Cultivating Immortality Begins with Rejuvenation.

Chapter 328 Breaking through the Limit
Normally, after the demon core is shattered, the spiritual pressure in the cave will stabilize, and then the essence of the shattered demon core will be refined.

If the attempt to shatter the demon core fails, the spiritual pressure will not be as strong, and the demon will collapse instantly.

The spiritual pressure above the Guagua Cave had already stabilized, and was even slightly higher than that of the Linghe Cave.

However, his spiritual pressure dissipated immediately afterward.

Even more incredibly, the raging blood demon condensed once more.

This means that the process of shattering the demon core has begun once again.

The extent to which a demon beast's core is shattered is related to the extraction of its bloodline essence. If one shattering is not enough, it can theoretically be shattered a second time.

However, the dangers involved are extraordinary. In addition to the fact that the demon beast's physical body needs to be impacted by the blood evil again, the main problem lies in the demon beast's psychological endurance.

After all, shattering a demon core once is equivalent to being reborn from the ashes; ordinary demon beasts don't have such mentality and courage.

"A shattered demon core! Truly extraordinary! But... is it possible to succeed?" After her initial shock, Bai Cailing gradually calmed down.

This is exactly what she expected from that toad.

Just now, she felt that the Vermilion Toad's ability to shatter the demon core was only slightly better than her spirit crane's, and she was delighted, thinking that her spirit crane was about the same level.

As a result... the Toad actually shattered the demon core again under these circumstances.

Undoubtedly, if successful, the demon core will be pulverized to the point of powder, which will be more beneficial for the next step of refining the demon core essence.

However, she was conflicted about whether the toad would succeed.

If she succeeds, then by comparison, her spirit crane will be far inferior.

If she fails, she will feel a secret joy, but also a sense of disappointment...

"What kind of spirit pet does this person possess? It dares to shatter the demon core twice. Could it be that it has the bloodline of a savage spirit?" After confirming that the spirit pet was shattering the demon core for the second time, Tong Liang finally put away his contempt and was shocked.

There are many ancient records in the Nine Cauldrons Chamber of Commerce, and he happened to see a record of a demon beast shattering its demon core twice when it attacked its demon core.

However, those were all peerless demons from ancient times or even the Primordial Era, and they possessed at least some degree of true spiritual bloodline.

"A spirit pet with true spirit bloodline!" This shocked him, and his greed exploded.

Demonic beasts with true spirit bloodlines are almost impossible for human cultivators to tame. And as far as he knows, the few demonic beasts with true spirit bloodlines in the Great Swamp cultivation world are all giants in their own right, beings that are feared by the human leaders of the Ten Central Regions.

"If I could obtain a spirit pet with such true spiritual bloodline, I would definitely do my best to nurture it to the fourth-tier demon king!"

Although investing in human immortal seedlings may offer the hope of them achieving the Nascent Soul stage, it cannot compare to investing in spirit pets. After all, once a human cultivator achieves the Nascent Soul stage, they will at most receive a few returns and favors from their efforts.

Once the investment in a spirit pet is successful, it will become part of one's own strength and will always be under one's control!

Bai Cailing was slightly taken aback by the emotions that were overflowing from him, but she understood. If she hadn't seen the Vermilion Toad with her own eyes, she wouldn't have dared to imagine any spirit pet could behave like that.

"Please forgive me, Young Master Tong, but I have signed a spiritual contract." Bai Cailing did not try to hide it.

However, Tong Liang's mind was already made up. Even if Bai Cailing told him that the other party's spirit pet was just a low-grade vermilion toad, he would never believe it.

After all, even for spirit beasts with Heavenly Bloodline, there are no records of them having their demon cores shattered twice in the later ancient era.

He was certain that the other party's spirit pet must have true spirit bloodline.

It would be a waste to let a spirit pet with true spiritual bloodline be controlled by an unknown person who fled from the Tiancang Domain!

"If the second shattering of the demon core is successful, there is indeed a possibility of advancing to the fourth rank." Tong Liang's eyes immediately lit up with anticipation.

