Three months later.
On a deserted mountain peak in the Divine Profound Sect.
Han Xuanji watched the falling leaves swirl through the air, relaxed and at ease. A Nine-Pattern Golden Core glowed faintly gold within his Dantian, and a flying sword circled his body. Together with his remarkable bearing, he looked like a young sword immortal descended upon the world.
At his feet lay the corpses of numerous Demon Beasts, all of which had tried to attack him during his breakthrough.
Breaking through to the Golden Core Realm caused too great a disturbance, and Han Xuanji did not want to make the breakthrough in his cultivation chamber. That was why he had come to the outer sect area. He had set up a concealment formation here, so his presence would not spread too far.
Although it was not quite as safe, Han Xuanji had numerous Law Artifacts and formations to protect him, so he was not afraid.
[Host: Han Xuanji] [Cultivation: Golden Core Realm First Layer] [Cultivation Methods: True Scripture of Ascension, Flying Immortal Sword Instruction, Undefeated Golden Body, Heaven-Treading Step...] [Traits: Immortal's Aptitude, Transcendent Comprehension.]
Perhaps because his foundation was sufficiently solid.
Han Xuanji's breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm went exceptionally smoothly, and he successfully forged a Nine-Pattern Golden Core of the highest quality. His foundation was flawless, without a single weakness.
Only upon reaching the Golden Core Realm did the various advanced cultivation methods truly begin to show their strengths.
Although he had not fought anyone, he was confident enough to contend with the heroes of the world.
But there was no need.
Han Xuanji felt he was still in his growth phase and needed more time to develop. What did the Golden Core Realm amount to?
At the very least, he should wait until he reached the Immortal Ascension Realm before emerging and sweeping aside everything in his path!
Han Xuanji concealed his presence and was about to ride his sword back to Spirit Elegance Peak.
He noticed someone following in his direction.
A spy from the devil path?
Sensing someone following him, Han Xuanji was startled.
The Divine Profound Sect was vast, and it was entirely possible for Devil Cultivators to have slipped into an outer sect area like this.
Han Xuanji's expression shifted, and he decided to strike immediately.
A voice soon came from afar:
"Wait, stop!"
Han Xuanji stopped himself and frowned at a figure in the distance.
The man rode a sword through the air, his white robes fluttering in the wind. His bearing and cultivation were extraordinary; he too was in the Golden Core Realm.
"I am Zhao Wuya of the Heavenly Sword Sect. I mean no harm."
The man in white called out.
"The Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Han Xuanji realized the man seemed to be an ally.
The Heavenly Sword Sect was also a top immortal sect in Eastern Cang Province. Its foundations were somewhat weaker than those of the Divine Profound Sect, but its current strength was formidable, not at all inferior to the Divine Profound Sect's. Many sword path great experts had emerged from it in recent years, and it was a renowned major sect of the righteous path.
"I happened to be visiting the Divine Profound Sect on business. When I saw that you were also a sword cultivator, my curiosity got the better of me."
Zhao Wuya's eyes shone as he looked excitedly at Han Xuanji.
Although Han Xuanji had not caused much of a disturbance when dealing with the Demon Beasts earlier, Zhao Wuya's soul was naturally powerful. He had faintly sensed a powerful sword intent from far away and had soon been drawn over.
"What do you want?"
Han Xuanji did not understand what the man was after.
"How about we spar and compare our sword skills?"
Zhao Wuya said with a smile.
Virtually everyone in the Heavenly Sword Sect was a sword cultivator. The sect was on good terms with the Divine Profound Sect, but their disciples often competed with each other. Zhao Wuya had also come to the Divine Profound Sect this time intending to discuss the sword with a good friend so they could improve together.
Of course, he meant no harm. Although he often sought people out for sword duels, he had never caused a death.
"Not interested."
Han Xuanji was no battle maniac, and he had even less desire to fight for no reason.
"Could it be that you're afraid?"
Zhao Wuya raised an eyebrow.
"I can suppress my cultivation to spar with you."
Han Xuanji ignored the attempt to provoke him and turned to leave, unwilling to engage in a pointless fight.
Seeing how composed Han Xuanji was only piqued Zhao Wuya's interest. Earlier, a mere trace of Han Xuanji's sword intent had told him that the man before him was anything but ordinary. With such an opponent before him, he could scarcely suppress his excitement.
"Fellow Daoist, forgive the offense!"
Zhao Wuya called out, then sent a streak of Sword Qi from his fingertip.
The Sword Qi was not very powerful and carried no killing intent.
But it annoyed Han Xuanji. He was in a hurry to get back to cultivation and signing in; who had time to play with him?
"Why bother?"
Han Xuanji sighed. Dropping the pretense, he swung his sword backhanded.
Shadow-Severing Divine Sword!
This was an earth-tier high-grade sword instruction whose chief strength was speed. Combined with his sword intent, which was close to major accomplishment, its power was extraordinary.
Countless streaks of silver Sword Qi, condensed to the utmost, poured forth in an instant, then became a surging, roaring river of Sword Qi!
The river of Sword Qi was not a chaotic jumble. Every strand held a sharp will that seemed capable of severing Principles. They intertwined and spiraled, faintly forming the shadow of a giant sword stretching across the sky, aimed straight at Zhao Wuya.
