False Core!

Inside the cave abode.

Su Zhengyi, the head of the Su family, sat cross-legged on a futon, his teeth clenched and his brows furrowed.

It occasionally let out low growls.

At this moment, the spiritual energy within his dantian surged like boiling water.

Su Zhengyi's knuckles turned white Hand Seals, and the spiritual energy within his body continuously clashed against the shackles that had plagued him for decades.

Boom!

Boom!

The long dragon formed from spiritual energy continued to bombard him, and the violent recoil caused a trickle of blood to spill from the corner of Su Zhengyi's mouth.

But even so, it still couldn't break through that constraint.

My heart is filled with resentment.

"No! Why! Why can't I break through this barrier!"

Why?! I've tried hundreds of times, why can't I break through?!

Where exactly am I lacking? Where am I lacking?

"If the breakthrough fails, what will happen to my Su Family?"

Su Zhengyi roared inwardly, venting his pent-up resentment.

"No! Even if I die today, I will break through this shackle!"

Thinking of this, Su Zhengyi's eyes instantly turned blood red. He directly burned his remaining life force and then mobilized all the spiritual power in his body to condense a blood spear that exuded a powerful aura.

Locking onto that golden core barrier, he roared:

"Break for me...!"

The Blood Spear Spirit pierced straight into the shackles, causing its spiritual energy to tremble and its surroundings to burst open with radiant light.

Cracks appeared on the gate leading to the Golden Core stage.

Su Zhengyi's face lit up with joy. "It's done?!"

But just then, a sharp pain suddenly shot through the depths of his dantian.

A thunderclap seemed to resound in his mind, and the surging spiritual energy within him suddenly went out of control, crashing against his meridians like a wild horse.

This sudden change caused a metallic taste to rise in Su Zhengyi's throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood, which landed on the Spirit Gathering Formation inside the cave abode.

The golden core that was about to be successfully formed instantly began to twist and collapse. Without the favor of the Principle of heaven and earth and the tempering and baptism of the Thirty-nine Heavenly Tribulations, it finally slowly condensed into a gray pill.

It floats quietly in the Qi Sea.

The pill body had no aura, no spiritual light, and the flow of spiritual energy was sluggish and slow.

Only a faint trace of the elixir's essence could be sensed.

At the very moment the core was formed, Su Zhengyi's cultivation level slowly rose, surpassing the Foundation Establishment Peak, but not yet reaching the Early Golden Core.

His originally aged appearance slowly transformed into that of a middle-aged man.

Sensing this change within his body, Su Zhengyi gave a bitter smile and a long sigh.

The clenched fist slowly loosened.

"False Core? What's the point of breaking through to the False Core given the current situation of the Su Family?!"

Su Zhengyi slumped to the ground, all his spiritual energy dissipating.

Damaged meridians, clouded consciousness

Once the False Core is formed, there will be no possibility of ever touching the Great Dao again in this lifetime.

His combat power surpassed that of Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator, yet he had already entered the Early Golden Core True Person.

The rest of my life will be nothing more than eking out a living in this ruined state.

The only consolation was that his lifespan had increased.

Although one cannot achieve the five hundred years of lifespan of the Golden Elixir, living for three or four hundred years is still possible.

However, the cultivation level of False Core is far from enough to help the Su Family overcome the current calamity.

He... in the end, failed the expectations of his people.

He stood up, his mood somber and his eyes dim, and walked to the entrance of the cave abode.

Take a deep breath; what needs to be faced must be faced.

With a wave of his hand, the stone door opened.

What came into view was the Ancestor and the Seven Elders of the clan.

And also the core members of the Lineage.

Seeing Su Zhengyi walk out, Su Jiaru knew that her breakthrough had failed; the Thirty-nine Heavenly Tribulations had not manifested, and the Golden Core had not been formed.

Just as she was sighing inwardly, Su Zhengyi suddenly knelt down in front of the Ancestor.

With tears in his eyes and a tone full of resentment and apology, he said, "Ancestor... I'm sorry."

I'm sorry everyone, I failed to break through to the Golden Core stage and let you down.

"I'm the one who dragged the Su Family into this Abyss."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As he spoke, Su Zhengyi kept kowtowing, his forehead bruised and battered, but he showed no sign of stopping.

Tears mingled with blood, splattering everywhere.

Just then, Su Jiaru, with her aged arms, placed her hand on Su Zhengyi's shoulder and lifted him up.

He smiled and straightened his collar.

There was no blame in his eyes, only relief.

He said, "Actually, I knew you wouldn't be able to break through to the Golden Core Realm when you went into seclusion."

Neither you nor Su Zhengguo can break through.

One reason is that your Qi and Blood Decline.

Secondly, because of their unstable State of Mind, and with the Su Family facing a life-or-death crisis, the pressure and responsibility on your shoulders are too great. In a single instance, none of you will be able to break through to the Golden Core stage.

Your breakthrough to the False Core Formation realm was already beyond expectations.