Chapter 1035 - 478: The Three Realms of the Golden Core; Returning to the Cold Pool_2

"I’ve spent most of my life circling around the Foundation Establishment Stage, and for the sake of taking that one step, I nearly had my meridians burst by the backflow of Spiritual Qi from the Earth Vein of Dragon Sleep Mountain. Considering your talent, the risk you face is probably ten times greater than mine. It’s best if you can find top-level Treasures of Heaven and Earth to protect your heart meridian..."

"Thank you for your guidance, senior. I already have a plan in mind."

Chen Ye thanked sincerely.

Fortunately, he had already extorted some Tribulation Fire Golden Liquid from Huayue Mansion, and he had already filled most of the foundation required for Core Formation.

Dealing with Core Formation shouldn’t be a big problem.

The two continued their detailed conversation,

and Xu Henshan recounted his Core Formation process to Chen Ye in great detail, providing significant benefit to him.

Ultimately,

Xu Henshan took a sip from his tea cup and said solemnly:

"The Golden Core Stage is entirely different from the previous Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages. Crossing this threshold means you’ve shed the shackles of a mortal’s body. Hence, the Golden Core Stage isn’t subdivided into trivial small realms like the previous nine layers. It consists only of early, middle, and late stages."

Chen Ye raised an eyebrow and listened intently.

"Do not think that without the nine-layer division, cultivation in the Golden Core Stage will be simple."

Xu Henshan shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly,

"On the contrary, the span and difficulty of cultivation in the three stages of the Golden Core far exceed human imagination. Each of these early, middle, and late stages is separated by a qualitative gap like a chasm. They could each be considered a new major realm!"

Saying this, Xu Henshan tapped three times on the wooden table beside the law platform and broke it down for Chen Ye with a grave expression:

"The Golden Core Stage is generally divided into three realms—"

Chen Ye nodded silently after hearing this.

This wasn’t much different from the realms in games from his past life.

The Early-stage Golden Core is known as the Jade Liquid Realm.

In this realm, the cultivator condenses the illusory into the real, initially consolidating the Three Treasures. What are the Three Treasures? They are Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

In this phase, the Golden Core is lustrous, appearing like dewdrops or light fog, resembling a Jade Core.

Once achieved, the Spiritual Power is vast, allowing one to roam the heavens and earth freely, earning the name of True Man.

The Mid-stage Golden Core is called the Kanli Realm.

In this realm, the cultivator uses their body and mind as a furnace, yin and yang as fire, to temper the Golden Core.

During this phase, the Core becomes solid and full like a pearl, taking on a golden red or bright yellow hue, its brilliance stable and rotating of its own accord.

At this time, mana becomes mystical, capable of comprehending the Great Dao, performing Divine Skills, and moving mountains and seas with ease.

The Late-stage Golden Core is known as the No Leakage Realm.

In this realm, the Spirit and Qi embrace each other, and there is an embryo within the Core.

At this phase, the Core’s brilliance is restrained, returning to simplicity, with purple aura inside, bursting with vitality, and spiritual mechanisms pulsing like a heartbeat.

Once achieved, mana becomes flawless, lifespan greatly increases, and Divine Skills come as easily as turning one’s hand.

Xu Henshan sighed:

"In the realm of Yan Kingdom, most of the old folks have stopped at the Jade Liquid Realm. Achieving Perfection in the No Leakage Realm is as hard as ascending to heaven."

"I wonder what cultivation level the Grand Elder possesses?" Chen Ye asked curiously.

The Grand Elder, in his eyes, had unfathomable cultivation, truly the premier cultivator of Lingyin Sect.

Xu Henshan remarked admiringly:

"The Grand Elder passed the Jade Liquid Realm a hundred years ago and has now reached the peak of the Kanli Realm. He is only half a step away from the No Leakage Realm. In the Cultivation Realm of Yan Kingdom, only someone from the Refining God Sect might surpass him."

Hearing this, Chen Ye gained a clearer understanding of Lingyin Sect’s overall strength.

If he remembered correctly,

True Man Dongshan of Huayue Mansion, as a head of academy, also had cultivation just in the Kanli Realm.

From Xu Henshan’s account, the Grand Elder might actually suppress even True Man Dongshan.

"The Grand Elder is so formidable, it has indeed stabilized the situation in Yan Kingdom quite a bit."

Chen Ye drained the Spirit Tea in his cup, feeling settled.

Unless Huayue Mansion is determined to declare war on Lingyin,

Otherwise,

True Man Dongshan alone would have to reconsider many times if he wanted to take revenge for Gu Tangyin.

However, Chen Ye was quite interested in the phrase "performing Divine Skills and moving mountains and seas", and couldn’t help but ask again:

"Senior, could you explain the profoundness of Divine Skills? How do they fundamentally differ from the Magic, Sword Techniques we use in the Foundation Establishment Stage?"

Xu Henshan stroked his beard and smiled:

"Magic is a method executed by borrowing Spiritual Qi. Divine Skills, however, are innate methods where a Golden Core Stage cultivator engraves a segment of heavenly rules onto their Golden Core! The power is immense, the effects are miraculous, beyond ordinary imagination."

The elder spoke with a somewhat longing expression:

"Unfortunately, a cultivator’s Core Formation, limited by their natural talent and the quality of the Golden Core, often allows them to engrave only one most compatible Divine Skill on the Golden Core throughout their life."

"Just one Divine Skill?" Chen Ye was startled.

"Precisely."

Xu Henshan sighed,

"Heavenly rules cannot tolerate chaos. Only those with extraordinary talent or some with great fortune can engrave multiple Divine Skills. Otherwise, forcibly engraving a second will only cause the Golden Core to crack, destroying the Tao Foundation."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye pursed his lips.

This also aligns with the original game setting nicely.

In the games from his past life, when player characters breakthrough beyond the Kanli Realm, a qualitative change occurs in the skill bar, unlocking a special slot for Divine Skills, but unlike Magic, there’s just one slot for Divine Skills unless certain storylines or fortuitous items unlock additional slots.

Collecting his thoughts, Chen Ye clasped his hands with a smile:

"Thank you, senior, for parting the clouds for me. The profoundness of Divine Skills and the Golden Core indeed opened my eyes."

Xu Henshan waved his hand with a serious expression: