The World Responds

"The world is in chaos. Blood flows like rivers. We, youngest descendant of Emperor Taizong, must—"

"It seems... Prince Yong has finally made his move. Is it because she has returned?"

In the depths of a grand hall, Mo Shaosheng frowned as he read the proclamation before him. Prince Yong had issued a call to arms—and as one of his closest allies in the martial world, Mo had naturally received the message early.

Prince Yong's household had long endured in silence. Decades had passed, and the title had already changed hands to the third generation. Yet they never acted—until now. For them to suddenly rally the realm could mean only one thing.

They had found someone strong enough to challenge the Demon Queen.

And in this world, there was only one person who could reach such heights—Danxian

Even the radiant monk Hui Ming paled in comparison. If Danxian had truly returned, then Mo had no choice but to act.

The crusade against Emperor Wei had long become a shared conviction among the martial sects. Over the decades, countless warriors and cultivators had attempted it—only to perish, their bodies and souls consumed, their deaths strengthening the Empress's dark power.

Few dared even speak of it anymore.

Demon Queen, just as Zhao Yiping had once foretold, could not easily leave the imperial capital. But in recent years, her sphere of influence had grown. She could now project her strength far beyond the city walls, shrouding nearly half the surrounding region in her presence.

"To honor the heroes of the martial world who rise to challenge injustice and restore order," Prince Yong had written,"I shall personally bestow one Foundation Pill, and one Foundation Spirit Pill to those who perform with exceptional merit."

"Foundation Pill? Foundation Spirit Pill?!"

Mo Shaosheng shot up, eyes blazing with shock. Even he was tempted. With the Foundation Spirit Pill, he could break through to the late Foundation Realm, securing his place as the martial alliance's leader for decades more.

He had no need for the Foundation Pill himself, but several of his disciples were in dire need of one. For years, they had tried every trick to obtain such a pill from the Yong household—but to no avail.

Prince Yong's strength was formidable. His faction could not be easily coerced, let alone robbed.

"Summon the elders. We ride for Prince Yong's manor at once. Even if I don't earn both pills—I must secure at least one."

"Yes, Elder!"

No one in the great hall objected. Nor was Mo Shaosheng the only one stirred to action. Across the empire, news of the Spirit-Refining Pill sparked frenzy. Every cultivator knew—the Yong household couldn't possibly have such a pill in their stores. If they did, Cao Yuanmu would have advanced to the late Foundation Realm long ago.

The implication was clear: Danxian, vanished for over a decade, had returned. And this time, she stood against the Demon Queen. If it were anyone else, the sects might hesitate. But this was her. Even if they failed to earn the reward, many resolved to plead with Su Min—to beg her for a single furnace of pills.

They didn't care about supplying the materials. All they needed was a chance. And so, the martial world surged into motion. Every sect mobilized. Even reclusive rogue cultivators emerged from hidden caves and ancient tombs. Many did not care who claimed the throne—they only knew this call could not be ignored.

In the Forbidden City, of course, the emperor heard the news.

"Impossible… Her? It can't be…"

Emperor Wei's voice cracked. His hands trembled as he read the intelligence report again, but the characters didn't change. His face drained of color, and sweat beaded at his temples despite the cool spring breeze.

The contents were clear: Danxian had stepped forward. Not as a neutral party, not as a healer or bystander—but as the spearhead of rebellion, backed openly by the Prince Yong faction. Her edict, circulated by fast couriers and cultivation messengers, had already stirred sects and generals alike. Even the dormant martial world had begun to stir, answering her call.

The sheer weight of her words—their calm authority, the flawless timing—made even imperial decrees feel weak by comparison. And what chilled him most wasn't the content.

It was the implication.

After decades of silence… she had finally chosen a side.

For years, Danxian had remained an elusive constant. Like a river flowing beside his own path—visible, powerful, yet never crossing his course. She had treated the empire's battles and ambitions with the same detached mercy she showed to common folk: healing the wounded, leaving when summoned, never pledging allegiance.

Until now.

Without warning, she had crossed the river.

And declared herself his enemy.

A gust of demonic wind swept into the hall, howling like a funeral bell. Curtains snapped and lanterns guttered as the Demon Queen appeared beside the throne in a flutter of black mist. She looked down at the proclamation clenched in Emperor Wei's hand. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then, her eyes narrowed.

