Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 262 - 197: Golden Core! Golden Core!

Five Elements Secret Realm.

Within the cave dwelling, Zhang Yao sat behind the green jade table, brewing tea and sipping it leisurely, his expression serene.

More than forty years have passed, his appearance has hardly changed, but his aura has become vast like a deep sea, with faint traces of a Flood Dragon rising.

The cultivation environment within the secret realm far surpasses that of the Cangjiang Water Mansion.

The Spirit Gathering Array arranged here is of extremely high grade, with the concentration of Spiritual Qi comparable to a medium-sized Spirit Vein, making it a rare treasure land for cultivation.

Twenty years ago, Zhang Yao had already naturally reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, refining his top grade Dao Foundation into a Golden Core Embryo.

For the next twenty years:

He polished his magical power and Dao Foundation, tempered his Divine Soul and Divine Thought, cultivated his temperament, and harmonized his mental realm, all in preparation for core formation.

Given his robust foundation and the spiritual pills and spiritual objects in his possession, core formation itself is not difficult, with enough confidence to succeed in one go, directly refining a top grade Golden Core.

However, forming a First Grade Golden Core is quite challenging.

Dao Foundation has three grades, Golden Core has nine grades.

As a cultivator of the "Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature," he must form a First Grade Golden Core; otherwise, his future path will be severed, unable to refine the 'Nine Colored Celestial Wheel,' or reach the Nascent Soul Stage.

"Twenty years of cultivating the heart and soul, magical power mechanism flawless perfection, seven or eight parts assured to refine a First Grade Golden Core."

In Zhang Yao's mind, thoughts flickered:

"I've done everything I can, and in this secret realm, further tempering seems unnecessary…"

Forming a core is very difficult, and forming a top grade Golden Core is even more so.

As far as he knows, the few Golden Core Ancestors within the Da Li territory are all middle grade Golden Core, with the strongest being the former ancestor of the Pingdu Sect, merely a Fourth Grade Golden Core.

As for the lower three grades of Golden Core, those are rarely seen, mostly formed through evil paths and quick success methods, damaging the Dao Foundation, with the Golden Core deficient and the path already severed.

Without sufficient accumulation and external treasures to assist, even Celestial Spirit Root cultivators are mostly unlikely to achieve a top grade Golden Core, let alone a First Grade Golden Core that stands above all others.

"Crack."

Zhang Yao took out a piece of Spiritual Gold, chewed and swallowed it in two or three bites, then took a sip of Spirit Tea.

For over forty years, he has consumed numerous spiritual artifacts, spiritual pills, and Spiritual Gold Treasure Materials daily, continuously enhancing himself through the 'Array of the Six Harmonies and the Profound Abyss.'

Though the 'Array of the Six Harmonies and the Profound Abyss' offers many enhancement routes, he, like Yu Wen Tai in the past, chose to focus mainly on enhancing his physique.

Firstly, this route is most convenient and quick, with relatively better cost-effectiveness, and doesn't require deliberate searching for Spiritual Gold Treasure Materials;

Secondly, this route aligns most closely with the cultivation path after forming a Golden Core, offering the broadest prospects, truly reaching the level comparable to a high-level Body Refining Cultivator.

"Hmm…"

Zhang Yao flexed his fingers, feeling the changes in his body strength, his gaze flickering:

"Over these years, the strength of my physique has increased more than double."

"To reach the level of Yu Wen Tai's original self would take too long, and it doesn't contribute much to achieving Golden Core…"

Back then, Yu Wen Tai endured for over a hundred years, establishing an invincible Foundation Establishment strength, but it was out of necessity.

If he could obtain high-quality Soul Thought Aura, he would have already broken through to Golden Core, not waiting for a century.

"Then I won't delay!"

Zhang Yao resolved, standing up and drinking the tea to the last drop:

"The time has come, I should form the core!"

He entered the cultivation quiet chamber, sealing the door and activating multiple arrays before sitting cross-legged and flicking his sleeve.

The Heaven and Earth Treasure 'Earth Milk,' Third grade Spirit Pill 'Qianyuan Solidification Pill,' and Third grade Spiritual Object 'Thunder Soul Crystal,' all appeared before him.

These three spiritual objects were carefully selected by the Five Elements Wanderer back then, corresponding respectively to the three major stages of core formation, maximizing the success rate when combined.

First is the Earth Milk:

'Celestial Dew,' 'Earth Milk,' can be considered the most famous Heaven and Earth Treasures, with the Earth Milk produced from tens of thousands of feet underground, only collectible by Nascent Soul Stage old monsters adept in Earth Escape Divine Techniques.

Earth Milk greatly enhances and purifies magical power, fortifies the Dao Foundation, known as the 'First Spiritual Object for Core Formation,' of unparalleled value.

Next is the Qianyuan Solidification Pill.

This was personally refined by Zhang Yao three years ago, succeeding on the first attempt and saving two portions of materials.

Over more than forty years, he has almost fully absorbed Yu Wen Tai's memories of various knowledge and techniques, achieving Third grade proficiency in alchemy, artifact refining, and talisman making.

His fundamental skill in array formation has even reached upper Third grade level, surpassing most Golden Core Stage Array Masters.

Finally is the Third grade Spiritual Object 'Thunder Soul Crystal.'

This is the lowest value among the three treasures, but comparable to a Golden Core Treasure, mainly for use in conjunction with Earth Milk and Qianyuan Solidification Pill.

"Hoo!"

Zhang Yao took a deep breath, first picking up the jade bottle containing Earth Milk, unlocking the restriction, removing the stopper, and swallowing it with raised head.

"Boom…"

The Earth Milk melted instantly upon entering the mouth, transforming into surging warm currents, gathering into the Dao Foundation along the limbs and bones, automatically circulating through the cycle.

The already exceptionally pure Foundation Establishment magical power began to transform spontaneously under the stimulation of Earth Milk.

Zhang Yao seized the moment, operating the core formation technique recorded in the "Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature," rapidly purifying the magical power, further elevating its quality.