Chapter 336 : The Forging of a Golden Core

Back when Old Patriarch first attempted his breakthrough into the Golden Core realm, the reason he became stuck at the False Core Realm was primarily due to insufficient spiritual power [the refined energy cultivated by practitioners], which left him unable to sustain the process and coalesce a true Golden Core.

Unlike his first attempt, this time he had already broken through the False Core Realm. His spiritual power was now a full sixty to seventy percent more abundant and profound than before. As he once again surged towards the Golden Core realm, his reserves of power afforded him far greater ease and control.

As all the spiritual power within his body converged relentlessly towards his dantian [the core energy center located in the lower abdomen], that False Core grew increasingly dense, vast, and potent. It began to spin with a life of its own, a vortex of colossal energy that seemed capable of cleaving mountains and churning seas.

Had this torrential energy been allowed to run rampant unchecked, failing to be mastered and contained, it could have caused the nascent Golden Core to violently detonate, resulting in the catastrophic destruction of his physical form.

Fortunately, Old Patriarch had consumed the Golden Core Formation Pill. The pill transformed into a wondrous and mysterious Creation Power [a fundamental force of genesis and shaping], which tempered the rampant spiritual power, rendering it far more docile. It also assisted him in compressing the Golden Core taking form within him.

Seizing the moment, Old Patriarch swallowed the Sub-Golden Core Pill in one gulp. Instantly, over half the spiritual power of a False Core Great Demon [a powerful demonic beast at the quasi-Golden Core stage] flooded into his meridians. This torrential deluge of power surged into his dantian, forcing the False Core to spin with frantic speed as it voraciously absorbed the influx.

Time lost all meaning. After devouring this immense quantity of spiritual power, the False Core finally crossed a critical threshold. A force of self-containment was born within it, and it began to frantically draw in the spiritual energy [the ambient energy of heaven and earth] from the surrounding world.

"It is done."

Watching the spiritual energy within the spirit pool [a pool concentrated with spiritual energy] being frantically siphoned, Eldrin Chen finally allowed himself to release a breath he had been holding.

Once the False Core crossed the threshold of self-containment, the formation of a true Golden Core was assured. What remained was merely the process of converting and solidifying his spiritual power. Support the author by reading on audio-novel .c om.

Once the transformation was complete, Old Patriarch's mana would become far more refined and condensed. Both the sheer volume and the purity of his mana would experience a dramatic surge.

By then, with the potency of Golden Core-grade mana, Old Patriarch could casually unleash a single divine ability, and it would require a Purple Mansion Cultivator to exert their full arsenal of techniques to contend with it.

An unknowable length of time passed. Seeing that Old Patriarch's mana transformation was succeeding, Eldrin Chen promptly called out in a clear voice.

"Expel your Golden Core."

Placing absolute trust in Eldrin Chen, Old Patriarch immediately opened his mouth and expelled the Golden Core from within his body.

Eldrin Chen cast a glance and observed that Old Patriarch's Golden Core manifested in dual hues of gold and white, faintly exuding an aura of sharpness and searing heat, with the golden radiance being predominant.

The Golden Core blazed with incandescent light, its golden glow sacred and majestic, possessing an imposing, dignified presence. It resembled a golden sun, vast and boundless in its grandeur.

"So this is the Golden Core formed from Fire-Metal Dual Spiritual Roots?"

In an instant, Eldrin Chen understood. Old Patriarch primarily cultivated the Solar Separated Flame Scripture, which imparted a purer, more yang-aligned and sacred quality to his cultivated mana.

Without further contemplation, he seized the moment and expelled a mouthful of Primordial Essence [the most fundamental and potent source energy from which all things are derived].

In that fleeting instant, that wisp of Primordial Essence [the fundamental, unadulterated energy of creation] surged into Old Patriarch's Golden Core [the solidified essence of a cultivator's power, formed within the dantian].

Faintly, it caused his Golden Core to flare with a brief, intense radiance before dimming once more. Thereafter, a subtle veil of violet luminescence seemed to settle over the Golden Core.

Having absorbed the wisp of Violet Qi [auspicious spiritual energy associated with dawn and profound enlightenment], Old Patriarch swallowed his Golden Core back into his dantian. He drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to meditate, sensing the changes within his Golden Core.

After a long moment, he opened his eyes, a flicker of joyous surprise within them.

Eldrin Chen inquired, "What is the result?"

"After inhaling that wisp of Violet Qi, the very foundation of my Golden Core has undergone a transformation," Old Patriarch replied.

Old Patriarch pondered for a moment, then continued with a furrowed brow, "It seems the Primordial Essence has shattered a hidden shackle. It allows my Golden Core to mend its flawed foundation, granting me a chance to cultivate anew and reach the Middle Golden Core [a more stable and powerful stage within the Golden Core realm]."

"However," he added, his voice tinged with gravity, "to truly rebuild to the Middle Golden Core realm would require a monumental price to fully replenish that foundational essence."

"Replenish the foundation?" Eldrin Chen's brow creased in concern. "What is needed to accomplish this?"

