153: Which one should I choose? Which one should I choose?

The River Convergence Method Sutra records: Core Formation marks the beginning of a Cultivator's transcendence, and is the crucial Foundation Establishment for the path to Immortality.

An ancient proverb says: "Swallow a single Golden Core, and only then know that my fate is not determined by Heaven."

This is not an exaggeration.

When a Cultivator passes the Core Formation tribulation and draws Spiritual Qi to condense the Core into their Physical Body, the Physical Body undergoes a chasm-like transformation, shedding its mortal shell and naturally forming a dao body.

What is a dao body?

The Cultivation Technique clearly explains: "Primal Chaos returning to unity, flawless and leak-proof—this is the dao body."

Once the dao body is formed, a Cultivator's practice only depends on whether their Foundation is solid and their vitality is abundant; the Physical Body is no longer a restriction on the Great Dao.

Ordinary weapons and mundane injuries can hardly damage its Foundation, nor do they affect future progress in cultivation.

From this point on, Immortals and mortals walk different paths; the Cultivator is able to break free from mortal fate and officially step onto the path of eternal life.

Zhou Yan carefully read the records in the Cultivation Technique.

Ever since he was stuck at Foundation Establishment for so long last time, he understood that breaking through a Realm still required referencing the guidance of existing Cultivation Techniques.

After reading the content, Zhou Yan generally understood the meaning of Core Formation.

Core Formation doesn't actually mean condensing a pill in the body; if a pill truly appeared inside, it would most likely be a kidney stone requiring medical treatment.

The so-called Core Formation is actually the manifestation of a state of Perfection, just as a Spiritual Root is not a real plant root or stem.

In the internal space Zhou Yan frequently visited, the emerald green tree and the sun-like sphere should be the external representations of these two special states.

Looking at it this way, it does resemble a tree root and a Golden Core, so the description is quite apt.

Zhou Yan recalled the scene of achieving Core Formation with his Dragon Physical Body that day.

After reading the Cultivation Technique, he understood that his body wasn't about to explode then, but rather his Physical Body was being reshaped to achieve the dao body.

It must be because the Dragon Clan Physique was too strong, resulting in no Bottleneck for Core Formation.

Unlike now, where he needs to actively trigger the Core Formation Bottleneck.

But this also has its advantages; otherwise, having it happen again without any preparation would truly be unbearable.

The only trouble right now is choosing his Lifebound Treasure.

According to the records in the Cultivation Technique, the function of a Lifebound Treasure is like connecting an internet cable to a computer,

and the Magic Treasure itself is that fiber optic cable.

It can significantly increase a Cultivator's upper limit and output capability.

Zhou Yan opened the panel and saw that the Core Formation Stage limit was indeed unlocked.

The required conditions are binding a Lifebound Treasure and meeting the comprehensive personal requirements.

He took out the profound ring and dumped out all the Core Formation Materials the Sect had prepared for him.

The sword embryo gifted by the Grand Elder, the versatile Materials gifted by the Sect Master, the talisman brush gifted by the Third Elder,

as well as the two fire seeds gifted by his cheap Master and the Sixth Elder.

[Unnamed Sword Embryo (Rank 3)] (Gifted by Grand Elder)

[Quality: Epic ★★]

[Crane Shadow Leaving Clear Bristles (Rank 3)] (Gifted by Third Elder)

[Quality: Epic]

[A Good Fire (Rank 3)] (Gifted by Sixth Elder)

[Quality: Epic]

[Don't Believe Him, Mine is Truly Good Fire (Rank 3)] (Gifted by Cheap Master)

[Quality: Epic ★]

I have to say, my Sect truly has profound Legacy.

Star-Ranked items are usually obtained through self-upgrading after forging, and the value of those that start with stars is self-evident.

Even Feng Xu's little boat didn't have a star Rank.

However, this also led Zhou Yan into difficulty choosing.

According to the Core Formation insights they left behind, these Magic Treasures are all very versatile.

Most Cultivators use nothing more than blades, swords, talismans, or seals.

Only a few individuals with unique personalities choose to customize their own.

However, the Sect even considered this point, which is why the Sect Master gifted Materials for him to craft his own.

These choices don't necessarily lock in his future Dao path.

A Lifebound Treasure can raise the upper limit, making a compatible path smoother.

But for someone like Zhou Yan who has a "cheat," and for those with outstanding talent, the path provided by the Lifebound Treasure is just an extra option and will not restrict them.

However, this is not a reason to choose carelessly.

After all, choosing a good Magic Treasure is fundamentally for smoother cultivation; otherwise, there would be no need to choose.

Judging from the current data, the sword embryo gifted by the Grand Elder is undoubtedly the best, with the highest quality and plasticity.

But precisely because the quality is too high, the compatibility with the Cultivator himself will be reduced.

If not for its high plasticity, the effect of this Magic Treasure would actually be the worst for him.

