The Golden Core Path (Avenue)

"Mid Foundation Establishment?"

Upon hearing Su Min's words, Cao Yuanmu couldn't help but flinch. As agents under Prince Yong, they had long been gathering intelligence across the realm. Talented cultivators never escaped their notice—but not once had they heard of this person.

Everyone leaves traces as they grow. Even someone like Su Min had a record. According to their information, she had started from mere Body Refining, slowly and steadily cultivating over decades to reach her current formidable Foundation Establishment stage.

Even her path in alchemy left tracks. They possessed samples of her earliest pills—mostly low-tier Grade One elixirs—until she gradually advanced to crafting Foundation Establishment pills.

But this person… it was as if they'd appeared from thin air. How could that not be alarming?

"Doesn't matter," Su Min said indifferently, already turning away. "His target is the ancient mansion too. We'll cross paths sooner or later. Likely just another self-proclaimed 'secluded master.'"

She couldn't be bothered to dwell on it. In this world, it was no longer strange for powerhouses to appear out of nowhere. Su Min never wasted time thinking about such things. Since they were all headed for the same place, they were bound to meet eventually. With that thought, she turned and left.

In just a matter of days, this quiet, nameless valley had become a stormy sea of activity. Practitioners from all over Weiwu Prefecture had gathered. And for good reason—the scale of the ancient estate was colossal, and the path of cultivation was long and bitter.

Not everyone enjoyed Su Min's advantages—being a "player," blessed with heavenly opportunities. Just look at Prince Yong's faction: they had somehow recruited a dozen new Qi Refining disciples overnight. Clearly, many had long been stuck at bottlenecks.

To break through, a fortuitous opportunity was needed—one that might never come again in a lifetime. The more one cultivated, the more deeply this truth sank in. Su Min, of course, was an exception. So far, she had never faced the kind of despair others did.

Naturally, those hungry for opportunity gathered here. After all, not everyone had the right to ask Su Min to concoct pills. And she certainly didn't offer her services for free—it would exhaust her to death trying to fulfill everyone's needs.

So she raised the threshold. Sky-high.

Most people knew they weren't qualified to seek her aid anyway—and not everyone could even withstand the effects of her pills. Take, for example, the three Foundation Establishment pills she'd refined. No one had yet dared to consume even one.

"It's lively these days," Su Min murmured as she gazed at the distant mountain ridge. "Didn't expect that in just twenty years… even with the royal family growing corrupt, Great Wei's overall strength has risen this much."

Though she hadn't made a move recently, she could sense numerous auras flickering across the range. They weren't quite on her level, but they were solidly in the Qi Refining realm—significantly stronger than cultivators from twenty years prior.

~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~

If the infamous Flame and Earth Elders dared appear again, they wouldn't even need her intervention. The current practitioners could likely drive them off themselves. Of course, the casualties would be considerable without a Foundation Establishment cultivator to lead. They'd have to pile on lives to prevail.

"Have you found any news about that mid-stage Foundation cultivator?" Su Min's brows drew together as she looked at Cao Yuanmu beside her. "He holds strong hostility toward me."

Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have cared. But this one… she needed to be cautious. Though her combat prowess was exceptional, and most mid-Foundation cultivators posed little threat…

There were exceptions. Some of those "Heaven's Chosen" in the game boasted better gear and physiques than her own. Though her Blazing Sun Body was rare, it wasn't top-tier. In the game's hierarchy, it was only Tier-2.

If she came up against someone with a true Tier-1 divine body, she'd be at a disadvantage—perhaps even in danger. Unless she could obtain the elusive Five Elements Sacred Body, she'd remain outside the elite circle.

"I've heard the Eastern Azure Wood will be part of the Golden Core Road," Su Min said quietly. "There's no avoiding a clash."

Su Min sighed. The so-called Golden Core Path, also known as The Heavenly Pride (Tianjiao) Road, could only be entered by those at the Golden Core stage. You couldn't cheat by suppressing your cultivation or severing your foundations—your realm had to be real. But it wouldn't open for another few centuries. Worrying now was pointless. Besides, the path was rumored to be tied to the Azure Dragon Legacy.

"No leads on that person yet," Cao Yuanmu admitted. "Most likely another relic like the Flame and Earth Elders—someone hiding in seclusion all this time."

Su Min frowned but said nothing more. "What about the other Qi Refining cultivators here?" she asked.

"Mostly sect leaders," Cao Yuanmu replied. "In the past twenty years, many received fragments of the Revelation. But the content differed for each person—and some were incomplete. So they've gathered to compare notes, hoping to piece it all together. A lot of sects have sprouted from this effort. Danxian… do you have one of your own?"

"I do," Su Min smiled, "but not yet."

Founding a sect… she'd likely do it eventually. Alchemy and cultivation required vast resources—she couldn't gather it all by herself. That would be far too time-consuming. As for where to establish her sect? She already knew several hidden paradises. The only problem was they hadn't opened yet—she couldn't reach them.

"Most of them are early-stage Qi-Refining, with a few mid-stage mixed in. If they enter carelessly, they'll die. That estate isn't so simple. Forget about that guy—I'll deal with him myself when the time comes."

Su Min said no more. She sat down quietly and resumed sipping her tea. As the ancient mansion's descent neared, the entire mountain range grew restless. Soon, everyone who entered would become enemies. Trust would be scarce, and vigilance constant. No one dared approach her, of course. Her cultivation was far beyond theirs—but she concealed her aura so thoroughly that they couldn't sense her presence.

Three Days Later

An open clearing.

The spatial distortions had grown so dense they were almost tangible. A massive mansion flickered in the sky like a mirage—except this was no illusion.

A secret realm was descending.

Dozens of cultivators had gathered, including Su Min's group. But she now wore a loose black robe and a veiled hat, obscuring her appearance entirely. Yet, despite that, she instantly became the center of attention. Because her group's aura was the strongest present.

"Three late-stage Qi-Refining experts… Prince Yong Manor's foundation is terrifying. But who is that robed figure?"

"Maybe it's Hui Ming the Monk? Hiding his identity due to his sect's affairs?"

"Unlikely. Even covered up, the build is different—this person is shorter than Hui Ming."

Whispers spread, but no one dared approach. After all, in the world of cultivation, curiosity often led to an early grave.