Gathering Storms

"You've been carrying this sword all this time?"

Su Min's voice was low, somewhere between exasperated and soft amusement. Her gaze dropped to the weapon in Xie Yingying's hand—simple, plain, Earth-grade.

Utterly unworthy of her now.

"It's completely unsuitable," Su Min added, shaking her head. "You're at Unity stage. This thing might as well be a cooking knife."

She meant it as a joke, but her heart tightened.

Lin Yao had told her, quietly and without accusation, that Xie Yingying had kept using the sword Su Min gave her during the Golden Core Heavenly Rankings. Back then, it was the best she could offer—Su Min hadn't forged in years. Resources were tight. Her flames had yet to fully return.

Even so, she hadn't expected Xie Yingying to still be using it.

Had she really carried it all this time?

A sharp twinge of guilt threaded through her chest. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. Someone like Xie Yingying—prideful, powerful, with a divine constitution—deserved a weapon that matched her brilliance.

And instead, she'd been fighting battles with a half-dull blade… because Su Min had given it to her.

"I didn't have the heart to throw it away," Xie Yingying said softly.

Su Min glanced up, surprised. There was no sarcasm in the reply. Just a quiet truth.

She looked at the sword again. Then back at her.

"You're hopeless."

But her voice was gentle.

The next moment, a flash of light flickered in her palm. A new sword materialized, resting lightly across her outstretched hands. It shimmered with translucent blues and violet-black veins, its edge cold enough to chill the air.

"Here," she said. "Your new weapon."

Xie Yingying blinked.

"This is..."

"A low-tier Heaven-grade artifact," Su Min said, as if it were nothing. "I forged it last week. The Profound Nether Ice Soul Sword."

Xie Yingying took a half-step forward, her eyes wide.

Her fingers hovered over the blade, almost reverent. The weapon pulsed faintly in response to her touch, as if recognizing its future wielder. For a long moment, she said nothing. Then—

"So beautiful…"

Her voice came out in a whisper.

Su Min didn't reply. She didn't need to.

She knew what that look meant. Knew how rare it was to see such open delight on Xie Yingying's face. For someone who had survived on pride, caution, and isolation, a gift wasn't just a gift. It was permission to trust. It was proof that someone remembered her, thought of her, chose her.

Back when the Heavenly Yin Sect still stood, they'd given her many things—manuals, the Xuantian Mansion itself. But never weapons like this. She was too unique. Too hard to craft for. In the end, she'd resorted to using a calligraphy brush. Elegant, yes, but never truly hers.

But this...

This was made for her.

And more than that—it was from her.

Xie Yingying held the sword close to her chest, almost as if afraid it might disappear.

"Test it later," Su Min said. "Get familiar with the spiritual rhythm. If it doesn't sync properly, I'll reforge the core."

"Hm?" Xie Yingying looked up. "You'll reforge it just like that?"

"If it's for you," Su Min said, "I'll do it as many times as I have to."

That stunned her.

Su Min said casually, though her voice was a little quieter than usual. "If you need any specific pills, just tell me. Anything. Don't hold back."

Xie Yingying blinked, startled by the sudden shift in tone. "What are you planning?"

Su Min didn't answer right away. Her fingers tapped once against the sword hilt before withdrawing.

"A team fight," she said finally.

"…Eh?"

"I'm not going to face the end alone. Someone's trying to kill me. So I'm gathering a team."

The words were blunt. But Xie Yingying heard what lay underneath—trust. Inclusion. Need.

Her eyes narrowed, lips curling ever so slightly in a dangerous smile. "Tch. Who dares?"

She didn't need to ask the name. Didn't care. If anyone laid a hand on Su Min, they'd lose it. Simple as that.

Su Min chuckled under her breath and reached into her sleeve, pulling out several pill vials. She handed them over without fanfare.

"Eighth-grade. Healing and spirit-recovery. Freshly refined."

Xie Yingying looked down at the vials, then up again, her expression unreadable for a moment.

Then she gave a soft hum, and for the first time in days, she smiled without restraint. Not the cold, poised smile she wore in front of others—but something gentler. The kind of smile she only showed to Su Min.

She tucked the vials away into her ring. "Mmm. I'll use them well."

