Chapter 241: Final Core Formation!
“Two or three months, huh!”
After receiving his Identity Jade Token and estimated waiting time, Lin Chang’an was in no rush.
The spiritual energy in Sea Abyss City was extremely abundant. In fact, even if twenty cultivators attempted Core Formation simultaneously, it would not have the slightest impact.
However, due to the vast area affected by the Golden Core Phenomenon, some cultivators believed it might interfere with each other.
Thus, those with connections would usually queue up one after another in order.
For ordinary cases, it was naturally first come, first served.
Or one could head to another direction in Sea Abyss City—after all, the city was vast.
But since Lin Chang’an had finally secured a spot here and was not in a hurry, he wore a calm expression and chose to leisurely find a nearby restaurant.
After five years of bitter cultivation, a bit of relaxation was also beneficial for preparing for a breakthrough.
……
“Master Tan, your disciple is absolutely capable.”
Outside the cave abode, Master Tan looked at his disciple. Although he had taken in this disciple initially to gain merit, after so many years of raising him, some affection had developed.
“Master.”
“Enough, don’t act like a timid girl.”
Looking at Lu Yushu, Master Tan’s expression grew solemn as he reminded him:
“You have decent talent. This time, I’ve prepared a Core Formation Spirit Item for you—not exactly premium, but not bad either.
With the items your Lu Clan provided as well to stabilize your mental state, forming a core should not be difficult.”
“Master, Patriarch, I will absolutely not let you down!”
Lu Yushu’s expression turned grave, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
Then, under the gaze of everyone, he entered the spirit-rich cave abode.
……
Half a month later, the Golden Core Phenomenon abruptly rose into the sky, attracting many Foundation Establishment cultivators who stopped in their tracks and looked on, their eyes filled with complex emotions like envy and jealousy.
Many late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators never even got the chance to attempt this step in their entire lives.
Let alone actually succeed.
“Is he beginning Core Formation?”
Inside a private room at a nearby restaurant, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but raise his head and gaze toward the sky where the Core Formation Phenomenon emerged, his face showing a trace of emotion.
“This phenomenon suggests solid foundations… but it seems a bit unstable.”
With a slight frown, Lin Chang’an glanced at the Core Formation Insight Jade Slip in his hand, which contained insights personally written by Yun Yao.
As for Lu Yushu’s Core Formation, it no longer had much to do with him.
What he needed now was to adjust his state to its peak.
A pot of Spirit Tea, a plate of Spirit Cake, seated upright in the private room, Lin Chang’an entered a near-trance state, no longer paying attention to the outside world.
As time passed, the phenomenon in the sky began to shift.
“Mother, do you think Cousin will succeed?!”
Lu Yujian, obsessed with the sword, had never once shown a trace of jealousy. Instead, his eyes were filled with anticipation.
A Core Formation Cultivator! If the Lu Clan produced just one, the clan would truly rise.
However, the usually steady and stout Master Tan suddenly noticed something unusual in the Core Formation Phenomenon, and his brows furrowed tightly.
Though the phenomenon appeared stable, there was an undercurrent of haste.
Seeing this, Master Tan shook his head and let out a long sigh.
“Still lacking in experience. It’s not usually noticeable, but when it comes to major events, these shortcomings surface.”
Lu Yushu had been protected too well. Though the Lu Clan had suffered calamity, he was escorted away early.
One could say he didn’t suffer any of the clan’s hardships.
Upon arriving at Sea Abyss City, he always felt above others.
“The phenomenon is steady—our Lu Clan has truly produced a Core Formation Cultivator!”
Half a day later, as the Golden Core Phenomenon in the heavens slowly faded, Madam Lu spoke excitedly, her eyes even welling with tears.
No one could understand the hardship she had endured to support the Lu Clan alone all these years.
Now that the clan had a Core Formation Cultivator, everything she endured had been worth it.
But compared to the Lu Clan’s excitement, Master Tan’s face was somewhat gloomy.
“Just a little more! Just a bit more and he could have formed a True Core!”
He was on the verge of tears. After cultivating this disciple for so long, always wanting to prove himself…
And this was the result.
A False Core and a True Core were worlds apart.
A True Core Cultivator could be placed in a key position within the Five Dragon Island region.
But a False Core Cultivator had no qualifications.
Perhaps it was worth it for the Lu Clan, but for him, it had all been for naught.
“Congratulations, Lu Zhenren.”
When Lu Yushu walked out of the cave abode, many cultivators inside the hall offered their congratulations. Even Madam Lu was so moved her eyes turned red.
Yet only he kept his head down, awkwardly looking at his master.
At this point, Master Tan could only let out a helpless sigh—looked like his sister would mock him again when he returned.
He also knew he had rushed it. If Lu Yushu had continued cultivating bitterly for another ten years, forming a True Core wouldn’t have been difficult.
