Chapter 468: Golden Core Attributes and Artifact Refinement Secrets

Chapter 468: Golden Core Attributes and Artifact Refinement Secrets

Qingdanzigu, as the top Golden Core sect in the Jade Cauldron Domain, naturally possessed a high-grade Tier 3 Spirit Vein.

Overall, it was a large-scale Tier 3 Superior Spirit Vein.

With the Five Peaks as its main area, it covered the Inner Core Valley and gradually spread to dozens of large and small mountains outside the valley.

Such geographical conditions were truly enviable to many smaller sects.

But Qingdanzigu also faced challenges!

With an abundance of cultivators, even with occasional casualties among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators, their numbers remained around a thousand.

If this were the only issue, it would be manageable.

Unfortunately, Qingdanzigu also had a large number of Golden Core Venerables.

In the past, they could only divide the territory into five Tier 3 Superior Cavern Mansions and ten Tier 3 Inferior Cavern Mansions.

As Dan Yangzi and Tao Wan gradually formed their Golden Cores, the number of Cavern Mansions became insufficient.

Most of the time, several Golden Core Cultivators were sent to practice in man-made Tier 3 Cavern Mansions in major immortal cities.

This was the reason why Qingdanzigu, despite being well-established, had to participate in the war to open up new territories.

They also wanted to seize a Tier 3 Spirit Vein in the new domain, regardless of its size, as it could at least serve as a branch of the sect.

However!

Even in such circumstances, Qingdanzigu arranged a complete Tier 3 Inferior Cavern Mansion for Luo Chen's arrival.

They even provided several bottles of Tier 3 pills to ensure his cultivation before refining the Incarnation Pill.

This showed that Qingdanzi was determined to refine the Incarnation Pill.

In a clean and new Tier 3 Cavern Mansion.

Luo Chen sat cross-legged, his hands forming an ancient and peculiar incantation, with both hands in completely different gestures.

As he cultivated, the spiritual energy in the mansion surged, primarily consisting of greenish-blue and fiery-red spiritual energy.

The Fiery Wood True Technique, a Tier 3 cultivation method for cultivating both Wood and Fire attributes.

At this moment, under Luo Chen's control, it fearlessly devoured the external spiritual energy.

Not only that, his Divine Perception, a level higher than Spirit Perception, constantly stirred the surroundings, absorbing Wood and Fire dual-attribute spiritual energy from the chaotic and diverse spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

This cultivation session lasted for a full hour in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, Luo Chen opened his eyes and exhaled, releasing a wisp of blue smoke.

"After forming the Golden Core, cultivation indeed becomes more complex. Not only do I need to capture the stray spiritual energy from the outside, but I also have to purify it and allow my divine soul to imbue it with spiritual power, thereby forming my cultivation base."

"However, there's an advantage to this. The efficiency of my divine soul in absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth has increased by almost tenfold!"

Although he said this, Luo Chen's face showed no signs of joy.

With a thought.

A transparent light curtain, visible only to him, descended like a waterfall and unfolded before him.

【Vitality: 110/400】

【Primordial Root: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth】

【Realm: First Layer Golden Core 2/100, Ancient Third Tier 20/100】

【Cultivation Method: Fiery Wood True Technique Mastery 201/300, Ten Thousand Paths Converge Perfect 428/500, Ten Thousand Beasts Scripture 15/100】

【Spells: Tier 3: Locking Pearl Curtain Perfect, Calming the Storm Perfect, Primal Breath Great Palm Seal Perfect 357/500, Mirror Flower Water Moon Mastery 291/300, Micro Dust Primordial Technique Skilled 179/200, Severing Life Finger Entry 15/100

Tier 2: Flower Fairy Perfect 413/500, Confusion Technique Master 627/1000, Grass Cutting Heavenspan Gold Sword Technique Perfect 360/500, Five Elements Return to Viscera Technique Perfect】

Tier 1: Subduing Soul Technique Perfect, Bone Rejuvenation Technique Perfect, Limb Restoration Technique Entry 15/100

Perfected Techniques (Click to view details)】

【Pill Techniques: Scale Transformation Hand Perfect 400/500. Perfected Pill Techniques (Click to view details)】

【Martial Arts: Cloud Probing Divine Claws Master 590/1000, Fiery Plague Master 521/1000】

【Profession: Tier 3 Alchemist, Tier 2 Physician, Tier 1 Array Master

Tier 3 Pills: Dark Essence Pill Entry 6/100

Tier 2 Pills: Imperial Flowing Jelly Entry 12/100

Perfected Pills (Click to view details)】

【Achievement Points: 66】

This was the first time he had fully opened his attribute panel after forming his Golden Core.

