Chapter 334 : Saintess Yun Yao
Chapter 334: Saintess Yun Yao
Several days later, the Sword Attendant stabilized her cultivation realm and emerged from seclusion.
And the Xuanyin Pavilion also held a Core Formation Celebration for the Sword Attendant.
“Congratulations to the fairy on forming the Golden Core.”
“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin.”
“Fellow Daoist Lin’s romantic fortune truly makes us envious.”
At the Core Formation Celebration, some people sincerely brought gifts to build goodwill.
There were also some old foxes who spoke flattering words merely to avoid offending anyone.
And there were even some whose words subtly carried the intent of sowing discord or drawing people over to their side.
However, Lin Chang’an wore a smile on his face, as if he had not understood the hidden meanings behind those words.
As for the Sword Attendant who had successfully formed her Golden Core and emerged from seclusion, joy from her breakthrough was evident on her face.
“Congratulations, Senior, on forming the Golden Core.”
Li Tianmo, Shen Zhuang, and Zhou Bingxuan, as long-time cultivators of Celestial Spring Peak, also stepped forward to offer their congratulations.
“Mm.”
Looking at the three of them, the Sword Attendant merely nodded lightly and did not put on any airs.
Yet the three of them looked at her with eyes filled with admiration and longing. This was a Core Formation Cultivator whose journey they had personally witnessed from the very beginning.
Today, the Sword Attendant wore dark-green combat attire interwoven with dark-gold patterns. Her figure stood tall and straight like a pine tree. Her pair of heterochromatic eyes were sharp and bright, and her features carried a hint of heroic elegance.
“Cultivate well.”
For someone as cold and withdrawn as the Sword Attendant, being able to say these four words to Li Tianmo, Shen Zhuang, and Zhou Bingxuan was already quite rare.
The three of them flushed slightly with excitement and cupped their fists.
“Senior, we will certainly work hard.”
However, when the Sword Attendant turned around and continued standing behind Lin Chang’an—as if the true host of today’s Core Formation Celebration was Lin Chang’an—those three gradually calmed down.
“Core Formation… how could it be that easy?”
Shen Zhuang was the first to recover. He shook his head and sighed softly.
With his aptitude, reaching the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm was already quite good. Forming a Golden Core required not only talent and perseverance, but also certain opportunities.
“If we don’t try, how would we know!”
Compared to him, Zhou Bingxuan’s gaze was resolute. At the very least, she did not want to regret anything in this life.
“Exactly. As cultivators, if we do not even possess this bit of fighting spirit, then why cultivate at all? We might as well return early to Yue Kingdom.”
Under Li Tianmo’s firm gaze, he looked toward the distant Core Formation Cultivators who stood high above the rest, and a deep sense of admiration rose within his heart.
The three of them looked at each other and smiled.
However, Shen Zhuang sighed inwardly. He always remembered what his grandmother had told him—one must know one’s own limits.
Take things step by step. Do not aim too high too quickly. First cultivate to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm before thinking further.
…
After the Core Formation Celebration ended, Celestial Spring Peak once again returned to its usual tranquility.
Inside the pavilion, Lin Chang’an sat before a stone table while the Sword Attendant stood beside him, respectfully pouring tea.
“You are now a Core Formation Cultivator. There is no need to do this.”
However, upon hearing this, the Sword Attendant remained unmoved. She lowered her head in silence, expressing her stance without words.
Looking at the spirit tea before him, Lin Chang’an finally picked it up. A rare smile appeared on the Sword Attendant’s face.
“Now that you have formed your Golden Core, the complete cultivation method of the Killing Origin Sword Art is here.
For others, this is a demonic cultivation method with severe side effects.
But for you, it can unleash the greatest power of this cultivation method.”
At the same time, this was also the strongest sword cultivation technique in Lin Chang’an’s possession.
“Thank you, Master.”
“Also, the current situation is still relatively stable. There is no rush to refine your life-bound magical artifact. The sect will also gradually help you gather the materials.”
Regarding the Sword Attendant’s future plans, Lin Chang’an could only say that, as fellow Core Formation Cultivators, this was all he could do.
“Master, I can already feel that a strand of Heavenly Spirit Energy has begun to form inside my body. Even my body itself seems to have undergone some changes.”
Toward Lin Chang’an, the Sword Attendant held nothing back and began explaining the changes in her body after forming her Golden Core.
“Heavenly Spirit Energy.”
Under the moonlight inside the pavilion, Lin Chang’an extended his hand and gently touched the Sword Attendant’s lower abdomen. A trace of cool energy circulated around her dantian.
Lin Chang’an nodded inwardly.
This must be the Heavenly Spirit Sword Qi that was beginning to take form.
Although there was only a trace of it now, as her cultivation grew stronger, the spiritual energy nurtured within her body would become increasingly dense.
“Master… my body here…”
The Sword Attendant formed a hand seal and cast a barrier technique around the pavilion.
Immediately, the Azure-Horned Ox in the pool raised its head in confusion.
Why had its master suddenly cast a barrier inside the cave abode?
The scene inside had become hazy and indistinct.
