Chapter 316: Successive Core Formations, May Our Xu Clan Be Immortal for Ten Thousand Years!
"The power of the Five Elements is at his fingertips, ever-changing and unpredictable. How can anyone block this?"
A spectator muttered.
Sun Zhantian was even more horrified inwardly.
His Flame Demon Battle Body possessed tyrannical strength, his Crimson Demon True Pupil could see through the illusions and reality of formations, and his staff art divine ability was unparalleled in its ferocity.
However, facing this endlessly cycling Five Elements Battle Array with its constantly shifting elemental counters, he felt as if he were trapped in a quagmire—a suffocating frustration of having immense brute strength but nowhere to unleash it!
If these attacks were seventy to eighty percent weaker, he could naturally sweep them away with a single strike of his staff.
But unfortunately, none of these attacks were weak in the slightest.
Furthermore, they were endless, which was the most terrifying aspect of all.
His true pupils could see that the core of the array was Xu Mingxian himself.
Sun Zhantian roared repeatedly, his long staff dancing so fast it formed an impenetrable barrier. The dark red afterimages of the staff continuously shattered the incoming metal-element flying swords, ice dragons, and fire phoenixes.
Exerting force in his legs, he stomped fiercely, snapping the constricting vines.
The protective aura on the surface of his body forcefully withstood the impacts of raging flames and stone spikes.
Every single strike required a significant toll on his mana and mental energy.
Yet Xu Mingxian handled the situation with composed ease, merely needing his divine sense to control the formation!
He possessed Golden Core level divine sense, which could be split into multiple streams to accurately control five or six types of battle arrays simultaneously.
The two fought fiercely for over an hour. The arena was a complete mess, and the sound of spiritual light exploding echoed ceaselessly.
Although Sun Zhantian was fiercely brave, several wounds had appeared on his body. His aura began to destabilize, and his offensive was no longer as sharp as it had been at the start.
In stark contrast, Xu Mingxian remained completely composed and at ease.
Fortunately, he had Golden Core level divine sense. If it were anyone else, even if they could condense the battle array, they would never be able to control it with Xu Mingxian's finesse, making it nearly impossible to display such terrifying might.
Finally, when Sun Zhantian shattered an ice dragon with his staff—a moment when his previous force was spent and his new force had yet to be generated—a sharp glint flashed in Xu Mingxian's eyes as he seized that fleeting opening!
He forcefully clapped his hands together!
The Five Elements Battle Array abruptly contracted!
The five-colored spiritual light of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth converged madly, transforming into an incomparably condensed five-colored great sword. Its power was not a fraction weaker than Sun Zhantian's strongest attack.
The five-colored great sword cleaved down straight at Sun Zhantian's head!
Sun Zhantian's pupils sharply contracted. Mustering his remaining strength, he raised his long staff horizontally above his head. The qi and blood of his Flame Demon Battle Body boiled, and dark red astral qi surged into the sky!
"Break for me!"
Boom!!!
Amidst the heaven-shaking explosion, the five-colored great sword slowly pressed down.
The arena floor beneath Sun Zhantian's feet fractured inch by inch. His arms trembled violently, the webbing between his thumbs and forefingers tore open, and blood stained the shaft of his staff red.
He roared in fury, struggling with all his might.
The stalemate lasted for about ten breaths of time. Sun Zhantian's strength finally gave out. The long staff flew from his grasp, his mana shield shattered, and he let out an unwilling, muffled groan.
Xu Mingxian waved his hand to disperse the array. Panting slightly, he cupped his fists toward the struggling Sun Zhantian.
"Daoist Friend Sun, thank you for letting me win."
Sun Zhantian looked at Xu Mingxian with a complicated expression. Finally, he took a deep breath, picked up his long staff, and cupped his fists in return. "Daoist Friend Xu's divine abilities are truly extraordinary. I... admit defeat!"
"Among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators I have seen, your strength ranks in the top ten!"
"Top ten? You mean the top ten of the previous Prodigy Grand Assembly?!"
"Pretty much."
Xu Mingxian smiled faintly, choosing not to over-explain.
Sun Zhantian offered a self-deprecating smile. "I honestly thought that if I hadn't exceeded the age limit, even if I couldn't claim the championship at the Prodigy Grand Assembly, a top-five spot would have been possible.
"It seems I have underestimated the heroes of this world!"
