Chapter 276 : Half-Step into the Golden Core
Chapter 276: Half-Step into the Golden Core
Chaos World, the border where Yin and Yang remained undivided.
The originally gray and hazy void suddenly rippled.
Under Chen Beiwu’s gaze, a slender and striking streak of Orange Fate radiance emerged like the dawn breaking through the darkness.
This strand of Fate, equal in brilliance to the Orange Fate he had accumulated through Divine Accumulation over the years, burst forth in tandem.
‘Destroying a Third-Tier Evil Formation and refining the Dragon Vein... even that can grant me Fate?’
Chen Beiwu examined himself with his divine sense and quickly understood.
If his guess was correct, both guarding and destroying a Dragon Vein could seize the power of the heavens and bring about the blessing of Fate.
The former, however, provided a less intense Orange Fate, akin to a gentle stream nourishing all in silence—quietly enhancing a cultivator's fortune without side effects.
The latter was simple and violent—through using Nine-Breath Chaos, one could forcibly seize a vast amount of Fate equal to that of a Dragon Vein in a short time.
But the price was steep—damaged fortune, entangled misfortune, and backlash from the heavens.
‘On the path of cultivation, the slow path is stable; the fast path is perilous… No wonder the Immortal Alliance leadership issued laws forbidding cultivators from killing the goose that lays golden eggs. At the same time, they laid down the Nine Heavens Star-Sealing Boundary Immortal Formation over Sky Abyss Star, gathering the planet’s mountains and earth veins to nourish the blessed lands and grotto-heavens with Dragon Vein power,’ Chen Beiwu thought.
If purifying filth, refining Dragon Veins, setting up formations for protection, and harmonizing Yin and Yang could continuously receive the Dragon Vein's protection and the blessing of Fate, then who knew how many cultivators had been blessed by the Dragon Vein grotto-heavens and blessed lands cultivated over generations by the Dao Venerable Immortal Clans and True Venerable Aristocrats?
Instead of risking destruction of a Dragon Vein, Chen Beiwu considered following the Immortal Alliance’s example—setting up great formations to gather and nourish the Dragon Veins of the entire Earth Proliferation Territory and even the Southern Wastes Domain, then use Nine-Breath Chaos to gain the blessing of Heaven and Earth.
‘But this is far too distant for me,’ Chen Beiwu muttered inwardly.
Not to mention how much time, energy, and resources would be needed to set up a formation spanning the entire Earth Proliferation Territory...
No sect would allow outsiders to freely occupy their own blessed land.
For Chen Beiwu to realize this vision, he would likely have to become the Sect Master of the Mirror Moon Sect and conquer the Earth Proliferation Territory, subduing all Five Great Sects.
But therein lay the problem—if he had the power to conquer Earth Proliferation, he wouldn't need to covet the Dragon Vein within the Corpse-Refining Ground, nor use its destruction to further probe the power of Nine-Breath Chaos.
Chen Beiwu withdrew his inner divine sense, the light on the Guarding-the-One Mirror atop his Spirit Platform flickered briefly as he extinguished those ambitious thoughts.
One way or another, he had finally discovered another method of acquiring Fate.
“Woof.”
“Gulu.”
Watching the curious expressions of Golden Egg and Iron Egg, Chen Beiwu smiled slightly.
“We should head back.”
——
Time flew, and two years passed in the blink of an eye.
In the Tianyan True Realm, upon an open grassland—
A golden flood dragon soared into the air. A hundred-zhang-long golden-jade dragon body coiled through the sky, its jaws slightly open as it cast several Second-Tier Superior-Grade Spiritual Arts.
A black dog crouched low on the ground, growling softly, its eyes locked onto the godlike, demonic figure ahead.
Opposite Golden Egg and Iron Egg, the Battle Demon Ape yawned lazily, reclining against a rocky outcrop with a jug of spiritual wine in one hand, gulping it down without even lifting his eyelids.
That contemptuous posture, showing complete disregard for its opponents, was truly infuriating.
But there was no anger in the eyes of Golden Egg and Iron Egg.
The reason was simple: the gap in strength was far too great.
The Battle Demon Ape didn’t even need to move; its mere connection of qi through the Battle Demon Body and shared damage was enough to make their scalps tingle.
“Gulp... This wine is divine,” the Battle Demon Ape muttered after a swig, yawning again, seemingly tipsy.
