"Am I forming my core?"
The moment this thought surfaced, Luo Chen felt a tumultuous surge of emotion.
He had not even reached Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, so how could he suddenly be forming a core?
Abruptly, he remembered his current state.
His soul foundation rivaled that of an ordinary cultivator at Foundation Establishment Great Perfection, his spiritual power was just as vast and robust, and he possessed a formidable physical body.
In truth, he had already satisfied the prerequisites for Core Formation.
Then, because the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method had suddenly attained Great Perfection, it had triggered this astonishing phenomenon.
*No!*
*I haven't made any preparations. If I force the breakthrough now, failure is practically certain.*
Luo Chen could clearly sense that as his internal spiritual power continuously poured into the reversed vortex, his strength was already beginning to falter.
It fell far too short!
*This is by no means the right moment to form a core.*
With a thought, Luo Chen channeled the alchemy art of the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method.
As he circulated it, the vortex spun slower and slower.
The spiritual energy within began to flow backward, returning to his qi sea, meridians, and acupoints.
Without external support, the faint silhouette of the Golden Core gradually broke down under the dismantling power of the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method, dissolving into drops of pure spiritual liquid that flowed back into his qi sea.
After a long time, the vortex ceased reversing and returned to its normal clockwise rotation.
Within his qi sea, the raging waves subsided.
Like an ocean after a massive tempest, it became calm, undisturbed by a single ripple.
The only difference was that the surface of the sea seemed to have risen by a layer.
This signified an advancement in cultivation realm.
"Though I did not form my core, going through this ordeal has pushed my long-tempered cultivation to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment."
Sensing his condition, Luo Chen felt a faint delight, but far more perplexity.
Why had the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method, a poison-clearing alchemy art, produced such an anomaly after finally reaching Great Perfection all these years later?
Thoughts raced through his mind.
Connecting the numerous clues together, he gradually caught a glimmer of familiarity.
"Could it be that after I trained this alchemy art to its absolute pinnacle, it reverted to its original form? It wasn't an alchemy technique at all, but a Core Formation secret art!"
The moment this idea emerged, the pieces began to click into place, reinforcing his conclusion.
The signs of the middle method of Core Formation described by the Tao clan's ancestor, Master Nanshan, in *Nanshan's Dao Explanations*—a reversing vortex drawing in spiritual liquid, compressing it into a pill, and finally consolidating into an embryonic Golden Core—were practically identical to what had just occurred inside him!
The lower method Core Formation secret art offered by Azure Pill Valley on the battlefield of Mount Thunder Accumulation, the Hunyuan Method, also mentioned forming an internal spiritual vortex as the key to achieving the Golden Core.
However, the spiritual vortex generated in his body was nearly ten times the size of the one in the Hunyuan Method!
Furthermore, it required none of the external resources prescribed by the Hunyuan Method.
In other words, the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method and the Hunyuan Method were Core Formation secret arts from the same origin, only this one was of a higher tier.
And there was more!
Danyangzi had been stripped of his status as Dao Child for committing grave transgressions. Among those offenses was teaching a secret art reserved exclusively for Dao Children to his younger brother.
Later, that younger brother was slain by Yan Alliance cultivators, and all his belongings were seized by them.
Meanwhile, Luo Chen had acquired this alchemy technique from the Yan Alliance inner disciple Huo Hu.
Rumor had it that after Tao Wan assumed the role of Dao Child, she had recovered most of the valley's vital legacies from outside.
There was a very high probability that the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method had been one of them.
Perhaps it had not been deemed immensely critical, but rather viewed as something foundational.
It was simply that no one could have anticipated that Luo Chen would cultivate it painstakingly for twenty years, aided by his panel, to push the technique to Great Perfection and return it to its true origin.
It could be considered the alchemy technique he had spent the longest time cultivating in his entire life.
"To think that Azure Pill Valley's secretly transmitted middle method of Core Formation was an alchemy art all along!"
"Of course. It is, after all, a great sect possessing a complete alchemy heritage."
"Beyond standard pill refining, they applied the Dao of Alchemy to other domains. Concepts like the Five Peaks Enclosing the Valley to elevate Pill Valley into a fourth-rank spiritual land stemmed from a similar alchemy philosophy. And isn't a cultivator condensing a Golden Core essentially an alternate form of pill refining? Seen in that light, using an alchemy art to form a core makes total sense."
Having thought it all through, a delighted smile surfaced on Luo Chen's face.
Now that he had mastered the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method to Great Perfection, did it not mean he had fully grasped a middle method Core Formation secret art?
Once he reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, he could attempt to break through to the Golden Core realm at any time!
This unexpected pleasant surprise instantly dispelled the gloom that had weighed on Luo Chen for days.
The loss of a century of lifespan.
The destruction of the Scorching Fire Miasma and the loss of the Thunder Immortal Bead.
Ice Fort's current plight and its inability to provide him with much assistance.
