49: Chapter 49 Joint Cultivation Helps Mengli Break Through to Golden Core Realm

Domain of Chaos, an unnamed barren mountain, a hidden cave concealed by a Formation.

The campfire flickered, reflecting three weary faces. It had been three days since they left Tianji City. The three of them had traveled non-stop through the wild marshes, avoiding several waves of tracking and Yao Beast attacks before finding a foothold on the edge of the Domain of Chaos.

Ye Fan sat cross-legged, regulating his breathing as the Yin-Yang Golden Core within him rotated slowly, his cultivation becoming increasingly stable. Su Qianxue sat below him; she had recently broken through to the Middle Stage of the Golden Core and was currently consolidating it. Liu Mengli curled up in a corner, her gaze blank.

“Young Master Ye...” she spoke in a low voice, “Where do we go next? My father... will he really be alright?”

Ye Fan opened his eyes: “In the short term, we will move within the Domain of Chaos. Your father proactively provided clues about Lin Feng and information on the fragments, which is a service to the Tianji Pavilion. At least until Lin Feng is found, they won't act against him.”

“But Lin Feng is ruthless. What if—”

“That's why we must become stronger,” Ye Fan interrupted her. “Only by being strong enough can we protect the people we want to protect.”

“Become stronger...” A hint of longing flashed in Liu Mengli's eyes, then dimmed. “I'm only at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment, and my talent is average. How can I become stronger?”

“Late-stage Foundation Establishment is only one step away from the Golden Core,” Ye Fan said slowly. “If you can break through to the Golden Core, not only will your strength increase greatly, but your understanding of the Dao of Artifact Refining will also enter a new Realm.”

Liu Mengli smiled bitterly: “I've been stuck at the Late-stage Foundation Establishment for several years and have never been able to sense the opportunity to condense a core. My Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones were also lost during the escape.”

“I still have some Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones.” Ye Fan took out several bottles of pills and a small pile of Spirit Stones. “As for the opportunity to condense a core—”

He looked at Su Qianxue and had a plan in mind.

“I have a method that might help you sense the opportunity to condense a core in a short time, or even break through to the Golden Core in one go. However, this method is special; it requires your complete trust and cooperation, and it also carries a certain risk.”

Hope ignited in Liu Mengli's eyes: “Please tell me, Young Master Ye! As long as I can become stronger and deal with Lin Feng, Mengli is willing to do anything!”

“This method is called ‘Yin-Yang Mystic Yin Dual Cultivation’,” Ye Fan no longer hid it. “I possess the Yin-Yang Dao Body and can harmonize Yin and Yang. Qianxue has the Mystic Yin Body. Previously, I used this method to help her dispel poison, break through, and condense a High Grade Mystic Yin Golden Core.”

Liu Mengli's cheeks flushed slightly. Although she was a virgin, she understood the implication of his words.

“You don't need to overthink it,” Ye Fan said calmly. “This method is not some wicked art of cultivation through sexual absorption. Instead, it is based on the Great Dao of Yin and Yang. Through the blending of Qi, the resonance of spiritual power, and the mutual sensing of Divine Sense, it achieves a mutually reinforcing effect. Although your Artifact Refining Legacy leans towards Metal and Fire, its core ‘Heavenly Craft’ Dao charm contains the meanings of ‘creation’ and ‘shaping,’ which do not conflict with the Dao of ‘bearing’ and ‘nurturing’ within ‘Yin’.”

“In this dual cultivation, I will use my Yin-Yang Two Qi as a guide to help you clear your Meridians, refine your True Essence, and comprehend the Dao charm of ‘Yin.’ You need to open your mind and accept the guidance without resistance. This is one of the risks. Second, my Yang Qi might be somewhat overbearing for you, requiring enough willpower to endure it. Third, although this method can significantly increase the success rate of core condensation, whether you can truly break through depends on your Comprehension Ability and accumulation.”

Liu Mengli fell silent. Looking at Ye Fan's open and honest gaze, and then at Su Qianxue's expression which showed no displeasure, the shyness in her heart was gradually replaced by determination.

She needed power, so she would no longer be bullied, so she could protect her father, and so she wouldn't be a burden to others.

“Young Master Ye, Mengli is willing!” She looked up. “No matter what the risk, Mengli is willing to give it a try!”

“Good.” Ye Fan nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

“Qianxue, you act as the Protector nearby. You can also sense the dual cultivation process; it will be beneficial for stabilizing your Golden Core.”

“Yes, Young Master.” Su Qianxue walked to the cave entrance and set up a guard of Mystic Yin cold Qi.

“Miss Liu, let's begin.” Ye Fan signaled her to sit opposite him.

