“Golden Core Tenth Transformation—this is a realm beyond the limits of the Golden Core. Only cultivators who have refined a Perfect Golden Core are qualified to attempt such a profound breakthrough.” 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Sitting cross-legged in his quiet chamber, Lu Qing silently reflected.

He had long since deduced the Perfect Golden Core Technique to the level of the Twelfth Transformation. In theory, the Perfect Golden Core could shatter limits and reach beyond the Ninth Transformation. But in truth, theory alone was not enough. To truly break through, one still needed solid cultivation step by step.

With a flick of his hand, countless mid-grade Spirit Stones flew out, falling with precision across the floor to form a Gathering Spirit Formation. The moment the array activated, boundless spiritual essence filled the chamber.

Lu Qing closed his eyes, and a powerful suction surged forth from his body, greedily drawing in the spiritual essence. His spirit, qi, and soul rose to their peak, merging into one. Following the Tenth Transformation of the Perfect Golden Core Technique, his cultivation began circulating.

The quiet chamber trembled ever so slightly. With his current foundation, the power he unleashed when running the technique was terrifying. Not long ago, during the battle in Zhou Tian City, merely merging his physical strength with his spiritual power had allowed him to cut down three Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators with a single strike.

Now, with spirit, body, and soul fused into one, the power was far greater. A strange metamorphosis began, and once more he sensed the same invisible barrier he had encountered in Zhou Tian City. This time, however, it was clearer, closer.

Borrowing the might of his threefold unity, Lu Qing rammed against that unseen wall.

Boom!

A formless roar echoed in his mind. He felt his consciousness break into some mysterious domain, and the fused power within him began a true transformation. But this metamorphosis devoured spiritual essence at a monstrous rate.

The Gathering Spirit Formation of three hundred and sixty mid-grade Spirit Stones shattered in an instant. Surging waves of essence poured out, only to be swallowed whole by Lu Qing. Still, it wasn’t enough. The metamorphosis demanded more than he had imagined.

Fortunately, Lu Qing was prepared. With a thought, hundreds more Spirit Stones flew into place, one formation replacing another, endlessly supplying the energy he needed. Finally, after wave upon wave of consumption, the threefold force within him fully transformed—becoming something entirely new.

Hum!

A tremor without sound rippled through the chamber. The rules of Heaven and Earth stirred, and countless blossoms of pure, translucent light bloomed into existence. They circled around Lu Qing like a celebration, then flowed into his body one by one.

A rain of heavenly flowers. A resonance of law.

Heaven itself had sensed Lu Qing breaking limits and stepping into a mysterious, unfathomable realm, thus manifesting this grand phenomenon in recognition.

After a long while, all fell silent. Lu Qing slowly opened his eyes. At first they were pure as spring water, but upon closer look, galaxies seemed to swirl within them, hiding infinite mysteries. A moment later, the vision faded and his gaze returned to normal, though a hint of awe lingered.

“At last… I’ve broken through.”

Even for him, reaching this step had been anything but easy. The dangers and struggles he had endured were countless. Yet all had been worth it—he had shattered the limit and stepped into the Golden Core Tenth Transformation.

The hardest step was behind him. With enough resources, reaching the Twelfth Transformation’s perfection should not take long. By then, he could strike directly for Nascent Soul!

“So this is the power of the Tenth Transformation…”

A wisp of power appeared between his fingers. It shimmered in five colors, his newly transformed Golden Core spiritual power. The potency it contained was tenfold greater than before. Not only that, his body and soul had also advanced beyond their previous limits into an entirely new realm.

“Just this alone is already on par with the Nascent Soul power of early-stage cultivators.”

Lu Qing understood this well. He had fought and slain many Nascent Soul cultivators, so he knew precisely how their power felt. Comparing it now, his transformed Golden Core spiritual power was not inferior in the slightest.

And there was more. With a flicker of thought, Lu Qing merged his physical strength and soul force into the power at his fingertip. The once five-colored glow dimmed into a dull gray, unremarkable to the eye—yet the force it exuded was terrifying. Even space itself trembled, as if the very laws of the world bent to avoid it.

Outside, Xiaoli and Wuxing felt an icy dread pierce their hearts. Their heads snapped toward the sealed chamber, eyes wide in alarm.

“After stepping into the Tenth Transformation, my spiritual power, body, and soul can merge in an instant at will. And this fusion isn’t merely additive—it multiplies the might tenfold.”

Lu Qing stared at the gray strand of force, astonished. Was this what all Perfect Golden Core cultivators experienced? Somehow, it felt excessive—even absurd.

Before the breakthrough, he could already slay early Nascent Souls barehanded, without artifacts. Now? Even those of the second or third tribulation would not be beyond his reach. And once he reached the Twelfth Transformation’s perfection… perhaps even fourth-tribulation powerhouses would struggle to contend with him.

“Is this really still within the Golden Core Realm?”

He could not help but question it. Perfect Golden Core or not, the strength he now wielded seemed too exaggerated. Or perhaps… his cultivation path itself differed from others of the same kind.

