252: Chapter 251 Golden Core Divine Power

"Sect Head, your Disciple has a question and asks for your guidance." Hu Nan glanced at Sect Leader Xuanyangzi, and seeing his nod of approval, continued:

"Back then, the Human Race Cultivators had already sealed the Demon Empress. Why didn't they take the Opportunity to kill her and eliminate the threat forever? If the Empress had been slain, the Yao Race would have been leaderless and unable to cause further trouble."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell into a sudden silence.

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi remained silent for a long time before speaking: "It's not that we didn't want to kill her, but that we couldn't, and we didn't dare to."

"The Demon Empress's Golden Core Divine Ability is incredibly powerful."

"Furthermore, there were many powerful experts among the Yao Race at that time!"

"Continuing the fight would have only resulted in mutual destruction!"

"Therefore, the Human Race allowed the Yao Race experts to retreat on the condition that the Demon Empress would only be sealed!"

Hearing Sect Leader Xuanyangzi's words, Qin Changsheng, far away in his small courtyard, also fell silent.

So, the decision not to kill the Demon Empress back then was the result of a compromise with the Yao Race.

However, another doubt soon arose in Qin Changsheng's mind: what exactly was this "Golden Core Divine Ability" Sect Leader Xuanyangzi mentioned?

Since he started his path, he only knew that Golden Core Cultivators were far more powerful than those in the Foundation Establishment stage, but he had never heard of a "Golden Core Divine Ability," let alone how it was formed or used.

"Sect Head, your Disciple is ignorant and does not know what a Golden Core Divine Ability is. I ask for your clarification." Receiving Qin Changsheng's instruction, Hu Nan quickly inquired.

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi looked at Hu Nan with a flash of understanding in his eyes. He knew that while Hu Nan was exceptionally talented, he had not yet made a Breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, so it was normal for him to be unfamiliar with Golden Core Divine Abilities.

"The so-called Golden Core Divine Ability is not some rare thing; it is a Divine Ability Cultivation Technique that all Cultivators can learn after breaking through to the Golden Core stage."

"Cultivators polish their Foundation in the Foundation Establishment stage. The Golden Core stage is both a major bottleneck and a massive leap on the path of cultivation. Once you break through to Golden Core, both your Divine Soul and spiritual energy undergo a qualitative improvement."

"And the Golden Core Divine Ability is the unique combat trump card of a Golden Core Cultivator, a power that Foundation Establishment Cultivators can hardly hope to reach."

Hu Nan nodded slightly, the doubt in his eyes fading a little, but still carrying some curiosity, he followed up softly: "Sect Head, is this Golden Core Divine Ability something a Cultivator realizes on their own after the Breakthrough, or does it require the help of a Legacy Cultivation Technique?"

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi shook his head gently and continued to explain: "It is both, yet there are strict limitations. Most Cultivators, after reaching Golden Core, will use the Divine Ability Cultivation Techniques from their Sect's Legacy to refine their own Golden Core power and comprehend their own Golden Core Divine Ability;"

"There are also a few exceptionally gifted individuals who can realize a Divine Ability on their own without external help. But regardless of the method, there is one unchanging rule—every Golden Core Cultivator can only obtain one Golden Core Divine Ability in their lifetime and cannot comprehend multiple simultaneously."

"Only one?" Hu Nan asked cautiously.

"Correct." Sect Leader Xuanyangzi nodded heavily, his tone becoming solemn. "Even if your talent is extraordinary, you can only obtain one Divine Ability!"

"Golden Core Divine Abilities vary in strength, with massive disparities. Some Cultivators realize Divine Abilities that only assist in cultivation or stabilize spiritual energy; their combat power is weak, making them as useless as chicken ribs. Other Cultivators realize Divine Abilities that can destroy heaven and earth, combining offense and defense into a ultimate trump card. This isn't just about the Cultivator's own talent, but also about Opportunity and choices. One wrong step could affect your entire path of cultivation."

In the small courtyard on the back mountain, Qin Changsheng's eyes were full of a strange expression.

His Golden Traits were just like Divine Abilities.

But Qin Changsheng could obtain a Golden Trait every year.

This was equivalent to him gaining a new Divine Ability every single year.

Sect Head Sect Leader Xuanyangzi continued: "Inside these ruins, a purple-gold key is hidden. What you must do is defeat the members of the Yao Race and bring that key back to the Heavenly Sword Sect!"

A sharp glint flashed in Hu Nan's eyes as he quickly asked: "Sect Head, is the goal of this trip to the ruins only to seize the key?"

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi shook his head gently: "Once you enter the ruins, check to see if the Demon Empress is still within the Seal!"

