Chapter 349: Challenging Core Formation

In Qin Ming's palm lay two golden, shimmering Core Formation pills.

The alchemical process took over two years, but the outcome left Qin Ming thoroughly satisfied.

"Two Core Formation pills of premium quality!"

"This stroke of luck is truly excellent!"

He hadn't expected that his first successful attempt would yield two pills—both at the premium tier.

This was largely thanks to his previous exchange with Master Gong Sunyang, from whom he learned valuable insights and avoided numerous pitfalls.

Qin Ming put away the two elixirs and walked out of the cave with a cheerful mood.

The solidification of his liquid magic power was nearly complete, leaving only the final third.

All he needed now was to refine and solidify this remaining portion, and he could attempt Core Formation.

He might as well use this time to restore his depleted essence, energy, and spirit.

After all, such intense alchemy had left him weary.

Several days later.

On the main peak of Wangyue Island, beneath the spirit peach tree, the scent of spirit tea curled gently in the air.

Qin Ming summoned Wu Jiang to hear updates on the recent shifts in the cultivation world over the past two years.

Wu Jiang looked radiant and full of vigor, sitting across from Qin Ming as he respectfully brewed spirit tea for him.

A year ago, he had used the premium Foundation Establishment pill Qin Ming sold him to successfully break through to Foundation Establishment.

The Wu family had finally shed its low-tier Qi Refining clan label and become a Foundation Establishment clan.

Wu Jiang had brought great honor to his ancestors, becoming the talk of his clan.

At the time of his breakthrough, he had made a firm decision—he was seventy-eight years old, well past the usual sixty-year limit.

He was a senior in his seventies achieving Foundation Establishment, an endeavor fraught with extreme danger.

Fortunately, Qin Ming had given him a premium Foundation Establishment pill, which greatly increased his chances of success compared to an ordinary one.

And its effect in protecting the meridians was even more pronounced; otherwise, success would have been far from certain.

This further deepened Wu Jiang's gratitude and unwavering loyalty toward Qin Ming.

Wu Jiang never imagined that when he first sought to cling to a powerful ally, that ally had grown into a towering giant.

"Master Qin, since the final battle between Lei Yuanzong and Lingyu Gate, the cultivation world has undergone a dramatic transformation."

"First, Lingyu Gate was destroyed. Among its seven vassal houses, the Chen, Gu, and Wang families were eradicated by Lei Yuanzong with iron-fisted brutality."

"Three new families were installed to replace them."

"The third-rank spiritual vein in Yunze Wildlands also fell into Lei Yuanzong's hands."

"But during this time, another major event occurred."

"The Lingyun Sect of the Jin Kingdom, taking advantage of the mutual exhaustion of the two Wei sects in conflict."

"Allying with all major and minor forces within Jin, launched a full-scale invasion of the Wei Kingdom."

"Lingyun Sect's ambitions were vast, clearly aiming to swallow the entire Wei Kingdom."

"Meanwhile, the ghost disaster in Liang Kingdom's Xuanxi Valley has intensified, with rumors claiming a golden toad demon has broken free from the ruins."

"Its power rivals true shape-shifting great demons—a terrifying third-rank late-stage entity."

"Xuanxi Valley's mid-stage Core Formation Elder Yu Heng nearly perished at the hands of the Golden Toad Ancestor and remains severely wounded, recovering within the valley."

"Thus, Liang Kingdom cannot offer aid to Wei Kingdom."

Hearing this, Qin Ming frowned and asked, "Didn't Yu Lao Gui of Lingyun Sect suffer severe injuries at the hands of Wei Wuyi?"

"How could he still muster strength for a full-scale invasion?"

Wu Jiang glanced nervously at Qin Ming, then stammered in reply:

"Master, do you remember Mu Sheng from Lingyun Sect who visited you several years ago?"

"As a Core Formation seed, he successfully broke through to Core Formation two years ago—reportedly a mid-grade Core Formation, with formidable power."

