290: Chapter 290 Preparations for Core Formation

Deacon Chen sat behind the service desk, handling various mission-related matters with a rigorous expression; all Disciples coming and going had to register with him to accept missions.

Qin Changsheng straightened his robes and approached: "Deacon Chen, I am Disciple Qin Changsheng, here to accept the mission to find purple cloud grass posted by Fairy Qingling."

Deacon Chen looked up at Qin Changsheng, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, then warned, "This purple cloud grass is located within the Liuhuo Mountain Range!"

"I am already aware!" Qin Changsheng replied quickly.

Seeing that Qin Changsheng was aware, Deacon Chen said no more and processed the mission for him.

At the same time, he told Qin Changsheng that the purple cloud grass must be found within two years.

If he failed to find the purple cloud grass within two years, he would be barred from accepting missions in the Mission Hall in the future.

Furthermore, he would have to compensate Fairy Qingling for her losses.

Qin Changsheng accepted the mission and strode outside.

...

Flowing Fire Sect.

Inside Liuhuo Hall.

Shen Guhong sat at the head, dressed in a black silk robe, his expression cold and stern.

On both sides of the hall stood several figures, all of whom were Shen Guhong's trusted confidants; each possessed a steady aura and a respectful expression.

Shen Guhong's gaze landed on Shen Bing, his tone carrying a hint of praise: "Bing'er, congratulations on successfully breaking through to the Golden Core Realm. From now on, you are the youngest Golden Core Cultivator in our Flowing Fire Sect. You must continue to work hard in the future and contribute to the great cause of our Yao Race."

Hearing this, Shen Bing immediately took a step forward and bowed to Shen Guhong: "Thank you for the praise, Father. I will certainly give my all for the Yao Race's great cause."

Shen Guhong nodded slightly, signaling Shen Bing to return to her place, and his expression turned serious: "I have gathered everyone today not only to congratulate Shen Bing on her Core Formation but also to discuss a crucial matter with you all."

"Two years ago, our Yao Race treasury was burglarized, and a large amount of Spirit Stones was lost. Now, as our Yao Race is at a critical stage of development, all kinds of cultivation, Magical Artifact crafting, and military expansion are inseparable from Spirit Stones. I ask you, how large is the Spirit Stone deficit within our Yao Race now?"

As his voice fell, the hall instantly became quiet, and everyone's expressions turned solemn.

Spirit Stones were the Foundation of the Yao Race's development. After the treasury theft, the shortage of Spirit Stones became increasingly prominent, but no one dared to easily mention the specific amount of the deficit.

After a moment, Shen Hu took a step forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a heavy and respectful tone: "Reporting to Big Brother, according to my inventory and calculations, since the loss of the treasury's Spirit Stones, our Yao Race's various expenses have surged. We are short at least three million Spirit Stones every year!"

"If we cannot make up for this portion of Spirit Stones, many plans will be forced to be shelved, and it will even seriously delay our progress in preparing for the Yao Race's great cause."

"Three million Spirit Stones?" Shen Guhong's brow furrowed sharply.

He had already expected the Spirit Stone deficit to be significant, but he hadn't expected it to reach as much as three million.

A large Spirit Stone Mine could only produce over six hundred thousand Spirit Stones a year.

Over three million Spirit Stones meant five large Spirit Stone Mines.

Shen Guhong looked up and scanned the crowd, his tone carrying a bit of impatience and expectation: "Everyone, the Spirit Stone deficit is currently huge. If we cannot make up for it as soon as possible, our Yao Race's great cause will be ruined. Do you have any way to fill this gap?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gou Feng immediately took a step forward and bowed: "Sect Master, I have a plan."

"Speak!" Shen Guhong nodded.

"The various major Sects in the Southern Region all have their own Spirit Stone Mines. These mines produce Spirit Stones year-round and have abundant reserves, enough to make up for our deficit."

"Why don't we select some weak Sects to strike and rob these Spirit Stones!"

"Even if those weak Sects are robbed, they won't dare to say anything."

A hint of approval flashed in Shen Hu's eyes, and Shen Bing also nodded.

Shen Guhong fell silent for a moment, rapidly calculating the feasibility of this plan in his mind.

This strategy could indeed quickly fill the gap, but the risk was also enormous. Once discovered, it would inevitably trigger a direct conflict between the Yao Race and the major Sects, at which point the Yao Race would find itself attacked from all sides.

