Treasure Gathering Immortal Furnace

"Fellow Daoist Ye, you said that the Xuan Yang Sword Sect can't retain Core Formation cultivators. Is it because some heretical sect has placed a restriction on them?" Lu Fan asked, turning his head as they flew.

"No, based on what I've heard in the past six years at the Thousand Shadows Sect, the Xuan Yang Sword Sect's inability to retain Core Formation cultivators may be due to problems with its spiritual veins," Ye Lingxi analyzed.

"Spiritual veins?" Lu Fan frowned slightly.

"Yes, it's strange, whether the Xuan Yang Sword Sect has cultivators who have reached the Core Formation stage or recruits Core Formation cultivators from outside, most of them only have a lifespan of one and a half years. Once that time is up, they either suffer from a cultivation deviation or suddenly die without any warning. It's extremely absurd," Ye Lingxi said.

"How come I remember Shi Fengtian saying that the Xuan Yang Sword Sect once recruited a Core Formation cultivator, but he only lasted for half a year before dying?" Lu Fan asked, recalling what happened six years ago.

"I've also looked into that. That Core Formation cultivator suffered a damaged soul and was injured, which is why he only lasted for half a year. Fellow Daoist Lu, on the other hand, was not injured and is very powerful. As long as he forms his Core within a year and a half, I think he should not encounter any danger," Ye Lingxi said slowly.

"To reach the Core Formation stage in a year and a half... that's quite a challenge," Lu Fan frowned.

According to the average cultivator, it takes two to six years to form the Golden Core, although some exceptional individuals can form the Golden Core in just one year.

Unfortunately, Lu Fan was not a prodigy. Leaving aside his spiritual root, his talent could only be considered above average.

Reaching the Core Formation stage at this level in a year and a half is extremely difficult.

"Didn't you seize a lot of Creation Dew? Just use a couple more drops. As long as you can form your core, you can always stabilize it for a few more years later," Ye Lingxi said.

"Well, that's all we can do," Lu Fan sighed.

His five elements are mutated and mixed spiritual roots, so he needs at least five drops of Creation Dew to form his core. If we follow Ye Lingxi's advice, he might need ten drops.

Because the existence of the Creation Dew itself accelerates the process of Core Formation.

However, doing so may result in insufficient time for the Golden Core to condense, and even if the Golden Core is formed, it will be somewhat superficial.

However, this instability is not irreversible. As long as one's cultivation is stabilized for a few more years, it will return to normal.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you don't need to worry anymore. Since you agreed to go to the Xuan Yang Sword Sect, it means you have a lot of confidence in your Core Formation."

"I reckon you snatched quite a bit of Creation Dew this time. Don't be stingy with it; as long as you can form your core, that's fine."

Ye Lingxi said slowly.

Lu Fan nodded slightly and did not reply. The two of them increased their speed and sped towards the Wind Kingdom.

After flying for about ten days, Lu Fan and Ye Lingxi finally arrived in Feng Kingdom. If it weren't for waiting for Lu Fan, Ye Lingxi would probably have arrived much earlier.

Although Lu Fan had the Wind Feather Wings to enhance his abilities, his speed was still much slower than Ye Lingxi's, who had stabilized her cultivation for six years. Therefore, it took him more than ten days, which was far slower than Ye Lingxi's arrival in the previous three days.

"It took me thirteen days to reach the Wind Kingdom. How come my speed is so different from Fellow Daoist Ye's?" Lu Fan said with a bitter expression.

"With Shi Fengtian's help over the past six years, I have refined my natal magic weapon and also learned a profound speed-escaping technique. My speed is naturally incomparable to what it used to be," Ye Lingxi said.

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan was filled with envy. The speed of a Core Formation cultivator was already incredibly fast, and when combined with a natal magic weapon and a speed-enhancing technique, the boost was terrifying.

Ye Lingxi, who joined the Thousand Shadows Sect, was completely trained by Shi Fengtian as his personal disciple, something Lu Fan could only envy.

"Alright, I'll have to walk the rest of the way by myself. Fellow Daoist Ye, thank you for escorting me all the way," Lu Fan cupped his hands in thanks.

"You're too kind. I've done the calculations. If you reach the Core Formation stage in a year and a half, it will take at least three more years to stabilize your cultivation. So let's agree to explore the secret realm together in five years," Ye Lingxi said after calculating the time.