"My father once told me that when walking the path of immortal cultivation, one must have a mind without distractions and a clear Dao Heart. Geniuses in the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river; there are simply too many to count.
"Even if you surpass someone, there will always be someone else stronger than you.
"The only person you should strive to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with, and ultimately surpass, is yourself!
"When you surpass yourself time and time again, you will eventually find that there is no one left behind you.
"If you only fixate on others, it's easy to breed inner demons.
"That is all. Daoist Friend Sun, look out for yourself."
Sun Zhantian muttered Xu Mingxian's words to himself. After pondering for a moment, a bright light erupted in his eyes. He bowed deeply. "I have learned a great deal today!"
"When I return today, I will enter total seclusion. Wait until the day we both reach the Golden Core stage—we shall battle once more!"
With those words, he turned and leaped off the arena.
Seeing this, the Sun Family's Golden Core elder stroked his beard and smiled faintly. "What incredible bearing. Truly worthy of someone valued by the Ancestor of Profound Moon. Zhantian's defeat was not unjustified!"
An elder from the Cloud Mist Sect also cupped his fists in congratulation. "Brother Sun, it seems it won't be long before your Sun Family produces yet another Golden Core genius!"
"Daoist Friend Qin jests. We still cannot compare to the Cloud Mist Sect."
Although Sun Zhantian was defeated, hearing Xu Mingxian's advice actually cleared his mind, further firming his resolve.
As long as he calmed his mind, breaking through the bottleneck would be right before his eyes!
This was precisely why the Cloud Mist Sect elder offered such a high appraisal.
Following Sun Zhantian's defeat, the entire venue plunged into silence once more.
Shortly after, an even more heated wave of widespread discussion erupted.
Initially, most people had come to laugh at Xu Mingxian and the Profound Moon Sect. But now, they had truly witnessed a posture of absolute invincibility in him!
"Perhaps Xu Mingxian really can complete the seven-day arena battle, beating the Profound Moon Prefecture to the point where no one dares to step onto the stage anymore!"
A singular thought rose in everyone's minds: 'If he reigns supreme in the Foundation Establishment stage, who would dare call themselves king?!'
He waited for another two hours, but no one stepped up.
Xu Mingxian gracefully departed, planning to return at noon the following day.
The next day at noon, Xu Mingxian appeared right on time.
He had barely settled before five figures exchanged glances and leaped onto the arena simultaneously!
These five were all Foundation Establishment Perfection rogue cultivators. Having traveled and fought together for years, their teamwork was incredibly seamless. By stepping onto the stage together this time, they clearly intended to use this battle to shoot to fame in one fell swoop!
"Daoist Friend Xu, we truly admire your strength. One-on-one, we know we wouldn't last a single round against you. You wouldn't mind if the few of us joined forces, would you?" One of them, an old man in a Daoist robe, smiled and cupped his hands.
"The arena rules allow it. Even if there were a few more of you, it wouldn't be an issue," Xu Mingxian replied calmly.
Arena battles were different from ordinary fights. The stage was only so large; sometimes, having too many people would backfire, causing their attacks to clash and interfere with one another.
If dozens or hundreds of Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators were to attack together from a distance, even a Tier 3 formation could be broken in a single strike.
"Then pardon our offense!" The old man's gaze instantly sharpened. "The four of us will attack to buy time for Daoist Friend Luo to set up his formation!"
The moment his words fell.
A burly saber user wielding a ghost-head broadsword and a cold-looking sword cultivator attacked Xu Mingxian from the left and right.
Both the saber's edge and the sword's light were extremely fierce.
The old man formed hand seals, casting a spell art almost instantly. Countless ice spikes condensed in the air, raining down like a torrential storm.
As for the old man with the surname Luo, he was an array master. Tapping his storage pouch, he pulled out five formation flags and immediately began forming seals to lay down a formation.
The final person, a slightly chubby middle-aged man, held a bronze shield and stood protectively in front of the old man surnamed Luo.
From the aura exuding from that large shield, Xu Mingxian could tell at a glance that it was a Two-Pattern defensive dharma tool.
In addition, the man also manipulated a dark, dull awl, seemingly waiting for an opportunity to strike.
"A decent combination, but your overall strength is lacking."
Xu Mingxian formed an array in an instant. A curtain of water materialized before him, easily blocking the attacks from the saber and sword cultivators, as well as the sky full of ice spikes.
Their attacks were comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators who had comprehended forty to fifty percent of an introductory divine ability's true intent.
