Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather.

Chapter 997 A huge mistake has been made!
Yang Zhengshan was refining the Twelve Golden Crystal Lotuses of the Void, while the group from Hidden Sword Mountain was waiting for Jian Changhe to emerge from seclusion.

Below the devastated mountaintop, hundreds of cultivators and martial artists gathered, all beaming with joy.

Of course, they all looked happy, but only they knew what they were really thinking.

Jian Guyun, Jian Canghai, Jian Suxin, and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators of Cangjian Mountain were naturally overjoyed. Jian Changhe had successfully formed his core, and Cangjian Mountain was about to regain its former glory. This was a dream that generations of cultivators of Cangjian Mountain had longed for, and now it had finally come true.

Lin Daoyuan, Yue'e, and the others had mixed feelings. With Jian Changhe forming his core, their previous persistence had completely lost its meaning, and they didn't know how to face the upcoming Changhe Zhenjun.

As for the other factions, each had their own thoughts and their own agendas.

They were quite far from Hidden Sword Mountain, and had little connection with it. They were drawn here entirely by the lightning tribulation, and now that they were here, they couldn't just leave like that.

Moreover, with the arrival of a Golden Core cultivator, Hidden Sword Mountain might make some big moves later, and they also want to see if Hidden Sword Mountain will expand in the future.

"Master, no one from the Yang family has come!"

A young Foundation Establishment cultivator approached Jian Guyun and spoke softly.

This young Foundation Establishment cultivator is named Zhang Yan. He is a rising star who has recently achieved Foundation Establishment at Hidden Sword Mountain and can be considered a rare genius.

Zhang Yan was actually quite familiar with the Yang family, especially with Yang Jizhen. Back when Zhang Mo attacked Lianxin Valley, Zhang Yan was in Lianxin Valley and even bought several flying swords from Yang Jizhen's magic weapon shop.

Later, when Lotus Heart Valley was rebuilt and became Azure Glass Immortal City, Zhang Yan still commissioned many magical artifacts and flying swords from Yang Jizhen. Over time, the two became acquainted.

"Hmm!" Jian Guyun responded, then glanced at the crowd behind him and, as expected, did not see any members of the Yang family.

He frowned slightly; the absence of the Yang family members displeased him.

The commotion caused by the Core Formation Tribulation was so great that the Yang family couldn't possibly be unaware of it. Moreover, several days have passed; even if they didn't know then, they should know now.

As one of the three major sects of Lingxiu and a vassal force of Cangjian Mountain, the Yang family should not only come to wait for them, but also prepare congratulatory gifts as soon as possible.

But so far, no one from the Yang family has shown up.

Little did Jian Guyun know that Yang Zhengshan was also forming his core. Everyone in the Spirit Source Land was immersed in the joy of Yang Zhengshan's core formation and had long forgotten about what was happening outside.

Even Yang Jizhen had forgotten about this matter, and was currently preparing a congratulatory gift for Yang Zhengshan with great joy, so he had no idea about Cangjian Mountain.

However, Jian Guyun couldn't care less about the Yang family at this moment, because Jian Changhe had already floated down from the mountaintop.

Jian Changhe stood in the void, like an ancient sword sheathed.

His posture was upright, his shoulders and back straight, yet he did not appear stiff. Instead, he exuded a tension that seemed ready to be unleashed, as if he would transform into a streak of light and pierce the sky at any moment.

He wore a moon-white Taoist robe made of the most ordinary coarse cotton cloth, with a black jade belt tied around his waist. There were no jade pendants attached to it, only a long sword with a completely black hilt hanging from it. The scabbard was made of old ox horn, with a warm patina and faint marks from years of rubbing.

His face was very white, not in a sickly pale way, but like jade touched by morning frost, radiating a cold, lustrous light. His eyebrows were extremely sharp, as if carved by a sword blade, with slightly upturned ends, but they didn't exude any allure; instead, they added a touch of aloofness that kept people at a distance.

