There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 277 Will a single test reveal the truth?
Three days later, Zheng Qingtian came to Chen Qing's room and placed a storage ring on the table.

"Brother, everything you asked for is here." His voice was still loud, but a faint gloom hung over his brows, unlike his usual bold and unrestrained manner.

Chen Qing picked up the ring, scanned it with his divine sense, and saw that it contained various rare and precious materials, all brimming with spiritual energy and of excellent quality. He immediately cupped his hands in a respectful manner and said, "Brother Zheng, thank you very much!"

Zheng Qingtian waved his hand, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back and just sighed heavily.

Chen Qing took in his expression, put down the ring, and asked, "Brother, the value of our friendship lies in our mutual understanding. With your temperament, you have always been quick to settle scores and repay kindness. Why have you ever been so hesitant? If you have any difficulties, please speak freely. If I can help, I will not refuse."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qingtian frowned, lowered his head, and pondered for a moment. Then, he suddenly looked up and said in a deep voice, "Brother, to tell you the truth, it's about my physical body!" He pointed to his chest, "That day, after being looked at by that damned mirror, although you later broke the evil spell and restored my human form, ever since then, there has always been a restless force lingering within me. When my blood and qi circulate, I sometimes feel a sluggish and bloated sensation, as if... as if there is something truly shameful hidden deep within my blood!"

He took a deep breath and continued, "I interrogated that pig demon Jin Yuanzhao, and he confessed that the mirror was indeed mysterious, capable of forcibly altering appearances and defaming people. However, my two branch leaders, Wang and Li, did find out that my whereabouts were a mystery every year on the night of the full moon, and that I had some strange behavior. But in my own memory, I always went to bed early on the night of the full moon, and there was never anything unusual about me!"

At this point, his voice lowered: "Brother, I have been thinking about this and I am really uneasy. That mirror may be a trap, but... but my body, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it really isn't so clean."

After listening quietly, Chen Qingjing said, "Brother, you hesitated until now to speak, so you must have already guessed something, or even made a decision, right?"

Zheng Qingtian met his gaze, and after a moment, nodded and said, "Yes! I, Zheng Qingtian, am a man of integrity. Whether I am human or demon, I must find out! I have decided that once this matter is settled, I will lay down my worldly affairs in the gang and personally travel to the North to find out the origins of my origins! Whether I kill or punish, I must give an explanation to myself and to the brothers who follow me!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing was not surprised at all, but instead smiled: "Brother, you are a true hero for thinking this way! Even if you do have some foreign blood, it has become very diluted over time. Besides, everything you have done over the years has been for the sake of the people of Central Continent and for resisting foreign aggression. Have you ever been disloyal in the slightest? Would you really betray Northern Cold Continent because of some diluted bloodline that you yourself are not even sure about? Judging from your current appearance and past actions, I'm afraid that even if you went there, people might not recognize you."

Zheng Qingtian was stunned for a moment, then the pent-up emotions in his chest seemed to be blown away by a gentle breeze. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Hahaha! My brother is absolutely right! I was just being stubborn! Whether he's human or demon, I've done nothing wrong and have a clear conscience! We should investigate what needs to be investigated, but there's no need to belittle myself or add unnecessary trouble!"

He felt a surge of joy, all the gloom of the past few days vanished, and he laughed loudly, "Brother, your words have relieved my worries. Today, we must drink three hundred cups together!"

Chen Qing shook his head, pointed to the ring on the table, and said, "I can drink the wine after I form my Golden Core. I don't think it will be long."

Zheng Qingtian sensed his confidence and, in addition to admiration, felt a surge of pride: "Very well! Then I will await the good news and drink the celebratory wine for your golden elixir!"

After saying this, he clasped his hands in a salute, said no more, turned around and strode away, his steps now bearing the imposing gait of his former self.

Once everyone left, Chen Qing took the storage ring and poured his divine sense into it. Instantly, it shimmered with light, and rare medicinal herbs, spiritual minerals, and precious crystals flew out of the ring one after another, hovering in the air in front of him, filled with spiritual energy and intertwined with precious light.

Chen Qing flicked his finger, and a spark of blue light leaped out, growing larger in the wind and transforming into a blue flame the size of a human head—the very Qingqiu Strange Fire!
This fire is one of the foundations upon which he severed his physical form. Its essence is extremely high, it is not bound by his current realm, and it contains profound mysteries. It is very powerful and can be used to refine medicine.