Sadly, in all his years since leaving his homeland, he had never encountered another Perfect Golden Core cultivator to compare with.

The mysterious being within the Sacred Tianxu Mountain’s secret realm had once spoken of witnessing such geniuses in the distant past. But Lu Qing had no way to consult him now. The secret realm jade tablet was his greatest life-saving treasure, with only three uses. He would never waste one on idle curiosity.

Shaking his head, he let the doubt go. His strength was growing—faster and stronger than ever before. That was all that mattered. No cultivator would abandon their path simply because it was “too powerful.”

“Still, when I eventually break into Nascent Soul, the tribulation will be unimaginably terrifying…”

The deeper one’s foundation, the fiercer the Heavenly Tribulation. Lu Qing’s own accumulation was so vast, he could not even picture how dreadful his trial would be. Yet he felt no fear. The path of cultivation had always been a road of thorns. To shrink back before hardship was to give up the Dao itself.

Calming his thoughts, Lu Qing waved his hand again. Hundreds more Spirit Stones fell into formation, and the chamber once again filled with spiritual essence. The previous breakthrough alone had consumed nearly ten thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones. To reach the Twelfth Transformation’s perfection, who knew how much more he would need?

Thankfully, he had looted the Gongshu Clan’s second branch treasury not long ago. Otherwise, he might never have gathered enough resources.

As the chamber settled into steady rhythm, the terrifying aura faded away. Outside, Xiaoli and Wuxing finally breathed easier, though their hearts still trembled from what they had sensed. They glanced at each other, then resumed cultivation. Both knew Lu Qing had taken another monumental step forward, and the gap between them was only widening. The realization drove them to train even harder.

Time slipped by as Lu Qing remained in seclusion. The vast Tianyuan Great World continued its endless cycle of rise and fall, birthing countless talents daily. No single person’s disappearance could halt its turning.

Lu Qing’s absence stirred little notice. But his deeds in Zhou Tian City slowly spread, drawing the gaze of many watchful eyes.

“What did you say? Qiao Rong is dead?”

In the Nangong Clan, Nangong Yuanwu—his face still pale with lingering illness—jerked upright at his steward’s report, disbelief flashing in his eyes.

“Young Master, careful! Your injuries are not yet healed!” the old steward cried in alarm.

“Bah, I won’t keel over just by standing!” Yuanwu’s eyes burned bright. “Quick, tell me! How do you know Qiao Rong is dead?”

“This news has spread far and wide. They say an assassin from the Netherworld Palace infiltrated Zhou Tian City and slew Gongshu Lian in the streets. In the chaos that followed, while the Gongshu clan elders hunted the killer, the assassin slipped into the inner city…”

The steward recounted everything he had learned. If Lu Qing had been there, he would have realized that the tale—though slightly altered—still matched the events he had lived through. Clearly, whoever spread the rumor had also been present that day.

“…Finally, when the Zhou Tian Star Array was broken, the assassin used a spatial transference technique to escape. Even the Gongshu Clan’s current patriarch failed to catch him. And afterward, word spread that Qiao Rong vanished. Her soul lamp went out.”

The steward’s words left Yuanwu first stunned, then overjoyed.

“Even her soul lamp? Then it’s certain—Qiao Rong is truly dead! Just a mid-stage Golden Core, punished by her clan… she has no chance of resurrection!”

As a Nascent Soul cultivator himself, Yuanwu knew well that resurrection—though rumored to exist—was limited to the most powerful sects. And even then, the conditions were unimaginably harsh. The deceased must have preserved a portion of their soul in advance. The resources required were astronomical. Not even the most privileged heirs could be guaranteed revival.

And the Gongshu Clan had no such method. Proof enough was Gongshu Zheng, their most brilliant younger-generation Nascent Soul, who had died years ago in the Tianxu Mountain. Even he had never been revived.

Thus, with Qiao Rong’s soul lamp extinguished, her death was absolute.

Yuanwu’s heart soared.

“Ha! Who would have thought the Netherworld Palace would be so efficient? I only offered a bounty of ten thousand Spirit Stones, yet they really sent someone to kill that wretched woman!”

Indeed, the assassination order against Qiao Rong had been his doing. Years ago, she had placed a bounty on him through the Netherworld Palace, nearly ending his life. Only the chance presence of his clan’s elder had saved him. His soul had been gravely wounded, and to this day, he remained unrecovered.

How could he not hate her? Though the Saint Alliance had forced a truce between the Nangong and Gongshu clans, his grudge could never be swallowed.

Thus he had issued a counter-bounty against Qiao Rong. Though his funds were limited and he could only offer ten thousand Spirit Stones, he hadn’t expected results so swiftly.

And yet, before long, the impossible had happened. Someone had indeed taken the task—striking boldly in Zhou Tian City itself, and slaying her!

“To dare such audacity right under the Gongshu Clan’s nose… incredible. The clan must be driven mad with rage!”

Yuanwu laughed aloud, his chest swelling with relief. Even the pain of his lingering soul wound seemed to ease.

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