Chapter 94: Invincible Below the Golden Core, System Changes

"What a fine External Body!"

"Even the incomplete version is this over‑powered; imagine how strong it would be with the added demonic effect!"

The Longevity Stone fragment was finally equipped in the inventory, and Xiao Zhangqing could at last fully read the description of this skill and feel the power of the technique.

"No wonder Mu Renjie, after obtaining the Longevity Stone fragment, couldn't resist refining it. He probably wasn't unaware of how bizarre the stone was; forcing refinement carried huge risk. Yet, faced with such a massive power boost, the temptation for a cultivator was simply too great."

Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help but sigh.

Back then, after Mu Renjie refined it, even without fully merging, it instantly gave his early Foundation Establishment stage a strength comparable to late Foundation Establishment. Once he fully fused and lost his original nature, he became comparable to a Golden Core Realm being, and would not be outmatched by a true early Golden Core cultivator.

One function of this Longevity Stone fragment is to serve as a cultivator's 'true core'! It can continuously solidify a Foundation Establishment cultivator's magical energy, reaching a purity almost equal to that of a Golden Core Real's energy. The key, most obvious difference between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core is the solidification of magical energy, ultimately forming a Golden Core! The Longevity Stone fragment can act as a cultivator's Golden Core.

The External Body Avatar technique extracted by the system operates on the same principle as the Longevity Stone's effect.

However, because the demonic negative effects were removed, Xiao Zhangqing did not fully integrate the Longevity Stone fragment into his body, merging the two into one.

Thus, the Longevity Stone fragment will not become Xiao Zhangqing's true Golden Core; it can only be used as an offensive means.

In effect, Xiao Zhangqing can continuously pour his own magical energy into the Longevity Stone; through its miraculous effect, the energy's quality improves, nearly solidifying, and then is stored! Since the stone is not merged with Xiao Zhangqing's flesh, the two remain independent, so his own magical energy quality cannot improve, and the stone's storage capacity is limited.

Now Xiao Zhangqing cultivates this External Body technique, which resembles a kind of 'External Elixir'.

He can, to some extent, masquerade as a Golden Core cultivator and possesses the means of an early Golden Core practitioner.

But it cannot be sustained; he cannot fight for long! Once the solidified magical energy stored in the Longevity Stone is exhausted, his true form is revealed.

He must recharge it before he can continue using it.

However, compared to the Dragon Chant Technique, which requires a long rest or even a weakened period after a single use, the External Body technique lasts much longer.

In other words, fighting a Golden Core Real demands a protracted battle.

If facing someone below the Golden Core Realm, even a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, a swift strike suffices and will not expose him.

"Just started Foundation Establishment and can masquerade as a Golden Core cultivator? If those two Cao family Foundation Establishment guys found out, they'd be terrified!"

"No, I'm not masquerading. My spiritual sense now reaches eighty‑four zhang, almost on par with early Golden Core, and I can wield the solidified magical energy only Golden Core Reals possess. What masquerade is that? I am genuinely a true Golden Core Real!"

Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help but curl his mouth in a mischievous grin, a devilishly charming, unrestrained laugh.

After a moment of joy, he began to continue studying the technique.

Although the system‑extracted External Avatar is incomplete, turning the technique from permanent to temporary, its potential remains undiminished and, like the Dragon Chant Technique, can continuously increase in power level.

According to the system's description.

Now Xiao Zhangqing is in the Foundation Establishment Realm; the Longevity Stone's effect can only match an External Elixir technique, which doesn't align with its name 'External Body'.

When Xiao Zhangqing advances to Golden Core Real, or even Nascent Soul True Lord, the technique will not lose its effect; rather, it will unleash its true power, acting as if a second avatar exists!

"What a great thing!"

Xiao Zhangqing felt relieved again that he hadn't let Gong Wansheng take the Longevity Stone fragment back to the Luoxia Sect; otherwise this treasure would have slipped from his grasp.

"As for the Nightmare Technique…"

Xiao Zhangqing looked at the second skill extracted by the system.

"It's also a rare divine skill that can be used long‑term…"

The Nightmare Technique is a spiritual sense technique, but unlike the Dragon Chant Technique, it does not destroy the enemy's spiritual sense to the point of unconsciousness or death.

Its main effect is to trap a person in an illusionary realm, causing them to sink without escape.

If the opponent's spiritual sense is far lower, after being invaded by the Nightmare Technique, they may unknowingly have their inner secrets unearthed by oneself.

It can be called the ultimate technique for torture and interrogation.

Moreover, this technique can be used not only on enemies but also on oneself.

When applied to oneself, it can temper one's Soul Transformation, making the Soul Transformation stronger.

And if an enemy uses illusion techniques or spiritual sense attacks, one will have some resistance.

Even when facing the tribulation later, encountering a Heart Demon Tribulation, one can better resist!

"In terms of immediate combat power, the Nightmare Technique is certainly less helpful than the External Body technique for me. But later, as my cultivation rises, the Nightmare Technique will become increasingly important."

Xiao Zhangqing evaluated.

……

The moment he entered seclusion, Xiao Zhangqing eagerly equipped the Longevity Stone and began studying the two divine techniques he had long anticipated.

