Nearly five hours later, Jiang Ping stepped out of the Yin Yang Furnace.
"I strongly suspect that it's not that he couldn't last longer, but that the thunder stopped."
A Golden Core cultivator looked at Jiang Ping, whose skin was almost undamaged except for some tattered clothes, and said in a deep voice.
"Selected by our Old Ancestor, they are naturally gifted beyond compare."
Aunt Jiang Jun smiled, then couldn't help but complain to Jiang Jun, giving the impression of using someone else's child to "encourage" her own family.
Jiang Jun shrugged, showing little emotion.
He lived in Jiang Saint Dojo and knew Jiang Ping's strength better than these people. Jiang Ping had mastered the Changchun Mystic Skill to a great extent, and his Heavenly Might Technique was unmatched by his Peers. In addition, Jiang Ping had recovered his Bone Technique, making it difficult for him to get injured.
"The next lightning strike will be in seven or eight days. Go back and prepare to unleash another powerful attack."
Jiang Saint, Jiang Yuan Sheng's son, spoke up.
A single Spring Thunder wouldn't be enough to allow all the Golden Core to break through their cultivation levels immediately; it's estimated that a few might succeed over the entire season.
Although the Yin Yang Furnace can speed things up, refining the Golden Core into Different Force is no easy task.
But!
The Half-Saint watched the young man walk back.
Except Jiang Ping.
He's incredibly resilient!
Heavenly Thunder ignites Earth Fire, all of which burn for it.
A Villa within Jiang Saint Dojo.
Xie Wuji lay on the chair, bathed in moonlight, while the birds in the cage beside him chirped incessantly.
Since his injury left him with little time left, he had given up any thought of cultivation, spending his days either playing with birds or planting flowers and grass.
Especially as his impending annihilation drew ever closer, he cherished each day and rarely participated in matters of the outside world.
For example, in the Imperial City, a Super First-rate Prodigy whom he had personally thrown into Great Prison seems to have been rescued by his Half-Saint ancestor and is now visiting relatives and friends in the city, lively and energetic.
In the past, that genius would have been beaten half to death by him first, and then thrown into Great Prison with double the sentence.
But now, upon hearing this news, he remains unmoved and calm.
For example, a young man he had his eye on had just broken one of Xiao Yucheng's records, but he didn't even bother to take a look at him.
Well, if that young couple gets pregnant, Xie Wuji might be willing to go.
As the old man breathed in the fresh air and gazed at the Ming Yue, a sudden stirring arose in his heart.
He whispered, "I'm perfectly open-minded and unafraid of Life and Death, so why do I sometimes feel reluctant to leave as the day draws nearer?"
"Perhaps the world is too dazzling, and I can't bear to leave, I can't get enough of it." Xie Wuji smiled.
After a long while, a soft sigh slowly drifted over.
Ultimately, he wanted to see the young people's bright future.
Knock knock.
A knocking sounded suddenly at the door.
"Come in, the door's unlocked."
Xie Wuji spoke weakly, a hint of doubt in his eyes. Who would come so late? Jiang Jun?
Lately, only that silly boy has been coming to see him often, while the promising young man is busy with his cultivation.
A moment later, a figure appeared before them.
It was Jiang Ping.
Xie Wuji smiled; this person was still willing to make time to come.
"Have a seat." He gestured to the chair beside him, then smiled.
"I heard you broke Xiao Yucheng's record, not bad, not bad."
"Ordinary things can be easily broken if someone wants to."
Jiang Ping remained calm and didn't seem to care much about such things.
"It wasn't easy either. When Jiang Saint first tried to refine the Golden Core, he only lasted about three hours."
Xie Wuji looked at the young man with satisfaction, and then asked:
"You are different from other miscellaneous cultivators; your progress is rapid. When will you break through and establish yourself at the Fourth Transformation of the Golden Core?"
"Hmm..." Jiang Ping pondered for a moment and said, "It'll be soon. A few more boils and I should be able to break through."
"Alright." Xie Wuji nodded and said, "Spring Thunder isn't frequent enough. By the time of the Beginning of Summer, there will be more thunder and lightning. With your talent, perhaps..."
He paused for a moment, then said, "You have established yourself at the Twelfth Stage True Qi in the Golden Core, your foundation is very deep. If you only rely on the Yin Yang Furnace of the Jiang Saint family, you may find it difficult to break through to the Seventh Transformation. You must go to a Mysterious Mountain outside the Imperial City."
