Chapter 318 Breaking Through the Golden Core

Without the nourishment of creative power, a Golden Core is like a malnourished embryo. Even if 1's cultivation advances, it will lack spiritual essence, making it difficult to nurture a Nascent Soul in the future.

Just as the essence, energy, and spirit of a Purple Mansion cultivator must be perfectly harmonized, the Creation within a cultivator’s Golden Core must overflow to meet the threshold for impacting the Nascent Soul.

After obtaining the spirit peach, Lyra and Eldrin remained at Spirit Isle Lake in secluded cultivation to refine the Grade-4 spirit peach.

She was not far from breaking through to the Golden Core, Mid Stage. After refining a Heaven-Earth Spirit Peach, her cultivation finally reached perfection, allowing her to touch the threshold of the Golden Core, 4th Tier.

This brought a delighted expression to her face. Typically, a dual-spiritual-root cultivator would require a full 60 years to advance a single layer of cultivation within the Golden Core Realm.

Lyra (Person Name) now possessed a 5 Spirit Roots constitution and had forged 5 Life-Bound Magical Treasures, which naturally slowed her cultivation speed considerably.

Had she not possessed the Lunar Immortal Body, she might not have broken through a single layer of cultivation even in 2 100 years. Yet with the Lunar Immortal Body and the Fire Spirit Fruit Tree accelerating her progress, she could now advance 1 cultivation layer every 40 to 50 years.

Compared to most Golden Core (Cultivation Realm) cultivators who struggled with insufficient resources—often failing to break through a single layer of cultivation in a century, or even remaining stuck at the Golden Core, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm) bottleneck for 2 entire sexagenary cycles—her progress could be considered remarkably swift.

Now, with the assistance of the Spirit Peach, she estimated she could break through 1 level of cultivation every 30 years. By this calculation, she would likely touch the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage in approximately 2 100 years.

To return to our story, after refining the spirit peach, Lyra (Person Name) finally achieved flawless mastery in her cultivation. Without delay, she consumed the Origin-Returning Tribulation-Breaking Pill (Elixir), breaking through to Golden Core, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm) in 1 smooth motion.

He then began advancing his Natal Magic Treasure while simultaneously safeguarding Eldrin (Person Name).

Chapter 1 It is said that after Eldrin (Person Name) consumed the Heaven and Earth Spirit Peach, he instantly felt a tremendous surge of energy flooding through his body.

The Heaven-Earth Spirit Peach of the fourth rank possessed extraordinary energy. Even a cultivator at the Great Perfection stage of the Purple Mansion would find it difficult to refine. It could truly be called a treasure for the Golden Core Realm.

Fortunately, Eldrin's spiritual sense, physical body, and even the purity of his magical power had already touched the threshold of the Golden Core realm, thus allowing him to meet the prerequisites for refining this artifact ahead of time.

He spent a full 7 years refining only half of the Heaven-Earth Spirit Peach, yet his spiritual power had already become flawless and perfectly attuned, reaching the absolute limit of what his body could contain.

At this very moment.

"I should seize this opportunity to break through."

Sensing the surging spiritual power within his body, Eldrin murmured to himself.

To avoid wasting the precious Heaven-Earth Spirit Peach, Eldrin began seizing the opportunity to assault the Golden Core realm.

He summoned all the spiritual energy from every meridian in his body, channeling it toward the dantian at his core.

His divine sense sank into his dantian, channeling an immense and overwhelming spiritual power that surged inward like a great whale drinking the ocean.

Under his control, boundless magical power bloomed with a hazy 5-colored light, ceaselessly swirling at the core of his dantian. Gradually, it converged into a single, minuscule point.

That point of radiance was incomparably brilliant, spinning wildly like a dazzling star as it drew spiritual energy from the dantian, ultimately forming a resplendent halo of light.

Eldrin could not help but marvel at the wondrous sight of condensing the Golden Core, which bore a striking resemblance to the formation of primordial stars in his past life.

Suppressing his thoughts, he continuously channeled his spiritual power, compelling that faint glimmer to rotate incessantly, drawing in more and more of his energy.

This process continued for an entire month, until finally the spiritual energy within him coalesced into a faint, ethereal Golden Core.

False Core realm.

Eldrin's eyes flickered slightly, revealing a look of deep solemnity.

For many, breaking through to the False Core realm in a single attempt without external aids was no small feat, yet for 1 with his foundation, it posed little difficulty.

The true challenge lay in transforming the False Core from ethereal to substantial in a single attempt, coalescing it into a genuine Golden Core.

Generally speaking, this step was extremely perilous, for after reaching the stage of forming a False Core, most cultivators would find their spiritual energy nearly depleted, with both their divine consciousness and physical bodies pushed to their absolute limits.

