Deep within the Shikkotsu Forest, milky white mist billowed from a moss-covered cave. Tsubasa sat cross-legged on a runic jade bed, before him lay a flesh-colored inner Inner Core the size of a watermelon in a jade box—a priceless treasure left behind by the reincarnated Katsuyu Sage. The Inner Core's surface gleamed with a pearly luster, and faint golden patterns could be seen flowing within it. Upon closer inspection, a subtle pulsation could be heard, much like the heartbeat of an ancient behemoth.
"Good heavens, such a huge Inner Core core! The pills refined from it could probably propel me to the Golden Core Stage." Tsubasa wiped the sweat from his brow.
Tsubasa left the cave where he cultivated and rubbed his arms at the entrance, which was specifically built for refining pills. The place was very cool and the Spiritual Qi was abundant. After taking a few steps inside, the luminous pearls embedded in the rock walls illuminated the four walls. The specially crafted pill furnace in the middle was the real masterpiece. The bronze furnace, which was more than two people tall, had an ancient bluish-green hue. Nine fierce dragons were coiled on the surface of the furnace, and the scales were filled with Chakra Metal, which gleamed with a cold silver light under the night light.
The lid of this alchemy furnace is carved with a lotus flower, each petal of which can open and close independently. Bronze animal heads are attached to both sides of the furnace body, and instead of spouting water, metal tubes extend from their mouths, much like a "ventilator" for the furnace. This is an effective way to control the temperature and pressure inside the furnace to prevent the risk of an explosion.
Looking up at the entire cave, the once smooth rock walls were now covered with runes. Some of these runes resembled tadpoles swimming, while others looked like leaping flames. Occasionally, they would connect in a chain, climbing up the rock wall to the alchemy furnace, echoing the sealing runes on the furnace body. Tsubasa reached out and touched the nearest rune. The moment his fingertips touched the rock wall, the rune suddenly lit up.
"Finally finished setting everything up." I wiped the sweat from my forehead and took out the jade slip from my pocket to check the steps. The alchemy furnace was almost preheated; the Chakra Metal threads were humming softly, and the eyes of the dragon on the furnace body were glowing red, as if it were about to crawl out of the furnace wall. He began to prepare to refine the pills.
He spent nearly a year meticulously selecting and collecting hundreds of top-grade medicinal herbs. These herbs weren't chosen randomly; each one had a special function. Some could enhance the Spiritual Qi of the Inner Core, some could stabilize the medicinal properties, and others could improve the quality of the pill. Tsubasa arranged them one by one, as if setting up a grand banquet. Each herb was placed in the most suitable position, complementing each other, all to perfectly stimulate the pill's maximum medicinal properties.
The alchemy process began. Tianyi wiped the sweat from his Tsubasa, his fingertips rapidly forming intricate hand seals. As his seals changed, the luminous pearls on the cave walls suddenly burst forth with blinding white light, a light that seemed to illuminate the entire cave. The Katsuyu Sage's Inner Core was enveloped in this white light, encased in a cocoon of light. Tsubasa focused intently on controlling the incantation, and amber-colored liquid began to seep from the surface of the Katsuyu Sage 'Inner Core inner core, hissing as it dripped into the bronze alchemy furnace below.
The alchemy process was far more difficult than Tsubasa had imagined. Every time the Inner Core essence condensed and took shape, the furnace would roar like a beast, the sound shaking the entire cavern and causing the furnace lid to bounce incessantly, as if it might be blown off at any moment. Tsubasa gritted his teeth, controlling his incantations as he systematically added the hundreds of carefully prepared top-grade medicinal herbs into the furnace. With each herb added, the flames in the furnace would instantly surge, the three-zhang-high flames turning the entire cavern crimson, and Tsubasa's face would also turn red, sweat streaming down his cheeks, but he dared not relax for a moment.
"Condense!" Tsubasa roared, his voice filled with fierce determination. He concentrated all his magical power on the alchemy furnace, as if pouring all his strength into it. Finally, the furnace emitted a crisp "click," a sound as clear as a victory horn. Immediately afterward, ten pills the size of pigeon eggs burst from the furnace, their surfaces shimmering with nebula-like halos. Even before they had completely cooled, they emitted an enticing medicinal fragrance that permeated the entire cavern, making one's mouth water at the mere smell.