Out of respect for Chen Beiwu and the wine, it suppressed its power to match the two beasts—both at the peak of the Second Realm of Lesser Beasts.
Unfortunately, neither the golden flood dragon nor the black dog could break through the defense of the Battle Demon Body, failing to ignite even a flicker of fighting spirit in the ape.
Of course, this was a good thing for Chen Beiwu.
If the Battle Demon Ape truly grew excited, it would not hold back in the slightest.
A punch wielding seven thousand years’ worth of cultivation—it could easily crush not only Second Realm beasts but even Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
“That’s enough for today.”
The Battle Demon Ape stood up, gave Chen Beiwu a glance, tossed aside the wine jug, and vanished without a trace.
“Woof.”
“Gulu.”
As they watched the Battle Demon Ape disappear, Golden Egg and Iron Egg collapsed onto the ground, stirring up a great cloud of dust and rocks with a thunderous boom.
“To have sparred with the Battle Demon Ape and survived, you've already surpassed many Golden Core Beast Generals,” Chen Beiwu said gently. “Besides, you lasted three breaths today—that’s already a huge improvement.”
Two years had been enough for Chen Beiwu to digest the gains from their expedition to the Corpse-Refining Ground.
With abundant cultivation resources, Golden Egg had refined part of the Trident Twin-Edged Blade and reached 499 years of cultivation—just one step away from becoming a Third Realm Beast General.
It only lacked the assistance of a Third-Tier Superior-Grade Treasure Pill—the [Molting Flood Dragon Pill]—to break through the barrier and enter the Golden Core level.
Iron Egg, on the other hand, had made surprising progress thanks to wearing the Wind-Sweeping Cloak. Even though it hadn’t refined much cultivation resources over the past two years, its improvement rate was no slower than Golden Egg’s.
In fact, it had already reached the peak of the Second Realm of Lesser Beasts, and the aura it exuded grew stronger by the day.
Chen Beiwu suspected that even without consuming the [Golden Core Within Fire Pill], Iron Egg could break into the Third Realm at any moment and surpass Golden Egg in one leap.
“Gulu.” Golden Egg lowered its head, a glimmer of fighting spirit burning in its eyes.
Each time it sparred with the Battle Demon Ape, it could feel the vast gulf in bloodline, combat strength, and innate talents.
Its powerful illusions capable of toying with peak Foundation Establishment cultivators were formidable—but in front of the Battle Demon Ape, they were mere parlor tricks.
And yet—so what?
From barely surviving a single breath to holding on for two, and now three, Golden Egg could clearly see its own progress.
One day, with Chen Beiwu’s help, it would surpass the Battle Demon Ape and become a true dragon of the world!
“Woof.” Iron Egg nodded, fully agreeing with Golden Egg’s thoughts.
The Southern Wastes were fraught with danger—even a being as powerful as the Battle Demon Ape remained trapped within the secret realm.
If it couldn’t even defeat the ape, how could it hope to protect its master in the future?
“Very good. Hold onto that drive,” Chen Beiwu nodded slightly.
To fight the weak is to grow weaker.
To challenge the strong is to grow stronger.
Of course, excessive force leads to breaking. To keep Golden Egg and Iron Egg’s morale intact, Chen Beiwu always carefully managed the scale of each challenge against the Battle Demon Ape, avoiding the risk of crushing their spirits.
As for beating the Battle Demon Ape? Chen Beiwu harbored no such delusion.
The Battle Demon Ape stood above even the Flintrock Coiled Dragon.
In front of the ape, the Flintrock Coiled Dragon likely couldn’t last more than a few breaths—let alone the Foundation Establishment disciples from the Five Great Sects who entered the Tianyan True Realm for exploration.
It was because of these heavy casualties that the Five Great Sects had drastically reduced the number of disciples sent into the secret realm in recent years.
If it weren’t for their obsession with the Core-Forming Pill hidden within, they might’ve sealed the entrance long ago to prevent further deaths.
‘The Battle Demon Ape left in a hurry… most likely because another cultivation genius worth noting has entered the secret realm.’
Chen Beiwu’s gaze flickered. He had no intention of getting involved and activated the Gate of Ten Directions to return to the sect.
He knew how proud the Battle Demon Ape was—ordinary cultivation prodigies rarely caught its eye and usually ended up dead. Only those with truly peerless talent could be exceptions.
——
Alchemy Hall, within the Vice Hall Master's abode.
The fragrance of medicine hung thick in the air.