His pupils were an extremely deep black, like a cold pool reflecting the moon when still, without the slightest ripple; if someone looked into his eyes, they would feel that there were thousands of sword shadows hidden at the bottom of that pool, which could sever one's soul with the slightest movement.

That is the unique sharpness of a Golden Core sword cultivator, proof that one has refined one's spiritual energy into sword bones.

He stood there, silent and motionless, the air around him seemingly frozen by his aura, yet the sharpness hidden beneath his cold exterior was more intimidating than any drawn sword.

Compared to the Jian Changhe of the past, the sharpness emanating from Jian Changhe now surpasses that of the past.

At first glance, it gives one a chilling feeling, as if shrouded in the sharpness of a sword.

"Greetings, True Lord! Congratulations on your successful completion of the Golden Elixir! May you live a long and prosperous life!"

The cultivators bowed their heads and paid their respects in great homage to the Golden Core cultivator.

Jian Changhe glanced at everyone and nodded calmly, "No need for formalities, everyone!"

……

In the following days, Hidden Sword Mountain opened its gates wide to welcome cultivators from all directions to offer their congratulations.

Hidden Sword Mountain is Hidden Sword Hall, and inside Hidden Sword Hall is a painting of a hundred swords.

On this day, Jian Changhe stood in front of the Hundred Swords Diagram, intently studying each flying sword in the diagram, carefully pondering the sword intent contained within them.

The Hundred Swords Diagram was left behind by the Heavenly Sword True Lord, and it records the insights he gained throughout his life.

Although Jian Changhe has now formed his core, he is still far inferior to Tianjian Zhenjun.

The difference isn't just a little bit; it's a chasm.

Because he has not yet comprehended his own swordsmanship.

"This old man pays his respects to the True Lord!" Jian Guyun came up behind him and bowed respectfully.

"Hmm, what is it?" Jian Changhe said without turning his head.

Jian Guyun said softly, "The Yang family has not sent anyone to offer their congratulations!"

"Yang family!"

Jian Changhe turned around and asked thoughtfully, "How long has it been since Yang Zhengshan last showed up?"

“Since entering the Sun Cave Heaven, Yang Zhengshan has never shown his face again! Besides Yang Zhengshan, Yunxiao has also never shown his face, but only sent two letters!” Jian Guyun said.

Jian Changhe already knew about the fall of the Sun Cave and also knew about the situation of the Sun Giant Mountain.

"Do you know what he gained in the Sun Cave?"

Jian Guyun shook his head slightly, "This old man does not know. They did not enter the Sun Cave Heaven with us. However, there are rumors that Yunxiao swallowed a divine pill, but this old man does not know what kind of divine pill it is!"

Jian Changhe stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the clear sky outside the hall.

"In that case, let's send an invitation to the Yang family!"

He felt that Yang Zhengshan was probably in seclusion forming his core, but he couldn't be sure, so he planned to test him.

Yang Zhengshan's successful formation of the Golden Core has both advantages and disadvantages for Cangjian Mountain.

On the positive side, the Yang family and Cangjian Mountain had no prior grudges or major conflicts, and the two sides had always maintained a good relationship.

If Yang Zhengshan also forms his core, it would be like he has gained an ally, giving him more confidence when facing Zhenyang Immortal City.

The downside is that the Yang family is located in the Sea of ​​Spiritual Beauty. Once Yang Zhengshan forms his core, the Yang family will certainly not be able to remain subservient to the Hidden Sword Mountain.

By then, who will own this beautiful sea?
Is it Hidden Sword Mountain, or the Yang family?
……

The Land of Spiritual Origin, the Pavilion of Immortal Artifacts.

Yang Jizhen looked at the invitation in his hand and suddenly slapped himself.

"Oh no, oh no, we've messed things up!"

"The Mountain Lord has formed his Core Formation! I actually overlooked such a significant matter!"

"Me, me, me~~"

Yang Jizhen felt an urge to slap himself to death.

This is really his fault. Ning Yun had already reported it to him, but they happened to run into Yang Zhengshan when he was forming his core, so they went to watch Yang Zhengshan's core-forming tribulation.

