Chapter 58: A Golden Core Cultivator Emerges in the Wu Family

“Haha, that’s great! Doesn’t this mean that apart from its spiritual sense and appearance, it could completely take my place?” Liu Junhuai said happily.

“You could say so. In the future, Master should try to learn more techniques. When you encounter formidable enemies, you can coordinate attacks with your puppet,” the old steward replied.

“It’s a pity the puppet lacks spiritual sense and can’t use a storage ring; it can only wield weapons in its hands,” Liu Junhuai lamented.

The old steward pondered for a moment and said, “That may not be entirely true. It’s immersed in the sea of consciousness all day; perhaps it might develop a trace of spiritual sense. My understanding in this area is limited; I’ll check the records again later.”

Liu Junhuai nodded in agreement.

His attention was then drawn to Azhi, who was playing by herself nearby. He said, “Sitong has talent for refining pills; it’s imperative to find her a suitable heavenly fire as soon as possible.”

The old steward replied, “Yes, that’s indeed a problem. Heavenly treasures are hard to come by, but with your luck, Master, you should have a chance. Also, after you fetch Uncle Huan in Pingdu City, you should go to Qingyun Valley. The matter of the Scarlet Fire Nine Infant needs to be resolved quickly. If you can subdue it, it will greatly aid you.”

Liu Junhuai agreed; the pet room had been idle for too long, and it felt wasteful not to make full use of it.

However, even if he subdued the Scarlet Fire Nine Infant, it couldn’t simply be placed in the pet room. Its origin was in a space rich with chaotic energy; perhaps the Mountain River Gourd would be a suitable place for it.

After sharing these thoughts with the old steward and instructing him to think of ways to subdue the Scarlet Fire Nine Infant, Liu Junhuai entered the training space to cultivate alone.

When dawn broke, Liu Junhuai returned to the gourd.

He was busy explaining cultivation issues to Shen Duoduo and Wu Bini when he felt the communication jade tremble.

He quickly got up and went to the courtyard where Wu Yaohan was, preparing to set up a spirit-gathering array.

After a night of refining his true essence, Wu Yaohan’s internal energy was compressed to the point it could no longer be stored. The barrier to advancement had begun to crack, and forming the Golden Core was imminent.

Once the spirit-gathering array was set, Wu Yaohan, looking solemn, stepped forward. Liu Junhuai gave him a few brief instructions, and Wu Yaohan entered the formation.

As he activated his cultivation method, the spiritual energy in the array began to converge toward Wu Yaohan.

The flow of true essence accelerated, changing from a gentle stream to a turbulent torrent. The gathered spiritual energy was rapidly absorbed and refined, and the true essence accumulated incessantly, the golden vortex at his dantian spinning faster and faster.

He swallowed a Golden Core Breaking Pill, and a powerful surge arose within, forcibly battering the barrier to the Golden Core stage.

A wave of intense pain tore through him; Wu Yaohan felt as if his dantian was being squeezed and distorted by the raging torrent and the barrier.

The forceful impact of his true essence caused cracks with each collision, allowing wisps of true essence to seep through.

The stubborn bottleneck was like tough sinew—after each assault, it would recoil and rebound, the tension and release bringing Wu Yaohan agonizing pain.

His facial expression twisted severely, muscles contorting and nerve fibers nearly snapping.

Amidst his endless suffering, the cracks in the true essence sphere multiplied, and the mist-like true essence that seeped out began to condense into a drop-shaped bead.

With each crack, the droplet-shaped true essence grew larger.

After countless stretches, the stubborn bottleneck finally began to tear.

At last, the bottleneck split open, and a thread of golden light pierced through.

The droplet-shaped true essence, like a cat drawn to fishy scent, pounced fiercely, while the true essence in his body found its breakthrough, surging forth like a flood.

Instantly, the crack in the bottleneck widened, more golden light bursting forth, ravenously consuming the droplet-shaped true essence.

The vortex of spiritual energy in the formation could no longer keep up with the torrent pouring out from Wu Yaohan’s dantian, and several fissures appeared in the vortex.

“Quick, take the Golden Essence Pill!” Liu Junhuai urged.

Wu Yaohan swallowed the pill in one gulp, and his dantian was immediately replenished with true essence.

The pain eased considerably, and Wu Yaohan’s tense heart relaxed a little.

Just then, the barrier to the Golden Core stage shattered entirely, and the surging true essence intertwined with the golden light.

The supply of spiritual energy in his body began to fall short, and his true essence was drained, causing intense pain to sweep over Wu Yaohan again.

“Quick, take a drop of spiritual energy liquid!” Liu Junhuai shouted.

With the intake of the spiritual energy liquid, the subsequent true essence was supplied, and the golden light’s devouring force stabilized, gradually transforming into golden true essence.

A golden vortex of true essence began to form in his dantian, its speed accelerating as true essence converted rapidly into golden true essence.

The golden vortex solidified, slowly taking the shape of a bean-sized golden sphere.

The vortex spun even more wildly, and the supply of true essence faltered again.

