Golden Core Middle Stage!

The body of Purple Firmament Peak swelled as spiritual energy surged in.

The towering peak rose even higher, its surface cracking and peeling away to reveal a new rock formation beneath, its surface adorned with flowing purple-gold patterns.

Within the Thunder Pool.

Shi Jian's massive body slowly rose to the surface of the water.

He's gotten even bigger than he was a few years ago...

Its pure white fur was streaked with wisps of purple-gold lightning, and at the end of each hair hung a tiny lightning bead.

Open your eyes.

Within the Thunder Eye, the light was no longer simply purple-gold; instead, nine lightning patterns swirled and flowed deep within the pupil...

At this moment, Shi Jian advanced to the Golden Core Middle Stage!

"Roar--!"

The wild roars of beasts echoed through the heavens and earth, and the terrifying pressure surged like a torrent, completely releasing the pent-up emotions accumulated over the years...

Shi Jian stood up and shook off his wet fur.

Countless water droplets scattered and splashed, each drop of lightning liquid leaving a scorched, blackened mark on the ground upon landing...

"After twenty years, we've finally broken through!"

Shi Jian roared wildly, his aura soaring. He stretched his neck, and his bones cracked all over as his entire body was filled with power.

This feeling is just too good!

Purple Firmament's voice echoed in his mind, "Congratulations, you silly bear. Golden Core Middle Stage, you're quite a figure in this world."

"Number One Person"?

Shi Jian laughed and said, "Let's talk about whether I'm considered a figure when I reach the Golden Core Late Stage. As for the mid-stage... well, that's about it."

"You're such a bear..."

Purple Firmament was speechless. "How many Golden Core cultivators are there in the entire Ming Province? You, a Demon Beast, have cultivated to this level, and you're still not satisfied?"

"This Profound Spirit Continent is now Human Race territory."

"Any wild demon that breaks through to the Golden Core will be wiped out immediately. The few Golden Core Demon Beast that remain are the guardian spirit beasts of Nascent Soul sects, their lives controlled by others."

"Now that you are free and have cultivated to the Golden Core, you are ready!"

"I don't know how you, bear, could be so cunning, actually coming up with the idea of infiltrating the Human Race as a spirit beast..."

"Furthermore, the oath you've taken serves as a shackle, preventing those forces that want to control you from forcibly taking you away. If they did, they would be violating the oath, and your foundation would be destroyed."

"And those powerful forces, wanting you to serve them, naturally can't forcibly take you away, thus creating a check and balance..."

"Tsk tsk~"

"If all Demon Race were like you, the Human Race would have been wiped out long ago."

Upon hearing this, Shi Jian ignored him, slightly raised his head, and released his Divine Sense. In an instant, he sensed someone approaching...

A moment later, a white streak of light flew in from the direction of the Southern Mountain Range.

The pace was slow and unhurried.

Surrounded by clouds and mist, Yun Du arrived in a dashing manner, a rather flamboyant entrance indeed.

Yun Du landed halfway up Purple Firmament Peak. Further up, the thunderclouds were too dense and posed a threat to even Golden Core cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Shi Jian, I am a little late. Congratulations on breaking through to the Golden Core Middle Stage!"

Yun Du cupped his hands in a gesture of respect from afar, his beard and hair fluttering in the thunder and wind, but the smile on his face was genuine, suggesting that he had something to discuss with him.

Upon seeing this, Shi Jian transformed into a bolt of lightning and landed beside Yun Du.

"Yes, Brother Yun, is there anything I can help you with?"

Yun Du smiled, not annoyed by Shi Jian's perfunctory attitude. Having cultivated for many years, he was already used to the bear's temperament.

He took out a jade bottle with a green hue from his sleeve and presented it to me, holding it in his palm.

"The Dao Transformation Essence-Gathering Dew is a precious item that I have treasured for many years. Today, on the occasion of your joy, I present it to Brother Shi."

"This item is somewhat beneficial for stabilizing one's cultivation; Brother Shi, please keep it safe."

With a flick of his claw, Shi Jian snatched the jade bottle into his palm.

He didn't stand on ceremony, nor did he refuse.

"Please sit down."

The man and the bear arrived at a stone pavilion, where they sat facing each other on Purple Firmament Peak, overlooking the entire Cloud Sword Mountain Range.

The sea of clouds surged, and the mountains resembled islands.

"How has the outside world been these past few years?" Shi Jian asked.

"Still the same as always."

Yun Du picked up his whisk and gently brushed away the thunder dust from his shoulder. "Everything is peaceful. The Grand Purity Sect and the Profound Purity Sect continue to stick together, and the Liang Kingdom is keeping a low profile."

"The Jin Kingdom is barely clinging to life, while our Clear Blue Kingdom is also quietly developing."

"The protectorates of each prefecture are operating normally and are quite prosperous. In recent years, they have produced quite a few Golden Core cultivators, and there are successors in all directions."

