https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-461-Refining-Treasures-The-Absolute-Emotion-Fairy-Arrives/12936118/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-462-The-Core-Formation-Ceremony-Part-2-/12936120/
Chapter 462: The Core Formation Ceremony! (Part 1)
Chapter 462: The Core Formation Ceremony! (Part 1)
Half a month ago.
In the east of the Jade Cauldron Domain, amidst a continuous mountain range.
A young man emerged from the magnificent and majestic Cloud-Piercing Black Hall.
As he stepped out, a charming young girl hurriedly greeted him.
"Senior Brother, how was it? I wasn't wrong, was I! This time, you can take me out to play."
The young senior brother shook his head, "This trip isn't for leisure; it's a serious matter."
"I don't care! Anyway, I can finally go out. I've heard that the outside world is so much fun." The girl playfully pouted, paying no heed to the passing cultivators around them, and naturally linked arms with the young man.
The young senior brother sighed and said, "Don't be hasty. I'll report to Mother first, and then we'll depart."
"Yes, Huan'er will listen to Senior Brother."
...
Soon after, the young man descended on a cloud and landed on a small mountain not far from the main peak of the sect.
As he parted the clouds and mist, a quaint courtyard gradually came into view.
Upon entering the courtyard, a faint scent of sandalwood wafted through the air, accompanied by the faint sound of a wooden fish being struck.
The young man paused, and before he could speak, a gentle voice reached his ears.
"Is it Yuanjing?"
Qin Yuanjing responded, and then entered the courtyard.
Shortly after, a woman dressed in plain white, holding a string of Buddhist beads in one hand and striking a wooden fish with the other, appeared before him. It was his mother, Meng Rong Qinglian.
"Child pays respect to Mother."
Seeing his mother in this state, Qin Yuanjing felt a twinge of pain in his heart for some reason.
He had thought that by bringing his mother back to the Luoyun Sect, he could take care of her and let her enjoy her twilight years.
However, some things couldn't be summed up as simply as "family bliss."
His mother, while not domineering, had always been independent and self-reliant. When his father was still alive, they had supported each other as loose cultivators, and together they had made their way.
In the Luo Tian Association, she had held great power, overseeing and commanding thousands of cultivators.
Suddenly giving up all her responsibilities and coming to the Luoyun Sect, she had struggled to adapt for several years.
After all, she was technically a senior, but she was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and her age was still in her prime.
It was difficult for her to settle down and relax.
After Qin Yuanjing asked the sect elders to help his mother transition, she still couldn't get used to life in the Luoyun Sect after several years. Eventually, she suddenly had an epiphany and decided to stay by the ancient Buddha, praying for her late husband and her son.
The stark contrast between her past and present had once made Qin Yuanjing question whether he had made a mistake by bringing his mother to the sect. In his memories, his mother was gentle yet resilient, warm yet possessing a strength that others could rely on.
In this small courtyard...
"Is there something you need?"
As Qin Yuanjing was lost in thought, Meng Rong Qinglian's gentle voice reached him.
Qin Yuanjing shook his head, steadying his mind, and said, "My master has ordered me to leave the mountain and attend the Core Formation Ceremony of Senior Dan Chen... Uncle Luo."
The sound of the wooden fish abruptly stopped.
"I came to ask if Mother wants to come along and meet some old friends."
After saying this, he fell silent.
His master was the current Sect Leader of the Luoyun Sect.
All mundane affairs were handled by his master, who also assigned appropriate individuals and arrangements for celebratory matters.
For this celebration for Luo Chen, the leader of the delegation was the Golden Core Stage Elder Qu Xibai.
Coincidentally, he was currently stationed at the Heavenly Wave Immortal City.
However, the Luoyun Sect also needed to send someone to deliver the gifts.
The Sect Leader of Luoyun Sect was aware of Qin Yuanjing's connection with the Luo Tian Sect and his close relationship with Luo Chen.
Therefore, the task of delivering the gifts fell upon Qin Yuanjing.
Additionally, he was asked to take his younger sister, who had just established her foundation, out for a tour and some cultivation experience.
This would also help foster a better relationship between the two young cultivators.