Therefore, he examined it with utmost seriousness.

First was his Vitality.

Centenarian Golden Core, a decade of closed-door cultivation to stabilize his realm, and now he was exactly one hundred and ten years old.

Such an achievement at this age was considered exceptional in the entire cultivation world.

Perhaps only those so-called Heavenly Rooted Cultivators who formed their Foundation in ten years, their Golden Core in a hundred years, and their Nascent Soul in two hundred years could compare.

As for his Vitality limit, it had reached four hundred years.

A hundred years less than a typical Golden Core Cultivator.

However, Luo Chen remained calm, as he had already experienced the change in Vitality during the Foundation Establishment Stage.

With subsequent minor realm advancements, his Vitality limit should also increase.

The unknown was whether the increase would be the same as during the Foundation Establishment Stage.

If it were the same, then by the time he reached the late Golden Core Stage, his Vitality would be around five hundred years, similar to a normal Golden Core Cultivator.

If it were more?

That would be an unexpected delight.

Compared to his Vitality, Luo Chen was more concerned about his realm and cultivation method.

Thanks to previously mastering the Metal Herbal King Scripture, when he switched to cultivating the Fiery Wood True Technique, which cultivates both Wood and Fire attributes, he gained some benefits.

Therefore, when he switched, he already had fifty more proficiency points.

After a decade of closed-door cultivation and continuous practice, he achieved Mastery in the Fiery Wood True Technique.

This was a good thing!

However, the drawback was the cultivation speed of this technique.

After stepping into the first layer of the Golden Core, three months have passed.

It took a full three months, with the help of a Tier 3 Spirit Land and a small amount of Tier 3 cultivation pills, for him to barely increase his progress.

【Golden Core Layer 1/100】

"Dual cultivation of two elements, incomplete cultivation technique, and Five Primordial Root aptitude, all have a significant impact on my cultivation speed!"

"To cultivate to the second layer of Golden Core, it will probably take about thirty years."

"Although I don't know the difference in spiritual power between each layer of the Golden Core stage, based on my past experience and discussions with Qu Xibai and Wufu Qi, it will take me about... two thousand years to reach the completion of the Golden Core stage under the current conditions!"

Thirty years for a minor realm, but two thousand years for nine major realms.

It sounds absurd.

But cultivation is like this; the later stages are more challenging, especially when breaking through major realms.

Luo Chen knows his family's affairs; during the Foundation Establishment stage, his rapid cultivation was due to his continuous improvement of his resource environment, time and time again.

In the end, even with all his preparations, he was fortunate to barely step into the Golden Core stage.

In comparison, Luo Chen cares more about the familiar number of two thousand years.

When he first entered the Foundation Establishment stage, he estimated the time needed for Core Formation in the same way.

This time, it's more or less the same.

The number is also quite substantial!

Luo Chen is no longer as lost and hesitant as he was back then.

He knows that there are many ways to improve his cultivation speed; as long as he has direction and sufficient action, nothing in the world is impossible!

In fact, Luo Chen is quite happy.

Comparing his cultivation speed to that of a Heaven Rooted Cultivator, he is only twenty times slower with his Five Primordial Roots! So, at least four thousand years are needed for Incarnation, but this time, he has miraculously shortened it by half.

The reason for this is...

"It seems to be related to the solid foundation I established during the Foundation Establishment stage."

"With a Tier 3 body, a hundred meridians open, all the orifices of the body activated, and the ability to form a core... all these factors have reduced the fundamental gap between me and the Heaven's Favorite."

"If I continue to consolidate my foundation during the Golden Core stage, perhaps after achieving the Nascent Soul stage, the gap with the Heaven Rooted Cultivator... haha, I might not be far off."

Luo Chen suddenly thought of a rumor in the cultivation world.

The Heaven Rooted Cultivator, after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, no longer has any advantage."

To achieve Divine Transformation, the time required is not much different from other cultivators with different aptitudes."

In other words, if he relies on his Five Primordial Roots to form an incarnation and then reaches the Nascent Soul stage, there will be no gap in aptitude.

Based on this speculation,

Perhaps the true starting point for Five Primordial Roots is at the Nascent Soul stage?

This abrupt thought interrupted Luo Chen's train of thought.

After a while, he shook his head.

"I'm thinking too far ahead."

"Forget about the Nascent Soul stage; I haven't even fulfilled the so-called current conditions yet."