While the two outside were shocked, Li Ji'an inside the cave was equally surprised.

Just now, after Guagua shattered the demon core, he was actually satisfied. According to the data on demon beasts shattering demon cores, the extent to which Guagua shattered the demon core was enough to support the condensation of a demon core.

After all, Guagua's bloodline was insufficient, and it only managed to reach the quasi-earth-grade bloodline after birth. Moreover, its physical strength was not very good, so it was already difficult for it to be shattered to that extent in one go.

"To know shame and then be courageous is truly not easy!" Li Ji'an looked at Guagua with newfound respect.

He also realized that the beast had indeed been attentively listening to his teachings on the records and legends related to the formation of the core in demonic beasts some time ago.

Of course, Guagua's courage was also related to Li Ji'an being by his side.

With Li Ji'an's second-tier medical skills as a safety net, at least it can be guaranteed that he won't die on the spot.

For the next three days, the blood demonic energy in the Guagua Cave remained the same as before the first time the demon core was shattered, while the blood demonic energy above Bai Cailing's Linghe Cave had long since dissipated, leaving only a stable five-elemental spiritual pressure to ensure that it could refine the essence from the shattered demon core.

Compared to the first time it shattered the demon core, this time, Guagua could only absorb blood and evil for three days before it could no longer continue. After all, its body had been damaged after the first time it shattered the demon core, and it could no longer withstand the power of blood and evil.

"Boom~"

On this day, a soaring blood-red aura erupted once again above the Guagua Cave, and at the same time, the spiritual pressure of the five elements surged.

"Two shattered demon cores!"

The second crushing of the demon core is based on the first crushing, and although the danger is greatly increased, it is relatively easier.

After all, the demon core is now in granular form, unlike the first time when it was a complete demon core.

"Click~"

Li Ji'an sensed the entire process up close and saw that the demon core of Guagua, which had already been shattered into particles, was once again crushed by the raging blood demon and instantly turned into powder.

Even before the demon core is refined, the primordial essence it contains begins to dissipate the moment it is pulverized into powder.

"Great!" Li Ji'an was overjoyed.

The demon core has been shattered to such an extent that it is comparable to the condensation of a demon core by a wild demon beast with a heavenly bloodline in ancient records. It can absolutely guarantee that the demon core will condense, and it will definitely be a solid true core!
Like human cultivators, if a demon beast's core fails to solidify, it will never be able to take human form again, and will be stuck at that level for life.

Once the demon core is fully solidified, there is a possibility that it can transform into a human form!

"Success!" The two people outside the cave felt a jolt as they sensed the even stronger spiritual pressure emanating from the two shattered demon cores.

However, their emotions differed.

From initially hoping for its failure, to the relief of the dust settling down and an even greater greed.

Bai Cailing was completely convinced: "Being of humble origins does not mean one cannot reach the pinnacle."

Tong Liang was thrilled: "This must be fate! This spirit beast is destined to be with me!"

However, before their shock had even subsided...

"Shu~"

The spiritual pressure above the Guagua Cave suddenly dropped again.

Immediately afterwards, the bloodthirsty aura surged for the third time.

"This is... it's actually going to shatter the demon core a third time?" The two of them froze completely.

Li Ji'an almost lost his composure; if he hadn't been worried about affecting Guagua, he would have stepped forward to stop him.

At this moment, the frog's physical body, which had shattered the demon core twice, had been attacked by the blood demon again, and was covered in wounds from the inside out.

Moreover, the powdered demon core after the second shattering of the demon core has completely exceeded expectations.

Li Ji'an never expected that it would dare to smash it again.

"Do you really think my medical skills can bring the dead back to life? Or do you think you're some chosen one?" he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Guagua went a bit too far this time.

However, it was all too late.

The quack had already dissipated its spiritual pressure and was once again absorbing the raging blood energy with its battered and bruised body.

Li Ji'an could clearly see that after the blood demon entered the body, Guagua's body was shattered inch by inch by the impact of the blood demon.

Fortunately, just one day later, Guagua finally stopped absorbing nutrients just as his physical body was on the verge of collapse.

