Chapter 382 - 299: Golden Core

Chapter 382: Chapter 299: Golden Core

"Of course not. Who would dare bully your disciple without your permission?"

Yu Changsheng chuckled, walking naturally behind Elder Wei. He bent over slightly and began to massage the old man’s shoulders.

"Mmm." Elder Wei closed his eyes, his smile broadening into a look of pure enjoyment. "That’s good. Here in the Wanxiang Sect, if you need anything, just go find that boy, Lu Ruikai. My name still carries some weight; it’ll be quite useful."

"Mhm, mhm." Yu Changsheng nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at rice. It had been over a year, and he had been through a lot, but he had missed Elder Wei. Being here made him feel much more at ease.

"Speaking of which, you must have run into some kind of crisis on this trip to Huishui Mountain," Elder Wei said, letting out a long sigh and stretching. He turned to Yu Changsheng, his expression serious. "Tell me about it. What exactly happened? Even that boy Wang Dingsheng from the Magic Peak fell. It sounds like it was no small matter."

"Oh, okay." Yu Changsheng nodded obediently and recounted everything that had happened inside Huishui Mountain from start to finish, including the matters of Yan Ta and the Celestial One Divine Water.

Elder Wei listened quietly. After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a peculiar look appeared in his eyes as he gazed at Yu Changsheng. He nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. As long as you weren’t seriously harmed, that’s what matters. And to have come across such a great opportunity... it saves me the trouble of having to rack my brains for a way to help you complete your Nine-Layered Spirit Platform."

Elder Wei chuckled, teasing him.

"It’s all thanks to Senior Profound Turtle." Yu Changsheng said, rubbing his nose with a grin.

"That’s as it should be. That old coot’s fate is now intertwined with yours, so helping you is helping himself. Besides, while you certainly had a great opportunity, that old coot was the one who reaped most of the benefits," Elder Wei chuckled softly.

"Hmph! You old coot, you’re getting more and more insolent."

Just as Yu Changsheng was about to speak, the space beside him distorted. The Profound Turtle’s spectral form emerged from Yu Changsheng’s Inner Realm and directed a cold snort at Elder Wei, its tone hostile.

"Haha," Elder Wei roared with laughter, his expression perfectly at ease. "What’s wrong? Are we not old coots? A thousand years have passed. You and I both have one foot in the grave, just clinging to life."

The Profound Turtle opened its mouth to retort but suddenly fell silent. After a long moment, it exhaled a puff of white vapor from its nostrils.

"I suppose you’re not wrong. We’re both just old coots."

"Hehe," Elder Wei said, unconcerned. He patted the Profound Turtle on the head. The turtle’s brows furrowed, and it shot Elder Wei an angry glare, but didn’t move.

Yu Changsheng watched this scene unfold from the side with a quiet smile.

"I see you still have some conscience, figuring out a way to find an opportunity for my disciple. You should do more of that in the future; the more the merrier," Elder Wei said with a laugh.

"It’s not that easy. This precious disciple of yours is a handful to look after. If it weren’t for me, this kid would have died several times over by now."

The Profound Turtle said grumpily, shooting a glance at Yu Changsheng. Despite its tone, there was a hint of pride in its voice.

"Hahaha! Isn’t getting into trouble perfectly normal?"

Elder Wei wasn’t annoyed. The two chatted with ease, like old friends catching up after many years apart.

"Forget it. The boy’s strength is still low. The only thing that matters now is getting him to break through to the Golden Core Realm."

The Profound Turtle said, shaking its head with a grimace.

"That is true," Elder Wei agreed with a nod. He turned to look back at Yu Changsheng, who was still kneading his shoulders, and said in a serious tone,

"Now that you have reached Ninth-Layer Spirit Platform Perfection, your next step is to consider Core Formation."

"Yes!" Yu Changsheng’s focus sharpened, and he leaned in to listen intently.

"Core Formation is the third major realm of Cultivation, and it’s a watershed moment in the Cultivation Realm. Across the entire Cultivation Realm, only those who reach the Golden Core have truly earned the right to venture out on their own."

Elder Wei paused in thought before slowly continuing his explanation.

"This realm is of the utmost importance to a Cultivator. If Foundation Establishment is the gateway to Cultivation, laying the foundation for the Great Dao, then the Golden Core is the next step—the very embryonic form of the Great Dao. The name ’Golden Core’ is quite literal. It means you condense everything you have practiced up to this point into a single, solid core."

Yu Changsheng listened intently, the motion of his hands gradually slowing to a stop as he nodded seriously.

"’A single Golden Core to enter the Great Dao; my fate is my own, not for the heavens to decide.’ For a Cultivator, while this saying might be a bit of an exaggeration, it’s not far from the truth."

"Since Core Formation is the culmination of everything a Cultivator has practiced, the quality of the resulting Golden Core will naturally differ based on each individual’s comprehension. The boons this core grants a Cultivator can be worlds apart."

Elder Wei paused slightly. After a moment’s thought, he patted the Profound Turtle on the head again, ignoring its furious glare as he continued to speak.

"Generally speaking, Golden Cores are divided into different grades based on their quality. The most basic and common of these is the Mortal Golden Core. A core of this grade, while still a Golden Core, is dull and lacks luster. The enhancements it provides a Cultivator—in lifespan, combat power, and so on—are minimal. Without other opportunities, one’s achievements will likely end there, making it difficult to ever break through again."

"A step above that is the Earth-level Golden Core. This kind of core is rich with luster, and the enhancements it provides a Cultivator—whether in lifespan, physical body, or Divine Soul—are all relatively good and quite substantial. Barring any accidents, with diligent Cultivation, the chances of breaking through to the Purple Mansion realm in the future are quite high."

"I see."

Yu Changsheng listened in silence, nodding from time to time as understanding dawned on him. The further one progressed in Cultivation, the scarcer this kind of knowledge became—at least, that was the case in the Wanxiang Sect. This was the first time Yu Changsheng had heard such a systematic explanation, so he was naturally paying close attention.