Chen Thalion hesitated, a pained expression crossing his face as if the words themselves were costly. "It requires five hundred strands of Separated Flame [a potent, purified flame essence] and an equal measure of Dual Metallic Essence Qi [a refined spiritual energy embodying the sharp, unyielding nature of metal]."

"In addition, a Fire Essence Treasure Pearl [a treasure pearl containing the concentrated essence of fire], a Metal Essence Treasure Pearl [a treasure pearl containing the concentrated essence of metal], and a Creation Treasure Jade [a legendary jade imbued with the power of creation] are required to fully mend the foundation."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with thought. One unit of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] is equivalent to ten thousand wisps of Five Elements Essence. Five hundred units would thus be five million wisps.

Calculated this way, five hundred units each of Separated Flame [a potent spiritual essence of purified flame] and Dual Metallic Essence Qi [a dual-natured spiritual essence of refined metal] would cost approximately one million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. This was a sum the Old Patriarch could certainly afford from his personal wealth.

Among the other three treasures, the Fire Essence Treasure Pearl and Metal Essence Treasure Pearl were both priceless. Fortunately, within the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth-element spiritual energy] beneath Green Sun Mountain, one Fire Essence Treasure Pearl is produced every three Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle]. The next one should appear within one Jiazi-time.

The Chen Clan possessed no metal-attribute Earth Vein. To obtain a Metal Essence Treasure Pearl, they would have to turn to the Firmament Sword Sect.

However, with the Firmament Sword Sect's power greatly diminished, they were unlikely to refuse Eldrin Chen's request. Furthermore, a Metal Essence Treasure Pearl could also be purchased at a Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a solidified golden spiritual core] level Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare cultivation resources]. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel.com.

It was the Creation Treasure Jade that was truly exceedingly rare. This item was considered the foremost treasure within the Golden Core Realm.

The Creation Treasure Jade possessed the wondrous ability to nourish the Golden Core and enhance its Deep-Seated Foundation [the profound and unshakable spiritual foundation of a cultivator]. When used as the primary ingredient to refine the 'Creation Cloud-Returning Pill' [a legendary pill that aids in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks], it could even grant a Golden Core Cultivator a thirty percent increased chance of breaking through to the Golden Core, Late Stage.

Each such Creation Cloud-Returning Pill was valued at five million Spirit Stone, equivalent to a Fourth Rank High Grade [a high-quality treasure of the fourth rank, corresponding to the Golden Core realm] Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]. This illustrated the immense value of the Creation Treasure Jade.

Therefore, the value of this jade typically hovered around ten million Spirit Stone. If it appeared at an auction, it could even fetch a price of fifteen million Spirit Stone, nearly equivalent to a small portion of a Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a mythical pill that aids in forming the Nascent Soul, the fourth major cultivation realm].

The Chu Kingdom [a powerful kingdom within the cultivation world] lacks any known source for Creation Treasure Jade [a miraculous jade capable of mending and enhancing a cultivator's foundational potential]. To obtain such a treasure, it seems one must be prepared to pay a truly exorbitant price.

This illustrates the profound difficulty of mending one's foundational cultivation. In truth, the higher a cultivator's realm, the more arduous and costly the process of repairing their foundation becomes.

For a Nascent Soul [a cultivator who has formed their Primordial Spirit, a major milestone] cultivator to mend even a single Spiritual Root [the innate channels that determine one's affinity for absorbing spiritual energy], the rare treasures required could deplete the Deep-Seated Foundation [the accumulated wealth and resources built over generations] of an entire Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by a Nascent Soul cultivator] accumulated over thousands of years.

And that is merely to repair a flaw. To elevate the very *quality* of one's Golden Core [the condensed core of spiritual power formed after Foundation Establishment]—its upper potential—is a feat of near impossibility. Without the aid of something like Primordial Essence [the pure, foundational energy from which all things are said to derive], it is doubtful even the denizens of the legendary Purple Realm [a fabled higher realm of existence] could accomplish it.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen gave a soft, wry shake of his head. He glanced at the Old Patriarch and spoke with calm assurance. "Though the Creation Treasure Jade is indeed precious, cultivators of our standing do possess the means to seek it out."

"First, Old Granduncle, focus on overcoming your tribulation. In time, I shall seek this treasure for you and aid you in forging a Middle Golden Core [a Golden Core of superior quality and potential]."

Hearing his words, the Old Patriarch snapped out of his pained reverie over the potential cost.

The two men hurriedly exited the Cultivation Cave [a chamber or cavern specially prepared for meditation and cultivation], only to find the sky above already churning with dense, rolling Tribulation Clouds [heavenly clouds that gather to test a cultivator with lightning during a realm advancement]. The celestial trial had been brewing for some time.

Watching the Tribulation Clouds boil and seethe, Eldrin Chen voiced his concern with a note of solemnity.

"Old Granduncle, take utmost care."

"No need for concern. This time, our preparations are more than sufficient."

Chen Thalion offered a faint smile, his voice brimming with absolute confidence.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod. The Old Patriarch had indeed made exhaustive preparations this time; his chances of weathering the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial faced by cultivators seeking to form their Golden Core] should be ample.

Without another word, a solemn expression settled upon the Old Patriarch's features. He stepped forward, ascending into the sky, and stood in silent vigil, awaiting the arrival of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.