However, Xu Mingxian's defensive formation effortlessly withstood their blows, preventing them from breaking through easily.
He took a light step and guided his hands through the air.
"Trap!"
Spiritual energy gathered from all around the arena, completely bypassing the slightly chubby middle-aged man. It transformed into an earthy-yellow light screen that directly enveloped the old man surnamed Luo.
On the three-hundred-meter arena, Xu Mingxian's battle array manifested at his mere thought. It could appear anywhere, attacking anyone he desired.
"How is this possible?" The slightly chubby middle-aged man stared in shock. "How the hell am I supposed to defend against that?"
Just as he was about to attack the yellow light screen, the old man surnamed Luo warned, "Don't attack! This is a confinement formation; you can only enter, not leave. If you come in, unless you can break the formation entirely, you'll be trapped."
"Then what should we do?"
"You no longer need to protect me. Just join the others and besiege him directly. If my guess is correct, he is using his own body as the core to set up the array.
"Defeating him is the only way!"
Although the old man surnamed Luo noticed the intricacies, he was completely won over by Xu Mingxian's methods, realizing that the young man's attainments in the Array Dao were far beyond his own.
However, since they were still in the middle of a battle, he had no choice but to suppress his inner turmoil and focus on breaking the formation with his own formations.
On the other side.
Under the frantic assault of the others, countless cracks appeared on the water curtain. It looked as though it would shatter at any moment.
Yet, in the blink of an eye.
Xu Mingxian formed more hand seals, instantly condensing the other Five Elements Battle Arrays.
In a flash, golden flying swords became a torrent of sword intent, sweeping toward the sword cultivator. Countless sharp stones condensed out of thin air, shooting toward the saber user, while a blazing fire phoenix shrieked and lunged at the Daoist-robed old man.
As the slightly chubby middle-aged man charged forward, countless vines sprouted from the ground, entangling him from all sides.
About the time it takes half a cup of tea to cool.
Just as the old man surnamed Luo finally broke out of the formation, he saw his four companions coughing up blood and flying backward onto the ground. Cold sweat instantly drenched his forehead.
"Do you still wish to fight?" Xu Mingxian asked calmly, looking over at him.
The old man surnamed Luo glanced at the others and finally sighed, shaking his head. "No. We were overestimating our own strength."
Then, he cupped his fists. "May I ask, Daoist Friend Xu, what kind of technique is this?"
"A Battle Array!"
"Thank you."
Seeing that Xu Mingxian had no intention of elaborating, the old man surnamed Luo understood it was a closely guarded secret. Knowing better than to pry, he tactfully led the rest of his group off the stage.
"A Battle Array? Formations moving with his heart. Within the confines of this arena, he alone is the equivalent of multiple people acting with perfect synchronization and power. No wonder he dared to claim that multiple challengers stepping up wouldn't be an issue."
The longer Xu Mingxian fought, the more the mysteries of his battle array were perceived by the onlookers.
However, understanding the theory didn't mean one could simply copy it just by watching.
Even a Tier 4 Grandmaster of Formations like Zhang Fan couldn't easily master a battle array without proper instruction.
Following that, groups from the Profound Moon Sect, the Cloud Mist Sect, and the Sun Family all joined forces to challenge Xu Mingxian on stage.
Yet, the longest any of them lasted was the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
And so, the second day passed.
On the third, fourth, and even the fifth day, many people took the stage, but none of them truly harbored the intention of defeating Xu Mingxian.
Instead, they considered it an honor.
When Xu Mingxian skyrocketed to the top in the future, this would be their capital to boast to their descendants: "Back in the day, your old man fought on the same stage as Senior Xu. That battle was..."
Others went up to test their own combat prowess or to make bets on how many breaths they could last against him.
Xu Mingxian's momentum had already become unstoppable!
The seventh day.
For some reason, the Profound Moon Sect, the Cloud Mist Sect, and the Sun Family allied together, dispatching five elder disciples who were only a hair's breadth away from Divine Ability Core Formation, along with Sun Zhantian.
"Brother Xu, having lost previously, I shouldn't have the gall to show my face here again. But unfortunately, the elders in my clan insisted, so I have no choice but to join forces with them to fight you."
Sun Zhantian cupped his fists and laughed heartily. "Of course, I also genuinely want to see just how powerful Daoist Friend Xu's battle array can get!"
When the spectators saw the six figures, led by Sun Zhantian, leap onto the arena simultaneously, the entire venue burst into an uproar!