Upon hearing this, Lu Fan smiled and said, "To have a close friend like Fellow Daoist Ye in this unpredictable world of cultivation, even if I fail to form my core and return to the world, I will have no regrets in this life."

"Although Fellow Daoist Lu and I met by chance, we have been sincere with each other since we got to know each other. If you can successfully form your core, it is not impossible for us to become cultivation partners," Ye Lingxi said, her eyes as clear as autumn water as she looked at Lu Fan with affection, her tone gentle and straightforward.

This is exactly Ye Lingxi's personality; she has never liked beating around the bush, and if she likes something, she likes it, and she would never pretend to be reserved.

When Ye Lingxi first met Lu Fan, she thought he was pretty good, at least in terms of character. In addition, when she was forming her core, Lu Fan protected her and fought to the death without backing down, which made Ye Lingxi fall in love with him.

Hearing Ye Lingxi's words, Lu Fan was stunned for a long time. Seeing Ye Lingxi's serious expression, it seemed that she was not joking.

However, before Lu Fan could respond, Ye Lingxi instantly transformed into a streak of light and sped away into the distance, simultaneously transmitting her voice: "Lu Fan, five years, I'll wait for you, don't die!"

"Alright, five years!" Lu Fan replied with a smile, then took out a map, glanced at it, and headed towards the Xuan Yang Sword Sect.

...

After flying for about four more days, Lu Fan finally arrived at the territory of the Xuan Yang Sword Sect, which was located in the southeast of the Feng Kingdom and bordered the Great Yan Kingdom.

However, Lu Fan did not rush in. Instead, he took out a disguise pill and swallowed it, but this time he did not transform into the appearance of an old man.

Instead, he acted on his whim, transforming into a dark-skinned, ugly man with a full beard, completely abandoning his two identities in the Great Yan Dynasty and showing himself in a completely new guise.

After making preparations, Lu Fan set off for the Xuan Yang Sword Sect.

Upon arrival, looking into the distance, a solitary mountain towering into the clouds sits amidst thousands of miles of mountains.

This solitary mountain seemed to have been cleaved in two by a mysterious force, its body split in two, becoming two opposing peaks.

The mountain peak on the left is picturesque with clear waters and lush buildings, presenting a vibrant scene. In contrast, the mountain peak on the right, although also having buildings, is clearly long abandoned, lifeless, and dilapidated.

"Strange, how can there be such a big difference between the left and right peaks of the same sect? Could it be that the right peak has been abandoned?" Lu Fan couldn't figure out what was going on, but he still flew over.

What happened next was even stranger. When Lu Fan flew to the foot of the mountain on the left, he discovered that the Xuan Yang Sword Sect hadn't even activated its protective formation.

"Could it be that the Xuan Yang Sword Sect has four Nascent Soul elders guarding it, and knows that no one dares to provoke them, so they didn't activate the grand formation?" Lu Fan didn't know, but he still stepped into the mountain gate.

The sight that greeted Lu Fan as soon as he stepped inside once again shattered his worldview...

In a pavilion on one side of the small square of the Xuan Yang Sword Sect, there were more than twenty disciples, some at the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, shouting hysterically around a stone table.

"Bite it to death! Bite it to death! Xuanjia Immortal, hurry up!"

"Black Demon, give it your all, we're almost there!"

Lu Fan released his divine sense slightly, and only then did he discover that the group of disciples were divided into two groups, and were actually fighting crickets.

"Hahaha! What kind of bullshit Xuanjia Immortal? He was bitten to death by my Black Fiend Old Demon, you defeated opponent!" A disheveled middle-aged cultivator laughed heartily, seemingly because his cricket had won the victory.

The defeated disciple, looking dejected, slammed his fist on the stone table: "How could I lose again! I paid a fortune for this!"

"Junior brother, fifty taels of silver, no cheating allowed," the middle-aged cultivator said with a smile, extending his hand.

The young cultivator tossed out a silver ingot, pushed through the crowd, and stormed off.

Lu Fan was even more surprised to see that silver was used. He subconsciously took a few steps back and looked up at the archway again.

The four gilded characters of Xuan Yang Sword Sect gleamed brightly.

"That's right, what's going on!" Lu Fan was dumbfounded.