203: The grades of golden elixir

Midnight Gao Sou considered himself very intelligent.

He originally intended to brutally kill the evil Cultivators, directly use them for Alchemy, and help him achieve a Breakthrough.

He had even thought it through: when public opinion was rampant, he would endure the pressure, and then reverse the public's perception after reaching the Golden Core Realm.

However, not long ago, he followed Star Fiend Daoist's advice and went to Chu, secretly checking the situation at Duan Kong Cave.

Upon investigation, he was immediately shocked.

Because he discovered that there were indeed many evil Cultivators in Duan Kong Cave; both Inner Sect Elders and Outer Sect Disciples were evil Cultivators.

But unlike the Great Love Sect, Duan Kong Cave had an excellent reputation and was even regarded by many as a prestigious Righteous Path sect, a main force in eliminating demons and defending the Dao.

Even within Duan Kong Cave, many Disciples and Elders were completely unaware of the evil Cultivators, believing their sect was truly of the Righteous Path.

Midnight Gao Sou was truly shocked; he never imagined evil Cultivators could operate this way.

So, he simultaneously searched for evil Cultivator Legacies around Duan Kong Cave and studied Duan Kong Cave's model.

He finally concluded that Duan Kong Cave's core philosophy was: sanctimonious hypocrisy.

No matter how sinister it was internally, outwardly it had to appear grand, glorious, and righteous.

Furthermore, they could even make a fortune by relying on this grand, glorious, and righteous facade.

Midnight Gao Sou then proposed a Medicinal Bath Welfare Event, specifically using this event to gather support, while secretly refining the evil Cultivator players into Medicinal Pills.

At the same time, drawing on Duan Kong Cave's advanced experience, he selectively chose some players, allowing them to successfully pass the Medicinal Bath, using them as examples to prove that this was truly a welfare event.

Midnight Gao Sou also enabled an invisible mode in the trading System, specifically to sell preparation gift packs, and on the forums, he promoted the idea that one needed to prepare in advance to successfully pass the Medicinal Bath.

This allowed him to make a huge profit, recouping the cost of purchasing the Medicinal Bath Materials.

His reputation was established, profits were made, and most importantly, the secret Alchemy of human Medicinal Pills was also successful.

Midnight Gao Sou couldn't help but sigh with emotion: if he had known earlier that evil Cultivators had such a method, why would he have ruined his reputation before?

"If I want to achieve a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm, how many human Medicinal Pills do I need?"

Midnight Gao Sou asked Star Fiend Daoist.

The latter pondered for a moment: "The more, the better."

Midnight Gao Sou frowned: "Is there no fixed number?"

"For a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm, where is the fixed number? It's merely doing one's best and leaving the rest to fate."

Star Fiend Daoist's tone carried a hint of nostalgia: "When this old man achieved a Breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm, he also risked nine deaths for one life, but fortunately, he successfully broke through in the end."

Midnight Gao Sou was a little worried: "Since even Senior faced nine deaths for one life, wouldn't I, with even less preparation, face ten deaths and no life? What if all my efforts are in vain?"

Star Fiend Daoist chuckled: "What I pursued was a high-grade Golden Core, so naturally it was nine deaths for one life. But what you seek to achieve is merely a Ninth-Grade Shattered Core, at most aiming for an Eighth-Grade Mixed Core. With a lower pursuit, the risk is naturally much less. With my guidance, plus the Righteous Aura Scripture and these human Medicinal Pills, it can be said to be foolproof."

Midnight Gao Sou finally couldn't hold back: "Senior, how exactly are the grades of the Golden Core divided? Is the difference in strength very large?"

Star Fiend Daoist nodded: "Golden Cores are divided into grades one to nine, with nine being the lowest and one being the strongest. In the Early Stage of the Golden Core Realm, the difference is not too significant; a Ninth-Grade can even contend with a First-Grade. But as the Cultivation Realm continuously increases, the gap will become larger and larger. By the Peak of the Golden Core Realm, a First-Grade Golden Core can even suppress several Ninth-Grade Golden Cores simultaneously."

"And when Breaking Through to the Nascent Soul, the certainty is vastly different. A Ninth-Grade has almost no possibility of Breaking Through to the Nascent Soul, but for a Prodigy whose Core formed as a First-Grade, the Nascent Soul is almost a matter of course."

Midnight Gao Sou understood. The quality of the Golden Core was equivalent to potential, somewhat similar to the Immortal Foundation. Once achieved, it could not be redone, and the future Dao Lineage would be set in stone.

He felt a little unwilling, wanting to try for a higher-grade Golden Core, but reason told him that with his Golden Finger and current preparations, being able to aim for an Eighth-Grade would already be good.

Most likely, in the end, it would just be a Ninth-Grade.