"Bang!" Then, the blood-fiend was used again to shatter the demon core, which had already turned to powder.

With a whoosh, a burst of bloody energy swept over, turning the already shattered demon core into dust.

The last trace of its original essence has been completely squeezed out!

Boom~
The mixed spiritual pressure of the five elements erupted for the third time, and it was three times stronger than the second time.

"It worked again!"

"Three demon cores shattered, success!"

"Could it be a fully-formed True Spirit Demon Beast?"

The two people outside the cave were utterly shocked.

Li Ji'an also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling both lingering fear and immense joy.

"Could it be that it's trying to condense a superior demon core?"

The powdery demon core already matches the achievement of a fourth-order demon beast condensing its demon core as recorded in ancient times.

"Croak~" Finally, after the spiritual pressure stabilized, the croak began to refine its original essence according to the method of condensing the core, and opened its eyes for the first time to look at Li Ji'an.

Li Ji'an glared at it irritably, but at the same time gave it an encouraging look.

At the same time, Li Ji'an also sensed that the essence and blood in Guagua's body were rapidly recovering.

This is the effect of the Jade Blood Pill.

Now that the demon core has been shattered and its original essence has been extracted, it needs to be fused with the life essence and blood under the influence of the five elements' spiritual pressure, and then condensed into a pill.

The demon core is formed by the fusion of the life essence and the original essence, and belongs to the true life core of the demon beast!

One reason why ordinary demonic beasts fail to condense their core is that their demonic core is not completely shattered, resulting in insufficient extraction of their essential essence.

Secondly, the problem lies in the insufficient life essence. Under normal circumstances, a demon beast has enough primordial essence in its demon core to reach the third tier; the difference lies in the degree of pulverization.

Besides that, one's life essence and blood are the key.

This is related to the bloodline grade and purity of the demon beast.

If a demon beast is born with a low-grade bloodline, such as a low-grade bloodline, its life essence will definitely be insufficient, and its demon core will definitely not be able to condense.

Furthermore, even if the bloodline grade is sufficient, if the bloodline is not refined enough and its purity is insufficient, it is also insufficient to condense the pill.

The baby has undergone a bloodline transformation, barely reaching the Earthly Grade. This is enough to ensure that the baby's life essence is sufficient, but success is not guaranteed, and the degree and quality of the demon core's condensation cannot be guaranteed.

The previous blood pool cleansing and refining of the bloodline to the sixth level was a major guarantee.

The greatest function of the Jade Blood Pill is to provide demonic beasts with sufficient life essence and blood.

Therefore, at this point, Li Ji'an was not too worried.

Five days later, as the five elements spiritual pressure above the Guagua Cave stabilized, a crimson aura appeared on it.

Upon seeing this, Bai Cailing's eyes narrowed.

"As expected of a being with a three-shattered demon core, its essence blood is so rich!"

Nine days ago, after her spirit crane shattered the demon core, she proceeded to refine the essence step by step. Five days later, she began to fuse the essence blood, but the initial essence blood was at least twice as bad as Guagua's at this moment.

However, she also knew that this was the effect of the Jade Blood Pill.

At the same time, she felt relieved.

Judging from the effects of the Jade Blood Pill, even if her spirit crane took it, it probably wouldn't be able to fully utilize the essence extracted from the shattered demon core.

Only an existence like Guagua can perhaps make the most efficient use of the properties of the Jade Blood Pill.

Half a month later, the blood energy above the Guagua Cave reached its peak, the essence of the demon core was fully refined, and it began to truly fuse.

At this moment, Bai Cailing's spirit crane had just finished refining the demon core essence, and its progress had been caught up by Guagua.

One after the other, the spiritual pressure of both caves surged, initiating the most crucial step in condensing the demon core.

Bai Cailing quickly composed herself, no longer paying attention to Guagua, and focused all her attention on her spirit crane, praying that the spirit crane would successfully condense its core this time.