All of it seemed far less important now.
"Now that I'm at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment, I'm one step closer to the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment."
"As long as I keep advancing step by step, I can attempt to charge into the Golden Core realm sooner or later."
"Still, while the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method is great, the feeling I got earlier showed that attempting Core Formation with it still leaves many gaps. If I had forced the breakthrough just now, nine times out of ten I would have failed."
"It is, after all, only a middle method Core Formation secret art!" Luo Chen murmured to himself.
After his intense joy subsided, he quickly reined in his emotions and contemplated the future.
His foundation was simply too profound.
A mere middle method Core Formation secret art offered far too low a probability of success.
If he wanted a higher chance of forming his core, his best bet would likely remain the Falling Cloud Sect's secret art, Locking the Beaded Curtain.
And to think of Locking the Beaded Curtain meant he had to consider Chu Kui.
The man had continually been experimenting with the technique.
Yet due to the deficiency in his soul, he needed Luo Chen to supply him with supreme-grade Nether-Passage Pills.
"I've been in Ice Fort for nearly three and a half years. Chu Kui's supply of Nether-Passage Pills must have run out long ago."
"Perhaps I should head back?"
Once the thought of returning arose, it could no longer be suppressed.
Back when his cultivation was weak, Ice Fort would have been of immense help to him, being a great sect after all.
But now, he was already in late Foundation Establishment, endlessly close to the threshold of Core Formation.
Under these circumstances, the help Ice Fort could offer him was negligible.
When it came to slightly more high-end resources, Ice Fort was short on them itself!
As for Core Formation secret arts, Ice Fort's techniques were completely unsuitable for him; he had already gathered four varieties of his own in advance.
The only real benefit lay in guidance from Golden Core masters.
Yet they were not always available!
Canglong herself had stated that if he couldn't find her, he should seek out Fairy Jueqing, proving how busy they all were.
Besides, cultivating during Foundation Establishment honestly did not require much outside instruction.
It was primarily an accumulation of spiritual power.
In fact, before the Nascent Soul realm, the process was largely the same.
There might be subtle shifts at each stage, but Luo Chen had thoroughly grasped the nuances of Foundation Establishment long ago.
"Time to go back!"
"The people in Tianlan must be anxious waiting for me."
Very quickly, Luo Chen made his decision.
***
His judgment was entirely correct.
The people of the Luotian Association were indeed anxious.
Three days before Fairy Ice Soul's Core Formation Grand Ceremony, the Luotian Association dispatched a delegation to offer congratulations in person.
And the one leading them was none other than Gu Caiyi!
However, their true objective was not the ceremony, but Luo Chen.
The moment she saw Luo Chen in the Ice Prison, she could not hold back at all and threw herself into his arms.
"*Sob, sob, sob...*"
Listening to the weeping in his embrace, Luo Chen gently patted her back.
After a long while, once she had let out all her feelings, he smiled and said, "All right, all right. You're a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator now. How can you still act so childish?"
Gu Caiyi leaned against his chest and said in a muffled voice, "Everyone said you were gravely injured and fell unconscious for over half a year before waking up. How could I not worry?"
Luo Chen paused, having forgotten that detail.
Or rather, it had not been half a year of unconsciousness.
It had been three years!
During those three years, he had been entirely focused on refining the Wither-Bloom Fire.
Though he had been awake, he had been unable to move about, which was practically no different from being in a coma.
Over those three years, people from the Luotian Association had repeatedly come wanting to see him, only to be turned away by Ice Fort cultivators.
Under such circumstances, it was only natural for them to worry.
He shook his head. "Haven't I turned out fine? Look at me—sturdy body, high spirits, and I've even broken through to the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment."
Gu Caiyi lifted her head. Seeing his ruddy complexion, the worry in her heart finally cleared.
Yet before she could speak, her eyes fell upon his long, ash-white hair.
"This..." Gu Caiyi covered her mouth, crystal tears welling up in her eyes once more.
Luo Chen had not thought much of it himself.
Realizing she was looking at his hair, he offered an easy smile.
"Don't worry, it was just a minor mishap—nothing serious! Once my cultivation progresses, these strands will naturally return to normal."
"Really?" Gu Caiyi asked worriedly.
Luo Chen rubbed her head, speaking fondly, "I could lie to anyone, but I'd never lie to you!"
Seeing that she was still somewhat troubled, Luo Chen promptly shifted the subject.
"Why did you all come?"
Gu Caiyi wiped her eyes and answered earnestly, "Our Luotian Association is a vassal of Ice Fort. Now that Dao Child Ice Soul has become a Golden Core master, it was only right for us to show our respect.
"Besides, she mentioned that some of Ice Fort's specialty resources sell quite well, so she intended for me to negotiate cooperation while I was here."
Luo Chen was puzzled. "Specialty resources?"
