Tang Yifeng looked at Su Xi, appraising her from head to toe, trying to guess her thoughts.
Su Xi possessed exceptional talent and diverse methods.
However, there was a vast chasm in cultivation between her and Huan Jie. While it seemed like just a few minor stages, the difference was as profound as heaven and earth.
Huan Jie's ability to survive in the secret realm solely through his own strength was certainly not a matter of luck.
The challenge of Su Xi attempting to fight opponents of a higher cultivation level was immense.
Despite his curiosity, Tang Yifeng did not stop her and nodded in agreement.
With a casual flick of his finger towards the void, he uttered a few incantations, and a contract from the Heavenly Dao descended from above.
Taking the contract, he turned to the two, "Each of you shall drip a drop of blood onto this contract, and this agreement will be fulfilled. Should either party breach it, they will suffer the torment of having their soul scattered."
"Good." Su Xi and Huan Jie exchanged a fiery glance, then each pricked their finger, letting their blood drip onto the contract.
As their blood merged with the contract, their portraits instantly appeared on it. Simultaneously, a resonant voice echoed from the heavens, "Contract established."
As the voice faded, Su Xi felt as if something was tethering her, a faint, ethereal sensation blossoming within her.
Seeing the contract completed, Huan Jie's taunts became even more blatant. "I won't hold back when the time comes. You'd best buy a coffin in advance. After all, there are no other disciples from your Penglai Mountain to collect your body."
Su Xi merely offered a contemptuous smile at Huan Jie's arrogance, choosing not to waste time arguing with him.
Anyone could spew threats; the truth of the matter would only be revealed through the trial.
Leaving Mount Shu, Su Xi quickly returned to Penglai Mountain.
Her decision to forge a life-or-death wager was not a spur-of-the-moment impulse but a result of careful consideration, believing the matter to be entirely feasible.
Therefore, as soon as she entered her room, she immediately went to her laboratory and retrieved the stone she had obtained.
While others could not accurately ascertain the contents of the box Tang Yifeng had presented, she had already discovered what it was with an X-ray scan.
She herself lacked the discerning eye for appraisal, but the supercomputer within her body possessed it. That stone was precisely what the supercomputer had identified.
She tossed the stone into the purification machine, which soon began its operation.
Su Xi's gaze fixed on the parameters displayed on the screen, her eyes gradually gleaming with light.
She had never imagined that this seemingly ordinary stone, in addition to containing common refining components, also held rare metals unique to interstellar space.
Although the quantity of rare metals was not substantial, it was enough to manufacture nuclear weapons.
The principle behind interstellar nuclear weapons differed from those on Earth. Earth's nuclear weapons relied on nuclear fission to generate immense energy.
However, interstellar nuclear weapons achieved greater destructive power by compressing particles of rare metals, utilizing the colossal energy released by particle fragmentation.
Given the complexity of manufacturing nuclear weapons, even with the supercomputer's assistance, Su Xi dared not be careless. She toiled alone in the laboratory for three days, successfully creating three fusion missiles.
Gazing at the three flawless missiles in her hands, Su Xi's face broke into a satisfied smile.
While the number of weapons was small, each fusion missile could generate a sufficiently immense amount of energy. According to the supercomputer's calculations, this was equivalent to the full force strike of a cultivator at the late Golden Core stage.
Huan Jie, no matter how extraordinary his strength, would absolutely be unable to withstand the bombardment of so many missiles. Picturing these fusion missiles raining down upon Huan Jie, a smile akin to a doting aunt spread across her face.
Technological cultivation, boundless magical power.
What could Huan Jie possibly use to contend with her?
After organizing the missiles, Su Xi left the laboratory.
As she stepped out, she saw Lin Qing standing at the doorway, his expression grim, looking as though he was about to kill someone.
"Master, what's wrong?" Su Xi, shrinking her neck, cautiously asked, looking at Lin Qing.
"Don't call me Master. You are my Master," Lin Qing shot Su Xi a glance, panting heavily.
"Disciple, what are you doing at my doorstep?" Su Xi, adopting his suggestion, changed her address, utterly unconcerned by Lin Qing's increasingly darkened complexion.
"You." Lin Qing looked at Su Xi, feeling as though he could barely catch his breath.
He had finally found a disciple, only for this disciple to veer further and further down a self-destructive path instead of focusing on other matters. She hadn't learned anything substantial, but she had indeed learned how to engage in life-or-death wagers.
Had Penglai Mountain's hard-won disciple just reached the brink of extinction so quickly?
Seeing the expression on Lin Qing's face, Su Xi knew he was worried about her. She dropped the playful demeanor and said with a hint of apology, "Master, that person was so aggressive at the time, I really couldn't stand it anymore."
Lin Qing looked at Su Xi and shook his head helplessly. "Do you even know what you're doing? If you lose this match, your life will be forfeit."
Su Xi looked at Lin Qing, her confidence unwavering. "Master, please don't worry. This match is not a problem."
She was already armed with nuclear fission missiles. Bring on one Huan Jie, and she would kill one Huan Jie. Two Huan Jies, and she would score a double kill.
Lin Qing looked at the confident expression on Su Xi's face, rubbed his nose helplessly, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Why was his disciple so much like him?
Even if she was incredibly weak, she carried herself with the air of being the greatest in the world.
Sighing in resignation, Lin Qing spoke, "Do you know that Huan Jie, after obtaining the Heavenly Spirit Flower, has refined it into a pill and is preparing to break through to become a Golden Core cultivator?"
Since he was aware of the situation, he had naturally anticipated it. He had also naturally investigated Huan Jie's circumstances.
Upon hearing Lin Qing's words, Su Xi's expression faltered. "But that person was still a minor realm away from tribulation. Why is he transcending so quickly?"
Attempting tribulation before reaching perfection had a high probability of failure. A single misstep could lead to the complete loss of any hope for future advancement. Therefore, normal individuals would never choose such a path.
Lin Qing shot Su Xi a disdainful look. With such a meager understanding of common sense, she intended to gamble with her life?
Despite his internal grumbling about Su Xi, Lin Qing still proceeded to explain, "The Heavenly Spirit Flower is no ordinary item. Its medicinal efficacy is sufficient to compensate for such disparities and will not cause any sequelae."
Hearing Lin Qing's explanation, Su Xi's expression turned grave.
Her nuclear fission missiles were undoubtedly invincible against Foundation Establishment cultivators, but their effectiveness against Golden Core cultivators would be significantly diminished.
If she were unable to kill Huan Jie, she would be in serious trouble.
Seeing Su Xi's distressed expression, Lin Qing knew she had grasped the gravity of the situation.
He softened his tone and continued, "Do not worry too much. Since I am here, I will naturally not stand idly by."
Penglai Mountain had finally found a disciple, and he would absolutely not allow her to be bullied.