Chapter 323 — Forming the Golden Core

The whole Hundred Flowers Valley was in an uproar.

Golden core!

Someone was forming a golden core!

Compared to Foundation Establishment and Meridian Condensation, the formation of a golden core stirred up far greater commotion. A moment ago the sun had shone bright and clear; now black clouds churned and rolled, electric serpents flickering faintly within them, and every so often five-colored radiance streamed and shifted without cease. Many could not help but show envy. The heavenly phenomena accompanying each person's core formation were different, tied as they were to the cultivator's own techniques and the laws he had comprehended.

This transformation of heaven and earth during core formation was of supreme importance to a cultivator, for it was the first step toward comprehending the higher laws of the world. Higher laws, deeper comprehension—all of it began with the phenomena at core formation. Once he crossed this threshold, he would enter an entirely new world.

This was core formation! The core formation countless people dreamed of day and night.

Every cultivator who entered Meridian Condensation dreamed of forming a golden core.

For the vast majority of cultivators, the Golden Core stage was nearly the highest goal they would strive for. It meant greater strength, higher status, more crystal stones, a freer life! In places like the Heaven Moon Realm or the Tianshui Realm, a golden core was a lord in his own domain; and if one did not wish to be troubled by worldly affairs, any sect at all would sweep clean a couch to welcome him and reserve the seat of elder. A tribute to make the mouth water—you would never again worry over materials, never again scramble for crystal stones. You would have abundant time to do whatever you wished.

To gain all of this, you needed only to achieve a golden core.

The black clouds in the sky churned violently; five-colored radiance now and then traced rainbow bridges that bloomed and died, a truly magnificent sight. The atmosphere grew tenser still.

Zuo Yan's mouth hung open as he stared blankly at the sky. This was the first time he had witnessed core formation, and it shook him to the core. That mass of black cloud in the sky, those rainbow bridges that bloomed and died—all of it left him stunned. His spiritual sense was exceedingly strong, and his sensitivity to spiritual power surpassed that of any other cultivator in the valley.

He could feel, with absolute clarity, the terrifying spiritual power contained within it!

In the instant the black clouds took shape, the spiritual power within three hundred li in every direction was drained away in a rush, pouring into that mass of cloud. If this cloud were to burst, the force it released would far exceed the simultaneous detonation of twelve Thunder-Sound Walnuts.

The entire Hundred Flowers Valley would be reduced to powder, and even Zuo Yan, possessor of the Great Sun Demonic Body, would not escape. The pressure radiating from the black clouds came purely from spiritual power—simply because the spiritual power within them was too terrifying, too vast!

Zuo Yan's expression turned hideous. He noticed that many cultivators were not retreating at all; instead they pressed closer. A spectacle as rare as core formation held a fatal attraction for the crowd—if one could glimpse even a shred of it, the benefit would be boundless.

These fools—did they have a death wish?

Zuo Yan cursed inwardly and shouted at those pressing forward: "Danger! Get back! Everyone, all of you, out of the Hundred Flowers Valley!"

Fortunately, Zuo Yan commanded tremendous authority among this group. After a brief stir, the crowd quickly withdrew from the valley.

The Hundred Flowers Valley was very close to Bilo City, and a spiritual power fluctuation of such scale instantly startled the entire city. Cultivators kept flying up into the sky, staring in astonishment toward the valley.

Ever since that night battle, the attitude of Bilo City's cultivators toward the Little Mountain Realm cultivators led by City Lord Hengxiao had undergone a subtle change. The golden core cultivators especially—that night's raid had annihilated the Wooden Sword Camp entirely, including one golden core. By now, the number of golden cores who had died at City Lord Hengxiao's hands stood at five or six.

That was a number impossible to ignore.

One or two could be dismissed as luck, but five or six golden cores was absolutely not something luck could explain. This was also why the Wooden Sword Sect and the Cloud Spirit Sect, despite being grievously wounded, had launched no retaliation at all.

In the eyes of ordinary cultivators, City Lord Hengxiao's strength was unfathomable. And they had discovered that the establishment of Little Mountain City had not affected their lives at all. These cultivators from the Little Mountain Realm were not the vicious, desperate villains they had imagined; on the contrary, they spent generously and were much beloved by the merchants. Many merchants were already planning to open shops in Little Mountain City.

"Core formation—one of them is about to form a golden core!"

In the sky, Yan Yang's face was grim as he spoke, a flicker of venomous hatred passing through his eyes.

He Qiu was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes. They are growing stronger."

When the silhouettes of the Vermilion Bird Camp appeared in the sky, He Qiu sighed. The name of the Vermilion Bird Camp had spread throughout the Tianshui Realm; everyone knew it. The appearance of this unit showed that City Lord Hengxiao had not relaxed his vigilance toward them. Yan Yang said nothing, staring fixedly at the Vermilion Bird Camp prowling the sky.

It was this unit that had buried the Wooden Sword Camp and taken the life of his beloved disciple.

This vengeance—he would have it!

His gaze was dark. None of the sect elders agreed to his adopting more drastic measures; not a single elder was willing to go to war. That was why he had remained quiet so long. He strained to control the hatred in his heart, for he knew very well that to take this revenge, ordinary means would never suffice. In all the Tianshui Realm, no other sect would step forward to stand openly against them.

Yet hard as Yan Yang tried to control himself, how could he hide it from He Qiu, who had been his rival for over ten years? He Qiu knew at once what Yan Yang was thinking, but he did not call him out. If Yan Yang insisted on leaping into the fire pit, he would not stop him.

Just then, the thick clouds above the Hundred Flowers Valley suddenly blazed with dazzling five-colored radiance, and the indistinct form of a brightly colored spirit beast could be seen roaming within.

Zuo Yan's expression was tense. Xie Shan had reached the most critical moment of core formation.

He could sense Xie Shan continuously drawing in spiritual power from the clouds, and that blurred spirit beast seemed rather resistant to the power Xie Shan was absorbing. Xie Shan did not appear anxious; he simply kept drawing in spiritual power.

An hour passed, and Xie Shan was still drawing in spiritual power.

Zuo Yan was filled with shock. By now he could roughly estimate how much spiritual power Xie Shan had absorbed. Golden core cultivators really were monsters—the spiritual power their bodies could hold was far beyond what Meridian Condensation could compare to. No wonder people often said that golden core and Meridian Condensation were two different worlds.

Pu Yao appeared from somewhere: "No need to look at him with envy. His foundation is deep, which is why his core formation has such a manifestation. If you cultivated the six transformations of the Great Sun Demonic Body to mastery, then apart from a very few formidable golden cores, no golden core would be your match."