"Are they treating Xu Mingxian as the ultimate final boss?"
"Every single one of them is a renowned prodigy in our Profound Moon Prefecture. With Sun Zhantian leading this combination, they could definitely go toe-to-toe with a Newly Advanced Golden Core cultivator!"
"Definitely! As long as the opponent isn't a prodigy who achieved Divine Ability Core Formation, they are more than enough to handle an ordinary Newly Advanced Golden Core cultivator!"
Amidst the excited chatter of the crowd.
Xu Mingxian's expression turned grave, but an unprecedented war intent blazed in his eyes. "Please!"
As his voice faded, Xu Mingxian struck first, intending to divide the battlefield.
He stepped swiftly, instantly activating an earth-element confinement formation and a wood-element entanglement. A thick wall of light and countless vine chains surged toward Sun Zhantian and the others.
However, this time, his methods failed!
"Break!"
Sun Zhantian roared, the qi and blood of his Flame Demon Battle Body boiling fiercely. The long staff in his hands bloomed with dark red demonic light. A simple vertical strike contained the power to cleave mountains and split seas!
Rumble!
The confinement formation's light wall shattered upon impact, tearing as easily as paper!
The other five also unleashed their respective divine abilities. Controlling their Two-Pattern dharma tools, waves of sword qi and saber light shredded the vines and Five Elements chains into pieces.
Although the strength of these five couldn't match Sun Zhantian's, it only took them two or three moves to completely obliterate Xu Mingxian's battle array attacks.
Six incomparably formidable auras crashed down on him like terrifying tidal waves!
Sun Zhantian's staff afterimages blotted out the sky, while the flying swords, spells, and divine abilities of the five elder disciples struck from all directions, attempting to seal off every possible route of retreat!
Xu Mingxian's pupils shrank slightly. His figure blurred as he dodged rapidly. Layers of defensive light screens materialized one after another in an attempt to block the onslaught, only to be blasted apart in an instant.
He was forced into full-scale defense.
In the next moment.
A thick mist rose over the arena.
Xu Mingxian condensed a Bewildering Tracks Array, his figure vanishing into the white fog.
Illusory Arrays followed suit, creating layers of deceptive illusions to confuse their senses.
Here, he also formed hand seals, silently laying down a divine sense restriction to interfere with the group's mental perception.
"Flame Demon True Pupil, break!"
Pupil light pierced the sky, illuminating every direction.
"A hundred feet to the east!"
"A hundred and fifteen feet to the southeast!"
"Twenty-five feet in the air to the south!"
The other five all obeyed Sun Zhantian's commands, unleashing their attacks toward the spots he called out.
The Bewildering Tracks Array and the Illusory Arrays were completely useless before his pupil technique divine ability.
However, it bought Xu Mingxian enough time to deploy an even stronger countermeasure.
Five-colored spiritual energy madly gathered, forming massive five-colored spirit swords that cleaved and slashed in all directions, sweeping toward the five cultivators.
Only Sun Zhantian could block them head-on.
Then, the rest of the group moved in to fill the gaps.
In just two or three breaths, the giant five-colored swords shattered entirely into countless motes of spiritual light, dissipating into the air.
Facing their frenzied assault, Xu Mingxian once again rapidly condensed defensive battle arrays. Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—the five elements' defensive battle arrays emerged in succession.
"Boom, boom, boom—!"
A continuous barrage of explosions rocked the arena as spiritual light endlessly shattered.
Under the dense barrage of attacks, Xu Mingxian's figure looked somewhat battered. Beads of sweat continuously seeped from his forehead.
His defensive formations flickered erratically under the combined bombardment of the six, as though at any moment, their attacks would tear through everything and land squarely on his body.
Yet, under this immense pressure, Xu Mingxian was surprisingly calm.
His eyes flared with an unprecedentedly scorching war intent!
He knew very well that if he failed to block them and all six attacks landed, he would undoubtedly die.
At this moment, Xu Mingxian's divine sense began operating faster than ever. His perception of spiritual energy and his understanding of formations skyrocketed under the extreme pressure of life and death!
"Form! Form! Form!"
He shouted lowly, his hands moving so fast they became a blur.
The speed at which he condensed his battle arrays grew faster and faster, reaching a level that defied common sense!
At first, he simultaneously formed two defensive battle arrays. Soon, it became three.
In the end, all five elemental defensive battle arrays manifested at once!
