The Origin Core Art was a technique that refined Hidden Dust Sand into a cultivator's second Golden Core.
And because this core held the potential to advance into a Nascent Soul in the future—achieving a second Nascent Soul—it was called an "Origin Core."
Compared to a Golden Core, the completed Origin Core bore virtually no difference.
In fact, in certain respects, it was even superior!
It was not restricted by the cultivator's minor cultivation realms, possessing immense malleability.
Its upper limit was constrained solely by the grade of the Hidden Dust Sand.
In other words, with this rank-three Great Circle Hidden Dust Sand in Luo Chen's hands, so long as he refined it properly, he could remain at the fourth layer of the Golden Core while the Origin Core attained a realm comparable to the late Golden Core stage.
What did this signify?
One need only think about it to realize:
It meant Luo Chen could possess double—or even multiple times—his current magic power reserves!
If Luo Chen had possessed an Origin Core during the previous battle, his magic power would not have been stretched so thin; he could have unleashed all manner of grand spells without hesitation.
Never mind being besieged by six or seven people; even if there had been more, he would not have feared them in the slightest.
For this reason alone, the Origin Core Art was worth millions!
And if he could cultivate the Origin Core to the level of a second Nascent Soul in the future, its value would be incalculable!
It was a secret art whose worth could no longer be measured in spirit stones.
Not to mention that Luo Chen also had a recipe for the Nascent Soul Formation Pill, something ordinary Golden Core cultivators desperately sought yet could never obtain.
"This time, you've made an enormous profit!" Han Zhan said, his tone dripping with sour envy.
In his entire life, he had rarely made such a losing bargain.
Truly, a man standing under another's eaves had no choice but to bow his head!
Luo Chen smiled, then said with a somber expression, "Cultivating this art is rather difficult!"
Han Zhan said sourly, "How could it not be? If it weren't difficult, I would have cultivated it myself back then. Why would I have let you benefit from it?"
The Origin Core Art had three difficulties:
First, the required quality of the Hidden Dust Sand was exceedingly high!
Second, the cultivator had to possess a foundation of soul and spirit far surpassing their current realm!
Third, their magic power had to be sufficiently abundant, and they needed a spiritual environment of at least rank-three mid-grade to cultivate it!
Luo Chen sank into thought, examining his current situation.
He had already resolved the first hurdle: the Hidden Dust Sand in his possession was unquestionably an exquisite gem rarely seen in the cultivation world in hundreds or thousands of years.
Though that Hidden Dust Sand named Yuan Yin had possessed lackluster combat prowess, his realm had genuinely reached the rank-three Great Circle, comparable to a cultivator's Golden Core Great Circle.
Yet precisely because of this, the remaining two requirements had been driven up to an unimaginable degree.
"To be honest, your soul foundation already far surpasses that of most Golden Core cultivators. You're only at the fourth layer of the Golden Core, yet your soul foundation rivals the late Golden Core stage. I've even wondered whether you secretly practiced my Luoyun Sect's spirit-refining techniques.
"With that, cultivating the Origin Core Art might be barely feasible.
"However, your current magic power is not even half of what it was at your peak, so you cannot cultivate this art. Moreover, you don't have a spiritual land of rank-three mid-grade or higher.
"Luo Chen, the reason I didn't proactively hand over the promised Origin Core Art earlier was also because of your current state!"
Hearing Han Zhan's words, Luo Chen nodded. Having studied the art, he knew the old man spoke the truth.
However!
"Even though I can't cultivate the Origin Core Art yet, certain preparations can be made in advance."
"You want to clear the core and chart the pattern right now?" Han Zhan asked in surprise.
Luo Chen gave an affirmative hum.
"Then how do you plan to handle the vast energy originally contained within that Hidden Dust Sand?"
"Naturally, by claiming it for myself!" Luo Chen laughed heartily.
The confidence in his smile left Han Zhan somewhat stunned.
"Are you mad? What remains inside is the power Yuan Yin cultivated himself. It's completely incompatible with your magic power."
To this, Luo Chen merely smiled without answering, supreme confidence radiating from his brows.