There was no "thank you." No need for it. Between them, such words were far too shallow.

"Report, Tian Hao has arrived."

Just then, Lin Yao's voice sounded from outside. After their last meeting, they'd exchanged contact methods.

Summoning Tian Hao had been effortless, especially since he'd rushed over without hesitation upon hearing this involved annihilating the Black Seal.

As Su Min had guessed, inheriting the legacy of the Great Desolate Holy Body's Mahayana peak expert had propelled him to the Unity stage. His strength was now comparable to hers.

"Send him in."

Su Min smiled. Soon, a strikingly handsome young man entered.

"Miss Su, long time no see."

Tian Hao greeted her politely. He bore no grudges against her, and given his perpetually miserable circumstances, there was no sense in making more enemies.

"Are you prepared? This battle will likely involve nothing but Unity-stage experts. One of them is... special. Even if we join forces, killing him might be impossible."

"Impossible?"

Tian Hao stiffened. Both of them were virtually invincible within their realm. For two such powerhouses to struggle against a single Unity-stage opponent was unthinkable.

"A former Great Emperor. Think of Yao Xian'er, though he's far weaker than her. And compared to our gap with her during the Golden Core Heavenly Rankings, we've narrowed the distance significantly."

"..."

Su Min's analogy made Tian Hao's lips twitch.

He'd fought Yao Xian'er before and been reduced to dust. Though she hadn't gone for the kill, or even fought seriously.

Su Min sighed. This enemy wouldn't be easy to handle. A Great Emperor was in an entirely different league from Mahayana cultivators. Against any other Unity-stage foe, she wouldn't hesitate to gang up on them—or simply flee if outmatched.

But this one? If cornered, escape might not even be an option. Besides, constantly watching her back was exhausting. Eliminating the threat outright was the only solution.

"If it's about killing Black Seal members, I'm in."

Tian Hao nodded, his voice thick with suppressed fury. Clearly, they'd made his life hell. The Great Desolate Holy Body's vitality-rich blood was simply too tempting—a walking, talking elixir.

"Thank you."

"When do we move?"

"Not yet. I need to recruit more people."

Su Min grinned. She'd emphasized the need for secrecy—any arrivals must come quietly.

The enemy would undoubtedly send scouts, but they'd likely be no stronger than Divine Transformation stage—anything higher would be too conspicuous.

Low-level cultivators, however, could slip in unnoticed.

"Tch."

Tian Hao's eye twitched at Su Min's recruitment spree. As a lone wanderer constantly fleeing for his life, the idea of mustering an army beforehand was downright enviable.

With nothing more to say, he left.

Su Min then stood and vanished, reappearing at the continent's core—where a flamboyantly dressed man awaited.

"Greetings, Miss Su."

The young man bowed courteously.

Huang Xu—Monarch of the Phoenix Clan.

As one of the avian super-divine beasts alongside the Golden Crows, the Phoenix Clan had maintained friendly relations with them since ancient times. After learning of the upcoming battle, the little Golden Crow had recruited him.

"Prince Huang, what are your terms for joining?"

Even for a super-divine beast, payment was necessary. Moreover, the Phoenix Clan shared close ties with the Vermilion Bird. And this man was no ordinary phoenix, he was a Nine-Colored Heavenly Phoenix.

Su Min couldn't help but muse:

"I chose the Golden Crow's gender. The Ink Qilin and Five-Clawed Golden Dragon are both female. Finally, a male super-divine beast, and a perfectly normal one at that."

"We require an eighth-grade pill. But I wonder, how many tribulation colors can you manage?"

"Around four. What pill do you need?"

Su Min was surprised. They wanted something that advanced?

"We need one refined under at least six-colored tribulation lightning."

"Then you'll have to wait. Patience is a virtue."

She shrugged dismissively.

"Very well."

Huang Xu had no choice but to agree. These things couldn't be rushed—they'd have to wait until Su Min was ready.

"That leaves Ao Xue. As for the human sects, no need to involve them."

After dismissing everyone, Su Min pondered further. Their current lineup included four super-divine beasts: Three-Legged Golden Crow; Five-Clawed Divine Dragon; Nine-Colored Heavenly Phoenix; Ink Qilin

(The Ink Qilin didn't count—she was filler. Though her bloodline was comparable, her current strength was lacking.)

