Cultivation is arduous, and achieving Core Formation is even more challenging. Countless Foundation Establishment cultivators have been barred from the Core Formation stage, their dreams turning to dust and their bones bleaching where they fell.
As the saying goes, the might of a Core Formation True Person is far beyond the reach of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Yet the Cultivation World has always been brimming with extraordinary talents. Sometime in the distant past, the False Core Method began circulating.
This technique allows Foundation Establishment cultivators to refine the inner core of a Third-Tier Great Demon, transforming it into a pseudo-core within their bodies and granting them Core Formation magic power.
While False Core cultivators rank at the very bottom of the Core Formation hierarchy, their strength remains incomparable to that of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
With Core Formation magic power, they can fully unleash the power of Core Formation magical treasures, unleashing power beyond the comprehension of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
The sole drawback is that the False Core Method doesn't grant cultivators the extended lifespan typically associated with Core Formation. Their lifespan remains unchanged from their Foundation Establishment stage, essentially making them Foundation Establishment cultivators with partial Core Formation capabilities.
Despite its inherent flaws, the False Core Method remains a remarkable technique in the Cultivation World. It has propped up the failing fortunes of countless families of Core Formation cultivators who have lost their pillars of support, holding them afloat through precarious times.
The technique Qingzhu was about to employ bore a striking resemblance to this ancient method.
Ordinary cultivators refine Monster Cores, but Qingzhu—or rather, the Blood Sea True Monarch he had become—sought to refine a cultivator's Core Formation.
This was a unique technique derived from his Blood Sea Art, a fusion of an unnamed blood art and fragments of demonic arts.
It allowed him not only to absorb the Core Formation as a False Core but also to use it as a foundation to forge his own True Core during his future Core Formation.
Qingzhu extracted Bitter Bamboo's Core Formation and stored it in his dantian. Circulating his crimson spiritual energy, he forcibly refined the stolen Core Formation in less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
At that moment, Bitter Bamboo completely lost the Core Formation he had painstakingly cultivated over a century. His face turned deathly pale, and his body suddenly hunched over.
His cloudy eyes glared at Qingzhu, a mixture of bewilderment and rage flickering within them, yet he remained silent.
Qingzhu flicked his finger, and the blood coating Bitter Bamboo's skin instantly seeped back into his body, restoring his withered frame.
With a mocking tone, Qingzhu said, "Master, you can't die just yet. Be a good boy and wait for your disciple to leave this place before I grant you a swift end."
Bitter Bamboo remained speechless, knowing that talk of a "swift end" was now meaningless. He was nothing more than a plaything in Qingzhu's hands.
Qingzhu emerged from the tower, his fingertips dancing as he executed intricate hand seals. The talismanic patterns surrounding the Black Tower lit up, projecting a ghostly replica of the tower outside its walls. Meanwhile, under Qingzhu's technique, the real Black Tower shrank to palm-size and landed in his hand.
Examining the miniature tower, Qingzhu marveled, "This treasure is at least fourth-tier. I wonder how many Demon Cultivators it has suppressed over the ages? The baleful aura emanating from it rivals that of ordinary fifth-tier magic tools. Bitter Bamboo was fortunate to possess it, but he lacked the skill to wield it properly, allowing such a gem to gather dust. Now, the Demon Suppression Tower is a perfect fit for a Demon Cultivator like me."
After stowing the Black Tower, Qingzhu departed Han Bamboo City as casually as usual. The cultivators guarding the gates bowed respectfully to the Young City Lord as he left, and Qingzhu nodded in acknowledgment, calmly departing under their watchful eyes.
I can't stay in Wild Plains Prefecture any longer, Qingzhu mused. Cloud River Prefecture also has those two Spirit Transformation elders. I need to find a secure place to recover my strength. Perhaps the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range would be best; I suspect the demons and fiends there would accept a defecting Demon Cultivator seeking refuge.
With a flick of his wrist, Qingzhu summoned a flying shuttle and soared away from the city.
It wasn't until half a day later that Han Bamboo City erupted in turmoil, realizing that the Young City Lord had vanished at a critical moment.
