Golden Core Late Stage! An Unquestionable Background

Inside the sect leader's cave abode on Perilous Peak, a powerful spiritual aura spread out, rippling slowly in mid-air and even causing the air to ripple.

Within the cave abode, Spiritual Qi gathered like clusters of blooming flowers, like jade lotus blossoms filling the sky with fragrance, and countless pearls shone with Golden Light.

The jade lotus was formed by the convergence of Spiritual Qi energy surrounding Chen Dengming, and the fragrance filling the room was the pure Core Power emanating from his acupoints and pores.

The so-called Golden Elixir has been described since High Antiquity times, as it is said to be refined by capturing the sun and moon within the abdomen and simmering the universe within the body.

By refining the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within the body, one can create a elixir that combines the Three Powers of heaven, earth, and humanity, naturally releasing a rich fragrance.

This fragrant aroma, if inhaled even once, can prolong life for ordinary people. Hence the saying that "eating the flesh of immortals can grant one longevity."

As for the ten thousand bushels of bright pearls shining with Golden Light, the pearls were actually a golden core that was spinning rapidly within Chen Dengming's body at this moment, releasing the spiritual power and radiance of Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, which was extremely imposing.

At this moment, all the jade lotuses formed by the spiritual light suddenly contracted and instantly entered the pores of Chen Dengming's body.

Within his Dantian, a golden core, appearing several times larger and more substantial than before, slowly rotated.

The Golden Light released by the mist illuminated every corner of the body with unparalleled clarity.

Under the Golden Light, each muscle appeared slender yet tightly packed, full and three-dimensional, as if cast from steel. The tiny blood vessels between the muscles, various nerve endings, tendons, and the internal organs that were wrapped and protected, were all enveloped in a faint Golden Light, exuding a powerful and awe-inspiring aura.

"Buzz!--"

A surge of golden core power erupted from Chen Dengming's mind.

In an instant, a dazzling Golden Light spread from the golden core, and the body shone brightly with Golden Light, making all the muscles appear as if they were plated with gold.

His entire body radiated a subtle Golden Light as he slowly floated up from the Cold Jade Ice Crystal Bed, his skin glowing faintly with Golden Light, and the swirling spiritual light around him flickering uncertainly.

The power of the Golden Core covers the body, giving it the ability to protect itself with a golden body.

This ability might not be much to cultivators of the same realm, but it is a layer of defense that is very difficult for cultivators below the Golden Core stage to break through.

Back when Chen Dengming was able to kill the Blazing Blood Demon during his False Core stage, it was only by relying on the Human Immortal Way Power.

The player's status has also changed after the breakthrough.

"Golden Core Late Stage cultivator [Chen Dengming]"

Birthday: 123/592/1985

Spirit Root: Metal, Wood (Superior Grade 100/100).

He has actually lived to be 123 years old, having consumed nearly 600 years of his lifespan before reaching the Golden Core Late Stage realm. He still has nearly 1,400 years of lifespan remaining, making him comparable in lifespan to Nascent Soul Old Monster.

"Grandpa, you've broken through to the Golden Core Late Stage? That's amazing! Me too, I've already broken through to the Qi Cultivation Third Level!"

Just then, a childish voice called out from outside the cave abode.

"Feilin."

A smile appeared on Chen Dengming's face, and as if an invisible ripple emanated from his body, he flew outwards. A powerful force quickly subsided, and his majestic spiritual might also diminished, gradually disappearing along with the invisible ripples.

Outside the cave abode.

He Yingyu walked over with a smile, leading Chen Feilin by the hand. When she saw Chen Dengming's long-lost white hair at his temples, a hint of excitement and joy flashed across her eyes.

She hadn't seen Chen Dengming in person for almost four years.

Since Chen Dengming began his secluded cultivation, he has moved to the sect leader's cave abode to cultivate in seclusion.

The last time I crossed the border was four years ago.

This is precisely because the years of cultivation are long, and the world of enlightenment is vast.

The higher one's cultivation level, the longer one's lifespan, and the longer each period of secluded cultivation is compared to that of a lower-level cultivator.

As the understanding becomes more profound and the power required for breakthroughs is greater, the time needed for cultivation and accumulation also increases. This leads to high-level cultivators having to go all out, often spending many years in seclusion for a single cultivation session.

