Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Xu Chuan first said, "My elders have prepared all the spiritual items for my Core Formation stage, but it will take time for my cultivation to improve."

He paused for a moment before saying, "Let's try to reach the Core Formation stage within forty years."

Lin Zhao nodded.

Xu Chuan, that rich bastard, has his elders helping him with resources, so he really doesn't need to worry about anything.

So what if he forms his core a little later? As a cultivator from a sect, he usually has a lifespan of nearly three hundred years, so he still has plenty of time.

He looked at Yan Chiheng.

Yan Chiheng said, "I have three Core Formation spiritual items, which is enough. Thunder cultivators don't need too many; pure items are sufficient."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I am cultivating a secret technique, and I hope to form my core within twenty years."

"Unfortunately, even if I succeed, I will be over a hundred years old and will be temporarily unable to inherit the sect's true teachings. I need to complete the true teaching mission first."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Of course, all of this is predicated on achieving a high-grade Golden Core, which I'm not too confident about."

After listening, Lin Zhao took out a jade slip from his storage bag and pushed it in front of the three people.

It is a compilation of his insights on Core Formation, reorganized after years of advancement in cultivation. It includes not only information from his attempts to break through to the highest-grade Golden Core stage, but also...

There are also a few special details about the Core Formation stage, which are rarely shared by outsiders.

Although they were all in the sect and had no shortage of experience in Core Formation, they all accepted Lin Zhao's gesture.

Then Lin Zhao looked at Fang Yue.

Fang Yue has always been the quietest person.

Fang Yue was silent for a moment, then said, "My Core Formation artifact has spatial attributes and I have my own internal channels to obtain it."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I plan to attempt to reach the upper-grade Golden Core stage within fifteen years."

Xu Chuan put down his wine bowl: "Are you planning to go straight for the true teachings?"

Fang Yue nodded.

He was younger than Yan Chiheng and about the same age as Lin Zhao.

Success within fifteen years, just under 100 years old.

The threshold for becoming a true disciple is to achieve a superior-grade Golden Elixir before the age of one hundred.

Yan Chiheng looked at him and said, "The difficulties and risks are considerable."

"There is no safe path to immortality."

Fang Yue raised his head and gestured towards the distance. "Look at Yan Feng."

All four of them looked over at the same time.

Yan Feng stood on the edge of the stone platform, his hands behind his back, while the girl behind him stood quietly.

However, her face was mostly obscured by the shadow of the stone pillar next to her, so her expression was not visible.

Fang Yue lowered his voice: "After he formed his core, he returned to a sect in an outer continent and was chased by dozens of core cultivators. He killed fifteen of them, returned severely injured, and recuperated for several years before recently recovering."

Lin Zhao narrowed his eyes.

Yan Feng is as ruthless as ever.

Lin Zhao didn't say anything more, but simply picked up his wine glass and raised it to the three of them.

"I wish you success in achieving your Core Formation."

He paused for a moment, then added, "If you need any help, just let me know."

The three raised their glasses and clinked them together, the glasses making a crisp sound.

The banquet officially started.

Pei Yue stood on the platform in the center of the stone square, wearing a brand-new Dharma robe. He first gave a speech—thanking his fellow disciples for their presence, his teachers for their guidance, and the sect for providing this platform.

Then came the performances. Several disciples were invited to play the zither and dance. The music filled the air, colorful ribbons fluttered, and the atmosphere became lively.

Finally, the main event: an explanation of the Dao of the Golden Elixir.

The audience quieted down, and many Foundation Establishment disciples listened attentively, some even taking out jade slips to take notes.

Lin Zhao sat on the stone chair, holding a wine glass, listening half-heartedly.

They all talked about the key to forming the Golden Core.

But for someone like him who has achieved the highest level of Core Formation, it's actually nothing new.

After the ceremony was completed, Pei Yue went down to greet everyone.

Xu Chuan and the other two went elsewhere.

They also had other acquaintances in the sect who were also invited to the banquet, and the three of them went off to greet them separately.

Lin Zhao didn't move, but poured himself a drink, one cup after another.

Occasionally, a fellow disciple who had reached the Core Formation stage would come over to say hello, but they would only raise their cups from a distance.

No one bothered him.

The reason is simple: they are under immense pressure in front of Lin Zhao right now.

The two sides are not on the same level in terms of strength and status.

It was awkward when they forced themselves to chat.

Even someone like Qin Tianjun, who was previously labeled a monster,

He merely raised his glass from afar, and then he started arguing with Xia Jin. The two of them were arguing about something, neither willing to give in.

Xia Jin blushed deeply as he spoke, while Qin Tianjun remained expressionless, occasionally replying with a remark that left Xia Jin speechless and turning her face purple.

Lin Zhao withdrew her gaze, feeling nothing.

The sect has accumulated quite a few individuals like Qin Tianjun, who are known as monsters, over the years.

But someone like Lin Zhao, who transcends even monsters...

That's a legend.

Legends don't come in every generation.

He certainly didn't take ordinary Core Formation cultivators seriously.

Even someone like Qin Tianjun would only pose a significant threat to him a hundred years from now, and by then, Lin Zhao's strength would have reached an unknown level.

Even Lin You and Ye Xiaoxiao felt this influence.

They became central figures among the younger generation of students, with a constant stream of people surrounding them to chat.

Most of the questions were circumlocutionary, aimed at Lin Zhao—What does Master Zhaoyang usually like? What does Master Zhaoyang usually do in his cave?

Does Master Zhaoyang accept disciples?

Does Master Zhaoyang have a Daoist partner?

Lin You initially answered patiently, but later simply shrank behind Ye Xiaoxiao, letting Xiaoxiao block her way.

Ye Xiaoxiao responded with a smile, speaking succinctly and without revealing any substantial information after asking around.

But the smile on his face had already stiffened.

Only then did the two of them truly realize that Lin Zhao's current status and influence in the sect far exceeded their original imagination.

An hour later, Pei Yue finally managed to escape from the crowd.

He sat down in front of Lin Zhao, picked up the wine on the table, and poured himself a glass.

He had entertained over a hundred people since the beginning, and only now, in front of Lin Zhao, did he relax and stop caring about his manners.

The two clinked glasses.

Lin Zhao had been dealing with Pei Yue for quite some time; he was capable, resourceful, well-connected, and reliable.

Lin Zhao had asked him for help before, and the two had a pretty good relationship.

After chatting for a while, the topic turned to Yan Feng.

Lin Zhao said, "Yan Feng has changed quite a bit. I heard he recently killed fifteen Core Formation cultivators?"

Pei Yue put down his wine glass and sighed. "Who says otherwise?"

After his trip to the secret realm, he returned to his hometown, Fufeng Continent, a small continent outside the Nine Continents, and thoroughly investigated and dealt with his former sect from top to bottom.

Not a single cultivator who was involved in his affairs back then was spared.

He paused and continued, "In the end, he provoked True Lord Fufeng, the very same Nascent Soul cultivator who planted the body-snatching mark on him back then."

Despite being pursued by a Nascent Soul cultivator, he managed to escape alive. After recovering from his injuries for several years, I brought him back as soon as he was fully healed.

Lin Zhao was not surprised that Yan Feng was able to escape from the clutches of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.