Mortal: Starting with the Falling Cloud Sect, I proved my Dao through gacha pulls.

"You want to form your core?!"

After hearing Su Mu's words, Duan Gu couldn't help but confirm them again, his expression full of disbelief.

But when he met the undeniable seriousness in Su Mu's eyes, no matter how turbulent his heart was, he had to believe that his disciple was not joking.

"The matter of forming the core is of utmost importance. I know that you have great fortune and your cultivation has progressed far beyond your peers, but the path of cultivation is most vulnerable to haste and rashness. You must not be careless."

Even though they had witnessed Su Mu's outstanding talent and amazing opportunities before, and were already used to his lightning-fast breakthrough speed in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

However, the matter of forming a core is an insurmountable barrier that has stood between countless cultivators in the cultivation world. Even though he has seen many extraordinary disciples, he still cannot help but worry in his heart.

Upon hearing this, Su Mu smiled slightly, his confidence evident. He no longer deliberately suppressed the cultivation aura concealed by the monkey talisman, and his body immediately exuded a sharp, sword-like, and awe-inspiring aura that pointed straight to the sky.

"Master, rest assured, I know what I'm doing. I've been planning this for a long time, it's not an impulsive act. This mere bottleneck in the Core Formation stage can't hold me back."

With just one glance, Duan Gu sensed the perfect aura of the Pseudo-Core Realm around Su Mu. His divine will was condensed and his energy was harmonious, clearly indicating that he had reached the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment Realm and could no longer make any progress.

He was secretly surprised, but his anxiety subsided.

"You rascal, you always manage to give your master some amazing surprises. However, you have only been cultivating for a few decades. If you can successfully form your core this time, it will be too shocking and easily attract the covetousness of others and cause unnecessary trouble. Therefore, this matter must be handled carefully."

At this point, Duan Gu paused slightly, stroked his beard, and looked towards the main peak with a solemn expression.

"Alright, come with me to pay respects to the two Supreme Elders, and we can discuss this further later."

"I'll also ask you for a Spirit Awakening Pill on this trip. This is a unique Core Formation aid from my Falling Cloud Sect. As a core disciple of the sect, you will certainly not be short of this resource."

Su Mu nodded upon hearing this. His master's arrangement coincided with his own thoughts, and he immediately bowed in response:

"Yes, disciple understands."

......

Seven days later.

Behind the Luoyun Sect, at the Spirit Transformation Pool.

This place was originally the habitat of the sect's exotic Azure Light Eagle spirit beasts, and it was usually deserted except for the cultivators of the Spirit Beast Hall.

However, since seven days ago, this place has been designated as a restricted area, and anyone is strictly prohibited from entering without permission.

Deep within the Spirit Transformation Pool, in the place where spiritual energy is most abundant, a simple cave dwelling quietly opened up.

Inside the cave was Su Mu, who was in seclusion forming his core.

He was sitting cross-legged on a futon, with three jade boxes and three jade bottles beside him, and an ancient jade slip in his hand.

Inside the jade box were Snow Spirit Water, Heavenly Fire Liquid, and the Jade of the Spirit Eye.

The three jade bottles contain the Dust-Clearing Pill, the Gold-Condensing Pill, and the Spirit-Awakening Pill, respectively.

The jade slip in his hand contained Duan Gu's personal insights from breaking through to the Golden Core stage many years ago.

The thoroughness of the preparations and the abundance of resources are so great that very few Foundation Establishment cultivators in the entire cultivation world can be so extravagant when forming their Core.

"Everything is ready, let's begin."

Su Mu slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, put away the jade slip, and his eyes shone brightly.

He first took a Condensed Gold Pill and swallowed it in one gulp. Then he circulated his cultivation technique with all his might, drawing spiritual energy into his body and continuously compressing and condensing the true essence in his dantian, which had already become liquid, gradually transforming it into a solid state.

As he fully immersed himself in cultivation, the cave became completely silent, save for a powerful, imposing aura that slowly rose and grew stronger...

