He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

The vortex of spiritual energy above Qinglan Peak, like a giant eye hanging from the sky, swirled for a full day and night before gradually losing its suction and slowly dissipating into the horizon. As the torrent of spiritual energy receded, the spiritual energy of the Huashan Secret Realm returned to stability. Only the spiritual energy around Qinglan Peak remained astonishingly dense. Nourished by the spiritual energy, the vegetation grew wildly, its branches becoming thicker and its petals more vibrant. The entire mountain exuded a lively and energetic aura.

Inside the secluded cultivation room, the golden light had long since faded. Zhang Bufan sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes slightly closed. His aura was calm and refined, no longer exhibiting the previous violent fluctuations, but instead exuding an unfathomable sense of weight—his physical body reconstruction was complete, and he was currently in the stabilization phase of the early stage of Core Formation. Looking inward at his dantian, Zhang Bufan was filled with shock. Originally three meters in diameter, his dantian had expanded to thirty meters during the Core Formation process by spiritual energy and the power of the Golden Core, becoming as vast as a small world.

In the center of his dantian, the golden core, thirty centimeters in diameter, floated silently. Its radiance had been subdued, with only faint golden patterns flowing across its surface, like a miniature version of the blazing sun. As it slowly rotated, it emanated a vast yet gentle spiritual power. This spiritual power was no longer the liquid spiritual liquid of the Foundation Establishment stage, but the solidified power of the golden core, refined to its extreme. With just a thought from Zhang Bufan, the golden core would hum and tremble, instantly unleashing earth-shattering spiritual power that surged through his meridians throughout his body, responding to his every command.

He slowly raised his hand, a wisp of golden spiritual energy swirling around his fingertips. The energy was as condensed as silk, resilient yet agile. Looking down at himself, his skin had become warm and smooth as jade, radiating a faint glow. Its texture was far more delicate than that of a newborn infant, and even the subtle meridian imprints left from his past cultivation had vanished without a trace. This was the result of the Golden Core power and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth jointly reshaping his physical body. Every cell had been thoroughly infused and transformed by the spiritual energy, brimming with vibrant life force, and his physical strength had also surged, far exceeding the limits of his Foundation Establishment stage.

What delighted him even more was the leap in lifespan. Foundation Establishment cultivators typically live to be between two and three hundred years old, and even with the nourishment of spiritual objects, they rarely exceed three hundred and fifty. Core Formation cultivators, however, have their lifespans soar to over five hundred years, and if they can steadily advance to the mid or late Core Formation stage, their lifespans can be further extended. Feeling the abundant vitality flowing within his body, Zhang Bufan felt a sudden sense of clarity—he had finally broken free from the shackles of a short lifespan, and now had ample time to cultivate deeply on the path of immortality, to explore the mysteries of the Xuanqing inheritance, and to protect those around him for a long and peaceful life.

The most significant changes were the leap in both total spiritual energy and combat power. Zhang Bufan silently sensed that the total amount of spiritual energy contained within his body was now more than a hundred times greater than when he was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. Moreover, the quality of the spiritual energy had also undergone a dramatic change—the power of the Golden Core was refined and pure, with explosive power and endurance far exceeding that of liquid spiritual liquid. When activating cultivation techniques and casting spells, both the power and speed had been qualitatively improved.

He silently compared the two stages: the transformation of spiritual energy into liquid from the Qi Refining stage to the Foundation Establishment stage was ultimately just an accumulation of quantity; the difference in realm was not insurmountable. A Qi Refining cultivator with extraordinary talent, relying on exquisite techniques and a powerful physique, might not be unable to contend with or even defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the early stages. However, the transformation of spiritual liquid into a core from the Foundation Establishment stage was a true qualitative leap, not only a change in energy form but also an upgrade in the level of life and the essence of energy. After this leap, even the most ordinary early Core Formation cultivator could easily crush any Foundation Establishment genius with the power of their Golden Core; the two were simply not on the same level.

