Inner Core Test

Li Fire Sect was not particularly strict in its control over books such as personal biographies, travel journals of mountains and rivers, and storybooks.

These were all uniformly classified as miscellaneous books and placed on the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion. They were freely available to all disciples, but could not be taken outside.

Naturally, the contents of these books contained some distortions, and some were outdated, but they could still serve as an important channel for gathering information.

Xiao Chen expertly found the Storybook Section. This time, he was not here to read stories, but with a purpose in mind, he began searching through content related to Inner Cores.

For three consecutive days, he focused on this matter, pouring all his free time into the Scripture Pavilion.

Finally, on the fourth day, he found a clue in a storybook titled Quanzhou Travel.

Spirit Beasts that had not reached Foundation Establishment did indeed have an exceedingly tiny chance of forming an Inner Core!

Such cases usually occurred when certain special Spirit Beasts suffered stimulation that triggered a Bloodline Ancestral Return, allowing them to gain an Inner Core ahead of time.

Some of these Inner Cores were defective, some were half-finished products, but they could also be flawless True Inner Cores.

Under normal circumstances, a Spirit Beast that awakened a True Inner Core had a ninety-eight percent chance of growing into a Golden Core Great Demon in the future, transforming its Inner Core into a Golden Core.

Thus, such True Inner Cores were even more precious than the Inner Cores of ordinary Foundation Establishment Spirit Beasts.

But whether it was truly a True Inner Core still had to be tested using a certain little trick.

Perhaps to show off his breadth of knowledge, the author of this storybook happened to describe this obscure trick in great detail.

Xiao Chen immediately memorized the method, then headed to the market to purchase several raw materials needed for the test.

"Fine Fire Orchid pistils, Ten Spirit Stones per two taels."

The vendor's face was all smiles, but the price he named was outrageously high.

Xiao Chen suspected he had misheard. "How much did you say? Ten Spirit Stones per two taels? Why don't you just rob me?"

If he remembered correctly, when he had passed through the market last year, this stuff had originally sold for only one Spirit Stone. Even with price fluctuations, it should not have suddenly gone up tenfold.

The vendor immediately explained with an aggrieved look, "Oh, young master, it's not as if you don't know. The number of trade caravans has been falling for seven straight months, and the market is out of stock everywhere now."

"I had to beg high and low before I managed to get these pistils at a steep price. Where could you possibly find a cheaper price nowadays?"

Xiao Chen had already noticed that the market was far quieter today than when he had last visited.

At first, he thought he had merely come at an unfortunate time. He had not expected there to be another reason behind it.

"You're not trying to swindle me, are you? I'll ask around elsewhere first."

"Young master, if you want to buy, you'd better come back soon. I won't save this little bit of stock for you."

Xiao Chen made a circuit around Li Fire Market, and only then did he clearly feel the difference.

Half a year ago, Jiang Sixuan had treated guests at White Jade Teahouse. He remembered that there had also been all kinds of restaurants and shops outside.

Now, only half a year later, a full third of the shops along the street were closed even in broad daylight.

The remaining businesses were struggling as well, with barely any customers wandering about.

Even some of the attendants standing at their storefronts could not be bothered to call out when they saw him pass by.

After making a full round, and combining what he had heard from passersby along the way, Xiao Chen roughly understood what had happened.

Li Province, where Li Fire Sect was located, lay on the westernmost edge of the Southern Wilderness. To the west and south stretched tens of thousands of li of unbroken active volcanoes, with spiritual energy so scarce that the region could be called a death trap.

To the north stood an enormous mountain range filled with untamed Demonic Beasts. It was said that there was more than one Golden Core Demonic Beast within.

Thus, its connection with the outside world depended heavily on neighboring He Province. And right beside He Province was Quanzhou.

Unfortunately, Reflecting Moon Immortal Sect, Quanzhou's original great orthodox sect, had suffered a complete defeat in its war against the Demonic Sect's heretical Divine Fire Sect. More than ninety percent of Quanzhou had already fallen.