Chen Dengming smiled and walked towards He Yingyu and his grandson, patting his grandson's head. "Feilin, it's good that you broke through to the Qi Cultivation Third Level, but don't be arrogant, okay?"

"Grandpa, I know."

Chen Feilin tilted his head back and nodded emphatically, his smile both childlike and radiant. "My father said that I was able to break through so quickly because of the good resources you gave me, Grandpa. If I were just Rogue Cultivator from outside, it would be very difficult to cultivate so fast."

"Hmm, not bad! Your father does listen to his father after all." Chen Dengming nodded with a satisfied smile.

The Chen Family has a descendant. He cultivated immortality in his later years, and now he has achieved great success late in life, becoming an old man with a grandson. His long-cherished wish to continue the family line and expand the family has now been fulfilled.

Although carrying on the family line is a responsibility that is valued more in mortal times, cultivators, especially those like him who aim for the Nascent Soul stage, have a much weaker sense of this responsibility.

After all, the lifespan of mortals is only about a hundred years. Passing on the family line is a way of seeing offspring as a continuation of life, a kind of "hope for immortality" that cannot be achieved through seeking immortality.

Nascent Soul Cultivator live for two thousand years, and Chen Dengming's lifespan is even longer, so he has no need to rely on this kind of longevity method.

But the fact that he, as the patriarch, was able to develop the Chen Family and then let the descendants develop on their own, while only providing some assistance from the sidelines, is still quite commendable.

In fact, having reached his current status and position, he no longer needs to do anything personally.

The mere fact that numerous vassal forces and sects favored and supported the Chen Family made it easy for the Chen Family to grow.

At this moment, Chen Feilin raised his head again and said, "However, Grandpa, although my father told me not to be arrogant, my mother said that if we have resources, we should use them to cultivate. The fact that Rogue Cultivator cannot use them is just their bad luck, and they can't blame others."

If an ordinary person like my father can't cultivate, it's just bad luck!

"Whom should I listen to?"

As Chen Feilin finished speaking, his voice grew weaker. Noticing that Chen Dengming's face had darkened, he felt a pang of fear and hid behind He Yingyu.

"Junior Brother."

The couple were of one mind, He Yingyu naturally understood that Chen Dengming was already angry. She quickly took Chen Dengming's hand, shook her head slightly, and smiled, "Feilin is still young."

The coldness in Chen Dengming's eyes lessened slightly, his expression softened, and he patted Chen Feilin's head solemnly.

"Feilin, you must know that even the plants and trees of the mortal world have a heart that yearns for the sun."

Many cultivators, including myself, started as mortals and rose to immortality. Mortals should not be underestimated.

Upon hearing this, Chen Feilin's eyes immediately lit up.

In his eyes, Chen Dengming was already the most powerful person in the world. As the Longevity Sect, he was actually a mortal who had cultivated himself. It seemed that what his mother said might not be true.

At this moment, Chen Dengming felt a sense of unease.

Back when Chen Feilin was born, he had already noticed that his daughter-in-law Li Xue seemed quite dissatisfied with Chen Jing, and occasionally expressed disdain in her words, which he overheard unintentionally.

However, children and grandchildren have their own blessings.

He couldn't directly intervene in this kind of dispute between the young couple and reprimand Li Xue.

After all, although he treated all mortals equally and never looked down on them, he couldn't expect everyone to be like him.

Although Li Xue was wronged to marry Chen Jing, the resources she has gained over the years far exceed what an ordinary Qi Cultivation Cultivator could obtain.

When Fei Lin was born, Chen Dengming also rewarded him with many Law Artifacts and elixirs, hoping that Li Xue would treat Chen Jing well.

But now, Chen Feilin is speaking like this. Even if it's just childish talk and unintentional, if this continues, he'll probably start to look down on his father.

This is what Chen Dengming finds most intolerable.

"Li Xue, you've passed."

After a while, Chen Dengming asked He Yingyu to take Chen Feilin out to play, while he himself planned to return to the Chen Family Mansion.

"Junior Brother, don't be too harsh."

He Yingyu looked at Chen Dengming with her beautiful eyes, her gentle gaze conveying Divine Sense, and smiled.

"Even a day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of kindness. The two children will eventually have to live their own lives together."

Chen Dengming nodded slightly. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

He Yingyu smiled, lowered her head shyly, and turned away, leaving Chen Dengming with only her voluptuous and graceful back view.

