Mortal: Li Feiyu, who came from the realm of a supreme being

Having already formed his core once, forming it a second time posed no significant difficulty or bottleneck for Li Feiyu.

After months of seclusion and accumulating enough, it was only natural that he would condense his golden elixir.

Just as he had thought, the bottlenecks in the cultivation system of the mortal world were far too simple. Most bottlenecks could be overcome with resources or external aids, making it a rather gentle system in that respect.

However, the commotion he caused when he formed his golden core was a little too big—he had a metal-type celestial spiritual root and cultivated an ancient technique. When his golden core was formed, a faint golden light descended from the sky above the sixty-ninth floor, lasting for a full hour.

Fortunately, it was above the fiftieth floor of the sacred mountain, so no cultivator dared to come up and disturb them.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Li, on successfully forming your Golden Core. You can now go down the mountain to explore."

Ling Yuling was the only one who came to offer her congratulations. She stood at the entrance of the main hall, her tone as usual, but her eyes were somewhat unfocused, and there seemed to be an unreadable meaning in them.

Li Feiyu laughed and said, "Not at all, Senior Brother Ling must be close to forming his core as well."

"I still lack the necessary experience; I can't compare to Junior Brother Li." Ling Yuling shook her head and walked into the main hall.

The two chatted about cultivation for a while, and the atmosphere was no different from usual. However, Li Feiyu noticed that she seemed a little absent-minded when she spoke today, occasionally glancing at him before quickly looking away.

After saying a few more words, Ling Yuling suddenly fell silent.

Just as Li Feiyu was about to speak, she saw her raise her hand, loosen her hair, and remove her jade crown.

Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. Her eyebrows resembled distant mountains, her eyes were like autumn waters, and her skin was like solidified cream; she possessed an indescribable, pure, and otherworldly beauty.

Li Feiyu was momentarily lost in thought.

It's not that I've never seen a beautiful woman before, it's just that this sudden change caught me completely off guard.

Ling Yuling felt a little embarrassed by his gaze, turned her head slightly, and said softly, "Junior Brother, are you looking at me like that because you think there's something wrong with my attire?"

Li Feiyu snapped out of her daze and quickly said seriously, "I wouldn't dare. It's just... Senior Sister is so beautiful, I lost my composure for a moment, and I was rude."

"Senior Sister?" Ling Yuling caught the address and the corners of her mouth curled up slightly. "You're quick to change your address."

Li Feiyu smiled but didn't reply.

Ling Yuling looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then suddenly said, "Stop teasing me. We've known each other for decades, Junior Brother, you probably already figured it out, right? Are you pretending not to know to play along with me?"

Li Feiyu said frankly, "It's just basic courtesy. If Senior Sister wanted to be treated as a woman, she wouldn't dress as a man."

Ling Yuling was slightly taken aback, then chuckled softly, "You've thought things through quite well."

She walked to the window, gazed at the sea of ​​clouds outside, and whispered, "So, you've guessed my identity, haven't you?"

Li Feiyu looked at her retreating figure and said sincerely, "It's because of Senior Sister's trust that I've never deliberately hidden anything."

Ling Yuling turned around, glanced at him, and a complex look flashed in her eyes.

"My parents asked me to ask you," she paused, "whether you need to choose another cultivation method? The Three Eternal Radiance Technique only goes up to the Core Formation stage. As for the rest, you'll probably have to figure it out yourself."

Li Feiyu shook his head: "No need. I already have a clue about the cultivation method for the Nascent Soul stage. It's just that before I reached the Core Formation stage, there was a gap of one realm in between, so I couldn't accurately predict the subsequent steps. Now that the Golden Core has been formed, the rest will fall into place naturally."

Ling Yuling looked at him, her gaze carrying something indescribable.

"Then...you should go into seclusion and cultivate well," she said softly. "I'll head back now."

She tied her hair back up, but no longer deliberately emphasized those heroic lines. She simply styled it into a man's bun before turning and leaving.

As she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and asked without turning her head:

"Junior brother, do you think... I look good like this?"

Li Feiyu gazed at her retreating figure and said earnestly, "Beautiful."

Ling Yuling didn't say anything more and walked out.

……

In the following days, Li Feiyu visited Elder Ma and Elder Jin Kui.