For several days in a row, they were in shock and worry, and he completely forgot about the matter.

If it weren't for the invitation that arrived today, he wouldn't have remembered that such a thing even existed.

"Senior brother, now is not the time to talk about this. Let's quickly prepare a congratulatory gift!" Ning Yun was also filled with panic.

This is no small matter. Although Yang Zhengshan has now reached the Core Formation stage, no one dares to underestimate Jian Changhe.

"Go prepare the congratulatory gift, I'll go see True Lord Yunxiao first!"

Yang Jizhen didn't know what to do either, so he decided to go and ask Yunxiao first.

Yang Zhengshan is still in seclusion, so he certainly can't disturb him. Therefore, he can only ask Yunxiao for help now.

……

Two quarters of an hour later, Yang Jizhen arrived at the Wanqi Hall of the Wuzhen Dao Palace. After listening to his words, Yunxiao looked at him with a very strange expression.

"Kid, you're really careless!"

"True Lord, please stop making fun of this junior and give me some advice instead!" Yang Jizhen said with a mournful face.

Yunxiao laughed heartily, "Don't worry, just come to our door to apologize. Your ancestor is now a Golden Core cultivator, why be afraid of Jian Changhe!"

"Uh, True Lord, I'm scared!"

"It's worthless!"

“What if our ancestor has other plans? I’m afraid I’ll interfere with them!” Yang Jizhen said.

How the Yang family and Cangjian Mountain will get along in the future is still uncertain.

Without Yang Zhengshan leaving the pass, no one can make decisions.

If his negligence were to affect Yang Zhengshan's plans, then he would truly be to blame.

Actually, his worries were somewhat unnecessary. Right now, Yang Zhengshan had no time to care about Hidden Sword Mountain and Sword River. His mind was completely occupied with the Immortal Palace of the Living Realm and the Twelve Golden Crystal Lotuses of the Void.

Yunxiao patted his shoulder and laughed, "I'll accompany you on a trip to Hidden Sword Mountain!"

“This…” Yang Jizhen hesitated.

"Haha, although I am a fake Core Formation cultivator, I am still a Golden Core cultivator. No matter how powerful Jian Changhe is, he still has to be wary of me!" Yunxiao said confidently.

During this period, he saw that his cultivation had stabilized, and after forming a false core, his strength naturally increased significantly.

Moreover, he found many cultivation insights about Golden Core cultivators in the Immortal Hall's library, which helped him understand the true gap between himself and Golden Core cultivators.

In fact, his current situation is not much different from that of someone who has just entered the Golden Core Realm.

His physique, magical power, and spiritual soul have all been greatly improved, and he has reached the level of "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top" and "Five Qi Converging at the Origin," which means he is flawless and without any flaws.

He can already walk within the Great Void, but he is not very familiar with it yet.

Of course, there are still some differences. First of all, he does not have a spiritual weapon. Normally, after passing the Golden Core Tribulation, one's own natal magic weapon will be upgraded to a spiritual weapon. Since he did not pass the tribulation, his natal magic weapon has not been upgraded.

He did manage to get his hands on the magical flying sword that Yang Zhengshan left him, but he hasn't fully refined it yet.

Secondly, his energy and spirit are slightly inferior to those of a true Golden Core cultivator. There is a gap, but it is not an insurmountable one.

Moreover, he can make up for these gaps through cultivation in the future.

Finally, there are the supernatural abilities of the Dao, which is the biggest difference between a pseudo-core cultivator and a golden core cultivator, and it is also a gap that is difficult to bridge.

Because he did not experience the tribulation of lightning, Yunxiao did not receive the gift of the ninth tribulation of lightning, and therefore did not comprehend his own path of cultivation.

The gift of the ninth tribulation is a rare enlightenment. Most Golden Core cultivators will find their own path in this enlightenment and thus comprehend their own unique supernatural abilities and techniques.

For example, Yang Zhengshan gained a deeper understanding of the Withering and Flourishing Divine Power during this enlightenment, and his control over it improved significantly.