Tsubasa looked at the ten pills, his heart filled with excitement. He knew these pills were the key to his breakthrough to the Golden Core stage. He carefully put the pills away, a satisfied smile on his face. This pill refining process, though difficult, was ultimately a success. Tsubasa secretly vowed to make good use of these pills, to break through to the Golden Core Stage as soon as possible, and begin a new journey of Immortal Cultivation.
Tsubasa meticulously arranged for specific personnel to handle matters in Konoha. He then explained to his family that this seclusion was crucial for breaking through to the Golden Core Stage. After everything was prepared, Tsubasa returned to the Shikkotsu Forest, cultivating relentlessly day and night. He closed his previous cultivation cave, ensuring that not even a mosquito could fly in. Then he began his seclusion, embarking on a period of intense, relentless cultivation. In the cave, he lost track of time, spending his days meditating, circulating his internal energy, and absorbing Spiritual Qi. These days passed like ants carrying grains of rice, gradually filling his meridians.
Tsubasa is currently at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, and his cultivation has reached a bottleneck. If he doesn't break through soon, he'll be stuck here. Every day, he pushes his cultivation to its limit, and the Spiritual Liquid vortex in his dantian spins incredibly fast, like the current in Uzumaki, capable of sucking everything in. Every time he circulates his cultivation technique, Tsubasa feels as if his meridians are about to be torn apart; the pain is like someone is stirring them with a knife.
That day, Tsubasa began his cultivation again. He sat cross-legged on the futon, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his cultivation technique. As the technique circulated, the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth began to gather towards him on its own. This Spiritual Qi was no joke; it was like some kind of special sprite attracted by Tsubasa, surging in from all directions and then entering his body. Tsubasa could feel that as soon as this Spiritual Qi entered his body, it began to dart around in his meridians, as if looking for a place to settle.
Within Tsubasa's dantian, a vortex of Spiritual Liquid began to spin wildly. This Spiritual Liquid was a condensed essence of heaven and Tsubasa energy and Tianyi's spirit and vital Spiritual Liquid. It carried immense power, and with each rotation, it generated a tremendous suction force, drawing in any Spiritual Qi that entered his body. The Spiritual Liquid spun faster and faster, Tsubasa felt as if his body was about to be torn in two. He gritted his teeth, desperately trying to control the Spiritual Liquid, compressing it, preventing it from spiraling out of control, but he still felt something was missing, preventing it from truly condensing into a pill.
Just then, Tsubasa swallowed a elixir made from the inner Inner Core of the Katsuyu Sage. As soon as the elixir entered his stomach, it immediately transformed into a surge of scalding energy, rampaging through his body. Tsubasa felt as if he were being roasted over a raging fire; the veins under his skin bulged, and what flowed through his veins was not blood, but scalding spiritual fluid. The heat felt as if it were melting his entire body.
"Just one step away!" Tsubasa roared, grabbing another elixir. The elixir melted instantly upon entering his mouth, transforming into a surge of immense energy that rushed straight to his spiritual platform. Tsubasa felt as if his head was about to explode; the energy swirled wildly at his spiritual platform, as if searching for a breakthrough. His body began to tremble, every muscle bearing immense pressure.
Within Tsubasa's body, the Foundation Establishment Realm Spiritual Liquid began to surge violently. This Spiritual Liquid was like a wild beast trapped in a cage, desperately trying to break free of its restraints. It rampaged through Tsubasa's body, each impact causing Tsubasa to break out in a cold sweat from the pain. But Tsubasa did not give up; he desperately tried to control the Spiritual Liquid, allowing it to slowly condense. The Spiritual Liquid flowed through Tsubasa's meridians, each flow carrying away some impurities, making the Spiritual Liquid even purer.
As time passed, the Spiritual Liquid within Tsubasa's body began to slowly condense. It gradually changed from a liquid state to something resembling a semi-solidified colloid. Tsubasa could feel the energy within the Spiritual Liquid growing stronger and stronger, each rotation feeling like it was injecting new power into his body. His meridians also began to adapt to this powerful energy, becoming increasingly resilient.
Finally, after countless days and nights of hard work, the Spiritual Liquid within Tsubasa's body was completely condensed into Golden Core. The Golden Core shone brightly in Tsubasa's dantian, like a small sun. Tsubasa opened his eyes, a satisfied smile on his face. He felt his body was filled with power, a power that made him feel he could challenge the entire world.
"Haha, I've finally broken through!" Tsubasa laughed as he stood up, feeling as if his body was floating, as if he could fly.