Chapter 505: Chapter 411: Forming the Golden Core Again

Year two.

Spring passed and autumn came, the mountain peach bloomed and withered, yet not a single anomaly of Core Formation emerged from the bamboo house at the back of the mountain.

Li Xuan pinched a simple perception technique with his fingertips and probed in the direction of the bamboo house.

The Spiritual Qi was condensed and steady, but it was still the fluctuations of the Heartbeat Realm, without the slightest sign of a Golden Core emerging.

"Senior Brother is just too arrogant. If his state of mind is insufficient, he should honestly refine it. What’s the use of hiding in the house for closed-door training?"

Not long ago, he had just knocked on the door twice, only to be blasted away with a "Get lost."

Li Xuan sighed:

"Every time he drives people away like this, can he really form a High Grade Golden Core just by hard cultivation?"

Year three, the plum blossoms bloom.

That morning, a piece of news quickly spread across the nearby Cultivation Realm.

Wood Daoist of Mu Xia Valley was slain across realms by Ling Wenxuan of Bu Tian Dao with his late-stage Heartbeat cultivation!

Ling Wenxuan, proud as a peerless prodigy, only killed Wood Daoist, leaving the rest of Mu Xia Valley untouched.

He even left a famous line: If you haven’t formed a High Grade Golden Core, you’re not even qualified to die by my hand!

Upon hearing the news, Li Xuan muttered to himself:

"Heartbeat slaying High Grade Golden Core... truly the talent of a True Immortal!"

After marveling, he recalled the splendid scenes at Wood Daoist’s pill-forming banquet back then and couldn’t help but mourn:

"What a pity for Daoist Mu. It’s so difficult for a small sect to produce a High Grade Golden Core, and in just three years, he has already fallen..."

Suddenly, he slapped his thigh, a flicker of fear in his eyes:

"Fortunately, Senior Brother hasn’t refined a High Grade Golden Core! Otherwise, whether he could survive the Heart Tribute Tribulation is another matter, let alone this inescapable Tribulation of Man!"

He remembered that Senior Brother was already sixty years old this year, eleven years older than he was, and frowned again:

"At this age, if High Grade Golden Core is unattainable, even a Middle Lower Grade Golden Core would bring a life span of three centuries, which is better than wasting time."

That afternoon, Li Xuan went to the back mountain again. The bamboo house door remained tightly closed. As he approached, he heard a cold shout from inside:

"I said I’m in closed-door training; can’t you understand human language?"

Li Xuan shrank his neck, softly advising:

"Senior Brother, how about forming a Lower Grade Golden Core? It’s safer..."

"Get lost!"

...

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, another five years have passed.

During these five years, Ling Wenxuan’s fame soared like the sun at noon.

When condensing a High Grade Golden Core, he attracted an Immortal Cauldron, and then single-handedly slew a rampant Nascent Soul of an outer path, ranking sixth on the Ming Guang Realm’s prodigy list.

When the news reached Tian Mu Sect, Li Xuan was startled but merely glanced at the back mountain and continued his devoted cultivation.

...

This snowy year, Li Xuan visited the back mountain again. Just as he was about to knock, a familiar cold voice came from inside: "Get lost!"

Li Xuan’s lips moved but eventually, he just sighed and softly said, "Senior Brother, it’s cold. I’ve brought you a jar of warming rice wine."

After leaving the wine jar, he turned and left, murmuring to himself:

"Oh, Senior Brother, why are you so arrogant..."

Returning to his own Cultivation Dojo, Li Xuan grasped the Purple Light Treasure Wheel tightly, his gaze becoming determined:

"So be it. I’m not stronger than Senior Brother yet, but when I achieve Heartbeat Perfection, I’ll persuade him!"

Over the years, he had visited the back mountain frequently. It was ostensibly to advise, but in reality, he wanted to ensure Senior Brother was safe.

After all, his master had passed away in seclusion, and he feared something might happen to Senior Brother too.

...

Another four years passed, and Ling Wenxuan was already dominating the world.

Today, he defeated a hidden elder to seize an ancient treasure, tomorrow, he fought a Nascent Soul old demon head-on, and the day after, he narrowly escaped from the hands of Venerable Yin Shen. On the prodigy list, he sat firmly at number one, unmatched in fame.

Meanwhile, on this very morning, Li Xuan solemnly opened his eyes in his cave dwelling, his Spiritual Qi receding like a tide, his Heartbeat Perfection cultivation thoroughly solidified.

He caressed the Purple Light Treasure Wheel and drew a deep breath:

"It’s time to persuade Senior Brother."

"Senior Brother’s talent and comprehension surpass mine; now that I’ve caught up, he should be alerted, right?"

Years of linguistic persuasion having failed, he resolved to "persuade" through force, to wake up his Senior Brother’s obsession.

Yet, when he reached the back mountain entrance, he stopped again.

The memories of being "taught" by Senior Brother’s "heavy-handed lessons" over the years surged back, causing immense hesitation.

"Death it is then!"

Then, as he just reached the back mountain, Li Xuan was blown back three steps by a tidal wave of Spiritual Qi.

When he opened his eyes, his entire body froze in place!

Above the rear mountain, the previously clear sky suddenly grew dark with clouds, purple lightning darting through the layers like swimming dragons, intertwined into a net!

Even more astonishing were the vaguely visible dragons and tigers dancing in the clouds, radiating brilliance across the sky!