The process of a demon beast condensing its core varies greatly. When the essence of its origin merges with its lifeblood, the five elements of spiritual energy are compressed, causing them to mix thoroughly and then condense into a core.

The third-tier demon beast cave of the Fierce Tiger Merchant Guild is rich in the five elements of spiritual energy, so there is no need to worry about spiritual pressure.

Only consider the integration situation.

As long as the two origins are in sufficient quantities to condense into a pill, the more meticulous the fusion, the better the quality of the demon core.

Bai Cailing's method for condensing the elixir contains detailed instructions on the steps for fusing the two origins. By following these steps, the optimal fusion state can be achieved.

"Boom!" Ten days later, a muffled sound first came from the sky above Linghe Cave.

Immediately, a vortex of spiritual pressure formed above it, and then, two streams of mist, one red and one blue, began to converge.

"Great!" Bai Cailing couldn't help but cheer when she saw the red and blue hues.

The red mist represents the life essence, and the blue mist represents the original essence. The amount shown from this moment on is more than 50% higher than when they last tried to break through to the Core Formation stage.

At this level, the completion of the elixir condensation can be basically guaranteed.

In the following days, the two streams of mist, one red and one blue, slowly but orderly merged together.

Half a month later, the two streams of mist from the crane completely merged.

"It's done! The method of forming the core is indeed different. This fusion is so delicate that even the slight deficiency in the original essence and life essence blood can be made up for!" Bai Cailing clenched her fists, her spirits soaring.

hum~
The next moment, a cry rang out above the Spirit Crane Cave, and at the same time, a blood-red pill illuminated the void.

"The demon core is complete. Congratulations to Xiao Qi on advancing to the ranks of the third-tier great demon. Congratulations to Fairy Bai on acquiring a third-tier spirit pet!" Tong Liang praised, looking at the blood-red demon core reflected in the void.

"Thank you, Young Master Tong. My vital essence has increased by 30% compared to normal, which must be thanks to that Five Elements Fern Root." Bai Cailing was in a good mood and smiled gratefully at Tong Liang.

At this moment, the demon core reflected in the void by the spirit crane was rich in blood color. Although it was not particularly tight, it exceeded her expectations.

This has already surpassed the ranks of fake cores and become a true third-tier spirit beast, which can be called a third-tier great demon to outsiders.

"Boom!" Just then, the sky above the neighboring cave finally trembled, and two hazy clouds, one crimson and one emerald green, slowly rose into the sky.

"So big?" Bai Cailing and Tong Liang were both surprised to see the misty clouds above Guagua.

The two-colored mist above the Guagua Cave was more than three times larger than when the spirit crane had first merged with it half a month ago.

"No wonder it took so long to start the fusion of essence and blood! It turns out that the life essence and blood were stimulated to such an extent."

"This is the primordial essence extracted from the Three Shattered Demon Cores? It's three times more than Xiao Qi's!"

"It's fortunate that we have the Azure Blood Pill, otherwise ordinary demonic beasts, even those with Heavenly Rank bloodlines, would never be able to stimulate so much of their life essence!"

"At least the upstream demon core!"

Tong Liang's eyes held even deeper expectations!
Next, after the spirit crane successfully condensed its demon core and began to stabilize, Guagua began to fuse its essence and blood.

The steps are exactly the same as those of the Spirit Crane, but the efficiency of the fusion is incomparable to that of the Spirit Crane.

Just five days later, the crimson and emerald green completely merged, becoming a brown cloud.

Immediately afterwards, the five elements' spiritual pressure exerted its force, and under the immense pressure, the brown cloud began to compress extremely and rotate at high speed.

After the spirit crane's essence and blood merged, it quickly compressed on the same day, eventually becoming the downstream True Demon Core.

However, the process of Guagua lasted ten days longer than that of Linghe.

Over the course of ten days, the brown clouds visibly shrank, solidified, and began to overflow with impurities.

hum~
Ten days later, the brown cloud finally stabilized, becoming the same size as the crane had been, but with a bright and clear exterior and a shimmering light visible inside.