"Oh? Is there any explanation?" Jiang Ping raised an eyebrow.
"That was modified by the First Master of the Imperial City, a deceased Great Being of the Spirit Wander Realm," Xie Wuji said slowly.
"This mountain is special; it can draw upon the Five Elements Dao Rhythm, ultimately evolving into Yin and Yang. It was one of the cultivation grounds for that Spirit Wander Realm cultivator. However, due to the ravages of time, the Five Elements Terrain is no longer what it once was."
"However, it is still of great help in the refinement of the Golden Core Elixir."
"Of course, even in a desolate place, it's not a place where ordinary Golden Core cultivators can refine their essence. Usually, only those at the Seventh Turn of Golden Core cultivation or above can enter the mountain. But you have a solid foundation, so entering with the Sixth Turn cultivation shouldn't be a problem."
That being said, Jiang Ping must first Golden Core Sixth Turn stage before the mountain opens; otherwise, he would have to wait several years to enter.
"Give it your all." Jiang Ping nodded solemnly; he still really wanted to improve his cultivation level quickly.
"It will open before the heavy snow closes the mountain, so the training time may be a bit tight. I suggest you temporarily give up your comprehension of the Changshi Fist."
Xie Wuji suddenly said.
He knew that this young man had been studying that Life Fist, and even the Martial Saint Changchun had given him notes. He guessed that the young man had heard that Jiang Ping was obsessed with it and hoped to have another like-minded person.
However, Xie Wuji did not want Jiang Ping to waste time on this Fist Technique, which had no follow-up and was not worth cultivating.
"Uh..." Jiang Ping was speechless for a moment, which was why he was here.
Then, he took out a Painting scroll from his pocket and handed it to the old man. "Senior, please take a look."
"What?"
With a sense of doubt, Xie Wuji unfurled the Painting scroll.
The painting isn't very aesthetically pleasing; the ancient trees and flowers are painted rather roughly.
"Little Jiang lacks the Painting Essence," Xie Wuji thought to himself.
He squinted as he observed, initially criticizing the young man's poor painting skills in his mind. However, his gaze soon sharpened, and he realized that this was no ordinary person.
Boom!
Xie Wuji possessed a high level of understanding; he quickly Sympathetic Resonance with the painting and realized something was amiss.
"This is Fist Technique, and it's related to life?"
He raised an eyebrow slightly; the Fist Technique seemed unfamiliar, but it was related to life and death.
As the resonance deepened, the old man's expression changed repeatedly.
No.
Not entirely unfamiliar, somewhat familiar; had he practiced before?
Xie Wuji gave Jiang Ping a deep look, then continued into the painting.
After a while, his chest heaved violently.
"Is this the Changshi Fist?"
The old man sat up abruptly, staring at Jiang Ping in disbelief, and said in a trembling voice:
"I sensed Artistic Conception from this Painting scroll that I'd never experienced before, yet it felt strangely familiar... it's... Changshi Fist!"
Jiang Ping nodded slightly, pondering, "I have broadened the concept of the Changshi Fist to the Six-tenths Concept Realm. I wonder if this can extend your life, senior."
He used the Painting scroll to convey his Artistic Conception, hoping that the senior would deeply feel it and be able to cultivate faster. As for its life-extending effect, that remains to be seen.
"Gurgle."
Xie Wuji couldn't help but swallow hard, looking at Jiang Ping with a mixture of surprise, delight, and deep disbelief—a very complex feeling.
This Fist Technique is not unprincipled; many martial arts masters have studied it. For example, the Martial Saint Changchun, who was most skilled in the Way of Life, spent many years comprehending it and barely gained some understanding.
However, this young man in front of me has only been practicing this style of Fist Technique for less than five months!
Jiang Ping, he actually!!?
Xie Wuji still couldn't believe it and asked for confirmation, saying, "Wait for me a moment."
Then, the old man became immersed in the Painting scroll again. As time passed, he was bathed in a vibrant Vitality Essence, and his gaunt face seemed to gain a luster.
When he came to his senses, he clearly felt that his weakened body seemed to have regained some vitality.
Lifespan seems to be...
Xie Wuji looked up at Jiang Ping with an extremely complicated expression.
He fell silent.