Volume 4 Chapter 17

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Volume 4 Chapter 17: Surprise

On this day, Jiuhua Mountain was calm with gentle breezes and light clouds, and the sunshine was particularly bright and warm. It seemed to promise an exceptionally peaceful day.

But the world is unpredictable. Just as the people of Jiuhua Gate were either leisurely chatting or quietly meditating on their cultivation, suddenly, they all felt a strong fluctuation of Spirit Qi emanating from the top of Jiuhua Mountain. Under the powerful Spirit Qi wave, many Jiuhua Gate practitioners risked a Qi deviation due to the disturbance of the Spirit Qi vibration.

Shocked by the tremor, both Jiuhua elders and ordinary disciples rose to their feet, left their rooms, and gazed up towards the top of Jiuhua Mountain. They discovered that the previously calm sky above Jiuhua had suddenly become turbulent, with strong winds rising. A large gathering of white clouds formed at the summit of Jiuhua Mountain, painting an impressive scene with the sunlight creating vibrant hues.

As the fluctuations of Spirit Qi became more intense, a powerful pressure suddenly emanated from the peak of Jiuhua Mountain, instantly spreading to every corner of Jiuhua. The pressure was so strong that ordinary Jiuhua disciples who hadn’t reached the Condensed Core Stage felt an overwhelming urge to worship at the mountain’s peak.

Subsequently, the five elements of Spirit Qi in heaven and earth began to gather at the top of Jiuhua Mountain. For a moment, the peak shone brilliantly with dazzling colors, making it impossible to look directly. Amidst the rhythmic collisions of heaven and earth’s Spirit Qi, a sound akin to celestial music emerged from the peak, quickly spreading far and wide.

Without the aid of the "Nine Pole Array," these unusual occurrences at Jiuhua Mountain’s summit would likely have spread for miles around.

Those Jiuhua elders and elite disciples who had reached the Condensed Core Stage, or disciples with broader experiences, were amazed by the strange happenings. These phenomena signified that a cultivator had broken through the Lingji Stage, attaining the Condensed Core Stage, being refined by the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth to the utmost, and embarking on the path of understanding the Heavenly Way.

In fact, over the past ten years, Jiuhua had eight disciples who successively achieved Core Formation, but because they were all cultivating in the "Jiuji Cave" during their Core Formation, the "Nine Pole Array" blocked everyone from feeling anything unusual. The elders of the "Hua" generation either succeeded in Core Formation hundreds of years ago or had their lifespans exhausted due to failing to form a core, which is why all the Jiuhua Gate members were so surprised when they saw these strange occurrences.

Such celestial phenomena due to someone’s Core Formation hadn’t occurred at Jiuhua Mountain for hundreds of years.

Amidst their astonishment, the people of Jiuhua Gate speculate about the identity of the individual who had achieved Core Formation, their minds filled with thoughts of elite disciples who had greatly enhanced their skills in the "Jiuji Cave" but failed to succeed. Few considered Xu Qingfan.

Initially, Xu Qingfan was a well-respected and prominent figure at Jiuhua Mountain, but over the years, he remained in solitude for cultivation, his low-key demeanor gradually fading from everyone’s view.

Those aware of Xu Qingfan’s secluded cultivation at the peak, such as Jin Qinghan, Feng Qingtian, and Dongfang Qingling, were notably shocked. They knew Xu Qingfan’s talent well, yet never expected that, even without entering the "Jiuji Cave," he reached the Condensed Core Stage just slightly behind them, filling them with incredulity.

To confirm their suspicions, everyone who was familiar with Xu Qingfan, except for Feng Qingtian, hesitated slightly before quickly flying towards the top of Jiuhua Mountain.

Accompanying them on their flight to the mountain top were several curious elders of Jiuhua.

But just as they were about to reach the summit, an invisible barrier suddenly appeared, stopping them a hundred feet away. The barrier was so strong that even with their combined efforts, they couldn’t move it at all.

Then, a very old voice suddenly reached their ears.

"Xu Qingfan is at a critical moment in his Core Formation, do not disturb him."

Upon hearing this, the elders of Jiuhua turned pale and immediately flew back to their own dwellings. Those familiar with Xu Qingfan, like Jin Qinghan and Lv Qingshang, exchanged helpless glances and waited silently in the sky.