"Thunder and fire stir, dragons and tigers gather... this, this is the Core Formation phenomenon for High Grade Golden Core!"

Li Xuan recalled the years of worry and persuasion, tears instantly blurred his eyes, unable to suppress a sob:

"Senior Brother... he’s passed the Heart-Questioning Tribulation! Even thunder and fire have been summoned!"

At that moment, a low, clear whistle rose from within the bamboo house, echoing with the thunder in the sky.

Li Xuan wiped his tears, quickly picking up the treasure wheel with immense joy:

"I’ll safeguard for Senior Brother, nobody’s allowed to disturb!"

...

As the thunder and fire converged, a crimson glow suddenly streaked across the sky, falling steadily on the open space before the bamboo house like a meteor.

The glow receded, revealing an old man clad in a Moon White Daoist Robe, with a face rosy like an infant, silver beard gently waving in the wind, surrounded by the faint pressure of a Golden Core.

It was none other than Master Bai Shou, the only Golden Core Cultivator of Tianmu Sect.

"Greetings, Master Uncle!"

Upon seeing this, Li Xuan hurried forward, bowing respectfully.

His master, along with Shi Jian, was Bai Shou’s junior, unable to overcome the Heart-Questioning Tribulation while pursuing a High Grade Golden Core over forty years ago, leading to the collapse of his Dao Heart and fall.

Since then, Bai Shou had taken considerable care of them.

Master Bai Shou extended a hand to lift Li Xuan, then gazed intensely at the sky, unable to suppress the joy on his face, loudly proclaiming:

"What a grand All-Phenomena Heart-Questioning Tribulation!"

"Thunder and fire intertwining, the toughest part about a High Grade Golden Core is none other than the Heart-Questioning Tribulation. Now with thunder and fire coiling, dragons and tigers spiraling, the High Grade Golden Core can be achieved!"

"The wish for a High Grade Golden Core that’s been awaited by your lineage for decades is finally going to be realized in Shi Jian’s hands!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan, amidst his joy, also recalled the regret of his master’s sudden demise without a final meeting, eyes slightly reddening:

"Master Uncle speaks truly! Senior Brother... he has finally succeeded!"

As the words fell, a muffled sound suddenly echoed from the sky.

Looking up, Chen Sheng’s figure staggered slightly as purple lightning struck him.

Though he timely summoned a golden glow to block it, the Spiritual Qi around him noticeably became chaotic, looking somewhat embarrassed as he dodged the subsequent Tribulation Lightning.

Li Xuan’s heart instantly leaped to his throat, casting his gaze towards Master Bai Shou.

Master Bai Shou’s smile dimmed slightly, coughing lightly with a hint of embarrassment:

"Our sect’s foundation is indeed shallow; however, your Senior Brother’s talent in magic has always been outstanding, he should be able to endure through it."

At this moment, several figures landed on the open space, the remaining seven late-stage Elders of Tianmu Sect.

As soon as they arrived, they were astonished by the Core Formation phenomenon in the sky, recognizing Shi Jian was undergoing the Golden Core Tribulation, their faces burst into jubilance:

"It’s Daoist Shi! He’s really refined a High Grade Golden Core!"

"With a High Grade Golden Core cultivator, our sect can finally lift its head in the future!"

The few Elders murmured amongst themselves, their eyes filled with anticipation and reverence.

...

Time slowly passed, the thunder and fire in the sky gradually thinning. As the last bolt of purple lightning was struck apart, the myriad phenomena abruptly receded.

Chen Sheng also gradually ended the performance, his figure swaying as he floated down from the sky, his hair disheveled, Spiritual Qi around him fluctuating erratically, obviously greatly exhausted.

At the moment of landing, he suddenly stood upright, brushing off the dust on his clothes, sweeping his gaze through the crowd, speaking loudly:

"Thirteen years guarding the Pill Furnace, toiling over texts till white hair knocks the Dao path, unyielding despite thunder and fire, dragons and tigers return bearing true me!"

The verses rang aloud, making the crowd present stand in solemn reverence.

This was clearly not just a simple Core Formation, but a Dao Heart tempered through decades of effort!

Li Xuan knew better than anyone the persistence of his Senior Brother over the years; his Senior Brother now nearing seventy, had forced himself until old age for the High Grade Golden Core.

Master Bai Shou was the first to respond, stepping forward with clasped hands and a smile:

"Congratulations to Daoist Shi Jian on achieving Core Formation! Such perseverance should be a model for our sect!"

He deliberately altered the form of address, using "Daoist" to show respect towards a High Grade Golden Core cultivator.

The other seven Elders hurriedly followed suit, bowing together, their voices sonorous:

"Greetings, Master Shi!"

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, his voice still carrying a hint of coldness, yet lacking the usual arrogance:

"Thank you, Sect Master, and fellow Elders."

His gaze shifted, landing on Li Xuan who was radiating joy beside him, suddenly snorting coldly:

"What? With your Heart-Acting Perfection, has your courage grown? You dared to barge onto my seclusion grounds with the Purple Light Treasure Wheel before, planning to teach me a lesson?"

Li Xuan shivered with fear, hurriedly waving his hands, moving forward to murmur with a laughing apology:

"Senior Brother is mistaken! I was worried something might happen during your seclusion, intending to knock and check, I’d never dare act rashly regardless of borrowing ten guts!"

Chen Sheng snorted gently: "I’m happy today, we’ll settle this another day!"