Han Zhan was suspicious and uncertain, but gradually, understanding dawned on him.
Though the Hidden Dust Sand clan was called "Sea Demon Children," they were not actually demon beasts; by nature, they were stone spirits.
Consequently, the energy cultivated by their kind was not as impure and coarse as that of demon beasts.
In fact, through constant refinement, it even carried a pure, ethereal quality.
After all, besides "Sea Demon Children," the Hidden Dust Sand was also known as "Pearl Demons."
Any pearl gained its flawless luster only through endless grinding and tempering.
The energy left behind within it was not inherently hostile to cultivators.
Were it not so, Hidden Dust Sand would not have become one of the most common medicinal ingredients used by cultivators.
Yet to seamlessly convert the energy within still required an extraordinarily high threshold.
Han Zhan realized the source of Luo Chen's confidence:
That epiphany!
During that epiphany, Luo Chen had grasped the fundamental nature of power.
Even if his current realm did not permit him to freely convert powers of any attribute at will, dealing with such harmless energy from the Hidden Dust Sand should pose little difficulty.
"It seems you have made up your mind."
"Yes."
"Still, I must warn you: doing this occasionally is fine, but you must never become reliant on it. Otherwise, over time, your own magic power will inevitably become tainted and impure, leaving severe repercussions for your future cultivation."
Usable in an emergency, but never as a regular habit.
Luo Chen understood.
And in his current condition, was he not in urgent need?
Once his mind was set, Luo Chen wasted no time.
He retrieved the round, lustrous Hidden Dust Sand from his storage ring, examined it for a long while, and finally squeezed a drop of essence blood from his fingertip, letting it meld into the pearl.
As the essence blood entered the pearl, its flawless white glow instantly flushed with a ruddy hue.
Yet soon, that overall ruddiness faded away.
"Hm?"
Luo Chen frowned. A single drop of essence blood was not enough to establish ownership?
After a moment's thought, he squeezed out another drop.
Still not enough!
Still insufficient!
Luo Chen gritted his teeth. To think even this preliminary step demanded so much! But having already invested the cost, how could he abandon it halfway?
Steeling his resolve, he dripped three more drops of essence blood onto it.
Only now did he sense a faint, tenuous connection between himself and the Hidden Dust Sand.
The loss of five drops of essence blood was like frost atop snow for Luo Chen, who was already in terrible shape.
Visibly, his aura waned.
His sallow complexion, which had been a disguise, now truly took on that sickly look.
Luo Chen gave a dry laugh. "Claiming ownership of this Hidden Dust Sand reminds me of certain pseudo-Golden Core cultivators in the Northern Sea who refine the core of a rank-three demon beast as their Golden Core."
Suddenly, Han Zhan answered him, "You're actually not mistaken. The inspiration behind the Origin Core Art was precisely the pseudo-core method popular in the Northern Sea."
Luo Chen was stunned.
In the Northern Sea cultivation world, a pseudo-core method circulated.
For those who had failed to form a core yet were lucky enough to survive, breaking through to the Golden Core Grand Dao again was a distant impossibility.
Yet they refused to remain trapped in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Some genius—or perhaps some unorthodox cultivator—had conceived a method of using a demon core in place of a Golden Core, creating the pseudo-core method.
Cultivators who formed a core via the pseudo-core method were limited to the first layer of the Golden Core for their entire lives.
Moreover, their lifespan barely increased.
Not only that, there were all kinds of lingering side effects.
Luo Chen had not expected the Origin Core Art to share the same roots as the pseudo-core method.
Yet on closer thought, it truly was the case.
It was merely that the Hidden Dust Sand's material was unique, not as volatile and extreme as a demon core, making it far more suitable as a second Golden Core.
As for why Northern Sea cultivators had never thought of using Hidden Dust Sand to create pseudo-cores?
That came down to the subsequent refinement techniques.
Luo Chen shook his head, tossing aside those idle musings.
He gazed at the blood-tinted Hidden Dust Sand, then swallowed it whole into his belly.
