Chapter 261: Chapter 258: Core Formation 2

Inside the great hall of the Flying Snow Sect.

Shi Yutong listened intently as Ji Nianyun, who stood below, reported on the harvest from the sect’s Spirit Medicine Garden.

After a long while, once she had heard the full report, she nodded slightly.

She knew that Ji Nianyun was a newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivator within the sect, and that he had married a descendant of Mei Hao, making their relationship a close one.

With the Mei family yet to produce another Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Mei Hao intended to groom him as the successor for his own position as logistics manager.

Shi Yutong saw this situation perfectly clearly.

However, she had no intention of interfering. To her, it made no difference who held the position of logistics manager.

’As long as Ji Nianyun can do the job well, what’s the harm in letting him take over according to Mei Hao’s plan?’

In fact, if Ji Nianyun truly proved capable, she would be more than happy to see it happen.

After all, she had long been aware of the relationship between Li Ping and the Ji family.

It was Li Ping who had put in a good word for Ji Nianyun to become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Flying Snow Sect in the first place.

’With this connection, allowing him to maintain a close friendship with an Alchemy Master, having Ji Nianyun as the logistics manager could actually bring greater benefits to the Flying Snow Sect.’

"Very well, I understand. You’ve worked hard," Shi Yutong said with a smile and a nod. She then retrieved a vial of Pills suitable for increasing the Cultivation of an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator from her Storage Bag. "Brother Ji, please accept this vial of Peiyuan Pills. Consider it a reward from the Sect, given by me, for your hard work."

Ji Nianyun had long known that this Senior Sister was famous for her generosity; one never lost out by working for her.

But he never expected Shi Yutong to be *this* generous. He had only performed a simple, mundane task, yet he was rewarded with a whole vial of Peiyuan Pills.

"Thank you for your gift, Sect Leader!" Ji Nianyun quickly expressed his thanks and accepted the Peiyuan Pills.

Seeing Ji Nianyun accept the Pills and witnessing the gratitude on his face, Shi Yutong couldn’t help but reveal a satisfied expression.

She smiled and asked, "Brother Ji, I still remember over thirty years ago, when I went to ask Pill Master Li Ping for his Alchemy services, he specifically spoke up on your behalf. Looking at you now, if it weren’t for Pill Master Li Ping, I fear our Sect would have missed out on a great talent like you."

When Shi Yutong mentioned Li Ping, Ji Nianyun’s expression turned serious. He said solemnly, "Sect Leader, you flatter me. As a mere Cultivator with Three Spirit Roots, I am far from being a ’great talent.’ Any success I have today is entirely thanks to the nurturing of Grandfather Li and the Sect."

"If Grandfather Li hadn’t spoken up for me back then, I might still be just a Loose Cultivator. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being a Loose Cultivator, but joining the Sect has opened up a world of boundless possibilities for me."

Shi Yutong could hear the respect for Li Ping in Ji Nianyun’s words. The fact that he called him "Grandfather Li" was enough to show the close relationship between the Ji family and Li Ping.

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Ji Nianyun respectfully took his leave.

Alone in the great hall, Shi Yutong was lost in thought.

Her gaze drifted toward the world outside the hall, as if she could see past its walls to the elegant figure secluded in the chamber. ’Brother Li has been in seclusion for three years now. I wonder how his attempt at Core Formation is going.’

When a Cultivator attempts Core Formation without the aid of a Core Formation Spiritual Object,

failure can lead to injury in a mild case, or immediate death in a severe one.

Some Cultivators even lose control of the Magical Power in their bodies while breaking through the bottleneck, causing them to explode and die.

Shi Yutong and Li Ping had known each other for over thirty years. They got along well and had developed a decent friendship.

She hoped Li Ping would succeed in his Core Formation.

But even if he failed, in the worst-case scenario, she hoped he could at least survive.

’Sigh, I should also prepare to attempt Core Formation,’ Shi Yutong thought with a silent sigh.

She sighed because her mother took no interest in worldly affairs. If she went into seclusion, chaos might erupt within the Sect, a thought that left her deeply worried.

’If only Brother Li were a member of our Sect. I could entrust the Sect’s affairs to him during my seclusion.’

As Shi Yutong was lost in thought, suddenly—

She felt the surrounding Spiritual Qi begin to fluctuate violently, a faint sense of turbulence in the air.

’What is this?’

She looked up, startled and uncertain, toward the center of the Spiritual Qi fluctuations—exactly where Li Ping’s seclusion chamber was located.

A pleased expression on his face, Ji Nianyun walked out of the great hall and flew toward his own cavern estate.

Thinking of the vial of Peiyuan Pills in his Storage Bag, he found himself wishing Shi Yutong would give him more tasks. He was more than willing to serve the Sect Leader.

Having only recently reached Foundation Establishment, he was quite strapped for resources.

If Grandfather Li hadn’t gifted him a Tier Two Dharma Artifact when he reached Foundation Establishment, he would probably still be using a Tier One Dharma Artifact.

Before this, he wouldn’t have even dared to think about buying Tier Two Pills.

’One vial of Peiyuan Pills, once consumed and refined, will save me several years of bitter cultivation. I really hope the Sect Leader gives me more things to do,’ Ji Nianyun thought gleefully.

But just as he was flying, abruptly—

He clearly sensed the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi begin to fluctuate violently.

Immediately after, the sky, which had been bright and sunny just moments before, suddenly changed. Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and thunder roared. The deafening clap of thunder made Ji Nianyun fall to the ground involuntarily.

The majestic might of the heavens was terrifying to behold.

