On a nameless island, the once cloudless sky suddenly changed color.
A vast Black Cloud appeared out of nowhere, gathering overhead, threaded with silver lightning and punctuated by thunderous booms.
At the same time, the surrounding spiritual energy began spinning wildly around the island, forming an enormous vortex several miles across beneath the Black Cloud.
Such a tremendous disturbance naturally drew the attention of cultivators within several thousand miles.
As they watched in uncertainty, the spiritual energy vortex gradually dispersed, and the sky, which had been blanketed by Black Cloud, became clear once more.
Some cultivators hurriedly retreated, afraid of disturbing whoever was there. These were clearly the celestial signs of someone forming a core, and judging by appearances, they had succeeded. Naturally, those cultivators had no wish to provoke them.
Others hoped to make the acquaintance of a Core Formation senior, offering a few words of congratulations to share in their good fortune and perhaps gain an opportunity.
Two early Core Formation cultivators, however, harbored sinister intentions. They wanted to strike while this newly advanced cultivator had yet to refine a Life-Bound Magic Treasure and was still weak.
At that moment, Lin He slowly rose to his feet, reached up to pinch his cheek, and then broke into a smile.
"Heh heh, I finally formed my core!"
Feeling his magical power and spiritual sense, both several times stronger than before, Lin He was filled with joy. Controlling those early Core Formation puppets would no longer be as difficult as it had been. By his own estimate, he could now control five at once without impairing his own fighting strength. Of course, if he pushed himself to the limit and relied entirely on puppet tactics, he could control even more, but then he would be unable to use his other