https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-345-The-End-of-the-Dao-Seed-Battle/12932089/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-347-Weak-Third-Tier-Spirit-Ground-Eight-Times-Cultivation-Speed-/12932114/
Chapter 346: Three Methods for Core Formation, the Path to Great Dao!
Chapter 346: Three Methods for Core Formation, the Path to Great Dao!
Outside the Qingdan Valley, on Little Southern Mountain.
Luo Chen sat in the pavilion of the Ink Lotus Garden, engrossed in a book.
Opposite him, Shi Lan rested her chin in her hand, eyes brimming with curiosity.
Finally, she could no longer hold back.
"Senior Brother Luo, I never expected your alchemy skills to be so impressive."
"How did you acquire such alchemy skills?"
Luo Chen smiled but said nothing.
It seemed as if the floodgates had opened.
Shi Lan continued non-stop, "You wouldn't believe it, but during the second round of the competition, the True Disciples from Ailao Mountain and the Hundred Flowers Palace looked down on you."
"But after the third round, they were all dumbfounded."
"A few of them even bet on Spirit Stones, putting their hopes on Pill and Sword Sage. He only placed fourth in the second round, and they lost everything."
Luo Chen looked up and asked casually,
"What about you, did you lose or win?"
"I won, earning over twenty thousand Spirit Stones!" Shi Lan beamed with pride, her chin held high.
For a newly Foundation Establishment disciple like her, it was indeed a substantial sum.
Luo Chen was surprised and felt a bit touched.
"I didn't expect you to support me so much."
"Um..."
Seeing Shi Lan's embarrassed look, Luo Chen seemed to realize something.
"You didn't bet on me winning?"
"No."
"Then how did you win so many Spirit Stones?"
Shi Lan said matter-of-factly, "Because I set up the betting! They all lost, so naturally, I won."
Luo Chen couldn't hold back his frustration.
Veins bulged on his forehead, and he looked at Shi Lan with a less-than-friendly gaze.
"I think I should talk to your master and reduce your monthly supply of Jade Dew Pill."
"How do you know I'm taking Jade Dew Pill after Foundation Establishment!" Shi Lan was taken aback, then blurted out, "It can't be that the Jade Dew Pill of our Absolute Emotion Lineage is also provided by you, right?"
Luo Chen looked at the girl helplessly.
Of course, he knew!
The person taking the Jade Dew Pill was likely still digesting the medicinal power. The familiar pill aura was as clear as a candle in the dark to him, the alchemist who had personally refined it.
Ordinary people couldn't clean their aura as thoroughly as he could, having advanced the Cleansing Technique to a new level.
Naturally, they couldn't eliminate the aura from their bodies at any time.
Seeing Luo Chen not denying it, Shi Lan stood up excitedly.
"Senior Brother Luo, you actually refined the Jade Dew Pill!"
"My grandmother never told me, insisting on keeping it a secret."
"Senior Brother, can you give me a few more bottles? Master only gives me a little bit each month, and it's never enough."
She chattered on, speaking fluently and eloquently.
But this girl was indeed good at making money and securing benefits.
When she promoted the cave dwellings and spirit grounds, she was very persuasive.
Thinking about how she had arranged a superior cave dwelling for him in advance, and that he might need her help in the future Luo Tian Association, Luo Chen smiled and handed her a bottle of Jade Dew Pill.
"I don't have many, but this bottle of mid-grade Jade Dew Pill will be my gift for your Foundation Establishment."
Mid-grade!
Shi Lan's eyes lit up, and she eagerly took it.
"Thank you, Senior Brother, you're the best!"
"Alright, alright, I'm not a disciple of the Ice Castle, so no need to keep calling me Senior Brother..."
Shi Lan was confused, "But didn't everyone say you were from our Ice Castle's Absolute Emotion Lineage? Besides, the wise lead, and it's only right to respect you as a senior."
Luo Chen was taken aback.
So it had already spread?
Heartless Immortal, she worked quietly but swiftly.