Qin Yuanjing readily accepted the task, thinking it would be a good opportunity for his mother to get some fresh air and not stay cooped up in the small courtyard for decades.
That was his sincere wish.
However...
Meng Rong Qinglian contemplated for a moment and said softly, "I've finally found some peace, so I won't be going."
Qin Yuanjing opened his mouth, wanting to persuade her, but he didn't know how to begin.
He understood that his mother was afraid that visiting Danxia Peak would stir up old memories.
"Since..."
"But even though I'm not going, I still need to send my congratulations to Uncle Luo for finally succeeding in forming his core after all these years."
Meng Rong Qinglian stood up from her meditation cushion.
Her figure had become much slimmer, and as she walked over to Qin Yuanjing, she flipped her wrist, revealing a black iron plate in her hand.
"Is this... the Tier Three Metal School Technique?" Qin Yuanjing asked hesitantly.
Meng Rong Qinglian nodded, caressing the iron plate with a faint smile on her face.
"In the first few years after coming to the Luoyun Sect, I felt a bit out of place, so I wandered around the nearby immortal cities and markets. I don't know how, but when I saw this Tier Three Metal School Technique, I felt compelled to buy it."
Was it really a compulsion?
Qin Yuanjing knew in his heart that his mother still missed his father.
His father, Qin Liang, specialized in Metal School techniques but unfortunately failed to establish his foundation.
When his mother bought this technique subconsciously, it was out of her longing for her husband, an unconscious fantasy that he was still alive, and an unconscious preparation of cultivation resources he might need.
"I'm well aware of the situation in the Luo Tian Association."
"Lower-tier techniques are not in short supply, but high-tier techniques are few and far between."
"Although the power of this Great Metal Arresting Technique is ordinary, it is a complete set from the Qi Condensation Stage to the Golden Core Stage, with no gaps."
"Please deliver this to Luo Chen on my behalf, to enrich the Luo Tian Sect's library and heritage, and consider it the Qin family's congratulations on the establishment of the Luo Tian Sect."
Qin Yuanjing respectfully accepted the black iron plate.
He knew that his mother still had some attachment to the Luo Tian Association.
It was a sect she had personally recruited members for and nurtured from its humble beginnings as a minor sect in the Great River City to a top-tier sect with Golden Core Masters. She should have been extremely proud.
"Apart from the gift, is there anything else Mother wants me to convey?"
Meng Rong Qinglian thought for a moment, as if recalling a memory, and said with a smile in her eyes, "There's not much to say, just wish the esteemed Luo Tian Elder good luck and hope that he will one day advance to the Nascent Soul Period and shake the Eastern Wilderness!"
Qin Yuanjing was taken aback, feeling a bit perplexed.
A cultivator achieving the Golden Core Stage is already an extraordinary feat.
Even in the Luoyun Supreme Sect, over the years, only Elder Han Zhan has reached the Nascent Soul Stage.
Not to mention Luotian, a loose cultivator.
However, seeing his mother's smile, he still diligently noted down her words.
"Mother definitely knows Luotian better than I do. She knows his ambitions are grand and will not be satisfied with stopping at the Golden Core Stage. From my limited interactions with Luotian, he is indeed a talented and far-sighted person. This congratulatory message is truly fitting and more appropriate than those congratulating the Core Formation success."
With these thoughts in mind, Qin Yuanding bowed respectfully.
"I've noted it, child."
...
That day, Qin Yuanding left the Luoyun Sect with his junior sister, Ruan Huan'er, the daughter of the Sect Leader, and headed straight for Danxia Peak.
Along the way, Junior Sister Huan'er wanted to stop and play several times, but he refused.
Even when she pouted, got angry, and threw a tantrum, he paid no heed and rushed straight to the Luo Tian Sect on Danxia Peak.
Amidst her complaints, they arrived at their destination without much delay.
However, upon reaching their destination, he stopped at the foot of Danxia Peak and did not proceed further. After a while, he turned and headed to Heavenwave Immortal City.
"Senior Brother, why not deliver the gift and congratulations together and then have some fun?"