As Chen Beiwu stepped inside, Senior Sister Wan’er was leaning over a jade desk, idly twirling a jade bottle between her fingers.
Today, Senior Sister Li wasn’t wearing her Daoist robes—instead, she was dressed in a plain white gown that highlighted her elegant features. She looked far more poised than usual, with a quiet grace that replaced some of her former youthful playfulness.
“Junior Brother, you’re just in time.”
Li Wan’er looked up and smiled faintly, pushing over the pill bottle with her mana. “Here’s the Molting Flood Dragon Pill you asked for. It finished forming two days ago, and its medicinal potency is at its peak. Best take it soon.”
Chen Beiwu received it, opened the jade bottle, and saw a crimson pill gently swaying inside, emitting a rich, soul-refreshing aroma.
As expected of Senior Sister Wan’er—her pillcraft was truly exquisite. The pill was of superior quality.
“Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Chen Beiwu sealed the bottle and put it away, then noticed that Senior Sister Wan’er seemed distracted.
“Is something on your mind?” Chen Beiwu asked gently.
Senior Sister Wan’er let out a light sigh and said in an aged tone, “It’s nothing, really. After spending so much time on alchemy, I’ve come to understand a few things.”
“Even herbs, minerals, and metals must endure countless refinements to become a pill—how much more so the Great Dao of the Golden Core?”
As she spoke, Senior Sister Wan’er slightly lifted her eyes to look at Chen Beiwu. “With the Moon-Soul Ganoderma you gave me, I plan to enter seclusion for ten years to break through to the Golden Core.”
Chen Beiwu’s gaze flickered.
For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, shattering the foundation to form a core was a life-or-death trial.
Even though he had some faith in Senior Sister Wan’er, he couldn’t help but feel concerned.
“How confident are you, Senior Sister?” Chen Beiwu asked.
“Fifty percent.” Senior Sister Wan’er suddenly smiled slyly. “If I don’t break through to the Golden Core soon, I’ll be caught up by you, and that would be far too embarrassing.”
Chen Beiwu: “…”
Well, he had misjudged her.
Senior Sister Wan’er was still childish and impulsive. That composed demeanor was clearly an act.
What really mattered to her was not losing face if he caught up in cultivation.
“Isn’t fifty percent a bit too low?” Chen Beiwu hesitated for a moment, then took out a sealed jade box from his storage ring and handed it over. “I have something I can lend you—it might help you take that extra step.”
“This is… the Tribulation Flame Golden Shell?”
Senior Sister Wan’er opened the jade box, her voice tinged with surprise.
The Tribulation Flame Golden Shell was a rare treasure, essential for Golden Core cultivators during tribulation. She didn’t expect Chen Beiwu would lend it to her.
Could it be that…
“No! I’m not ready to form a Dao Companion yet!” Senior Sister Wan’er quickly waved her hands.
Chen Beiwu’s eyelids twitched. He was speechless.
Fortunately, he was already used to her tendency to overreact, and didn’t take the words seriously.
“Senior Sister, don’t joke.” Chen Beiwu straightened his face, shook the golden shell, and said flatly:
“This is for forming your core, not a betrothal gift.”
“Hmph, of course I know that.” Seeing no reaction, Li Wan’er snatched the shell and raised her chin proudly:
“Just now, I was only joking to test your resolve.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Wan’er turned her head away, her eyes sweeping over Chen Beiwu’s face from the corner of her gaze as she silently muttered: ‘What a blockhead.’
“Senior Sister, once you successfully form your core, remember to return that item to me,” Chen Beiwu said seriously.
“Don’t worry. I’d never keep your things,” Li Wan’er said, tilting her head skyward, not daring to meet his eyes again.
She was afraid that if she let her thoughts slip, she’d pounce on her serious Junior Brother and—circle, circle, cross, cross.
Not until Chen Beiwu left did Li Wan’er let out a heavy breath and press her hand against her full chest.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The rapid heartbeat reminded Li Wan’er that all this talk of comradeship was just a cover for her lovestruck eyes.
At the thought, she lowered her gaze and smiled softly, her fingers lightly stroking the Tribulation Flame Golden Shell.
Companionship was the deepest confession of affection. Junior Brother Chen was a deeply emotional person. One day, he wouldn’t be able to resist falling for her.
——
Three days later, at dawn.
Qiyun Residence, Three-Peak Cave Residence.
