212: Congratulations from all sides, spring breeze

The blood-colored light, now a thick fog, enveloped the landscape for several miles in a hazy shroud. The Evil Qi and foul stench obscured all spiritual energy. The tall buildings in the mountain range could only show their highest few floors through the dense fog, and soon even the rooftops were swallowed, their traces no longer visible.

And this thick fog continued to spread, seemingly boundless, a blood-red haze filling all sight.

Some people heard laments, cries of pain, and shouts of struggle within it. Thousands of sounds diffused through the blood fog, making listeners' hair stand on end and their hearts grow cold.

Cultivators across the entire Great Jiang Imperial Dynasty looked up towards Great Love Sect, as the blood fog had already spread hundreds, even thousands, of miles, and lingered for a long time.

Mortals, even more so, prostrated themselves on the ground, frantically kowtowing, filled with fear.

Midnight Gao Sou hovered in mid-air, observing the sudden anomaly. He compared the difference between Golden Core and Immortal Foundation, a smile spreading across his face, and immediately burst into laughter.

At this moment, a resonant voice suddenly came from afar, echoing through the heavens and earth:

"Sect Leader Xiang Qing of Void Severing Cave congratulates Fellow Daoist on achieving Golden Core and being bestowed the title of Immortal Master!"

"Sect Leader Xiang Qing of Void Severing Cave congratulates Fellow Daoist on achieving Golden Core and being bestowed the title of Immortal Master!"

"Sect Leader Xiang Qing of Void Severing Cave congratulates Fellow Daoist on achieving Golden Core and being bestowed the title of Immortal Master!"

The voice rang out three times in a row, coming from Chu State and echoing over Great Love Sect.

Jiang Yezi and the other players exchanged glances, all stunned by the sudden voice.

Sect Leader of Duan Kong Cave personally congratulating?

This wasn't all; soon, another equally resonant voice came from the heavens and earth:

"I am Xiao Baoshan of Qingling Sect, representing Qingling Sect in congratulations, wishing Fellow Daoist an early Major Achievement of Divine Ability and a Shattered Core into a Nascent Soul!"

It also reverberated three times through the heavens and earth, the sound lingering for a long time.

Jiang Yezi and the others were completely numb.

The next moment, another voice echoed through the heavens and earth:

"Sect Master Jin Cui, Sect Leader of He Shui Sect of Heshui Prefecture congratulates Fellow Daoist. On a future day, I will bring a grand gift, wishing Fellow Daoist an early achievement of Nascent Soul!"

The voice was resonant, echoing three times, and contained the pressure of a superior, making Jiang Yezi and the others unable to even open their mouths.

Midnight Gao Sou was already grinning from ear to ear, feeling light-headed.

Just as everyone thought the congratulations from the surrounding forces were complete, an even more astonishing pressure suddenly came from Great Jiang Imperial City.

Brilliant golden light shot forth, followed by a wave of imposing aura that spread out:

"I am the Great Jiang state-stabilizing seal. Fellow Daoist has broken through to Golden Core and achieved Immortal Master. On behalf of Great Jiang, I congratulate you and specially bestow the four prefectures of Changqing, Yuehu, Zhongtai, and Liangyan as a gift, wishing Fellow Daoist an early Ascension!"

The Great Jiang state-stabilizing seal was the supreme treasure of Great Jiang, suppressing the national destiny and acting on state affairs, possessing various divine powers.

When the Great Jiang Empress went into seclusion, the state-stabilizing seal disappeared with her. Everyone speculated that the Empress carried it with her as a trump card for her Breakthrough, and it likely wouldn't reappear before her Major Achievement.

But now, Midnight Gao Sou's Breakthrough and the spread of his Golden Core pressure brought congratulations from all sides. Not only did the state-stabilizing seal appear, but it also presented four prefectures as a congratulatory gift, clearly ceding territory and acknowledging Great Love Sect's autonomy, no longer subject to Great Jiang's jurisdiction.

"Good, good, good."

Midnight Gao Sou beamed, repeating the word "good" three times.

The Three Great Sects offered their congratulations, and even Great Jiang ceded territory to show goodwill.