With a slight thought, Chen Qing caused the fire to spread like a living thing, engulfing all the suspended resources.

"Chichi-"

Amidst the strange sounds, the spirit mineral crystals, harder than refined gold, softened and melted at a speed visible to the naked eye; various spirit herbs and immortal fungi rapidly extracted their essence, turning into drops of crystal-clear liquid.

In just a few breaths, all the medicinal herbs and provisions had liquefied, mixing into a head-sized, chaotic liquid that slowly spun in the blue flames, like a galaxy.

Chen Qing's hands flew, his ten fingers like butterflies flitting among flowers, and one after another, profound hand seals transformed into spiritual light, carrying his alchemy insights accumulated over several lifetimes, which he continuously injected into the chaotic spiritual liquid.

"Buzz!"

Stimulated by this, the spiritual liquid suddenly boiled, with ripples spreading across its surface, and within it, there were hidden images of dragons and tigers clashing and wind and thunder surging!
A few breaths later, even more rays of light shot out from within, illuminating the inside and outside of the house with dazzling brilliance!

A unique fragrance then spread, invigorating the spirit and making one's internal magical power seem more active.

In the corner, the servant Jun Zhibao, who was ordered to serve, was already dumbfounded. He felt that the scene in front of him was like a dream. When the strange fragrance entered his nose, he felt warm all over his body. Some obscure and difficult points in his cultivation were actually loosened. He was amazed and delighted.

Then, footsteps could be heard.

"What an astonishing phenomenon! What is Young Master refining?"

Mang Shou Tuo, Ling Jue, and Yun Shu Yue were all drawn by the exotic fragrance and rosy glow.

Mang Shoutuo took a deep breath, feeling his blood and qi become more active. He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Is this the secret Core Formation and Foundation Establishment Pill of the Hidden Star Sect? It can assist in Core Formation and improve one's cultivation? Just the pill's energy alone has such miraculous effects!"

Ling Jue and Yun Shuyue exchanged a glance, both seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

Immediately, Ling Jue smiled wryly and said, "Commander Mang is joking. Even if there are pill formulas in this world that can help one form the core, they are rare and hard to come by. They must be the secrets that those pill cultivators do not pass on! After all, if one could rely on pills to build up foundation and form the core, why would we need to cultivate so hard and seek opportunities?"

Despite this, the two of them, feeling the increasingly smooth flow of magical power within their bodies due to the strange fragrance, were also filled with astonishment and uncertainty, secretly pondering: "Uncle's actions are truly rare. Refining pills before forming the core is similar to the practices of the alchemy lineage, quite different from the traditions of Hidden Star. What exactly is being refined..."

Following this, Zheng Qingtian and the others who arrived upon hearing the news were also filled with surprise and uncertainty, completely baffled. For a time, everyone had their own guesses, but none of them could figure it out.

This is the difference between ancient and modern times.

Since the time when spiritual energy was abundant, the Immortal Dynasty has relied heavily on the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and personal enlightenment for cultivation. Foundation building and core formation are more often achieved naturally or with the help of spiritual veins and blessed lands. Even now that spiritual energy is declining and external objects are needed, the methods are mostly to gather spiritual energy through formations or to forcibly break through barriers with rare and precious materials. The success rate is often low and there are considerable hidden dangers.

In the present world where Chen Qing's original body resides, spiritual energy is extremely scarce. Without the help of highly refined elixirs, the path to enlightenment is almost cut off. As a result, generations of cultivators have sought answers in desperate situations, and have long since developed the formulas and methods for assisting in foundation building and core formation to a level of sophistication that is unimaginable to cultivators of an immortal dynasty.

It's not that the people of the Celestial Dynasty are stupid; it's just that they have never experienced such a spiritually desolate predicament, so this path is not in their minds.

Just as the group was filled with doubt, the chaotic spiritual liquid, under the tempering of the Qingqiu Fire and the guidance of Chen Qing's seal, became more and more condensed, and finally transformed into nine spiritual pills the size of dragon eyes, each with a different color but containing precious light, which spun around and around!

Instantly, all the strange phenomena subsided, leaving only a refreshing fragrance of elixir in the air.

Chen Qing opened his mouth and inhaled, and the nine spirit pills, like swallows returning to their nests, all disappeared into his stomach!

"boom!"

The pill melts instantly upon entering the stomach, unleashing a powerful medicinal force that surges forth like a river bursting its banks, cleansing every part of the body!

