n

n

n

n

n

nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nAt Divine Firmament Sacred Ground, Black Dragon Mountain…

n

n

nThis was the mountain among the 36 Spirit Mountains in the sacred ground whose element was Wood.

n

n

n

n

nAlthough no Soul Formation Elder was in this mountain, a Grand Elder was sleeping there.

n

n

nIn addition, it was a place for First Senior Brother, Fang Chang, and Second Senior Brother, Zhang Yunting, to undergo dual cultivation.

n

n

nZhang Yunting’s attribute was Wood, while Fang Chang was gifted in both Fire and Earth.

n

n

nSince the five elements both vitalized and restrained one another—Metal went well with Water, Water with Wood, Wood with Fire, Fire with Earth, and Earth with Metal—just like how Zhang Yunxi could help Shen Tian, Zhang Yunxi could help Fang Chang in the same way.

n

n

n

n

nAlthough they were not blood brothers, they were very close and totally different from their fathers.

n

n

nThey had been under seclusion for three months now to help Fang Chang reach a breakthrough in his cultivation.

n

n

nThe Golden Core stage made a huge difference between talented cultivators and normal ones.

n

n

nThere were no more Firmaments at this stage, like the Qi Refinement or the stages in the Foundation Establishment.

n

n

n

n

nThe Golden Core stage required the cultivators to form a Golden Core in their Dharmic foundation and strengthen it with harsh training.

n

n

nAfter each training session, the Golden Core in a cultivator’s body would be purified slightly. It would become stronger and harder. It was just like an iron ore that was tempered by the hammer 1,000 times and forged into steel.

n

n

nEach time the Golden Core was purified, a Divine Emblem would appear on the core. The cultivator’s power would improve drastically with the emblem.

n

n

nThis process was called the Golden Core Refinement.

n

n

nNormally, a cultivator could prepare for Nascent Soul after the third refinement, but such Nascent Soul cultivators would be very weak.

n

n

nA stronger Golden Core cultivator could beat 10 Nascent Soul cultivators easily.

n

n

n

n

nIn addition, a Nascent Soul cultivator that had undergone only three refinements in the Golden Core would have a weak foundation too. Without six refinements at Golden Core, it was not likely they could reach Soul Formation.

n

n

nIt would take a lot of talent for someone to undergo six refinements in the Golden Core, but they could defeat weaker Nascent Soul cultivators, nonetheless.

n

n

nOne would be extremely gifted if they managed to undergo seven refinements in the Golden Core, and they could easily defeat a normal Nascent Soul cultivator.

n

n

nIn the Divine Firmament Sacred Ground, Zhang Yunting and his sister were Golden Core Seven Refinement stage cultivators.

n

n

nOne rare cultivator in Eastern Wilderness had undergone eight refinements now—his name was Fang Chang!

n

n

nIn the entire Eastern Wilderness ranking, Fang Chang was amongst the top three on the list!

n

n

nFang Chang and Zhang Yunting were cultivating in seclusion now to help Fang Chang to break through the last part of his Golden Core journey—the ninth refinement!

n

n

nIt was believed that the ninth refinement was the max refinement a cultivator could undergo in Golden Core.

n

n

n

n

nFor the past thousand years of history in Eastern Wilderness, very few cultivators had managed to undergo the ninth refinement.

n

n

nIf Fang Chang really managed to undergo the ninth refinement with just his broken Divine Firmament Lightning Imperial Sutra, he would be a legend.

n

n

nHe could be comparable to the monster that was ranked number one in the Golden Core list. That was the Purple Mansion Sacred Ground’s Saint, Qi Shaoxuan.

n

n

nHe was a monster that had infinite providence, and he carried his entire sacred ground purely by his providence. He was the only Golden Core Nine Refinement stage cultivator in Eastern Wilderness now. Thus, his position as the number one was unquestionable.

n

n

nMany seniors from different branches had seen how strong his providence was, and all of them believed that he had the potential to be a Thearch!