They were constantly destroyed, then re-condensed, only to be destroyed again.
It was like a Five Elements Rotation, cycling endlessly, completely halting the six cultivators' tide-like onslaught!
At this exact moment, Xu Mingxian poured his entire heart and soul into the battle, completely forgetting about winning or losing. He ignored everything around him, with only the flow of the Array Dao echoing in his mind. He felt a sense of elation unlike anything he had ever experienced!
Using his body as the array, he felt that within the confines of this small arena, he was the absolute master of all spiritual energy.
A single thought formed an array!
A sudden flash of inspiration hit him, and everything flowed naturally like a river finding its course!
Without him even consciously realizing it, the strictly separated, individual battle arrays began to naturally merge and reorganize!
The singular water and fire battle arrays fused into a massive Water-Fire Defensive Great Formation.
He could no longer see Sun Zhantian and the others. Guided purely by instinct, he continuously formed and reconstructed his battle arrays.
The powers of the Earth, Fire, Water, and Wind Four Symbols gathered, faintly condensing the phantom projections of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, their roars shaking all directions.
The combined attacks of Sun Zhantian's group of six landed squarely on the Four Symbols Defensive Battle Formation. Astonishingly, they failed to break through in a single strike, only managing to cause violent tremors.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Deafening booms echoed relentlessly!
The crowd watched, completely dumbfounded.
In such a short time, Xu Mingxian's defensive battle arrays had been upgraded to the point where even the combined might of six elite cultivators required five or six hits just to produce a few cracks.
And just as they were attacking with everything they had...
Five Elements spiritual energy gathered madly, and the radiant light of a Five Elements Fusion Battle Formation enveloped the entire stage.
This was no defensive battle array; it was a formation built purely for slaughter.
In the Five Elements Killing Formation, the individual attacks of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth were each no weaker than the attacks of any of the other five challengers, excluding Sun Zhantian.
Moreover, a formation's attacks were boundless and infinite, as long as its core remained intact and spiritual energy was available!
The tide of the battle reversed in an instant!
Under the assault of the Five Elements Killing Formation, the others could only barely hold out, destined to lose in a matter of moments.
Sun Zhantian suddenly found himself fighting completely alone!
He let out an explosive roar, bringing his heaven-shaking staff crashing down. Yet, Xu Mingxian simply summoned a Four Symbols Defensive Battle Formation and effortlessly blocked it.
Then, a massive, fully corporeal five-colored great sword, standing forty feet tall, formed once again.
"Five Elements, Heavenly Punishment!"
Xu Mingxian spoke mildly. With a wave of his hand, the colossal five-colored sword crashed down upon Sun Zhantian.
The terrifying might of the strike caused even the Golden Core cultivators in the audience to slightly change their expressions.
Human strength has its limits, but the power of a formation is infinite. This single attack by Xu Mingxian had truly reached the level of a full-powered blow from a Newly Advanced Golden Core cultivator.
If it were a life-and-death struggle, he could even kill a Newly Advanced Golden Core cultivator head-on!
Bang!
Sun Zhantian and the other five were all sent flying backward, slamming into the arena's protective barrier, their faces completely drained of color.
Xu Mingxian was also heavily drained, his mana reserves dropping below twenty percent. Yet, his figure remained tall and upright. In the hearts of the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, he was like a towering mountain—unshakable and insurmountable.
"The White-Clad Array Immortal, Xu Mingxian!" someone muttered aloud.
Soon after, countless voices began chanting that very title.
On the arena.
Sun Zhantian and the others climbed to their feet. Hearing the thunderous shouts, bitter smiles crept onto their faces.
"I lost again. Daoist Friend Xu, this time, I am completely convinced in both heart and speech!"
The others also bowed their heads and cupped their fists.
Xu Mingxian nodded slightly. Only at this moment did he realize that the bottleneck in his Array Dao had been shattered.
He could finally prepare for Core Formation!
His gaze swept across the crowd as he asked calmly, "Is there anyone else who wishes to step onto the stage and spar with me?"
When his voice faded, the entire plaza fell dead silent; not a crow or sparrow could be heard.
Seeing that no one answered even after a cup of tea's time, Xu Mingxian sat cross-legged in the center of the arena and consumed a pill to restore his mana.
Zhang Xuanzhi cast a glance at him without saying a word, then turned and rode a beam of light, heading back to the Profound Moon Sect.
"It seems he's feeling the pressure."
