Chapter 131 Condensing the Golden Core

In the Nine Nether Secret Realm, on the vast plains beneath the mountain peaks, the gentle sound of the wind could be heard, along with the low growls of Yao Beasts within the Realm.

The Secret Realm also had cycles of day and night. Chen Songli and Zhu Lingyue stood guard on either side of Chen Li day and night, constantly monitoring the situation within the Realm.

At this point, the three had already been in the Secret Realm for a month. Chen Li sat on a prayer mat, surrounded by multicolored spiritual energy that obscured his features.

During this month, Chen Li had adjusted his breathing, relaxed his body and mind, and heightened his focus, bringing his state to its absolute peak.

In the Five Qi Facing Primordial Breakthrough Method, the most critical step in advancing from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core is the Unification of the Qi Seas.

This step requires simultaneously manipulating eighty-one Qi Seas to fuse. Once fused to a certain degree, they will spontaneously condense into a Golden Core; this is the very step that results in a successful golden core formation.

Between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Golden Core Realm lies the False Core realm. In this world, it is defined as: after failing to advance to the Golden Core, if one preserves their cultivation, a virtual core similar to a Golden Core will form. This Realm is half a stage higher in strength than Foundation Establishment Perfection, and longevity increases by about eighty years.

It is very difficult to condense a Golden Core again from the False Core realm; the success rate for a second attempt is extremely low.

The strength of the False Core realm can never compare to the true Golden Core Realm; the gap is too vast. Longevity alone sets them apart; a Golden Core's lifespan starts at five hundred years and generally reaches six to seven hundred.

There is no Heart Demon trial when forming a Golden Core. Once the Golden Core is formed, the world creates a cloud of Spiritual Qi, and the Spiritual Qi within a radius of over ten miles pours into the Golden Core to enrich it. Once enriched to a certain point, the cloud will dissipate. If the condensed Golden Core withstands the feedback of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi during this process, the Golden Core is complete!

Chen Li took a deep breath. Bring it on!

At this moment, he looked inward and began the simultaneous Fusion of the eighty-one Qi Seas.

The spiritual energy overflowing from him increased. The eighty-one Qi Seas surrounding his Foundation Establishment spiritual sea slowly drew closer.

Chen Li operated according to the Cultivation Technique, and his body let out a booming sound.

The eighty-one Qi Seas began to fuse!

Chen Songli glanced at Chen Li from a distance. Realizing her father had begun, her heart tightened.

Zhu Lingyue noticed the change in Chen Li as well. She and Chen Songli exchanged a glance, both seeing the tension in the other's eyes.

The two were now on high alert to prevent any Yao Beast attacks.

Chen Li's Meridians began to endure the pain brought by the Fusion of the eighty-one Qi Seas, as the overflowing spiritual energy continuously battered his internal pathways.

As the eighty-one Qi Seas fused into the spiritual sea, the Qi of Returning to the Origin within them merged continuously. The Qi of Returning to the Origin of the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—clashed repeatedly, and spiritual energy continued to leak out.

Chen Li gritted his teeth and persevered. As the Qi of Returning to the Origin fused further, the pain he had to endure increased.

He focused entirely on maintaining the Fusion. As moments passed, he seemed to lose the sound of the distant Yao Beasts' growls, and even the wind in the world gradually settled.

At the spiritual sea, following the continuous Fusion of the Qi of Returning to the Origin, a five-colored Golden Core slowly rose, turning from ethereal to solid and gradually growing in size.

It has finally condensed!

At this moment, the Qi of Returning to the Origin stopped leaking, and his Meridians instantly became clear. With Chen Li as the center, a vortex for absorbing Spiritual Qi formed instantly, and a Spiritual Qi cloud appeared in the sky of the Secret Realm, slowly expanding.

Seeing this phenomenon, Chen Songli felt a surge of joy. Had her father succeeded?

Zhu Lingyue also noticed the change in the sky and felt the same way, but she didn't dare relax until the very last moment.

After several more breaths of fusing the Qi of Returning to the Origin, this Golden Core truly replaced the spiritual sea. A solid, five-colored Golden Core could be seen in his Dantian; it stopped growing, fixed in size and looking extremely substantial.

The Qi of Returning to the Origin was no longer fusing but was instead surging madly into the Golden Core.

The final step: to see if the condensed Golden Core could withstand the feedback from the influx of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

With Chen Li as the center, the Spiritual Qi from a dozen miles around madly poured into his Golden Core.

