The Great World of Tianyuan, the Gongshu Family.
On a certain enormous mountain peak, spiritual energy swirls, and spirit cranes and butterflies flutter about.
It looks exactly like a blessed land of immortals.
However, in this peaceful and auspicious place, there was someone with a gloomy face and a cold look in their eyes.
"Have they still not found out the origin of the evil spirit that harmed Yu'er, or where it escaped to?"
A beautiful and elegant middle-aged woman asked in a cold voice.
“Reporting to Madam,” a guard replied cautiously, “that demon’s origins are mysterious and unpredictable. No matter how we investigate, we can only find out that he is a foreign cultivator.”
They entered the Lesser Cang Realm from the Starry Sky City via a teleportation array.
However, the specific background and lineage of the master could not be found at all.
As for his whereabouts, no one has seen him since he entered the city lord's mansion in Canglan City.
I believe he must have entered our Upper Realm from Hundred Flowers Valley through the teleportation array in the City Lord's Mansion.
But over the past two years, we have conducted thorough investigations, both overt and covert, and traveled to cities and towns within a radius of hundreds of thousands of miles around Hundred Flowers Valley.
No trace of the demon was found.
Therefore, I believe that there is a very high probability that it is a demon.
They've either hidden within the Nangong family, or escaped to other states or even left our Upper Realm via teleportation arrays.
Buzz!
Upon hearing this, the elegant and dignified middle-aged woman trembled, and a chilling aura emanated from her.
A layer of frost immediately formed on the ground, and even the guard kneeling on the ground was covered in frost, with icicles hanging from his eyebrows.
However, the guards dared not move at all, and did not even dare to use their internal energy to resist.
He was simply enduring all of this through sheer physical strength.
"A bunch of useless trash!" The middle-aged woman's voice was icy cold. "I gave you two years, and you couldn't find anything out. What use are you to me!"
The guard dared not speak, knowing that the lady's mood had been off ever since Young Master Yu's death.
If he were to defend himself now, he would likely face even greater punishment, and might even lose his life.
The middle-aged woman's aura lingered until a thick layer of frost covered the guard's body, making it appear as if his flesh was about to crack from the cold.
She then toned it down a little.
His expression turned cold again.
"And what about the master's side? So much time has passed, and he still hasn't found anything?"
"The master has been in seclusion and has not given any other instructions to us."
The guard's voice trembled slightly.
The middle-aged woman's breath trembled again.
"Hmph, he's a good-for-nothing. He didn't even dare to avenge his own son's death. All he knows is to cultivate in seclusion every day."
No matter how skilled you are in cultivation, do you think the position of family head will necessarily fall into your hands?
And those old codgers in the clan are all spineless cowards!
The clan's direct descendant, Daozi, died at the hands of the Nangong family, yet they didn't even have the courage to wage war against the Nangong family!
Fine, since none of you will avenge my Yu'er.
Then I, a woman, will make the decision for my son!
Nangong Yuanwu, you dared to kill my son! I swear, I will make sure you are annihilated, body and soul, and never be reincarnated!
And you evil spirit, no matter where you flee, I will surely find you.
I will refine your spirit into a lamp and offer it before my Yu'er's memorial tablet.
I toil day and night, repenting before my son!
Hearing the middle-aged woman's venomous words, which sounded like they came from the deepest hell, and hearing the terrifying aura emanating from her, the guards were terrified.
However, before he could react, he was completely frozen by that extremely cold aura.
...
Lu Qing was unaware that a woman in the Gongshu family harbored immense hatred towards him.
He was diligently cultivating in some unknown mountain cave.
His aura was subdued, like that of a stone statue.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Qing's aura suddenly trembled slightly, and he slowly woke up.
"Finally, the fourth transformation is complete."
Lu Qing's eyes were filled with emotion.
After more than two years of seclusion in this cave, he finally managed to raise his cultivation level from the initial stage of the fourth level of the Golden Core realm to the perfect stage of the fourth level.
Next, as long as he has time to reflect and mature, he can begin his breakthrough and enter the fifth stage of the Golden Core realm.
"However, once I reach the fifth level, I'm afraid I won't be able to continue my seclusion here."
Lu Qing frowned.
The cave he was in was merely the den of a spirit leopard whose strongest member was only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
However, the spiritual energy in this Tianyuan Great World is already extremely rich.
Although the cave was ordinary, the spiritual energy inside was enough for him and Xiao Li to cultivate for a long time.
However, as his cultivation level improved, there was one thing that Lu Qing had to consider.
