Treasure Gathering Immortal Furnace

Xuan Yang Sword Sect, back mountain, training ground.

While Lu Fan was in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation, the Heavenly Fire Ancestor, who had gone out to search for Lu Fan, returned to the Xuan Yang Sword Sect after receiving a telepathic message from the Jing Ancestor.

Upon returning, Ancestor Tianhuo immediately called out, "Junior Brother Jing, where is Lu Shizhi? Was he injured during his travels?"

"Senior brother, don't worry. Lu Shizhi has gone into seclusion to consolidate his cultivation. He's fine," said Ancestor Jing, sitting beside the forging furnace.

"It's good that you're not injured," said the Heavenly Fire Ancestor. He walked to the forging furnace, helping to channel the infant fire as he spoke, "Junior Brother, do you know what news I obtained during my trip to the Great Yan?"

"What news?" Old Ancestor Jing asked, looking up.

"Our Master Lu is from the Daoist sect! He's the grand-disciple of that old fellow Xuanxuzi!" said Ancestor Tianhuo.

"Hmm? I didn't expect Lu Shizhi to be a disciple of the Dao Sect? That's strange. Why does he call himself a rogue cultivator and join my Xuan Yang Sword Sect?" Ancestor Jing looked puzzled.

"Haha, you probably won't believe it, but that old fool Xuanxuzi, with his dim eyesight, actually did two stupid things," the Heavenly Fire Ancestor burst into laughter.

Seeing how happy Ancestor Tianhuo was, Ancestor Jing also became interested: "Senior Brother, stop keeping me in suspense and tell me."

"Years ago, in order to exchange for two Longevity Fruits from the Sword Pavilion, Xuanxuzi gave away his sect's most promising Nascent Soul cultivator to Old Monster Gu Xin as a sword-nurturing furnace!"

"Moreover, that female cultivator is born with a sword embryo physique! If she is properly nurtured, she can successfully form a nascent soul in time. With the true treasure nurtured within her body, she will surely make a name for herself."

The Heavenly Fire Ancestor laughed.

"Is that so? This Xuanxuzi is a great overlord of the Great Yan Dynasty. How could he do something that would ruin the future of his sect!" Ancestor Jing was also very surprised. He added, "If this sword embryo body were in my Xuanyang Sword Sect, we two would protect it even if it cost us our lives."

"That's not all. Our Master Lu had already thought of this, so he stepped forward and said something. Guess what? This old monster Gu Xin attacked fiercely and almost killed Master Lu with his Nascent Soul divine sense."

"And that Xuanxuzi actually stood by and watched, remaining silent! In the end, Lu Shizhi left the Dao Sect in a fit of anger, and only then did he coincidentally come to my Xuanyang Sword Sect to form his core!"

As the Heavenly Fire Ancestor spoke, an uncontrollable smile appeared on his lips.

"Haha! This Xuanxuzi is utterly incompetent! I haven't seen such a foolish person in hundreds of years. He's supposed to be a Nascent Soul Ancestor, but his vision is so short-sighted that he's not even as good as a junior!" Ancestor Jing also laughed heartily, a rare occurrence for him.

"Alas... what a pity that this sword embryo physique could not join my Xuan Yang Sword Sect, otherwise, it would surely have been able to revive its glory," Ancestor Tian Huo shook his head and said regretfully.

"Yes, if this sword embryo body falls into the hands of the Sword Pavilion, it will surely be used as a sword-nurturing furnace, which is a complete waste of its potential. The strongest thing would be for this sword embryo body to nurture its own natal magic weapon into a true treasure," Ancestor Jing also felt the same regret.

"Oh, right, there's one more crucial thing. Our Master Lu is probably not a mixed spiritual root of the five elements," said the Heavenly Fire Ancestor, his expression turning grave.

"What?" Old Ancestor Jing was taken aback.

"I've heard that Master Lu might have a mutated mixed spiritual root!" said Ancestor Tianhuo.