In response to Huan'er's confusion, Qin Yuanding seriously replied, "It's not the right time yet. By waiting until the Essence Condensation Ceremony to offer congratulations, we can boost the prestige of the Luo Tian Sect."
"Oh!"
The girl nodded but still tilted her head in wonder.
"Then why not go up and meet your uncle first? I heard he's become famous, even surpassing Senior Brother Han Zhang in reputation."
Qin Yuanding replied, "Luotian has just emerged from seclusion and must be extremely busy. How could I waste his time? The priority is to deliver our sect's gift to Elder Qu. Don't you want to experience the atmosphere of the cultivation world? After this, I'll take you for a good tour."
"Mhm, Huan'er will listen to Senior Brother."
This time, Ruan Huan'er did not question Qin Yuanding.
She used to like the playful and mischievous Qin Yuanding, who would take her to the mountains and rivers during the Qi Condensation Stage.
But the current Qin Yuanding, although somewhat unfamiliar, also gave her a sense of security.
Ever since the Jilei Mountain battle and the surprise attack on the Yan Alliance, she noticed that Qin Yuanding had become more mature and thoughtful in his decisions.
This new version of her senior brother might not be as fun as before, but he was more trustworthy.
In fact, her father had not held Qin Yuanding in high regard before, but after these events, he began to see him in a new light.
Next.
They first went to Heavenwave Immortal City, where Elder Qu Xibai, amidst his busy schedule, met with them briefly and then allowed them to move freely.
His only instruction was to avoid causing trouble.
With the opening of the war, countless cultivators from other domains were passing through Heavenwave Immortal City on their way to the front lines.
If they offended any unruly cultivators, those cultivators would not care about their sect's background and might rob and kill them without hesitation.
Qin Yuanding naturally kept this warning in mind.
Therefore, when he took Ruan Huan'er sightseeing, they mostly stayed near Heavenwave Immortal City.
Time passed quietly.
The Luo Tian Sect's Essence Condensation Ceremony, highly anticipated by many, finally began.
...
On this day, with the sun shining brightly and an auspicious date, Qin Yuanding was dragged by Ruan Huan'er early in the morning to the foot of Danxia Peak, where a temporary grand square had been set up.
Qin Yuanding felt a bit helpless, as he could have accompanied his senior uncle.
However, his junior sister was adamant!
"What's the point of attending the celebration together? It's just those flying lights coming and going. It's better to arrive early and watch the spectacle from a different angle."
Indeed!
That way of participating was indeed uninteresting.
Previously, the Luoyun Sect had also held an Essence Condensation Ceremony, and although guests were coming and going, after witnessing it a few times from the host's perspective, it was no longer surprising.
Qin Yuanding also wanted to see from a different angle and witness the entire Essence Condensation Ceremony of Luotian.
The two of them arrived early.
But someone else was even earlier.
Near Heavenwave Immortal City, many low-level loose cultivators had come early in the morning to join the festivities at the foot of the mountain.
For these low-level loose cultivators, witnessing the Essence Condensation Ceremony of a Golden Core Cultivator might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
If they were lucky enough to be noticed by a powerful cultivator and gained an opportunity, it would be a stroke of good fortune.
The two of them mingled with the loose cultivators, waiting for the Luo Tian Sect's celebration to begin.
As the sun gradually rose, the clouds on Danxia Peak began to dissipate, but there were no other anomalies.
The lack of anomalies sparked discussions.
"Strange, strange!"
"I heard that seventy years ago, the Luo Tian Sect held a grand Foundation Establishment Ceremony for the Sect Leader, Sima Huiniang. They had cranes welcoming guests and rainbow bridges, but this time, it's rather plain."
"That's right, it doesn't make sense for the Luo Tian Sect to be so grand during its establishment and then become so frugal after becoming a sect!"
The voices of discussion reached the ears of Qin Yuanding and his junior sister.
The junior sister also curiously asked, "Shouldn't there be grand array formations, golden lotuses, auspicious clouds, and colorful mists to signify the grandeur of the celebration?"
Qin Yuanding was also puzzled.
But after careful consideration, he seemed to have a thoughtful expression.
He slowly transmitted his voice:
"When weak, one should put on a show to boost one's prestige."
