Chapter 285: Chapter 284 Proving the Golden Core (Third Update, Please Subscribe)
The splendid palace, resplendent in gold and jade, exuding grandeur in its classical majesty, with maids walking about, one of whom possessed an appearance of unmatched beauty, a visage that could topple realms.
There were also guards standing vigil at the entrance, emanating a hint of formidable aura.
Beneath the throne, a gentle woman bowed in respect.
According to memory, this woman was his Dao Companion, whose reverence for him surpassed her affection.
This woman seemed to be called "Xuan’Er."
The Immortal King rose from the throne, pondering, "Who am I?"
Xuan’Er replied, "Your Majesty is the Creation Immortal King, the most supreme existence across the myriad realms. In the past, when debating with Hongmeng Daoist, the Hongmeng Daoist had a slight edge; but when Your Majesty wielded the Thirty-Three Heavens Supreme Treasure, it was slightly superior. Again, when contending with the Primordial Lord, Your Majesty slightly prevailed in Dao Practice, but the Primordial Lord had a slight advantage in power."
The Immortal King remarked, "No, not called the Creation Immortal King, but... Lu Xuanji!"
Xuan’Er smiled and said, "Chen Xuanji is Your Majesty’s name in the Mortal World, but the name Creation commands awe throughout the heavens; the world does not know of Lu Xuanji."
The Immortal King recounted, "I dreamt of a mortal’s tale. It was a story that began in the Purple Mansion Realm, where he was merely a minor cultivator, born into a small clan, with a few close confidantes and humble dreams..."
The Immortal King spoke, narrating the story from his dream, the story of Lu Xuanji.
The Immortal King’s storytelling was awkward, without any dramatic ups and downs, instead appearing mechanical, lacking in climax and intrigue, resembling a mundane journal.
However, Xuan’Er listened attentively, with recollection and contemplation in her expression.
"Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion, Golden Core... such a system seems rather rudimentary... could it be, a remnant cultivation system from a once destroyed cosmos!" Xuan’Er listened and said, "This system is not as complete as ours."
"The Physical Body Secret Realm, refining the body, strengthening qi and blood, uncovering the mysteries of the body!"
"The Divine Power Secret Realm, refining the Divine Soul, using it as a foundation, accelerating evolution!"
"The Longevity Secret Realm, unity of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, comprehending Laws, the Space Law, Time Law, Creation Law, Celestial Position Law, evolving into a personal world and transforming oneself through it."
"The Immortal Secret Realm, further perfecting one’s Laws, making the internal world flawless. At the stage of a Celestial Monarch, one can surpass the cosmic shackles with the help of the internal world, entering an eternal state when heaven and earth perish."
Xuan’Er’s fingers moved as she evolved the cultivation system, comprehending and comparing step by step.
"In the early stages of cultivation, it begins with body refining, later refining the Divine Soul, and then comprehending Laws. But what if the comprehended Laws are incorrect or incomplete... then what?"
The Immortal King mused to himself, "The Immortal Realm, Divine Realm, Demon Realm, Buddha Realm, Dragon Realm, Profound Yellow World, Book Realm, Pill Realm, Treasure Realm, etc., all were created by cultivators."
"But if the cultivator creating the world comprehended a bias, or even incorrectness, what of the cultivators living within who comprehended these flawed Laws? What would happen if they perceived such faulty or biased Laws?"
"Trying to find the correct answer within erroneous theories—wouldn’t that be pure delusion!"
"Golden Core Ninth Transformation—the Ninth Transformation is the pinnacle, representing the ultimate of this realm; to step into the Tenth Transformation, one must surpass the world’s limitations."
"Not recognizing the true face of Lu Mountain, simply because one resides within it—to discern its true visage, one must stand outside and overlook everything from above."
...
The mist surged, seeming like ages had passed, yet it was only an instant in time!
Moments later, Lu Xuanji opened his eyes.
The aura throughout his body was changing, his Life Tribulation had been passed.
The Celestial Tribulation, Human Tribulation, Life Tribulation, etc., all had been overcome, his spirit was stirring restlessly, as if in one thought, he could condense the Golden Core.
Yet he paid no heed to these and instead plunged into contemplation.
"Was it I who dreamed, dreaming of becoming an Immortal King, with power in hand, capable of crushing the starry sky with a wave, annihilating a world; or was it that Immortal King who dreamed, dreaming of becoming a mortal, walking in the mortal realm, comprehending the chaos of the mundane, the birth and extinction of all things!"
