Chapter 338. Phantom-Splitting Sword Art (Cultivation Art)

A previously unknown Golden Core cultivator had arrived from the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect. He immediately raised his toast to Eldrin (Person Name) and said, "This humble Daoist goes by the name Mingwu. I must express my gratitude for your Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object), as it was precisely what enabled me to break through to the Golden Core realm."

"My esteemed master, Taiwu Zhenren, is truly unable to extricate himself today. This humble Daoist has come in his stead to offer congratulations. I hope you will not take offense, Dao-brother."

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Mingwu."

Eldrin smiled faintly and drank from a spirit cup as a gesture of hospitality.

In addition to the 3 Golden Cores (Cultivation Realm) newly added by the Chu Kingdom (Location) and the Cerulean Peaks Range (Location), the Yan Kingdom (Location) also gained 1 more Golden Core (Cultivation Realm).

This man was named Zhang Yuanxu. After the fall of the Deng Clan, he had obtained a portion of their legacy. In 1 fell swoop, he broke through to the Golden Core Realm, and even forged a Mid-Grade Golden Core.

After breaking through to the Golden Core realm, Zhang Yuankong's confidence surged immensely. He had originally intended to demand the 6 Star Island from the Chen Family to establish his own dao sanctuary. However, after witnessing the imposing presence of Eldrin (Person Name), he hastily suppressed the thought.

The 2 Dao companions, Eldrin, were originally formidable in strength. They had also nurtured 2 Golden Cores—Chen Changxuan and Elara—with Xavier willingly serving as their vanguard.

The Sky Ruins Alliance boasted a full 5 Golden Core cultivators. With such power, among the 6 nations of Ji Continent, there were no more than 5 Golden Core immortal clans capable of matching them. He naturally had no right to challenge them and could only stand by the sidelines, offering an ingratiating smile.

The Golden Core Banquet bustled for 3 days and 3 nights before the cultivators attending the grand assembly, including Eldrin (Person Name), gradually dispersed.

After the crowd had dispersed, Eldrin withdrew his genial smile.

He stood with Lyra (Person Name) atop Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location), watching the cultivators gradually disperse before speaking calmly, "After this Golden Core Ascension Ceremony establishing our immortal clan, we should finally enjoy some peaceful days."

"It would indeed be good to avoid some trouble."

Lyra nodded, then furrowed her brow and added, "After this Golden Core Banquet, we've essentially stepped onto the central stage of Ji Province."

"Can we still remain hidden?"

Eldrin shook his head with a wry smile. Over the years, their relentless campaigns had revealed much of their true strength. Even if they held a low-profile Golden Core Ascension Ceremony, it would be impossible to keep it concealed.

Moreover, advancing to a Golden Core Immortal Clan was an exceedingly rare event across the entire nation, let alone a powerful Golden Core Immortal Clan like the Chen Family.

Like the top Golden Core immortal clans of the Wei Kingdom, when Wei Tianxiong broke through to Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), he even invited over 20 Golden Core cultivators from various kingdoms to participate in the demonstration.

By comparison, the Chen Clan had maintained a much lower profile.

Such banquets served a dual purpose: first, to celebrate the clan's ascension as Golden Core immortals, and second, to project their might across the realm. This display of power would secure greater advantages in the future, for many resources across the nations were allocated according to strength.

For instance, the medium-grade spirit stone mine in Ji Province was originally jointly controlled by 3 major sects. Back when Lyra (Person Name) had just broken through to the Golden Core realm, in order to secure the resources of Qingyang Mountain, she promised to transfer the equity rights of Qingyang Sect’s medium-grade spirit stone mine to Ziyuan Sect and Cangqiong Sword Sect.

In truth, given Lyra and Eldrin's current strength, they were fully qualified to propose a redistribution of the medium-grade spirit stone mines. However, their ever-expanding control over resources in recent years had made them cautious. To avoid provoking hostilities with the 2 major sects, they had deliberately refrained from raising the matter.

Nevertheless, revealing a portion of 1's strength at critical moments can resolve countless unnecessary troubles.

The Chen family was hosting this banquet with the fundamental purpose of safeguarding their own interests and deterring those with ulterior motives against their clan.