The conditions for Incarnation in two thousand years are to possess at least a Tier 3 Low-grade Spirit Land and a stable supply of Tier 3 Low-grade cultivation pills.

These are the most basic conditions.

But even with these, Luo Chen hasn't achieved them yet.

The Tier 3 Cavern Mansion beneath him is temporarily provided by Green Pill Valley.

The Tier 3 cultivation pills he is using are the congratulatory gifts from the guests at the Core Formation Ceremony, as well as the Transforming Dragon Pills provided by Green Pill Valley recently."

So, the journey is long and arduous!"

Luo Chen sighed.

He continued browsing through his attribute panel.

Thanks to the revised "Ten Thousand Paths Converging," he can use the Flourish Wither Fire to cultivate his body, and his long-stagnated Tier 3 body is finally starting to improve slowly.

Currently, he has reached 【Ancient Third Tier 20/100】, increasing by only five progress points.

The speed is slow, but it's the best he can do for now.

Using the Flourish Wither Fire to cultivate the body is indeed painful.

He is constantly being refined by the Fourth Tier Unusual Fire, a pain that ordinary people cannot bear.

If not for Luo Chen's willpower, which has become incredibly strong through repeated tempering, he wouldn't be able to endure such pain.

Even so, due to his lack of proficiency, he has made many mistakes, often injuring his body.

If it weren't for his mastery of multiple medical techniques, his body would have been riddled with injuries by now.

Thanks to his continuous use of medical techniques to heal himself, over the years, he has perfected the Five Elements Return to Viscera Technique and Bone Rejuvenation Technique.

This is a silver lining in his suffering!

"Based on the Ancient Cultivation Realm I've set for myself, as long as I complete nine blood exchanges and reshape my entire body, I'll be able to step into the Fourth Tier!"

"The second blood exchange is near!"

Luo Chen can feel the immense power within his blood, like quicksilver, surging through his body.

And this is just the first blood exchange realm.

After browsing through his cultivation realm, Luo Chen has a clear understanding of his current situation.

As for his spells, there isn't much to say.

During those decades of seclusion, he focused on cultivating and creating his own techniques, not on spell cultivation.

He occasionally dabbled in the Primal Breath Great Palm Seal.

As a result, he has perfected his proficiency in it.

With this level of mastery, he easily defeated Hong Ling at the Core Formation Ceremony, earning the admiration of Jin Bubuqian from the Five Elements Divine Sect.

Additionally, after successfully forming a core, he perfected his skills in the Locking Pearl Curtain and Calming the Storm.

As for his self-created Microcosmic Origin Technique, after forming a core, his proficiency directly entered the beginner level.

After ten years of seclusion, while cultivating his Lifebound Cultivation Technique, this Core Formation secret technique was also running simultaneously, thus passively improving his proficiency.

Perhaps in the future, when he reaches the peak of his cultivation, Luo Chen might gain new insights into this self-created supreme Core Formation secret technique.

Luo Chen indulged in his thoughts and chuckled softly, his gaze drifting downward.

Finally, he paused at the 'Profession' section.

In addition to being a Third Tier Alchemist and a Second Tier Physician, there was a new profession—Array Master.

Although it was only First Tier, it indicated that he had truly entered the path of array formation.

"This is probably related to my deep research in restrictions, which laid a solid foundation in array formation."

"With my current understanding of array formation, as long as I have the corresponding low-level array formations and materials, I can set them up."

"The only shortcomings are probably my proficiency and some details in controlling the operation of the array formation."

Luo Chen had no plans to address these shortcomings for the time being.

Firstly, he didn't have the time, and secondly, he might not have the talent.

Lastly, the current array formation only assisted him in refining his Lifebound Treasure.

The demand for this was indeed not significant.

"Sixty-six achievement points, a new record!"

Luo Chen muttered, putting away the attribute panel.

This time, reviewing the attribute panel was a mixed bag of joy and worry.

There were gains, but the revealed shortcomings were evident.

He gained a deeper understanding of his current situation and also had a clear perception of what he needed to do in the future.

Tier Three Spirit Vein, Tier Three Cultivation Pills, and Lifebound Treasure.

These were the only three tasks!

Nothing else!

However, that was for the future.

For now, he still had to fulfill his promise to refine the Incarnation Pill for Green Pill Valley.

Just yesterday, he had already discussed this with Qing Danzi.

Regarding the Incarnation Pill formula, Qing Danzi was willing to give it to him, but not now.

Only after Luo Chen reached the Late Golden Core Stage would Qing Danzi give him a copied version.

In Qing Danzi's words: "An innocent man with a treasure is guilty. Giving it to you now would be a disaster, not a blessing!"