However, Yang Zhengshan was a special case. He had already comprehended the Withering and Flourishing Divine Power before he formed his core, but at that time, the power of the Withering and Flourishing Divine Power could not be manifested.

Under normal circumstances, Golden Core cultivators will find their own path to supernatural powers in the gifts they receive, and then, through long-term cultivation and comprehension, they will be able to control their supernatural powers.

Like a long river of swords, he has already comprehended his own swordsmanship, but because he has just comprehended it, he has not yet fully mastered this supernatural power.

One person didn't understand, while the other understood but didn't master it.

Therefore, there is not much difference between Yunxiao and Jian Changhe at present. The biggest difference between the two is their future potential, rather than their strength.

……

At the foot of Hidden Sword Mountain.

Jian Guyun looked at Yunxiao with surprise and uncertainty.

"You~~"

He sensed that Yunxiao's aura was somewhat unusual, with an unfathomable depth.

"Hehe, Elder Guyun, I am here on behalf of the Yang family to congratulate True Lord Changhe. I wonder if True Lord Changhe is free at the moment?"

Yunxiao said with a smile.

Jian Guyun stared intently at Yunxiao, and said in disbelief, "You've reached the Core Formation stage!"

"Just lucky, just lucky!" Yunxiao said modestly.

Jian Guyun was completely stunned. Yunxiao had actually formed his core and become a Golden Core True Monarch!
How can this be?

Suddenly, he remembered the legendary elixir.

"Divine pill, divine pill..."

He murmured to himself, lost in a daze.

"Elder Guyun, Elder Guyun!" Yunxiao called softly.

"Uh!" Jian Guyun snapped out of his daze and looked at him with a complicated expression. "You actually formed your core! This old man, Jian Guyun, pays his respects to True Monarch Yunxiao!"

"Elder Guyun, there's no need for such formalities!" Yunxiao quickly helped him up.

Just then, a figure flew out from the mountaintop and arrived in the blink of an eye. It was none other than Jian Changhe.

Jian Changhe looked at Yunxiao, his sword-like eyebrows furrowing slightly.

"You've actually reached the Core Formation stage too!"

"I was merely fortunate enough to have the opportunity to form a false core!" Yunxiao said, bowing respectfully.

"Fake pills?" Jian Changhe asked in confusion.

"It formed its core using external aids and did not undergo the tribulation of lightning, therefore it is a fake core, not a real one!" Yunxiao explained simply.

Jian Changhe instantly grasped the key point. He naturally understood the importance of the lightning tribulation and the difference between a fake core and a real core.

However, he did not look down on Yunxiao, after all, even a fake core is still a golden core.

"Fellow Daoist Yunxiao, please!"

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Changhe, please go first!"

The two then flew towards the Hidden Sword Hall above, with Jian Guyun following behind with a complicated expression, while Yang Jizhen looked embarrassed.

After entering the Hidden Sword Hall, Yang Jizhen first apologized.

"My ancestor is in seclusion and has not yet emerged. Due to my negligence, I was unable to come and offer my congratulations to the True Lord in time. I beg the True Lord to punish me!"

Jian Changhe didn't pay any attention to any oversight, and simply asked, "Is Fellow Daoist Yang still in seclusion?"

"Yes?"

"How long have you been in seclusion?"

“This…” Yang Jizhen looked at Yunxiao.

Yunxiao chimed in, "It hasn't been long, only two years!"

He wasn't telling the truth, of course. It wasn't time to reveal Yang Zhengshan's Core Formation yet. It wasn't that Yunxiao had any ideas, but that Yang Zhengshan hadn't come out of seclusion yet, and no one could make decisions for him.

Jian Changhe nodded slightly. "It's good that he's alright. Now that Fellow Daoist Yunxiao has also reached the Core Formation stage, how about we have a discussion?"

"I was just about to ask the True Lord for guidance!" Yunxiao bowed respectfully.

"Alright, let's find a quiet place!"

Then Jian Changhe took him to the back mountain.

(End of this chapter)