Sect Leader Xuanyangzi was extremely worried. After all, the Demon Empress had been sealed for thousands of years. If the Seal had loosened, the Empress might have already escaped long ago.

If it had truly reached that point and the Demon Empress returned to the world, her cultivation would inevitably far exceed what it was back then, and the Human Race would no longer have the power to resist.

"Sect Head, where is this Empress located?" Hu Nan inquired.

"The final battle back then was at the Sealing Tower to the west!"

"Go to the west and take a look!" Sect Leader Xuanyangzi said.

"As you command!" Hu Nan cupped his hands.

...

Heavenly Sword Sect, inside the small courtyard.

Qin Changsheng sat cross-legged on a bluestone prayer mat in the center of the yard, beginning to ponder his strategy for the trip to the Demon Clan Ruins.

He hadn't expected the Yao Race's ambitions to be so vast.

Not only had they infiltrated numerous Sects, but they had even infiltrated the mortal world.

If the Yao Race's schemes weren't dismantled, it was likely that before long, the Human Race would once again become food for the Yao Race.

"Step one, enter the Demon Clan Ruins!" His greatest reliance was his own golden Heavenly Dao Trait.

Once inside the Demon Clan Ruins, he would immediately search for the important treasures within.

His primary goal was the heavenly dao fragment he had been searching for so bitterly.

The heavenly dao fragment was vital for upgrading his traits and his cultivation Speed. If he could find a heavenly dao fragment in the ruins, it would be the greatest harvest of this trip.

"If there are no heavenly dao fragments in the ruins, I will turn my focus to the purple-gold key and Core Formation materials."

The purple-gold key was the key to the Empress's Seal and concerned the safety of the Human Race, so it had to be seized with all his might;

As for Core Formation materials, they were his own urgent need. He was currently at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, only one step away from the Golden Core stage. If he could find enough Core Formation materials in the ruins, he could achieve a Breakthrough to Golden Core sooner.

He knew that not only would he be entering the Demon Clan Ruins, but members of the Yao Race would also be entering.

Therefore, he had to wait for his Heavenly Dao Trait to search out the specific locations of the treasures, then plan the safest and most efficient route based on the distribution of treasures and the level of danger within the ruins, ensuring he could obtain his target treasures while avoiding unnecessary risks.

Next, Qin Changsheng thought of the key figure, Chen Erniu.

Chen Erniu was a Soul Transformation Reincarnation and would surely know many things about the Demon Clan Ruins.

He could have Hu Nan go to Chen Erniu to test the waters and see what he knew.

Although Chen Erniu wasn't very reliable,

He was also very much at odds with the Yao Race.

Otherwise, Chen Erniu wouldn't have gone to destroy the Yao Race's altar.

Thirdly, he needed Wang Cheng to stay hidden among Shen Bing and the others.

This would allow Wang Cheng to pass Intelligence about Shen Bing and the many other Yao Race Cultivators to him.

Qin Changsheng could then use this Intelligence to decide which Yao Race Cultivators to kill.

...

Azure Cloud Sect.

Because the Demon Clan Ruins were about to open, many Cultivators had already gathered at the Azure Cloud Sect.

Most of these Cultivators wore various types of Daoist robes and had different expressions; some traveled alone, others in groups, and the spiritual energy fluctuations they emitted were all around the Foundation Establishment stage.

They came from Sects of all sizes across the Southern Region, and there were even many Loose Cultivators. All had heard that the Demon Clan Ruins were about to open and knew that heavy treasures were hidden within, so they had flocked here, hoping to take the Opportunity to get a share.

On this day, Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan as he walked into the Azure Cloud Sect.

Just as Hu Nan was crossing the main street of the Azure Cloud Sect, a Sound Transmission Talisman suddenly appeared and flew into Hu Nan's hand.

"Brother Hu, Juxian Tower!"

As soon as he funneled magic power into the Sound Transmission Talisman, Chen Erniu's voice came through.

Hearing Chen Erniu's voice, Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan to head toward Juxian Tower.

Shortly after, Hu Nan saw Chen Erniu in a private room on the second floor.

At this moment, Chen Erniu had already ordered a table of food and wine.

"Brother Hu... please!" Chen Erniu warmly invited Hu Nan to sit down.

Once Hu Nan was seated, he turned and picked up the wine pot from the table, pouring a cup for Hu Nan.

"This is the fine wine of Juxian Tower, Brother Hu, have a taste!"

As he spoke, Chen Erniu raised his wine cup.

Hu Nan also raised his wine cup.

After the two had finished a cup of wine, Hu Nan looked at Chen Erniu calmly and asked, "Brother Chen, such warm hospitality... I imagine it's not simply just to have a cup of wine with me?"