"Any movement from True Lord Fang Yi's side?"

"No."

Yun Du shook his head. "True Lord Fang Yi has been in seclusion all these years, supposedly trying to break through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, but I don't know if that's true."

"The Supreme Purity Sect has indeed changed its leadership, but that has little to do with our remote area."

Shi Jian nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Such is the general trend; though things appear calm on the surface, the undercurrents never cease.

But those major events, the Nascent Soul struggles at his level and above, are not his concern, so there's no need for him to ask.

By the time he finds out, the situation will likely be settled.

The two—no, the human and the bear—remained silent for a moment.

Yun Du suddenly sighed.

"Fellow Daoist, besides offering my congratulations, I have another matter I would like to ask for your help with."

Shi Jian's ears twitched. "Speak."

"It's Tianfan's business."

Shi Jian recognized the name Yun Tianfan...

He seems to be Yun Du's cousin, the Grand Elder of White Cloud Temple, with Foundation Establishment Perfection level and exceptionally refined Cloud Dao cultivation.

Over the years, this person has been in charge of most of the internal affairs of White Cloud Temple.

What's wrong with him?

Yun Du's expression was complex, containing expectation, worry, and an indescribable emotion.

"Tianfan is over two hundred years old this year."

Shi Jian slightly raised his eyes.

Two hundred years old is more than half of Foundation Establishment cultivator's lifespan. Even with elixirs to prolong their lives, they can only live for another hundred years or so at most.

"He's aiming for the Golden Core?"

Yun Du nodded. "He stopped at the Foundation Establishment Perfection for forty years. His foundation has been solidified to its limit, and there is no way to advance further."

"Delaying this any longer will not only be pointless, but will also cause cracks to appear in one's State of Mind as lifespan shortens, leading to a fear of death."

"It's time to go for it."

Shi Jian nodded, agreeing with this assessment.

Once Foundation Establishment cultivator reaches a certain age, failure to break through will only lead to death. Rather than waiting to die, it is better to take a gamble.

"Then what about his Heaven and Earth Qi?" Shi Jian asked the crucial question.

To form the Golden Core, one needs the Heaven and Earth Qi.

This is an ironclad rule, with no exceptions.

Those who can forcibly condense the energy of Heaven and Earth Qi and Heaven and Earth Qi during their breakthrough process without relying on it are all, without exception, either possessing Heavenly Spirit Root or being a top-tier prodigy with some kind of spiritual body!

Yun Du's expression darkened slightly, and he shook his head.

"No."

Shi Jian paused, his claws snapping.

"The Blessed Land of White Peak Cloud Gorge Cloud Dao still in its infancy and cannot yet generate the Heaven and Earth Qi. Tian Fan... is preparing to forcefully break through."

Forced to break through.

Without relying on the Heaven and Earth Qi, but solely on one's own cultivation and understanding of the Great Dao, one can forcibly condense Golden Core. This path is not impossible.

However, the success rate is extremely low.

Those with Dual Spirit Roots might have a glimmer of hope, those with Three Spirit Roots have a one in ten chance of survival, those with Four Spirit Roots are almost certainly doomed, and those with Five Spirit Roots have no chance of success.

Shi Jian remained silent for a while.

"You came to me wanting me to protect him?"

"Right."

Yun Du said solemnly, "The three stages of the Golden Core are increasingly dangerous. If a mortal attempts to break through one of them, Qi Deviation."

"Or perhaps it will trigger a backlash from the heavens. With you here to oversee things, at least the safety of the disciples in the surrounding area can be ensured..."

"I myself can also act as a protector, but... it's always safer to have two Golden Core cultivators guarding the area together."

Shi Jian glanced at the old Daoist priest.

He understood what Yun Du hadn't said aloud.

Yun Du wasn't afraid of not being able to protect others; he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to resist intervening. Yun Tianfan his cousin, and they had been together for over a hundred years.

In the event of failing to pass the test, and facing imminent death.

It's difficult for Yun Du to guarantee that he can remain a rational observer.

Any external interference will lead to the utter destruction of Core Formation cultivator.

Therefore, he needed Shi Jian to be present.

He needs a calm, impartial third party to stop him at crucial moments. Clearly, Yun Du is also unsure about Yun Tianfan Core Formation.

"OK."

Just call me when the time comes.

Yun Du a long sigh of relief and solemnly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist."

"Six months from now, Tianfan will begin his breakthrough. At that time, I will come to invite you again, fellow Daoist."

Shi Jian grunted in acknowledgment, then transformed into a bolt of lightning and vanished into the Purple Firmament Peak. Instantly, dark clouds gathered and Frenzied Thunder.

It will be sealed off, enveloping it once again and isolating it from all exploration.

Seeing this, Yun Du wisely got up to take his leave, transforming into a streak of white light and disappearing into the distance.