Meanwhile, in front of Linghua Hall at the waist of Jiuhua Mountain, Zhang Hualing watched the change at the mountain top with a complex expression.

"Master, is this why you had Xu Qingfan stay by your side? Have you already seen through my condition and started preparing for Jiuhua’s future?"

Zhang Hualing sighed quietly, then turned away from the mountain summit and walked deeper into Linghua Hall.

At the same time, on the roof of the Feng family’s old house, Feng Qingtian watched the strange changes at the peak of Jiuhua Mountain with eyes full of surprise and suspicion. Unlike Jin Qinghan and the others, his mysterious connection with Xu Qingfan confirmed that the person in the Core Formation was indeed Xu Qingfan.

However, he really couldn’t imagine how Xu Qingfan, with his limited abilities and without having trained in the "Jiuji Cave," could have successfully completed Core Formation.

But these doubts vanished quickly. After silently observing the top of Jiuhua Mountain for a moment, Feng Qingtian quietly turned around and went back inside to continue his own training, unlike Jin Qinghan and the others who went to congratulate and investigate Xu Qingfan.

If Feng Qingtian had once harbored any illusions about friendship, now he felt he was burdened with too much and no longer had the energy to embrace friendship.

…

Meanwhile, Xu Qingfan, who caused these strange changes at the top of Jiuhua Mountain, was completely unaware of anything amiss. In fact, his mind was more serene and enlightened than ever, sensing everything around him clearly, yet none of it touching his heart.

On this day, Xu Qingfan hadn’t noticed anything unusual. After finishing a period of secluded meditation, he rested for a couple of days before resuming his retreat.

But as soon as he started circulating the Spirit Qi within him, his mind suddenly felt ethereal, as if his soul had dispersed and quickly merged with the world.

In this state of apparent soul dispersal, Xu Qingfan felt no fear. It seemed perfectly natural to him, as if the world was his soul, melding with it. He could distinctly sense every movement on Jiuhua Mountain and every rustle of wind within tens of miles.

Even the changes in the world’s Spirit Qi were clearly imprinted in his mind. He could clearly predict the next changes in Spirit Qi or the world, feeling as if everything was in his mind.

This is exactly the state that a cultivator attains at the Condensed Core Stage—the sense where heaven and man are in harmony.

As Xu Qingfan became entranced in this unknown realm, his body was undergoing a tremendous transformation. His body seemed like a black hole, madly absorbing the five elements of Spirit Qi from the world. With the rapid influx of Spirit Qi, a massive vortex formed, and the once formless, intangible Spirit Qi stirred the grass hut with violent vibrations.

The Spirit Qi inside Xu Qingfan continued to expand as he absorbed more and more, tripling in a short time. Then, as his dantian and meridians filled with Spirit Qi, it started to compress automatically. During this compression, the Spirit Qi was also continuously transforming Xu Qingfan’s body, making it more in harmony with the world.

After the compression, with new space available, Xu Qingfan’s body began to absorb Spirit Qi from the world again, repeating the cycle.

It was unclear how much time had passed before Xu Qingfan’s body finally became saturated.

But the abnormal changes within him were far from over. Xu Qingfan’s vital essence suddenly surged towards his dantian, along with Spirit Qi from his entire body and a portion of his Divine Sense.

Once gathered in Xu Qingfan’s dantian, these different forms and essences unexpectedly coexisted perfectly and gradually began to merge.

When the three completely combined, a bead the size of a child’s fist appeared in Xu Qingfan’s dantian. Although the bead was formed, it remained ethereal and transparent, only noticeable because of its blue-grey-red radiance.

This transparent bead is the initial form of an internal core created in the body after a cultivator reaches the Core Formation stage—it’s a Fake Golden Core!

After nearly a cycle of decades in immortal cultivation, Xu Qingfan, who initially had poor aptitude, finally reached the Condensed Core Stage!

…

After a long while, Xu Qingfan’s soul finally gathered and slowly returned to his body. He gently opened his eyes, and a flicker of illusory light flashed through them.

The awakened Xu Qingfan felt as though he had changed, and the world around him seemed different too. It was like an ant suddenly transformed into a human, unable to adapt to its body and the world before it.