n

n

nHowever, Fang Chang was very determined to surpass that legend. He believed that as long as he managed to refine his Golden Core one more time, he would be weaker than no one.

n

n

nSo what if you have great providence? Without sufficient training, you are just a decoration on the wall!

n

n

nWhen I succeed in my ninth refinement, you will be a legend no more!

n

n

n…

n

n

nIn the back of the Black Dragon Mountain, a man in a blue shirt sat cross-legged with a guqin on his lap.

n

n

nThe music he played on it was so beautiful that it attracted many birds on the Spirit Mountain. Even the plants and the herbs looked greener with his music.

n

n

nA huge Azure Dragon avatar was hovering over him, while a burly man with golden armor was sitting across him.

n

n

nThe man had thick eyebrows and big eyes. A Red Flame Dragon Spear with golden and red lightning sparkles was placed on his lap.

n

n

n

n

nA Crimson Phoenix was on his back, and it exuded such fire that the sky looked red. There was also a golden Qilin avatar beside the Phoenix.

n

n

nThe burly man had a Golden Core floating on top of his head, and the red and golden divine lights were surrounding it.

n

n

nThe Golden Core was covered in eight emblems, and the ninth one was slowly forming too.

n

n

nThe burly man took a deep breath and forced the two divine lights into the Golden Core.

n

n

nAfter the Crimson Phoenix and Qilin entered the Golden Core, it started to sink slowly.

n

n

nWhen the burly man completely absorbed the Golden Core, he opened his eyes and said, “Thank you, Junior Brother!”

n

n

nThe burly man emitted a powerful aura that even blew away the clouds in the sky above him.

n

n

nFang Chang held his Red Flame Dragon Spear and smiled. “I’ve had a basic emblem formed now. The ninth refinement is just around the corner!”

n

n

nThe man in the blue shirt stood up too and smiled warmly. “Congratulations, First Senior Brother.”

n

n

nFang Chang smiled and said, “Junior Brother! I’ll remember your kind act! I’ll support you wholeheartedly when you campaign for the Saint position in the future.”

n

n

nZhang Yunting carried his guqin on his back and said calmly, “Senior Brother, please don’t mock me like this. I’m only ranked seventh on the Golden Core list. I’m not strong enough to be our Divine Firmament’s Saint. On the other hand, Senior Brother is ranked third in the Golden Core list, and you are about to complete the ninth refinement soon. You will be a legend then.”

n

n

nFang Chang smiled and waved his hand. “Junior Brother, you should know better. I’m not interested in the Saints at all.

n

n

n“In addition, you have managed our disciples well. All of them are convinced that you are worthy of this position.

n

n

n“Do not turn away from this opportunity, you will definitely be the Saint. I’ll even support you to be the Sacred Leader in the future.

n

n

n“Cough, cough… All I ask is for you to compliment me more in front of Yunxi. That would be a great help for me.”

n

n

nThe burly man’s face blushed after saying that.

n

n

nZhang Yunting said helplessly, “Erm, I’ve been doing that for a long time now.”

n

n

nHonestly, Zhang Yunting respected his Senior Brother sincerely as he was strong and talented.

n

n

nIf Fang Chang could earn Zhang Yunxi’s favor, his Senior Brother would become his brother-in-law. Zhang Yunting would be very glad about that.

n

n

nHowever, his words were taken very lightly at home!

n

n

nHe had praised his First Senior Brother in front of his sister for many times now, but Zhang Yunxi would always say that she was not into Dao companion yet.

n

n

nThus, he was very helpless too.

n

n

nFang Chang smiled and said, “We’ve been training for a very long time now. Let’s go out for a few days and relax. We’ll come back and finish where we left another day!”

n

n

nZhang Yunting nodded. “Sure, I’ll listen to whatever Senior Brother says.”

n

n

nAfter the two of them rested for a few moments, they left the Black Dragon Mountain.

n

n

nJust as they stepped out of the mountain restriction zone, a man appeared in front of them.

n

n

n“First Senior Brother! Second Senior Brother! Finally, you guys are out! Senior Sister has been bullied by the new Saint!”

n