Don't Leave Home Until Purple Gold

Boom!

Spiritual energy continuously surged in from all around, the commotion growing ever more immense.

"As expected of a Golden Cauldron genius. He broke through so quickly."

Watching the disturbance caused by the breakthrough next door, Bai Jing could not help but praise him.

Reaching the Dao Platform Realm meant completely bidding farewell to one's mortal flesh. One could finally be considered to have entered through the gates of the immortal path, feeding on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from then on, cultivating the Dao laws of rules, and wielding all manner of wondrous techniques.

Without a doubt, Li Huai'an had to be the first among Spiritual Elegance Peak's newcomers to break through.

Of course, Bai Jing was not far behind. Under the fierce medicinal effects of the High-grade Qi Replenishing Pill, his cultivation had also reached the eleventh Blood Qi Gate several days ago. His progress was not slow in the slightest.

What he needed to do now was open the meridians throughout his body, purge away the impurities within, achieve an immaculate body, and then he could condense the Heaven and Earth Dao Platform.

Bai Jing observed for a moment before returning to the cultivation chamber.

He sat down cross-legged once more, steadied his mind, and looked into his sea of consciousness.

Within the scorched earth, the Talent Tree had grown ever taller. Though it lacked flowers and leaves for adornment, it possessed a charm all its own.

Most importantly, the sixth slender branch had already grown out.

He had originally thought that only after breaking through to the Dao Platform Realm and devouring the Morning Glow Spiritual Tide at the Heaven Scroll's terrifying speed would it grow quickly.

Who would have thought that plans could not keep pace with change? Before breaking through to the Dao Platform Realm, he had been given this unexpected delight.

The moment this branch had grown, he had marked it with the concealment Lesser Divine Ability, Minor Divine Concealment.

Minor Divine Concealment · Not Yet Initiated (35/200)

Buzz!

Bai Jing activated this Lesser Divine Ability. At once, that otherworldly air about him vanished completely. He now looked exactly like an ordinary person, without even the faintest hint of the pressure belonging to someone nearing the Dao Platform Realm.

Even though it had not yet been initiated, Ling Qinghe, despite possessing Dharma Eyes, likely would not be able to see through him in the slightest.

Next, he looked toward the branch engraved with formations.

Minor Star Array (Cannot be improved)
Star Array Basics (Cannot be improved)

"I thought the Concealment Grand Array I exchanged for before could also be marked onto this branch. Now it seems formations must be further divided by type. If I want to unlock this formation's proficiency, I'll have to mark it onto a blank branch."

Bai Jing looked at a floating bubble beside the Talent Tree and pondered.

As his realm rose higher, the techniques he cultivated became more numerous. The Talent Tree's branches were still not enough.

He shook his head, no longer dwelling on it, and finally looked toward the immortal foundation scripture.

Golden Cauldron (28/500)

A curve lifted at the corner of Bai Jing's lips.

While increasing his cultivation, he had never forgotten to improve the foundation of his immortal path. It could be said that this was the root of strength.

After more than another month of cultivation, the Purple Cauldron had long since transformed into an unparalleled Golden Cauldron.

Buzz!

At that moment, an ancient cauldron glowing with golden radiance flickered in and out of sight within Bai Jing's body.

Blood Qi streaked with golden light flowed within the cauldron, emanating an aura deep and vast.

Compared to the Purple Cauldron, the Golden Cauldron's interior was several times more spacious. Moreover, the golden color staining its Blood Qi made it several times denser.

In other words, if Purple Cauldron and Golden Cauldron cultivators stood at the same level, the latter would inevitably crush the former.

This was also why Golden Cauldron geniuses like Li Huai'an could look down upon everyone else.

And the Golden Cauldron's abilities and marvelous applications went far beyond this. Only at the Dao Platform Realm, and even the Inner Core Realm, would its greatest power truly reveal itself.

Of course, the talent that countless disciples yearned for was merely a transitional stage for Bai Jing now.

And a particularly crucial one.

Because he truly did not dare reveal himself. He did not even dare release a thread of Blood Qi from within his body.

His main concern was that the divine sense of some great cultivator on Shangqing Mountain might catch it. If he later condensed the Purple Gold Immortal Cauldron, how would he explain it?

Therefore—

Bai Jing glanced sideways at the pile of jade bottles containing Qi Replenishing Pills beside his meditation cushion.