That is his 【Perfect Golden Core Technique】, which has only been deduced to the sixth stage so far.
The later stages cannot be deduced at the moment.
The reason for this is the 【Perfect Golden Elixir Method】.
Originally, it was created by Lu Qing based on the Great Dao chapters bestowed upon him by the Heavenly Dao after he successfully transcended the tribulation, combined with the many cultivation techniques he had mastered.
However, the advanced techniques he could obtain in his home world were not many to begin with.
Only a handful of sects are able to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.
Using this as a foundation, the 【Perfect Golden Elixir Method】 was deduced, but it only progressed to the sixth stage before it could not be continued.
"If you want to deduce the cultivation techniques after the sixth stage of the 【Perfect Golden Core Method】, you still need to find more cultivation methods and learn by analogy to have a chance."
Lu Qing's perfect golden core is too special.
A complete world can only give birth to one person through a series of coincidences.
And it's only a possibility.
If not for the emergence of a truly brilliant genius, coupled with a series of coincidences...
In some worlds, even from birth to extinction, a perfect golden elixir may not be formed.
Such a special golden elixir has no specific method of cultivation.
Therefore, Lu Qing could only rely on his special abilities to slowly deduce and create his own cultivation method.
However, although supernatural abilities are amazing, they are not omnipotent and cannot be created out of thin air.
To deduce a new martial art, one needs to have enough other martial arts techniques for comparison and reference before a new technique can be created.
Back in his home world, the cultivation techniques Lu Qing mastered could only sustain him until he could barely deduce the sixth stage of the 【Perfect Golden Core Technique】.
I wanted to deduce the seventh transformation, but I lacked the ability and couldn't deduce it no matter what I did.
Lu Qing knew then that it was because he hadn't accumulated enough experience.
This was one of the reasons he wanted to leave his home world.
Staying in his home world, not only was it difficult for him to improve his cultivation, but even his cultivation technique deduction had stagnated.
Only by venturing out and encountering more advanced techniques could he possibly create a successor to the perfect Golden Elixir Technique.
"After this breakthrough, I'll officially begin my travels in the Tianyuan Great World."
After making her decision, Lu Qing glanced at Xiao Li and Wu Xing beside her.
A year ago, Xiao Li had already reached the perfect state of the first stage of Golden Core transformation.
Now, I am only one step away from entering the second stage of the Golden Core realm.
As for the Five Elements, they have been slumbering and digesting the corpse of the strange bird for the past two years.
His aura was also steadily increasing.
Once it wakes up, its cultivation level will surely improve greatly.
By the time he breaks through to the next level, these two little ones should be around the same time to wake up.
Lu Qing closed his eyes again and entered a deep state of cultivation.
As for that den of spirit leopards, he had already put them into the Li Huo Cauldron and temporarily imprisoned them.
Since he had occupied someone else's territory, he didn't kill them.
However, spirit beasts at the Foundation Establishment stage are already quite intelligent and can communicate with other living beings.
Therefore, in order to ensure that his whereabouts were not revealed, he could not release it at will, so he could only imprison it in the Li Huo Cauldron.
In any case, a mere den of spirit leopards is more than enough for the Fire Cauldron to sustain them, now that it has fully recovered to its peak power.
Time passed day by day as Lu Qing continued his cultivation.
However, to Lu Qing's surprise,
Half a month later, he still hadn't officially entered the fifth stage, but Xiao Li broke through first.
He took a crucial step and officially entered the second stage of the Golden Core realm.
Half a month later, the Five Elements also awoke.
However, after digesting the strange bird's corpse, it was still somewhat inferior to Xiao Li, only reaching the first stage of perfection.
It will take some time for them to cultivate and accumulate strength before they can attempt to break through to the second stage.
Seeing that both little ones had successfully broken through, Lu Qing felt relieved and began to focus on cultivation.
On this day, in the quiet cave, Lu Qing suddenly had a thought.
Without thinking, he took out a handful of mid-grade spirit stones from his Qiankun Qi Bag.
With a casual scattering, thirty-six mid-grade spirit stones landed around him, forming a simple spirit-gathering array.
Then, he activated the formation with his mind, and a surge of spiritual energy flowed from the thirty-six mid-grade spirit stones, converging on him.
Lu Qing circulated his cultivation technique, like a dragon drawing water, continuously absorbing the immense spiritual energy into his body.
After being purified and refined by the Five Elements Gourd, it transforms into its own incomparably pure magical power.