"And Wei Wuyi himself was badly injured in that battle. After the great war, Lei Yuanzong, weakened and facing Lingyun Sect at full strength—with two Core Formation elders—"

"Wei Wuyi has been struggling alone these past two years, barely holding on."

After hearing this, Qin Ming nodded slightly.

"Who would have thought so many changes could occur in just over two years."

But soon, he himself would be attempting Core Formation—his cultivation base would undergo another qualitative leap, making these matters irrelevant.

…

The seasons turned; winter passed, spring arrived.

Inside the cave, Qin Ming slowly opened his eyes, sensing the fully solidified sea of magic power within his dantian.

A faint smile curled on his lips.

"Finally, all liquid magic power has been solidified."

On Wangyue Island, spirit peach blossoms bloomed, green bamboo swayed, and the spirit fields teemed with spring vitality.

On the lake's surface, the massive body of Xuan Shui E floated lazily, while Shi Tian Shu sat atop it, holding a bamboo rod to fish. Nearby, Yin Yi Shuang Feng fluttered ceaselessly.

A harmonious scene.

Qin Ming stepped out of the cave, his dark gaze deep as ink, fixed on the distance.

Shi Tian Shu seemed to sense something, immediately dropped the rod, vanished into a shadowy blur, and appeared instantly before Qin Ming.

Then, grinning, it studied him and said:

"Master, are you preparing to break through today?"

Qin Ming nodded slightly with a smile. "Yes. I'm about to attempt Core Formation. During this time, you, Xuan Shui E, and Yin Yi, guard me."

"If anyone approaches with ill intent, kill them without hesitation."

"Hehe! Master, rest assured—even if a Core Formation cultivator shows up, they won't disturb you."

Shi Tian Shu patted its chest. Seeing Qin Ming about to break through to Core Formation meant its own breakthrough to mid-stage third-rank great demon was near.

It felt delighted.

Then, Qin Ming summoned Wu Jiang again.

"Wu Jiang, take all your clan members and return to Baiyan Island for a while."

Wu Jiang froze in place, face pale. "Master, have we done something wrong? Are you expelling us?"

"Nonsense. It's only temporary—I still need you. I'll call you back soon," Qin Ming replied calmly.

Hearing this, Wu Jiang relaxed and, though confused, went to organize the Wu family's spirit farmers to evacuate Wangyue Island.

Qin Ming feared the Core Formation heavenly tribulation might accidentally injure these low-tier cultivators.

Then,

Qin Ming approached the Fengyou Ghost Jujube Tree, took out a jade green vial, and cast a spell to drill a tiny hole into the trunk, reaching its core.

Instantly,

A thick aura of malevolent energy emerged, and a slender stream of Xuan Sha Spirit Liquid, like a gentle trickle, flowed into the vial.

Half an incense stick later,

Qin Ming had collected half a vial of Core Formation essence: "Xuan Sha Spirit Liquid."

He carried the essence straight to his life-spirit plant, Yin Yang Xuan Teng, and sat cross-legged before it.

"Old friend, let's begin. After nearly a century of tending the land, we're finally taking this step."

Qin Ming's aura reached an unprecedented height.

He adjusted his essence, energy, and spirit to peak condition, his mind calm as still water.

His life-spirit plant, Yin Yang Xuan Teng, seemed to sense Qin Ming's impending breakthrough; its vines danced wildly, radiating joyous emotion.

Qin Ming then took several items from his storage pouch and placed them on the ground before him.

Two Core Formation essences: Xuan Sha Spirit Liquid and Wan Hua Spirit Liquid—each increased success chance by twenty percent.

Two premium-grade Core Formation pills—each increased success chance by twenty percent.

Additionally, his own ancient wood Evergreen Spirit Body, equivalent to a top-grade spiritual root, granted a twenty percent innate chance.

And within his spiritual sense, a purple 【Creation Purifying Pill】 keyword remained, capable of enhancing the quality of the Core Formation.

Wangyue Island's mid-grade third-rank spiritual vein provided more than sufficient spiritual energy.

Such an abundance of Core Formation resources—even major sects couldn't muster this much at once.

Yet now, all of it was concentrated in Qin Ming alone.