Now she was already claiming him as one of her own.
Thinking of Heartless Immortal, she appeared.
Luo Chen looked into the distance, and four figures gradually came into view at the entrance of the Ink Lotus Garden.
Leading them was Heartless Immortal and White Su Monastic.
Following them were Tao Wan, who still looked pale, and Tao Yisheng.
Luo Chen's spiritual senses were sharp, and he noticed them early. But Shi Lan didn't react as quickly.
She was still trying to please Luo Chen.
"Senior Brother, can I buy Jade Dew Pills from you with Spirit Stones in the future? This pill is so good; other pills make me cough."
Exaggerating!
"Cough, cough!"
"Hey, why are you coughing, Senior Brother?"
Shi Lan was confused, then suddenly stiffened.
She turned around and bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Master, Greetings, Uncle White!"
After bowing, she obediently moved to the back and started chatting with Tao Yisheng.
Heartless Immortal glanced at her, then looked at Luo Chen.
"Once this matter is settled, I will leave the Qingdan Valley and return to Tianlan. Do you want to come with us?"
Luo Chen put away his book.
"Thank you, Elder, but I plan to wait until Tao Wan's Dao Seed Ceremony is over before returning to Tianlan."
As he spoke, he looked at Tao Wan, who was standing behind White Su Monastic, smiling at him.
Heartless Immortal nodded, "Alright, when you return, come to Cave Dwelling Alpha One to find me."
Why find her?
Naturally, for some benefits!
She had already publicly declared him as one of her own and had him give up the various generous offers from the outside world.
She better come up with something good, or she'll be called a stingy old hag!
Suppressing his anticipation, Luo Chen respectfully bid farewell.
The Heartless Immortal did not linger and headed straight out of the garden, with Shi Lan closely following behind.
White Su Xianzi glanced at Luo Chen with interest and then went out to see her friend off.
At this moment, only Tao Wan and Luo Chen remained in the garden.
En, Tao Yisheng also knew to leave and went outside.
"I didn't get a chance to congratulate you earlier. From now on, you'll be addressed as Daoist Master Tao!"
Luo Chen's playful words hung in the air.
Tao Wan shook her head, "Fellow Daoist, don't tease me. In this battle, I owe much to your efforts."
Luo Chen smiled, "You're being too modest, Fellow Daoist! With the skills you displayed in the final battle, even if you were ranked slightly lower, you would have certainly made it to the finals."
"I might have only been able to make it to the finals."
Tao Wan sighed.
"With so many restrictions on Senior Brother, I still had to use all my tricks, and even relied on the Ice Soul Bone Marrow borrowed from Master Heartless, to win by a stroke of luck."
"If I had started from the lower ranks and Senior Brother had the advantage of being well-rested, I wouldn't have stood a chance."
"In this battle, you truly played a significant role!"
Luo Chen smiled but did not further downplay his contribution.
Dan Yangzi's final battle had indeed revealed a lot.
Whether it was merging with the sword, controlling the sword with his will, or the ultimate Purple Apex Heavenly Flame, any one of these skills would have been impressive for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
The opponent possessed all three.
And they had already been worn down so much before.
Without her ranking advantage, it would have been truly difficult for Tao Wan to win.
To say that he played a significant role was an exaggeration.
However, the advantage established by being the top scorer three times in a row was undeniable.
This achievement far exceeded Tao Wan's initial expectations.
When she first hired Huang Hezi, she only hoped to secure a top five position in the second round, ensuring her ranking wouldn't drop too much.
Now, not only had Luo Chen achieved beyond her expectations, but he had also displayed pill refinement skills that even attracted the attention of Golden Core Cultivators.
As such, the items she had given him earlier seemed insufficient.
If she wanted to establish a connection between Luo Chen and the Tao family...
"In the coming period, I need to recuperate and prepare for the Dao Seed Ceremony, so I won't have time to accompany you," Tao Wan said slowly.
Luo Chen's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
It wasn't a matter of whether he could accompany her or not.