The other Cultivators of the Flying Snow Sect emerged from their cavern estates one by one, staring in shock toward the center of the phenomenon, where a single, isolated seclusion chamber stood.

As the celestial phenomenon unfolded, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi from miles around began to gather madly in the sky above the seclusion chamber.

The Spiritual Qi converging from all directions swirled and hummed, forming a massive vortex several miles in diameter beneath the oppressive black clouds, with the seclusion chamber at its eye.

’What is this?’ Ji Nianyun had a faint guess in his heart.

At some point, Shi Yutong had appeared beside him. She spoke with a hint of envy in her voice, "Elder Li has reached the final step of Core Formation."

"Grandfather Li is undergoing Core Formation!" Ji Nianyun was dumbfounded.

...

Under the suppression of Li Ping’s Divine Sense, the ocean of Magical Power spun rapidly. Its center began to collapse, forming more and more crystalline fragments of Magical Power. The ocean of Magical Power shrank continuously, but he was still a long way from successfully completing his Core Formation.

’Not enough, not enough! I need more Spiritual Qi!’

BOOM!

The next moment, as Li Ping activated his Technique, a massive amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi poured directly into his body. It was rapidly converted and merged into the ocean of Magical Power, replenishing what had been consumed.

At this stage, everything was falling into place.

Moreover, Li Ping’s Magical Power, Divine Sense, and physical body all surpassed those of an ordinary Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. For him, this step posed no difficulty at all.

With the ocean of Magical Power replenished by the external Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, its center continued to collapse, and countless microscopic crystals of Magical Power constantly appeared.

Immediately after, these crystalline fragments of Magical Power also began to spin, coalescing into one as they absorbed and converted even more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi...

RUMBLE~

An unknown amount of time passed. As the crystalline fragments of Magical Power relentlessly threw themselves into the mix, the silhouette of a perfectly round sphere slowly took shape.

A massive amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was still being converted into liquid Magical Power and merging into the sphere. As more Magical Power was integrated, the sphere was continuously refined and polished, as if by a machine.

Its surface gradually became smooth and solid, emitting a brilliant golden light in all directions.

PHEW!

Li Ping let out a breath of relief. At this point, the Golden Core was basically formed.

But he didn’t dare let his guard down, continuing to convert Magical Power and pour it into the nascent Golden Core.

Some Cultivators with insufficient foundations would be exhausted by this stage, their Divine Sense depleted. A single moment of carelessness could cause the newly formed Golden Core to shatter and disperse.

However, even before his breakthrough, Li Ping’s Divine Sense was already comparable to that of an Early-stage Core Formation Cultivator, and his Nourishing Life Skill Power was constantly restoring his vital energy and Origin.

Therefore, stabilizing his new realm was an effortless task for him.

After another unknown period of time, the nascent Golden Core finally absorbed enough Magical Power and stabilized.

It was now about the size of a grain of rice, its brilliant golden light illuminating Li Ping’s Dantian.

WHOOSH!

The moment the Golden Core was complete, a powerful suction force emanated from it, pulling Li Ping’s vast soul directly inside.

He could faintly sense that within the Golden Core, another version of himself was gestating, ready to break out of its shell once it was fully formed.

’I did it!’

With the Golden Core successfully formed, even with Li Ping’s composure, he couldn’t help but show a look of immense joy.

’With my soul now residing in the Golden Core, and with the domineering power of my Nourishing Life Skill Power, my head is no longer a fatal weakness. As long as the Golden Core is intact, I am indestructible!’

His chances of survival had increased dramatically.

...

Outside the seclusion chamber, Ji Nianyun watched the massive Spiritual Qi vortex in the sky. He was excited, but also a little nervous. ’Grandfather Li is attempting Core Formation. If he succeeds...’

The Ji family’s close relationship with Li Ping was common knowledge. If Li Ping succeeded in his Core Formation, it would mean the Ji family had a connection to a Core Formation Master.

The Ji family would practically be able to do as they please in Flying Snow City.

Even the Flying Snow Sect, despite having its own Core Formation Master, would not dare to casually provoke another Core Formation Master.

Of course, even without considering the benefits to his own family, Ji Nianyun sincerely hoped that Grandfather Li would succeed in his Core Formation!

Grandfather Li had taken great care of him, and he was endlessly grateful.

「Several days later」

As Ji Nianyun watched with unblinking eyes, the Spiritual Qi vortex, several miles in diameter, seemed to have absorbed enough Spiritual Qi. Accompanied by the cries of dragons and phoenixes, it completely dispersed.

Within the tide of receding Spiritual Qi, a seven-colored radiance flickered, creating a dazzlingly beautiful sight.

Then, the clouds and mist parted, the lightning and thunder vanished, and everything returned to normal.

A powerful pressure emanated from the seclusion chamber, making the surrounding Qi Refining Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivators feel suffocated and oppressed.

Ji Nianyun was overjoyed. "Grandfather Li has achieved his Golden Core!"

Beside him, Shi Yutong had a complex expression. "Elder Li has achieved his Golden Core."

...

Inside the seclusion chamber.

Li Ping saw the various expressions on the faces of the spectating Cultivators, chuckled softly, and withdrew his Divine Sense.

His Golden Core was complete, but now was not the time to emerge from seclusion.

He needed to remain in seclusion for at least a few years to refine his Golden Core’s Magical Power and solidify his realm.

At the same time, he also needed to refine his Magical Treasures to increase his combat prowess.

Of course, he hadn’t forgotten the most important matter.

Li Ping directed his Divine Sense toward the Purple Qi Space that occupied a large area of his sea of consciousness.

The very moment he formed his Golden Core, within the Purple Qi Space,

next to the first gray floating island, a second gray floating island slowly came into being.

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