Huang Chun, another Core Formation cultivator and an elder of Han Bamboo City, stepped forward to take charge. Upon arriving at the Black Tower, he discovered that only an illusory afterimage remained.
The entire Demon Suppression Tower and Daoist Bitter Bamboo, the city lord of Han Bamboo City, had vanished without a trace.
Panic spread, and Huang Chun immediately rushed to Shan Qin. She was equally shocked to learn that a Core Formation cultivator had vanished before their very eyes.
Then came the news that Bitter Bamboo's soul lamp had extinguished, plunging Han Bamboo City into chaos from top to bottom.
Remembering Miao Lishan's words, Shan Qin hesitated before deciding against activating the talisman to summon her back. Instead, she pressed her hand to her chest, feeling the life-saving talisman hidden beneath her robes, which offered a measure of reassurance.
This talisman was a passive defensive spirit talisman capable of withstanding the might of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
I'll wait until we're actually under attack before calling Aunt Miao back.
...
On Black Lake Island, Wei Zhong emerged from his cultivation, clutching a Formation Flag in his hand. "Is someone attacking Black Lake Island?" he murmured.
Leaving his Grotto-Heaven and stepping outside the pavilion, he found the island's cultivators gathered, their faces etched with panic.
"Master!"
The cultivators swarmed around Wei Zhong as he emerged, their faces brightening as if they had finally found their anchor.
"Master, this person appeared suddenly just now. I tried to question their identity, but they attacked without a word. Fortunately, the formation you established blocked their assault, or everyone on the island would have been mercilessly slaughtered..."
As Xie Linghua spoke, Wei Zhong's gaze remained fixed beyond the formation, his eyes filled with unshakable solemnity.
Interrupting her, he said, "I'll do my best to hold them back. If the formation breaks, scatter and flee."
"Alas..."
Ignoring their reactions, Wei Zhong stepped onto his Flying Sword and soared into the sky.
The Azure Lotus Array of Azure Waters was now operating at full power, frantically drawing spiritual energy from the spirit vein to sustain its operation.
Wei Zhong observed the mysterious cultivator outside the formation. He wore an unremarkable gray-white Daoist robe, his face aged, and his white hair fell loosely around his shoulders.
This was a cultivator Wei Zhong didn't recognize, and clearly not at the Foundation Establishment stage. Judging by the ferocity of his attacks, there was no doubt he was a Core Formation cultivator.
I've always been cautious in my cultivation. How could I have provoked such a formidable enemy?
Within the formation, Wei Zhong clasped his hands respectfully. "Senior, this junior is Chu Zhong of Black Lake Island. I humbly request that you cease your attack. Could there be some misunderstanding between us?"
To Wei Zhong's surprise, the mysterious Core Formation cultivator outside the formation actually paused his assault. A sinister gaze fixed on Wei Zhong, the cultivator emitted a series of chilling, incomprehensible snickers.
"Chu Zhong? That's right. You're the one I'm looking for."
The Blood Bodies used by Blood Sea True Monarch as bait weren't fleeing aimlessly. Each had been strategically directed, mostly towards the locations where previous Blood Bodies had fallen. As a Demon Cultivator, he wouldn't rest until this vendetta was settled.
I didn't expect to find such a formidable Second-Tier formation here, backed by a Second-Tier spirit vein, blocking my path. It's all that little vixen's fault for injuring my Blood Body Dharma Body with a single strike. Now I have to stop every few attacks to suppress the injury.
Wei Zhong was utterly bewildered by the cultivator's words.
The cultivator elaborated, "Didn't you slaughter one of my Blood Bodies in this very place not long ago?"
Wei Zhong finally understood. This was vengeance for Candle Daoist.
"Senior jests," Wei Zhong replied, feigning innocence. "This junior has always focused diligently on cultivation, rarely engaging in conflict with others. How could I possibly have provoked you? As for this 'Blood Body' concept, I've never even heard of it."
Two Spirit Transformation experts were deployed—how could this Core Formation cultivator have slipped through their net and ended up here? This is truly my misfortune.
Wei Zhong's plea had no effect. The cultivator brandished his magic tool and resumed attacking the formation.
"It's you! No mistake about it!"