The Ancient Tome's Secrets: The Golden Core and the Foundation of the Great Dao
On the outskirts of Demon Capital, hundreds of miles away, lies a secluded, remote canyon.
Here, waterfalls cascade and springs flow, the air is filled with spiritual energy, and one is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city and the bloody battlefields.
"Whoosh!"
A streak of purple-gold light descended from the sky, and Dongfang Yueming, along with Hong Gui and Baihu, landed steadily on a huge blue stone.
"You all stay nearby and keep watch; don't let anyone disturb me."
Dongfang Yueming released the two women, left a message, and headed straight for a dry cave behind the waterfall. He was eager to unravel the secrets of the tattered ancient book and explore a higher realm beyond the Soul Condensation stage.
Watching his decisive retreating figure, Hong Gui curled her lip and said, "This blockhead, he doesn't need women anymore now that he has the cultivation technique."
Baihu silently sat down cross-legged and began to regulate her breathing. Although she still had some resistance to Dongfang Yueming's domineering style, after witnessing his godlike power, the pride deep in her heart had been completely shattered.
Inside the cave.
Dongfang Yueming sat cross-legged, holding the tattered ancient book he had received from Elder Wang with great care in his hands. The book was made of neither gold nor jade, and it was cool to the touch. It was covered with the marks of time, and many pages were already incomplete.
"I hope this has what I want."
He took a deep breath, and his vast, ocean-like Divine Sense instantly probed into the ancient book.
Buzz!
The instant his Divine Sense touched the ancient text, an extremely ancient and obscure wave of thought surged into his mind. These were not ordinary words, but a kind of law inheritance imprinted with spiritual power!
Dongfang Yueming was immersed in this vast thought, as if he had traversed endless years and witnessed the arduous journey of ancient Martial Dao masters in their pursuit of higher realms.
Time passed little by little.
Three full hours passed before Dongfang Yueming slowly opened his eyes, a clear and insightful light flashing in his deep gaze.
"I see..."
"Above the Soul Condensation lies... the Golden Core Realm!"
He finally pieced together the core secret recorded in this incomplete ancient book.
In the previous stages, Blood Nourishing, Blood Refining, and Blood Transformation represent the ultimate tempering of the physical body (essence); Qi Gathering, Meridian Opening, and True Power represent the purification and sublimation of true qi (qi); Sea of Consciousness, Lingtai, and Soul Condensation represent the opening and materialization of spirit (spirit).
Essence, Qi, and Spirit—these three systems may seem independent, but they are all foundational.
The [Golden Core Realm] is the crucial step that allows one to transcend the realm of mortals and truly embark on the path of the extraordinary!
"The physical strength, true qi, and spiritual power will be fully integrated into one, forming a perfectly formed, Perfection Leakless Golden Core within the dantian!"
A fanatical light gleamed in Dongfang Yueming's eyes.
He has now perfectly pushed all three systems to the limit of Top-Tier Perfection! This means that he already possesses the most perfect and solid foundation for breaking through to the Golden Core Realm!
"However, the condensation of this Golden Core also has an extremely strict classification of grades."
Dongfang Yueming recalled the records in the ancient books and muttered to himself.
Based on the depth of the essence, qi, and spirit during the fusion process, and the degree of perfection of the fusion process, the formed Golden Core is divided into four Perfection levels.
"The most basic method is to forcibly combine the three forces to form a Golden Core without any obvious flaws; this is called the [Flawless Golden Core], which is the Lower-Tier Perfection."
"If one can ensure the continuous generation of these three forces, and keep the magical power contained without leaking even a trace, then that is the [Leakless Golden Core], the Middle-Tier Perfection."
"The Upper-Tier Perfection requires an extremely high quality Golden Core, which must trigger extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth upon formation. The Golden Core emits a radiant glow, and its magical power possesses an extremely terrifying attribute suppression, known as [Golden Core Produces Rosy Clouds]."
Dongfang Yueming licked his lips. The first three levels were nothing to him. What he cared about most was the Top-Tier Perfection, which was described in the ancient book in an extremely cryptic way!