In truth, upon reaching this stage, a cultivator's essence, energy, and spirit would be severely depleted, requiring a full 60 years of recuperation to restore.

The greatest marvel of the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object), beyond assisting in condensing the golden core, lies in its ability to stabilize and nourish the essence, energy, and spirit within the body, thereby shortening this duration.

However, the price of failing to form a Golden Core using the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object) was substantial. Even if 1 managed to break through to the False Core Realm, their vitality would be severely depleted, requiring 30 years of recuperation to recover.

Moreover, after consuming the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object), the 3 vital essences—vital energy, vitality, and spirit—within the body would incline toward gentleness. While this docile magical power made it easier to control and condense the Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object), the resulting golden core would lack a degree of dominance and purity, ultimately yielding only an inferior-grade golden core.

Eldrin's mana was vast and exquisitely pure. Though he had condensed a False Core, his 3 vital essences—mana, vital energy, and spiritual sense—remained abundantly sufficient.

He possessed 5 fourth-order innate magic treasures to refine his magical power, ensuring it was not as unstable as that of most cultivators. In fact, in terms of purity alone, it had long since rivaled that of a Golden Core cultivator.

At this moment, as he continued channeling his spiritual power into the illusory golden core, the pseudo-core grew increasingly solidified without his notice.

He had no idea how much time had passed. The Golden Core within him had devoured nearly all of his spiritual energy, and as the last wisp of magic power merged into it, like the final straw that breaks the camel's back, it triggered a staggering transformation.

At this moment, the exceptionally pure mana converged, forming a self-restraining capability.

In an instant, they converged at a single point. The golden core, the size of a basketball within his dantian, began to spin wildly and shrink rapidly, while the quality of his spiritual power instantly grew more refined and condensed.

At this stage, the breakthrough could already be considered successful. The Golden Core had irreversibly taken form, and it was nearly impossible for any mishaps to occur now.

After forming the Golden Core's self-restraint, the next step was the transformation of spiritual power—a rather prolonged process,

Eldrin spent 2 months in seclusion, a satisfied smile finally gracing his lips as a golden core shimmering with 5-colored immortal light solidified within his dantian.

He expelled the golden core from within his body, then continuously drew spiritual energy from the leyline to replenish the core's power.

Only when the Golden Core became utterly flawless and seamless did he exhale a wisp of Primordial Purple Qi, causing the Great Luo Golden Core to blaze with dazzling radiance, faintly shimmering with Innate Spiritual Luminescence.

"Finally, it is done."

Looking at the Great Luo Golden Pill before him, a flicker of delight surfaced in Eldrin's expression.

Lyra stood not far away, speaking with equal excitement, "Having forged the Innate Great Luo Golden Core this time, we shall surely ascend to immortality hand in hand in the days to come."

Eldrin nodded, taking Lyra's hand firmly. "Indeed, from this day forth we shall advance hand in hand. 1 day, we shall surely both attain the Dao and ascend as immortals."

In the sky, tribulation clouds began to gather. Clearly, this was not the moment for lengthy explanations.

Eldrin (Person Name) furrowed his brow slightly before speaking, "Help conceal my presence. It would be wiser to keep this breakthrough hidden for now."

"Hmm."

Lyra, who had long been prepared, raised her hand with a flourish. The Jitu Kunyuan Pan’s formation patterns enveloped the void, sealing off hundreds of miles of heaven and earth, obscuring the mysteries within Spirit Isle Lake from view.

After breaking through to the Golden Core, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm), the first magical treasure she enhanced was this Ji Earth Kun Yuan Disk.

This artifact is a formation tool treasure, possessing wondrous uses such as defense, suppression, and sealing. It can lock void space and restrain formations. After advancing to the 4th-rank upper grade, its power becomes truly extraordinary.