Chen Qing's aura instantly surged like a flaming fire, rising steadily, and a terrifying pressure far exceeding the Yin God level soared into the sky, tearing a hole in the clouds above the house!
"This is a sign of Core Formation?! It really happened so suddenly?!" Mang Shou Tuo was horrified and retreated repeatedly.

Ling Jue and Yun Shuyue were also shocked. They could feel that their martial uncle's aura was advancing at an incredible speed toward the realm that countless cultivators dreamed of!
On the street outside, and even further away, countless gazes, some bright and some dim, were cast toward the town of Xishui, toward the source of the erupting aura.

Since the sun rose high above the Kuchan Temple, Chen Qiu, the heir of the Marquis of Donghai and the true disciple of the Hidden Star, had already caught the attention of various forces. At this moment, his undisguised display of his Core Formation aura was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, leaving people in awe.

"To attempt to break through to the Golden Core stage in such a short time?"

"Such power is definitely not that of an ordinary Core Formation cultivator!"

"Could the pill he just refined be the key?"

The undercurrents surged suddenly.

Countless thoughts were stirred at this moment.

Two people had just met up on a deserted path outside the town.

One of them was Zhang San, the gray-robed man who had previously met Chen Qing.

Beside him stood a woman dressed in elaborate palace attire, her hair styled in a high bun, her face beautiful yet dignified, a crimson fire mark between her brows adding to her mystery and allure.

Zhang San frowned as he looked at the woman: "Just you alone? Consort Li, the Holy Emperor's awakening is a momentous event. How can you treat him with such disrespect? What kind of behavior is this?"

The woman, known as Consort Li, lazily straightened her sleeves and said casually, "I came as soon as I received your message. But if the Holy Emperor you mentioned is truly the reincarnation of that one, even if he is trapped by the mystery of the womb and his spirit is clouded, how could he be stuck in the mere Yin God realm? With a little opportunity, he should be able to form a Golden Core as naturally as water flowing into a channel. Even if he cannot ascend to heaven in one step, he should at least have the foundation of a fifth or sixth level Golden Core, right? But as far as I know, Chen Qiu has been stuck in the Yin God Perfection realm for quite some time. Such performance is rather unworthy of his name."

"Don't you believe my judgment?" Zhang San's face darkened. "Once you see it for yourself, you'll know I'm telling the truth! Enough with the small talk, did you bring the item for awakening the spirit?"

"I brought it." Consort Li flipped her hand and took out a round pearl the size of a longan with a faint starlight flowing through it. Her tone was still perfunctory. "Where is he? He may be in the town ahead. Go there quickly and you'll know if it's true or not. This will help you give up your unrealistic thoughts sooner."

"Hmph." Seeing her attitude, Zhang San felt a surge of resentment in his chest and sneered, "I know what you're thinking. The Holy Emperor's legacy is vast and powerful, and you've each taken it for yourself, treating it as your own. Therefore, you have no desire for the Holy Emperor's return! But let me make this clear: no matter how much you scheme, you can't stop the tide!"

Consort Li frowned slightly and retorted, "Don't talk nonsense! We are all loyal and devoted, how could we have any disloyal intentions! Besides, I was born for the Holy Emperor, and my virgin yin has been nurtured for three hundred years! It is you who are too ambitious and single-mindedly want to re-rank us..."

"boom!"

Just then, from the direction of Xishui Town, a pillar of energy shot into the sky, stirring up the wind and clouds and drawing in spiritual energy from all directions like rivers flowing into the sea, pouring outwards!

The clouds swirled in the sky, forming a huge vortex of spiritual energy. Thunder rumbled faintly from the center of the vortex, and an overwhelming pressure descended!
Zhang San suddenly turned his head and looked at the source of the strange phenomenon, his eyes flashing with a sharp light!
Consort Li's body trembled violently, her languid and casual expression vanished without a trace. She suddenly looked up, the flame pattern between her brows flickering brightly, her beautiful eyes wide open: "The Qi is drawing upon the celestial phenomena, this is an omen of the ultimate Golden Core!"

As she spoke, she no longer cared about arguing with Zhang San. She transformed into a streak of crimson light and rushed headlong toward Xishui Town!

"This woman is truly fickle!" Seeing her sudden change in attitude and her rushing away, Zhang San snorted coldly and immediately used his movement technique to follow closely behind.

(End of this chapter)