True Lord Qingxuan's lips curled into a faint smile. He too swept a glance over Xu Mingxian on the arena before flying far away.
It wasn't until the sun sank in the west and the horizon ignited with magnificent, brocade-like sunset clouds—painting the entire Profound Moon City in a breathtaking glow—that the event concluded.
For the rest of the day, no one else dared to step onto the stage and challenge him.
Xu Mingxian slowly opened his eyes, the divine light within them restrained, as clear as a tranquil pool of water. He then rose to his feet. His white robes fluttered in the evening breeze, making his figure appear even more upright.
Without uttering a word, he cast one final look at the arena where he had battled for seven straight days, and at the crowd below that still refused to disperse. Then, he took a step forward.
His body lifted into the air like a piece of flawless white cloud, drifting higher into the radiant sunset glow, drifting further and further away until he completely disappeared into the horizon.
The seven-day arena battle, where he overwhelmingly defeated all the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Profound Moon Prefecture and earned the title 'White-Clad Array Immortal', slowly spread throughout all the prefectures of the Northwest Region.
"'White-Clad Array Immortal', supreme among his generation!"
"More than a decade ago at the Prodigy Grand Assembly, he barely managed to squeeze into the ranks of the Heavenly Dipper Heaven's Chosen. Now, he possesses such terrifying prestige. Tell me, if Xu Mingxian had this level of strength back then, could he have claimed the title of the number one prodigy?"
"Hard to say! But it's not impossible!"
"Exactly. The closer you get to the very top prodigies, the smaller the gap between them becomes."
Upon hearing the news, Zhang Daoran also sighed with emotion, muttering, "Honored Master truly has a viciously sharp eye. My Junior Brother's future achievements will likely far surpass my own! However..."
"The number one prodigy, 'Feng Ling' Fairy Xu Deling. The 'White-Clad Array Immortal' Xu Mingxian. The Number One Under Nascent Soul across two prefectures, Xu Chuan. The 'Cold Moon' Fairy Xu Deyue. And the dual cultivator of Dharma and Body, Ye Fan.
"With just a handful of people, the Xu Clan's potential is unimaginably terrifying!
"It won't be long before Xu Mingxian achieves Divine Ability Core Formation. I heard that Xu Deyue also successfully accomplished Divine Ability Core Formation several years ago. I assume that Ye Fan has done the same.
"Out of six family members, excluding one junior who has yet to make a name for themselves, the rest are all peerless prodigies!
"No wonder Honored Master sent someone to deliver heavy gifts when Xu Chuan achieved Core Formation... But wait, that doesn't make sense. Why would a Nascent Soul Ancestor care so much about a mere Golden Core prodigy? Could it be they knew each other from long ago?"
"Forget it. Regardless of the reason, since the Xu Clan allowed Xu Mingxian to enter Honored Master's tutelage, our two families are naturally destined for a long-lasting friendship."
Profound Moon Peak.
At the peak, inside the grand hall.
Xu Mingxian cupped his fists and bowed. "This disciple was able to reach enlightenment this time all thanks to Honored Master's help."
"Go and proceed with your Core Formation. You no longer have much room to improve in the Foundation Establishment stage. The Golden Core stage is where the true battlefield begins.
"Some who might have been inferior to you during the Foundation Establishment stage could obtain various opportunities in the Golden Core stage, advancing leaps and bounds to ultimately overtake you from behind.
"Do you understand?"
Xu Mingxian nodded. "This disciple will not slack off. As for the path of the Array Dao, I have only just begun my journey."
"Everything you need for your Core Formation will be delivered within three days. After that, you can enter full seclusion and strive for the Golden Core."
"Yes, Honored Master."
Three days later.
Following Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingxian of the Xu family also began his attempt at Core Formation.
In fact, given his superior conditions for Core Formation, it was highly likely he would succeed first.
Sweeping his divine sense across the mountain, Zhang Fan noticed that all the defensive array restrictions around Xu Mingxian's grotto-residence were fully activated. He couldn't help but stroke his beard and smile faintly. "Xu Chuan, you truly delivered a wonderful disciple to this old man."
A few days later, Xu Chuan's invitation to Xu Mingxian was declined.
When Xu Mingyuan and the others failed to spot Xu Mingxian within the Xu Clan's Grotto-heaven, they asked out of curiosity.
Xu Chuan speculated, "If my guess is right, Mingxian must have broken through his bottleneck and is now attempting Core Formation."