"But when one has already established oneself, there's no need for such an extravagant display."
"Moreover, today's celebration focuses on Luotian, Luotianzi. Whether the external environment is grand or plain is like the wind and clouds to him."
"Finally..."
Here, he pointed to himself and his junior sister.
"The guests attending the celebration today will undoubtedly include powerful sects and even our Luoyun Supreme Sect. Under the presence of such giants, no one will care about the Luo Tian Sect's extravagance."
After hearing this explanation, Ruan Huan'er suddenly understood.
Looking at the less than second-tier spiritual energy environment of Danxia Peak, she also laughed and said, "That's true. Although this mountain has beautiful scenery, its spiritual vein grade is too low to create any impressive displays.
If Luo Chen were here, he would undoubtedly agree with the two of them.
What Qin Yuanding said earlier perfectly aligned with his thoughts.
The latter part, as well as Huan'er’s words, came from the guidance of the Absolute Emotion Fairy.
A mere first-stage spirit vein, what grand spectacle could it possibly create?
An illusory grandeur, in the presence of the esteemed guests who might arrive today, would only be like a gilded exterior concealing a rotten core, inviting ridicule.
Abandoning labor-intensive and costly displays, and focusing on the intrinsic quality, is the right path.
Amidst the endless chatter of countless wandering cultivators, guests finally began to arrive.
One by one, flying boats came from all directions, an endless stream.
After docking at the square, powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivators surveyed the surroundings and then ascended Danxia Peak, riding their light.
Soon, the sounds of ceremonial announcements slowly spread throughout the mountain.
"The Kang Family of Mount Tai, presents a Warm Sun Jade, in celebration of Venerable Luo Chen!"
"The Luo Family of Demon Market, presents three pieces of Xuan Luo Golden Crystal, in celebration of Venerable Luo Chen!"
"The Chen Family of Heavenly Garment Market, presents a pair of Tier 3 Demon Silk Eggs, in celebration of Venerable Luo Chen!"
"Kuang Zhou, a Foundation Establishment Wandering Cultivator from Heavenly Wave Immortal City, presents an 800-year-old spirit herb..."
"Qin You Sheng, a Foundation Establishment Wandering Cultivator from Heavenly Wave Immortal City, presents..."
"A Foundation Establishment Wandering Cultivator from Heavenly Wave Immortal City..."
One by one, the grand announcements revealed the identities, affiliations, and gifts of the guests.
Among these, the cultivation families were mostly familiar to low-rank wandering cultivators.
They knew that for many years, these families had always been loyal allies of the Luo Tian Assembly.
Thus, their celebratory gestures were to be expected.
The gifts they brought were also of considerable value.
For instance, the Xuan Luo Golden Crystal, which is the essence of the Luo Family’s most famous second-stage mineral, Xuan Luo Gold, condensed into a third-stage mineral. It is said to be very suitable for forging lifebound treasures.
It is never sold publicly and is only supplied to Ailaoshan, which takes care of them.
Now, they have sent three pieces at once, showing their sincerity!
Amidst the clamor, some were curious.
"Why are so many Foundation Establishment Wandering Cultivators here to celebrate?"
"Even some are from other domains and are all late-stage Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators!"
This confusion gradually found answers.
"Didn't you know! When Senior Dan Dust Master successfully formed his core ten years ago, he recited a poem. It is said that the poem contained the secrets of core formation, benefiting countless Foundation Establishment Cultivators. In this regard, Senior Dan Dust Master can be considered their guiding master."
"These powerful Foundation Establishment Wandering Cultivators are now here to repay him."
"Perhaps they also hope to use this opportunity to join the Luo Tian Sect!"
This remark instantly caused a stir!
A poem containing the secrets of core formation!
Invisibly, Dan Dust Master had become the poetic master of countless Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Immortal City.
At this moment, some enthusiasts recited the poem from memory, filled with emotion.
"I only thought Senior Dan Dust Master had excellent literary talent, but I didn't expect it to contain such profound secrets. I will definitely pass this poem to my descendants. Who knows, perhaps in a few hundred years, the Li family might produce a Golden Core Cultivator.
(End of Chapter)
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