Chapter 237: Golden Core Formation (Bonus Chapter—Request Subscription)

Inside the Martial Arts Hall.

Two figures darted past each other at blinding speed.

Countless fists, palms, and kicks filled the air, their qi bursts exploding outward.

"You kid… your techniques are well-trained, but too rigid."

The old man with turtle-shell back and crane-white hair moved his hands like a demonic wind, his finger techniques astonishing heaven and moving ghosts.

Fast and slow were fused into one, and every time he seemed cornered, he would suddenly turn the tide, creating a deeply contradictory sensation.

More terrifying still, with each flick of his fingers, he dismantled Fang Xing's Four Star Martial Arts one by one.

Even when Fang Xing momentarily unleashed seventh-jing combat power, the old man matched him blow for blow, not yielding an inch.

Fang Xing fought with exhilarating freedom, feeling his martial foundation expand and grow denser once more…

Even the simplified third technique of the Buddha's Palm began to take shape.

This is what a true martial artist is!

Through constant combat, one Zuirongyi finds one's own flaws and weaknesses—and progresses most easily!

Hoo hoo!

A dragon-elephant roar suddenly echoed through the void.

His entire body glowed golden, instantly unleashing seventh-jing combat power.

In the next instant, the old man's fingers struck seven points on his own body: "Seven Stars Piercing Acupoints—Explode!"

Boom!

A thick, extraordinary blood qi erupted, turning his fingers crimson, then stabbing forward in a single lethal thrust.

Crash!

The two figures landed on the ground, each cratering the earth with deep pits.

Fang Xing sprang up in a carp leap, instantly on his feet, unharmed in every inch of his body.

He bowed respectfully to the old man: "Who among the Martial Saints stands before me?"

He could pretend before, but after fighting this long, even a fool should have noticed something was off.

"Damn, I hate these hard-body martial artists… at the same realm, you just can't break through. Old man hasn't stirred from seclusion in ages, but this time I came out specifically—seeing so many talents still alive in the universe? Worth it…"

The old man laughed heartily, his form vanishing instantly—he chose to surrender on his own.

Fang Xing received the message and fell silent: "So he really is an elder…"

He thought for a moment, then left the virtual universe.

This battle gave him tremendous help.

And he received the Heavenly Gang Stone as a reward.

"Already ranked among the top fifty thousand in the universe? Might as well forfeit the next match…"

Fang Xing silently made his decision.

…

The Immortal Realm.

San Mang Mountain, Shewei Peak Cave.

Protected by twin layers of arrays, the cave remained serene, untouched by time.

No matter how chaotic the outside world became, nothing could disturb the peace within.

Fang Xing's eyes half-closed, seated cross-legged, his spirit sense submerged in his Lower Dantian.

As the final white-gold sword essence formed, three hundred and sixty-five sword essences scattered like stars across the heavens.

The previous instability of his qi when using the Nine Orifices Golden Core was gone.

These were all his own painstakingly condensed liquid qi.

"Foundation Establishment complete… achieved!"

Fang Xing opened his eyes, a flicker of sword light flashing through his pupils.

Consuming vast quantities of thousand-year stone milk and supreme-grade pills had brought him to this point—nothing extraordinary.

"Foundation Establishment complete—time to form the Golden Core."

As a Heaven-grade spiritual root, and having cultivated the supreme scripture, Fang Xing had sensed a fated opportunity since reaching Foundation Establishment's peak.

The three hundred and sixty-five sword essences showed clear signs of merging into one, solidifying, eager to trigger the Golden Core formation.

'Heaven-grade roots have no bottleneck for Golden Core formation… combined with a supreme scripture's boost… high chance of success.'

'Still, better add a few safeguards.'

Fang Xing waved his hand.

A three-legged, two-eared bronze cauldron appeared; its lid opened, and a shrunken 'Golden Core Pill' floated out.

This pill, sought after by Foundation Establishment cultivators across the world, was standard issue for him.

Even delivered to him personally by Master Kong.

"After removing the pill's toxicity, its efficacy should improve further…"

Fang Xing toyed with the supreme-grade 'Golden Core Pill' in his hand, shifting his spirit sense to his mind sea, where a gray-white small seal floated.

This was the artifact—Shou Xin Seal—likely effective against Golden Core heart demons.

'The three trials of Golden Core formation: body, qi, spirit… my body is the weakest, but I can compensate with my Heaven-grade root's foundation and the pill's power. For the qi trial, my supreme scripture grants exactly three hundred and sixty-five drops of liquid qi—no Foundation Establishment cultivator has more. Plus, I still have the Nine Orifices Golden Core as an external aid. As for the spirit trial—the heart demon ordeal—I've never feared it, and with the Shou Xin Seal, it's even less of a concern…'

'Then… let's form the Golden Core!'

Fang Xing hesitated not—he seized the moment and began the Golden Core formation.

Pluck the flower while it blooms, don't wait till it's gone to break branches!

He had prepared for so long—this was the moment!

Within the cave, a flash of silver light appeared.