“Congratulations, Lu Zhenren.”
Lin Chang’an also arrived to offer his congratulations. Seeing Lu Yushu successfully complete Core Formation, a hint of envy flickered in his eyes.
Even a False Core was still a Core!
If one couldn’t even form a False Core, what hope was there for the future?
Facing everyone’s congratulations, Lu Yushu forced a smile and nodded to them all.
The gap between a False Core and a True Core was too wide. By all accounts, he had a 50–60% chance of forming a True Core.
Others might not know what he had missed, but he knew it all too well.
Not just the difference in cultivation—but also in the shifting political landscape of the Five Dragon Island seas.
Only True Core Cultivators were qualified to sit at the table. False Core Cultivators were not.
Sensing the mood shift, Lin Chang’an promptly excused himself after offering congratulations.
After all, now it was his turn to enter seclusion and make his breakthrough.
“Fellow Daoist Lin, your Identity Jade Token has been verified. Once you succeed in forming your core, come out and sign the Spirit Contract.”
“Thank you.”
Lin Chang’an cupped his hands. Before entering the cave abode, only Lu Yujian still appeared blissfully unaware and smiled as he offered blessings.
“Master!”
Seeing Lu Yushu’s somewhat ashamed gaze, Master Tan held back his frustration and let out another long sigh, then flicked his sleeves.
“Such is fate. Perhaps this is destined. Since we are master and disciple, I shall accompany you to sign the Spirit Contract.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Having just formed a False Core, Lu Yushu felt no joy—only the heartache of having missed his greatest opportunity.
However, none of that mattered to Lin Chang’an anymore. He had already entered the spirit-rich cave abode.
……
Yet, only three days after Lin Chang’an entered the cave abode, a terrifying Core Formation Aura surged out.
Startling the guards in the main hall.
“So fast!?”
Most cultivators needed at least ten days, some even a month or two, to adjust their state to peak before attempting Core Formation.
But Lin Chang’an had only been inside for three days.
An older Foundation Establishment Cultivator shook his head and said:
“What do you know? This Talisman Master Lin had already waited outside for two months. His condition was likely adjusted to perfection long ago.”
As he spoke, a trace of envy appeared on the elder’s face.
“To be able to maintain peak condition for this long—Talisman Master Lin’s state of mind must be rock-solid. That alone raises his success rate by half a notch.”
Inside the cave abode at that moment, Lin Chang’an sat with eyes tightly closed.
His physical state could be kept at peak anytime, but when it came to mental state—he had to rely on himself to adjust.
At this moment, Lin Chang’an sat cross-legged, spiritual energy surging within him, undergoing a qualitative transformation with immense force.
Under his powerful divine sense, he did not immediately consume the Core Formation Spirit Item, but instead activated the true fire within his body to refine the three Third-rank Demon Cores inside him.
Three-turn Core Condensation Art
Three Third-rank Demon Cores, refined over more than twenty years, now just one final moment away—at last, he successfully extracted the legendary Core Condensation Liquid.
“It’s now!”
As the surging mana in his body began to thicken, Lin Chang’an immediately swallowed a Crystal Condensing Pill and some Blackwater Liquid, accelerating the transformation process.
If breaking through from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment was about changing mana from gaseous to liquid…
Then breaking through from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation was the crystallization of liquid mana, condensing a Golden Core within the body.
Simultaneously, as the ancient cultivation method ran its course, a green, life-filled aura encircled his body, and a powerful spiritual pressure gradually emanated—comparable to a Core Formation Cultivator.
From the compressed mana within the Dantian, the first solidified crystalline mana appeared.
“Begin Core Formation, liquefied mana into crystal!”
Within his Dantian, mana spun and compressed continuously. With the divine sense of a False Core Cultivator, Lin Chang’an forcibly manipulated and suppressed it.
He controlled a massive amount of liquid mana, rotating and compressing it within the Dantian.
This step placed extremely high demands on mana quality, external spiritual pressure, and the cultivator’s divine sense.
Meanwhile, the external Golden Core Phenomenon was even more astonishing.
“This heavenly sign—could it be a True Core forming?!”
The condensing cloud of spiritual light accelerated its spin, and the signs of Core Condensation rose further, drawing gasps of amazement.
Just then, Lu Yushu, who had just signed the Spirit Contract, stepped out and saw the phenomenon—his eyes went blank.
“Mother, this is Fellow Daoist Lin’s Core Formation Phenomenon—it already surpasses…”
Beside him, an excited Lu Yujian nearly blurted out the rest, but was quickly silenced by a look from his mother.
Master Tan, seeing this, was also a bit stunned—this phenomenon exceeded expectations.
He had thought this drifting cultivator and his disciple could complement each other, but unexpectedly, their success seemed reversed.
