Immortality and cultivation: Heaven rewards diligence, and success is inevitable.

Jiang Shi focused his mind into his dantian, where he saw the five-colored golden pill slowly rotating.

Compared to before entering the secret realm, the golden core was much brighter, and the five colors were more distinct.

The surface of the golden pill has a faint halo, like the morning sun shining on the water.

The Five Elements Wheel floated beside the Golden Elixir.

The roulette wheel kept spinning, and with each rotation, a halo of light radiated outwards.

Whenever the halo passes over the golden core, the golden core will light up briefly and then dim, just like it is breathing.

The seed had already sunk deep into the sea of ​​consciousness, merging with Jiang Shi's spiritual consciousness.

His insights into the Five Elements were still in his mind, like an open book, with each page clearly written.

Every moment, Jiang Shi is given more and more practice.

The mid-stage of the Golden Core realm is just around the corner.

Jiang Shi felt that he would definitely be able to break through this time.

Jiang Shi used the "Five Elements Returning to Origin Technique" to draw true essence from the golden elixir and inject it into the Five Elements Wheel.

The wheel spun faster, and five-colored rays of light shone from it, illuminating the golden elixir.

The golden core began to resonate, and the two kinds of five-colored light intertwined, forming a rotating halo in the dantian.

He guided the halo upwards along the meridians, bursting out of the dantian, refining his own golden core.

Time passed, and the sky outside the cave changed from black to white, and then from white to black.

Fang Jiuyue sat at the door, turning the pages of her book one after another, occasionally glancing up at the stone gate before looking down again.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter, Fang Jiuyue always waited quietly at the entrance of Jiangshi.

And just like that, a year passed.

One year later.

While Jiang Shi was in seclusion, a major event occurred in Zhongzhou.

Dragons meet in the pool.

The news came from the Long family. The Long family and the Chen family jointly issued a call to arms, inviting all contemporary Golden Core cultivators in the Central Continent to spar and fight at Falling Star Pool.

The prize is a high-grade, third-rank exotic flame called the Golden Lotus Heart Flame.

This fire is extracted from the earth's core lava and nurtured for decades. It can be refined into the body to enhance fire-type supernatural abilities, can be used to refine any pill below the fourth grade, and can be used to temper spiritual weapons to upgrade their grade.

For cultivators at the Golden Core stage, this is a coveted treasure.

But everyone knows that the strange fire is just the trigger.

The real protagonist is Chen Xuanji.

The Chen family's number one genius of the current generation, the inheritor of the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual, has now cultivated to the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

Three years ago, he single-handedly killed four late-stage Golden Core demonic beasts in the southern border region, demonstrating his terrifying strength.

There were long-standing rumors in Zhongzhou that, apart from a few prodigies, Chen Xuanji was the number one Golden Core cultivator of this generation.

He wants to use this dragon gathering to prove this point.

As the host family, the Long family had been on good terms with the Chen family for many years, so they naturally cooperated fully.

Falling Star Pool was originally within the Long family's sphere of influence, surrounded by mountains on all sides, and had a natural stone platform in the pool, which was perfect for a battle.

Elder Long Yuanhai of the Long family personally presided over the meeting, while members of the Long family maintained order.

This news spread throughout the Central Continent, and various families, independent cultivators, and small forces responded one after another.

The Fang family naturally received an invitation as well.

Inside the Fang family's council hall, key members of the Fang family sat on either side of a long table.

Fang Zhenyue sat in the main seat, holding the gold-embossed invitation in his hand, his face solemn.

The invitation clearly states that the Fang family may send participants, with no limit on the list or cultivation level, and participants are responsible for their own safety.

"This is for us." Fang Zhenyue placed the invitation on the table.

"The Chen family and the Long family have been on good terms for generations. This time, the Long Gathering is being held on the Long family's territory, with Chen Xuanji defending his title. They have invited people from all directions, but they put our Fang family at the very top of the invitation. This is a public slap in the face for us."

Fang Tianxing sat in the first seat on the left, his face calm and his aura restrained.

He is the number one young talent in the Fang family, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, and a first-grade lower-level Five Elements Golden Core cultivator.

Of the entire Fang family in this generation, only he could rival Chen Xuanji.

"I will handle this battle," Fang Tianxing said, his voice not loud, but unusually calm.

Fang Han sat next to him; he was a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator and Fang Jiuyue's cousin.

He was impatient, so he slammed his hand on the table and shouted, "If Tianxing goes, I'll go too! We can't let people look down on the Fang family!"

Fang Lin sat at the very end, a peak early-stage Golden Core cultivator and a rising star of the Fang family.

He was young and impetuous, so he nodded and said, "I'll go too."

Fang Zhenyue glanced at the three of them but did not immediately agree.

"Chen Xuanji has mastered the fourth tribulation of the Nine Tribulations Secret Manual, the Wind and Thunder Incarnation. He revealed this himself; it's not a secret. What he wants is for someone to challenge him so he can demonstrate this supernatural power in public." Fang Zhenyue paused.

"Tianxing, what are your chances of winning against him?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Tianxing remained silent for a moment, then said with a serious expression, "If it were only the first three tribulations, I could handle them, but this fourth tribulation... I'm not confident."

"How much are you unsure about?"

"Thirty percent."

The council chamber fell silent. A 30% chance meant a high probability of defeat, and a defeat in front of hundreds of their peers from Central Continent.

This is exactly what the Chen family wants. Jiang Shi killed a Chen family disciple in the street before, which made the Chen family lose face.

The Chen family's actions now are a form of revenge!

Moreover, it's an open conspiracy. I've already told you that my Chen family's genius has mastered the ninth tribulation of the Chen family's ultimate technique, the "Nine Tribulations Secret Manual." If you're so capable, then come and deal with it!

"Whether we win or lose, we must fight!"

Fang Zhenyue stood up: "It's settled then. Tianxing, Fang Han, and Fang Lin will participate. They will depart for Luoxingtan in seven days."

Seven days later, the Fang family set off.

Fang Zhenyue led the team, with Fang Tianxing and the other two fully prepared to set off. Fang Jiuyue and Jiang Shi did not come; the stone door to the cave was still closed, and he was still in seclusion.

Fang Zhenyue led them to the family's teleportation array, where the array's light engulfed them.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already on the Long family's territory.

This Falling Star Pool is larger than rumored.

The pool is as wide as a lake, surrounded by green mountains on all sides. A viewing platform was built on the top of the mountain, paved with spirit wood, and can accommodate hundreds of people.

In the center of the pool is a natural stone platform, thirty feet in circumference, flat as a mirror, which serves as an arena for magical duels.

The Long family's flag fluttered atop the mountain—a golden dragon, its claws outstretched, was embroidered on a deep blue background.

The Chen family's banner was also hung in a prominent place, alongside the Long family's banner.

The Fang family's flag was hung on the far side.

The flagpole was shorter, and the flag was smaller than the one next to it.

Fang Han's face turned ashen upon seeing this, while Fang Lin clenched his fists.

"They did this on purpose," Fang Han said in a low voice.

Fang Tianxing remained expressionless, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

At the Fang family's table, the tea was cold.

The servant brought over a teapot with a chipped spout, put it down, and left in a hurry without even offering a greeting.

Fang Tianxing picked up the teapot, glanced at it, but didn't pour any tea. He put the teapot back on the table.

"The Chen family has set up a trap! They're completely disregarding the Fang family!" The Fang family disciples below were all furious!

Just as the Fang family members were about to speak up and ask questions, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator descended from the sky and landed in front of everyone.