Luo Chen couldn't refute this statement.

After all, the example of Green Pill Valley was right before his eyes.

The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect had attacked based on mere rumors and speculations.

If the Sword Sect's goal hadn't been limited to destroying the Five Peaks Sheltering Valley, that battle would have been as bloody as the Flame Alliance's, with rivers of blood flowing.

Green Pill Valley had almost lost the pill formula, and now Luo Chen, at the Early Golden Core Stage, would face mortal danger if he revealed even a hint of information.

Therefore, Luo Chen agreed to this condition.

"However, if I can't get the Incarnation Pill formula, I can still accomplish something else on this trip."

Luo Chen's eyes flashed with determination.

...

After dawn, Luo Chen, having completed a session of Fiery Wood True Technique and The Ten Thousand Paths Converge, left his cavern mansion.

Riding on his flying sword, he arrived at the Grand Pill Academy on Dan Yang Peak.

As soon as he landed, a Foundation Establishment Stage alchemist approached him.

"Senior Dan Dust Master, please follow me!"

"Mm, lead the way!"

Luo Chen nodded, knowing that his arrival wouldn't escape the notice of the local master.

As they walked, Luo Chen's gaze occasionally landed on the busy cultivators in the Grand Pill Academy.

Almost all those who entered the Grand Pill Academy were accomplished Foundation Establishment Stage alchemists!

Most of them were also older.

For alchemists, age wasn't a drawback but an advantage, indicating their profound knowledge of pill refinement.

From his observation, there were at least fifty people in the Grand Pill Academy!

This meant that Green Pill Valley had at least fifty experienced Second Tier Alchemists!

This didn't even include the ordinary alchemists scattered within and outside the sect.

"Just Green Pill Valley alone has so many alchemists, I wonder what kind of rich talent pool the Medicine King Sect, which dominates a region, possesses?"

"In comparison, our Luo Tian Sect, including me, has only three Second Tier Alchemists."

"This gap can't be bridged by resources alone; it would take at least a thousand years of heritage to make up for it."

Luo Chen sighed inwardly.

The more Second Tier Alchemists there were, the more pills they could produce, and the more spirit stones they could earn.

Green Pill Valley relied on this resource to cultivate nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

If this group of experienced Second Tier Alchemists were available now, they could assist Qing Danzi and the other five in processing the low-level materials needed for a large batch of Incarnation Pills.

"They've been planning for a long time, and now I'm here too."

"I'm sure the refinement of the Incarnation Pill will happen soon!"

Luo Chen thought to himself.

Suddenly, he sensed a gaze upon him.

He turned his eyes and saw a pair of complex eyes staring at him.

The person, realizing that Luo Chen had noticed him, immediately lowered his head.

"Is that him?"

Luo Chen frowned.

The person who had been secretly watching him was none other than Xuan Yunzi He Yun, with whom Luo Chen had interacted before.

Even during the Foundation Establishment Stage, Luo Chen had sensed something amiss with Xuan Yunzi.

The other's divine soul energy was unstable, and there were signs of life force and death energy circulating within him.

Now, at the Golden Core Stage, Luo Chen's divine perception confirmed his earlier suspicions.

Xuan Yunzi was a body-snatching cultivator!

And it was highly likely that he was the Medicine King Sect's outer sect elder who had died in Yuan Zhao Country, the very person who had provided Luo Chen with the opportunity to embark on the path of immortality.

"If even I can notice it with my knowledge, there's no way the many Golden Core Cultivators in Green Pill Valley wouldn't have discovered it!"

"But they turn a blind eye and even invited him into the Grand Pill Academy. Why?"

Doubts arose.

Luo Chen glanced at Xuan Yunzi, who was busy with his head down, and didn't pursue the matter further.

Under the eaves, it was none of his concern.

Soon, Luo Chen entered the depths of the Grand Pill Academy.

In the grand hall, five Crystal Cauldrons with a faint greenish-blue hue were arranged.

Four of them already had owners.

The extra one was prepared for Luo Chen.

"Daoist friend has arrived!"

Qing Danzi emerged from the hall, with his hands clasped behind his back.

Though he had the physique of a youth, he exuded an air of aged frailty.

Given his five hundred years of cultivation, this demeanor was only natural.

Luo Chen nodded, his gaze fixed on the Crystal Cauldron.

"Shall we begin now?"

