I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

Chapter 224: Chapter 203: Cen Qingqing’s Inner Journey...

Golden Core, contains the word "gold" within it.

What is gold?

Condensing Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and tempering them with thunder and fire, one can achieve gold!

To achieve the Golden Core, a cultivator must face a catastrophe of thunder and fire!

This fire is the Heart Fire, which ignites spontaneously from within the cultivator. If one cannot withstand it, all their mana will turn to ashes, their soul dispersed.

The thunder is Celestial Thunder, striking from a clear sky, with the power to subdue all. If one cannot withstand it, the physical body will be reduced to char, and all life will be extinguished.

This is the tribulation of the Golden Core!

Incredibly difficult!

Ordinary Spiritual Artifacts and Dharma Seals will be shattered to dust by Heart Fire and Celestial Thunder in an instant, utterly unable to resist.

Out of ten cultivators attempting a realm-breaking, nine usually perish tragically, leaving only one to achieve the Golden Core.

In the Cyan Peak Daoist School’s territory of ten thousand miles, there are hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, yet over a thousand years, very few have broken through to the Golden Core, the main reason being the Heart Fire and Celestial Thunder Tribulation!

Yet Cen Qingqing’s body seal can temper a cultivator’s body into a "Thunderfire Golden Body."

The greatest ability of this body is to resist the power of thunder and fire.

If cultivated, a Tier Two Spirit Fire and Tier Two Thunder Technique can almost be resisted with the sheer power of the body.

Although this is only a "Tier Two Body Seal" and cannot contend with the power of a Golden Core, it greatly aids a cultivator in overcoming the Heart Fire and Celestial Thunder Tribulation, increasing the success rate by twenty percent!

This is already an extremely high number!

At the time, in the Spirit-Devouring Heaven-Earth Altar, Gu Yuan had scoured Father Cen’s Storage Bag, copying all the Jade Scrolls within, thinking these were the only secrets of the Thundercloud Sect.

Yet beyond his wildest expectations, Father Cen still had one trick up his sleeve.

With this seal, the previous difficulties seemed to be nothing.

"Though this seal is good, cultivating it is extremely difficult, requiring not only high comprehension but also the spine of a Tier Three Great Demon with a Thunder-Fire Attribute as spiritual material."

"Our Thundercloud Sect has had this method for years, but few have succeeded, and thus the method is little known. My father was only able to take it away during the sect’s destruction, escaping to the heavens."

Cen Qingqing couldn’t help but smile bitterly, pouring cold water on Gu Yuan’s excitement.

"The spine of a Great Demon with a Thunder-Fire Attribute..."

Gu Yuan muttered softly, his face showing a serious expression.

If it were a Tier Two Earth Demon, with his methods, given some time, he could obtain it.

But if it’s a Tier Three Great Demon, that’s another story.

That’s a formidable demon beast comparable to a Golden Core cultivator, and for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to slay one would be wishful thinking.

"No matter what, thank you, Qingqing, for gifting the seal!"

Gu Yuan put away his distractions and bowed to Cen Qingqing.

Whether the seal could be cultivated, time would tell, but it was at least a hope.

"As long as I can help Daoist Brother!"

Cen Qingqing smiled radiantly, her eyes filled with tenderness.

From the moment she handed the Thunderfire Golden Body Seal to Gu Yuan, she had made up her mind.

Looking forward and backward, being coy was not the attitude a cultivator should have.

To ascend the great path and rebuild the Thundercloud Sect, one must abandon prudence.

Among those minor sects, how many female disciples sold their bodies for a mere Foundation Establishment Spirit Qi?

Some even willingly became someone’s concubine for a few Realm-Breaking Pills from the Qi Refining Stage.

Cultivation is not for the faint of heart.

The man before her, with his unmatched looks, major sect background, extraordinary talent, and single-mindedness toward the Dao, had the potential to achieve the Golden Core. He surpassed countless men in the world.

He was a perfect match.

With his status, if he wanted someone to serve his bed, women would queue at the door, circling Celestial Frost Island thrice.

Such a person, who is not into Yin Yang Replenishment but only into Dual Cultivation, why would she be unwilling?

If... if he luckily achieved the Golden Core, then she would be the woman of a Golden Core Ascendant, and no one below the Golden Core would dare belittle her!

Even Golden Core Cultivators would have to show her some respect!

Moreover, relying on the status of "Lady Golden Core" to acquire resources, she might even have a hope of achieving the Golden Core!

What a bright and glorious path this is!

Perhaps this is what Father hoped for?

A little prudence, it’s better to do without!

Cen Qingqing suddenly understood; she needed to do everything in her power to help Gu Yuan achieve the Golden Core and win his heart!

