Chu Xuan sat cross-legged, quietly cultivating. The attributes of his spiritual root underwent fundamental changes.
Normally, this would necessitate switching to a new primary cultivation technique.
However, doing so would mean completely dispersing his previous cultivation and starting anew.
Chu Xuan had already advanced to the late Foundation Establishment stage. Dispersing his cultivation would render the years of effort he had invested utterly in vain—a consequence too heavy for anyone to bear.
Yet, such considerations applied to orthodox cultivators. For those on the demonic path, who possessed means to seize spiritual roots, maintaining existing cultivation without dispersing it was a feasible capability.
The "Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture" was one such unique technique. As a demonic cultivation method, it inherently possessed the ability to alter its own attributes.
Originally a wood attribute technique, through repeated operations, the Spiritual Qi within a demonic cultivator's body could also change accordingly. It could even be transformed into variant attributes like thunder or wind.
Moreover, since thunder belonged to yang wood and wind to yin wood, transforming the "Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture" into a thunder attribute technique was actually simpler than converting it into other elemental attributes.
To transform the technique, only a thunder attribute spiritual material was needed: Thunder Striking Wood.
In front of Chu Xuan appeared a section of charred Thunder Striking Wood. At its lower end, a tender shoot had just sprouted.
Thunder, capable of destruction unparalleled, also harbored the power to foster life with the arrival of spring thunder and the first rain of spring, sprouting myriad beings.
Thunder Striking Wood could also enhance Chu Xuan's acquired Spiritual Body, achieving dual benefits with a single effort.
Such a small section of Thunder Striking Wood contained two attributes and multiple powers, its mysteries boundless.
Thunder Striking Wood was of a high grade. This piece, a top-grade Foundation Establishment material, had cost Chu Xuan three hundred small spiritual stones to acquire. He hadn't utilized Han Liuyun's channels but instead entrusted Chen Ge to make the purchase.
Although this approach was slower and more expensive, it was safer.
Chu Xuan wasn't foolish enough to entrust all transactions to Han Liuyun, as that could easily expose his intentions.
Han Liuyun, possessing only a superior-grade spiritual root, secretly surpassed Duan Feipeng in strength and seemed to wield an extensive intelligence network—an unquestionably formidable individual.
It was precisely because Chu Xuan and Han Liuyun possessed similar strengths that neither of them acted rashly. They proceeded with caution in their collaboration, each carefully testing the other's abilities.
If Chu Xuan were to discover one day that Han Liuyun had weakened or suffered serious injury, he would not hesitate to eliminate this individual who knew so many of his secrets.
He believed that Han Liuyun would likely do the same.
Throughout, Chu Xuan had always regarded Han Liuyun as someone to be used: useful when beneficial, discarded when not, with no further discussion needed.
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Chu Xuan immediately began refining the Thunder Striking Wood with Spiritual Qi.
Rich Thunder Spiritual Qi and Wood Spiritual Qi surged into his body. Spiritual Qi flowed continuously within him.
Following the path of the Blood Evil Demon Refining Scripture, which altered it into Thunder attribute.
One cycle, two cycles, three cycles...
With each successive operation, the Spiritual Qi underwent constant changes. After a day, it finally completely transformed from Wood attribute Spiritual Qi to Thunder attribute Spiritual Qi.
"Phew..."
Chu Xuan let out a sigh of relief. That was finally accomplished.
Moreover, due to the formidable lethality of Thunder Spiritual Qi, the spells he cast henceforth would also be imbued with the power of lightning.
When facing cultivators of the same realm, he would mostly dominate the battlefield.
Coupled with his hidden cards, even Foundation Establishment Eighth Layer cultivators were not his match.
...
Water Curtain Cave.
The moment Chu Xuan appeared, he detected a sound transmission array within the formation. It was Wan Wuying's. Thus, he arrived at Wan Wuying's cave residence.
With a rumble, the cave residence opened.
Wan Wuying was not sitting on the bone throne but joyfully pacing back and forth.
Next to the bone throne stood a robust, dark figure. Its body was over one zhang tall, muscles bulging, and veins protruding like dragons.
The aura emanating from it made Chu Xuan's scalp tingle. He had no doubt that this was a Corpse Commander equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator!
Wan Wuying smiled faintly. "While I was healing, I took the opportunity to refine the corpse of Hundred Gu Daoist into a Corpse Commander."
Chu Xuan hurriedly bowed. "Master's demonic arts are unparalleled. In the future, you will certainly step into the Nascent Soul, sweep through the world, and recreate Infinite Sect's glory!"
Wan Wuying waved dismissively. "Forget it. Infinite Sect is down to just a handful of us. What glory is there to recreate? Let it dissipate completely into the dust of history."
Chu Xuan clicked his tongue. He wondered how Wan Wuying could be more detached than himself.
Wan Wuying casually continued, "I summoned you this time to teach you the method of condensing the Golden Core."
Chu Xuan immediately perked up, feeling as though he had been called by his superior for a meeting, only to unexpectedly receive a promotion!
"Please, have a seat."
Wan Wuying gestured towards a cushion nearby.
Chu Xuan sat down on it.
Wan Wuying cleared his throat and began, "There are four methods for condensing the Golden Core. The first is to compress Spiritual Liquid until it solidifies completely, forming the Full Golden Core. This is the most orthodox method, resulting in extremely robust Spiritual Qi once formed. However, it is also the slowest.
Without at least a decade, one cannot fully solidify the Spiritual Liquid. If you do not possess an Earth-grade or higher spiritual root, this path is not for you.
Of course, if you insist on choosing this path, I have a secret technique called the 'Nine Cycles Core Condensation Method,' passed down from ancient times. You can take it directly."
Wan Wuying clicked his tongue and continued.
"After the ancient times, as Spiritual Qi faded, the orthodox method of core condensation became exceedingly difficult. Later generations of cultivators sought alternative paths.
The second method involves using a demonic beast's inner core as a catalyst, injecting Spiritual Liquid into it to forcibly solidify it using the inner core's power. This type of Golden Core is generally referred to as the Beast Golden Core.
The overall amount of Spiritual Qi in a Beast Golden Core is moderate, but its combat prowess is formidable. However, due to the use of a demonic beast's inner core, practitioners may sometimes be prone to the beast's instincts—bloodlust, light aversion, and water affinity.
I have two secret techniques for core condensation using this method. The 'Fire Ape Core Condensation Method' requires the inner core of a fire attribute ape demonic beast. The 'Thunder Falcon Core Condensation Method' requires the inner core of a thunder attribute bird demonic beast."
Seeing Chu Xuan's lack of response, Wan Wuying continued speaking.
"The third method involves using a magic tool as a catalyst to condense the core. This type of Golden Core is known as the Instrument Golden Core. Depending on the type of magic tool, it may also be called Sword Golden Core, Saber Golden Core, Axe Golden Core, and so on.
Golden Cores condensed using this method generally have less Spiritual Qi than Beast Golden Cores. However, if one can manipulate the same type of magic tool, its power will greatly increase—such as a Sword Golden Core wielding a sword magic tool or a Saber Golden Core wielding a saber magic tool.
I do not possess secret techniques for this condensation method; you will need to seek them out yourself."
Wan Wuying spoke calmly.
"Next, there is a fourth method, which I personally chose. Extract the Qi Seas of a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators and refine them into Qi Sea Pills. Swallow a hundred pills, and a Golden Core forms naturally. This type of Golden Core is called the Blood Golden Core!"