"Then Senior, what are the characteristics of these First to Ninth-Grade Golden Cores? Since Ninth-Grade is a Shattered Core and Eighth-Grade is a Mixed Core, do other grades also have names?"

"Names, of course, they have. Each grade of Golden Core has its own characteristics."

Star Fiend Daoist fluently described the Golden Core grades:

"A Ninth-Grade Golden Core can almost only be said to be barely formed. The Immortal Foundation and the Cultivator are not completely in Fusion, and the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence interaction is severely insufficient. The Golden Core formed is shattered from the beginning and will backlash against the Cultivator in the next moment, but it is forcibly maintained by secret techniques, thus allowing entry into the Golden Core Realm, but the path ahead is also cut off."

"A Ninth-Grade Shattered Core is merely a last resort."

Midnight Gao Sou now understood. No wonder Star Fiend Daoist said a Ninth-Grade Shattered Core was almost certain; it turned out that Ninth-Grade was originally a fallback, forcibly formed by secret techniques.

"An Eighth-Grade Mixed Core is actually the worst Golden Core formed during normal Core Formation. The Cultivator largely completes the refinement of the Immortal Foundation, but their understanding of the Cultivation Technique is insufficient, and the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence interaction also has deviations, ultimately leading to the influx of miscellaneous Qi from Heaven and Earth, eroding the Golden Core and causing the formed Golden Core to be chaotic and impure, greatly reducing its power."

"Usually, to aim for a Seventh-Grade, one either needs to have an understanding of the Cultivation Technique that has reached the point of returning to simplicity, or one needs to prepare a pure Immortal Cave for secluded cultivation. The resources consumed are even more immense, which we simply cannot achieve now. So, you, young man, can at most attempt an Eighth-Grade; absolutely do not try for a Seventh-Grade."

Midnight Gao Sou nodded.

"A Seventh-Grade is called a Colored Core. At this point, the Golden Core is no longer chaotic and impure, but turns into a colorful state. Unlike the invasion of miscellaneous Qi in an Eighth-Grade, the problem with a Seventh-Grade is the interweaving and disturbance of traces left by previous generations' insights in Heaven and Earth, which ultimately leave imprints on the Golden Core, thus turning it colorful."

"It is said that in ancient times, there were fewer traces of previous generations, and almost everyone could surpass the Seventh-Grade when forming their Core, pursuing the Sixth-Grade and even higher. Unfortunately, our generation does not have that fortune."

Midnight Gao Sou felt somewhat bewildered: "Traces of previous generations' insights can still remain in Heaven and Earth?"

Star Fiend Daoist sighed: "Almost all insights, even those from the Qi Refining Realm, will leave traces in Heaven and Earth. It's just that if one's cultivation is not high enough, neither you nor I can detect or notice them. But when one is about to Break Through to the Golden Core Realm and interact with Heaven and Earth, these traces will erode. To resist this erosion, one needs a thorough understanding of the Cultivation Technique and an extreme mastery over the Immortal Foundation. Only then can one clear the erosion during Core Formation and maintain one's Origin."

After Star Fiend Daoist finished speaking, he sighed again: "Back then, I was stuck at this stage for decades, ultimately facing nine deaths for one life, and only with great difficulty did I Break Through the Seventh-Grade and achieve the Sixth-Grade."

"A Sixth-Grade Golden Core is called a Flower Core. The invasion of miscellaneous Qi and the insights of previous generations are all cleared, but under the same Cultivation Technique and the same Dao Lineage, there are countless possibilities. One cannot sort out the clues, cannot find the path ahead, feeling utterly lost. Countless choices then transform into petals, imprinted on the Golden Core."

"Because these petals are essentially the Cultivator's different understandings of the Dao Lineage, and even the Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence's complement to the Dao Lineage, they are thus helpful for cultivation and can also draw in Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence. This is already considered a high-grade Golden Core."

"However, a Sixth-Grade Flower Core is ultimately still not pure, and the path ahead remains difficult."

At this point, Star Fiend Daoist once again sighed: "The Great Jiang Empress is also a Sixth-Grade. This grade of Golden Core is the most awkward; it's not as good as the best, but better than the worst. There is hope for a Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul, yet there is no hope. All sorts of troubles torment the Cultivator every moment. Alas, I ultimately did not attempt the Nascent Soul like the Great Jiang Empress back then; I didn't have the courage..."

After sighing, Star Fiend Daoist continued: "The rest are Fifth-Grade Pattern Core, Fourth-Grade Star Core, Third-Grade Jade Core, Second-Grade True Core, and First-Grade Dao Core. Their specific situations, even if I told you, would not be helpful; it would only add to your troubles."

Midnight Gao Sou wanted to press further, as he was a player, and the more information, the better.

However, Star Fiend Daoist was unwilling to say more, so he had no choice but to give up asking and continue to concentrate on Alchemy.