Chapter 392 - 210: Golden Core Formation

Chapter 392: Chapter 210: Golden Core Formation

Yue Qingyu’s words passed through his ears and flowed directly into Xu Ran’s heart.

He stared blankly at Senior Sister Yue, at the sincere yet gentle smile on her face. At this moment, he finally understood.

’That’s right. I’ve always been someone who cherishes my life, so what’s wrong with prioritizing my own foundation first?’

’Why must I go against my own heart and pursue things that don’t align with it?’

The path of sentiment wasn’t just about being willing to give everything for others, even sacrificing oneself. He had never been such a noble person.

He was just a Longevity Seeker with an endless lifespan who wanted to attain the Great Dao. Along the path, doing his best to give back to the world he witnessed was enough.

’Senior Sister Yue really sees things clearly. I was actually getting bogged down in pointless details.’

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, and scenes from his experiences after arriving in this world began to surface.

Then, a roar echoed in his mind. All the images he saw scattered with a BANG, only to slowly converge again.

Strands of profound aura rose from within him, and endless Dao Rhyme swirled around his body. Among them, four streams of Dao Rhyme containing a special aura began to condense, almost becoming tangible.

Just as Teacher Qing Xuan had said, his accumulation was more than sufficient. Now that he had broken through his inner turmoil, achieving the Transformation Golden Core was a natural course of events.

With the Golden Core Transformation Dao, the enlightenments of a lifetime transform into a Dao Illusion, its imprint entrusted to the heavens and the earth. From then on, a brand new Dao, one belonging solely to him, would exist in the world.

Zhao Wuyang had once told Xu Ran that the reason Cultivators lived longer than mortals was because they possessed their own Dao. The length of one’s life was related to how long their Dao could exist. If the Dao could last forever, so too would their lifespan.

The Dao of a Qi Cultivation Stage Cultivator was like a single spark that quickly extinguished, which was why those in the Qi Cultivation Stage typically only had a lifespan of one hundred and fifty years.

The Golden Core Stage granted a lifespan of one thousand two hundred years not only because a Cultivator at this stage had forged their own Dao, but more importantly, the Dao of the Golden Core could entrust its Dao Illusion to the world, letting the heavens and the earth bear the consumption and allowing one’s Dao to exist for much longer before extinguishing.

As the Dao Rhyme condensed and his Dao Illusion appeared, Xu Ran immediately noticed a problem. As his body was undergoing its transformation, the surrounding Spiritual Qi couldn’t keep up.

A moment ago, he had been struck by inspiration and broken through naturally, but he had almost forgotten—or rather, with the opportunity for a breakthrough arriving so suddenly, he hadn’t had time to think. He was currently outside the Sect’s main gate, in the area with the thinnest Spiritual Qi, a result of the Sect’s grand formation.

Now, as he broke through to the Golden Core, the Spiritual Qi in the vicinity was completely insufficient.

He grew anxious. At this critical moment of his breakthrough, he couldn’t move at all.

’Should I interrupt the breakthrough and try again after I get back?’

The thought had just flashed through his mind when his expression suddenly lifted. He felt an endless supply of pure Spiritual Qi surging toward him.

Just as he was wondering where this Spiritual Qi was coming from, Senior Sister Yue’s voice suddenly reached his ears:

"Junior Brother, focus on your breakthrough."

Hearing Senior Sister Yue’s voice, how could Xu Ran not understand that this was her doing?

He opened his eyes slightly and saw Senior Sister Yue sitting cross-legged, her hands forming a Dao Seal. Endless Spiritual Power poured from her body, transforming into pure Spiritual Qi and flowing toward him.

Seeing this, a flicker of doubt crossed Xu Ran’s mind. ’How is she doing that?’

But the doubt quickly turned into gratitude. ’Senior Sister Yue always helps me without a moment’s hesitation.’

The thought passed in an instant. With an abundance of Spiritual Qi, he had no time for further reflection and focused on his breakthrough.

As the Spiritual Qi from Senior Sister Yue flowed into his body, he couldn’t help but marvel. ’So this is her Spiritual Power?’

’It’s so pure and warm.’

’Just like her—transcendent, yet gentle and considerate.’

*

*

*

Half a day later, the aura within Xu Ran’s body settled. The moment he opened his eyes, Senior Sister Yue’s voice reached his ears:

"Congratulations, Junior Brother, on attaining the Golden Core."

Xu Ran looked at the smiling Yue Qingyu, raised his hands slightly, and said softly, "Thank you, Senior Sister."