But if they didn't do this, the deficit of three million Spirit Stones could not be filled at all, and the Yao Race's great cause would come to a complete standstill.

After a long time, a look of determination flashed in Shen Guhong's eyes. He nodded to Gou Feng and said solemnly: "Fine, we will do as you say. I leave this matter entirely to your responsibility. Select capable subordinates and be sure to act covertly. Do not expose your tracks. If anything goes wrong, you will be held accountable!"

Gou Feng was delighted and immediately bowed to accept the order, his tone respectful and firm: "Your subordinate obeys!"

Shen Guhong waved his hand and said: "This matter is of great importance. Everyone must fully cooperate with Gou Feng and must not be negligent in the slightest."

"We obey!" Everyone bowed and accepted the order in unison, their expressions respectful.

Qin Changsheng, far away in the Heavenly Sword Sect, also learned of this through Wang Cheng's perspective.

At the same time, an idea formed in Qin Changsheng's heart: he would wait until the Yao Race had robbed enough Spirit Stones.

He was thinking of ways to take all these Spirit Stones from the Yao Race.

In this way, Qin Changsheng would have enough Spirit Stones to Repair treasures and exchange for resources.

...

Three days later, Qin Changsheng entered the Cave-Heaven Blessed Land within the Heaven-Grade Magical Artifact, the dongtian pearl.

The Spiritual Qi in this Cave-Heaven Blessed Land was several times that of the outside world, its defense was also very strong, and it was free from any disturbance, making it the best place for Core Formation seclusion.

Qin Changsheng walked slowly to the prayer mat in the center of the blessed land's open space.

Today, he would go into seclusion here to charge at the most critical hurdle on the path of cultivation: the Golden Core Realm.

Qin Changsheng knew clearly that the Golden Core was the watershed on the path of cultivation. Moving from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core might seem like just a leap in Realm, but it was actually the transformation of the Dao Foundation and the condensation of spiritual power; it was a hurdle of paramount importance.

Countless Foundation Establishment Cultivators spent their entire lives struggling to break through this Bottleneck. If one was not careful, they would suffer Qi Deviation, have their cultivation completely destroyed, or even perish.

There were also many Cultivators who, due to insufficient talent, could only enter the False Core Realm.

Therefore, he did not dare to be negligent in the slightest and had to make full preparations to ensure that nothing went wrong.

With a gentle wave of his hand, Qin Changsheng continuously took out the supplies needed for Core Formation and arranged them neatly on the stone table. They were a dazzling array, each one carefully prepared and a key item for charging at the Golden Core.

The first thing he took out was an exquisite Jade Box. Upon opening it, a pill that was lustrous like red gold and shimmering with a faint Heavenly Dao halo lay quietly inside.

This pill was a top-grade golden core pill.

It was also the core item for Core Formation, capable of directly increasing the success rate of Core Formation by seventy percent, making it a supreme treasure for Foundation Establishment Cultivators charging at the Golden Core.

Next, he took out a crimson, plump fruit with faint fire Spiritual Qi lingering on its skin. This was a high-grade fire spirit fruit; consuming it could stabilize the Dao Foundation and nourish spiritual power, further increasing the success rate of Core Formation and resisting spiritual power turbulence during the process.

Subsequently, Qin Changsheng took out the remaining supplies one by one: the core formation insights obtained from the Lin family; a jade-white talisman with complex protective runes carved on its surface, which was the grade 4 protective jade talisman that could resist Heart Demon intrusion and spiritual power shocks during Core Formation, safeguarding his safety;

Several bottles of translucent Medicinal Pills, which were qingling pills that could purify Impurities in the body and stabilize the mind, avoiding the loss of mental control during Core Formation;

Besides these, dozens of auxiliary medicinal materials were placed on the stone table, all used to nourish spiritual power and harmonize medicinal properties to safeguard the Core Formation process.

Once all the supplies were laid out, Qin Changsheng's expression remained solemn. He did not rush to begin his seclusion but instead leaned over to check each item on the table one by one.

He first picked up the top-grade golden core pill, feeling the vast and pure Spiritual Qi within it, confirming that the pill was intact and its medicinal effect had not dissipated;

Then he checked the fire spirit fruit; the flesh was plump and full of Spiritual Qi, without the slightest sign of rot or deterioration;

Opening the stopper of the qingling pill bottle, a cool medicinal fragrance wafted out; the pills were bright in color and of excellent quality;