Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

Deep within the Xuanqing Cave, a quiet room is free of dust.

Chen Jiao sat cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array, his aura as calm as an ancient well.

The essence of the five elements floats in front of him, each in a different color: green, red, yellow, white, and black. It is being drawn by an invisible force, slowly rotating and emitting extremely pure spiritual energy.

On the left is a jade liquid calming pill, about the size of a longan, perfectly round and translucent, emanating a cool, refreshing aura that soothes the mind.

On the right are two incomparably precious drops of Heavenly True Water, as heavy as mountains, with the sound of rushing rivers seemingly emanating from the mist.

Chen Jiao's gaze was calm as he focused his inner energy on his dantian.

A perfectly formed demon core was slowly rotating, emanating vast demonic power, rising and falling like the tide.

It has already reached the point of perfect foundation building, and its fullness cannot be increased further.

"The demon cultivator condenses the demon core, and the main body forms the golden core. They are different paths but the same goal. So let's begin."

The Golden Core realm can be considered a basic entry into the inner sanctum.

Chen Jiao stopped thinking and activated the [Vast Ocean Whale Dragon Mystic Chapter] to communicate with heaven and earth.

The spiritual energy that Yunmang Mountain had cultivated over the years was drawn to it, flowing like a hundred rivers into the sea, quietly converging towards Xuanqing Cave.

At first, there was no sound, but soon after, the air in the quiet room seemed to freeze.

Only the essence of the vast sea and the breath of Yang and thunder seeped out from the void and surrounded his body.

Chen Jiao drew two drops of Heavenly True Water and suspended them at his fingertips. Each drop of this water contained a vast amount of water essence.

A water droplet hangs from a fingertip; under the pressure, the surrounding space distorts slightly.

Chen Jiao circulated his profound power, introducing a drop of true water into his meridians, like a giant whale drinking water, embracing all rivers, nourishing the already overflowing foundation of his demonic power.

"凝".

A whisper, as if a decree had been issued.

The essence of the five elements took the lead, transforming into a five-colored rainbow bridge, which slowly flowed into the dantian, like spring rain nourishing all things, thread by thread, merging into the illusory form of the demon core.

The illusory form of the demon core received nourishment from the five elements of origin, and its radiance suddenly shone brightly. Its rotation accelerated sharply, while its volume began to shrink, and the process of transforming from illusory to real accelerated abruptly.

At the same time, Chen Jiao opened his mouth and inhaled, and the Jade Liquid Concentrating Spirit Pill transformed into a clear stream and entered his mouth.

The powerful medicinal force surged straight into the sea of ​​consciousness, protecting the mind and spirit, making the mirror still and reflecting the changes in the elixir palace.

He flicked his finger again, and a drop of Heavenly True Water hung above his head, its purest and most yin water essence washing away the demon core, neutralizing its domineering demonic nature, and conveying a sense of harmony and balance through the water's way.

Within the dantian, the scene underwent a dramatic change.

The demon core's illusory form intertwines with the essence of the five elements, giving rise to the two energies of Yin and Yang.

As the yang energy rose, the blazing thunder and yang energy transformed into a crimson dragon, coiled on the cinnabar, roaring towards the sky.

The yin energy descended, and the thick yin water transformed into a giant black tortoise, which lay prostrate beneath the dantian, silently bearing the weight.

This is an omen of the first appearance of the dragon and tiger, indicating the natural emergence of inner vision, overflowing with true essence, and the search for a way out.

The dragon roars and the tortoise lies dormant; the yang energy of the dragon and the yin energy of the tortoise begin to interact and resonate within the elixir.

The red dragon exhaled thunderous breath, which flowed into the turtle's back.

The black tortoise absorbs the essence of water, which in turn nourishes the dragon's body.

The interplay of Yin and Yang, in its endless cycle, caused the increasingly solidified demon core to gradually exude a perfect, flawless, and self-circulating Daoist charm.

Chen Jiao sank his mind into the Purple Mansion, focusing on the One, guiding the vast yet gentle Five Elements Qi to repeatedly cleanse and enrich the demon core.

During the process, his aura became increasingly profound, and beneath his skin, there were faint, multicolored lights that seemed to move like dragons and snakes, yet they were firmly locked within his body, not leaking out in the slightest.

Inside the stone chamber, only the chaotic, misty spiritual light flowed slowly, and the illusory image of the dragon turtle floated up and down, making the figure in black robes in the center even more mysterious and unpredictable.

An indescribable aura of majesty began to emanate from his body.

Although isolated by the array, the black fat, shrimp big and the three flower fairy maids guarding outside the quiet room still felt their hearts pound, and they all held their breath and dared not disturb them in the slightest.

The foundation for the Golden Elixir has been initially laid.

The next step is to work diligently to solidify this embryo into a flawless demon core.

Chen Jiao focused intently on this final transformation.

……

Spring comes and autumn goes, and a year passes in the blink of an eye.

The stone gate to the cave, which had been sealed for over a year in the forbidden area behind Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion, silently slid open one early morning when the light was just beginning to break.

A young Taoist priest slowly stepped out, dressed in a sword robe with flowing cloud patterns, an ancient sword hanging at his waist, with a handsome face and an undisguised sharpness between his brows.

It was none other than the Venerable Xuanguang, who had just broken through the barrier.