"Nine Revolutions Divine Art... The Foundation of the Great Dao..."
The ancient texts contain the most incomplete records of the Top-Tier Perfection, only vaguely mentioning the name "[Nine-Transformation Golden Core]". Legend has it that only by refining the Golden Core to the extreme of nine turns can a trace of the true foundation of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth be nurtured within Golden Core!
This is not merely an accumulation of power, but a leap in the level of life!
"Only by forming the Nine-Transformation Golden Core will one be qualified to touch upon higher-dimensional power and confront those truly terrifying beings from the Primordial Sea!"
Dongfang Yueming clenched her fists.
With his terrifying foundation of three Top-Tier Perfection, if he could only form a lower or middle-level Golden Core, it would be an insult to his talent and system!
"What I want to achieve is the [Nine-Transformation Golden Core]!"
Unfortunately, there are no methods for the Golden Core Realm stage on it.
"It seems that if I want to break through to the Golden Core stage, I'll have to find a way to go to the real Crimson Profound World."
Dongfang Yueming put away the ancient book, already having made up his mind.
Just as he was about to get up and leave the cave.
"Um?"
His powerful Divine Sense suddenly detected a faint yet strangely restless fluctuation of true energy coming from outside the cave.
That aura belonged to the Hong Gui.
"What is this woman up to now?"
Dongfang Yueming's lips curled slightly upward as he stood up and walked out of the cave.
Inside the canyon, waterfalls cascade like ribbons, their spray reflecting a dreamlike luster under the moonlight.
Beside the bluestone.
Baihu remained seated cross-legged with her eyes closed, like an ice sculpture. The fierce white killing aura around her had been forcibly suppressed back into her body, but her face still appeared somewhat pale.
Not far from her, Hong Gui was pacing back and forth restlessly. Her dark purple trench coat had been carelessly tossed aside, and she was only wearing an extremely provocative deep red lace lingerie set, large expanses of her snow-white skin exposed to the cool night breeze.
"Damn it, how can the bottleneck of the Meridian Opening Realm Perfection be so sturdy?"
Hong Gui bit her red lips, her eyes filled with resentment and anxiety.
After witnessing Dongfang Yueming's terrifying power, which crushed the Lingtai Demon King like a god, Hong Gui felt a deep sense of powerlessness and an extreme longing for the strength she was so proud of.
She desperately wanted to become stronger!
She didn't want to be nothing more than a trembling vase hiding under the wings of the Dongfang Yueming in the chaotic future!
She had just tried to break through to the True Power Realm with her previous foundation, but the great barrier between the Meridian Opening Realm and True Power Realm was as solid as Iron Wall, completely unmoved.
"No, relying on myself, I don't know when I'll be able to break through to True Power."
Hong Gui stopped in her tracks, a resolute glint in her beautiful eyes, and turned to look at the cave behind the waterfall.
"Squeak."
Just then, Dongfang Yueming pushed aside the vines covering the cave entrance and came out.
"You're out here in the middle of the night dressed like that, aren't you cold?" Dongfang Yueming, looking at Hong Gui's provocative outfit with a hint of teasing in his voice.
"Cold? I'm burning up inside, I feel like I'm about to explode!"
Hong Gui completely ignored his words and instead, with a seductive gait, rushed towards Dongfang Yueming in two strides.
"Yueming!"
She grabbed Dongfang Yueming's collar, her peach blossom eyes burning with a fervent, even frantic, desire.
"Help me!"
Hong Gui made no attempt to hide her ambition, "I want to break through to the True Power Realm! I know you must have a way, right?!"
"There is a solution."
A wicked smile curled at the corner of Dongfang Yueming's lips as he naturally wrapped his large hand around her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace.
"However, crossing the barrier of a major realm requires consuming a vast amount of true energy. This 'service fee' is not cheap."
"You..."
Feeling the intense heat emanating from her waist and the aggressive gaze of Dongfang Yueming, Hong Gui immediately understood what his "solution" was.
A captivating blush instantly spread across her cheeks, but her gaze remained unwavering.