Golden Core

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Within the Golden Core Immortal Sect, a Golden Core is a golden fruit that grows from a disciple’s body on a fleshy Core Branch. The sect treats its disciples as cultivators in name but raises them as living resources: Golden Core Celestial Venerable judges their worth by the size, color, and maturity of their cores, then consumes satisfactory ones himself. 1 2

The sect’s cultivation method is the deliberately corrupted Yi-Wood Golden Core Feeding Formula (Part Two). Every cultivation cycle woodifies the practitioner’s essence, blood, and lifespan until they condense into a Yi-Wood Dao Fruit for the formula’s originator to consume and refine. 5

A disciple with an insufficient Golden Core is considered “material,” liable to be processed into objects such as human-skin umbrellas and bone tools. Conversely, a sufficiently mature core makes its bearer suitable for harvesting as a human pill. 2 5

Gu Qingfeng discovers that the formula’s cost can be reversed. His Yi-Wood Golden Core becomes a Geng-Metal Dao Fruit, turning the sect’s parasitic cultivation into a personal path capable of producing a Geng-Metal Golden Core and, potentially, an Earthbound Immortal. 5 8

Appearance

A normal Golden Core resembles a golden fruit hanging from a fleshy branch that emerges from the bearer’s shoulders, navel, or other parts of the body. Its appearance reflects the bearer’s cultivation and vitality. 1 4

• Immature cores are small, dim, and unevenly colored. 1 6
• More developed cores become larger and brighter yellow; Wang Qian’s core also bears dark-red wisps associated with vigorous blood vitality. 7
• Core Branches leave bloody openings when they retract into an ordinary disciple’s body. 2
• Gu Qingfeng’s reversed core emits intense, needle-like golden radiance and manifests through metallic, blade-like Core Branches. 8 13

Abilities & Properties

Cultivation and Lifespan Conversion

The Yi-Wood Golden Core Feeding Formula cultivates a Golden Core by converting the practitioner’s essence, blood, and lifespan into Yi-Wood attributes. 5

• A larger, yellower core indicates further ripening under the sect’s standards. 5 7
• Continued cultivation rapidly shortens the bearer’s lifespan. 5 7
• A mature core can be removed and consumed by Golden Core Celestial Venerable or other sect cultivators. 1 10
• Removing an ordinary Core Branch can tear away flesh and destroy the bearer’s foundation. 1 8

Scriptural Suppression

The sect’s chanting can force Core Branches and Golden Cores to emerge while rendering ordinary disciples rigid and helpless. 8 10

• Golden Core Celestial Venerable uses this effect during sermons and examinations. 1 8
• Zhang Yao can employ a weaker version through an inherited suppression scripture. 9 10
• Gu Qingfeng becomes immune after shedding the formula’s original “ingredient” nature through reversal. 10

Geng-Metal Transformation

Gu Qingfeng’s reversed Golden Core converts Yi-Wood power into Geng-Metal Power, which naturally restrains Yi-Wood physiques and constructs. 5 8

• The transformed power is sharp enough for Gu to pierce wood with his fingers and turn limbs into weapons. 8 15
• His Core Branches can be detached and wielded as external swords without damaging his body or foundation. 8 13
• The metallic branches cut Yi-Wood creatures and trees with exceptional ease. 11 16 17
• Other Yi-Wood cultivators cannot safely wield Gu’s branches because their metal power harms their hands. 13
• Repeated high-output use exhausts Gu physically and depletes his stored power. 17 19

Energy Storage and Purification

Gu’s Geng-Metal Dao Fruit stores a large reserve of Geng-Metal Power and gradually refines it into a denser, purer form. 19

• His dantian continuously produces Geng-Metal Power.
• The Dao Fruit serves as a high-density reserve for that power. 19

Protective Golden Light

Gu’s Golden Core can release golden light that resists abnormal influences. 21

• The light breaks the long-necked ship-haulers’ attempt to transform him into one of them. 21
• It also conceals Gu’s altered cultivation when he suppresses its radiance within his body. 8

Relationships

• Golden Core Celestial Venerable — Master of the Golden Core Immortal Sect; cultivates disciples’ Golden Cores and consumes them as refined human pills. 1 5
• Gu Qingfeng — Bearer of a Golden Core reversed from Yi-Wood into a Geng-Metal Dao Fruit. 5 8
• Core Branch — The bodily branch from which a Golden Core emerges; normally connected directly to the bearer’s flesh and foundation. 1 8
• Zhang Yao — Attempts to consume Gu Qingfeng’s Golden Core, but its Geng-Metal Power shatters her teeth and becomes the means of her defeat. 10 11
• Golden Core Immortal Sect disciples — Victims forced to cultivate cores while facing either processing as materials or eventual harvest. 2 5

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Sect examinations: Golden Cores establish the Golden Core Immortal Sect’s system of cultivation, control, and consumption. 1 2
• Formula revelation: Gu learns that the Yi-Wood Golden Core Feeding Formula sacrifices lifespan to create a Dao Fruit for Golden Core Celestial Venerable. 5
• Reversal of Cost: Gu transforms his core into a Geng-Metal Dao Fruit, gaining an independent Golden Core Dao and the means to resist the sect. 8
• Zhang Yao’s death: Gu weaponizes his transformed core against Zhang Yao after she attempts to eat it. 10 11
• Escape from the sect: Geng-Metal Core Branches allow Gu to defeat Man-Dogs, cut through the Yi-Wood forest, and lead the surviving disciples out of the mountain. 13 15 18
• Returning Ruins incident: Gu’s Golden Core protects him from the influence of the ship-haulers during the supernatural flood. 21

Notable Quotes

“Your Golden Core is refined quite well. Very sweet.” 1

“Without a successful Golden Core, you are material.” 2