The moment it entered his sea of qi, the accumulated magic power within surged in revolt, and the crimson Golden Core in particular trembled incessantly.
How could one mountain tolerate two tigers?
Yet, guided by Luo Chen's natal essence blood, the turmoil eventually subsided.
"It seems that nurturing an Origin Core is a long and arduous road!"
Luo Chen sighed with feeling, then focused all his mind into the Hidden Dust Sand.
He could feel a vast reservoir of energy remaining within!
Even after dissipating over many years, the reserve was still substantial.
If he could draw it all out and convert it into his own magic power, he might resolve his current deficit.
Not only that, he could simultaneously purge the foreign energies inside the Origin Core.
Restoring magic power and cleansing the Origin Core—two birds with one stone!
Once this was done, he could proceed with charting the soul pattern, engraving the circulation route unique to his magic power onto the Hidden Dust Sand.
Only then would he be considered to have barely crossed the threshold.
All of this was delicate work, brooking not the slightest carelessness.
"One step at a time!"
Luo Chen muttered softly and began guiding the energy from the Hidden Dust Sand outward.
...
Time slipped by slowly.
Ever since boarding the ship, Luo Chen had kept to his quarters, never stepping outside or interacting with the cultivators on board.
To others, such behavior might seem somewhat reclusive.
Yet to the shipmasters of the Langya, it was a blessing, saving them plenty of needless trouble.
Wang An, who had brought Luo Chen aboard, was also much relieved.
On the third floor, several young Foundation Establishment cultivators stood respectfully before a Golden Core cultivator, listening to his lecture.
"You are all the hope of our Mount Langya!
"This trip to Giant Whale Port is arranged not only for you to gain experience and witness the customs of the cultivation world, but also to rely on the Tianyuan Dao Sect's influence so that you are spared from the fallout of the war between the orthodox and demonic factions.
"The Old Ancestor has been wavering recently, uncertain which side to join.
"Regardless, once the decision is made, our Mount Langya will inevitably be dragged into the center of the storm. One misstep, and a thousand years of foundation could be ruined in an instant.
"If it truly comes to that, restoring our sect's glory will fall upon your shoulders.
"Therefore, once you arrive at Giant Whale Port, do not indulge in pleasure or waste time in tedious socializing! You must cultivate our sect's techniques day and night and be prepared!
"Do you all understand?"
The late Golden Core cultivator of Mount Langya barked sternly.
The young Foundation Establishment disciples shuddered.
"Disciples obey!"
"We will never fail the expectations of the Second Elder and the Perfected Person!"
Hearing their unison response, the Second Elder of Mount Langya softened his stern expression slightly.
Yet the unease in his heart prompted him to lecture a few words more.
"Do not dawdle during this journey either. Make good use of the rank-two cultivation rooms the sect prepared for you.
"Furthermore, properly refine the magic treasures previously bestowed upon you; there must not be the slightest neglect.
"In short, I will regularly inspect your progress. If anyone fails to show improvement, do not blame me if I drag you back from Giant Whale Port!"
After the dressing-down, Mount Langya's Foundation Establishment prodigies, who had originally been in high spirits, walked out looking like frost-bitten eggplants.
They had thought they were heading to Giant Whale Port to take up important positions.
Who could have guessed that it was actually a retreat to take refuge?
And while taking refuge, they still had to cultivate diligently without slacking off in the slightest.
They had all established their foundations not long ago, just emerging from prolonged seclusion. Even the older ones among them were only in their forties or fifties—truly young by cultivation world standards.
Having finally reached Foundation Establishment, they thought they could live with dignity and renown, but the gap between fantasy and reality was simply too wide.
"Wang An, earlier we mocked that guest you brought aboard for cultivating every day like an ascetic monk. Who knew we would turn into ascetic monks ourselves so soon?"
Facing his sect brother's self-deprecating remark, Wang An shrugged.
"Look on the bright side. Plenty of people in the sect would kill for this opportunity and can't even get it."
"Heh, that's true!"
Wang An shook his head and walked toward his own quarters.
Passing by Luo Chen's room on the second floor, he paused for a moment.