“This Golden Core Phenomenon is vaguely approaching the level of a Lower-grade True Core.”
All pride in Lu Yushu’s heart had vanished. Now, as he watched the phenomenon of a rogue cultivator surpassing his own, emotions like unwillingness, envy, and jealousy arose.
It was only natural.
After all, being surpassed by someone he had never valued—how could it not sting?
If it were someone known as a genius, that would be different.
“It seems this man possesses at least one premium Core Formation Spirit Item, and his foundation is incredibly solid.”
With his experience, Master Tan immediately pinpointed the crux of the matter.
“Premium Core Formation Spirit Item!”
Hearing this, Madam Lu’s eyes flashed with suspicion. After thinking carefully, she seemed to understand something.
Lin Chang’an had traveled from afar to come here. Many thought he came out of desperation, just to take a chance.
But who would have guessed he had long secretly prepared a Core Formation Spirit Item.
The massive cloud of spiritual light in the sky, the Golden Core Phenomenon, seemed to reach its limit—wanting to expand further, but lacking follow-through.
Many spectators showed expressions of pity and shook their heads.
“What a pity—just one step short of a Lower-grade True Core.”
But seeing this, Master Tan seemed to think of something, his eyes gleaming.
It was as if the light had returned after the darkness.
……
Inside the cave abode.
Lin Chang’an sat with eyes closed. With all Core Formation Spirit Items consumed, the mana in his body compressed to the limit.
A rotating Golden Core in the Dantian, glowing with the aura of life.
Feeling that pushing further would be extremely difficult and might carry some risk, Lin Chang’an decisively chose to solidify his current Golden Core.
“Just a hair’s breadth from a Lower-grade True Core, but still far beyond expectations—at least it's not a False Core.”
Lin Chang’an took a deep breath and began circulating spiritual energy to stabilize his current state.
He had only expected a False Core, so to form a True Core was already quite good.
As for pushing further, the risk was too high.
Completely unnecessary.
Once his cultivation stabilized, he would have plenty of opportunities in the future to enhance his Spiritual Root and Golden Core quality.
“It’s said that with a Low-grade Spiritual Root, the limit is a Low-grade True Core. Forcing improvement might leave hidden injuries—not worth it.”
Besides, he had the pill formula for the Spirit-Mending Pill. He had a clear direction for future enhancement—no need to force things.
【Lifespan: 139/586】
【Realm: Early-stage Core Formation (0/100)】
Gently circulating spiritual energy, Lin Chang’an looked at the transformation of his attributes. A smile surfaced on his pale face.
“Finally! I've formed my core…”
Soon after, laughter echoed through the cave abode.
Nearly 140 years of bitter cultivation—he had finally reached the path of the Golden Core.
Moreover, the life force from his cultivation method had begun to emerge. Having just entered the Core Formation Realm, his lifespan was already nearly six centuries.
If he reached late Core Formation, and his body was continually nurtured by mana, wouldn’t his lifespan exceed 800 years?
“So this is the power of a Core Formation Cultivator!”
Feeling the transformation from the inside out, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
First, divine sense. He already had the divine sense of a False Core Cultivator, and now it had increased significantly.
Not quite at mid-Core Formation, but close.
Next, mana. He could clearly feel the surge of life-filled mana coursing through his body, especially the Golden Core in his Dantian.
His mana was three times greater than an average cultivator of the same realm—and that wasn’t even counting his recovery capabilities.
“Especially this Regenerative Body! I can clearly feel it—so long as my Golden Core is intact, my physical body won’t die.”
Excited, Lin Chang’an felt the strength of his body. In other words, even if his vital points were pierced by a magical artifact, he would only be injured.
As long as he had enough mana, he could recover instantly.
Practically a weakened version of the Immortal Body.
“This is the true power of this ancient cultivation method—or rather, only from Core Formation onward does it truly shine.”
The Regenerative Body—the next step up was the Immortal Body.
A legendary trait said to exist only in rare Shape-shifting Great Beasts.
“And this is just a Low-grade True Core. If I can enhance my Spiritual Root and Golden Core to Mid-grade, High-grade, or even Top-grade, my power will be even greater.”
This journey to Core Formation, though it had some twists along the way, turned out to be quite fruitful.
He had finally succeeded in forming his core.
Next, Lin Chang’an calmed himself and began stabilizing his cultivation.
Core Formation was only the beginning. With his talent and opportunities, his path was still long.
“After this Core Formation, let’s see who still dares to chase me down.”
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smile.
At the very least, if he had this cultivation level back on the spirit ship, the other party definitely wouldn’t have dared act so arrogantly.
Don’t even mention filler—forming a core in one chapter on Qidian? That’s quality.
The author doesn’t want filler or forced conflicts here, so the breakthrough just came naturally.
The protagonist is now officially a Core Formation Cultivator.