Inside the pavilion, under the moonlight, the Sword Attendant’s slender jade hands trembled slightly as she slowly loosened the bindings on her chest.
Smooth and flawless skin appeared before the eyes, and under the moonlight it emitted a soft jade-like glow.
“This is—”
Above her chest and beneath her throat, a silver-white scale had grown in reverse.
“A reverse scale!”
Lin Chang’an blurted out involuntarily.
Under the moonlight, the Sword Attendant’s heterochromatic eyes shone brightly. She slightly opened her mouth, revealing a pair of small tiger-like fangs that carried a sharp aura.
“In that case, the bloodline awakening inside your body is likely from the Flood Dragon Clan.”
At this moment, Lin Chang’an suddenly understood.
In the depths of the Beast Sea Abyss, there were rumors of a Dragon Palace thousands of zhang beneath the sea, the true overlord of the Sea Abyss.
It had once fought great battles with human cultivators. Later, it was said that an agreement was reached with the Great Jin Dynasty, which finally brought an end to the conflict between sea and land.
Within the Beast Sea Abyss, countless Sea Beasts carried traces of dragon bloodline.
Over endless years, many hybrid cultivators with awakened dragon bloodlines had naturally appeared among humans as well.
“Master, I can feel that after forming the Golden Core, my vitality and blood have become much stronger. I have also awakened the ability to control lightning.”
The Sword Attendant raised her palm.
A Sword Gleam appeared, but the invisible blade faintly carried a trace of lightning.
“Lightning has always been known for its destructive power in the world of cultivation. Combined with this spiritual body, the potential is immense.”
During her Core Formation, Lin Chang’an had already guessed part of it. What he had not expected was that the Sword Attendant possessed dragon bloodline.
No wonder when she was still in the Foundation Establishment Realm, her lifespan had already exceeded that of ordinary human-beast hybrids.
Afterward, the Sword Attendant explained in detail all the changes within her body since forming the Golden Core.
“Right now your bloodline has stabilized because it has reached a temporary balance. But as you continue cultivating, this balance may be broken again…”
Facing the Sword Attendant’s constitution, Lin Chang’an frowned deeply.
Human-beast hybrids were indeed a great problem.
Rather than saying that her bloodline had awakened again after forming the Golden Core, it was more accurate to say that as her cultivation grew stronger, the two bloodlines within her had begun to fuse further.
But they could never reach perfect fusion.
Otherwise, the human-beast hybrid race would not live such difficult lives in the cultivation world.
Yet the Sword Attendant, even after forming her Golden Core, still held nothing back from him.
This feeling was something Lin Chang’an had never experienced before.
It was not submission born of fear.
Nor was it flattery motivated by benefits.
It was something pure—unchanged, unwavering trust and reliance.
This feeling…
Well.
It felt very good.
Lin Chang’an had to admit this thought in his heart.
He was not an immortal; he still possessed the seven emotions and six desires.
…
After the Sword Attendant formed her Golden Core, it caused quite a sensation.
After all, a Mid-grade True Core meant enormous potential, and for Xuanyin Pavilion it undoubtedly strengthened their power once again.
However, in the Beast Sea Abyss, the stage was always changing hands.
Cultivators sent by the Blazing Fire Sect of the Five Dragon Island Sea Region to investigate had been killed.
It was said that the method used belonged to cultivators of Bihai Palace, which caused a great uproar.
But all of this no longer concerned Lin Chang’an.
At this moment, he was in secluded cultivation inside his cave abode.
Inside the Earthfire Cavern.
Under the scorching flames of earthfire and pill fire, the remaining Clear Spirit Jade had already been refined into the shape of a gourd.
“Within the inheritance of the Sinister Soul Sect, there is a method for refining a spirit item. If an item is refined using Clear Spirit Jade to store things, it can preserve spiritual energy permanently without loss.
The Clear Spirit Energy can even nurture spirit items, producing even better effects.
Although this object is not a magical artifact, its refinement method is hardly inferior.”
Looking at the jade gourd that was about to take shape, Lin Chang’an revealed a satisfied smile.
The gains from the Sinister Soul Sect had been immense.
The Clear Spirit Pill formula he used earlier had also been found while searching through their inheritance for Clear Spirit materials.
Such methods were extremely difficult to find outside.
But for a Nascent Soul-level sect like the Sinister Soul Sect that had been passed down for thousands of years, there were countless inheritances and records.
“Previously, I discovered many uses of Clear Spirit Jade within this ancient inheritance text. Part of it was used to refine Clear Spirit Pills, and the rest cannot be wasted.”
Previously, the Clear Spirit Jade in his hands had only displayed thirty to forty percent of its potential.
Now he intended to fully develop its value.
“This spirit item is perfect for storing Ice Marrow Jade Liquid.”
The Ice Marrow Jade Liquid spirit wine was a precious wine formula he had obtained at Treasure Pavilion.
It could increase his cultivation speed.
Over the years he had been collecting materials.
Furthermore, after the previous incident with the Blazing Fire Sect cultivator robbers, he had obtained a late third-rank water-attribute Demon Core.