Thinking of this, Zhang Bufan couldn't help but recall his close interaction with Liu Yan'er, a mixture of relief and lingering fear appearing on his face. It turned out that Liu Yan'er had already shown him mercy back then, probably not even using a tenth of her strength. Otherwise, with the absolute suppression of the Foundation Establishment stage by the Core Formation stage, he wouldn't have lasted more than a few minutes, let alone a day. He would likely have been crushed beyond recognition by the power of the Golden Core within minutes. "This senior sister really did hold back," Zhang Bufan chuckled softly, the embarrassment of being suppressed gradually dissipating, replaced by a growing anticipation for another duel with Liu Yan'er.

Beyond the transformation of his physical body and spiritual power, the enhancement of his soul far exceeded expectations. During the Core Formation process, the light of the Golden Core not only reshaped his physical body but also nourished and reshaped his soul, greatly strengthening it. Zhang Bufan attempted to activate his spiritual domain, feeling his divine sense spread out like a tide, instantly covering a radius of three hundred kilometers—a breadth that almost encompassed the entire Huashan Secret Realm. The movements of the various peaks within the secret realm, the cultivation status of the disciples, and even the bustling city of Anhe in the distance, were all clearly discernible in his divine sense.

This is more than ten times larger than the range of his spiritual domain when he reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. The powerful divine soul not only makes his perception far superior to before, but also allows him to accurately control every detail when refining pills and fighting enemies. When casting spells, his will and spiritual power are in sync, making the power even greater.

Zhang Bufan slowly opened his eyes, a flash of golden light appearing briefly before returning to calm. He slowly rose, stretching his limbs; his bones cracked slightly, each movement exuding lightness and power, as if he could single-handedly shake mountains. He could clearly feel every change in his body, precisely controlling the immense power of his Golden Core. This transformative experience filled him with confidence.

He waved his hand, and the stone door to the secluded cultivation chamber slowly opened, letting in blinding sunlight that made him squint slightly. Outside, Yue Ling'er, Ye Qingxue, and Liu Yan'er had been waiting for a long time, their faces full of anticipation. Seeing him emerge, their eyes lit up with joy. Yue Ling'er stepped forward first, looking him up and down, exclaiming, "Husband, you succeeded! Your aura is so strong!"

Liu Yan'er stepped forward slowly, her charming eyes filled with approval and teasing. Her tone was slightly mocking: "Junior Brother has finally caught up with Senior Sister. You're a Core Formation cultivator now. How about another match?" Zhang Bufan looked at Liu Yan'er, a confident smile playing on his lips. His tone was firm: "If Senior Sister is in such a good mood, Junior Brother will naturally oblige. But this time, the outcome may be uncertain."

At this moment, Yue Buwei and several Supreme Elders descended slowly from the sky. Yue Buwei looked at Zhang Bufan with eyes full of satisfaction and excitement, and laughed loudly, "Good! Good! Good! Bufan, you have indeed not disappointed the sect! To have such a foundation at the early stage of Core Formation, your future is promising!" Several Supreme Elders also nodded, their gazes towards Zhang Bufan full of importance—the Immortal Sword Sect has finally gained another top-tier combatant.

Zhang Bufan bowed respectfully to Yue Buwei and the others, his heart filled with gratitude: "Thank you, Master and all the elders, for protecting me. If it weren't for the sect's protection, I wouldn't have been able to successfully form my core." Yue Buwei waved his hand and smiled: "This is all due to your own good fortune and hard work. The sect only did what it should have done. Now that you have formed your core, you will be a core pillar of our Immortal Sword Sect. Focus on consolidating your cultivation; the sect will rely on you in the future."

Sunlight streamed into the courtyard of Qinglan Peak, warm and bright. Zhang Bufan stood between the three women and the sect's high-ranking members, feeling the immense power of his Golden Core within him. Gazing at those he cared about beside him, his heart was filled with peace and determination. The formation of his Golden Core was merely a new beginning. From now on, he would use his increased strength to protect Qinglan Peak and the Immortal Sword Sect, forging his own path on the stage of the Pangu Immortal Cultivation World.