Unlike some seasoned cultivators who maintain an aged appearance, he uses the vigorous vitality of his newly formed Golden Core to stabilize his appearance in his youthful state, which further highlights his sharp and confident nature.

However, if a fellow cultivator of the Golden Core realm were to observe closely, they might be able to detect a very subtle discordant glint beneath the brilliant golden light deep within his eyes.

Like a flaw in a beautiful jade, it is a scar from the forced formation of the elixir in the past, where the foundation was not yet stable.

However, the trace was extremely faint, concealed by the deliberate aura of the Golden Core cultivator, making it difficult to detect.

He stood before the cave, took a deep breath of the pure mountain air, and his divine sense spread quietly like a tide, instantly enveloping the entire Xuan Guang Peak.

The sect's predicament this year, the emptiness of the Hidden Truth Hall, and the worry and expectation between the elders and disciples were all reflected in my heart like a mirror, clear in my mind.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, which then transformed into a deeper arrogance.

How could a few setbacks possibly shake the might of a Golden Elixir Immortal?

The prestige of the Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion needs to be revitalized in Aolai Kingdom by taking advantage of his emergence from seclusion!

Several days later, inside the main hall.

Master Xuanguang sat in the main seat, his expression calm, yet he exuded an undeniable air of authority.

The Grand Elder, Master Changhe, and four Foundation Establishment Elders sat on either side, their postures respectful.

"I have stabilized my realm."

Master Xuanguang spoke, his voice clear and resonant, carrying the sound of metal and stone, echoing throughout the hall:

"The Sword Pavilion has suffered numerous misfortunes in recent years, damaging its reputation. This is neither a blessing for the sect nor the fault of any of you."

He glanced at everyone and continued:

"At this time, it is better to be active than still, and better to be visible than to be hidden."

"My mind is made up. After March, I will hold a Golden Core celebration ceremony and extend a wide invitation to sects and independent cultivators from Aolai Kingdom and surrounding areas to join in this grand event."

Upon hearing this, the five elders reacted with varying expressions.

Master Changhe looked worried, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Master Xuanguang seemed to sense something and said calmly, "What concerns does Changhe have?"

Master Changhe rose, cupped his hands, and spoke in a deep voice:

"My lord, it is only right that I offer my congratulations. However... the matter of the Hidden Truth Hall has not yet been fully investigated."

The sect's foundation is almost depleted; to make a big show of things now might... might attract attention and cause trouble.

Master Xuanguang's lips curled slightly, revealing a proud smile:

"Changhe is overthinking it. It is precisely because the sect has suffered losses that we need to demonstrate our strength and deter the villains."

The Golden Core realm is the greatest foundation! As for the slight loss of wealth, with me overseeing things, there will be a time to make up for it in the future.

This celebration serves two purposes: to congratulate and to establish authority.

The cultivation world of Aolai Kingdom must know that the Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion, having achieved the Golden Core stage, remains the head of the three sects and is revered by all other factions!

His tone was calm, yet it possessed a resolute force.

Upon hearing this, Master Changhe and the others, though still worried about the sect's emptiness, saw that the Venerable One was full of vigor and vitality, and that his Golden Core cultivation was growing stronger every day. They dared not say anything more and could only bow and accept the order, saying, "We will obey the Venerable One's command!"

With the decision made, the entire Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion immediately sprang into action.

Repairing the palaces, setting up the venue, taking stock of the remaining treasures from the past year, the spiritual items that can be used for entertaining guests, and drafting the invitation list... it's a scene of regrouping and rebuilding.

Although its foundation is not as strong as before, with the combined efforts of the entire sect and the personal involvement of Master Xuanguang, all preparations are proceeding in an orderly manner.

The invitations were personally drafted by Master Xuanguang, sealed with the unique sword aura of the Sword Pavilion, and sent to all directions by disciples riding sword light.

The news spread like wildfire.

"That guy from the Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion, I heard he was a highly anticipated genius in his early years, and he actually achieved the Golden Core stage!"

"A Golden Elixir Ceremony is about to be held? It seems we're going to have to rebuild our sect."

"I heard they suffered significant losses before the Lunar New Year, but now they seem quite confident..."

"A Golden Core cultivator... Regardless, I must attend this grand event."

The various factions reacted differently upon receiving the invitations: some were surprised, some hesitated, and some were wary.

Without exception, they all began preparing congratulatory gifts, intending to personally investigate the matter.

The main peak of Xuan Guang is becoming increasingly noisy.

Master Xuanguang often stood with his hands behind his back on the mountaintop, overlooking the sea of ​​clouds. His youthful face was full of confidence and disdain, as if he were in control of everything.

"Hmph, a mere demonic dragon, a clown jumping around, dares to take advantage of my seclusion and think that my Sword Pavilion is without anyone to rely on?"

He sneered inwardly.

Having achieved the Golden Core stage, he considered the Foundation Establishment stage to be nothing more than ants.

Even if the dragon demon has some skills and is rumored to have reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, to him it is nothing more than a slightly larger insect.

A cold smile involuntarily appeared on the corner of Master Xuanguang's lips.

He intended to use this Golden Core celebration to tell everyone that the Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion was still the same Xuan Guang Sword Pavilion that aimed its sword at Aolai Kingdom!