This extravagant setup maximized the "sureness" of success. "I didn't need so many resources—I still had confidence in succeeding."

"But I want a higher-quality Core Formation."

"With all this invested, if I don't form a top-grade Core Formation, heaven itself would be unjust!"

Then, Qin Ming began reciting the "Ancient Wood Everlasting Life Technique."

"Reverse yin and yang, turn life and death, seize creation—Ancient Wood Everlasting Life."

Qin Ming silently chanted the incantation, formed hand seals, and behind him, a silver spirit plant's phantom emerged, growing rapidly upward.

Within his dantian, the jade-green solidified magic power reached its ultimate density. "After seven returns and nine reversals, water and fire harmonized, kan and li intermingled, metal and wood united, the five elements gathered—only then does the Core Formation Dao emerge."

Qin Ming discarded all distractions, calmed his mind, sank into profound stillness, and entered a state of utter emptiness and quietude, all attachments extinguished.

BOOM! Above Wangyue Island, dark clouds gathered abruptly, forming a vast one-li-wide spiritual energy vortex shaped like a funnel, pouring directly into Qin Ming.

Suddenly,

The spiritual energy in the surrounding air was instantly drained.

The liquid magic power within Qin Ming began transforming into countless crystalline grains, rising toward the center of his dantian, coalescing together.

He seemed to have become a Jianmu tree, standing eternal through millennia, watching seas turn to mulberry fields, observing flowers bloom and fade.

A lush green vitality radiated from his body, exuding an unceasing, evergreen aura.

Qin Ming immediately opened the jade vial before him and swallowed one Core Formation Pill, followed by the Ten-Thousand Transformations Spiritual Liquid and the Dark Soul Spiritual Liquid in sequence.

Boom! The flow of spiritual energy in heaven and earth accelerated, nearly covering the entire Moonwatch Island, tides surging wildly.

This astonishing celestial phenomenon naturally drew the attention of many Gao Jie cultivators.

……

In the Great Hall of Canghai Peak, Canghai Xiancheng.

Canghai True Person Nalan Xi was urgently discussing the ghost disaster of the Taihu Ruins with Wan Laozu of Xuanxi Valley.

Suddenly.

Both Jin Dan True Persons simultaneously changed expression: "The spiritual energy of the spiritual energy Archipelago has shifted violently—a fellow cultivator is breaking through to Jin Dan!"

Canghai True Person and Wan Laozu exchanged a glance, their figures instantly blurring and vanishing.

From Canghai Xiancheng to the spiritual energy Archipelago was but a blink for Jin Dan Elders.

Nalan Xi followed the direction of the celestial anomaly—and froze in place.

"It's Moonwatch Island… Brother Qin Dao…"

"How is this possible?"

"Wasn't he just Foundation Establishment mid-stage a few years ago?"

Wan Laozu had long heard of Qin Ming and could not believe it even now.

At that moment,

A lazy voice rang out nearby.

"You two stop here. Don't disturb my master's breakthrough."

"Or else, this great sir won't be polite."

Ripples stirred in the air, the atmosphere twisted, and the Shi Tian Shu's figure slowly emerged.

"Third-stage Beast King!"

Nalan Xi and Wan Laozu, seeing Shi Tian Shu appear without a sound, each went on high alert.

When they clearly saw,

Wasn't this the very Beast King that led the attack on Canghai Xiancheng? The one with strange abilities, capable of breaking even the city's grand array?

Nalan Xi remembered Shi Tian Shu vividly—though after being severely wounded by the four Jin Dan Elders together, it had vanished without a trace.

Who would have thought to meet this third-stage Beast King again under such circumstances?

But the next instant,

Nalan Xi snapped back to herself: "Wait! Who do you call master?"

"The Lord of Moonwatch Island—Qin Ming," said Shi Tian Shu, scratching his nose.

A third-stage Beast King recognizing a master? Nalan Xi's thoughts churned, and she let out a bitter laugh: "It seems Brother Qin Dao has extraordinary fortune—and has concealed his true depth well…"

"We underestimated him."

