Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

Before the cleanup at the outpost was even finished, new explorations began in the deeper layers.

The last reorganization cleared away a batch of remaining restrictions buried in the corridors and side walls, leaving more movable areas outside the Core Formation area, so the Yuan Yang Sect naturally couldn't stop.

In particular, after the two Core Formation Manuals were handed over, the records inside about how the Core Formation Platform needed to be activated in conjunction with the formation quickly drew everyone's attention further to the core of the matter.

Li Yuan is still on the list this time.

When he ventured deeper, there were even more guards on the outer perimeter than in the previous days. Several temporary array patterns had also been added to both sides of the protective corridor leading to the Core Formation area, clearly to prevent frequent personnel coming and going from disrupting the newly sorted old structure again.

As Li Yuan walked further in, he arrived at the area he had explored before. He first habitually scanned the surrounding spiritual energy flow.

Several newly laid stabilizing patterns beneath the ground have settled, and the old, often pulsating aftershocks near the outer ring have been significantly suppressed. However, deeper within, the outer ring of restrictions surrounding the core of the Core Formation Platform remains blocked, not yet truly opened.

Today, we're not clearing the main entrance, but rather a few small stone chambers on the outer perimeter of the core area that weren't fully opened before.

These stone chambers are scattered and not very large. Some are half-buried in the stone walls, while others are attached to the outer edge, seemingly used by cultivators of old sects to store daily necessities or for recording. Due to limited manpower and time, most of them were only roughly swept before being put aside after confirming there was no obvious danger. Now it is time to clean them carefully.

After the stone chamber was cleared, the core exploration officially moved forward.

What truly stood in the way was the complete protective barrier surrounding the Core Formation Platform.

It had already been confirmed that the core of the Core Formation Platform was not a simple open space, but was encased in a fairly complete old restriction.

The original structure of the restriction was not completely destroyed; in fact, it retained a considerable portion of its original structure.

The problem is that this restriction is clearly not something that can be easily dismantled.

A Yuan Yang Sect array cultivator in charge of the inspection stepped forward to take a look, then stepped back and spoke quickly.

"There are special access points within the restricted area, which should require a token."

Another person nearby asked, "Can we break it directly without a token?"

The formation cultivator shook his head.

"It can be broken by force, but the main body of the restriction cannot be damaged. It is connected to the Core Formation Platform itself. If you go too far, the outer restriction can be opened, but the internal structure may also be destroyed."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people nearby darkened.

If it's just a regular vault protection barrier, it's fine if it gets damaged.

But now it's the Core Formation Platform, and the Core Formation Manual already states that this thing needs to be activated in conjunction with an array. If the main body is injured, even if you manage to get inside, it might not still be usable.

Therefore, this time, Yuan Yang Sect could only use the most laborious but also the safest method.

Dismantle it by following the structure of the restriction itself.

Li Yuan was also called over.

When he stood outside that barrier, his array connection and the eyesight of a second-tier array master simultaneously pressed down. The barrier before him was indeed not a single shell, but a three-layered structure interlocked together.

No wonder the people in front didn't dare to move.

This thing isn't impossible to break by force, but it must be disassembled piece by piece, layer by layer. If there's even the slightest deviation, it won't just be impossible to open, but it will damage everything inside.

The number of layers and their overlapping relationships in this restriction are more complex than those encountered before. The interconnectedness of the array mechanism is very useful here; Li Yuan can no longer just see which pattern is lit, but can first see which layers are interlocking with each other. For example, what appears to be an ordinary spirit-repelling pattern on the outermost layer actually contains an identification circuit underneath. If the outermost segment is broken, the inner identification structure will immediately turn to the side.

During the process of breaking the formation, the connection between the formation and the machine was also permanently established.

On the third day, after the outer and middle layers of restrictions were finally peeled away, some records and guiding patterns around the Core Formation Platform were revealed. They were not complete stone carvings, but rather some old records and structural descriptions left on the edge of the Core Formation area.

One section is written very clearly.

There are two paths to Core Formation.

The orthodox method cultivates the elixir, while the unorthodox method nourishes the life force.

When everyone saw this, even several cultivators who were originally only responsible for looking after the perimeter came over.

The so-called orthodox method of forming the elixir is recorded in a very orthodox way. Cultivators use their own cultivation techniques, spiritual power, soul, and the auxiliary array of the elixir-forming platform to combine and use the spiritual energy of the main meridian to compress the elixir into shape. This is a path with solid cultivation and a complete lineage.

However, the methods of nourishing one's life through unorthodox means are clearly different.

Li Yuan followed the others and looked down, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper with each glance.

The focus of this approach is not on forming the Golden Core perfectly, but on nourishing life. Many of the materials and techniques mentioned are not used to enhance the foundation of the Golden Core, but rather to prolong life, extend vital energy, and preserve life. Some places even explicitly state that if a cultivator has limited lifespan and insufficient foundation, but still insists on forming the Golden Core, they can take unorthodox methods of nourishing life, using blood, qi, medicinal power, and external substances to forcibly keep their life hanging by a thread.

Continuing to flip through the pages, several old records even revealed elixir formulas and ideas that shared the same origin as the Longevity Pill.

They don't have the exact same name.

However, the main ingredients, the refining methods, and the direction of their effects are clearly from the same lineage as the longevity pills that Li Yuan had encountered before. In particular, the approach of combining qi, blood, and lifespan with unorthodox auxiliary ingredients to artificially extend a person's lifespan is not merely similar, but rather of the same origin.

This discovery was not made by Li Yuan alone.

Almost everyone present turned it over.

A formation cultivator standing nearby was stunned for a moment before muttering a curse under his breath.

"No wonder."

The other person also realized what was happening.

"So those longevity pills from the Demonic Sect weren't something they concocted out of thin air, but rather a byproduct of a side branch that originated from this place?"

No one responded immediately, but the records in front of them made the matter very clear.

The life-extending pills that the demonic sects are now using to attract cultivators nearing the end of their lifespans are not some extraterrestrial creation, nor are they something that a demonic sect suddenly invented. The root of it likely lies in the unorthodox life-sustaining techniques of the sect to which this ruin belongs.

In other words, the Dark Abyss and the Demonic Sect behind it are watching this place so closely not only because they are interested in the Spirit Vein and the Core Formation Platform, but they have also likely been plotting against this unorthodox path to longevity for a long time.

Li Yuan stood in the crowd, silent, and continued looking at the old records.

The dismantling of the core restrictions continued over the next two days, but it wasn't done indefinitely; a break was needed.

Upon returning to the market, Li Yuan saw Chen Yi hand him a jade slip, saying very little.

"Found it in the stone chamber, this is suitable for you to keep."

After Li Yuan took it, a panel popped up.

[Equipable item detected: Core Formation Guidance Jade Slip (Complete)]

[Equipment Attribute Preview: Core Formation Guide (Blue)]

[Effect: Increases spiritual energy condensation efficiency by 50%, reduces the risk of Core Formation failure]

[Preview of Permanentization Conditions: Attempt to condense a Golden Core once]

[Current equipment slots are full (5/5). Replace current equipment?]

After reading it, Li Yuan did not replace it on the spot, but put the jade slip into his storage bag.

It's not time for me to do anything about it right now.