As time passed, the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth within the cave poured madly into the body of a handsome cultivator with sword-shaped eyebrows and star-like eyes, surrounding him with five-colored radiance corresponding to the five elements.
From the east came the Elder of Azure Spirit, with Wood Qi forming a coiling Azure Dragon!
From the south came the Elder of Scarlet Spirit, with Fire Qi condensing a Vermilion Bird in flight!
From the west came the Elder of Luminous Spirit, with Metal Qi gathering into a roaring White Tiger!
From the north came the Elder of Mystic Spirit, with Water Qi manifesting a Black Tortoise riding the waves!
From the center came the Elder of Origin Spirit, with Earth Qi forming a Yellow Qilin suppressing mountains!
At this moment, within Chen Beiwu’s dantian sea of Qi, five phantom elders of the five directions intertwined, forming a Taiyi vortex that refined the essence of the innate Five Elements Earthly Sha, condensing a strand of Taiyi True Qi deep in his dantian.
This Qi was heavy as lead-mercury, moved like thunder, and carried the cyclical force of the five elements. At the moment it formed, Chen Beiwu’s body trembled, and his aura surged explosively.
“Gulu!”
Sensing the shift in Chen Beiwu’s aura, Golden Egg’s gaze sharpened. It activated the All Laws Converge, Heaven Book of the Divine Tree, channeling its mana through the Companion Contract to help him condense even more Taiyi True Qi.
Iron Egg didn’t disturb the cultivation. It raised its head and looked at Golden Egg with faint envy.
With Golden Egg’s aid, the vast mana in Chen Beiwu’s dantian collapsed and compressed, forming more strands of Taiyi True Qi.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
As the number of Taiyi True Qi strands increased within his dantian, the dual cyclones of Green Wood and Hundred Rivers blazed with light, actively drawing the Taiyi True Qi to scour his limbs and meridians, as well as his Purple Mansion Divine Sea.
“All rivers converge, the hundred rivers return to the sea!”
At that moment, Chen Beiwu’s imperfect Water-Wood Dharma Body underwent another evolution, transforming into the Hundred Rivers Dharma Body.
The capacity of his dantian Qi sea, already several times that of his peers, expanded once more.
“Huff!”
After a long while, Chen Beiwu slowly exhaled and opened his eyes. In the depths of his pupils, five colors rotated.
He looked down at his palm. His skin gleamed like jade, yet faintly exuded an aura as heavy as a mountain—he felt as if one casual strike could crush a False Core True Person.
Upon closer inspection, he found that the Taiyi True Qi within his dantian was neither liquid nor solid, but somewhere between the two—like an immortal metallic essence, harboring infinite transformations.
With a slight stir of his mind, Chen Beiwu recalled the Five Elders of the Five Directions Taiyi Core-Forging Method, which stated:
“Taiyi is the progenitor of the five elements. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water are all born from Taiyi.”
“Those who achieve mastery in this method can birth the Two Forms, evolve the Four Symbols, derive the Five Elements, hold the axis of the elements, and manipulate creation itself—invincible among Golden Cores.”
Now that he had cultivated the method to perfection, Chen Beiwu found it difficult to classify his realm.
If one called him Peak Foundation Establishment, his strength far surpassed that—he was on a completely different level.
If one called him a Golden Core True Person, he had yet to shatter his foundation and form the core. He had merely surpassed all predecessors of the Southern Wastes by perfecting the method and condensing five strands of Taiyi True Qi as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
“So… is this what they call a Half-Step into the Golden Core?” Chen Beiwu narrowed his eyes, unconcerned.
Realm names were but illusions.
What mattered was that he was now immensely powerful—though not yet in the Core Formation realm, his combat power rivaled a true Golden Core cultivator.
After all, forming a Golden Core required transforming one’s own true Qi into dragons and tigers, seizing primordial Earthly Sha essence, and condensing a trace of immortal metallic nature.
Thus, Golden Core mana was also called Earthly Sha True Qi, capable of suppressing Foundation Establishment cultivators with ease.
Now, Chen Beiwu, having perfected the Taiyi Core-Forging Method, had refined Taiyi True Qi—true immortal metal-natured mana of the Golden Core level. It far surpassed the immature Earthly Sha True Qi that sect patriarchs helped condense.
The only regret he had was that he had only managed to condense five strands of Taiyi True Qi.
Even so, as long as those five strands remained, to any Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was a true Golden Core—untouchable and unprovokable!