125: What do you think the Jindan stage is?

Inside the bedchamber.

The incense was lit, and its aroma soothed Wang Huohuo's heart, allowing her a rare moment of peace.

Yet, no matter how calm she became, a deep apprehension towards Yan Xiao remained in her heart.

This waste, whom she had broken off her engagement with, had risen powerfully in an extremely short time, even becoming capable of rivaling a Mortal Foundation—stronger than Murong Shusu was now!

At this point, Wang Huohuo was completely flustered.

She could even imagine that if it weren't for the frequent intelligence exchanges among players and the rapid spread of various exciting events, she might have known nothing about Yan Xiao before their three-year agreement.

When the appointed time arrived, she would go with her Foundation Establishment account, only to find, oh, Yan Xiao had reached Golden Core.

That would be a huge joke.

"A Core Formation Cultivator cannot make a move."

The Twelfth Princess was originally lying lazily on the bed, but after hearing about Yan Xiao, she became somewhat serious, sitting upright, though her expression was also a bit troubled.

"However, if it's just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it might not be enough to subdue Yan Xiao. The strength he has shown is very strange, and the trump cards he possesses seem to be entirely beyond what the Yan Family could provide."

Murong Shusu frowned: "I suspect he gained some extraordinary fortuitous encounter after leaving the Yan Family, making him extremely powerful."

The Twelfth Princess sighed: "Indeed, such Sons of Luck with fortuitous encounters are the most troublesome. Even if I were to personally intervene, he might still slip away, or even turn the tables and kill me."

Murong Shusu was also somewhat surprised to hear this. She had only requested a Core Formation Cultivator to act as a precaution. If the Twelfth Princess, a Late Stage Immortal Foundation Cultivator, were to personally intervene, Yan Xiao surely wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

But now the Twelfth Princess had personally said that even if she disregarded her status and acted herself, that Yan Xiao might actually be able to kill her!

"Son of Luck?"

Murong Shusu chewed on the term, finding it very interesting, but she did not press for details. Instead, she asked a question she cared about more: "Then why can't a Core Formation Cultivator make a move?"

The Great Jiang Dynasty was an Imperial Dynasty of the imperial family. Although the Twelfth Princess was only at Foundation Establishment, she was a noble member of the imperial family; she should have been able to command a Core Formation Cultivator to act.

However, the Twelfth Princess said: "Indeed, the Murong Family has never had a Core Formation Legacy, so you naturally wouldn't know what the Core Formation Realm truly entails... Listen closely, I will explain it to you in detail.

"When a Cultivator cultivates an Immortal Foundation, they need to constantly support the Immortal Foundation within their body, allowing the Immortal Foundation to temper their entire Physical Body, continuously expand their spiritual consciousness, and make both the Physical Body and Soul completely adapt to the Immortal Foundation."

"Once this step reaches its limit, one can completely refine the Immortal Foundation, resonate with Heaven and Earth, and condense a Golden Core."

Hearing this, Murong Shusu clearly found a problem: "Wait, so after Immortal Foundation is Golden Core? But what about the Core Formation stage in between?"

The Twelfth Princess slowly said: "From the moment one begins refining the Immortal Foundation, one no longer possesses the power of the Immortal Foundation. But the Golden Core is not yet formed, so there is no Golden Core power either. One can only continuously attempt to form the Core; this is called the Core Formation stage."

"And because of this, every Cultivator who begins refining their Immortal Foundation, attempting to condense a Golden Core, can only be confined to their Immortal Cave day after day, year after year. Not only are they unable to leave and make a move, but their spiritual consciousness is also trapped within their body. If someone were to break into their Immortal Cave, even a mere Qi Refining Cultivator could easily take their head."

Murong Shusu was completely stunned; this was something she had never thought of before.

She had originally thought that each Realm in a Xuanhuan World was like a Rank in other games, constantly improving and gaining power.

Although different Ranks had different characteristics, such as Immortal Foundations each having different powers, they were ultimately just Rank settings for combat.

