A furious gale howled, churning the sea into towering waves.
Overhead, black clouds thickened and pressed low.
Within the mountainous layers of cloud, lightning flashed again and again, briefly illuminating the darkness and revealing the immense destructive power coiled within.
Yet, this colossal storm, held in Zhang Haobo's hands, was like a wild horse tethered by reins, forced to move slowly and obediently in the direction he intended.
Peer into the laws of heaven and earth to refine a Golden Core... Zhang Haobo stood in the midst of the storm, pondering slowly.
With my current strength, attempting such a fusion is still somewhat forced. But without a Golden Core technique, I can only remain trapped at the peak of Dao Establishment, unable to advance.
I won’t be able to accumulate enough contribution points to redeem a Golden Core technique in time.
The only way now is... an artificial core.
A flash of resolve passed through Zhang Haobo's eyes.
Upon reaching the final-stage Foundation Establishment realm, one could infuse oneself with the power of heaven and earth, forcibly breaking through and forming an illusory Golden Core within the dantian that was constructed from the power of laws. This was the Artificial Core Method.
After succeeding, one’s cultivation level would be temporarily elevated to the Golden Core realm.
A Golden Core formed by the Artificial Core Method would last thirty days at most. The other side effects of the method were also severe. Even if one later successfully condensed a Golden Core, it still left irreparable hidden injuries, severing one's path to the Dao. Without some other extraordinary encounter later, one would stagnate at the Golden Core realm for life.
But Zhang Haobo had no other choice! Defying the heavens is no easy task.
Zhang Haobo lifted his head imperceptibly, a cold laugh echoing in his heart.
Ever since his regression, he occasionally felt that he was being watched. The sensation was like needles on his back and felt rather uncomfortable.
He originally thought it was just an illusion, but after stepping into the Foundation Establishment realm, this feeling became even clearer.
Zhang Haobo understood that the various unusual actions he had taken since his regression had likely attracted the attention of the one above.
Heaven's killing mechanisms were set in motion; the fates of all living beings within the Congyun Sea were already predetermined.
His desire to reverse fate would inevitably be met with layer upon layer of resistance.
This was something he had long been psychologically prepared for. It was natural that as his strength grew, this obstructive force would also become increasingly powerful.
But he was not without assistance.
Zhang Haobo instinctively touched his chest, where a small, faint blue pearl flickered in and out of sight.
Unlike what the public believed, he did not have a Water Spirit Body. The reason he could wantonly use spiritual qi over the Congyun Sea without worrying about depletion was precisely because of the existence of this esoteric treasure.
He knew nothing of this esoteric treasure's name or origin.
It was only after he broke through to the Qi Refinement realm that day that he discovered this blue water pearl within his chest.
After some experimentation, he gradually learned the pearl's uses. It could help him recover spiritual qi within his body at an astonishing speed. It also allowed him to comprehend the laws of heaven and earth more easily, especially those related to water and wind. From time to time, images would flash into his mind, revealing certain secrets of the Congyun Sea.
His ability to detect that strange space where Azure Wind and the sword hilt contended, and to enter it undetected, was all due to the secret assistance of this blue water pearl.
Otherwise, forget his late-stage Qi Refinement cultivation back then; even as a final-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator now, it would be an utterly impossible task!
This profoundly mysterious esoteric treasure was likely the benefit he received for being a regressor. It was also the foundation upon which he would defy the heavens and change his fate in this life!
Zhang Haobo's thoughts surged, then gradually calmed.
He stretched out his left hand and captured a wisp of wind from afar, sensing the super stormflood about to be born.
He continuously adjusted the speed and direction of the small stormflood he controlled, calculating and simulating the possible outcomes of the collision between the two stormfloods.
The day the azure winds meet will be the day I condense my artificial core.
A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Haobo's eyes, and then, shrouded by the wind and rain, his figure slowly vanished into the storm.
***
Though Li Fan could monitor Zhang Haobo's every move, he could not peer into his innermost thoughts. So naturally, he was unaware of what had transpired within Zhang Haobo’s mind.
Besides, he had no time to concern himself with that now.
Ever since he began studying arrays under Zhang Zhiliang, he hadn’t had a single moment of free time to himself.
Although Zhang Zhiliang needed to attend to other matters after each teaching session, he would always assign Li Fan corresponding array problem sets to study before his departure.
Often, before Li Fan could even complete these problems, Zhang Zhiliang would return. After grading and explaining the exercises, Zhang Zhiliang would resume his lectures. This cycle repeated without end, leaving no time for rest whatsoever.
When Zhang Zhiliang sensed that Li Fan's mental fatigue had accumulated to a certain point, he would ignite a silver incense stick.
Once Li Fan inhaled its faint aroma, all his mental weariness would be instantly swept away. Then, under Zhang Zhiliang's meaningful gaze, he would continue immersing himself in his studies.
This process seemed to have no end. It even gave Li Fan the illusion that time was passing very slowly.
Every minute, every second spent researching arrays was torment. He longed for the day it would finally be over.
If not for his inherently strong will, coupled with the three trials by Qin Tang's statue that tempered his mind, granting him far greater endurance than an ordinary person, he might truly have been unable to persevere.
After an indeterminate length of time, Zhang Zhiliang brought back another person. Their progress differed, so they were not taught together.
A completely identical phantom split off in this expanse of outer space, separately lecturing to that new student.
Only then did Li Fan realize that the one who had been teaching him all along likely wasn't the real Zhang Zhiliang either. The so-called trips away on business were just pretexts. It was probably all to test his diligence under unsupervised conditions.
Li Fan shook his head, paying no further mind to the other student.
After setting a reminder for the two-year deadline, he disregarded everything else. He immersed himself in the study of arrays, free from distraction.
Thus, time flowed on, heedless of the passing years.
One day, while frowning in thought, Li Fan's expression suddenly changed drastically.
It felt as if a massive object had slammed violently into his mind—the world spun, and stars exploded before his eyes.
Blood trickled from his nose and the corners of his eyes, making for a terrifying sight.
Zhang Zhiliang's figure suddenly appeared. He glanced at Li Fan with some curiosity, but didn't ask any questions. He simply ignited that silver incense once more.
This time, the fragrance was even more potent than before, and the divine sense injury began to heal rapidly after absorbing the incense.
In just half a day, Li Fan felt the injury was completely gone, and he had recovered fully.
Only then did Li Fan have the presence of mind to examine the final image that had flashed into his consciousness.
Zhang Haobo... has broken through to the Golden Core realm?
He turned his head slightly, gazing into the distance, an inscrutable expression settling on his face.