"The demon core is perfectly round and full, shimmering with light, and its demonic power can be seen flowing within it with the naked eye... It truly is an upstream demon core!" Bai Cailing exclaimed in disbelief.

Especially when compared to his own spirit crane, the blood-red demon core was far inferior in both appearance and substance!
"Great! There's really hope for a fourth-tier demon king!" Tong Liang clenched his fists and couldn't help but cheer.

His eyes seemed fixed on the demon core reflected in the void upstream.

It was as if his own spirit pet had advanced to a higher level.

As for Li Ji'an inside the cave, he waited until Guagua had finished condensing its core before immediately using his wood-elemental magic to heal himself.

At the crucial moment when Guagua was condensing his core, his spiritual pressure reached its limit, almost tearing his second-tier physique apart. However, in order not to affect Guagua, he endured it with his physical body.

"An upstream demon core! I underestimated this guy before."

With a sigh, Li Ji'an communicated with Guagua using his spiritual sense.

But then they saw that Guagua actually wanted to further refine the demon core and remove more impurities.

Unfortunately, the spiritual pressure had dissipated by now, the core condensation was complete, and its demon core was basically finalized.

"You've already done very well. You've not only far exceeded my expectations, but you've also broken through the limits of your talent. You should be content," Li Ji'an comforted him.

"Croak~" Upon hearing this, the croaking frog suddenly opened its eyes.

Li Ji'an even saw a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

"Whoosh~" Sensing the changes in the outside world, the little fire spirit hurriedly crawled out.

Sensing the demon core emanating from the frog's body, it was overjoyed and flew over in a flash.

Li Ji'an then saw the two little ones communicating with each other in their own unique way.

After being rejuvenated in his previous life, the two little ones were released into the deep mountains by Li Ji'an, and he only brought them back to his side after Li Ji'an achieved Foundation Establishment.

During this time, the two little ones practically depended on each other for survival in the wilderness.

Li Ji'an witnessed many times the scenes of them sharing life and death through the spirit pet contract.

Therefore, the relationship between the two little ones is now no less than that between them and their master, Li Ji'an.

"Hmm?" Just as Li Ji'an was feeling sentimental about the cross-species affection between the two little ones, he saw the little fire spirit suddenly burst into a burst of spiritual flames.

Immediately, the demon core that had just finished reflecting the void was slowly spat out of the frog's mouth again.

"Boom~" The next moment, the little fire spirit's flames surged to their limit, almost engulfing the entire cave. Then, a drop of golden liquid, hotter and more dazzling than magma, was forced out from the little fire spirit.

tick~
The drop of golden liquid fell directly onto Guagua's demon core.

With a hiss, just like strong oil meeting water, the entire cave erupted with a violent surge of magical power.

"The essence of the Holy Spirit of Fire!" Li Ji'an only realized this now, and he was immediately shocked.

At the same time, it sensed the dramatic change that occurred after the golden liquid was incorporated into the Frog Demon Core.

The demon core, which was already perfectly round and full, with its essence flowing within, began to spin rapidly again after being infused with the golden liquid. Moreover, as it spun, all the tiny impurities within it were burned away by the golden liquid...

"That's it! The spiritual flames of the Holy Spirit of Fire can burn away all things, and its original fire essence is naturally an unparalleled treasure from the beginning of heaven and earth. It can purify the impurities of the demon core with ease!" Li Ji'an suddenly realized and was overjoyed.

It can purify impurities in demon cores, so naturally it can also purify impurities in the magic cores of human cultivators!

hum~
In the blink of an eye, the golden droplets were completely absorbed by the Guagua Demon Core, and although the Guagua's original superior demon core had not changed in appearance, its interior was now as clear and transparent as glass.

Most importantly, at the very core of its demon core, Li Ji'an clearly saw a wisp of golden Daoist charm!
"Golden Core Dao Aura!" Li Ji'an was very familiar with this wisp of golden Dao aura in this life, because he was determined to seek the Golden Core, so he had read almost all the information about the Golden Core Dao aura, and he recognized it at a glance.

"The frog has actually formed a golden core!"

(End of this chapter)