The Grand Final Battle

"Greetings, Fairy Su."

After their initial shock wore off, everyone stared at Su Min with eyes blazing with fervor. Sweeping her pitch-black gaze across the room, Su Min understood clearly what these people desired. She had no interest in wasting time on pleasantries or polite formalities.

"Once this matter is settled," she said plainly, "I will devote an entire year to alchemical refining. Each of you will have the opportunity to request a pill from me—but you must prepare your own ingredients. Given my skill, a single batch of third-tier pills typically yields two to three pellets, so you may pair up and submit your request together. Just be sure to prepare at least two full sets of materials."

What she didn't mention was that, as a fourth-rank alchemist, she could easily refine three to five pills per batch as long as the ingredients weren't trash. Her success rate for third-tier pills was essentially one hundred percent.

Any surplus pills? Naturally, they would belong to her. Even if the others found out, they had no right to object. Just look at the so-called "alchemists" trained by Prince Yong's own household—utterly mediocre by comparison. Before she left this continent, she fully intended to wring every last drop of value from it.

"Thank you, Fairy Su!!!"

Her words sent waves of joy through the room. Fortunately, her ever-cold demeanor had led many to assume that asking her to refine pills was nearly impossible. With their expectations already rock-bottom, her terms felt like a godsend.

Two sets of ingredients for a single third-tier pill? That was absurdly cheap. Prince Yonge's in-house alchemist demanded at least three sets, and even then only produced a single pellet per batch. Of course, providing one's own ingredients was reasonable—no one expected Su Min to do everything.

"One last thing," Su Min added, her voice colder now. "I don't expect you to defeat the enemy outright. But when that Demon Queen uses her secret arts to extract souls—if you fail to shatter those souls before she absorbs them fully, don't blame me for what happens next."

Her obsidian eyes swept across the hall, carrying a chilling edge. Everyone present instinctively lowered their heads, necks shrinking as if caught in a sudden frost.

"We shall not fail you!"

"Good."

Su Min nodded slightly. A faint flicker of thunder light passed through the air—and she was gone. These were people of status and ambition; flowery words meant little to them. Tangible rewards were far more effective. Now that she'd made her offer clear, she had no reason to linger. There was another matter requiring her attention—she needed to forge a new pill furnace.

"Troublesome. I don't have enough materials. I can't even make a Mystic-tier furnace, let alone any other Mystic-grade artifacts."

She stared at the limited materials in her hand, lips quirking in resignation. At this point, the only thing holding her back was raw material. She'd have to make do with what she had. The next day, a brand-new furnace took shape in her hands.

"Mid-tier yellow-grade. I'll just have to make do. Although I'm a fourth-rank alchemist, the core ingredients needed for fourth-tier pills are too rare."

She sighed. But if she wasn't planning to refine fourth-tier pills for now, this furnace would suffice. If she tried pushing it further, it would likely explode after two or three batches—those kinds of pill flames weren't something a yellow-grade tool could endure.

"Once that old hag is dead, I'll be able to visit the major sects and trade for proper materials."

She muttered under her breath. That Demon Queen held something extremely rare—something essential to her future freedom. Su Min had to kill her to obtain it. As for the pill furnace? It would do for now. Besides, this wasn't the time for alchemy. Because just then, Su Min received word—Prince Yong had mobilized his armies.

These weren't ragtag rebels trying to seize power. This was a force carefully nurtured over decades, slowly devouring the Great Wei Empire from within. And now, with a single command, three great armies surged forward in unison—one from the northwest, one from the southern frontiers, and one from the eastern seas.

The Duke Fu, who held the southern front, barely had time to rally a defense before his own guards turned on him—tying him up and forbidding him from leaving his residence.

Over the years, Prince Yong had used the Fuding Merchant Guild to silently replace every key position in the Prince Fu's household with his own men.

The combined army exceeded half a million troops. In less than a week, vast swaths of the Great Wei Empire fell under their boots. Even the Demon Slayer Division, once the sharpest blade of the court, could only offer desperate resistance. With the entire martial world mobilized, and the hidden resources of Prince Fu's faction brought to bear, their strength now far outstripped anything the imperial court could muster.

The empire's defenders were like ants trying to stop a flood. And unlike fools who charged forward hoping for a single decisive battle, Prince Yongs strategy was meticulous. He dismantled the empire piece by piece. Even if they ultimately failed, they would've already carved the court's territory down to a mere shadow.

Su Min didn't participate in any of these early battles—not out of conservation, but because the resistance was laughably weak. Decades of decay under the emperor's rule, compounded by the Prince Yong's bloodletting and corruption, had left the imperial heartlands hollow. Not even a token struggle. Most surrendered without a fight. The only reason the Great Wei still clung to life was the presence of Demon Queen.

Su Min spent this time in the central command. The commander leading the campaign was none other than Cao Yuanmu.

"There's no need to rush," he said, frowning at the map. "The other two armies must proceed steadily. We'll converge on the imperial capital in one week. If we give that Demon Queen an opening, things could turn ugly."

Despite the sweeping momentum, Cao Yuanmu remained cautious. He hadn't forgotten how past forces were wiped out entirely by carelessness. The two flanking armies were purposely routed toward northern fortresses instead of the capital, avoiding premature confrontation. Only Su Min's forces marched directly for the imperial city.

"Any word from the capital?" Su Min asked, brows tightly furrowed. "It's too quiet. This is going far too smoothly."

The Great Wei wasn't some fragile porcelain doll. Even a crumbling house kicks up dust when it collapses. Yet now, it was as if the empire waited silently for the blade to fall.

"The palace is tightly guarded by the Demon Queen herself. We haven't been able to infiltrate deeply. But… word is, the emperor recently sent all his surviving children into her chambers."

"What?"

Su Min froze for a beat. Then, she recalled something from a past battle against the Queen—bones littered the ground. Most were small, barely more than infants.

"That emperor and his Demon Queen truly are vicious. The entire royal bloodline is almost wiped out already. What are they trying to do now?"

Cao Yuanmu shuddered. With the world changing, royal bloodlines—once symbolic—were becoming valuable assets. In this new age where the pursuit of immortality was possible, a family's foundation relied heavily on the number of cultivators it could produce. Erasing their own lineage was madness.

"That woman's truly ruthless… at least I won't have to dirty my hands with the innocent," Su Min said coldly.

But her expression darkened.

"She's cornered. She's trying to forcibly restore herself to peak Golden Core stage. If she succeeds… she and I will be equals."

"What?!"

Cao Yuanmu paled. He was only at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, but through his connection to Hui Ming, he'd learned much. The Golden Core realm was a monstrous threshold. The third heavenly tribulation—three strikes of divine judgment—was a death sentence for nearly all Foundation cultivators. Only a rare few, like Su Min, could pass unscathed.

The gap between a peak Foundation cultivator and a newly ascended Golden Core expert was wider than the gulf between early Body Refining and Foundation Establishment. A true Golden Core cultivator, unchecked by peers, could single-handedly shatter armies of Foundation cultivators. Perhaps not slaughter them all—but they would rout in fear.

~Edit and rewritten by Rikhi, Reiya_Alberich, ReiNyam~

A single Golden Core expert, without opposition, could rout an army of 100,000—even with dozens of Foundation Establishment experts. They might not kill everyone, but they could break their morale and send them fleeing.

(Of course, an army of 100,000 Foundation Establishment cultivators was a different story—but any faction that could field that would also have Golden Core experts.)

"Order the armies to advance. Any city that surrenders is to be left untouched. We must surround the capital within three days!!!"

Cao Yuanmu didn't hesitate. Instantly, 200,000 troops mobilized, abandoning heavy supplies to race toward the capital. Su Min said nothing. An early decisive battle suited her just fine. She was ready to fight a Golden Core Demon Queen—but if she could face an incomplete version, even better. She wasn't some reckless protagonist who chose the hard mode for pride.

——

"What?! They're speeding up? They'll reach the capital by dawn tomorrow?!"

In the palace, the emperor's face twisted in panic. He had recalled all elite Demon Slayer Division members to the capital, hoping to buy time by sacrificing outer territories. But now, the enemy had seen through his plan and was charging straight for him.

"Queen… how much longer?"