"You haven't been out for four years. Come back soon. I made your favorite fish soup, without scallions. Drink it tonight."

Chen Dengming's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of awkwardness in them. He coughed dryly and nodded with a smile, as a response.

This fish soup is delicious; he's been drinking it for years and never gets tired of it.

But usually, besides fish soup, the girls would always try something different.

The fact that this fish soup isn't sprinkled with scallions also carries a hint of cheating.

Well, this old man cultivating immortality in his twilight years, who knows how many more years he'll enjoy this comfortable life of cultivation? Immortality is good, longevity is wonderful!

However, after leaving seclusion this time, dealing with some miscellaneous matters and comforting his senior sister, he will begin to prepare to fuse and absorb another finished Spirit Root, change the Spiritual Root Potential, and prepare for breaking through to the Golden Core Perfection stage.

These twelve years have passed in the blink of an eye. Just as the news we received years ago had revealed, the counterattack of the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance has not truly begun, and seems to have stalled at some point.

According to Chen Dengming's estimation, this stagnation is likely related to the Spirit Transformation stage expert.

He even suspected that, given the First Ancestor's temperament, the fact that he had not returned from the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm for nearly twenty years might indicate that he was seeking refuge.

But he only kept this rebellious thought to himself.

Over the years, the Sha Star Dongfang Huayuan couldn't contain himself and made several contacts with him through the Human God Hall.

Chen Dengming had basically confirmed through his probing that this Sha Star was indeed in deep trouble, in a precarious situation, and his back was no longer with the External Dao Malevolent Cultivator.

Because the information revealed by the Sha Star regarding the many masters among the External Dao Malevolent Cultivator had already betrayed the mysterious Outer Dao several times.

The authenticity of this information has gradually been confirmed by the Immortal Cultivation Alliance.

Now that the other party has shown sincerity in cooperation, Chen Dengming, after consulting with several of his senior uncles within the sect, also expressed his intention to cooperate.

However, the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance has yet to launch a counterattack.

The cooperation between the two sides has remained at the stage of initial consensus, merely exchanging information without any further development.

"The counterattack should be coming soon. I don't have much time left. In the past twelve years, that fully formed Spirit Root has shown no signs of change."

"Sui Jingshi has also broken through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level, and has broken through three levels in twelve years. After the change of Spirit Root, he did not have much difficulty adapting, and there was no more movement under the Below the Yin Spring."

Chen Dengming pondered for a moment before flying down into Evergreen City.

Having spent over four years in seclusion in his cave abode, he wanted to relive the vibrant atmosphere of city life, lest he appear young despite being over a hundred years old, while his mindset truly turned into that of an old man in his twilight years.

He used a trick to make himself look like an ordinary old man strolling along the street, hands behind his back, seemingly admiring the bustling street scene, but in reality, he was multitasking, continuing to think about his future plans.

"I can now prepare to fuse with spirits to enhance my Spirit Root and further accelerate my cultivation."

It might be difficult for him to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm before the counterattack, but reaching the Golden Core Perfection is still possible.

Especially after fusing with that top-grade Water Spirit Root, which corrected the flaws of the incompatible Spirit Root.

To be on the safe side, it would be better to observe for another ten years or so.

But with the counterattack about to begin, Chen Dengming, the Longevity Sect Leader, naturally wanted to quickly raise his Strength Realm before the war started.

Soon, Chen Dengming strolled leisurely to the urban area near the Chen Manor.

This was once a magnificent and splendid complex of buildings, but now several of them are deserted and dilapidated, and the ponds in the courtyards have long since dried up.

When Chen Dengming arrived here, he was startled by the change in the feng shui energy field and stopped in surprise.

It then took flight to inspect the residences.

But the gravel path that runs through the house appears desolate and empty, and the flowerbeds in the corners are overgrown with weeds.

Through the abandoned archway, you can see some buildings with broken tiles, cracked eaves, and a large area of gray bricks fallen off the walls. When the wind blows, only the branches of old trees sway in the wind in the desolate courtyard.

Chen Dengming frowned, his eyes filled with suspicion, and his gaze shifted to the Chen Manor located in a bustling area not far away.

The area there was still bustling with activity, a stark contrast to the desolation and quietness of this place.

These houses looked like they hadn't been lived in for over a decade, and the chilling atmosphere even seemed to carry a hint of unease.

