"Items that contain all five elements of spiritual energy are extremely rare in this world, and top-grade spirit stones are of course no exception. In my younger years, I visited many places but couldn't find any top-grade spirit stones, I was even close to forcibly taking them from those reclusive Nascent Soul ancestors!"
Shu Han was astounded, "You were planning to rob a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
The old man replied proudly, "Don't underestimate the technique I created. Once cultivated to the peak of the Core Formation stage, it's no weaker than a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator! However, those Nascent Soul ancestors who possess top-grade spirit stones are not to be trifled with. Fortunately, during the final rotation of the technique, I found this top-grade spirit stone in this vein. Otherwise, my Golden Core would have exploded and I would have died."
You created an ultimate technique and almost got killed by it. Truly unparalleled.
"Top-grade spirit stones have spiritual consciousness and are extremely difficult to deal with. This one has even developed its own spirit. I spent nine years guarding this vein just to capture this little thing. However, when I was absorbing it, this cunning thing actually retaliated, gathering the spiritual energy of the entire spiritual vein and transforming my body into a spirit stone. Luckily, my foundation was deep enough to keep my Golden Core from extinguishing, but I was trapped inside this top-grade spirit stone."
As he spoke, the illusory old man pointed at the top-grade spirit stone inside his head.
Shu Han suddenly realized, so that the golden sphere was the old man's Golden Core.
The old man sighed, "In the blink of an eye, hundreds of years have passed. I finally managed to erase the spiritual consciousness of the spirit stone, but my Golden Core has been sealed inside this top-grade spirit stone by the residual spiritual energy, preventing me from achieving the Nascent Soul stage. However, my physical body has been destroyed, and this spirit stone, even if it's my new body, I can't destroy it from the inside."
"I pondered for many years and finally found a solution. This solution requires another Golden Core, cultivated with the same technique as mine, to resonate with my Golden Core both internally and externally, and absorb the sealing spiritual energy of this top-grade spirit stone together."
The old man sighed again and continued, "Unfortunately, in these hundreds of years, I have taken many disciples in the vein, but none of them managed to reach the Core Formation stage. Later, I reflected that I had always chosen disciples based on talent. I was enlightened by others and realized that without opportunity, no matter how talented, it's difficult to cross the bottleneck of the Core Formation stage. Therefore, I set up this competition, to find the person with the most opportunity, and boy, that's you."
Shu Han listened in silence and couldn't help but ask, "Can you guarantee that I can cross the Core Formation stage's bottleneck?"
The old man laughed, "Of course, I can't guarantee that. It's just a hopeful attempt. In the future, I will continue to take in disciples, after all, I can't hang my hope on a single tree."
Shu Han: ...
"I haven't been able to break through the Foundation Establishment bottleneck until now, let alone the Golden Core stage."
The old man released a misty spiritual energy and laughed, "This is your victory prize. I will personally infuse the spiritual energy of the top-grade spirit stone into you with my Golden Core. A five-element spirit stone for a five spiritual roots cultivator, and with the same technique as me, it couldn't be more appropriate. Boy, are you satisfied with my arrangement?"
However, the old man didn't see the expected joy on Shu Han's face.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Shu Han muttered in his heart: Senior Shangguan Ruolin also promised to help me achieve Foundation Establishment through her Golden Core. In my opinion, Senior Shangguan is much more reliable than this old fart. Master Mystical Dragon? This name doesn't sound like a good person.
"Boy, are you not happy with this reward?"
The old man seemed to see his thoughts and laughed, "You're hoping for Shangguan girl to help you achieve Foundation Establishment, aren't you? Let me give you a piece of advice, don't get too close to that girl when you're weak. Besides, there's a problem with her technique. Even if she could help you achieve Foundation Establishment, it won't be as effective as a top-grade spirit stone coupled with a Golden Core from the same technique. I can lay the most solid foundation for you, clear the falsehood of magic power caused by the previous consumption of pills, strengthen your roots, and cleanse your marrow."
Despite the old man's eloquent words, Shu Han's suspicion did not diminish. He couldn't help worrying, "May I ask, senior, I'm grateful for your great kindness in using the essence of your Golden Core to help me achieve Foundation Establishment. But after Foundation Establishment, if I can't achieve Golden Core to save you..."
"You're worried that I might have a trick up my sleeve when helping you achieve Foundation Establishment?"
Shu Han remained silent, thinking: you wouldn't restrict me without having a trick up your sleeve, are you doing charity?
The old man looked at Shu Han and laughed loudly, "You really are cautious, boy, but don't worry, I disdain to have a fallback in your body. However, if you don't have the ability to cultivate to the Golden Core stage after Foundation Establishment, it would indeed waste my efforts, and naturally, there should be a penalty."
Shu Han's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, this Master Mystical Dragon is not a good guy.
"Hahaha, look at your face! I've said I won't harm you, boy, you can rest assured."
Shu Han couldn't help asking, "Then if I fail, how will you punish me?"
"Punish? I don't need to punish you, have you forgotten what technique you are practicing?"
With this statement, Shu Han had an epiphany. If he couldn't cultivate to the Core Formation stage, he would definitely die from the swelling and rupturing of his meridians due to Mystical Dragon Triple Rotation Divine Art!
Looking at Shu Han's ashen face, the old man couldn't help laughing loudly, "Ah, this is my technique, cultivation is like rowing against the current, if you don't advance, you'll explode! Exciting, isn't it, boy?"
You old bastard, you left this rotten technique to harm people.
Shu Han said solemnly, "What if I manage to form the Golden Core, but don't want to save you, senior?"
The old man said nonchalantly, "That's easy. I only passed on the technique up to the Golden Core stage. If you want to advance further, you must come back and ask me for the latter half of the technique. Otherwise, you'll explode sooner or later."
The more Shu Han heard, the angrier he got. He asked urgently, "Can't I change the technique halfway?"
The old man laughed and looked at Shu Han's stiff face with interest, saying, "You can't! I personally helped you with Foundation Establishment, so to change the technique, you'd have to destroy your cultivation base. At best, you'll become a mortal, at worst, you'll die instantly and in great pain. So, if you're lucky enough to achieve great cultivation in the future, you can only come to save me. There's no other way!"
Shu Han admitted defeat, bowed, and said, "Your plot is impeccable, senior."
"I've been in the cultivation world for three thousand years, I don't resort to so-called scheming. Now that you know the road ahead, sit still for me, and let me help you with Foundation Establishment."
Shu Han sat down as instructed, emptied his mind, and concentrated on operating the Mystical Dragon Triple Rotation Divine Art.
Master Mystical Dragon's illusory body disappeared, revealing the top-grade spirit stone itself. The top-grade spirit stone floated above Shu Han's head. In an instant, a five-color brilliance burst forth, making the whole spirit stone cave begin to flicker. Countless spiritual energies responded to the command of the top-grade spirit stone, converging into a torrent and flowing into Shu Han from all directions.
Foundation Establishment is the foundation of the great Dao.
The Golden Core in the top-grade spirit stone began to shine, bringing down rich five-element spirit energy like flowing water. The majestic spiritual energy poured into Shu Han from the Baihui acupoint on his crown, flowed down from his facial points, and went straight to his Dantian. After circling in the Dantian, it flowed into the Huiyin, Weimen, and Mingmen, then rose from the spine, reached the Dazhui and Yuzhen, and returned to the Baihui, forming the Great Circulation.
In Shu Han's consciousness, he felt as if his entire body was immersed in an ocean of spiritual energy. He was like a small boat floating on the ocean of spiritual energy, rising with the tide. The previously insurmountable Foundation Establishment was now within reach.