Qing Danzi grunted in agreement and said with anticipation, "The Azure Sky Crystal Cauldron, one-thirty-six. When it's time to refine the Incarnation Pill, I'll be the main cauldron, and you'll control the five Son Cauldrons. Additionally, thirty second-tier alchemists with pure furnace fire will each control a small cauldron. This will form the fourth-tier Qing Dan Formation, allowing us to transcend and refine the fourth-tier Incarnation Pill."

This was Qing Danzi's plan!

It wasn't just a pipe dream.

In the history of Qing Dan Valley, there had indeed been successful cases of refining fourth-tier pills.

The details were numerous and far too complex for a single person to manage.

Moreover, the control of the main cauldron and the five Son Cauldrons demanded exceptionally high skill.

It required a third-tier alchemist who also possessed a Primordial True Flame!

Luo Chen just happened to meet this requirement.

"I've lifted the restrictions on the Son Cauldron. Dan Chenzi, you can start refining it and establish a connection."

"Afterward, I'll give you the portion of medicinal ingredients you'll be responsible for later. Practice handling them a few times to be safe."

Luo Chen grunted in acknowledgment.

He sat down in front of the Son Cauldron assigned to him.

Divine perception emanated from him, continuously permeating the array on the cauldron.

His spiritual power surged, completely enveloping the Son Cauldron, which had reached the level of a low-grade magical treasure.

This was the standard method for refining magical treasures.

However, since the main cauldron was with Qing Danzi, he couldn't refine it within his Qi Sea and had to refine it slowly from the outside.

Qing Danzi observed from the side, his eyebrows gradually furrowing.

Suddenly, he interrupted Luo Chen's refinement.

"What's wrong?" Luo Chen paused, looking at him in confusion.

Qing Danzi shook his head. "It's too slow. Your method of refinement is far too sluggish."

Luo Chen was taken aback.

Wasn't this the standard way to refine magical treasures?

Qing Danzi smacked his lips, and his lips moved as he transmitted a stream of golden words to Luo Chen's mind.

Luo Chen's eyebrows rose.

Was there such a secret technique?

What Qing Danzi had just transmitted was a technique to accelerate the refinement of magical treasures using Primordial True Flame!

With this technique, a cultivator's speed of refining magical treasures could double!

"Try it!" Qing Danzi said.

Luo Chen took a deep breath, and a vigorous green flame emerged from his mouth, slowly enveloping the Son Cauldron.

Gradually, a faint connection formed between him and the cauldron, growing stronger by the moment.

"Huh!"

"Qing Danzi, you didn't deceive me; it's indeed twice the result with half the effort!"

"If I have a Lifebound Treasure in the future, can I also use this technique to nurture it with my Lifebound True Fire?"

"If it's truly possible, I wonder how much cultivation time it could save."

Seeing Luo Chen's thoughtful expression, Qing Danzi shook his head but said nothing.

You can't catch a wolf by being overly protective of the sheep.

With his time running out, he couldn't afford to wait.

Amidst the Expansion War, with everyone's attention elsewhere, he would refine the Incarnation Pill.

Then, with the pill in hand, he would seek a fourth-tier Spirit Land for his Nascent Soul formation.

Once he achieved the Nascent Soul stage, his current lifespan concerns and the predicament of Qing Dan Valley would be resolved!

He might even be able to expand and secure a new realm for Qing Dan Valley during the war.

The success or failure of this endeavor rested on this one action.

However, it was just a technique for refining magical treasures, and it wouldn't hurt to let Luo Chen benefit from it.

...

After several days of refinement, Luo Chen, looking exhausted, stopped his actions.

He had already achieved one or two percent of the refinement, and a few more times would be enough.

Qing Yunzi, also at the third level of the Golden Core stage, was doing the same.

They exchanged glances, and surprise was evident on Qing Yunzi's face.

Although he was only at the third level of the Golden Core stage, he had cultivated a basic Soul Technique, and his soul foundation seemed to be at least at the middle stage of the Golden Core.

Luo Chen had lasted just as long as him.

This meant that Luo Chen's soul foundation was no weaker than his own.

He was surprised, but across from him, Dan Yangzi, who had already finished his refinement, was even more shocked.

In fact, Dan Yangzi had achieved Core Formation decades before Luo Chen, yet he hadn't lasted as long.

This indicated that, whether in terms of soul foundation or spiritual power, he was inferior to this peer.

The Grand Elder Qing Danzi, who had been closely monitoring the hall, didn't seem to mind this.

The stronger Luo Chen was, the more it would aid in refining the Incarnation Pill.

"Go and rest for a few days."

"Then continue."

Luo Chen nodded and stood up, but instead of leaving immediately, he called out to Dan Yangzi.

"Daoist friend, let's have a chat."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end