While the concept of absorbing Immortal Qi to build an Immortal Foundation was novel and imaginative, that was as far as it went. After achieving an Immortal Foundation, it was ultimately used for combat, and Foundation Establishment was merely stronger than Qi Refining.

But now, the setting of the Core Formation stage left Murong Shusu completely dumbfounded.

This stage not only failed to increase combat power but also trapped the Cultivator in an Immortal Cave, unable to move, unable to leave, and even completely losing perception of their surroundings, forced to be confined to introspecting within their body, repeating the tedious process of refining the Immortal Foundation and condensing the Golden Core day after day.

"Then, what happens if a Core Formation Cultivator ends their seclusion early?"

Murong Shusu asked blankly.

The Twelfth Princess chuckled: "Ending seclusion early? It's simply impossible. From the moment one begins refining the Immortal Foundation, everything is no longer up to the Cultivator. Either one succeeds in condensing a Golden Core, or one completely transforms into Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, perishing and having their Dao disappear. There is no possibility of compromise."

After speaking, the Twelfth Princess scoffed at herself: "Otherwise, why do you think I, your Master, have not chosen to enter seclusion and Breakthrough to Core Formation? Too many people never dare to attempt a Breakthrough in their entire lives, only making a desperate gamble when their oil is running out, but how can that possibly succeed? In the end, it's nothing but dust to dust, ashes to ashes.

"Even those arrogant Outstanding Talents, who cultivated for decades and were able to enter seclusion for Core Formation, after a hundred years, their Immortal Caves are empty, leaving only the spiritual resources they transformed into after death. How many can cross this threshold? Few, too few."

A wave of sorrow lingered in the bedchamber.

The Twelfth Princess then softly spoke: "So, a Son of Luck like Yan Xiao, though rampant for a time, seemingly invincible, will be nothing more than that after a hundred years."

Murong Shusu thought to herself, Yan Xiao might indeed fail to form a Core and die after a hundred years, but in three years, she would have to fight him. Wouldn't her premium account be doomed then?

At this point, Murong Shusu was truly anxious. She thought for a moment and then relayed the information she had seen online: "This Yan Xiao likely possesses a Cultivation Legacy different from Immortal Cultivation, and the combat power he has displayed is simply too strong, his trump cards too frequent. The fortuitous encounters he has obtained probably exceed our imagination."

The Twelfth Princess opened her mouth, but before she could speak, her expression suddenly changed. She flipped off the bed, directly knelt on the ground, and pulled Murong Shusu down to kneel with her.

Murong Shusu was bewildered, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of a woman in a crimson Dragon Robe who had appeared at some unknown point beside them. Due to the angle, she couldn't see the woman's face, which only made her appear more majestic and mysterious.

"Murong Shusu."

The Dragon Robe woman spoke calmly: "Tell me everything about Yan Xiao."

Murong Shusu was about to speak, but then she heard the other party say: "Including all the intelligence you Extraterrestrial Demons have gathered."

Wang Huohuo's entire body stiffened, goosebumps rising. Her mind buzzed, but under the terrifying Aura of the other party, she had no time to think and could only spill out everything about Yan Xiao, one by one.

She couldn't see the other party's expression, nor did the other party make any extra sounds.

After she finished speaking, she didn't even dare to look up. The Twelfth Princess beside her was also very quiet. After an unknown amount of time, the two of them finally realized that the Empress had already left... Deep within the Green Emerald Mountains.

Yan Xiao, riding his Unicorn Purple Lion, was searching for a Spiritual Plant.

Suddenly, his entire body stiffened, a terrifying Aura engulfed him, and his teacher's voice echoed in his mind:

"Tsk, this generation of young people is truly completely different from our time. Such a degree can make her personally intervene, huh..."

Then, a woman in a crimson Dragon Robe suddenly appeared in front of him. She wore a crown and had her hands clasped behind her back. She made no unnecessary movements, yet a powerful Qi locked onto Yan Xiao.