Immersed in confusion, the boundary between dreams and reality blurred, akin to Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou.
"That Immortal King was truly powerful, mastering numerous Ancient Supreme Techniques, Supreme Divine Techniques, Great Art of Slaughter, and top-tier Artifact Refining Techniques... Yet I have forgotten!"
In the dream, many things were remembered; but upon waking, recalling what transpired in the dream was vague, with most forgotten.
Clearing distractions, Lu Xuanji pondered sublimely.
Essence, Qi, and Spirit coalesced into one, transforming into a Golden Core.
Closing his eyes, abandoning external distractions, he delved into profound meditation, perceiving the changes in his spirit.
Instantly, numerous anomalies rose within his spirit, at times a Pure Yang Great Sun ascended, at times a Yin Yang Diagram manifested and vanished, at times a phoenix flew and a dragon roared, at times the earth, water, wind, and fire evolved, at times the Five Elements cycled, at times the Bagua appeared and disappeared, at times the Nine Palaces transformed.
Pure Yang Golden Core, Taiyin Golden Core, Sword Pill, Yin Yang Golden Core, Four Symbols Golden Core, Five Elements Golden Core, Nine Palace Golden Core, Great Golden Core... about thirty different kinds of Golden Cores.
These Golden Cores represented different paths, different choices.
The next moment, with a shift of thought, most of the phantoms vanished.
Only five phantoms remained, compatible with his body, pointing to a vast future.
The first, named the Three Talents Golden Core, formed with spirit roots of earth, wood, and fire, allowing cultivation to Divinity Transformation;
The second, called the Pure Yang Golden Core, forged on the foundation of the Pure Yang Scripture, allowing the cultivation of Pure Yang Magical Power;
The third, the Yin Yang Golden Core, forged on the foundation of Yin Yang Transformation, for gathering Yin Yang Magical Power;
The fourth, the Fish Dragon Golden Core, based on the Nine Transformations of Fish and Dragon, capable of achieving Divinity Transformation;
The fifth, called the Creation Golden Pill, from the depths of the unknown, representing uncertainty, giving rise to the unknown.
In just a moment’s hesitation, Lu Xuanji made his choice, most shadows dissipating.
In an instant, Lu Xuanji’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit consolidated, transforming, the Life Tribulation had been neutralized.
The Celestial Tribulation, Human Tribulation, Life Tribulation, etc., all were transcended, with his life span extended, surging to one thousand two hundred years.
The quality of Cultivation also rapidly increased, soaring to two hundred and twenty Zodiac Armor of the Zodiac Magical Power.
The quality of his Magical Power further advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching the pinnacle of the Supreme Golden Core.
In that instant, Lu Xuanji’s Essence Qi transformed, the Life Tribulation had passed.
The Immortal King, still standing tall somewhere, with numerous Ancient Supreme Techniques, Supreme Divine Techniques, Great Art of Slaughter, and top-tier Artifact Refining Technique... forgotten yet.
Upon awakening from the dream, he found the memories to be blurred, an ambiguous recollection, slipping away like grains of sand through fingertips.
"In the end, was I dreaming? Dreaming that I became an Immortal King, wielding vast power, crushing worlds with a mere gesture, or was it really me in the throne’s seat dreaming I was a mortal, pondering over the chaotic human world and the birth and death of all things?"
The swirling vortex of mist seemed as if ages had passed, yet it was a mere blink of an eye!
Moments later, Lu Xuanji’s eyes slowly opened.
His Essence, Qi, and Spirit gathered, the Life Tribulation was transcended.
The Celestial Tribulation, Human Tribulation, Life Tribulation, and others, all had been overcome, his entire body’s aura was shifting, his lifespan increased to 1,200 years old at once.
He increased his Magical Power to two hundred Armor of the Zodiac years, the quality of which was elevated at once to the Supreme Golden Core.
As the enormous Spiritual Qi surged, stirring a celestial anomaly.
A silhouette appeared above the Golden Vortex, treading on the Netherworld, standing under the vast sky.
Lu Xuanji’s aura was evolving, transforming into Supreme Golden Core.
With a thought, most of the illusions dissipated.
With a mighty roar, the sacred light shot up, veiling the sky, and Jin Xi, in awe, said, "Your Majesty truly is strong, mightier than the Infinite!"
...