Moreover, Nalan Xi sensed that this Shi Tian Shu appeared even more inscrutable in power than before.

Even she could not gauge his true depth.

"Never thought we misjudged him—a third-stage Dan Master, such an extraordinary talent."

"To condense a Jin Dan… is not impossible," said Wan Laozu, gazing toward the Lingdao.

So the two of them halted and watched.

"Given the spiritual vortex spanning a li, could Brother Qin Dao be forming a False Core?" Wan Laozu observed after a moment.

Nalan Xi stared into the distance: "Hard to say—I can't fathom Brother Qin Dao at all anymore."

Meanwhile,

The astonishing celestial phenomenon in the spiritual energy Archipelago drew nearby cultivators to gather and watch.

"Good heavens! What's happening?"

"Look! It's toward Moonwatch Island!"

"Such a violent shift in spiritual energy—someone is breaking through to Jin Dan!"

"What?!"

"Which elder is undergoing Tribulation Crossing?"

"On Moonwatch Island? Only the island's master, Qin True Person, could be…"

Wu Jiang stood among the crowd, staring blankly at the massive spiritual vortex above Lingdao.

He whispered in disbelief: "Qin… Qin… Lord Qin is breaking through to Jin Dan…"

……

Beneath the Yin-Yang Xuan Teng tree on Moonwatch Island,

Qin Ming's aura continuously rose, resonating with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Behind him, the Ancient Evergreen Spirit Body continuously converted vast quantities of spiritual energy into pure magic power crystals.

The solidified green magic power within his sea of magic power began collapsing and compressing, converging toward the center.

Time passed; two more days went by.

The spiritual energy clouds in the sky churned and spread slowly outward, expanding to a full five li in diameter.

"A five-li spiritual vortex."

"Brother Qin Dao truly means to form a Jin Dan!"

Nalan Xi's gaze sharpened from afar, her heart in turmoil.

Wan Laozu's expression grew grave, lost in thought.

At that moment, ripples stirred again in the air—a blue aura streaked from afar and halted beside them.

Nalan Xi recognized the newcomer and said: "Congratulations, Brother Wei Dao. The Wei Kingdom will soon have another Jin Dan True Person—and he's your friend."

Wei Wuyan looked toward Moonwatch Island, his expression complex.

"Brother Qin Dao forming a Jin Dan… was truly unexpected."

"…."

Originally, the several Jin Dan Elders had privately discussed it, all agreeing that Brother Qin Dao, with his four-element pseudo-spiritual root, stood virtually no chance of breaking through to Jin Dan.

Yet Qin Ming shattered their assumptions.

Seven more days passed.

The spiritual vortex in the sky expanded again—to ten li!

"High-grade Jin Dan."

Wei Wuyan had experienced this himself—he knew this phenomenon all too well.

……

Beneath the Yin-Yang Xuan Teng tree, Qin Ming's entire body radiated the immense spiritual pressure of the Jin Dan realm.

After using the 【Creation Purification Pill】 term, Qin Ming's Jin Dan—originally at mid-grade—was forcibly elevated one tier.

"Nine-fold refinement, high-grade Jin Dan—I, Qin Ming, have finally achieved it!"

Within his dantian, a golden, radiant grain-like mystery pearl formed.

Just as Qin Ming prepared to stabilize his Jin Dan completely,

Something unexpected happened: silver runes emerged around his life-plant, Yin-Yang Xuan Teng, intertwining in midair.

They formed a vast, mysterious silver symbol that sank into Qin Ming's body.

Within Qin Ming's qi sea and dantian,

Suddenly, a swirling, harmonious aura was born—and his magic power underwent another yin-yang resonance.

Whoosh! The silver runes of his life-plant, Yin-Yang Xuan Teng, as if drawn by some unseen force, flowed into his Jin Dan.

In an instant,

A rain of emerald-green magic power fell from above Qin Ming's dantian, drenching the Jin Dan.

Thus,

A perfect, round, radiant, pure, and flawless mystery pearl was fully formed! (End of Chapter)