Nothing but Consumables

"!!!"

The opposing group's expressions darkened instantly. The numerical advantage they had just moments ago had now vanished.

As for Su Min being one stage below that opponent—Sect Master Mo didn't consider that an issue at all. She had once slain two fused-stage cultivators far above her level. Why would this be any different? Besides, high risk yields high rewards—without sacrifice, how could one ever expect such returns?

"Thank you. Once this is over, you'll be rewarded."

Su Min nodded slightly. He had clearly recognized her, but that didn't matter. She only hated annoying flies—those who knew how to behave were fine. The Three Mysteries Netherwood was critical to her plans. She had to secure it.

"Good. Very good. Rebels of the Prince Yong's estate, and you rabble from the jianghu—today, I'll wipe you all out in one fell swoop. And you—" the leading man's voice turned sharp, brimming with killing intent, "—you, the woman my royal father and mother so deeply feared. I will drag you back and make you my consort."

At his chilling proclamation, all eyes turned to him. Su Min's own heart flared with murderous rage—but then, she faltered for the briefest moment.

"Demon Crown Prince?"

At his chilling proclamation, all eyes turned to him. Su Min's own heart flared with murderous rage—but then, she faltered for the briefest moment. This guy didn't exist in the game. But this wasn't the game. Reality didn't follow the script.

The others' faces twisted in horror as they realized exactly who he was. In that moment, even Mo Shaosheng's eyes burned with killing intent. Almost instantly, everyone lunged forward. The martial world, the Prince faction—they all shared one goal: Kill the damned emperor.

And Su Min?

She moved even faster. The moment she saw the prince, she blitzed toward him. Their collision was instant.

"CRACK—!"

A deafening shatter echoed as two palms—one large, one small—clashed. Violent spiritual energy erupted, tearing Su Min's robes to shreds and revealing her glazed armor. She scoffed coldly, unleashing a fierce surge of spiritual power from within. With that single blow, she sent him flying.

"Pfft—!"

The Demon Crown Prince slammed into the wall, blood spurting from his lips as he stared at Su Min in disbelief.

"No wonder you reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment by your twenties. You must've undergone fetal modification via secret arts, then continued refining your body after birth. That's the only way your cultivation could skyrocket like this. But shortcuts are still shortcuts. Your foundation is weak, and your Foundation Establishment grade is trash."

A single exchange was all it took for Su Min to see through him.

So that's how he gained such strength—not true ability, but borrowed power. His stats were inflated by brute-level boosts. Against those of the same level, he'd be at a disadvantage. And Su Min? She was no ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator—she walked the path of Heaven.

~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~

Lowering her eyes, she examined her gloved hand. Her expression darkened. Flames crawled rapidly over her palm. Wisps of black miasma slowly evaporated. So the Demon Crown Prince—or more likely, his wretched mother—was well aware of the aftereffects of such attacks. No wonder he favored underhanded, poisonous techniques.

Had it not been for her Nanming Lihuo body shielding her, she would've suffered a setback. Even as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, she couldn't afford to shrug off his strikes entirely. One lapse in defense would open her body to corruption.

"You... how...?"

The Demon Crown Prince's expression cracked. His ability to remain hidden until now had stemmed from years of closed-door cultivation. For over twenty years, he had trained in seclusion, quietly breaking through to the Foundation stage. Upon emerging, he had crushed all in his path. But his temperament and fundamentals were lacking.

Su Min's eyes narrowed. With a tiger-like burst of force, she darted forward.

A mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator happened to stand in her path—and was instantly reduced to ash beneath her palm. Without a moment's pause, she seized the piece of timber behind him and stowed it in her spatial ring.

This Demon Crown Prince?

He wasn't even worth fussing over.

Taking advantage of everyone's stunned silence, she made her move to grab the item first.

His subordinates were all occupied in combat. If they hadn't been delayed, they might have escaped during that brief clash. After all, the prince was still strong enough to stall Su Min for a moment.

Boom—!

"Arghhh!"

Suddenly, anguished cries erupted. The Qi Refining cultivators' souls were being ripped from their bodies.

"!!!"

Everyone in the room froze in horror.

In barely a second—excluding the one Su Min had already obliterated—several more corpses now lay sprawled on the ground.

"Brat, I underestimated you. Now, I've changed my mind—I'll amputate your limbs and turn you into a human pig."

The prince's voice was icy. After devouring so many souls, his power surged through a forbidden art. Peak Foundation Establishment.

Su Min cast a glance behind her.

"Go. The aftermath of our battle won't be something you can survive. If this man wants to play, then I'll make sure he stays here forever."

At her command, the others quickly began retreating. Several new arrivals stumbled through the teleportation array, only to immediately tremble with dread. The air in the room was thick—oppressive—with two titanic forces colliding like roaring waves. Even Mo Shaosheng, the so-called Martial Alliance Leader, had to retreat.

Because now—

Su Min activated her full power.

Nanming Lihuo + Blazing Sun Body + Vermilion Bird Possession.

The temperature skyrocketed to lethal levels. Even peak Qi Refining cultivators would suffer severe burns from proximity.

"IMPOSSIBLE!!!"

The prince's eyes bulged. His forbidden art came with terrible costs—he'd never use it unless absolutely necessary. One exchange had already told him: He couldn't win against Su Min.

Yet here she was, matching his enhanced state through sheer strength alone.

"This should be enough. Even if he's peak Foundation Establishment, his energy is too unstable. He's no match for a real expert at his level. No need to go all out yet."

Su Min's eyes narrowed. Her gourd's newly evolved spirit nectar remained unused.

This prince wasn't worth it.

The true master of this mansion still hadn't appeared.