In Evergreen City, especially in a location just two streets away from the Chen Family Mansion, this should not be the case.

Even if some cultivators move out, this place should be rented out quickly. Even if it can't be rented out for some reason, the Evergreen City Housing Affairs Office will renovate it to avoid wasting land resources.

In the Cultivation World, there are four types of resources: wealth, companions, techniques, and land. For a celestial city, the most valuable resource is undoubtedly land.

"Fellow Daoist, these houses all possess a faint, eerie resentment. Though it is very faint and difficult to detect, it cannot escape my notice."

At this moment, the voice of the Little Array Spirit came from Soul House.

"Strange! According to you, a vendetta clearly occurred here, someone died, but the resentment was specially treated and eliminated, otherwise I wouldn't have failed to notice."

Chen Dengming said calmly.

He sensed Human Immortal Way Power, as if his mind was issuing the Unseen warning. He immediately stopped, took out Sound Transmission Jade Talisman, and was about to send a message when he quickly stopped again.

As the Longevity Sect Leader, he only needed to issue a single order to understand the situation here, which would shake the entire Evergreen City and summon the cultivators in charge of the area to provide an explanation.

But his cessation of action at this point suggests that he has subtly sensed something amiss, and that some form of abuse of power may have occurred.

Seeing a cultivator living nearby emerge from his courtyard, Chen Dengming landed and blocked his way to ask him a question.

"Ah--"

The cultivator was startled, not even seeing how Chen Dengming had suddenly appeared. Just as he was about to rebuke him, he saw a bright light pierce from the eyes of the person opposite him, and a voice entered his mind.

"May I ask, fellow Daoist, why are these residences so desolate? Could it be that no one has rented them for over a decade?"

The cultivator felt that the voice of the person opposite him carried an unquestionable authority. Despite his many concerns, he dared not lie or remain silent, and spoke tremblingly.

"Senior, I... I'm not entirely sure either. No, but when I moved here six years ago, the previous owner mentioned it."

The former owners of these three houses had offended powerful figures, and therefore, they were all killed.

Chen Dengming frowned. "They've all been killed. Would the Evergreen City cultivator law enforcement patrol team have been alerted? Since so much time has passed, why are these three houses still vacant? They're all cultivators; are you perhaps too afraid to rent them?"

The cultivator responded nervously, "I don't know much about what happened before, but I heard that the Evergreen City law enforcement patrol team was alerted. However, the reason why these three residences were not rented out is..."

It's said that someone else rented the place and died there afterward, and no one dares to question the murderer to this day—they must have powerful connections. Anyway, none of these three houses are safe to live in!

"The big picture? Nobody dares to ask?" Chen Dengming laughed upon hearing this, a laugh born of extreme anger.

What kind of powerful background does the Longevity Sect have in this territory that allows them to repeatedly kill and harm people, causing this residence to be so deserted that no one dares to live there or even inquire about it?

"Then tell me, what exactly is the background of this murderer with such a powerful background?"

The cultivator panicked and hurriedly waved his hands in refusal. Even under the increasingly intense divine light emanating from Chen Dengming's eyes, he dared not utter a word and ultimately lost control of his bladder.

"Senior, I really dare not say it, I dare not say it. Please don't force me. I, I just want to stay here quietly for a while and cultivate properly. Only the rent here is suitable for this junior."

Chen Dengming raised his eyebrows as he looked at the cultivator whose crotch was emitting a foul odor. The sharp light in his eyes seemed to penetrate the other man's soul, allowing him to read the secrets he guarded deep within. Chen Dengming was deeply shocked.

"Impossible."

Chen Dengming's face was gloomy. He took out two High-grade Spirit Crystal from his Storage Bag and handed them to the other party.

"Feel sorry!"

After saying this, he turned and left, his mental energy churning and shifting.

He had just bullied the weak, made unreasonable demands, and implicated innocent people.

This is something he would almost never do, nor would he deign to do.

But under the ominous warning from his the Unseen self, he lost his composure.

However, this loss of composure paled in comparison to the shock and disbelief he felt at the information he had gleaned.

"Whoosh--"

Chen Dengming no longer concealed his identity and flew directly to the Chen Manor.

A powerful spiritual force instantly enveloped the entire Chen Manor.

(Bonus chapter after midnight!)