Upon hearing this, Elder Jing hurriedly waved his hand: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! The formation of a core from a mixed spiritual root is already a once-in-ten-thousand-years occurrence! The formation of a core from a mutated mixed spiritual root is a complete fantasy!"

"I think that makes sense too. After all, the combined resources of the four major sects of the Great Yan Dynasty are probably not enough to cultivate a mixed spiritual root with five elements mutation," Ancestor Tianhuo frowned slightly.

"Do you think it's possible that our Master Lu has a mixed spiritual root, but one of it has mutated?" Ancestor Jing said, then added, "Just like when he formed his core, the spiritual energy of the five elements in the sky was mixed, and I could faintly hear thunder. Could it be that one of the five elements has mutated into the thunder attribute?"

"That's possible. It seems that unless our Master Lu has some extraordinary opportunities, he can only stop at the Core Formation stage," Ancestor Tianhuo shook his head.

The founder of their Xuan Yang Sword Sect possessed the Five Elements Spiritual Roots. Although the process of forming the Nascent Soul seemed smooth, it was the result of countless fortunate opportunities.

The cultivation world today is not as prosperous as it was ten thousand years ago, so finding such an opportunity is extremely difficult, especially since it has mutated.

"It's alright. Even if he can't form a Nascent Soul, Lu Shizhi has broken the curse that our Xuan Yang Sword Sect has had no Core Formation cultivators for hundreds of years. We must nurture him well, and he can serve as the Grand Elder of the Inner Sect in the future." Ancestor Jing did not have any prejudice against Lu Fan because of his poor spiritual root.

"That's right, no matter what kind of spiritual root it is, it is the most precious treasure of our Xuan Yang Sword Sect," said Ancestor Tian Huo slowly.

It's not surprising that they couldn't guess Lu Fan's true spiritual root. After all, there has never been any record of mixed spiritual roots with altered Five Elements since ancient times, and even if there were, they certainly wouldn't have reached the level of Core Formation.

Since we've never seen him or recorded him, how can we possibly discern Lu Fan's true spiritual root?

Moreover, once you reach the Core Formation stage like Lu Fan, you no longer need to have your spiritual roots tested, unlike those who are minor Qi Refining cultivators.

...

Three years later.

Time is like an arrow, the sun and the moon are like a shuttle.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Fan had been in seclusion for three years.

For the past three years, he has remained as still and steadfast as a wooden sculpture.

The golden core in the dantian, after three years of continuous tempering and stabilization, has become gleaming with golden light, and the five spiritual energies of wind, thunder, dark fusion, and magnetism surround it like a star ring.

Only now can Lu Fan be called a cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation!

The demonic energy within him, aided by the True Qi Gong, had almost completely dissipated and would no longer cause any harm.

Secondly, his spiritual sense, after taking two Soul Nourishing Pills over three years, steadily improved to the mid-stage of Core Formation.

Its strength has also seen a significant leap forward.

As Lu Fan opened his eyes, which had been closed for three years, he formed hand seals, and in an instant, a terrifying spiritual pressure erupted!

"My strength has more than doubled since I first formed my core. If I could refine my natal magic weapon, it would be even more perfect," Lu Fan said with a satisfied smile. Only then did he notice the two three-eyed crows lying on the stone table beside him.

"Master, what's wrong?" Lu Fan asked, looking at the three-eyed crows lying together.

"Shh..." Zi Yuan made a shushing gesture and whispered, "Keep your voice down. These two stopped taking spirit beast pills three months ago. It looks like they're accumulating power in preparation for a breakthrough."

"I see. I wonder if I can open the third eye once I reach the fifth level," Lu Fan said, beginning to look forward to it.

"That's for sure. A fifth-tier Three-Eyed Raven will definitely open its third eye," Zi Yuan said.

"Does opening a third eye grant any special abilities?" Lu Fan asked.

"The third eye of the Three-Eyed Raven can give birth to 'Netherworld Fire'," Zi Yuan said slowly.

"Netherworld Fire?" Lu Fan was slightly taken aback, as if he was hearing about this kind of flame for the first time.