Rather than waste it, he crushed and refined it into the spirit wine.
And this jade gourd would be the best vessel to store and ferment it.
“This is not wasteful. According to the records, this spirit item can also nurture Yin-type spirit beasts or various spirit items. Spirit wine is also one of them.”
As time passed, several days later the flames dissipated.
A beautifully crafted jade gourd slowly floated down into his palm.
【Lifespan: 212 / 784】
【Cultivation Realm: Mid Core Formation (20 / 100)】
Looking at the jade gourd in his palm, Lin Chang’an smiled.
“This Ice Marrow Jade Liquid spirit wine assists cultivation based on the principle of the Five Elements generating one another. Over the long term, its effect surpasses pills.”
At his current realm, pills capable of directly increasing cultivation required extremely rare spiritual herbs.
It was difficult to gather them continuously.
But spirit wine based on the Yin-Yang Five Elements generation principle had relatively easier materials to obtain.
The most important ingredient was the Demon Core.
“I cultivate a Wood-attribute cultivation method. In the Five Elements cycle, water nourishes wood, and wood generates fire.”
Water-attribute Demon Cores were actually the most common in the Beast Sea Abyss.
“With this, maintaining my current cultivation speed will not be a problem.”
Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered.
Recently, he had already felt that his cultivation speed was slowing compared to before.
Although he still had a long lifespan, the Secret Realm would open in less than seventy years.
Naturally, he had to find ways to increase his strength quickly.
The Secret Realm would not wait for him.
“In terms of cultivation, this spirit wine will assist me. As for the Demon Core materials I need, the Two-headed Tiger-form Sinister Spirit Beast King in the Fog Sea of Tongtian can help provide them. I can go hunting every three to five years.
Then I can exchange Sinister Spirit Demon Cores in the marketplace for water-attribute Demon Cores and some Third-rank Great Demon Blood Essence to assist body refinement.”
In this way, whether hunting the Sinister Spirit Beast King or other beasts, it would save him a great deal of time.
“For cultivation, these are already the best conditions. Even personal disciples of some Nascent Soul sects may not possess the resources I currently have.”
“Next, I must begin planning for entering the Secret Realm.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an fell into deep thought.
The dangers within the Secret Realm required no explanation.
Heaven-calamity Wind, poison miasma, extreme cold, and intense heat alone were enough to demand caution.
“I am immune to poison, and the heat should not be a problem thanks to my life-bound magical artifact Sun-Piercing Divine Sword. That leaves only extreme cold and Heaven-calamity Wind.”
It was said that inside the Secret Realm, even Core Formation Cultivators suffered greatly when facing these extreme environments, needing to expend enormous amounts of mana to resist them.
But excessive mana consumption was dangerous, since the Secret Realm’s threats were far greater than just environmental hazards.
“The best solution is to refine specialized defensive magical artifacts that can counter extreme cold and Heaven-calamity Wind. The Sixth Elder will provide some assistance, perhaps even protective magical artifacts.”
But Lin Chang’an knew very well—
What others provided could never be as reliable as what he prepared himself.
“It seems I must prepare to refine defensive magical artifacts suited for this purpose.”
Fortunately, the inheritance of the Sinister Soul Sect contained many such methods.
After all, the Sinister Soul Sect had once been one of the Twenty-four Zhenhai Sects of the Beast Sea Abyss.
It was natural that they possessed knowledge about the First Secret Realm.
“Now it can be said that I have inherited most of the Sinister Soul Sect’s legacy.”
Even if others later noticed traces of the Sinister Soul Sect in his techniques, he did not care.
Many cultivators in the sea regions neighboring the Ghost Domain had obtained fragments of that inheritance.
If he displayed some similarities, it would appear perfectly reasonable.
“Although I possess the Sinister Soul Sect’s inheritance, I must not miss the opportunity to obtain information from the Mystic Yin Divine Sect.”
Just then, the voice-transmission jade talisman in his hand began glowing.
Lin Chang’an smiled.
Combining information from both sides would maximize the benefits.
…
“Congratulations, Brother Lin.”
Under the moonlight, Yun Yao silently arrived at Celestial Spring Peak.
Inside the pavilion, Lin Chang’an had already prepared spirit wine and spirit dishes while waiting.
The moment they met, Yun Yao offered congratulations.
In truth, she was congratulating the Sword Attendant for forming her Golden Core.
“I wonder if I should address you now as Saintess… or Fairy.”
Lin Chang’an smiled relaxedly and teased Yun Yao.
After returning to the Mystic Yin Divine Sect, Yun Yao had already secured the position of Saintess.
Although the news had not yet spread widely, through Bihai Palace’s Treasure Pavilion, Lin Chang’an could still obtain intelligence from certain Nascent Soul factions.
Today Yun Yao wore palace robes adorned with white cloud patterns.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, and her entire presence radiated an icy aura that discouraged others from approaching—like a solitary ice lotus blooming atop a snowy mountain.
However, the moment she saw Lin Chang’an, the ice lotus blossomed, revealing a breathtaking smile.
Thanks to all fellow Daoists for your support.