Liu Mengli took a deep breath, suppressing her nervousness and shyness, and sat down as instructed. The two faced each other, less than three feet apart.

“Close your eyes, relax, circulate your Cultivation Technique, and do not resist my aura.”

She closed her eyes and began to circulate the Liu family's ‘Hundred Refinement Art.’ Ye Fan formed hand seals, and two refined streams of Yin-Yang Two Qi, one black and one white, surged from his palms, intertwining and rotating between him and Liu Mengli, forming a faint phantom of a Taiji Diagram.

“Yin and Yang circulate, Dao charm manifests, go!”

The Taiji Diagram split into two currents of milky white and pitch black, which entered Liu Mengli's brow and Dantian respectively.

“Mnh—”

Liu Mengli's delicate body trembled violently. The moment the two Yin-Yang Qi entered her body, it felt as if two worlds of ice and fire erupted simultaneously. The white Yang Qi was warm and full of vitality, quickly repairing and clearing the hidden injuries and clogged Meridians within her, activating her blood, Qi, and potential. The black Yin Qi was cool and quiet, seeping into her Dantian. Upon contact with her metal and fire-attributed True Essence, instead of conflicting, it acted like a lubricant and stabilizer, making the restless True Essence become solid and obedient. It also imprinted a trace of the Dao charm of ‘bearing’ and ‘shaping’ within it, resonating with her understanding of the ‘Heavenly Craft’ Dao of Artifact Refining.

“Guide your True Essence to circulate with my aura, and comprehend the Dao charm of ‘Yin’ within it,” Ye Fan's voice echoed in her mind.

Liu Mengli cooperated fully. Her consciousness seemed to have a subtle connection with Ye Fan, faintly perceiving the vastness of his Great Dao of Yin and Yang. Under this guidance, she gained an unprecedentedly clear understanding of her own Cultivation Technique and the Dao of Artifact Refining.

“Metal is sharp, governing slaughter and also shaping. Fire is fierce, governing destruction and also forging. And Yin... bears its form, nurtures its nature, and stabilizes its foundation... So that's how it is!” Many obscure points suddenly became clear, and she felt her Artifact Refining level take a qualitative leap in this short time.

At the same time, under the infusion of Ye Fan's Yin-Yang Two Qi, the liquid True Essence in Liu Mengli's Dantian began to collapse and condense towards the center. A tiny phantom of a core, glowing with pale gold and fiery red light and faintly flowing with black Dao patterns, slowly took shape.

“The opportunity to condense the core is here!” Liu Mengli was ecstatic.

“Steady your mind, comprehend the Dao charm of ‘Yin,’ and integrate it into the Golden Core as a foundation,” Ye Fan's voice rang out just in time.

Liu Mengli did as told, combining that cool and quiet Yin Qi Dao charm with the ‘Heavenly Craft’ Artifact Refining Concept, turning it into a Concept of ‘bearing all things, shaping and defining nature,’ and meticulously integrating it into the Golden Core phantom. That originally restless phantom gradually became stable and solid, its pale gold and fiery red light becoming more pure and restrained, while the black Dao patterns bound it firmly like the strongest tendons.

“Now is the time! Condense!”

Ye Fan increased the input of Yin-Yang Two Qi, and a strand of Origin Dao charm containing ‘Yin-Yang transformation’ was passed into Liu Mengli's body as the finishing touch.

“Boom—”

A thunderous roar exploded in Liu Mengli's Dantian! The Golden Core phantom radiated brilliant light, and the majestic aura of a Golden Core Cultivator swept through the entire cave.

The Golden Core was formed!

It was not an ordinary Low Grade or Medium Grade Golden Core. Under the nourishment of the Origin Qi from Ye Fan's Yin-Yang Dao Body, the Golden Core Liu Mengli condensed was as large as a dragon's eye, dark gold in color, and naturally imprinted with three gold patterns, three fire patterns, and three faint black Yin patterns. It emitted the biting aura of a High Grade Golden Core—though not as good as Su Qianxue's nine-patterned Mystic Yin Golden Core, it was considered excellent among High Grade Golden Cores and was extremely compatible with her Dao of Artifact Refining.

“I... succeeded... I'm at the Golden Core Stage...” Liu Mengli opened her eyes, feeling the majestic power within her. Tears fell—this time, they were tears of joy.

“Congratulations, Miss Liu!” Ye Fan withdrew his hands. His face was slightly pale, but his eyes were filled with gratification.

“Thank you for your help, Young Master!” Liu Mengli wanted to kneel in gratitude, but she was held up by a gentle force.

“There's no need for such formalities; this is your own fortune,” Ye Fan waved his hand. “Stabilize your cultivation well and familiarize yourself with the power of the Golden Core Stage. The road ahead is still long.”