His prestige reached its Peak, and the changes brought by Golden Core had only just begun; everything was developing in a good direction.

"Everyone."

Midnight Gao Sou lowered his head, looking at the Great Love Sect players.

Including Jiang Yezi, all the Great Love Sect players were stunned in place, still shocked by the voices from all directions, merely staring blankly at Midnight Gao Sou.

"Everyone has worked hard."

Midnight Gao Sou sighed with emotion: "I have been in seclusion for many days, and you all have borne a lot of pressure. You have suffered grievances during these days."

With that, Midnight Gao Sou turned his head, his gaze piercing through the bloody fog clouds, as if inspecting something.

"Everyone who besieged my Great Love Sect during these days must pay the price.

"Those who fanned the flames behind the scenes must all be dug out.

"And those who fought to the death for my Great Love Sect must never be disheartened.

"From today onwards, my Great Love Sect officially becomes a Golden Core Sect, standing out among thousands of Sects and Families, and will never suffer grievances again!"

As his voice fell, Midnight Gao Sou looked at the players on Great Love Sect's mountain, seeing many with injuries, and some even lying on the ground in a sorry state.

His mind stirred, and he wanted to wave his hand to heal them, but he stopped.

Because he suddenly realized that with Ninth-Grade Shattered Core, let alone just having broken through, even if he cultivated to the Peak, as long as he didn't have the corresponding Divine Ability, he couldn't wave his hand and heal so many Cultivators.

So Midnight Gao Sou simply stood with his hands behind his back, pretending to be a master, his gaze profound as he looked into the distance, waiting for the Breakthrough anomaly to disappear.

At this moment, a ray of light suddenly came from afar, quickly landing in front of Midnight Gao Sou, several miles away, but for a Golden Core, it was but a step.

The person was dressed in a light red long robe, with wide sleeves catching the wind, and fire-like runes embroidered along the hem. He had a rugged and heroic appearance, and with cupped fists, he said in a clear voice:

"I am a Loose Cultivator from the Great Desert, Daoist name Gan Wu. I come on behalf of the Loose Cultivators of the Great Desert to offer congratulations, wishing Fellow Daoist a Major Achievement of Divine Ability, an early Shattered Core into Nascent Soul, and Ascension on a chosen day!"

Midnight Gao Sou looked at him, suddenly startled. This was the first Golden Core Immortal Master he had met face-to-face, and the other party did not belong to the Three Great Sects, but was a Loose Cultivator from the Great Desert, which made Midnight Gao Sou even more uncertain.

Fortunately, the other party's face seemed warm, and he showed no hostility towards Great Love Sect. He simply cupped his fists in congratulation, then waved his sleeve, leaving behind a jade box. After a brief chat, he transformed into a streak of light and disappeared.

After successfully breaking through to Golden Core, one would widely distribute invitations, choose an auspicious day to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, declare one's Daoist name, and officially be bestowed the title of Immortal Master.

Various forces would also send generous gifts on this day.

This Immortal Master Gan Wu came from the Western Great Desert and did not wish to interact much with people from the Three Great Sects, so he sent his gift and left early. Midnight Gao Sou did not stop him.

He almost impatiently opened the jade box, only to see a yellowish-brown spherical pearl inside, its light restrained. Its appearance seemed somewhat dull, as if immense power was extremely compressed within it.

"Senior Star Fiend, what is this?"

Midnight Gao Sou subconsciously asked in his mind, but received no response.

He patted his forehead, then remembered that Daoist Star Fiend had already left, and now he was alone.

So he had no choice but to put the gift into his storage ring, planning to catch up on Golden Core knowledge later to properly identify this gift.

After some thought, Midnight Gao Sou headed north of Great Love Sect, crossing mountain ranges, and soon saw a huge valley, dug into a deep pit, filled with a pervasive blood Evil Qi.

Previously, Great Love Sect had killed many Cultivators and Mortals. The refined bones and flesh were all thrown into the deep pit, along with many Heaven And Earth Treasures.

According to Daoist Star Fiend, good things could be brewed here eventually.

"But Senior Star Fiend, now that you're gone, what should I do with this place?"

Midnight Gao Sou looked at the deep pit, frowning.