With her heart untangled, her smile took on a bewitching charm.

She lightly waved her jade hand, seemingly inadvertently dropping the half-flawed jade that Gu Yuan had gifted her, revealing her inherently stunning and beautiful face.

"Daoist Brother, after such a long journey, you must be tired. Why not have a cup of tea before leaving?"

Cen Qingqing suddenly spoke sweetly, inviting Gu Yuan to stay for tea.

"Hmm?"

Gu Yuan had no idea that Cen Qingqing’s heart had experienced such a huge change in an instant.

He merely noticed that the woman before him suddenly became more vivacious.

The tension vanished, her smile was like a flower, and her already stunning face took on a bewitching charm, like a blooming begonia, unreservedly showcasing her allure.

The dark Cave Mansion seemed to light up as well.

Gu Yuan couldn’t quite understand this change, but the sudden transformation made him feel a bit unaccustomed, and he instinctively declined, saying:

"Hmm, I have urgent matters to attend to, so I will not linger; you should cultivate diligently. If you need anything, just send a Command Sword..."

After saying this, he turned and left the Cave Mansion, riding his Escape Light, disappearing into the night sky.

...

In the Cave Mansion, Cen Qingqing watched as Gu Yuan’s Escape Light left without hesitation, her expression momentarily frozen, seemingly a bit annoyed.

"Idiot!"

She couldn’t help but scold softly.

"Splash!"

Then she waved her jade hand, manifesting a smooth and reflective ice mirror, looking at the beautifully enchanting woman in the mirror with delicate brows and skin like condensed cream, unable to help but murmur to herself:

"With such looks, I should be able to capture his heart..."

Her words carried a hint of uncertainty.

Her gaze lowered slightly, looking at the wide black robe she wore, she seemed to gain some enlightenment.

"Splash!"

She reached out, directly flipping the black robe aside, letting the outer garment fall, revealing her close-fitting undergarments.

Under the Cave Mansion’s pearl lighting, half-covered and half-exposed, was a delicate body like white jade, slender and shapely, capable of stirring the hearts of all.

"Indeed, it seems to be lacking something..."

"Looks like I shouldn’t wear this black robe anymore, I should buy some new clothes..."

Looking at the mirror’s perfectly proportioned figure, Cen Qingqing couldn’t help but murmur to herself.

...

Gu Yuan was unaware of Cen Qingqing’s thoughts as he returned to Heart-breaking Island under the cover of night.

When he arrived, it was already dawn.

Ma Wu and the others had long since frozen the Red Flame Snowfish with the best "Cold Jade Ice," maintaining the balance of spirit energy within the fish meat.

It could be consumed directly when needed.

"Senior Brother Gu!"

As they saw Gu Yuan’s return, they all saluted.

"No need for such formality!"

Gu Yuan waved his hand.

"Senior Brother Gu, over the years on Heart-breaking Island, we have tended to things well. We have cultivated two hundred acres of Tier Two Spirit Field, planted with Tier Two Spirit Rice, Snow Bud Rice, and now have a stockpile of three thousand catties."

"In recent years, from selling Spirit Fish, we’ve also earned nearly four hundred thousand Spirit Stones, all contained here. Please, Senior Brother, verify."

Ma Wu and the others presented a bulging Storage Bag to Gu Yuan in their report.

"You have been diligent indeed!"

Gu Yuan accepted the Storage Bag, sighing lightly.

Perhaps due to the prestige of his return, they unhesitatingly handed over all production of recent years without holding anything back, acting very obediently.

"I’ll keep the Spirit Rice."

"As for the Spirit Stones, this area doesn’t solely belong to Heart-breaking Island; your islands are all around it as well. How could none of the Spirit Stones from a single Spirit Fish be shared?"

"I’ll keep one hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones, and you may split the rest!"

Gu Yuan mused slightly, then handed back the majority of the Spirit Stones.

Forty thousand Spirit Stones seem substantial, but with his six Foundation Establishment subordinates and himself, it amounts to seven individuals, with each only getting about five thousand Spirit Stones.

This is the accumulation of a decade.

Just enough for a Middle-grade Spiritual Artifact.

However, the fishery indeed has abundant yields, accumulating such wealth within ten years. No wonder Bu Zhengyang and Su Youyue were envious.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Exchanging glances, Ma Wu and the others showed joy in their eyes.

Ten years of hard work, apart from their island’s small amounts of Spirit Rice, they basically had no other income. Without this share, the decade would have been laboring in vain.

Fortunately, Gu Yuan was not stingy.

"Junior Brother Lvu, you’re an Artifact Refiner, do you know where in the Daoist School one could find a master refiner?"

After dealing with various affairs, Gu Yuan inquired of Lvu Zijin.