At this moment, he was eager to return to his cultivation.
The cultivation environment in Little Nanshan was far inferior to the high-grade cave abode on Tianlan Peak!
"How long will it take?"
Tao Wan understood his concern and said, "Not long, at most half a month. After becoming a Green Pill Dao Seed, I'll be able to access the corresponding resources. The Superior Dragon Ascension Pill you need will also be delivered in that batch."
Half a month? Luo Chen nodded; he could afford to wait that long.
"During this time, Sheng Hui will stay in Little Nanshan. If you have any needs, you can find him at any time."
"I understand. You go ahead and take care of things!"
Tao Wan smiled slightly and apologized to Luo Chen before leaving gracefully.
After she left, Tao Yisheng entered the courtyard from outside.
Upon entering, he praised and admired Luo Chen, just like Shi Lan had done earlier.
From time to time, he mentioned the expressions of others during Luo Chen's competition.
He described it so vividly, as if it were happening right before their eyes.
Luo Chen didn't feel annoyed.
Being praised and boasted about was always a pleasant thing.
Finally, Tao Yisheng handed over a storage bag.
"What's this?" Luo Chen asked in surprise.
Tao Yisheng replied, "These are the acquisition messages you left in Qingdan Valley. The sellers have delivered the items. I've already paid the corresponding spirit stones; you can check if the resources are correct."
Luo Chen glanced through it and showed satisfaction.
Except for a few resources, almost everything he wanted to buy was there.
"Some of these were negotiated in person, right? I'll pay you the total amount of spirit stones."
Unexpectedly, Tao Yisheng waved his hand.
"Why be so polite!"
"This is just a small amount of spirit stones compared to the help you gave my sister."
Luo Chen's expression turned serious. "That won't do! We should keep things separate. I helped your sister, and you've already paid the corresponding compensation."
What's his own, no one can take away.
But what's not his, unless Luo Chen willingly accepts, he won't take anyone's favor.
Otherwise, he would have to repay it eventually.
Seeing Luo Chen's determination, Tao Yisheng had no choice but to give a number.
It was only a few tens of thousands of spirit stones.
Luo Chen immediately repaid him.
Tao Yisheng felt a bit discouraged; he had hoped to gain favor through these small acts of kindness.
After leaving Ink Lotus Garden.
Tao Yisheng slapped his forehead.
"How could I be so stupid!"
"I could have said it was to repay the guidance you gave me earlier, a small token of gratitude!"
"If I had said that, Brother Luo definitely wouldn't have refused."
He returned to his residence, feeling regretful.
Before Tao Wan could return to Azure Cloud Peak, Tao Yisheng stopped her.
"Did you give him everything?"
"Yes, he took them, but he returned the Spirit Stones to me."
Tao Wan's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
But thinking of Luo Chen's style, she gradually relaxed.
"That's right, he wouldn't care about such trivial things."
"Then what should we do, sister?" Tao Yisheng asked.
Tao Wan smiled, "It's fine. Luo Chen and our relationship is still good, so we can maintain it for now. Moreover, there are some things he can't refuse!"
Tao Yisheng blinked, as if realizing something.
"You're so wise, sister!"
...
Tao Wan won the Dao Seed Competition and became the new Daoist Master of Qingdan Valley.
Such a significant event naturally couldn't be left unfinished.
The subsequent ceremony had to be organized.
However, no matter how lively Qingdan Valley was or how busy the Tao family was with receiving guests, Luo Chen remained alone in Ink Lotus Garden, immersing himself in the book he had been reading before.
Southern Mountain Dao Explanation
This was the condition Tao Wan had initially offered when she asked for his help.
Although it wasn't a Core Formation secret technique, it was the Core Formation insights written by the Tao family's ancestor, the Southern Mountain Elder, after he had formed his core.
As the seventh-generation Sect Leader of Qingdan Valley and a Golden Core Elder from two hundred years ago, his Core Formation insights were still relevant and timeless even in the present.