As a large amount of spirit stones and spiritual energy were swallowed into Lu Qingjing's body.
His aura grew increasingly powerful.
Finally, after the thirty-six mid-grade spirit stones expelled their last bit of spiritual energy and shattered themselves,
Lu Qing absorbed this immense spiritual energy into his body, and his whole body trembled.
An incredibly powerful aura, like that of an ancient behemoth awakening, emanated from him.
Fortunately, he had set up an array outside the cave to conceal his presence long ago.
Otherwise, if the aura of his breakthrough were to spread, it would likely cause a stir throughout the surrounding mountain range.
However, the area outside the cave was concealed by an array, preventing the aura from spreading out.
Xiao Li and Wu Xing were startled awake from their cultivation by the commotion caused by Lu Qing's breakthrough.
"Aqing has finally broken through?"
Xiao Li sensed the terrifying aura emanating from Lu Qing and immediately understood what had happened, her eyes revealing a look of surprise.
The five elements also wagged their tails repeatedly, very excited.
The two little ones waited with great excitement for Lu Qing to finish his breakthrough.
Before long, Lu Qing's aura quickly subsided, and he soon returned to his normal state.
He then opened his eyes, his gaze incredibly deep, as if containing an endless starry sky, making one feel as if their soul would be drawn into them.
However, this strange phenomenon was fleeting and was quickly contained by Lu Qing.
"Aqing, you've successfully broken through?"
Xiao Li leaned closer to Lu Qing and asked impatiently.
"Yes, I just broke through to the fifth level of the Golden Core realm." Lu Qing nodded with a smile.
"Golden Core Stage 5..." Upon hearing this, Xiao Li's eyes revealed envy. "You humans cultivate so quickly. Compared to you, our spirit beasts' cultivation speed is incredibly slow."
"The cultivation speed of the two of you is not slow."
Many spirit beasts may struggle for decades or even centuries, yet they may not be able to break through to a single minor realm.
"You've already reached the second stage of the Golden Core realm so quickly; even among all spirit beasts, that's considered extremely fast."
Lu Qing reached out and ruffled Xiao Li's hair, smiling.
"That's right, I'm a genius!"
The little guy proudly raised his head when praised.
Seeing this, Lu Qing laughed again.
However, he did not refute the little guy's words.
Because he knew that Xiao Li was not wrong.
Among mythical beasts, it and the Five Elements are truly geniuses.
After all, these two little guys have condensed top-grade demon cores.
Xiao Li, in particular, survived all nine tribulations of lightning.
A refined, top-grade demon core, perfectly flawless.
Such talent would probably be considered top-tier even in the Tianyuan Great World.
The Tribulation of the Golden Core is derived from the various Heavenly Daos under the rule of the Great Dao.
Its power depends on the cultivator's own accumulated merits and the depth of their sins.
It has nothing to do with the size of the world.
In other words, if a Foundation Establishment cultivator is born and raised in the Tianyuan Great World...
They travel to another world, such as Lu Qing's hometown world, to undergo tribulation.
His tribulation will not change; its power will remain the same.
Under the calamity of heaven, all beings are equal.
No matter how powerful a Foundation Establishment cultivator is, they cannot surpass the Heavenly Dao of a particular world.
According to the Great Dao, this is your tribulation of the Golden Core stage, and it will not become less powerful just because you have moved to a different world.
If the Golden Core Tribulation were so easy to achieve through shortcuts, then Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Great Worlds would probably have already tried every means to travel to the Small Worlds to undergo their tribulations.
Therefore, the superior golden core condensed after successfully transcending tribulation in a small world is not much weaker than that condensed in a superior golden core in a large world.
All of this information is explained in the chapter on the Great Dao of the Golden Core Realm that Lu Qing obtained.
That's why he didn't refute Xiao Li's words.
Because Xiao Li's flawless top-grade demon core, condensed after surviving nine tribulations, is indeed considered top-tier talent in the Tianyuan Great World.
Of course, this is true for the Golden Core Tribulation, but Lu Qing doesn't know if it's the same for the Primordial Spirit Tribulation.
After all, once you reach that level, you've already begun to comprehend the various rules of the Dao.
What specific and mysterious changes might occur is beyond Lu Qing's current understanding.
"Ah Qing, now that you've broken through, shouldn't we head out?"
At this moment, Xiao Li asked again.
“That’s right. It’s a rare opportunity to come to this Tianyuan Great World. I can’t stay in seclusion forever. It’s time to go out and take a look around.”
Lu Qing stroked Xiao Li's head and smiled.