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled through the mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of blood and decay. A young man in tattered blue robes knelt amidst the snow, his breathing ragged. Crimson stained the pure white ground around him, a stark contrast to the pale complexion of his face. "Lin Ming (Person Name), hand over the Heavenly Crystal (Cultivation Resource), and I might grant you a swift death," a voice, cold and sharp as a dagger, echoed from the shadows of the towering pine trees. Lin Ming raised his head, a trace of defiance flashing in his eyes despite the overwhelming pressure crushing down on him. "Dream on, Zhao Feng (Person Name). This was entrusted to me by my master. I would rather shatter it than let it fall into the hands of your Profound Sky Sect (Sect Name)." Zhao Feng stepped into the clearing, his black robes embroidered with silver threads shimmering under the faint moonlight. He sneered, a sound devoid of all warmth. "A mere Third Layer Qi Condensation (Cultivation Realm) ant, daring to be so impudent before me, an Eighth Layer expert? You overestimate yourself." He raised his hand, and dark energy coalesced, forming a swirling vortex of shadows above his palm. The very air grew heavy, and the snowflakes seemed to freeze mid-fall. Lin Ming's heart sank. The gap between their cultivation bases was like an insurmountable chasm. He had just broken through to the Third Layer a month ago, while Zhao Feng had been entrenched at the Eighth Layer for over a decade. Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but there was no path of escape. Suddenly, a warm, pulsating sensation emanated from the jade pendant hidden against his chest—an heirloom left by his parents. It was a strange, comforting heat that seemed to seep into his bones, momentarily shielding him from the oppressive aura. "Hmph, still clinging to futile hope?" Zhao Feng's eyes narrowed. He flicked his wrist, and the vortex of shadows shot forward like a spear forged from pure darkness. Time seemed to slow. Lin Ming watched the attack approach, knowing he couldn't dodge. He poured every last wisp of his spiritual energy into the jade pendant, a desperate, final gamble. *Boom!* A dazzling golden light erupted from the pendant, engulfing Lin Ming entirely. The dark spear shattered upon contact with the radiance, dissipating into nothingness. "What?!" Zhao Feng staggered back, his face a mask of shock and fury. "What kind of treasure is that?!" Within the golden light, Lin Ming felt an unprecedented surge of power flooding his meridians. The pain from his injuries vanished, replaced by a comforting, immense energy. Vague, ancient runes flickered within his consciousness—fragments of some long-lost scripture. The golden light faded as quickly as it had appeared, but the power within Lin Ming remained. He slowly stood up, his tattered robes fluttering despite the absence of wind. His eyes, once filled with defiance and despair, now held a deep, profound calm, like an ancient, untroubled well. He looked at the stunned Zhao Feng, his voice eerily composed. "It seems... fate has other plans for me today." Zhao Feng's shock turned to rage. "So what if you have a protective treasure? The difference between us is still 50,000 miles wide! I will tear that trinket from your corpse!" He roared and unleashed his full power. The shadows around him writhed and solidified, forming dozens of sinister, clawed hands that shot towards Lin Ming from all directions—the Profound Grasp of the Netherworld (Cultivation Technique). Lin Ming took a deep breath. Following the instinct guided by the newfound runes in his mind, he raised his hand. A wisp of pure, golden flame, no larger than a bean, ignited at his fingertip. It seemed insignificant against the onslaught of shadows. But as the clawed hands approached, the tiny flame flickered. A wave of immense, primordial pressure radiated outwards. The dozens of shadow claws froze, then, like panes of black glass struck by a hammer, shattered into motes of dark light that were instantly purified by the emanating aura. The pressure did not stop; it swept past the dissolving attacks and slammed directly into Zhao Feng. "Impossible! This... this aura... Foundation Establishment (Cultivation Realm)?! No! Higher!" Zhao Feng's eyes bulged, his arrogant demeanor completely shattered, replaced by primal terror. He tried to flee, but his body refused to obey, locked in place by the overwhelming might. Blood trickled from the corners of his eyes, nose, and mouth. Lin Ming looked at the golden flame on his finger, a complex expression in his eyes. He understood. This was not his own power, but a legacy sealed within the pendant, now awakened at his moment of death. It was both an opportunity and an immense, unknown burden. He looked at the paralyzed Zhao Feng, who was now trembling uncontrollably, his cultivation base crumbling under the pressure. With a thought, Lin Ming extinguished the flame. The immense pressure vanished. Zhao Feng collapsed into the snow, gasping for air, his face as pale as a ghost. He looked at Lin Ming as if he were a monster from ancient legends. "Scram," Lin Ming said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority. "Go back and tell your Profound Sky Sect that the grudge of today, I, Lin Ming, will settle personally in the future." Zhao Feng didn't dare utter a single word. He scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping over his own robes, and fled into the darkness like a whipped dog, not daring to look back. Silence returned to the mountain pass, broken only by the gentle fall of snow, slowly covering the traces of the recent battle. Lin Ming stood alone, the cold wind brushing against his face. He looked down at the now-ordinary-looking jade pendant in his hand. His path of cultivation, which had seemed destined for a premature end tonight, had instead taken a completely unexpected turn. He knew his journey had truly just begun. The road ahead would be long, filled with countless dangers and unimaginable trials. But for the first time, he felt a flicker of genuine hope—and the immense weight of a destiny yet unwritten. 1 100 years had passed in the blink of an eye for mortals, but for cultivators, it was merely the beginning.