The content was concise, without being overly complex.
Luo Chen read slowly, carefully pondering the key points.
Even a single phrase often brought him great insights.
This was just his first reading, a rough skim.
Deep into the night, when all was quiet.
Luo Chen sat on a meditation cushion in a quiet room, his face showing a thoughtful expression.
The Golden Core of a cultivator was the culmination of their entire cultivation, the essence of their body, energy, and spirit, akin to a grand elixir within the human body!
It was the result of a lifetime of cultivation, condensed into a single powerful pill.
Thus, it was called a 'Dan'!
For alchemists, this analogy was incredibly fitting.
Just as there were various schools and techniques in alchemy, there were also numerous methods for cultivators to condense their Golden Core.
In the Southern Mountain Elder's Core Formation insights, three distinct methods were clearly outlined.
The Lower Method of Core Formation: Inversion of Kan and Li, Balance of Water and Fire, Rising and Sinking of Gold and Wood, and the Promise of the Great Dao.
The Middle Method of Core Formation: Sun and Moon in the Furnace, Self-Evident Creation, Creation from Nothingness, and Convergence of Dragon and Tiger.
The Upper Method of Core Formation: Celestial Essence Earth Marrow, Yin Soul Yang Spirit, Heavenly Stars, and the Vast Universe.
These three methods were ranked in order of difficulty, indicating their superiority.
However, according to the Southern Mountain Elder, the methods only differed in their level of difficulty and would not significantly impact cultivation after the Golden Core stage.
In simpler terms, the Lower Method had the simplest requirements, but forming the core was the most challenging.
The Upper Method was the most difficult to execute, but it had the highest success rate in forming the core.
Regardless of the method used to form the core, once the Golden Core was achieved, there was no distinction in its quality. All could aspire to the Primordial Spirit Path.
Of course!
That's what the saying went, but Luo Chen wasn't sure if there were any differences.
This Southern Mountain Dao Explanation was clearly not a complete text; parts containing Core Formation secrets had been intentionally removed.
Based on his current understanding, he vaguely grasped one of the three methods.
"The Dragon and Phoenix Tribulation Secret Technique is the Lower Method of Core Formation. It only requires two third-rank pills and the use of this secret technique to attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core stage."
"But the Dragon and Phoenix Tribulation Secret Technique only increases the success rate of Core Formation by one-tenth."
"This indeed aligns with the Southern Mountain Elder's description of the Lower Method."
"Simple conditions, but a challenging Core Formation."
As for the other two methods, Luo Chen couldn't comprehend them yet.
However, according to the Southern Mountain Dao Explanation, they seemed to be closely related to Essence Energy and the Divine Soul.
Chu Kui had once unintentionally mentioned that the depth of the Divine Soul was particularly crucial during Core Formation.
"No rush, no rush!"
"I've only reached the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment. I'm still far from the requirement of Foundation Establishment Great Perfection for Core Formation. I'll take it slow."
Luo Chen carefully placed the copy of the Southern Mountain Dao Explanation into the deepest part of his Storage Bag.
He planned to take it out and read it whenever he had the time.
Perhaps, as his cultivation progressed, the parts he didn't understand would become clear and comprehensible.
"After returning, I'll ask Heartless Immortal for some Core Formation-related books. She won't give me secret techniques, but these are just common knowledge for Golden Core Cultivators, so she shouldn't be stingy."
"Borrowing from others' experiences can be beneficial. I'll collect a few more books so that my future actions will be more purposeful."
These thoughts flowed through his mind.
Then, Luo Chen calmed his mind, gradually entering a state of tranquility.
Due to the Dao Seed Competition, his cultivation had been neglected for a long time, and it was time to resume.
In the quiet room, only the figure of the red-robed Daoist stood silently.
After a long while, a long exhalation could be heard.
The dense Essence Energy in the surroundings seemed to be drawn into Luo Chen's powerful body.
His cultivation, which had been stagnant for a month, began to rise steadily.
(End of Chapter)
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