Yet, Xu Qingfan found these changes to be so peaceful and natural, as if they were just meant to be.

After some time, Xu Qingfan suddenly felt a jolt through his body and hurriedly closed his eyes to compose himself, only to discover a transparent internal core with a glow of blue, gray, and red swirling softly in his dantian. As it spun, the three flows of Spirit Qi within Xu Qingfan were set into motion, becoming ten times more robust and pure than before!

It seems that the legend of an early-stage Fake Golden Core cultivator easily defeating more than ten late-stage Lingji Stage cultivators is not exaggerated at all.

"I’ve reached Core Formation?"

Xu Qingfan murmured to himself.

After sixty years of cultivation, achieving enlightenment was something Xu Qingfan had long awaited. Originally, he thought he would be ecstatic, but when the moment truly arrived, he simply murmured to himself, acknowledging it as if it were the most natural thing—an accumulation of efforts leading to a calm and natural breakthrough.

After a long while, when Xu Qingfan finally became familiar with his own condition, he no longer hesitated and slowly stood up from the grassy bed. His vast Divine Sense instinctively began to spread from his body as the center, clearly bringing into his mind the conditions within ten miles around him.

However, the state during the Core Formation when he could clearly perceive the entire Jiuhua Mountain for hundreds of miles could no longer be achieved.

Xu Qingfan knew that during Core Formation, his body resonated with the heavens and earth, which allowed his Divine Sense to spread that far. Maintaining this state constantly was impossible, so he just smiled slightly, not minding it, and pushed the door open to go outside, knowing many had long awaited him there.

Outside the house, Liu Huaxiang, Ting’er, Jin Qinghan, Lv Qingshang, Dongfang Qingling, Li Yuhan, and Sheng Yushan stood together, silently observing Xu Qingfan as he opened the door.

Seeing the group quietly waiting for him, Xu Qingfan’s heart grew warm. He nodded to Liu Huaxiang and Ting’er first, then turned to look at his former companions.

"Have you reached Core Formation?"

"Yes, finally I haven’t fallen too far behind you all."

They exchanged questions and answers without speaking aloud, communicating through a mutual understanding in their gaze.

There were no congratulations or noise; everything remained serene and peaceful as everyone quietly savored the joy within their hearts.

Finally, Xu Qingfan smiled and said, "It’s been nearly a decade, and your abilities and level of mastery have become even more profound."

Jin Qinghan silently nodded and said, "Not bad."

Then, to everyone’s surprise, Jin Qinghan, who never expressed his emotions, walked straight to Xu Qingfan and gave him a hug, astonishing everyone familiar with Jin Qinghan’s reserved nature.

Only Xu Qingfan understood the meaning behind that embrace.

Reaching Core Formation, even if only the initial Fake Golden Core stage, still extended Xu Qingfan’s lifespan by three hundred years.

Between cultivators of different levels, relationships are the hardest to maintain. For instance, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator has a lifespan of at most three hundred years, while a Condensed Core Stage one has at least six hundred. So their friendships or romantic relationships can never last long. The higher-level cultivator can only watch helplessly as their friends or loved ones age and die, but feel powerless to help. This agony is difficult to endure, even for those cultivators known for their calm and detached nature.

At this moment, Xu Qingfan and Jin Qinghan both stepped into the Condensed Core Stage, meaning they no longer had to fear experiencing such pain.

"Brother, we can train together again."

Although Jin Qinghan didn’t say it directly, Xu Qingfan understood that this hug meant exactly that. Looking at the others, whether it was Lv Qingshang, Dongfang Qingling, or Li Yuhan, Sheng Yushan, there was genuine joy in their eyes, and the kindness on Liu Huaxiang’s face, along with Ting’er’s constant companionship, filled Xu Qingfan with emotion.

Just as the others were about to say something, a beam of rosy light suddenly appeared at the peak of Jiuhua Mountain. Once the light faded, an elder from Jiuhua appeared before everyone.

The elder first respectfully bowed to Liu Huaxiang, then turned to Xu Qingfan and said, "Congratulations, Martial Nephew Xu, on your significant progress and success in Core Formation."

Xu Qingfan quickly expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Martial Uncle Gongsun."

Elder Gongsun nodded and added, "Senior Brother, the sect leader, is also pleased to hear of your Core Formation success. He is waiting for you in Linghua Hall; come with me now."