"The Profound Moon Sect certainly possesses a Tier 4 high-grade spirit vein. Its spiritual energy density is more than a hundred times greater than Dongxi's. Paired with pills like the Heavenly Spirit Pill and Spirit-Purifying Pill, I imagine he will successfully form his Golden Core in roughly a month."
"I'm so jealous of the conditions in Heavenly South," Xu Mingxuan said, slightly envious.
Xu Chuan shook his head and chuckled softly. "Once you all come over, you will have everything. Even if you are unable to achieve Divine Ability Core Formation, your father still has ways to ensure you successfully form your Golden Core."
For half a month, Xu Mingxian spent his time undergoing spiritual power crystallization. Following that, he consumed the Spirit-Purifying Pill to refine his fleshly body into a state of flawless purity, before moving on to condense a Divine Ability Seed.
For him, formations were his divine abilities.
However, the Array Dao was highly unique; it encompassed tens of thousands of variations. No matter how incredible Xu Mingxian was, it was impossible to cram tens of thousands of formations into a single Golden Core.
Therefore, he chose the Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array—which he had deduced himself—as his lifebound formation.
Unfortunately, a Divine Ability Seed could not accommodate a Tier 3 mid-grade Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array. Xu Mingxian had to settle for imprinting it at the peak Tier 2 level.
Once he stepped into the Golden Core stage, he would be able to cast the Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array instantly.
As his personal strength grew over time, he could slowly upgrade this great array until it reached the peak Tier 3 level.
When that day came, he would once again reign supreme among all Golden Core cultivators.
A peak Tier 2 Cloud Heaven Illusionary Array was immensely complex. It took Xu Mingxian half a month before he successfully condensed his Divine Ability Seed.
It could even be called a 'Lifebound Array Seed'.
Using this as the core of his Golden Core, Xu Mingxian successfully broke through to the Golden Core stage seven days later.
A profound, majestic aura violently exploded outward, resonating with heaven and earth!
Within a radius of a hundred kilometers, the heaven and earth spiritual energy acted as if summoned by an invisible edict. It frantically converged, forming a massive, naked-eye visible vortex of spiritual energy.
The center of the vortex was aligned perfectly over Profound Moon Peak!
Tens of thousands of radiant rays of light and thousands of auspicious colors bloomed in the sky as a river of spiritual energy galloped ceaselessly. The sheer scale of the celestial phenomenon, and the momentum it carried, far surpassed that of any ordinary Golden Core cultivator.
It proudly displayed the incredible depth of his foundation and his extraordinary heritage.
At this very moment.
Xu Mingxian's mana, divine soul, and divine sense were undergoing a complete transformation and sublimation, becoming increasingly condensed, pure, and vast.
Deep within his sea of consciousness, the "Swallowing Mountains and Rivers" fate talent violently trembled.
The talent sublimated!
It transformed into an ability akin to an innate divine ability.
A sudden realization washed over Xu Mingxian's mind. He formed hand seals, opened his mouth, and exhaled.
His Golden Core shot out of his mouth as a streak of flowing light, floating exactly three feet in front of him.
The instant the Golden Core left his body, it seamlessly connected with heaven and earth. The incredibly pure Five Elements spiritual energy from above endlessly washed over it, tempering and refining the core.
Next, he activated "Swallowing Mountains and Rivers" to maximally devour the heaven and earth spiritual energy that had gathered around him!
The resulting spectacle was several times more terrifying than when Xu Chuan had undergone his own Core Formation.
If not for this innate divine ability, relying solely on the Tier 4 high-grade spirit vein, Xu Mingxian would have reached the early Second Layer of the Golden Core stage at most.
But because his talent had sublimated—evolving from a passive fate talent meant to assist cultivation into an innate divine ability-like power.
Every time he used it, he would drain a significant amount of his divine sense. However, a single full-powered activation could instantly replenish half of his total mana capacity.
For someone walking the Array Dao, this was an unbelievably perfect match.
During normal cultivation, it would also passively absorb heaven and earth spiritual energy, accelerating his cultivation speed to seven or eight times what it was before.
Xu Mingxian was born with a True Spiritual Root, yet due to this fate talent during his Foundation Establishment stage, his cultivation speed was already on par with those holding Earth Spiritual Root aptitude. Now, he was not in the least bit inferior to a Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivator.
Xu Mingxian's cultivation level skyrocketed, finally stopping at the late Second Layer of the Golden Core stage. Only then did his essence, qi, and spirit fuse with the Golden Core, completing the final step of forging a lifebound connection.