Elder Ma was very pleased to see that he had successfully formed his core. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "Good lad, you haven't disgraced me. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me."

Jin Kui became even more serious, asking him some questions about cultivation, offering a few words of encouragement, and finally saying meaningfully, "Cultivate diligently, and your destiny will surely come in the future."

Li Feiyu thanked them one by one, returned to the main hall, and began his seclusion.

More than a year later, he opened his eyes and found a jade slip in his hand.

The Nascent Soul chapter of the "Three Eternal Radiance Techniques" is complete.

……

At the highest point of the sacred mountain, there is an observatory.

Li Feiyu stepped onto the luminous steps once more, feeling more composed than the first time.

"Disciple Li Feiyu pays respects to the Two Saints."

Ling Xiaofeng's voice rang out first, tinged with satisfaction: "Profound magical power, solid foundation, very good."

Wen Qing then asked directly, "Have you figured out what the next cultivation method will be?"

Li Feiyu took out two jade slips and presented them with both hands: "This disciple is fortunate to have completed the deduction of the Nascent Soul chapter of the 'Three Eternal Radiance Technique'. In addition, the Core Formation version of the Soul Coffin Secret Technique has also been perfected. Please take a look, Your Excellencies."

Two divine senses probed in simultaneously.

A moment later, an eerie silence fell over the observatory.

"...More than a year?" Ling Xiaofeng's voice was a little dry. "You deduced the Nascent Soul stage in just over a year?"

Li Feiyu frankly replied, "Your Majesty, I have actually had this idea for a while. The theory is a continuation, but I dare not make any rash judgments before reaching that level. After forming the core, I will deduce based on my own actual situation, and then it will be a natural progression. If the difference in realm is too great, even if the general direction is correct, there may be many risks that are difficult to detect."

Wen Qing stared at the jade slip, remaining silent for a long time.

This can no longer be explained by genius.

Ling Xiaofeng suddenly laughed, a hint of smugness in his voice: "We've already spread the Soul Coffin Technique. The demonic path has a lot of complaints about it. Ha, at least we've given the scum of both the righteous and demonic paths something to do."

Li Feiyu bowed slightly: "It is my honor to be able to share the burden of the Star Palace."

Ling Xiaofeng nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: "What exactly do you think of Ling'er?"

Li Feiyu had already anticipated this, but he couldn't help but pause slightly at this moment.

He knew this day would come. From the moment the two saints asked Ling Yuling about her impression of him, he vaguely guessed that the two saints were trying to set him up with Ling Yuling.

This is not in line with his usual way of doing things.

But with the two saints in front of him, he couldn't possibly say something like "the administration has already been established." That would not only be foolish, but also dangerous.

He could only suppress all his emotions and force a perfectly measured sincerity onto his face: "Your Majesty, Senior Sister Ling is sincere and kind-hearted. This disciple... respects and cherishes her."

Wen Qing looked at him, her gaze seemingly piercing through everything: "Just respect?"

Li Feiyu paused, then said softly, "I have known my senior sister for nearly fifty years, spending every day with her and sharing joys and sorrows. To say I have no feelings for her would be self-deception. It's just that I come from humble origins and dare not presume to presume upon her. My senior sister has treated me with sincerity, so I will treat her with sincerity in return. That's all."

Wen Qing and Ling Xiaofeng exchanged a glance, a hint of satisfaction flashing in their eyes.

"Given the current situation, it's not advisable to make your relationship with Ling'er public," Wen Qing said. "But some things, those that should be given, still need to be given."

She raised her hand, and two beams of light fell into Li Feiyu's hand.

A jade slip, a scroll of silk.

"This is a secret method for dual cultivation within the Star Palace," Wen Qing said. "You and Ling'er can use this to complement each other in your future cultivation."

She paused, then spoke with a more serious tone: "As for the other cultivation technique, take a look and share your thoughts."

Li Feiyu took it and probed the jade slip with his divine sense.

The next moment, his heart pounded wildly.

Primordial Magnetic Divine Light.

He spent decades laying the groundwork, offering up the soul coffin, demonstrating the Five Elements theory, and even painstakingly crafting a persona of unparalleled talent, all to lure the two saints into his trap.

