After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

The demonic cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Hall also watched coldly, their eyes filled with a hint of schadenfreude:

"Heh, the Joyful Union Sect really has a wealth of talent. Even a piece of trash with five spiritual roots dares to come and form his core?"

"I bet he won't last even the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before his meridians rupture and he dies."

"Hehe, just wait and see the show."

Various sarcastic and mocking voices rose and fell on the shore. Although they tried to keep their voices down, they still clearly reached the ears of the Hehuan Sect members.

Xiao Xiyue frowned slightly, about to retort, but was stopped by Chu Qingyi.

"Ignore them."

Chu Qingyi spoke calmly, her gaze still fixed on the figure deep within the pool, her tone serene:

"Once I successfully form my core, I will naturally shut some people up."

Above the Imperial Pool, experts from various forces who were hidden in the void and observing the area with their divine senses all turned their attention to it.

"Oh? Interesting... A Foundation Establishment cultivator actually dares to form his Core in the Imperial Pool?"

"This kid does have some courage. However... with his five spiritual roots, he's probably doomed to die at most."

"Hehe, don't jump to conclusions yet. I just sensed something extraordinary within him..."

"Hmm? You sensed it too? That aura... it's a bit strange."

Divine senses intertwined in the void, communicating with each other, but none of them made any rash moves.

After all, Chu Qingyi, the "Supreme Elder" of the Hehuan Sect, was guarding the shore, and no one dared to be presumptuous in front of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Meanwhile, deep within the pool...

Lin Fengmian's mind was completely immersed in that profound and mysterious state.

Within his dantian, spiritual energy surged like a tide, flowing through his meridians like molten lava.

He repeatedly purified and compressed that vast spiritual energy using secret methods, removing the impurities and keeping the essence, just like refining iron, peeling away the impurities bit by bit.

The spiritual liquid continuously gathered, surged, and swirled above the dantian, gradually forming a fist-sized ball of light.

Although the ball of light was still small, it already exuded a solid and profound aura, as if a newborn star was being conceived.

This is the rudimentary form of Core Formation!

Lin Fengmian knew that the higher the grade of the Golden Core, the more perfect and transparent the Golden Core would be.

The legendary first-grade golden pill emits a dazzling golden light, like the blazing sun in the sky, dazzling and eye-catching!

He made a firm decision and devoted all his attention to refining and solidifying the golden elixir that was taking shape.

Time passed slowly.

After an unknown amount of time, the nascent golden core in the dantian finally stabilized, its entire body radiating a warm and profound light.

The light gradually changed from grayish-white to pale gold, then to dazzling red gold, and finally transformed into a brilliant golden radiance!

Like the rising sun, it illuminated the entire dantian with a golden glow!

"He's achieved a first-grade Golden Core?!"

Lin Fengmian was overjoyed!

He never expected that with his five spiritual roots, he would actually be able to condense a first-grade golden core!

That is the top-tier Dao Foundation that countless Core Formation cultivators dream of!

however--

Just as the Golden Core was about to completely solidify, a sudden change occurred!

As if sensing something, the little ice phoenix suddenly abandoned its battle with the little golden dragon, flapped its wings, and transformed into a streak of ice-blue light, rushing straight toward the golden core that was not yet fully formed!

Seeing this, the little golden dragon also let out a "roar" and followed closely behind. With a flash of golden light, it also chased after it!

"Hey! You two!"

Lin Fengmian was shocked and tried to stop it, but it was too late!

Two illusory figures, one dragon and one phoenix, crashed into the golden core almost simultaneously!

The golden and blue light intertwined and collided, like water and fire merging, producing a muffled "boom"!

Lin Fengmian's heart sank suddenly, and he quickly focused his mind and introspected—

As soon as the two illusory figures merged into the golden core, the surface of the entire golden core immediately began to change drastically!

The original brilliant golden light gradually faded, and in its place appeared a mysterious yin and yang color!

Half of it shone with golden light, like the blazing sun in broad daylight;

Half of it was a deep, icy blue, like a cold moon in the dark night.

The phantoms of a dragon and a phoenix appeared and disappeared on the surface of the golden core, chasing and intertwining with each other, like the yin and yang fish in the Tai Chi diagram, slowly rotating and endlessly regenerating!

The aura emanating from the Golden Core has also completely changed!

It was no longer simply the power of the Golden Core, but carried an ancient, profound, and primordial aura, as if it were the chaotic energy of the beginning of time!

Lin Fengmian stared in disbelief, only recovering after a long while, muttering to himself:

"Holy crap... could it be that I've formed the legendary... hidden core formation?"

"Could it be that there are even higher grades above the First-Grade Golden Core?!"

He was shocked and momentarily dazed.

Just then, a deep, aged, and awe-inspiring voice suddenly echoed within his mind:

"This...this could it be...the Great Dao Core Formation?!"

It was Li Cheng who spoke.

His face was filled with horror, and his voice trembled slightly, as if he had witnessed some unbelievable spectacle:

"I thought this was just a legend in ancient books! I never imagined... it actually exists!"

"Old Li! Do you know what this is?!"

Lin Fengmian's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly pressed for an answer.

Li Cheng took a deep breath, his voice carrying a hint of solemn reverence:

"I have only seen a few words about it in ancient books... It is said that this kind of Dao Core Formation is unheard of in the Spirit Realm. At least in the area where I live, I have never heard of anyone forming this core."

"Ancient texts record that only... cultivators with the potential to become Great Emperors can possibly draw upon the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth, and the spirits of dragons and phoenixes, to condense this legendary Core Formation during its formation!"

"The bearing of an emperor?!"

Lin Fengmian's heart jolted, and an incredulous glint flashed in his eyes.

He looked down at the golden elixir in his dantian, which exuded a mysterious aura. He saw the yin and yang energies flowing endlessly on it, with the sounds of dragons and phoenixes appearing and disappearing, as if it contained endless mysteries of heaven and earth.

"I actually... formed the Great Dao Core?"

He muttered to himself, feeling both surprised and somewhat incredulous.

He also knew that it was impossible for him to condense such a legendary core on his own.

His current fortune is entirely due to the trace of profound Yin energy bestowed upon him by that mysterious woman, and the phantom of the dragon pearl of unknown origin at the bottom of the Imperial Pool—

The two elements merged by chance, leading him to stumble upon this unprecedented path.

"Thank you..."

Lin Fengmian thought to himself, his gaze sweeping over the extremely mysterious golden core in his dantian, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

This Great Dao Core Formation is his first step on the path to becoming a true powerhouse!