Chapter 505

Chapter 505: The Difficulty of Condensing the Golden Core

The journey to the Spiritual Pond couldn’t be completed quickly. Tian Yunzi ordered Shu Anshi to instruct Ye Yun in cultivation.

After casual conversation, the four grew serious. Shu Anshi approached Ye Yun and studied him.

“Junior brother, you’ve mastered Thunder Spirit Qi, with surging lightning within you. Thunder remains the world’s mightiest force. Nearly all heavenly tribulations manifest as thunder. The sixth level of the Golden Core stage’s great tribulation summons thunder carrying traces of Purple Mansion Thunder.”

Ye Yun nodded. Thunder symbolized heaven’s wrath, unmatched in power. True Purple Mansion Thunder could obliterate mountains with a single strike.

“Thunder Spirit Qi alone would make advancing to the Golden Core stage manageable. But you’ve also grasped sword intent—another profound natural law. Swords birthed all weapons. Sword intent alone wouldn’t complicate forming your Golden Core. Yet you’ve inexplicably cultivated Ice Spirit Qi too. No records exist of anyone mastering these three laws together in millennia.” Kun Huazi interjected before Shu Anshi could continue.

Ye Yun frowned. Three laws were troublesome enough, but he’d also cultivated Fire Spirit Qi and space power. Condensing Golden Core required merging spiritual energies from all five laws into five False Pills, then fusing them.

Refining five energies into False Pills posed immense difficulty. Countless cultivators failed bridging False Pills to Golden Core. Merging five into one seemed impossible.

Yet he had no alternative but to try.

“Junior brother, what secret techniques have you practiced? The Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique demands excessive resources. Reaching Golden Core might cost millions of top-grade spirit stones. Have you considered the cost when pursuing Nascent Soul stage later?” Kun Huazi asked, brow furrowed.

Ye Yun smiled. “I’ll walk this path step by step. Abandoning my cultivation isn’t an option.”

Kun Huazi nodded. “Your talent’s extraordinary. Defeating a fourth-level Golden Core expert at Foundation Establishment’s peak is unheard of in the Great Qin Empire’s history.”

Shu Anshi spoke calmly. “Master gave you ten low-grade Immortal Spirit Stones. We’ll supplement with top-grade stones to reach a million. Focus on condensing Golden Core first. Nascent Soul concerns can wait.”

Ye Yun agreed. Cultivation required facing each step as it came. Even Nascent Soul Ancestors might perish overnight. Peak Golden Core cultivators could lose everything to madness. Saints faced unforeseeable trials. One must remain vigilant and adaptable.

Unbeknownst to them, Ye Yun harbored two additional energies beyond their knowledge—likely undetected by Tian Yunzi too.

“Come, junior brother. Let’s discuss cultivation essentials at the pavilion.”

Shu Anshi patted Ye Yun’s shoulder, snapping him from deep contemplation about cultivation’s purpose and methods.

“Elder brother, I practice Thundercloud Lightning Sword, but only two-and-a-half moves.”

“Two or three moves exist—not half-measures!” Kun Huazi objected.

“Since when do techniques have partial moves?” Zhuge Chong echoed, puzzled.

Shu Anshi explained, “Thundercloud Lightning Sword’s true power requires comprehending Lightning Element Laws, not just Thunder Spirit Qi. Two preserved moves and one fragment explain the ‘half.’”

Ye Yun added, “I completed the third move—Divine Thunder Annihilation—through chance. It’s weaker than the originals, hence ‘half.’”

Shu Anshi nodded. “That name alone reveals its destructive nature. But overuse invites Purple Mansion Thunder retribution. No wonder it fell into obscurity. In your homeland, it’s likely considered obsolete.”

Ye Yun sighed. “I excitedly obtained it from Hall of Refining the Heart, only to find two proper moves and a broken third.”

Shu Anshi observed, “Your thunder mastery nears perfection. Condensing Thunder Spirit Qi into False Pill should be easy. The challenge lies in sword intent and Ice Spirit Qi. How will you condense those?”

Kun Huazi warned gravely, “Failed False Pill formation halts cultivation permanently. Consider carefully.”

Ye Yun’s voice hardened. “I won’t abandon this path. I’ll merge five False Pills into Golden Core, whatever it takes.”

Shu Anshi smiled approvingly. “Then train rigorously before attempting breakthrough.”

“Wait!” Kun Huazi raised a hand. “His exotic energies make breakthrough perilous. Let’s challenge senior disciples for Spiritual Pond access first. That environment would aid him greatly.”

After pausing, Shu Anshi agreed. “Well said. Junior brother, I’ll first teach you Ice Spirit Barrier—an Ice Element defensive technique.”