Just as Su Mu officially went into seclusion to form his core, on a high peak outside the Spirit Transformation Pool, two figures stood with their hands behind their backs. They were Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo, the two Supreme Elders of the Falling Cloud Sect who had been in charge for a long time.

"Junior brother, what do you think?"

Cheng Tiankun stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. His gaze fell on the direction of the forbidden area, and he suddenly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Lü Luo subconsciously stroked his long beard, his tone revealing a hint of astonishment:

"With a solid foundation, perfect cultivation of essence, energy, and spirit, and such rapid progress without the slightest sign of weakness or hidden danger, it is rare even among ancient cultivators."

Cheng Tiankun nodded slightly. Ever since Su Mu won the championship of the Sword Trial Tournament, the two of them had been deeply impressed by him and had even secretly investigated him.

But when they met again a few days ago, they learned that this young man was already close to the Core Formation stage. Even though they had lived for a long time and their hearts were usually calm, they couldn't help but be moved.

Otherwise, why would two Nascent Soul cultivators personally instruct and arrange the Core Formation of a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator?

"We have both investigated this matter. This child is definitely not someone who has possessed another body to cultivate again. It's just that his opportunities and luck far exceed those of ordinary people. He has already reached this point with just two spiritual roots. This time, his core formation is most likely a natural outcome."

"There have been those in Tiannan's history who achieved Core Formation in a short period of time. But how many of them were able to successfully achieve Nascent Soul Formation later on? Core Formation and Nascent Soul Formation are like stepping stones, and even the best early opportunities may not help one go far."

"Even so, being able to reach the Golden Core stage first gives him a better chance than others. If this boy can truly stand shoulder to shoulder with you and me in the future, I'm afraid I'll be overjoyed."

"What you said, senior brother, is also what I was thinking. However, it is too conspicuous for this child to have successfully formed his core at such a young age. It may be more of a curse than a blessing for him. We should cover for him in the future."

"Junior brother is absolutely right."

...

Two months later.

Above the Spirit Transformation Pool, the sky, which had been clear and cloudless, suddenly turned dark with churning black clouds, streaking with lightning, and the sky darkened abruptly.

At the same time, the spiritual energy within a hundred-mile radius of the Spirit Transformation Pool suddenly surged violently, rushing towards a certain place like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, transforming into a massive spiritual energy vortex visible to the naked eye.

The disciples of the Luoyun Sect who were near the Spirit Transformation Pool were all horrified and stopped what they were doing to stare at the strange phenomenon.

"This...this...could it be that a fellow disciple is forming their Core!"

"That direction leads to the Spirit Transformation Pool!"

"How could there be a fellow disciple forming their core in the Spirit Transformation Pool? Could they be a disciple of the Spirit Beast Hall?"

"Could it be that a different species of Azure Light Eagle has advanced to a level five demonic beast?"

"Nonsense! That's clearly a celestial phenomenon indicating a cultivator is forming their core!"

The disciples stared at the astonishing sight, their faces filled with shock and envy, and they discussed it endlessly.

The elders of the sect who were at the Golden Core level or above sensed the surge of spiritual energy the moment it occurred, and were astonished, wondering who had formed their Golden Core at this time.

However, when they realized that the strange phenomenon originated from the Spirit Transformation Pool, they all remembered the instructions given by the two Supreme Elders. They immediately suppressed their doubts and simply observed from a distance.

On Fire Cloud Peak, Duan Gu and the deputy peak master stood side by side, gazing at the astonishing Core Formation celestial phenomenon in the sky, their hearts already pounding with excitement.

However, he forced himself to remain calm and composed, pretending to be bewildered and confused, as if he didn't know who had caused this strange phenomenon.

On White Phoenix Peak, Song Yu slowly stepped out of the cave, raised her eyes to look at the magnificent vortex of spiritual energy in the distance, and unconsciously a gentle smile appeared on her lips, her eyes filled with amazement and heartfelt admiration.

"Junior brother, you beat me to it..."