With my stabilized foundations, I turn my attention back to Wu Yulan and Lan Xiaohui. It is much easier now to control and distribute the flow of internal energy within their bodies, and I find it even easier to suppress the resistance of their spiritual veins.
Breaking through and into the Core Formation realm is, naturally, not a simple or easy task. The Qi requires a high degree of suppression to bind to the gold elixir and fuse it with vitality and life essence. However, there is a natural resistance to this process — like a rubber band snapping back after being stretched.
However, now that my cultivation is higher than theirs, it is almost trivial to perform this compression and stretching, and forcefully fuse the gold Qi and life essence.
According to my memories, Core Formation cultivators are a valuable resource to any sect for this reason — they can help others break through the Foundation Establishment realm and step into the Core Formation realm much easier.
However, this is not a simple task, usually produces lower grade Gold Cores, and requires tremendous amounts of medicine.
Yet, for me, it is a simple matter that only requires my full concentration and the outcome will be nothing less than perfection.
At first, I attribute this to my vast sea of consciousness. My efforts are comparable to those of a Nascent Soul realm cultivator helping someone achieve a higher realm of cultivation.
I briefly even consider the fact that Lan Xiaohui and I share a similar Physique as the reason, but Wu Yulan and I share no blood, yet there is no difference.
Now that I have achieved the Core Formation realm of cultivation, I am vaguely aware of the universal laws that permeate the world. Of these natural laws, the one I am most familiar with is the law of space. This is, according to my knowledge, because of my mastery of [Fractured Sword].
This method contains an unparalleled, high-level law of space; and though I do not understand the intricacies of how the second form or third form work, I am able to sense the degree of its mysteries, and even force it into existence by burning half my lifespan, even though my cultivation is nowhere near capable enough to produce it otherwise.
Even though Lan Xiaohui could burn her entire lifespan and not produce even the first form — Star Burial — she still practices [Transient Sword], which also contains a high-level law of space. Furthermore, Lan Xiaohui has fused her understanding of [Transient Sword], with the sword energy properties of [Fractured Sword].
Wu Yulan also possesses the [Transient Sword] method, which she fused with her own mysterious swordsmanship to produce [Eternal Moment Swordsmanship].
In other words, whether it is a sword method or a cultivation method, they all require cultivation and integration with internal energy, changing the properties of the spiritual veins.
The common connection between us is the sword energy our methods generate, and the cultivation of methods that are, possibly, from the same family of the attribute [Space].
In two cases, according to my stolen memories, can a special affinity be created between cultivators. When the attributes and primary energies of internal systems are the complete opposite — like Yin and Yang, or fire and ice — or if they are extremely similar!
However, whether this affinity provides an advantage during breakthrough is beyond my knowledge. It is useful during this method of dual cultivation, but suppressing the resistance with such ease seems to be beyond the scope of the effects.
It could simply be because I am a divine grade object — an existence that is so extraordinary, it is godlike. This is not even my arrogance, but merely a simple fact. A single drop of my blood could change Lan Xiaohui’s Physique to that of a Princess-class, and a second one then upgraded it to the Empress-class Physique.
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Furthermore, burning half my lifespan — my extremely valuable life essence — was enough to generate the energy necessary to use a technique that was well beyond my capability.
In this world, my existence is akin to that of a mythological deity or guardian beast — like a Phoenix or a Dragon — so it would not be strange that I am capable of affecting others with such ease.
In that case, the reason is neither my consciousness, nor my cultivation attributes, but the spirit or soul itself that is imprinted in the origin of my life essence. After all, I was capable of obliterating an existence that called itself a Snake God and was identified as a Demon King, with the force of my soul.
Ultimately, none of these explanations are satisfactory, but it allows me to formulate several ideas on how I can produce heaven-defying gold cores within the bodies of my owner and her companion.
Forming a gold core is a result of balancing the energies of the five natural elements — metal, wood, fire, earth, and water — and condensing them into a stable configuration. Both the color gold and the perception of natural laws are a result of this stable fusion.
The gold core that instantaneously formed within my inner vessel is proof that with a profound law and energy, the entire process can be bypassed and condensed, and possibly even bestow one with a deeper understanding of profound laws.
In other words, a gold core fused with a higher-order natural law should, in theory, produce a higher-order gold core.
Even if Lan Xiaohui steps into the Gold Core realm, with her shallow sword attainment and incomplete understanding of the laws of space, being able to cultivate [Fractured Sword] is not guaranteed.
On the other hand, if she were able to cultivate the first layer to completion, and use Star Burial, not even ten Yu Shuns would be able to stand against her.
Even though it is only the first form, of the three I have comprehended it is the most destructive one. If it possesses a physical form, Star Burial will annihilate it completely. The other two techniques, while incredibly destructive, have other advantages that Star Burial cannot compare to, but in terms of physical destruction, Star Burial possesses an absolute advantage.
The Qi that flows between us changes gradually. If Wu Yulan or Lan Xiaohui were to open their eyes, they would see the motes of sword energy come into existence and then collide with each other, disintegrating. In the process of disintegration, the sword force containing the higher-order laws of [Fractured Sword] release into the stream of Qi, and flow into their inner body.
This method of cultivation and gathering of energy is the exact same method that Sun Zhen, from my Inner World, uses!
The sword energy released by the disintegration of these motes is much purer than what I can normally produce — as if it was refined to a higher grade.
The moment this energy enters Lan Xiaohui’s and Wu Yulan’s spiritual veins, it causes their forming gold core to lose some of its luster and become heavier. The diffusion of the five natural elements condenses, becoming more focused.
The gold cores in their inner bodies tremble violently — a spiritual earthquake that shakes even their spiritual veins and meridians — and then they both collapse and turn a faint sheen of sparkling silver.
At this time, Wu Yulan’s body trembles, and she coughs up a mist of blood as the tremendous force of energy circulating in her spiritual veins causes her spiritual vessels to snap and tear themselves apart.
In a single moment, Wu Yulan graduates from having a lifespan in the dozens of years, to a lifespan measured in minutes. Quite an admirable achievement for a lesser creature, even though she had very little influence over the outcome.
Even though this is an unexpected result, I do, at least, confirm one theory. The reason why I am able to withstand the enormous force and power of [Fractured Sword] is because I have a divine body, and Lan Xiaohui who shares my Physique is, for only this reason, just barely able to avoid the immediate annihilation of her spiritual veins, unlike Wu Yulan.
Rather than considering my actions to be an error, I view this as an opportunity. I put aside a reminder to congratulate Wu Yulan for qualifying for an optimization pass.
[ Lifespan: 41 years -> 36 years. ]
I condense a drop of my blood and fling it at Wu Yulan’s forehead. Upon impact, it immediately absorbs into her body and all color drains from her face. It is not just her face that drains of color, but her entire body goes pale a moment later.
Tiny incisions appear on her skin, and blood begins to pour out, but her precious life essence never makes it far enough to touch the water — it freezes on her skin. Even the water around her slowly begins to freeze.
Then the sound of her snapping bones fills the air, and I wonder if in her breakthrough, she is even able to perceive pain or what is happening to her body.
A moment later, when she begins to wail and scream as if her soul is being torn to shreds, I receive my answer.