After this grand ceremony elevating them to a Golden Core Clan, the predicament of their 2 spirit veins in Yan Kingdom would be greatly alleviated, likely stabilizing the situation for 2 sexagenary cycles.

After 2 100 and 40 years, when Eldrin (Person Name) and Lyra (Person Name) had advanced further in their cultivation, they would no longer need to worry about those with sinister intentions.

As the prestige of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) grew, the safety of its disciples during their future travels would be significantly enhanced.

After all, even rogue cultivators accustomed to killing for treasure would think twice before provoking a powerful Golden Core immortal clan.

After the Golden Core Banquet concluded, Eldrin and Lyra returned to Spirit Isle Lake.

The days returned to their usual tranquility, with Eldrin studying ancient texts while refining his own cultivation techniques.

As this round of deduction unfolded, 20 years slipped by unnoticed. During this period, Eldrin had advanced all 5 cultivation techniques to the Golden Core, 6th Layer.

Moreover, after deducing the 5 Elements Return to Origin Scripture to the sixth layer of the Golden Core, Eldrin derived yet another divine ability from this cultivation method. This ability was named the True Sun Flame.

The reason this divine ability remained a Pure Yang technique was entirely by Eldrin's design. The world had suffered under demonic evils for far too long. He had deduced and perfected this Pure Yang divine ability precisely to bolster his means of confronting such malevolent forces in the days to come.

While deducing the cultivation art, Eldrin had also spent years comprehending the great supernatural power 'Phantom-Splitting Sword Art'. After numerous revelations, he finally mastered this technique, gaining an overwhelmingly dominealing group attack ability capable of sweeping through countless adversaries.

After deducing the cultivation technique to the sixth layer of Golden Core, he temporarily ceased his calculations and said to Lyra (Person Name) with a faint smile,

"These past days, my spiritual power has grown noticeably more concentrated. It appears I'm about to break through to the second layer of the Golden Core."

"Very well, I shall guard you during your cultivation."

Upon hearing this, a faint smile also surfaced in Lyra's eyes.

Cultivation knows no passage of time, and this holds especially true for high-level practitioners.

Unbeknownst to all, over 50 years had already passed since the second Beast Tide turmoil, and Eldrin (Person Name) was now just over 2 100 years of age.

40 years had passed since his breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm. Though the numerous innate magical treasures in this lifetime had delayed his progress, he finally glimpsed the threshold of the second layer of Golden Core.

There was no bottleneck at the second level of the Golden Core realm. This time, his seclusion did not last long—he broke through to the second level of the Golden Core in just 7 days.

When he emerged from seclusion, Lyra (Person Name) smiled and said, "While you were in closed-door cultivation, Yu Qingyan came looking for you in a hurry. She’s been waiting for you."

"Oh."

A faint glimmer stirred in Eldrin’s eyes. “For what purpose?”

"I didn't ask further." Lyra smiled faintly before adding, "But it seems there are some matters over at the Heavenly Abode Continent."

Hearing her words, Eldrin nodded, and the 2 walked together into the reception hall.

Yu Qingyan had been waiting for quite some time. The moment she saw Eldrin arrive, she immediately rose to her feet and said, "Greetings to you 2, Ancestors."

"A century of friendship stands between us; such formalities are unnecessary."

Eldrin’s eyes flickered as he noticed Yu Qingyan had already broken through to the False Core Realm. It seemed she had already consumed a Golden Core Formation Pill.

At this thought, he smiled and said, "It seems the day you form your Golden Core isn’t far off."

Yu Qingyan possessed the Wind Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root) and was merely 260-some years of age. Having inherited part of the estate left by Lin Daoyang of the Qingxu Sect, she stood a considerable chance of attempting Core Formation again in the foreseeable future.

However, Yu Qingyan let out a bitter laugh and said, “6 years ago, I exhausted my wealth to purchase a Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object) in an attempt to break through to the Golden Core Realm. But in the end, I fell just short. Now, I no longer have the spirit stones to make another attempt.”

Eldrin gave an imperceptible nod. Though Yu Qingyan had amassed considerable wealth over the years, nearly 2-thirds of her resources had been depleted. Acquiring a Golden Core Formation Pill (Spiritual Object) now would prove exceedingly difficult.

At this thought, Eldrin suppressed his musings, poured her a cup of tea, and asked, "What brings you to me today?"