Wu Yaohan’s twisted face showed a ferocious pain; if the supply of true essence was insufficient, the not-yet-formed Golden Core could rupture at any moment.

At the critical moment, Liu Junhuai shouted again for the spiritual energy liquid. Wu Yaohan suddenly realized, and with a drop of the liquid, his true essence was immediately replenished.

The vortex’s speed leveled out, and the transformation of true essence became orderly.

Wu Yaohan’s suffering vanished.

The bean-sized golden sphere gradually grew, becoming the size of an apricot—the Golden Core.

It emitted dazzling light, like a golden black hole devouring everything around it, faster and faster.

With a tearing sound, the golden light enveloping the core suddenly split open and, as Wu Yaohan opened his mouth, burst forth.

“Step back!” Liu Junhuai shouted.

The onlookers retreated a few steps just as the golden light exploded, shattering the formation.

With a long howl, Wu Yaohan rose into the air within the array, flipped midair, and landed back on the ground.

His tattered clothes could not conceal Wu Yaohan’s imposing and dignified presence; golden light flashed in his eyes, instilling awe in all who gazed upon him.

“Congratulations, Grandpa Wu, on forming your Golden Core! What a joyous occasion!” Liu Junhuai hurried forward and clasped his hands in salute.

Wu Bini, her face streaked with tears, flung herself into Wu Yaohan’s arms, sobbing loudly, with Shen Duoduo also shedding hot tears.

Mo Sitong and Wu Shaoyuan stepped forward to offer their congratulations, and for a time, laughter and joy replaced the earlier peril.

Wu Yaohan pressed his hands down, and the cheers quickly subsided.

He drew the Wu siblings close and said solemnly, “This time, Grandpa’s achievement in forming the Golden Core is entirely thanks to Junhuai’s help. From now on, you two must support all his decisions. Becoming his followers is a way to repay this debt.”

Liu Junhuai quickly replied, “Grandpa Wu, what are you saying? We’re family; contributing to one’s own kin is only natural. Please, do not mention such words again.”

Mo Sitong hurried to persuade, “Junhuai is right. Only family devotes themselves wholeheartedly. What he did was as it should be.”

Wu Yaohan gazed deeply at Liu Junhuai and said, “Forming the Golden Core, a cultivator’s strength is vital, but without the aid of heavenly treasures, even the deepest cultivation is futile. Cultivation is the foundation, heavenly treasures are the source. Had it not been for Junhuai’s two drops of spiritual energy liquid, my Golden Core would have shattered and my cultivation lost—this is undeniable. His reminders and supply of true essence made the Golden Core possible, and the Golden Essence Pill was crucial as well. Aren’t these all heavenly treasures?”

Liu Junhuai replied, “Grandpa Wu speaks the truth, but your perspective is mistaken. Everything a junior does for their elders is as it should be. Your thoughts spring from an elder’s sense of duty, but you must also understand the principles by which juniors conduct themselves. We have our own ways of forming bonds; elders should no longer interfere.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Yaohan laughed heartily, “Good, good! How you youngsters choose to associate is your own affair. Grandpa Wu will not meddle anymore.”

Wu Bini chimed in, “Exactly! We’re all family; what’s the talk of repayment? Grandpa, you worry too much.”

Laughter erupted among them.

Liu Junhuai then remembered something and addressed me, “Earlier, Grandpa Wu said that after reaching the Golden Core stage, he would travel the world. But I have a different opinion. Should I say it?”

Wu Yaohan replied, “You saved Grandpa’s life—if you have any request, just say it.”

Liu Junhuai said, “Once all these matters are settled, I intend to enter seclusion for a year, then return to Pingdu City to avenge my mother’s death. After that, I hope to establish a sect. In the cultivation world, solitary cultivators lack access to information and resources. I, Sitong, Shaoyuan, and my sworn elder brother are all at the Foundation Establishment stage. In Fengling Kingdom, we’re considered minor lords. With Grandpa Wu supporting us, I believe we can develop quickly.”

Wu Yaohan chuckled, “Junhuai’s idea is sound, but founding a sect is no small matter; it involves many interests and connections. Fortunately, we have over a year to plan. Rest assured, wherever you need me, Grandpa will not hesitate. Becoming a Grand Elder sounds like a good prospect.”

The others looked at Liu Junhuai in surprise; he had not mentioned this before.

Liu Junhuai explained, “I don’t intend to build a sect from scratch. My plan is to take over a small sect with a certain foundation and develop it further.”

Mo Sitong, ever quick-witted, immediately connected this to Liu Junhuai’s quest for vengeance. “Junhuai, are you planning to destroy a sect in Pingdu City? If you wish, I’ll return to my sect and gather manpower for you.”

Liu Junhuai shook his hand and said, “That’s unnecessary. You don’t know the cultivation environment in Pingdu City if you’ve never been there. Besides, I want to avenge my mother personally, and there’s still time. Mainly, I don’t want Grandpa Wu to leave. As far as cultivation environments go, nowhere surpasses the Mountain River Gourd, does it?”