Yue Qingyu’s gaze fell upon him, studying him for a moment before she said with a light chuckle, "It’s good that you’ve broken through. Junior Brother, let’s go back."

Xu Ran nodded slightly with a soft "mhm" and fell into step beside her. The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder toward the Sect.

After returning to his Cave Mansion, Ye Shu had also just returned from the Scripture Pavilion. Seeing the change in Xu Ran’s aura, his face lit up with pleasure. "Uncle Xu, did you break through?"

Almost everyone in the Sect addressed Xu Ran by his Daoist title, Hidden Mountain, but Ye Shu had always called him Uncle Xu. To them, they were more like family.

Xu Ran nodded lightly at his words, a smile on his face as he replied, "Mhm, I broke through."

"Congratulations, Uncle Xu." A happy smile appeared on Ye Shu’s aged face.

Xu Ran waved his hand slightly, his expression calm as he said, "It’s nothing. Didn’t you break through as well?"

A few years ago, on the eve of his lifespan limit in the Purple Mansion Stage, Ye Shu had once again managed a last-minute breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage.

After speaking, he looked at Ye Shu, pondered for a moment, and then asked seriously, "How has your cultivation been recently? Is it going smoothly? Are you confident you can reach the Nascent Soul Stage?"

After Ye Shu broke through to the Golden Core Stage, Xu Ran gave him a Dust-Sealed Stone and told him to enter the Dust-Sealed state.

But Ye Shu refused, saying he planned to become Dust-Sealed after breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

He also gave his reasons. He said he was already nearly six hundred years old. If he became Dust-Sealed now, he would lose ten to thirty percent of his lifespan upon being unsealed, leaving him with very little time left. After being unsealed in the future, he might not be able to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

It would be better to take advantage of the fact that the Dao Concealment wasn’t yet complete, break through to the Nascent Soul Stage first, and then become Dust-Sealed.

After listening to Ye Shu’s explanation, Xu Ran thought about it and felt it made a lot of sense. Judging by Ye Shu’s past cultivation speed, he should break through to the Nascent Soul Stage in about six hundred years. The Dao Concealment would not be complete by then, so a breakthrough should be possible.

However, he also set a condition for Ye Shu: he had to reach the Golden Core Middle Stage within two hundred years. Otherwise, he would have to follow his arrangements and become Dust-Sealed.

Furthermore, if the Dao Concealment progressed too quickly during this time and the cultivation environment in the world became worse than expected, he would also have to become Dust-Sealed.

Although he disliked forcing others, Ye Shu had been entrusted to him by Ye Shan and the Little Witch. When it came to a matter of life and death, he had to be a little more firm.

After the Dao Concealment dissipates, there will be countless opportunities. Surely, lifespan-extending Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or Elixirs could be found. If Ye Shu’s lifespan proved insufficient, he could just give him some life-prolonging items to extend it.

Hearing his concern, Ye Shu nodded and replied, "Rest assured, Uncle Xu. Your nephew’s cultivation is going smoothly, and I won’t force myself. If I truly encounter difficulties, I will voluntarily become Dust-Sealed."

Hearing this, Xu Ran nodded slightly, made a sound of acknowledgment, and said, "I’m relieved to hear you say that."

After speaking, the uncle and nephew walked silently into the Cave Mansion.

A few days later, the couple Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge, whom he hadn’t heard from in a long time, sent him a message. They said they were preparing to become Dust-Sealed and wanted to say goodbye. They also mentioned that they had already said their farewells to Chen Chang’an.

In addition, Zhao Wuyang brought him another piece of news. He said that a hundred years into the Hidden Dao Era, many roaming bandits had appeared on their side in the Demon Dao.

Those were people who had not obtained a Dust-Sealed Stone. Taking advantage of the fact that it was a hundred years into the Hidden Dao Era and most people within the major factions had become Dust-Sealed, leaving them understaffed and poorly defended, they planned to plunder more resources.

Zhao Wuyang reminded Xu Ran to be careful, both for himself and for the Profound Pure Sect. Ever since someone had started it, more and more such people had appeared. The Cultivation Realm would surely be chaotic for some time to come.

Hearing Zhao Wuyang’s news, Xu Ran was slightly startled, but he quickly relaxed. This kind of situation was long expected and not surprising.

If not for the need to guard against such things, everyone would have become Dust-Sealed together long ago.

Such is the human heart; it was only natural.