Then there were three supreme constitutions: Lunar Sovereign Body (Xie Yingying); Great Desolate Holy Body (Tian Hao); Five Elements Holy Body (Su Min)

Their firepower was more than sufficient, especially with multiple Imperial Artifact on their side. Against such a force, the enemy stood no chance.

As for the major sects and clans? Even ignoring whether they had Unity-stage experts, secrecy was an issue. Who knew if they harbored traitors?

Divine beasts, being reclusive and few in number, avoided such problems.

Besides, this lineup was already overkill. If they couldn't win with this, no amount of reinforcements would help.

"Now, we just need to wait for the Ink Qilin to wake up."

Su Min's gaze shifted toward a massive mountain range shrouded in formations. There, a kilometer-long, ink-black qilin lay dormant—the very creature Su Min had been nurturing.

"The resource consumption for raising divine beasts is insane. Even our Immortal Sect can't sustain too many of them."

"Grow faster. If I can achieve Great Completion of my Five Elements Holy Body, I could rival Mahayana experts even at the Unity stage. But more importantly..."

Her eyes narrowed as she looked up through the clouds, into the starry void.

Since reaching Unity stage, she'd sensed a faint summons, one only she could perceive. Neither Xie Yingying nor the Golden Crow had noticed it.

"Is this something only former peak experts feel? Is that where those two are now?"

She frowned. Two individuals had reached the Unity stage before anyone else: The young monk from Great Thunder Temple; Yao Xian'er

Had they remained, the Black Seal would've been crushed instantly. Yet both had left—implying something had forced them away.

Given their hostility toward the fallen—especially Yao Xian'er, who'd slaughtered dozens during the purge—something must've been aiding the Black Seal, driving the world's two strongest cultivators into exile.

Now that she'd reached their level, Su Min couldn't help but wonder: What was it?

But she'd need Great Completion of her Five Elements Holy Body before investigating. This world held too many mysteries. Even Mahayana experts couldn't afford carelessness.

"Master, there's an issue."

As Su Min spaced out, someone appeared beside her—Lin Yao, now the Immortal Sect's leader. After emerging from seclusion, she'd taken over from Elder Zhu, who'd returned to closed-door cultivation. For experts at their level, authority meant little.

"What is it?"

"Three major sects have been completely annihilated."

"What? What about their Imperial Artifacts?"

Su Min stiffened. Those sects all possessed Imperial Artifacts. With sufficient sacrifice, they could be fully activated—enough to threaten even Mahayana experts.

Yet they'd fallen? Unless, like Future Maitreya Mountain, they'd betrayed their founders' wills and abandoned their tools...

But Future Maitreya Mountain was an exception—only possible due to direct intervention by a time-transcending powerhouse. Normally, this couldn't happen.

"The tools were shattered. Three entire pocket realms have collapsed into nothingness. Over ten billion lives across those realms—gone."

"..."

A terrifying aura flickered in Su Min's pupils, a mix of killing intent and fury that made Lin Yao shudder.

"It seems our enemy isn't so simple. There might even be multiple Unity-stage experts."

Clearly, the Skeletal Emperor had made his move. Against his might, even super factions without Unity-stage guardians stood no chance.

Even Imperial Artifacts weren't enough. No matter how they were activated, they couldn't match a former Great Emperor. And when two Imperial Artifacts clashed, entire realms were obliterated.

"Master, the Immortal Sect has received another invitation to the Sect Conference."

"Attend it."

"Eh?"

"But reveal nothing about our plans. After the next battle, those pests will cease to exist."

Su Min's tone was icy. Aside from Lin Yao, only a handful within the sect knew about Tian Hao and the Nine-Colored Heavenly Phoenix's involvement.

Lin Yao understood her strategy. The conference was meaningless—Su Min was ready to strike.

"Participate normally. Act oblivious. They're testing me."

Su Min's breakthrough to Unity stage wasn't public knowledge, but suspicions were inevitable. After all, she'd been absent for nearly a century—either advancing or on the cusp of it.

Their enemies were probing. Acting too conspicuously would raise alarms.

Fortunately, after Lin Yao's emergence, Elder Zhu had dumped leadership onto her and retreated into seclusion.