Boom!
Zhao Wuya reacted swiftly, slashing out with his own sword. His Sword Qi surged forth like a great fiery dragon, ready to devour everything in its path.
The next instant.
Wherever the giant sword's shadow passed, Zhao Wuya's Sword Qi shattered instantly. Unable to offer even the slightest resistance, it was completely engulfed and crushed by the pure, overwhelming torrent of sword intent!
How is this possible...
The thought flashed through Zhao Wuya's mind. He had not expected his opponent's sword intent to be so powerful; it utterly crushed his own.
Before he could defend himself, the terrifying Sword Qi struck his shoulder and sent him flying several hundred meters away.
A long while later.
Zhao Wuya clutched his shoulder and abruptly spat out a mouthful of blood. Enduring the pain, he said:
"Thank you for showing mercy, fellow Daoist!"
He had truly felt death just now. Had his opponent's strike landed a little to one side, he might have been dead.
His sword intent is completely above mine...
Only after Han Xuanji had gone far away did a thought suddenly occur to him:
Damn it, I forgot to ask who he was.
Back on Spirit Elegance Peak, Han Xuanji breathed a sigh of relief. This battle had given him a little more confidence.
His years of arduous cultivation had borne fruit after all. Even an inner disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect was no match for him.
"Congratulations are in order."
Han Xuanji nodded silently to himself. This counted as proof that his path of staying hidden had paid off.
In the blink of an eye.
Another month passed.
Han Xuanji successfully broke through to the Golden Core Realm Second Layer. The joy of his breakthrough soon faded, and he sank into thought.
He had used up all the Golden Core Realm pills he had on hand.
"Now that I've reached the Golden Core Realm, the rewards from Spirit Elegance Peak's pill refining workshops aren't much to speak of."
After signing in for so many years, Han Xuanji had also realized that places with Dao resonance differed in grade.
The Scripture Pavilion, for example, was clearly a high-grade place of Dao resonance. Although he might obtain mystic-tier or even yellow-tier cultivation methods there, there was also a small chance of getting a heaven-tier cultivation method by signing in.
Most of the pill refining workshops on Spirit Elegance Peak, however, had low-grade Dao resonance. Although there was a chance of receiving advanced pills, they mainly produced pills below the Golden Core Realm level.
After all, the Divine Profound Sect had a dedicated pill refining branch, and talented alchemists would generally go to Pill Cauldron Peak.
"It's time to find a new place to sign in."
Han Xuanji took a sect flying boat to Pill Cauldron Peak, one of the Thirteen Peaks of Divine Mystery.
Pill Cauldron Peak was where the Divine Profound Sect trained its alchemists, and it had even produced some pill refining grandmasters. There were many pill refining workshops here as well, and they also sold advanced pills. Every pill was expensive, however, and only inner disciples could afford them.
"Azure Cloud Pill Refining Workshop."
Han Xuanji soon arrived at a pill refining workshop.
Among the many pill refining workshops on Pill Cauldron Peak, the Azure Cloud Pill Refining Workshop was undoubtedly one of the most famous. It had produced more than one pill refining master, and a pill refining grandmaster had even presided over it in the past.
Alchemists were divided into ranks, from first to ninth. Pill refining master was a general term for alchemists of the fourth rank and above, meaning they could refine Nascent Soul-level pills with a respectable success rate.
Pill refining grandmasters, meanwhile, were alchemists of the seventh rank and above. Such grandmasters would be honored guests in any faction.
In Han Xuanji's view, the Dao resonance of this place was no worse than that of Spirit Elegance Peak's Scripture Pavilion.
Han Xuanji walked in. The outer area of the pill refining workshop was more like a marketplace, bustling with people. Many storefronts bore signs declaring themselves to be "five-thousand-year-old establishments."
Compared with the modest pill refining workshops on Spirit Elegance Peak, this place was undoubtedly much more prosperous.
He could even see disciples from the various peaks coming in groups to buy pills. Others came to set up stalls on a nearby street, selling spirit medicines and pills.
System, can I sign in here?
Han Xuanji asked silently.
To be honest, the place was rather large, and he did not know whether it counted.
The system quickly responded.
[You can sign in, but the Dao resonance here is not concentrated. The host is advised to sign in at a location where the Dao resonance is more concentrated.]
Han Xuanji thought for a moment, then passed through the marketplace to the inner area.
Very few people came to this area, and most of those going in and out were alchemists.
Quite a few people were curious to see an unfamiliar face like Han Xuanji, but none of them interfered.
Han Xuanji did not barge in recklessly. Instead, he stopped outside the entrance and silently called for a sign-in.
[Congratulations to the host for successfully signing in at the Azure Cloud Pill Refining Workshop. You have obtained one bottle of third-rank supreme-grade Mystic Origin Pills.]
"Mystic Origin Pills?"
Han Xuanji nodded slightly.
Mystic Origin Pills were among the best cultivation pills for the Golden Core Realm. Because they were effective and had minimal side effects, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator would wince at the cost of buying a bottle for a junior.
And now he could get a bottle for free.
All he could say was: satisfying.
It also showed that the Dao resonance here was of a sufficiently high grade.
After signing in, Han Xuanji immediately left the pill refining workshop, quiet and unnoticed.