17: The Golden Core is the Sun?! Fourth-grade Nascent Soul Stage!

"Ah!!!"

"A… a marriage…"

Princess Pingyang's cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and a handsome, elegant figure appeared in her mind.

Her little heart pounded non-stop. Was it going to happen so soon?

"Mother, I… I'm still young…"

"You're eighteen, not young anymore. Many princesses and county princesses your age are already married. Your mother also married your Imperial Father at this age."

"Your Imperial Father passed away early, and His Majesty is busy with state affairs, so your Mother can only take care of these matters for you."

The Empress Dowager gently stroked Princess Pingyang's beautiful hair, which had been ruffled by the evening breeze.

"Then… then who do you favor, Mother?" Princess Pingyang's mind was in a whirl, and she blurted out the question.

The Empress Dowager couldn't help but roll her eyes at her, poked her smooth forehead, and chided:

"Besides your Li Gege, who else could it be? Do you think you'd be willing to choose someone else?!"

Without thinking, Princess Pingyang pursed her lips and frowned, "Definitely not anyone else!"

After speaking, her cheeks flushed, feeling that her words were a bit too… something. She shyly lowered her head.

Then she whispered, "Then… then will Imperial Sister agree?"

"Why wouldn't she agree? You two grew up together, you know each other inside and out. Li Shengyuan is also His Majesty's junior brother. After the imperial marriage, it can better bind the Li family and also help you settle down."

"This is a good thing, a double blessing with many benefits. His Majesty will definitely agree." The Empress Dowager patted Princess Pingyang's hand.

"Then… then alright, I'll listen to Mother."

Princess Pingyang lowered her head and assented, her eyes filled with shyness, yet also anticipation and apprehension…

Could she really be with Li Gege so soon?

Seeing this, the Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Since that's the case, when we return to the palace tomorrow, Mother will speak with His Majesty."

"As soon as His Majesty issues the decree, we can discuss a good day with Chief Assistant Li."

"Oh, then… then I'll trouble Mother." Princess Pingyang's mind was in a muddle, feeling that happiness had come too quickly and too suddenly.

"Go wash up first and change out of your official robe. Tonight, have a good talk with Mother. What kind of talk is it for a girl to go to a place like the Demon Suppression Division, where there's so much fighting and killing…"

The Empress Dowager frowned and patted the dust off Princess Pingyang's black official robe.

"Understood, Mother." Princess Pingyang responded, then quickly ran off.

She secretly rejoiced, grateful that her mother hadn't seen the white silk beneath her official robe, otherwise she didn't know how she would have been scolded and taught a lesson…

Although the Empress Dowager didn't object to such things, it didn't mean that her unmarried daughter could dress like that.

At the same time, after Li Shengyuan returned to the Grand Secretarys Courtyard, he went straight to his cultivation room.

In the cultivation room, there were Spirit Gathering Arrays and Spirit Condensing Arrays arranged by array masters among the mages, which had a bonus effect on cultivation and could also accelerate the practitioner's entry into meditation and comprehension.

Li Shengyuan sat cross-legged. Among all the terms extracted from Liu Xiu, what he valued most was this Pure Yang Source.

Next was the purple term level [Heavenly Fortune].

Li Shengyuan waved his hand, and a ball of light, full of fiery purity and even a hint of sacred aura, appeared in his hand.

The Pure Yang Source in his hand was like a miniature sun!

Li Shengyuan let out a long breath, his eyes burning as he looked at the Pure Yang Source.

"System, directly refine and absorb this Pure Yang Source!"

Ding!

[Refining: 1%… 10%…]

As the system refined it, Li Shengyuan also began to circulate the supreme-grade cultivation technique, "Nine Yang Divine Skill," which he had obtained from the system!

Although he had only recently acquired it, with Li Shengyuan's extremely strong comprehension, and from a high vantage point, even if he didn't fully master it, he at least understood the general idea.

As the cultivation technique circulated, the pure yang power, refined by the system and integrated into his body, began to flow through Li Shengyuan's limbs and bones!

Finally, it gathered in the Golden Core within his Dantian!

During this process, not only was his physical body tempered, but the Great Sun Golden Core also became increasingly dazzling.

Like a shimmering, glowing sun!

The Great Sun Golden Core continuously expanded. Li Shengyuan's heart stirred; he felt that he was only half a step away from the Fourth-Grade Nascent Soul realm!

Just a final push, to break the core and form the infant!

His soul, tempered by the Congenital Great Sun Diagram, was already incredibly powerful and resilient. This final step was not difficult for him!

The Nascent Soul is the carrier of the soul and spiritual power. Once the Nascent Soul is formed, it can leave the body and roam the world!

Even if the physical body is damaged, a surviving Nascent Soul can still roam the world for a period of time, and can even seize a body and live another life!

And just as Li Shengyuan was concentrating solely on breaking through, the system's prompt sounded in his mind.

[Pure Yang Source has been completely refined]

Li Shengyuan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he shouted in a deep voice:

"The time has come, it's now!"

"Golden Core! Break!"

At this moment, the Golden Core in Li Shengyuan's Dantian had already transformed into a true miniature sun.

It shimmered and glowed, and its surface seemed to have flames flowing!

But very quickly, Li Shengyuan frowned slightly, "What's going on? Why is my Great Sun Golden Core continuously expanding, but it just won't break to form a Nascent Soul?"

If it couldn't break the core, how could a Nascent Soul be born?!

Li Shengyuan, with tightly furrowed brows, soon widened his eyes, filled with disbelief.

"How is this possible?!"

He actually saw a small figure swimming within his Great Sun Golden Core!

Then, under Li Shengyuan's shocked gaze, the small figure bathing in the Great Sun Golden Core first stretched out a pair of small hands, and then broke through its head!

The small figure continuously climbed out. After a long time, it finally managed to pull its legs free from the Great Sun Golden Core.

The opening in the Great Sun Golden Core was quickly filled by the flowing flames.

The small figure that broke free was instantly covered in Great Sun Golden Core flames, like a giant of fire!

Then, just like Li Shengyuan, it sat cross-legged above the Great Sun Golden Core…

The Nascent Soul… was formed!

"This is… my Nascent Soul and Golden Core?"

Li Shengyuan was shocked beyond measure for a moment, his heart surging like waves. He actually possessed both a Golden Core and a Nascent Soul simultaneously!

Moreover, this Golden Core had already melted into a true sun!

My Golden Core actually evolved into a stellar sun?!

Li Shengyuan could feel a special connection between the Nascent Soul and the Golden Core.

A phrase immediately came to his mind.

If the Golden Core does not perish, the Nascent Soul does not die, and vice versa!

Li Shengyuan couldn't help but marvel, wondering, "I wonder if this change is due to the Pure Yang Source, or the Nine Yang Divine Skill, or perhaps my master's Congenital Great Sun Diagram!"

Although he had doubts, Li Shengyuan did not intend to ask his immortal master or Empress Imperial Sister.

Because the origins of the Pure Yang Source and the Nine Yang Divine Skill were truly difficult to explain.

But no matter what, this was a great fortune for him, and it was good as long as it benefited him.

Then, a sharp glint flashed in Li Shengyuan's eyes.

"My breakthrough this time actually directly crossed realms to the Upper Fourth-Grade Nascent Soul realm!"

Feeling the continuous surge of power from the Great Sun Nascent Soul, Li Shengyuan's lips curved slightly, very satisfied with this.

He was now a dual Upper Fourth-Grade in both Dao and Martial Arts!

To possess such cultivation at only twenty years old was simply unheard of!

Immediately after, his heart stirred again, as due to the butterfly effect, he gained new insights into the artistic conception…