Before breaking through from the Purple Cauldron to the Golden Cauldron, he had already made preparations.

It was precisely because he feared something might go wrong during this crucial Golden Cauldron stage.

Thus, until the foundation within his body reached the level of the Purple Gold Immortal Cauldron, he would not leave home no matter what during this period.

One month later.

Buzz!

Inside a cave abode on the upper peak, a transmission jade talisman lit up. Lin Changsheng opened his eyes and checked the message upon it before rising to his feet.

Not long after.

Lin Changsheng arrived at a grand and spacious courtyard.

In the courtyard, a somewhat older man was fishing beside a small lake.

The lake's surface was quite lively. Water splashed and rippled, shimmering beneath the light.

Schools of highly valuable spirit fish swam through the shallow water, while others lively leaped from the surface.

Yet not a single one took the man's bait.

Some large fish even poked their heads above the water right before him and stared directly at him with their eyes, carrying a distinct air of mockery.

The man remained expressionless. Even after seeing the fishes' behavior, he did not react. Only when he heard movement outside did he put away his fishing rod.

The fish cheerfully slapped their tails against the water, seemingly rather pleased with themselves, when the person onshore spoke faintly.

"Mm, not bad. They've all become smart. They seem to have developed spiritual intelligence, which makes them more valuable. Drain the lake tomorrow, slaughter them one by one, and prepare a grand fish feast to present to the elders. We can earn a divine ability or two."

"Senior Disciple Yun, why did you summon me?"

By then, Lin Changsheng had arrived.

Yun He tossed his fishing rod into the grass and led him toward a nearby pavilion.

"Three days from now, the Newcomer Competition will be held at Fire Spirit Peak. Take Li Huai'an and the disciples who have broken through to the Dao Platform Realm there," Yun He said.

Lin Changsheng was taken aback upon hearing this, then said, "Hasn't the newcomer competition always been held only after newcomers have entered for half a year?"

"An elder suddenly wishes to accept a final disciple, so this competition has been moved forward. Take them there. If any disciple is chosen, it will be an immense immortal opportunity," Yun He explained.

Lin Changsheng nodded.

"Go drain the lake and kill all the fish. Before you came up the mountain, you were a cook. Your cooking was peerless. My spirit fish feast depends on you."

Hearing the sudden order, Lin Changsheng's expression shifted slightly.

So Senior Disciple had summoned him here not for this matter at all, but to make him serve as a cook.

That evening.

No. 13, Southwest Street.

Inside the attic, Lin Changsheng said, "Make your preparations. There will be a Newcomer Competition in three days."

Across from him, Li Huai'an wore the robes of Spiritual Elegance Peak, his face showing surprise. "Senior Brother, the competition is starting already?"

"Yes. An elder will personally select disciples then. You need to perform well and see whether you can take first place."

"First place?" Li Huai'an gave a bitter smile. "Including me, there are six newcomers who have condensed Golden Dao Platforms. Taking first place in the competition may be beyond my strength, despite my ambitions."

"Just go all out and fight for it. You are no weaker than those five. Besides, making the top ten earns two hundred Immortal Merit, while the top three receive five hundred. That is a substantial amount of resources."

As he spoke, he handed over a list. "These are the disciples from Spiritual Elegance Peak who will be participating. Notify them one by one on my behalf."

Li Huai'an accepted the list and nodded.

He gave it a brief glance, then could not help asking, "Bai Jing isn't on it?"

"Bai Jing?" Lin Changsheng shook his head and smiled. "I haven't even received word from him yet. That fellow seems not to have broken through to the Dao Platform Realm even now."

"Besides, he is a formation cultivator. Naturally, he will not participate in a Spiritual Cultivator competition. Why bring him up, Junior Brother?"

"Just asking," Li Huai'an said casually, offering no further explanation.

He had learned that Bai Jing had passed the trial as the number one in the wind element. With the Heaven Scroll's aid, his strength should not have been poor.

What a pity. He had not even broken through to the Dao Platform Realm yet.

"Oh, right. Ask the newcomers who have yet to break through to the Dao Platform Realm. If any wish to go watch, they can register. I'll take them there to broaden their horizons," Lin Changsheng added at last.

I'm a bit stuck on the plot, so the second update will be slightly later.