"Late Second Layer of the Golden Core stage?"
Xu Mingxian's cultivation realm post-breakthrough naturally couldn't be hidden from Zhang Fan. However, the fact that he reached such heights still filled the ancestor with utter astonishment.
But he quickly relaxed, stroking his beard with a smile. "He truly possesses extraordinary natural talent. He's actually catching right up to Xuanzhi."
After his breakthrough, Xu Mingxian remained inside his grotto-residence to stabilize his realm and familiarize himself with his newly acquired Golden Core mana, divine soul, and divine sense.
Yet, news of his successful Golden Core breakthrough was already echoing throughout Profound Moon City and the entire Profound Moon Prefecture.
Half a month later.
When he emerged from seclusion, many Golden Core stage cultivators from the Profound Moon Sect—including Zhang Xuanzhi and True Lord Qingxuan—came to offer their congratulations.
Xu Mingxian disliked high-profile affairs, so he had no intention of hosting a Golden Core Grand Ceremony.
However, he graciously accepted every single gift brought over by his fellow sect members.
Afterward, he returned to seclusion to dedicate himself fully to studying formations, determined to comprehend the intricacies of a targeted teleportation array.
Once he succeeded, it would be time for him to return to Dongxi.
Meanwhile.
Far away in Dongxi, a Core Formation celestial phenomenon also manifested.
Clear River City.
This was the closest city to the Dongxi Xu Clan. Inside the city, spies and hidden pieces from various powers were constantly gathered, relaying intelligence on any movement within the Xu family.
The massive scale of the Core Formation celestial phenomenon had actually expanded all the way to the city, instantly drawing the attention of countless individuals.
"Daddy, why did the sky turn dark?" a young child asked, tilting their head back to look at the sky. "Is it going to rain? Should we go home and bring in the laundry?"
A middle-aged man patted the child's head, gazing up at the sky with boundless excitement burning in his eyes.
Many in the city shared his reaction; animated, widespread discussion could be heard from every corner.
Several Qi Refining stage cultivators gasped in astonishment, "This... this is a Golden Core Formation Celestial Phenomenon!"
"Someone is forming their core!"
"That direction... It's the Dongxi Xu Clan!"
"Quick, send word back to the main family! Tell them someone from the Dongxi Xu Clan is breaking through to Golden Core!"
Taverns, rouge shops, spirit grass apothecaries... several storefronts within the city immediately began transmitting urgent messages.
"After all these years, someone from the Xu family is finally reaching the Golden Core stage. What a shame that the Guangling Branch's First Elder, Ren Xiaoyao, failed his attempt at the last moment.
"Otherwise, they'd have two Golden Core stage cultivators right now."
"I wonder which Xu family elder is breaking through today? The First Elder or the Second Elder?"
"It's hard to say. The Xu family has no fewer than ten members at Foundation Establishment Perfection. However, the most likely candidate is Ancestor Xu himself. After all, he's been in seclusion attempting Core Formation for over twenty years now."
"That's very possible!"
The heaven-and-earth-shaking omens sparked a wave of panic among the residents of the town inside Dongxi. It wasn't until the Xu family's guards stepped in to pacify them and explain the situation that they finally calmed down.
Once the panic settled, unparalleled excitement took over.
"Someone from the master family is reaching the Golden Core stage!"
"I heard that Golden Core stage cultivators are the absolute pinnacle of existence in the entire Great Wei Kingdom! With a single palm strike, they can flatten an entire mountain peak!"
"From this day forward, our master family will be a bona fide Golden Core Aristocratic Family in both name and reality!"
A hunched old man spoke with tear-blurred eyes, his voice raspy and shaking. "Our Dongxi Xu Clan... since Ancestor Chuan's era, we began our rise. Enduring every hardship, cutting through thorns and brambles, with our hearts united as one.
"Striving fiercely across six generations, we have finally become a Golden Core Aristocratic Family!"
These impassioned words struck a chord with many around him, causing their eyes to well up with tears.
"Mighty is the master family! May our Xu Clan be immortal for ten thousand years, living as long as the heavens themselves!"
"Mighty is the master family! May our Xu Clan be immortal for ten thousand years, living as long as the heavens themselves!"
"Mighty is the master family! May our Xu Clan be immortal for ten thousand years, living as long as the heavens themselves!"
End of Chapter