"She reached the Golden Core Realm?!"

There was a sharp edge to her voice. Even for someone as ancient and dreadful as her—a cultivator who had clawed her way up from the abyss and survived centuries—the words were not easy to believe.

"She was supposed to be in self-sealed slumber," the Queen murmured. "Just like the Holy Maiden of Heavenly Yin Sect…"

Her brow furrowed.

"…but to chose step directly into the Golden Core Realm—"

It was unthinkable. Self-sealing at that level came at a terrifying cost. Had the Queen not cultivated a special demonic method, she would never have survived her own attempts. Let alone recovered. And yet, if Su Min could reach that level… there could only be one reason.

"Vengeance," the Demon Queen whispered. "She came back for vengeance."

But even as she said it, something didn't add up.

Su Min had always walked alone. She had no sect to avenge. No family, no disciples. The Demon Queen herself had crossed paths with her several times before—but their battles had never escalated beyond skirmishes.

So who…?

The Queen's pupils contracted suddenly.

"No—it couldn't be… That girl? That year—"

Her voice dropped to a whisper.

"Wait… Could it be her?"

The words made Emperor Wei snap his head up.

"What is it?" he asked, voice low.

The Queen turned, her face drawn taut, her thoughts racing.

"Do you remember… years ago, when your cultivation had not yet recovered, and you ordered two hundred thousand troops to surround and kill a girl?"

He blinked.

"That—!"

But then he stopped. The breath caught in his throat.

Silence fell.

His mind reeled backward—to that long-buried memory. A name he had forgotten. A face he'd dismissed. A minor affair, he had believed. Just another troublesome remnant of a noble family that dared resist. He had given the command personally, expecting her to die with the rest.

She hadn't.

And now…

The Demon Queen took a step forward, voice trembling with restrained fury.

"She escaped. She disappeared for decades. She never retaliated. Never spoke. Never even showed hatred. But now…"

She stared at the edict again. Her hands clenched.

"Heavens… If she is that girl…"

A breath, bitter with awe and rage.

"…then I was blind. Utterly blind. I thought her merely gifted—when in truth, she is a once-in-ten-thousand-epochs genius."

The words echoed in the great hall like thunder.

And the emperor?

He sat frozen. Pale, stricken. The report still in his hands, unread for the third time. He didn't speak. Couldn't. The weight of realization had struck too deep. He had seen her once, at the edge of his power, and let her go. Not out of mercy, but because he didn't think she mattered.

He had believed she would live a small life. Perhaps marry. Disappear. Grow old and fade.

But instead, she had buried her name.

Buried her rage.

And buried him—in her memory—until the moment she could return and drag his empire down with her.

"What do we do…?"

He inhaled sharply, voice trembling.

"She's confident. That means she has broken through to Golden Core. She knows the heavenly suppression limits me to early-stage Golden Core."

The Queen clenched her jaw.

In the game, she had taken a century to recover. In reality, her pace had barely improved. But those who attacked the capital in recent years—even as they were devoured—had gifted her strength. She was a breath away from full Golden Core.

One step from true terror.

"How many children do you have left?"

"You want to use… the old method?"

Emperor Wei blinked in disbelief.

"No use. The great array can now be shattered by even Foundation Realm cultivators. Against a Golden Core master, it's paper."

She shook her head. Their old method had been brutal but effective. She'd briefly leave the palace, cripple the Foundation and peak Qi Refining cultivators among the attacking armies, then the Slayers of the Four Directions—four Foundation Realm elites—would activate the array and refine the entire army into spirit essence.

But not now.

With Su Min present, that method would be useless. She could slay a general among ten thousand, and maybe more. They needed her at full strength.

And the only way to recover that final step… was through a ritual involving men and women bearing traces of Ziwei aura—the imperial destiny.

"I have… over a hundred left."

"Send them. All of them. To my chambers. We're out of time."

"…Very well!"

The emperor didn't hesitate. Children could be sired again. But if they died—they would die for good.

Soon, the palace echoed with screams.

"My child—give him back!" "No! Please—my baby!" "Aahhhh!" "M-Mama!"

The royal palace, so grand and opulent, was filled that night with the wails of grieving mothers. Infants were snatched from their cradles by guards and eunuchs. Those who resisted too fiercely were cut down without mercy.