He carefully read through the contents of the "Primordial Magnetic Divine Light" cultivation technique, his brow furrowing slightly. He suddenly said, "Holy Venerable One, this technique... to achieve mastery, it seems one needs five elemental spiritual roots? Why wasn't this mentioned at all in the beginning?"

On the observatory, the atmosphere suddenly froze.

"...You understood the constraints just by looking at the cultivation technique?" Ling Xiaofeng's voice was filled with disbelief.

Wen Qing asked more urgently, "Are you sure that achieving the final stage requires five spiritual roots?"

Li Feiyu steadied himself and carefully said, "This technique has the effect of overcoming all five elements in the world; it should be the legendary 'Primordial Magnetic Divine Light.' From its description, I understand that the power of the five elements gathers within the body. Without the corresponding spiritual root to regulate it, there is a risk of the body exploding..."

"What is your basis for saying that?"

Li Feiyu pondered and said, "As long as I look at the cultivation method, I can roughly understand the difficulties and expected effects. This is why I dared to start revising the unreasonable parts of the 'Three Eternal Radiance Technique'. As for the 'Primordial Magnetic Divine Light', it should be a cultivation method for those above the Nascent Soul stage. To be honest, with my current knowledge, I cannot make an accurate judgment. It is only because I have studied the Five Elements theory a little in recent years that I have made this deduction."

silence.

A long silence.

After a long silence, Ling Xiaofeng's voice rang out, carrying a complex emotion: "Now that your relationship with Ling'er is settled, we are family. I won't hide this from you."

He paused, then continued, "For the past few hundred years, the two of us have been trapped by this 'Primordial Magnetic Divine Light.' In your opinion, could you resolve this using your Five Elements Transformation Method?"

Li Feiyu remained silent for a long while before smiling bitterly, "The Five Elements Transformation Method is only theoretically feasible. But whether it's due to insufficient cultivation or other reasons, I've tried it many times after forming my core, but I've never been able to get it right. Especially when it comes to transforming metal into wood, there's absolutely no reaction. Moreover, as for cultivation techniques above the Nascent Soul stage, my cultivation is insufficient; I don't have a true Nascent Soul, so I can't make accurate judgments."

He took a deep breath, as if making a decision, raised his head, and looked at him calmly:

"The trapping of the two Saints is the most important matter for the Star Palace. Please allow me to enter seclusion for the next hundred years to attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. Once I have achieved this, I will return to find a way to break this predicament for you both!"

These words brought silence to the observatory once again.

Two pairs of eyes were fixed on him and lingered for a long time.

Wen Qing and Ling Xiaofeng exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

He secluded himself for a century, attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

These words, spoken by a young man who had just formed his core, would have been considered arrogant by most. But coming from Li Feiyu…

They actually thought it was believable.

After a long silence, Wen Qing said softly, "You... are a good child."

Ling Xiaofeng nodded, his tone now carrying an unprecedented seriousness: "Approved..."

"However," Wen Qing suddenly interrupted her husband, "there's no rush for the seclusion. Let's spend more time with Ling'er first."

"Madam is right, your matter with Ling'er is the most important thing."

Li Feiyu bowed deeply: "Yes."

Starlight shone down, illuminating his departing figure.

On the Yuan Magnetic Divine Mountain, Ling Xiaofeng watched the figure disappear into the sea of ​​clouds and said softly, "Why did you interrupt me, Madam?"

Wen Qing was silent for a moment, then asked, "Do you think he can solve this problem after entering the Nascent Soul stage?"

"I don't know. But at least, he's the first person in hundreds of years to give us hope."

Wen Qing nodded, but then changed the subject: "However, even if he succeeds in a hundred years, we will waste a hundred years of our lifespan. Husband, we don't have much time left. Even if Fei Yu can solve the problem, he will need time, and we also need time to cultivate."

"This..." Ling Xiaofeng vaguely understood her meaning, "Will it work?"

"I don't know either, but he cultivated for fifty years and formed his core. As fellow Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivators, such speed surpasses what you and I did back then. It's definitely worth the gamble."

Ling Xiaofeng remained silent for a moment before saying, "Then let's do as Madam wishes. However, to do this, we still need to place a restriction."

The sea of ​​clouds surged, and the starlight flowed.

The summit of the sacred mountain fell silent once more.