The brush gifted by the Third Elder has the worst plasticity but the highest compatibility.

After using it, the Dao of Talismans and the Dao of Painting will be smoother, but other paths will not receive a bonus.

Next are two fire seeds that are difficult to evaluate.

Strictly speaking, they are not considered Magic Treasures, but among the three Legacies provided by the Sect,

they are permitted to replace Magic Treasures and serve as Lifebound objects.

These three Legacies were written by the Sixth Elder, the Fourth Elder, and the Sect Master, respectively: the True Blazing Art, the Super Blazing Art, and the True Super Blazing Art.

All of these were self-modified and heavily revised versions of the Blazing Art Legacy passed down within the Sect.

Although I don't know what kind of sickness these three people have to choose such ridiculous names, the prospects of these three Cultivation Techniques are indeed good.

After mastering these three, as long as one possesses a high-quality fire seed, they can simultaneously gain bonuses in the three Daos of Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Fire.

Considering plasticity, quality, and compatibility comprehensively, they are the worst.

However, if both fire seeds are refined together, they can reach a medium level, and if more fire seeds are obtained later, they can continue to be upgraded and refined.

Compared to the subsequent development of artifact-type Lifebound Treasures, the growth path for fire seeds is more stable and clear.

These few Magic Treasures each have their pros and cons, giving Zhou Yan, who suffers from decision paralysis, a massive headache.

Which one should I choose? Which one should I choose? Which one should I choose?

Just then, a sudden thought struck Zhou Yan, and he remembered something.

He hurriedly rummaged through his inventory, finally finding several long-forgotten pieces of equipment amidst a pile of huge rocks, giant trees, 114,514 tons of soil, and 350,234 cubic meters of water.

Namely, the Rank 2 Flying Sword dropped after defeating Chen Yan, the necklace dropped by Yi Sanyi's Creeper Incarnation, and the wooden sword gifted to beginners.

Looking at these three items, Zhou Yan had a new idea.

Although they couldn't compare to the previously mentioned Magic Treasures, they possessed characteristics that those treasures lacked.

First is the "Legendary Village Good Sword"!

It provides the powerful effect of up to five points of attack!

As well as the ordinary characteristics of being untradeable and indestructible.

Next is that necklace, which provides an effect that increases attack power by a percentage.

Finally, there is this Flying Sword. It is indeed mediocre, but its most Heaven-Defying aspect is that it can be used as material for the great Wooden Sword.

The automatic forging station updated its synthesis function after this update.

Integrating Advanced items into lower-Rank items can raise the Rank of the low-Rank item to the Advanced level.

This sounds a bit like "feeding an Immortal Pill to a dog,"

but what if this dog is the "Howling Celestial Dog"?

Looking at this indestructible wooden sword, anticipation rose in Zhou Yan's heart.

Without further ado, he summoned the newly appointed dedicated blacksmith, Li Shan.

In Jiangzhou, Li Shan and his father, Li Cheng, had already pledged allegiance to Zhou Yan. Under Zhou Yan's language trap, they also became his Family.

Li Shan was indeed a bit unlucky.

His house looked luxurious, but the residence was bestowed by the former Prince Kang, the Regent, and the time of the bestowal was precisely when Prince Kang was about to fall from power.

His father, Li Cheng, being a follower of Prince Kang, was left with nothing except the house and the chance for his entire Family to leave the capital alive.

Therefore, to acquire resources, Li Shan began studying the Four Arts of Cultivation and sold goods in the black market for profit, just like Huo Zhongshan.

Thus, he also became a Rank 3 Artifact Refiner and held considerable authority in this Domain.

The reason he didn't ask the Nascent Soul Stage Li Cheng to take action, but chose the Rank 3 Artifact Refiner Li Shan, wasn't because the Nascent Soul Stage "blank slate" was inferior to the Rank 3 Artifact Refiner Li Shan.

After all, Li Shan's own stats were too low; although his forging Rank was high, the resulting benefit was still relatively low among Rank 3 items.

Therefore, theoretically speaking, using a Rank 4 "blank slate" would actually be better.

The reason he didn't do this was that the Nascent Soul Stage subordinate creature dared to disobey Zhou Yan's command!

If that Q-version little person with a droopy old face hadn't openly hissed at him, Zhou Yan would have almost forgotten that there was such a setting in the Family.

That is, when the Clan Chief's Rank is lower than the Family members', those Family members with low bond levels will disobey instructions.

The most Heaven-Defying part is that because they disobey commands, he can't assign them tasks to raise their bond level, and because their bond level is low, they disobey commands.

I have to say, the developers are quite skilled at forcing players to spend money.

If you don't grind or spend money, sometimes when you draw an Advanced card or capture a rare NPC, you can only stare helplessly.

Never mind, I won't dwell on these depressing matters.

Next up is the Great Blade Forging Competition—I, the Alchemist, shall restore my glory!