For the first time, the emperor felt true fear. Though he was Foundation Establishment, his foundation was unstable—built on pills and shortcuts to prolong his life. In a real fight, he'd lose to any proper Foundation Establishment expert. And against a Golden Core monster like Su Min? He was utterly outmatched.

"Report! Her Majesty says… it's still not enough."

"Not enough?!"

The emperor's fists clenched.

"Then send men to the capital and nearby villages. Gather 1,000 children and bring them to the palace!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Several Foundation Establishment experts bowed and vanished into the night. A thousand children wasn't a small number—but in the grand scheme, it wasn't enough to matter. They'd take them from the poorest outskirts, where no one would resist. Soon, screams echoed through the night.

——

By dawn, Su Min's army sighted the capital's towering walls. By noon, 200,000 troops had fully encircled the city. The surrounding villages were already deserted—everyone had fled as the army approached.

"Commander, the encirclement is complete. Shall we attack? The Great Wei's defenses seem… lax."

A messenger reported to Cao Yuanmu.

"No need for a siege. This city has no protective formation."

Before Cao Yuanmu could respond, Su Min's voice cut through the air. Then—a flash of lightning. She vanished from the command tent and reappeared high above the battlefield, hovering on a glowing sword.

"Look! Who's that? So beautiful…"

Murmurs spread through both armies. At this height, even civilians in the city could see her. And the radiant sword beneath her feet—specially crafted for flight—made her impossible to miss.

"That's… a Golden Core expert…"

The Foundation Establishment cultivators watched with awe and envy. This was the realm they dreamed of but could never reach.

"Nanming Lihuo Slash!!!"

Ignoring the crowd, Su Min raised her sword—then swung downward. A blade of fire over 30 meters long descended from the sky.

BOOM!!!

The earth shook violently. When the dust settled, both armies gasped. The centuries-old, fortified walls—built with untold wealth—had been reduced to rubble in a single strike. With one casual attack, the "impregnable" capital had been breached. A single thought echoed in everyone's mind:

"This… defies all logic."

Golden Core experts existed to shatter common sense. No fortress could withstand them.

(What they didn't know was that in true cultivation societies, city walls were reinforced with spirit stone formations—durable enough to resist even Su Min's strikes. But in this underdeveloped era, such defenses didn't exist yet.)

"Attack."

Cao Yuanmu suppressed his jubilation and gave the order.

"CHARGE!!!"

The imperial soldiers' morale shattered instantly. Most surrendered on the spot, while the Prince Yong army stormed forward. Su Min didn't join the slaughter. Her gaze was fixed on the palace, now shrouded in a massive barrier. They hadn't been able to protect the entire city—but the inner palace was sealed tight.

"The current world can't sustain long-term formations. Every second drains their spirit stones. Let's see how long they can last."

She didn't rush to break it. Doing so would drain her spiritual energy, leaving her vulnerable to the Demon Queen's ambush. So she hovered in the air, watching as the army advanced. But just as the vanguard reached the palace gates—

"ROAR!!!"

A deafening screech erupted from the palace, sending shockwaves in all directions. The frontline troops were sent flying—only Qi Refining experts remained standing, and even they staggered under the pressure. Then, dozens of powerful auras flared atop the palace walls. Over 40 Foundation Establishment experts—more than Prince Yong army had. Even Cao Yuanmu's face fell.

How many monsters had the Demon Queen created?

What they didn't know was that the Emperor and Demon Queen had resorted to forbidden techniques, forcibly boosting their followers' strength at great cost. But numbers were numbers—and against the army, they were a terrifying force. Behind them, 500+ Qi Refining experts stood ready.

Almost instantly, battle erupted. The elite warriors leaped from the walls, crashing into the Prince Yong forces.

"Engage them!!!"

Cao Yuanmu led the charge, clashing with the enemy experts. The ground trembled under their blows. This was a fight beyond ordinary soldiers. Su Min still didn't move.

Because the moment that screech had sounded, she knew—

The Demon Queen had fully recovered.

Sure enough, a sinister, yin-cold aura burst from the palace's heart, shooting straight toward Su Min. She didn't flinch. Six flaming wooden swords materialized around her—then shot forward to meet the attack.

BOOM!!!

The collision sent shockwaves rippling across the sky. Below, soldiers were knocked flat. The final battle had begun.