CHAPTER 403: CHAPTER 238: FINALLY FORMING THE GOLDEN CORE

"Those who cultivate the Dao are naturally defying the heavens for their destiny. Dying on this path is a worthy death for us cultivators!"

Gong Yang grinned broadly, revealing his slightly yellow teeth.

"Indeed so!" Xu Ping nodded gently, slowly sitting down opposite Gong Yang.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the cave was tranquil, with only their voices echoing in the air.

"For an old man like me, achieving Foundation Establishment from being a Loose Cultivator is quite an accomplishment..."

Gong Yang, like an ordinary mortal, opened his heart and began to chatter on.

Xu Ping silently sat opposite him, listening.

Just like that, Gong Yang chattered on for nearly half an hour.

As time passed, the cloudiness in his eyes grew more pronounced, and the fatigue on his face spread like tidal waves.

"Listening to the ramblings of a man soon to be in the grave, Fellow Daoist Xu must be weary of me by now." Gong Yang smiled faintly, a hint of apology in his eyes.

"I possess nothing of significant value, so I’ll gift you this Artifact Refining Technique, Fellow Daoist Xu."

Gong Yang took out a jade slip from his bosom and handed it to Xu Ping.

It was evident he had prepared this in advance.

Xu Ping accepted the jade slip and, with a scan of his Divine Sense, was astonished to find that this Artifact Refining inheritance was as high as Third-rank Middle Grade!

If he could fully comprehend it, it would surely be greatly beneficial for crafting his Lifebound Magical Treasure in the future!

Xu Ping gave Gong Yang a deep look, then cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Daoist Gong."

"It’s nothing."

Gong Yang waved his hand, a relieved smile appearing on his face, "This Artifact Refining Technique cannot be brought in life nor taken in death. Leaving it with me serves no purpose; better to give it to you, Fellow Daoist Xu, to realize its worth."

In his life, he had no descendants or disciples, leaving such things was useless.

The two chatted casually about a few other things.

Seeing the growing fatigue on Gong Yang’s face, Xu Ping rose to bid farewell, returning to Thousand Leaves Mountain.

...

...

Thousand Leaves Mountain, Cultivation Chamber.

"Ah, defying the heavens for destiny!"

Xu Ping gazed at the jade slip gifted by Gong Yang, and couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

Though his lifespan was long and his strength far exceeded the average Foundation Establishment Cultivator, he was still far from true freedom!

Perhaps only reaching the Nascent Soul Stage could barely be considered truly mastering one’s fate!

"It’s time to prioritize dispersing cultivation!"

A flash of determination crossed Xu Ping’s eyes, and as he flipped his palm, the jade slip instantly vanished into his Storage Ring.

Currently, the Water Lake Rat had successfully advanced to Third-rank, coupled with the formidable Myriad Manifestations Wood Spirit Array, easily safeguarding him given the present declining frequency of Demon Cultivator invasions.

However, Xu Ping did not blindly proceed with dispersing cultivation recklessly.

After all, dispersing one’s cultivation is not simple; a slight error could significantly harm his foundation and affect future cultivation.

Therefore, Xu Ping decided to first adjust his condition to a peak state.

For the next ten days, he entered closed-door cultivation, meticulously nurturing himself to raise his vitality to its best state.

Finally, everything was ready.

On this day, Xu Ping sat poised in the cultivation chamber, his expression grave.

"Disperse!"

Xu Ping swiftly formed seals with his hands, uttering softly, and slowly began dissipating his own cultivation.

Throughout the process, he was extremely cautious, not daring to be the slightest bit negligent.

After all, this was crucial to his future cultivation.

As time passed, his cultivation began to descend from Foundation Establishment Perfection gradually.

The formerly grand and majestic mana, like the tide receding, started slowly diminishing.

Finally, after half a day’s time, Xu Ping successfully lowered his cultivation to Early-Stage Foundation Establishment.

"Finally completed dispersing!"

Xu Ping slowly opened his eyes, an involuntary smile emerging at the corners of his mouth.

Although at this moment Xu Ping’s face had turned pale as paper, and he was extremely weak, in his heart, he felt a sense of relief.

After all, the hardest part was finally finished; now he could just train diligently.

Once the unruly mana gradually stabilized, Xu Ping closed his eyes, beginning to sense the damage dispersing had caused him.

Calming his mind, he observed his meridians and Dantian, meticulously inspecting every subtle change.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Ping slowly opened his eyes, a flash of satisfaction in them.

Fortunately, this dispersing did not shake his foundation.

He only lost a little lifespan and Primordial Qi, with his powerful recovery ability, he could fully restore it in at most half a month.

"First heal, then cultivate anew!" Knowing the value of time, Xu Ping didn’t want to waste a moment.

Unhesitatingly, he took out a Healing Elixir and placed it into his mouth.

The elixir melted as soon as it entered, transforming into a warm current that quickly flowed throughout his body, nurturing damaged meridians and Primordial Qi.

Half a month flew by in the blink of an eye.

With his injuries completely healed, Xu Ping eagerly began cultivating anew.

Sitting cross-legged on a futon, his palms facing the sky, hands forming seals, he chanted softly.

As the cultivation technique activated, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi seemed summoned, rushing in like waves.

Xu Ping fully executed the Longevity Skill, striving to refine the surging Spiritual Qi.

After cultivating for a full half-day, Xu Ping finally slowly ceased the cultivation technique.

He slowly opened his eyes, which were filled with uncontrollable excitement.

After half a day of cultivation, he clearly felt his cultivation speed reaching an inconceivably rapid pace.

Needless to say it was far beyond that of ordinary Spirit Root cultivators.

Even fellow prodigy Celestial Spirit Root cultivators might find it difficult to match his pace.