"Yes!" Gu Caiyi nodded. "For instance, the first-rank demon fox blood you used to have us purchase when refining pills—most of it originated from Ice Fort. I even heard they often hunt second-rank snow foxes."
Demon fox blood.
It was an indispensable primary material for refining Luo Chen's Nether-Passage Pills.
Hearing that Ice Fort frequently hunted second-rank snow foxes, Luo Chen's interest was piqued.
The effects of the Nether-Passage Pill were miraculous!
It could strengthen a cultivator's soul power.
However, limited by its rank, its efficacy diminished the more one consumed it.
Chu Kui had never used it before, so it worked quite well for him.
For Luo Chen, however, the boost was rather mediocre by now.
All along, Luo Chen had harbored the intention to improve this pill recipe.
It was not arrogance on his part!
After all, when the recipe first reached him from Mi Shuhua, it had been incomplete to begin with.
Luo Chen had personally completed it before the system acknowledged his entry-level mastery.
He already possessed experience in deducing and completing formulas.
If he substituted the primary ingredients with higher-rank materials and suitably adjusted the supplementary ingredients as well...
Could he elevate the grade of the Nether-Passage Pill?
If it could reach the second rank, the benefits to Luo Chen would be enormous!
The mere thought filled him with intense anticipation.
"Negotiate—negotiate thoroughly with Ice Fort. Whether it's first-rank demon fox blood or second-rank snow foxes, secure a stable supply if at all possible."
"I might have great use for them down the line!"
Gu Caiyi nodded. "Mm, I'll do as you say."
Afterward, the two spent some quiet moments together, sharing intimate words.
Then Gu Caiyi took her leave first.
With three days remaining before the Core Formation Grand Ceremony, she needed to conduct the negotiations in advance.
Whether they succeeded was one matter, but she still had to make every effort.
Meanwhile, Luo Chen quietly departed the Ice Prison.
***
Three days later!
The Core Formation Grand Ceremony commenced as scheduled.
Fairy Ice Soul, unseen for years, appeared before the world with her Golden Core cultivation.
The Falling Cloud Sect, Mount Ailao, Azure Pill Valley, and the Hundred Blossoms Palace each dispatched a Golden Core elder alongside numerous Foundation Establishment disciples to offer their congratulations.
Even their rival, the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, sent a Golden Core sword cultivator.
At the grand ceremony, the grand and elaborate proceedings unfolded, opening the eyes of the smaller factions.
Toward the end, when various Golden Core masters sat together to expound on the Dao, the spectacle completely captured everyone's attention.
Yet among all these people...
Only Luo Chen remained apart from the festivities, ascending Mount Tian.
"You're leaving?"
Facing the woman before him, Luo Chen said respectfully, "I plan to depart. Ice Fort is not particularly suited to my cultivation; staying here indefinitely offers little benefit."
The third-rank spiritual land of Ice Fort was unlike others.
Because of the extreme climate, spiritual energy of the water and ice elements was excessively dense.
For cultivators who focused on those two paths, it was naturally an extraordinary cultivation environment.
However, for Luo Chen, who primarily cultivated wood and fire, it was a poor match.
His cultivation had neared the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment long ago, yet during his three and a half years in Ice Fort, it had taken slow, grinding effort just to finish that final stretch.
He had even relied on the Great Perfection of the Clear Source Wondrous Elixir Method to temper his spiritual power before barely crossing the threshold.
Canglong studied him closely before slowly nodding.
"Then I won't hold you back. As it happens, Ice Fort may become quite busy soon."
*Busy?*
Luo Chen turned the word over in his mind. Did she mean the Core Formation Grand Ceremony?
He did not press the matter, saying with sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Senior Sister Canglong, for taking care of me during this time. Regarding the Jade Dew Pills, I will be sure to refine as many as possible to support the cultivation of Ice Fort's disciples."
Canglong gave a soft hum of acknowledgment.
However, as Luo Chen prepared to head down the mountain, she offered a deliberate word of caution.
"Once you return, keep a low profile. Do your best to avoid trouble in the days ahead."
Luo Chen nodded. He did not overthink it, assuming it was simply sound advice.
After all, Ice Fort had put out word that he was gravely injured and that his foundation was damaged.
If he acted overly ostentatious out in the world, it would not only invite trouble for himself, but could also drag Ice Fort into the mess.
After Luo Chen departed, Canglong's gaze turned distant as she looked down at the grand celebration below, letting out a soft, inscrutable sigh.
"I've done all I can—nurturing Ice Soul as a successor within, and winning over a rising talent like Luo Chen from without."
"Whether what comes next succeeds or fails... is up to heaven."
***
Upon an ice field a hundred li from Ice Fort...
A flying boat braved the billowing wind and snow, gliding along at a leisurely pace.
Suddenly, the vessel came to a halt.
Across the frozen expanse, a figure leaped aboard.
Moments later, the flying boat resumed its journey, accelerating in the direction of Tianlan Immortal City.
Chapter 433