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Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Golden Core (金丹) |
| Classification | A major cultivation realm and the condensed core formed within a cultivator. |
| Prerequisite | Foundation Establishment Perfection; cultivators seek a suitable opportunity and spiritual energy to condense a core 139 164 178. |
| Known Variants | High-Grade Golden Core; Void-Shattering Sword Core; Great Dao Golden Core; Infinite Great Dao Golden Core; Extreme Dao Golden Core 139 183 327. |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core-formation preparation | 178 | Lu Li consumes the Infinite Golden Core while cultivating at Mermaid Island’s main spiritual vein; his Yin Yang Primordial Kunpeng Demon Divine Art begins refining it. |
| Golden Core, First Layer — Infinite Great Dao Golden Core | 183 | After surviving the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation and overcoming repeated failures caused by a Single-Horned Thousand-Eyed Corrosion Demon, Lu Li condenses an Infinite Great Dao Golden Core using Innate Yin-Yang power. |
| Golden Core, Second Layer | 235 | Lu Li’s Golden Core mana doubles to the equivalent of two hundred Hua Liu after his breakthrough. |
| Golden Core, Fourth Layer | 246 | Devouring Supreme Demon Essence raises Lu Li through multiple levels to the fourth layer; his mana reaches four hundred Hundred Flower Flow units, and his Kunpeng art evolves. |
| Golden Core, Seventh Layer | 262 | Lu Li is identified as a seventh-layer Golden Core cultivator while breaking a grand formation formed by thousands of Golden Cores. |
| Nascent Soul, First Layer | 320, 324 | Lu Li advances beyond the Golden Core realm, entering Nascent Soul. |
Formation
Golden Core formation begins after a cultivator reaches Foundation Establishment Perfection and obtains sufficient spiritual energy, resources, and opportunity. Lu Li’s own breakthrough was aided by the Infinite Golden Core, Dragon Blood, and Mermaid Island’s main spiritual vein 127 178.
The process can invoke a Golden Core Lightning Tribulation. During Lu Li’s formation, his Kunpeng manifestation devoured the descending heavenly lightning, but Immortal Lord Shenjue’s interference repeatedly disrupted the convergence of his demonic clouds 181.
Lu Li attempted core formation four times before the interference of a Single-Horned Thousand-Eyed Corrosion Demon was exposed. His demonic dragon and Rong’er destroyed and swallowed the Heavenly Demon, allowing the final formation to succeed 182 192.
Known Core Types
| Core Type | Known User / Example | Documented Traits |
|---|---|---|
| High-Grade Golden Core | Bai Jinfei | A high-quality core successfully condensed by Bai Jinfei 139. |
| Void-Shattering Sword Core | Ling Jianshuang | Formed after she opened the Heavenly Gate with a single sword strike; described as the first of its kind in the Heavenly River Sword Sect in five thousand years 139. |
| Great Dao Golden Core | Lu Li; reportedly the Dao Alliance Leader | Surpasses superior-grade, Five Elements, Dragon Soul, and Void-Shattering cores. Its presence makes nearby Golden Core cultivators feel fear and an urge to submit 183. |
| Infinite Golden Core | Prepared for Lu Li | Refined from the Ten-Thousand-Year Immortal-Transforming Ganoderma. It requires numerous Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Herbs, and is said to grant boundless Golden Core magic power after consumption 127. |
| Infinite Great Dao Golden Core | Lu Li | The result of Lu Li’s Infinite Golden Core-assisted formation. It stores seemingly limitless mana and produces magic power comparable to twelve Yang Xu immediately after formation 183. |
| Extreme Dao Golden Core | Qi Tianjiao | Formed through the Spirit Race’s Heaven-Refining Art 327. |
Properties
Great Dao Golden Core
Lu Li’s Great Dao Golden Core manifests as a lychee-sized core with black-and-white yin-yang fish coiling around it. It radiates the aura of the Supreme Great Dao 183.
- It is regarded as superior to other documented Golden Core types, including the Void-Shattering Sword Core 183.
- Golden Core cultivators within ten thousand miles of Mermaid Island felt fear, awe, and an instinctive urge to bow before it during Lu Li’s formation 183.
- Lu Li’s core continuously absorbs surrounding spiritual energy and converts it into magic power 183.
- Its extraordinary strength comes with a cultivation burden: ordinary sect resources and medicinal pills may be insufficient for Lu Li to reach Golden Core Perfection, while relying on Nascent Soul-grade pills could obstruct a later Nascent Soul breakthrough 193.
Infinite Golden Core
The Infinite Golden Core is a refined cultivation treasure rather than a naturally condensed core.
- It was created from the Ten-Thousand-Year Immortal-Transforming Ganoderma by the Yin Underworld Ghost Emperor’s arrangements 127 144.
- Its full refinement was intended to make Lu Li invincible within the Golden Core realm 127.
- It enabled Lu Li’s eventual Infinite Great Dao Golden Core by supporting his final successful core formation 178 192 183.
Golden Cores as Treasures
A fallen Golden Core cultivator may leave behind their core after death. Lu Li obtained such cores after killing Golden Core cultivators with the Three Thousand Bright Moons Sword Formation 136.
- Golden Cores can be retained as valuable loot 139.
- A Golden Core can be refined into a Golden Core Thunderbolt for use as a life-saving explosive weapon 164.
- Qi Tianjiao escaped Lu Li as a soul fused with his Sacred Artifact, but left his Golden Core behind 219 220.
- Losing one’s Golden Core destroys a cultivator’s cultivation base; the victim can only restart as a ghost cultivator if their soul survives 220.
Golden Core Ranking
Old Man Heavenly Mystery compiles a Golden Core Ranking alongside the Dao Artifact Ranking 195.
- Qi Tianjiao — ranked second before his defeat by Lu Li 219.
- Halberd God King — ranked third before his defeat by Lu Li 219.
- Lu Li — became the undisputed foremost Golden Core cultivator after defeating both ranked opponents and forcing several factions to submit 219 220.
Notable Quote
“Once a Golden Core enters the belly, my fate is my own, not heaven's!” 136