Fang Xing's true body materialized, seated cross-legged in silence, acting as guardian.

'Though the Martial Golden Core differs from the cultivator's Golden Core, there are still lessons to borrow…'

He thought silently: 'I picked a remote spot—no one should come here to die, right? This is my small kindness to the Immortal Realm…'

The aura of the Immortal Golden Core vastly surpassed ordinary Golden Cores, let alone an assassin's Sword Core!

If he formed it in the Immortal City, he'd draw a flood of cultivators.

If any of them harbored ill intent, he'd have to kill them all—very unpleasant.

He was a law-abiding citizen, so he chose to inconvenience himself, picking a backwater to form his Golden Core—all for the good of his fellow cultivators…

'Begin!'

Fang Xing's true body gazed into the meditation chamber.

Inside, Fang Xing's immortal clone sat on a cushion, swallowed the Golden Core Pill whole, then ceased suppression—allowing the three hundred and sixty-five sword essences in his Lower Dantian to roar, vibrate… emitting an arcane frequency, beginning to merge one by one…

These 'sword essences' looked solid, but were still viscous liquid.

This was the brilliance of supreme scriptures: during Foundation Establishment, they already imbued liquid qi with a faint tendency to solidify.

Thus, forming the Golden Core required far less effort.

Not to mention, the Great Zizai Xuanjin Sword Scripture's Foundation Establishment limit was three hundred and sixty-five drops—immensely potent.

That's why Fang Xing sensed the Golden Core opportunity the moment he reached Foundation Establishment's peak.

Ordinary cultivators with common scriptures might still need external Golden Core pills to trigger formation—already falling behind from the start.

Boom!

As the final drop of liquid qi merged, a white-gold liquid core suddenly appeared at the center of Fang Xing's Lower Dantian.

The 'Rusted Sword' and the 'Nine Orifices Golden Core' rotated around it.

Powerful qi surged, coursing through his body, triggering another round of marrow-renewal and blood-refinement.

Fang Xing channeled his qi, silently absorbing the torrent of the Golden Core Pill's power—his internal organs burned, hot medicinal energy merging with cold qi like fire and water refining a pill, elevating his already perfect body further.

'High-grade cultivators have almost no weaknesses…'

'Even without dedicated body refinement, my physique now rivals a second-grade body cultivator, doesn't it?'

A thought surfaced in his spirit sense, then faded—he devoted himself entirely to aiding the Golden Core formation.

After aiding Fang Xing through the body trial, the Golden Core Pill's power remained mostly intact, flowing directly into the white-gold core.

With this aid, the white-gold core compressed further, gradually revealing the true form of a solid core.

True Core achieved!

For an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, this sight would be more than enough.

But Fang Xing was clearly unsatisfied.

His spirit sense guided his qi, relentlessly compressing the core within—shrinking its size while intensifying its brilliance.

From lower-tier True Core… rising to upper-tier True Core… then faintly tinged with gold, reaching the Halfway Golden Core stage!

Delicate musical notes emerged, like the profound sounds of the Dao, drawing one irresistibly into reverie.

In cultivator Golden Core formation, False Core is lowest, True Core middle, Golden Core highest!

True Immortal Golden Cores carry a trace of Golden Core Dao Yun —a trace of the Dao's imprint—enough to grant incomparable benefits for future breakthroughs!

Outside!

Above Shewei Peak, the sky suddenly churned—powerful spiritual pressure radiated outward from Fang Xing's cave.

A colossal qi vortex appeared in the heavens, expanding relentlessly.

Five-colored, shimmering, dazzling…

"This…"

A wandering cultivator at Foundation Establishment saw this sight and could hardly believe his eyes: "Formation of a Golden Core? Someone's forming a Golden Core?"

"Who is it?"

In an instant, the news that someone had formed a Golden Core on Snake Tail Peak spread across Three Serpent Mountains like a roaring tide.

Every cultivator not sealed in deep meditation stood on high ground, gazing at the strange phenomena above Snake Tail Peak.

Snake Head Peak.

"What? That late Foundation Establishment cultivator… actually formed a Golden Core?"

The Twelfth Elder, responsible for hosting outside guests, stared at Snake Tail Peak, his expression brimming with envy.

"Not only did he form a Golden Core—look at this celestial sign—it must be a True Golden Core, not some false one…."

The short woman's third-family elder gazed at the distant celestial phenomena, murmuring to himself: "According to the clan records, a True Golden Core's sign spans three li; an upstream True Golden Core affects six li… This phenomenon now exceeds even the usual upstream True Golden Core—could it be… a Half-Step Jin Dan quality?"

"This man is no ordinary wanderer—he must possess an extraordinary inheritance. Yet he has no proper place to form his Golden Core. Perhaps we can sway him, to counter the Great Luo Alliance…"

The two elders exchanged glances, each seeing the same intense envy in the other's eyes.

…

Snake Body Peak.

"Someone actually formed a Golden Core—not a false one, but a True Golden Core!"

