Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Golden Core Tribulation, Inner Demons and External Lightning

"Allow me to explain..."

Bai Xiuying’s vermilion lips parted as she began.

"I’ve heard that you, Luo, reached the level of a high-grade, second-tier Talisman Master while still at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment."

"Now that you have broken through to Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, I imagine your proficiency in the Dao of Talismans has also improved."

"I wonder, would you be able to craft the third-tier talisman recorded in this jade slip?"

"We are willing to provide third-tier spirit wood and third-tier blood ink at cost, and we will purchase the finished ’Thunder Transformation Talisman’ for twice the market price."

Bai Xiuying’s attitude was sincere, her expression solemn.

Su Ye was slightly surprised. This female Sword Immortal, a disciple of Canghai, had come for Luo Xiyin!

To be precise, she had come for Luo Xiyin’s skill in the Dao of Talismans!

"Third-tier spirit wood, and third-tier blood ink..."

Luo Xiyin’s eyes sparkled. She was tempted.

These were all extremely rare Talisman Materials, seldom seen even at the grand decennial auctions!

"Ah..."

"Unfortunately, crafting a third-tier talisman is beyond my current abilities..."

Luo Xiyin shook her head, politely declining.

’I’m sorry, I can’t do it.’

"Is that so?"

Bai Xiuying nodded slightly, showing understanding rather than annoyance.

After all, a third-tier talisman was equivalent to a full-powered strike from a Crystal Stage cultivator and was considered a strategic resource.

It placed immense demands on a Talisman Master’s skill, Magical Power, and divine soul.

"However... our offer stands indefinitely."

"If, in the future, your cultivation advances and your talisman skills improve, you can contact me anytime you wish to try."

"Should you succeed, I will owe you a personal favor."

Bai Xiuying passed over a Communication Talisman and placed it on the table.

Su Ye signaled for Luo Xiyin to accept it. She didn’t resist and placed the Communication Talisman into her Storage Ring.

After all, Weiyuan Immortal City’s terms were indeed excellent.

They were offering priceless, rare Talisman Materials at cost for her to attempt crafting a third-tier talisman.

And they would buy the finished product for double the price.

Not only would there be a hefty profit, but the attempt to craft a third-tier talisman would also benefit the advancement of Luo Xiyin’s skills.

On top of that, there was the favor from Bai Xiuying, Canghai’s prized disciple.

...

After seeing Bai Xiuying off, Su Ye began to ponder.

’Weiyuan Immortal City seems desperate for the Thunder Transformation Talisman.’

’Thunder Transformation...?’

Su Ye’s eyes shifted as he fell into thought.

According to the records within the Taiqing Cold Jade Skill, it was incredibly difficult for a Crystal Stage cultivator to break through to the Golden Core Realm.

It placed extreme demands on the cultivator’s Magical Power, physical body, and Divine Sense.

Only a cultivator who had unified their three treasures—essence, qi, and spirit—and refined them to the purest state could transform their Magic Power Crystal into a True Method Golden Core!

This step alone blocked nearly half of all Crystal Stage cultivators!

What was even more terrifying was that after the breakthrough, they had to face a dual tribulation!

An inner Heart Demon!

An outer Thunder Tribulation!

Failure to overcome the tribulation meant hundreds of years of cultivation would turn to ash!

"Trying to exploit a bug in the Celestial Dao is never easy, is it..."

Su Ye sighed at the thought.

According to the records, Foundation Establishment cultivators originally didn’t face a tribulation when breaking through to the Golden Core Realm.

A tribulation would only descend when one was ascending to the Nascent Soul Realm.

However, in the recent past, the Crystal Skill came into being.

Countless Foundation Establishment cultivators who had no hope of advancing on their path used the Crystal Skill to break through and form a True Method Golden Core!

The Cultivation Realm entered a glorious golden age!

But...

"The way of the heavens is to take from that which has a surplus and give to that which has a deficit."

"The True Method Golden Core was meant for geniuses. Every time someone formed one, the heavens would bestow a Daoist blessing as a reward."

"However, the existence of the Crystal Skill caused the number of True Method Golden Cores to skyrocket..."

In other words, too many people were shearing the Celestial Dao’s sheep.

According to the records, the inland Cultivation Realm saw over three hundred cultivators form True Method Golden Cores within a single century!

That was comparable to the total number of True Method Golden Core cultivators from the previous thousand years...

The Celestial Dao: "Nice."

Even a relatively rigid and mechanical will of the world had to react.

However, it didn’t resort to fancy moves like ’retroactively investigating two thousand years’ or ’revoking cultivation levels’.

This allowed the Crystal Skill cultivators who had already sheared their share of the wool to breathe a sigh of relief.

But from then on, breaking through from the Crystal Stage to the Golden Core Realm came with both an inner and an outer tribulation!

Only by passing the test of these tribulations could one receive the ’blessing of the Dao’.

But even so, the Crystal Skill continued to spread far and wide.

After all, the vast majority of Foundation Establishment cultivators had no hope of ever reaching the Golden Core Realm to begin with!

Reaching the Crystal Stage granted them Magical Power at least on par with a Fake Core, allowing them to live for several hundred more years.

And compared to the dead-end path of a Fake Core, it offered a sliver of hope for further advancement!

’What if I come across some heaven-defying opportunity that lets me breeze through the tribulation and my cultivation soars?’

Every Foundation Establishment cultivator thought this when choosing between the Fake Core and the Crystal Stage.

Furthermore, according to feedback from cultivators, the ’blessing of the Dao’ received after passing the tribulation was far richer than the blessings recorded in the past, and cultivators could benefit greatly from it!

True geniuses would also rise to the challenge and choose the Crystal Skill.

Thus, despite the tribulation, the Crystal Skill still replaced the original cultivation system!

...

Ending his train of thought, Su Ye rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"So, this desperate need for the Thunder Transformation Talisman..."

"Does this mean... Canghai is preparing to advance to the Golden Core Realm?"

Su Ye mused, making a guess.

Canghai was a figure active during the Pioneering War.

Su Ye roughly estimated his lifespan.

This great cultivator was now nearly four hundred years old.

Even with the five-hundred-year lifespan of the Crystal Stage, he was considered to be entering his later years.

It was reasonable for him to attempt to reach the Golden Core Realm before his life came to an end.

’I wonder when this master plans to charge the Golden Core bottleneck?’

’What are his chances of success?’

Su Ye was lost in thought.

Every single Crystal Stage cultivator could influence the situation in this sea region.

Moreover, this time, Canghai was planning to break through to the Golden Core Realm!

’If he fails, Weiyuan Immortal City will lose its guardian Crystal Stage cultivator and will inevitably decline...’

’It might even be conquered...’

Su Ye knew full well that the natives were currently plotting something.

They coveted the ’Key of Earth’ within Weiyuan Immortal City.

’But if he succeeds...’

A profound, playful look appeared in Su Ye’s eyes.

An interesting possibility had formed in his mind.

’What if Canghai, despite his advanced age, successfully breaks through to the Golden Core Realm, while the Crystal Stage cultivators of the Cyan Profound Sect are too caught up in their infighting to take that step?’

Clearly, should such a thing happen, it would have a profound impact on the current situation in the sea region!

...

However, this was not something Su Ye needed to worry about at the moment.

Compared to Canghai and the regional situation, he was more concerned with the ’Key of Earth’.

Two months later, good news arrived.

Thanks to his connection with Bai Xiuying and some well-placed Spirit Stones from the Luo Family, Su Ye secured a spot.

He would be allowed to enter the core of the museum and observe the ’Key of Earth’ up close!

...

There will be another Chapter this afternoon.