After transforming into a fairy, I, in my simulation, wreaked havoc in the cultivation world.

[In the secret room, you sit cross-legged on a futon, your fingertips holding a transparent, prismatic crystal, within which a blue light flows gently like ripples on water.]

[It is a spirit crystal.]

Once your cultivation reaches the Golden Core stage, relying solely on meditation or dual cultivation will result in extremely slow progress. At least for those with dual spiritual roots, a mere few hundred years of lifespan is simply insufficient to support a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

After all, cultivators not only need to push their spiritual power cultivation to the peak of the Golden Core stage, but the more difficult part is crossing the life-or-death barrier of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

A Golden Core cultivator must meet three conditions to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

The first and foremost element is the Dao Embryo.

What is the Dao embryo?

The Dao Embryo evolves from the Dao Seed; it is the embodiment of a cultivator's path to enlightenment and the key to carrying the future Great Dao.

In other words, the strength of the Dao Embryo directly determines the height a cultivator can reach in the future.

The name "Embryo of Ten Thousand Paths" originates from this.

Furthermore, after a cultivator successfully breaks through to the next level, their divine soul merges with their Dao embryo, marking the beginning of a qualitative change in their divine consciousness.

Its importance is self-evident.

[Secondly, there is the Nascent Soul Formation Pill. Although this pill only assists Golden Core cultivators in breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage, it ranks among the top-tier fifth-grade pills. Throughout the entire Xuanhuang Continent, there are only a handful of alchemists capable of refining this pill.]

Furthermore, the main ingredients for refining the Nascent Soul Pill are extremely precious, and the success rate is extremely low. This is the fundamental reason why it is so difficult for rogue cultivators to produce Nascent Soul cultivators.

[There are indeed exceptionally talented individuals among the independent cultivators, but for them, obtaining such pills, which even sects and aristocratic families must pay a considerable price for, is nothing short of a pipe dream.]

Finally, after accumulating spiritual energy, one must overcome the terrifying tribulations of lightning and inner demons.

Only after completing so many steps can one have the opportunity to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

Therefore, this stage is also known as the "Minor Immortal Tribulation" in the cultivation world.

[A seemingly unremarkable title has stopped the vast majority of cultivators, and even many exceptionally talented geniuses have fallen at this step.]

[With a slight thought, you introspect. Within your inner world, you see the golden core slowly rotating, the refined spiritual energy flowing upon it vastly different from that of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.]

[After all, this is a foundation that has been accumulated over hundreds of years, consuming countless resources, and undergoing the baptism of lightning.]

This is precisely why spirit crystals are so important.

Although the total amount of spiritual energy contained within a single spirit crystal is not enormous, its purity and quality are extremely close to the spiritual energy intensity of a Golden Core cultivator.

For Golden Core cultivators, this is the best "elixir." Regardless of the cultivation method, as long as spirit crystals are used as the consumption, the cultivation speed can be greatly accelerated.

[That kind-hearted little girl invested 60,000 spirit crystals back then, and with the stock you got from Liu Guanzhi at the end of the last simulation, your total number of spirit crystals has now reached a staggering 200,000.]

This amount might not seem like much to veteran Golden Core cultivators, but for a cultivator who has just broken through to the Golden Core stage, it represents a considerable amount of resources.

But... I still feel so poor!

【"Sigh~"】

You couldn't help but sigh.

Fortunately, your most important goal in this simulation is not to improve your Qi cultivation, but to refine your body!

The *Taiyin Xuan Shu Lian Xing Zhen Jing* is indeed powerful. You can deduce from your previous battle with Lei Qianyue that even without breaking through to the Golden Core stage, you could still crush him at the same level.

However, the required time is far too long.

Each level of this cultivation technique is divided into four stages: low, intermediate, high, and perfect.

[It takes fifty years to reach the second low-level stage alone, and the time required to break through each subsequent minor stage doubles. Therefore, to accumulate enough foundation to break through to the third level, it would take approximately four hundred years.]

[In this simulation, you only have three hundred years. Forget finding the elixir for a breakthrough, you won't even have enough lunar energy to accumulate for one.]

Therefore... it's self-evident who to turn to.

【Liu Guanzhi! 】

From any perspective, it's the best "cheat code" you can use right now.

Moreover, the opponent's cultivation is already close to the Golden Core stage. With his abilities, even if he hasn't broken through yet, he can still be a great help to you.

[The thought of Liu Guanzhi made you rub your temples in exasperation; that guy was just too difficult to win over.]

Even though you're two versions ahead now, you still don't have complete confidence.

[Thinking of the Blood Qi Gu, your eyes gradually hardened again. It seems you have no choice but to face the challenge head-on!]

[And... a slight smile suddenly appeared at the corner of your mouth, as if there was an even better way than a strategy guide...]

【...】

The next day, you stood before a magnificent pavilion.

[Zi Yu may be a bit of a flirt, but she's a woman of her word. She delivered the token for the Treasure Pavilion early this morning.]

Without hesitation, you walked straight forward and handed the golden token to the white-haired old woman guarding the gate.

The old woman took the token, her cloudy eyes scanning it. After a moment, she nodded slightly, and her hoarse voice slowly rang out:

"This token allows you to ascend to the third level. Go."

You bowed respectfully and stepped into the pavilion.

The hall was dimly lit, but the spiritual light emanating from countless magical artifacts illuminated the surroundings, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

[Your divine sense swept across it and immediately detected something amiss.]

[All inferior goods, just as expected! The sect would never give the truly good stuff to disciples like you...]

Without pausing, you went straight up the steps to the area where the magical treasures were stored.

Upon reaching the third level, you look around and find only a few dozen magical artifacts, radiating dazzling light, silently floating in mid-air.

No wonder Zi Yu agreed so readily; it turns out the higher-ups at this treasure pavilion are all trash.

Only now do you understand just how precious the longsword magic weapon given to you by Ancestor Lingxiu was.

[Heavenly Profound Sword Sect Favorability +1.]

Just as you were about to randomly choose a defensive magic item, you caught a glimpse of a small, palm-sized black tower in the corner.

It was carelessly tossed aside in a corner, like a piece of scrap metal that no one wanted.

[But your gaze was instantly drawn to it, not only because your divine sense couldn't detect even a trace of it, but also because the shape of this small tower was strikingly similar to the compass you obtained from that young man before entering the Heavenly Profound Realm.]

Both the color and the texture seem to be a unified whole.

Your gaze flickered slightly, but instead of immediately taking out the compass, you grasped the small black pagoda into your hand.

[Sure enough! The texture is exactly the same as the compass.]

Looks like it's your turn to have a stroke of good luck and snag a bargain.

Your actions naturally didn't escape the notice of the elders outside. You didn't do anything more; after putting away the small tower, you went straight downstairs.

The old woman didn't look at the small tower; she simply watched your receding figure and gently shook her head.

"Young people these days always dream of getting something for nothing, unaware that these are all wrong paths taken by their predecessors..."

...