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators gathered together, their faces filled with worry: "This will surely affect our plans…"

"Not necessarily."

A tall man in purple robes suddenly stepped out of the hall, startling the Foundation Establishment cultivators: "The Alliance Leader…"

The man was none other than the Alliance Leader of the Great Luo Alliance—Luo Tian!

"Leader, weren't you at the battlefield?"

An elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator gasped in shock.

"Heh, I used a trick to sneak back…"

Luo Tian, gazing at the celestial sign surpassing even a True Golden Core, clasped his hands behind his back: "We hold Three Serpent Mountains, backed by several Golden Core clans, each with their own Golden Core Ancestors—what do we fear? How can a newly formed True Golden Core compare to several veteran ones? Besides… he's only renting a cave, so he may not even side with the Yun family."

This reasoning was sound and convincing; the Great Luo Alliance's morale stabilized quickly.

"I only regret he formed his Golden Core now—it disrupted all my plans. I was about to strike and obliterate the main branch of the Yun family…"

Luo Tian stared at Snake Tail Peak, a venomous glint in his eyes.

He had paid a heavy price, with secret aid from those Golden Core clans, just to briefly leave the frontlines.

He had planned to sneak back, destroy the Yun family, and seize sole control of Three Serpent Mountains.

Then Fang Xing formed his Golden Core—and shattered every plan.

Suddenly!

The celestial phenomena atop Snake Tail Peak shifted violently, expanding again—the spiritual energy vortex stretched beyond ten li, like a colossal funnel, frantically devouring the heavens' and earth's spiritual energy.

Even the spiritual vein energies of Snake Head Peak and Snake Body Peak were drawn toward it!

A strange fragrance filled the air, and a faint, profound cosmic melody seemed to echo in their ears.

"Ten-li phenomenon! The Cosmic Melody! It's an Immortal Golden Core!"

Luo Tian's entire body felt as if his spine had been ripped out—all ambition vanished.

Immortal Golden Core!

A cultivator who forms such a Golden Core has a high chance of breaking through to Nascent Soul.

Even in a major Nascent Soul sect, one might not appear in centuries.

What merit or virtue did the Great Luo Alliance and the Yun family have?

"An Immortal Golden Core?"

The same cry of shock echoed across Three Serpent Mountains; countless transmission talismans flew wildly.

Fortunately, Fang Xing had chosen a remote location—even if the news spread, it would take time for truly powerful cultivators to arrive.

…

Inside the cave.

Fang Xing closed his eyes and turned inward, seeing clearly within his Lower Dantian a "Golden Core."

It carried the Dao rhythm of the Golden Core; each rotation absorbed vast amounts of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy, transforming it into Golden Core true energy.

"If the Law Power stage has reached this point, it's passed."

"But sword cultivators are different!"

Fang Xing silently recalled the secret techniques of the Great Freedom Profound Golden Sword Scripture, then his expression hardened—he formed a sword seal with both hands.

Shoo!

From his Lower Dantian, the rusted sword shot out in a streak of light, striking the Golden Core with force.

Whoosh!

In an instant, the previously calm Lower Dantian boiled violently.

The once-stable Golden Core trembled, on the verge of shattering.

"Hold firm!"

Fang Xing drew a deep breath, directing his evolving spiritual sense to merge his life-sword with the Immortal Golden Core, forging a unique "Sword Core!"

The resistance was immense—even he struggled to maintain control.

Fortunately, the Sword Scripture had already provided a solution!

"Nine-Aperture Golden Core!"

Within his Lower Dantian's spiritual sea, the external Golden Core erupted with Golden Core-level power, slamming into the rusted sword and Immortal Golden Core, forcing them together.

BOOM!

A sword's cry suddenly rang from Fang Xing's lower abdomen, causing a trickle of blood to seep from his lips.

When he looked inward again, the original Immortal Golden Core, the rusted sword, and the Nine-Aperture Golden Core had vanished.

In their place was a peculiar white-golden pill.

Slightly translucent, within it lay a tiny sword, its blade shimmering with golden threads.

Around the Golden Core, the Cosmic Melody did not fade—it strengthened further, greatly enhancing the Golden Core's Dao rhythm!

"It feels… this sword cultivator's Golden Core surpasses even an ordinary Immortal Golden Core…"

Fang Xing silently felt the difference of this sword Golden Core, then used its true energy to nourish his spiritual sense, causing it to evolve wildly…

One hundred zhang!

One hundred and forty zhang!

One li!

Two li!

"The spiritual sense limit for Foundation Establishment cultivators should be one hundred and fifty zhang—that's one li…"

"Beyond one li is a Golden Core-level spiritual sense, but most True Golden Core cultivators, upon first breakthrough, reach at most one or two li…"

"And my spiritual sense…"

Fang Xing tested it—he now knew his spiritual sense limit was three li and thirty-five zhang!

Nearly double that of an ordinary Golden Core cultivator!

A smile crossed his face, then faded into confusion.

The final step of Golden Core formation—the spiritual sense demon trial—had arrived.