our four sects plan a joint expedition. With your strength, why not join us?"
"Very well."
After brief consideration, Su Min agreed. Traveling alone seemed unwise, several late Divine Transformation companions might lure out her target.
Moreover, this man felt slightly... off.
"After you."
"Mm."
Following Kuang Batian's gesture, both vanished.
"Damn, that girl matches Kuang Batian's level?"
"Undoubtedly."
"Hiss—"
The crowd inhaled sharply. Despite his boisterous demeanor, Kuang Batian was a madman who only respected peers, others received slap-downs.
"Enough, back to business."
The crowd dispersed, normalcy returning.
Inside Savage Lion Hall, Su Min and Kuang Batian sat opposite each other. Though he was but an ant to her, she maintained her persona.
"What does Sect Leader Kuang know?"
She needed intelligence, regardless of his motives, the power gap rendered him harmless.
"You may not know, the Five Elements Mountain is bizarre. Outwardly ordinary, its periphery teems with treasures."
"Mm."
Su Min nodded. As fundamental world elements, abundant five elements energy naturally created blessed lands.
"But these so-called treasures mean nothing to cultivators like us, while attracting hordes of Foundation Establishment and below cultivators. They grow rapidly, fueling frenzy. Yet anything beneficial even to Golden Core cultivators grows in deadly areas."
"That's normal. So what?"
"Elemental creatures—manageable for my team. But what we seek..."
Kuang Batian's expression darkened, clearly he'd encountered something.
"So you're teaming with three rivals?"
"Hahaha, indeed. But we're not enemies, only underlings die occasionally."
Su Min inwardly sneered, the surrounding corpses undoubtedly originated here. As local powers, they surely ambushed departing treasure-bearers, a risk-free profiteering scheme.
The blood-soaked aura around him normally would have provoked Su Min's killing intent, as a Path of Slaughter practitioner, she instinctively loathed such blood-debt carriers.
"When do they arrive?"
"Tomorrow. With your strength, our chances improve."
"Chances?"
Su Min feigned interest while maintaining her cold loli expression, when poor at deception, complete impassivity worked best.
"Indeed. We discovered peculiar crystals, unprecedented formations where metal, wood, water, fire, and earth elements harmonize without conflict. Obtaining them could greatly aid our law comprehension."
"Distribution?"
"Playing dumb?"
Kuang Batian grumbled internally at her blunt question. Earlier, he'd sensed a concerning late Divine Transformation aura, matching his own and rushed over to find a little girl.
Though startled, he recognized cooperation potential, she clearly came for the mountain and lacked interest in his sect.
But her deadpan expression irked him. At his level, women came effortlessly, this cold-shouldering was unprecedented.
Suppressing irritation, he maintained composure in this strength-worshipping world, equals deserved respect.
"Split five ways."
"Deal."
Su Min smiled while inwardly scoffing. Those "crystals" were likely the self-severed practitioner's essence, her true target.
More importantly, they were probably bait. Though unsure how the practitioner preserved post-severance essence, Su Min recognized the trap, luring Divine Transformation and Dao Comprehension experts to fight.
Little did the hunter know what predator lurked among this prey.
"Pleasure doing business."
Kuang Batian grinned as they sealed their mutually distrustful pact—no oaths exchanged, only ulterior motives.