"Hmph. Short-sighted fools. If I fall, what glory will be left for any of you?"

Emperor Wei, deep in cultivation, heard it all. But he sneered. These women were nothing. Nobodies from weak families, chosen for beauty and docility. If not for his need of offspring, he would have sacrificed them long ago.

In a quiet, spacious chamber elsewhere in the capital, Su Min sat in meditation. Golden light shimmered faintly around her—calm, resolute, and unstoppable. Across from her, monk Hui Ming watched in awe.

"Such pure energy… This is the power of the Golden Core Stage? And your comprehension of Buddhist teachings is profound."

Su Min smirked. Though she had never studied Buddhist scriptures in her past life, the cultural essence of Buddhism and Daoism had seeped into her soul. Understanding them came naturally.

"Not enough. I haven't mastered the third supreme technique."

She sighed. Progress at this stage was agonizingly slow, and heavenly suppression made it worse. Decades of accumulated incense offerings had been burned—with no breakthrough.

"You're being too harsh on yourself."

Hui Ming rolled his eyes. "Did she think Great Thunder Temple's supreme techniques were easy to learn?"

"We've taken over management of your temples. Leaving them unattended would waste the incense energy."

"Hmm."

Su Min rubbed her nose. She didn't really care—she had no time to manage temples anyway. And if the monks wanted to help while skimming some benefits for themselves? Fine by her.

"With the proclamation issued, the world rallies. The suffering of the people will finally end."

Hui Ming smiled. He had reached peak Foundation Establishment, but the leap to Golden Core was far beyond him. Not everyone could effortlessly survive the Three-Nine Heavenly Tribulation like Su Min. His Human Path Foundation Establishment was too weak compared to her Heavenly Path Foundation. He would need at least a century to prepare—if he survived at all.

"Indeed. And most of them are here for me. The influence of a fourth-grade alchemist is terrifying."

Su Min chuckled. In the past thirty to forty years, Prince Yong Mansion had only trained ten alchemists: One mid-second-grade; Two low-second-grade; The rest, first-grade. Even their best alchemist struggled to refine a single Qi inducing Pill without exhausting himself. They were nothing like Su Min. But she knew—this was the norm. And now that she was here (with no guarantee of staying), everyone would beg her for pills.

A single pill from her could save them decades of effort—an irresistible offer for mortality-bound cultivators.

"I must warn you—once the empire is unified, you may face suspicion."

"Hah."

Su Min wasn't worried.

First, no sane ruler would alienate her. Second—she planned to leave Wei-Wu Province after this. The Demon Queen had something she needed—a way to reach the Three Blessed Lands, where she could establish her own sect. At the Golden Core Stage, cultivation required vast resources—something only a sect could provide.

And with the world still in its first phase of awakening, most powerful factions remained hidden. This was the perfect time to claim territory and build influence. By the time the true powers emerged, she would be untouchable. Let them suspect her all they wanted—they'd never find her.

"I see you've already made plans. Then I'll say no more. As for the war, I'll remain in the rear, leading the monks in guiding lost souls."

"Good."

As an outsider sect, the Great Thunder Temple walked a fine line. Without Su Min's incense connection, their position would be even more precarious. Hui Ming was strong—but not strong enough to dominate an era. His flawed foundation held him back.

"Prince Yong's men are calling for me. The sect leaders are demanding an audience. Time to make some promises." With a crackle of lightning, Su Min vanished.

Prince Yong Mansion's grand hall was packed. The leaders of the Seven Great Sects, along with countless elders and experts, filled the room. Even Mo Shaosheng (Martial Alliance Leader) and Cao Yuanmu (Prince Yong Mansion's pillar) sat on the sides, leaving the central seat empty. Prince Yong himself wasn't present—his cultivation was too weak to command respect here.

Then—

A flash of lightning. Su Min appeared on the throne before anyone could react. Mastery of the Five Thunders contained thousands of variations, and she had only begun exploring them. This simple lightning-speed movement was beyond the perception of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

For a moment, the hall was dead silent. Every warrior present felt a chill—realizing that if Su Min wanted them dead, they wouldn't even see the attack coming. But then, the fear faded. After all, if she wanted them dead, they'd be dead anyway.

So why worry?

One by one, they rose and bowed deeply.

Even Mo Shaosheng and Cao Yuanmu showed full respect.