The Spiritual Qi cloud above grew larger and larger, reaching a range of over twenty miles. The Spiritual Qi condensed from the cloud also began to flow into Chen Li's body.

The Golden Core in Chen Li's Dantian greedily absorbed this influx of Spiritual Qi. Chen Li put all his effort into maintaining the Golden Core, fearing it might shatter.

As the Spiritual Qi continued to pour in, the Golden Core became increasingly vivid. Chen Li's vital energy was also rising, and his Meridians and Physical Body underwent yet another qualitative change.

Chen Li's presence triggered a phenomenon spanning over twenty miles in the Secret Realm. At this time, roars—no longer mere growls—echoed from the depths of the Secret Realm.

Chen Songli and Zhu Lingyue heard them. They gripped their Formation Plates, ready to activate them at any moment.

Spiritual Qi from the cloud above continued to pour into Chen Li's Golden Core, and the Spiritual Qi within the Secret Realm was also being absorbed by him at a frantic pace.

Some first, second, and third-level Yao Beasts scattered nearby began to rush toward the great plains. Chen Songli and Zhu Lingyue immediately activated the Formations to slaughter them all.

The roars from the depths grew louder, but as if restricted by some taboo rule, no Yao Beasts above the fourth level were seen rushing over. The roars grew louder, yet they did not get any closer.

Chen Songli and Zhu Lingyue both breathed a sigh of relief.

However, the concentration of the Spiritual Qi cloud began to drop. Chen Li's five-colored Golden Core was still absorbing Spiritual Qi, as if it hadn't had enough.

Finally, after another hundred breaths, Chen Li's Golden Core withstood the influx of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. The cloud began to dissipate and no longer actively poured in; Chen Li began to take control of the Golden Core.

BOOM—

A sound erupted from Chen Li's body, shaking back the surrounding Spiritual Qi!

Chen Li took complete control of the Golden Core. A five-colored Golden Core sat in his Dantian, radiating a brilliant luster.

Chen Li's Golden Core was complete!

Cultivation Realm: Early Stage Golden Core!

Chen Li felt the changes in himself; his Physical Body and Meridians were brimming with vitality!

He felt that the majestic energy within him could defeat a hundred of his former Foundation Establishment Perfection selves.

The difference between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core was like that between a river and an ocean!

Chen Li showed a look of joy; achieving the Golden Core meant he could now refine a Lifebound Treasure.

A Lifebound Treasure is refined using one's own essence blood and spiritual energy. It fuses completely with the self, moving according to one's will and sharing a connected aura.

He needed to think carefully about what to refine as his Lifebound Treasure!

He then released his Divine Sense; it could now cover thirty miles!

This was more than triple the eight-mile range he had at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

The Divine Sense range of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator in this world was generally fifteen to twenty-five miles. His thirty miles was simply unreasonable.

Chen Songli and Zhu Lingyue were full of joy. Although the Yao Beasts in the depths were roaring fiercely, they hadn't rushed over; it had been a close call but without actual danger.

“Congratulations, Husband!”

“Congratulations, Father!”

The two approached Chen Li and offered their congratulations.

“Thank you for your hard work, Wife, Songli. The advancement to Golden Core was a success; let us celebrate together!”

If the Chen Family revealed their true cultivation now, they would hold the same status as the Luo Family and the Yang Family. However, the saying remained: below the Nascent Soul stage, all are but ants.

Revealing his cultivation now would bring only harm and no benefit. If it attracted the attention of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, he would have no power to resist.

If you reach Golden Core in just a few decades, everyone will suspect you have a secret. But if I were at the Nascent Soul stage, so what if I have a secret? What could you do to me?

Chen Li said, “Our family has taken another big step forward, but we must still adhere to a low-profile, steady, and peaceful development path.”

“Mm, Father is right.” Chen Songli gave a thumbs up in agreement.

Zhu Lingyue also said happily, “Husband, you are truly something! So steady!”

The three were very happy. The previous atmosphere of worry and tension was swept away; the final result was good, and they were all very relaxed.

“Husband, should we head back next or explore the Secret Realm?”

“Since we're already here, let's go in and take a look!” Chen Li replied.

Chen Songli was very excited. She could finally go treasure hunting with her father. Having her father around provided a sense of security, and now that he had advanced to the Golden Core, that security was even greater.

“I'm looking forward to it, I can't wait!” Chen Songli said excitedly.