This Fellow Daoist Murong is truly hardworking. Clearly burdened with injuries, yet he cultivates without ceasing. No wonder he managed to establish his Dao foundation as a rogue cultivator. In this regard, I ought to learn a thing or two from him.
While Wang An was sighing with admiration, inside the room, Luo Chen's arduous cultivation finally concluded a stage of progress.
"Finally refined the first wisp of energy from the Hidden Dust Sand!
"Though the loss in the process was immense, it is, after all, the legacy of a rank-three Great Circle Grand Demon King. If I refine it completely, besides returning to my peak state, my magic power might even see some improvement!"
Sensing his internal condition, Luo Chen showed a look of satisfaction.
After resting for less than half a day, Luo Chen threw himself back into the repetitive task.
Within his sea of qi, the blood-colored pearl spun steadily as blue-green flames roasted it from beneath. Wisps of liquid dripped continuously, only to be vaporized under the incineration of his source true fire into a gaseous state, which was absorbed drop by drop by the adjacent crimson Golden Core.
This was undoubtedly an evolution compared to his earlier refinement.
It was the fruit of Luo Chen's continuous implementation and experimentation with the insights gained from his epiphany.
Such was cultivation: though established methods existed, they varied from person to person.
Blindly adhering to set rules was far too rigid.
Only through continuous adaptation could one find the method that suited oneself best!
...
Half a year later.
Upon the vast sea, the colossal Langya banked wildly under the helmsman's desperate maneuvering.
"Steer clear of Lihuo Island! A battle between orthodox and demonic forces is raging there!"
"Switch to the third sea lane and request passage from Zhanshui Palace!"
"Foundation Establishment cultivators, watch for shockwaves from the fighting and stay prepared for battle at all times!"
Commands echoed one after another from the third floor.
Everyone aboard the ship stood on high alert.
Having emerged from his quiet cultivation, Luo Chen stood on the deck, his expression grave.
He could sense the tremendous fluctuations of magic power emanating from the immortal island ahead.
Aside from countless Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators, more than a dozen Golden Core cultivators were locked in fierce combat.
"The war between the orthodox and demonic factions has actually deteriorated to this degree. Even Golden Core cultivators are forced to take the field in person."
"Who could deny it? After all, this war was kicked off by a life-and-death struggle between four Nascent Soul Perfected Persons," Wang An beside him remarked with a heavy sigh.
Meanwhile, Han Zhan's voice transmission sounded in Luo Chen's mind.
"Be careful. The divine sense of a Nascent Soul Perfected Person permeates nearby. Just now, they swept across the Langya, but took no action."
"A Nascent Soul Perfected Person? Who?"
"I don't recognize them, but from the chatter of some low-ranking cultivators, it seems to be Stream Master Lietian of the Moluo Stream."
Luo Chen's brow rose. He had heard of this person.
At the Golden Core gathering in Feileng City's Tianyuan Tower, one of the Golden Core cultivators named Old Monster Baibian was a subordinate of Stream Master Lietian.
Now it seemed the Orthodox-Demonic War had truly reached a fever pitch.
Even Stream Master Lietian had been mobilized.
Though he had not yet entered the fray, his personal arrival demonstrated their absolute determination to take Lihuo Island.
"Whatever. This matter has nothing to do with me," Luo Chen muttered, before exchanging a few words with Wang An on the deck.
Seeing that the vessel had safely altered course without drawing enemy attacks, he took his leave and returned to his cabin.
Watching his retreating figure, admiration filled Wang An's eyes.
This Fellow Daoist Murong truly thinks of nothing but cultivation at every waking moment!
Back in his cultivation chamber, his mind stirred by the sight, Luo Chen temporarily lost the mood to continue converting magic power.
"Since I have nothing else to do, I might as well take stock of my earlier spoils. Perhaps I'll find something useful."
The corners of Luo Chen's mouth curved upward. He waved a hand over the table.
Instantly, several items appeared:
A giant hammer, a golden sword, copper coins, flying daggers, several storage bags...
And an ordinary-looking brass water basin whose spiritual light was completely subdued!
Chapter 590