After figuring them out, he finally had time to start examining the system's changes.

"Huh… why hasn't the inventory slot count increased?" Xiao Zhangqing looked at the system interface and saw the inventory still had only nine slots.

"Could it be…"

Xiao Zhangqing seemed to have thought of something, his eyes flashing with excitement, and hurriedly removed his first equipped item—'Symbol Master's Handbook'! The equipment effect of the Symbol Master's Handbook is only one: six Basic Symbol Talismans minor achievements.

This equipment skill allowed Xiao Zhangqing to become a regular at Lingfu Pavilion, catching the eye of the then manager Hong Jiantao, marking the start of his destiny's gears turning after crossing into this world.

But now, the six Basic Symbol Talismans have already been fully mastered and perfected by Xiao Zhangqing.

Consequently, the equipment's effect has completely lost its usefulness for Xiao Zhangqing.

Previously, the system allowed the item to be unequipped even if its effect was no longer useful to Xiao Zhangqing…

But.

However, an equipped inventory slot cannot hold another item! It's like Xiao Zhangqing's previous life's school‑district house: once the house used a school‑district quota, even if the house changes hands, the next owner's child cannot use that school district for years.

The Symbol Master's Handbook had been removed earlier, but the slot still bore the 'mark' of that equipment, preventing compatibility with other gear.

But today…

After Xiao Zhangqing removed the Symbol Master's Handbook and examined closely, he found the 'mark' in the slot had vanished!

"Let's try this Flying Sword!"

【48】 In the next instant, Xiao Zhangqing transferred a damaged Flying Sword from his storage bag into his hand.

In the next instant, Xiao Zhangqing moved out a damaged flying sword from his storage bag, grasping it in his hand.

It was a sword whose grade had once reached the first tier of excellence, a Flying Sword that decades ago belonged to a famous ninth‑layer Qi Refining Grand Complete Sword cultivator from Nanshan Fang, who had wielded it for many years.

Although this sword cultivator ultimately failed to establish a foundation before age sixty, he once used this Flying Sword to overpower an early Foundation Establishment cultivator in a duel, so many years later, many still remember him.

By reaching the ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm's great perfection, he challenged a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator and even won; this difficulty is greater than successfully establishing a foundation! Even many truly core genius disciples of Golden Core sects find it hard to achieve.

So if that sword cultivator had succeeded in establishing a foundation and lived to the present, perhaps Nanshan Fang's situation would have changed.

Unfortunately, the failed foundation was in vain; the sword cultivator eventually died, and his Flying Sword, for unknown reasons, became damaged, its grade fell, and it was taken out to be sold cheap.

When Xiao Zhangqing originally bought this damaged Flying Sword, he spent only a mere dozen or so Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

It was a price fit for picking up trash.

However, after being damaged, the Flying Sword indeed had no use.

Its attack is useless, it has no practical value; using it for Sword Flight to show off is worse than buying a first‑tier middle‑grade complete Flying Sword that looks nicer and brings more face.

Thus neither poor cultivators nor wealthy second‑generation heirs would buy it.

The reason Xiao Zhangqing bought it and kept it in his storage bag is that the skill of this Flying Sword is something he has always wanted to possess.

【Equipment Effect: Six‑Path Sword Technique (Three Layers)】

According to the system description, the Six‑Path Sword Technique is a sword art whose power can reach up to the mid‑stage of the third tier, and it is not merely a simple Flying Sword skill.

Back then, the renowned sword cultivator of Nanshan Fang was cultivating the Six‑Path Sword Technique, but because he was only at the Qi Refining Realm, his magical power was weak and he could not unleash the true power of the Six‑Path Sword Technique.

If his magical power were a bit stronger, he could wield six Flying Swords to attack simultaneously, no longer merely overwhelming a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage cultivator, but potentially slaying him on the spot!

Thus this sword technique is extremely domineering in power.

When Xiao Zhangqing saw the equipment effect of this Flying Sword, he immediately became eager to acquire it.

It was only because only one inventory slot remained; he wanted to keep it for future use, and although the Six‑Path Sword Technique is an extremely domineering offensive art, the notes clearly state that it requires the Foundation Establishment Realm and a set of six complete magical swords to unleash its true power.

Xiao Zhangqing cannot use it for now, so he temporarily placed it at the bottom of the chest, intending to equip it after his foundation is established and his inventory expands.

"Equip!"

Xiao Zhangqing attempted to embed the damaged Flying Sword into the first inventory slot.

Buzz! In an instant.

Countless techniques of the sword art, the flow of magical power, and how to arrange sword formations all flooded Xiao Zhangqing's mind.

It was as if his relentless, years‑long arduous practice had refined the subtleties to the point of being as natural as moving an arm, akin to instinct.

The Six‑Path Sword Technique—he has mastered it! Immediate minor breakthrough!

"It really equipped successfully?"

Xiao Zhangqing rejoiced greatly; this meant that from now on, the greatest limitation of the golden finger was outright removed.

Although there are only nine equipment slots, any desired skill can be freely recorded! (End of chapter)