Chapter 548: Chapter 283: Core Formation Ceremony, Pressure from the Western Domain
They couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
Li Chang’an’s luck was truly incredible.
The day of his Core Formation just happened to coincide with the Western Domain’s major conference.
If he had attempted Core Formation at any other time, it definitely wouldn’t have been this easy.
"Daoist Li is quite fortunate."
"Indeed. Daoist Li is a man of great destiny."
"Without such fortune, how could he have ever seized the opportunity for a Golden Core?"
"..."
Everyone present acknowledged Li Chang’an’s incredible luck.
Little did they know, even if the Western Domain hadn’t been holding a conference, those Western Domain Masters would not have been able to interfere with Li Chang’an’s Core Formation.
Gu Qinghong smiled. "Daoist Li, the Cyan Cloud Sect has already prepared a Tier Three Top Grade Cave Mansion for you. When do you plan on coming over?"
"Gu the Ghost, how can you be so shameless? Daoist Li hasn’t even said which faction he’ll join!"
He Xiangfeng shot back, holding nothing back as they clashed.
It was precisely because of Li Chang’an’s abundant fortune that they were all the more eager to pull him into their respective factions.
According to ancient texts,
A Cultivator with immense fortune brought great benefits to a Sect.
This type of Cultivator’s personal fortune would influence the Sect’s fortune, causing it to rise steadily.
Faced with these enthusiastic invitations from all sides,
Li Chang’an simply stated that he was still considering his options and had not yet made a decision.
In response, everyone understood.
They didn’t press Li Chang’an for a choice, instead sending him Sound Transmissions in secret, stating their terms and asking him to give their offers careful consideration.
Afterward, they dropped the subject and began discussing the war between the Two Domains.
"Daoist Li, you openly killed someone from Mandarin Duck Valley, making an enemy of the Western Domain. You must be extra careful from now on."
The Golden Core Masters present began analyzing the strengths of the various Golden Core Influences in the Western Domain for Li Chang’an.
Among the Five Great Sects and Ten Great Noble Families of the Western Domain, Mandarin Duck Valley was the most powerful.
It could be considered the number one Golden Core Influence.
The Sect’s status in the Western Domain was equivalent to the Cyan Cloud Sect’s status in the Southern Domain.
Through years of continuous warfare,
Mandarin Duck Valley had lost quite a few Golden Core Masters.
Even so, Mandarin Duck Valley still had over fifteen Golden Core Masters.
Three of them were at the Late Stage of Golden Core!
One of them held a particularly special status—she was the Dao-companion of the Yellow Sand Sect’s Huang Sha True Monarch.
"This woman’s name is Liu Feiyan."
"Daoist Li, you must be extremely wary of her."
"I’m worried she will ask Huang Sha True Monarch to move against you..."
What they didn’t know was that Huang Sha True Monarch had already made a move against Li Chang’an.
Li Chang’an hadn’t told anyone about it.
After all, the matter concerned Huang Sha True Monarch’s reputation. If outsiders were to find out, he would most likely lose face.
Li Chang’an feared that the True Monarch, driven by shame and anger, might ignore the restrictions of the Spirit Contract and attack him again.
Therefore, it was best to maintain the status quo for now.
One day, when Li Chang’an no longer feared a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he could bring the matter to light.
The group continued discussing the affairs of the Two Domains.
Before they knew it, it was already noon.
Everyone who was supposed to come had arrived, and the Core Formation Ceremony officially began.
The guests took their respective seats.
The Jin Family’s ancestor, Jinbao, was the first to rise, raising his cup to congratulate Li Chang’an.
"Congratulations on your Core Formation, Daoist Li!"
Following him, everyone else rose to their feet.
"Congratulations on your Core Formation, Daoist Li!"
"Congratulations, Elder Li..."
"..."
Voices of congratulations echoed up and down Changqing Mountain, merging into a single roar that reverberated throughout the heavens and the earth.
Even in the Marketplace at the foot of the mountain, and in the more distant areas beyond it, people were cheering in celebration one after another.
At this moment, Li Chang’an had seemingly become the center of the entire Southern Domain.
Those who had attended his Foundation Establishment Ceremony couldn’t help but be moved.
’Who could have imagined that the Loose Cultivator, who had been bullied by a Core Formation Cultivator right after his Foundation Establishment, would come this far?’
Li Chang’an, seated at the head of the assembly, smiled, rose, and raised his cup in response.
"Thank you, everyone!"
With that, he drained the wine in his cup.
The crowd followed suit, draining their cups as well.
According to unwritten tradition, a Core Formation Ceremony should last for at least a month. Today was the official first day.
Music and drums filled Changqing Mountain as wine cups clinked and conversation flowed.
However, this festive atmosphere didn’t last long.
Just three days later, the auras of more than ten Golden Core Masters appeared on the distant horizon.
Immediately after, a coarse laugh rang out.
"HAHAHA, Daoist Li, you’ve achieved Core Formation, yet you didn’t invite us from the Western Domain. Are you looking down on us?"
As soon as these words were spoken, a sudden silence fell over all of Changqing Mountain.
With grave expressions, everyone turned to look toward the horizon.
There, more than ten Golden Core Masters appeared in unison, each with a powerful aura, eyeing Changqing Mountain like a pack of tigers.
The man in the lead was burly, with a face full of fierce, fleshy features. He rode a Stone Tiger Demon Beast, and his aura had reached the Late Stage of Golden Core.
It was none other than Shi Hu Master!
Like Gu Qinghong and the others, he was a Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator, but his strength was a cut above theirs.
"Daoist Li, we’ve come uninvited. I hope you don’t mind."
"This is our congratulatory gift. Please accept it!"
As he spoke, he waved his large hand, sending a bloody, severed head flying out.
Upon seeing the head, the Jin Family’s ancestor, Jinbao, felt his eyes burn with fury.
"Jingrui!"
He shot into the air and caught the head, his face a mask of grief and rage.
This was the Jin Family’s Core Formation prodigy, Jin Jingrui. He had recently left the Jin Clan Territory to travel and undergo his final trials before attempting Core Formation.
The entire Jin Family had been confident he would succeed.
But now, he was dead at the hands of Shi Hu Master.
"Shi Hu, you will die for this!"
Jinbao roared in fury, summoning a shimmering golden Magical Treasure and launching it at Shi Hu Master.
Shi Hu Master chuckled lightly and easily blocked the Magical Treasure.
The difference in their strength was immediately clear.
Jinbao was only at the Middle Stage of Golden Core. If he insisted on fighting, he was no match for Shi Hu Master.