The rise of the Demonic Sect had severed the trade routes, and Li Fire Market had been affected as well.

The news was absolutely true. A small family originally from Quanzhou had even fled to Li Province for refuge and opened a Flying Sword Shop on the Market Outer Perimeter.

Xiao Chen glanced inside from the street. Blue light filled his vision, and water spiritual energy was remarkably active.

It was utterly different from Li Fire Market's local atmosphere of revering fire, making for a rather distinctive sight.

So after wandering about, he returned to that little stall.

"Young master, I didn't lie to you, did I? That's the market price now. I'm only earning a little hard-earned money myself."

The man was definitely jacking up the price on the spot, but Xiao Chen still had to buy the stuff. After all, the Inner Core was important.

"Five Spirit Stones per two taels. I'll take it all."

There was a total of one jin and two taels of pistils here. Xiao Chen needed one jin, so buying the whole lot was no problem, and it would give him an excuse to haggle.

The vendor repeatedly shook his head. "That won't do, young master. I had a hard time getting this stock too. At most, I can knock off one Spirit Stone."

Xiao Chen held up seven fingers. "One price: seven Spirit Stones. If you agree, I'll pay right now. If you don't, I'm leaving."

"With the market like this, even if you keep this stall open for a few more months, you might not sell it all. It would just be a pity for these goods."

Freshness was crucial for pistils. Otherwise, this vendor would never have had the chance to make this money; the shops of the Great Families would have monopolized it long ago.

If he dragged it out for two months, the value of these pistils would shrink by at least half.

The vendor gritted his teeth and yielded. "Fine. Consider it me making a friend of you, young master. Even if I lose money on this deal, I'll do it. But I want cash on the spot."

Even so, Xiao Chen still spent a full eighty-four Spirit Stones.

Adding the other materials, the total came to one hundred and thirty-three Spirit Stones, equivalent to slightly more than three and a half years of his monthly stipend.

After returning to his residence, Xiao Chen ground all the materials into powder, put them into a small jar and poured in spirit spring water, then placed that Golden Orb inside as well.

This time, he had truly gone all in. He hoped what he had obtained was a True Inner Core.

At first, the little orb sank to the bottom without any reaction.

Following the storybook's records, Xiao Chen stimulated it with mana at different intervals, repeating the process three times.

The little orb finally reacted, beginning to emit a pressure that only a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast possessed.

But that pressure lasted only an instant before fading due to the lack of sufficient mana to sustain it.

Next, the little orb began drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy on its own, absorbing vast amounts of fire spiritual power along with it.

The water's surface began to boil. The little orb rose straight up and floated at the very top, radiating a faint red glow.

According to the storybook's records, the more fire spiritual power it could withstand, the more complete the Inner Core was.

A defective product could absorb only three taels of Fire Orchid, a half-finished one could absorb six taels, while a finished product could take in more than one jin.

As fire spiritual power continuously flowed into the Inner Core, the red light grew brighter and brighter, painting the room's walls a vivid red.

"One jin!"

Xiao Chen's spirits surged. There was barely any Pistil Powder left in the small jar. He had truly obtained a complete Demonic Beast Inner Core.

A thought instantly sprang into his mind—I'm rich now!

Then he immediately realized that he needed to keep a low profile and keep it secret. After all, a True Inner Core was far too valuable.

The Inner Core, now filled with fire spiritual power, gave off a bright radiance and looked exceptionally beautiful.

But Xiao Chen decisively took out the Storage Box and sealed it away.

From this day onward, unless he broke through to Late-Stage Qi Refining and attempted Foundation Establishment, he would never open this box.

After clearing away all traces of the test, Xiao Chen calmed his excited heart before remembering the Purple Peach Blossom.

He had been too busy these past two days to consume it.

Just as he was about to take a bite, a sudden knock, knock, knock sounded outside his door.

"Senior Brother Xiao, are you free tonight? I came to treat you to dinner."

Xiao Chen immediately recognized the visitor—Su Wanqing!

Why was she here?