Xu Qingfan was slightly surprised but soon understood that Zhang Hualing planned to arrange for him to train in the "Jiuji Cave." He gave everyone an apologetic smile and then followed Elder Gongsun swiftly towards Linghua Hall at the mountainside.

…

Accompanying Xu Qingfan to meet Zhang Hualing was the newly appointed Supreme Protector Gongsun Huasa of Jiuhua, succeeding after Zhou Huahai’s betrayal of Jiuhua Mountain. Usually reserved, Gongsun Huasa’s cultivation level was only beneath that of Xiao Huazhe, Zhang Hualing, and others, comparable to Xu Qingfan’s late master, Lu Huayan.

Xu Qingfan was once a well-known figure at Jiuhua Mountain, and his remarkable performance in the battle ten years ago made the elders of Jiuhua quite aware of him. Elder Gongsun understood Xu Qingfan’s talents well, knowing that it was a rare chance for someone with his abilities to reach the late stage of the Lingji Stage. So, how did he manage to successfully form the Core? Gongsun Huasa could see that Xu Qingfan’s talents had greatly improved.

Despite knowing Liu Huaxiang’s true identity, who had been guiding Xu Qingfan all these years, and understanding Liu Huaxiang’s great capabilities, Gongsun Huasa still couldn’t figure out how Liu Huaxiang and Xu Qingfan achieved this.

On the way to Linghua Hall, Gongsun Huasa tried to inquire about the changes in Xu Qingfan’s condition, but Liu Huaxiang had already instructed Xu Qingfan not to disclose the secret techniques to anyone. So, even though Gongsun Huasa was curious about Xu Qingfan’s transformation, Xu Qingfan merely smiled without saying a word.

The two flew at an incredible speed and soon arrived in front of Linghua Hall. Gongsun Huasa, still curious, glanced at Xu Qingfan, who was only smiling, then pointed to Linghua Hall and said, "The Sect Master is waiting for you inside. You should go."

Xu Qingfan nodded, bowed to thank Gongsun Huasa, and then proceeded deeper into Linghua Hall.

This was Xu Qingfan’s second time entering Linghua Hall, and it still looked as grand and majestic as before. However, perhaps due to the passage of time or different circumstances, after the great disaster ten years ago, Linghua Hall appeared empty, and Xu Qingfan clearly sensed a touch of desolation.

Inside this desolate grand hall, Zhang Hualing sat quietly, waiting for Xu Qingfan, contemplating something with his eyes closed.

"Sect Master, the disciple has arrived as ordered," Xu Qingfan said, bowing to Zhang Hualing.

Hearing Xu Qingfan’s voice, Zhang Hualing slowly opened his eyes and examined Xu Qingfan closely. As he faced the one who had replaced him in Liu Huaxiang’s eyes, a deeply complex expression crossed Zhang Hualing’s face.

After a long pause, Zhang Hualing softly said, "You really did succeed in achieving Core Formation."

Hearing Zhang Hualing’s words, Xu Qingfan was taken aback and asked, "Really? Sect Master, did you already know I would achieve Core Formation?"

Zhang Hualing nodded slightly and said, "Liu Huaxiang once told me he wanted to help you with Core Formation. At the time, I thought it was unbelievable."

Xu Qingfan was surprised again. He had always believed that only he, Liu Huaxiang, and Ting’er knew about Liu Huaxiang helping him with Core Formation. To find out that Liu Huaxiang had also told Zhang Hualing, and seeing that Zhang Hualing not only knew a lot about it but seemed to have helped greatly, stirred a feeling in Xu Qingfan’s heart that Zhang Hualing and Liu Huaxiang’s relationship might not be as simple as ordinary fellow disciples.

But this thought flashed through Xu Qingfan’s mind, and he listened as Zhang Hualing continued, "In a month’s time, the ‘Jiuji Cave’ will reopen. You’ll join everyone in practicing there, and once you emerge, I’ll arrange for an elder to pass knowledge onto you, then grant you the position of Deacon Elder."

Deacon Elder?! Didn’t Liu Huaxiang say it was just an ordinary elder?

After hearing Zhang Hualing’s words, Xu Qingfan couldn’t help but be astonished.