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Chapter 111 Core Formation Spiritual Ground (Please Subscribe)

After pondering for a long time, Xu Zhou finally decided to go and see Luo Lingxiao.

Now that he has established his foundation and is also cultivating both alchemy and array formation, it is certainly not wrong for him to continue his secluded cultivation. However, it would still be somewhat inappropriate for him to be completely ignorant about the matter of core formation.

a few days later.

Xu Zhou visited the Luo family residence.

Upon hearing that he had come to visit, Luo Lingxiao personally went out to greet him.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Xu Zhou didn't beat around the bush and went straight to asking about matters related to Core Formation.

Upon hearing this, Luo Lingxiao was slightly taken aback.

"Fellow Daoist Xu has only just established his foundation, yet he's already considering forming his core?"

His tone wasn't sarcastic; it was more of a surprise.

After all, most Foundation Establishment cultivators only start to consider Core Formation when their cultivation reaches the mid-to-late stage of Foundation Establishment and they have accumulated sufficient foundation.

It's rare to see someone like Xu Zhou, who makes plans so early on, even though he's only recently entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

Xu Zhou calmly said, "It's always better to know something in advance than to be completely unprepared later."

Upon hearing this, Luo Lingxiao couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "You're so good at planning ahead; no wonder Fellow Daoist Xu has come this far."

After a moment's thought, he spoke again: "However, I actually don't know much about the matter of Core Formation."

Although I possess mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, I will likely never achieve Core Formation in this lifetime. My understanding of this aspect is only superficial.

At this point, his expression remained relatively calm.

In the cultivation world, most Foundation Establishment cultivators are actually aware of their own potential.

Reaching the Foundation Establishment stage is already considered a stroke of luck. With a lifespan a hundred years longer than ordinary people and no significant danger to one's strength, it's the perfect time to manage the family and enjoy life in peace.

As for Core Formation, it's more like a legend to the vast majority of cultivators.

Xu Zhou simply said, "What does Fellow Daoist Luo know? Perhaps you could enlighten me a little?"

Luo Lingxiao said helplessly, "Actually, if Fellow Daoist Xu really wants to understand the Core Formation, it would be better to ask the fellow Daoists and seniors of the Golden Flame Sect."

Among independent cultivators, few are capable of forming their core. In fact, to my knowledge, in the past few years, I have never heard of any independent cultivator in the Mu Kingdom successfully forming their core on their own.

In the Mu Kingdom, only the predecessors of the Golden Flame Sect possessed the Core Formation cultivation skills. Moreover, it often took decades or even centuries for just one person to succeed.

Xu Zhou seemed to be deep in thought.

According to his calculations, although the years required for Foundation Establishment cultivation are long, as long as the supply of pills is sufficient and the spiritual root and cultivation technique are not bad, there is a considerable probability that one can cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment before the end of one's lifespan.

Foundation Establishment cultivators have their Qi and blood locked in place, so the loss of lifespan has little impact on their condition. Even if they only have one or two decades left to live, their attempts to form a core are still similar to their peak condition.

As a result, in their later years, Foundation Establishment cultivators would always try to form their core in order to prolong their lives.

Even if the success rate is low, surely no rogue cultivators should have failed to form their core?

He asked, "Could there be other secrets to Core Formation?"

"I don't know much about such things."

Luo Lingxiao shook his head and then said, "I've only heard rumors that Core Formation is different from Foundation Establishment, and that one can successfully form a Core simply by accumulating cultivation."

But I really know very little about the specifics.

If you truly wish to understand, it would be best to consult the seniors of the Golden Flame Sect.

Xu Zhou nodded slightly.

After a brief chat, Xu Zhou got up to say goodbye.

Xu Zhou did inquire about the sect.

However, he didn't know who to ask about information regarding Core Formation.

Both Song Rou and he were still in the early stages of Foundation Establishment and knew very little about this. For questions related to Core Formation, it was best to ask someone who actually had expertise in the subject.

The only person he was familiar with and who most likely knew about the relevant information was Gu Huayin.

But considering the tone of the other party's previous letter, Xu Zhou thought for a moment and decided to give up asking.

However, it's not like he really had no one to turn to.

a few days later.

In the Drunken Immortal Abode.

Xu Zhou and Cui Donglin remained seated by the window.

In recent months, the two have been exchanging their insights on formations here every month, and they have gradually become quite familiar with each other.

During the conversation, Xu Zhou suddenly asked casually, "Fellow Daoist Cui is very knowledgeable and must have met quite a few Core Formation Realm cultivators."

Xu was curious for a moment: what exactly was the process of Core Formation, and what was the difference between a Core Formation cultivator and a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Upon hearing this, Cui Donglin did not show any unusual expression.

In the Mu Kingdom, the matter of Core Formation might be mysterious. But for Cui Donglin, who travels far and wide, it's hardly a secret.

After a moment's thought, he slowly said, "The danger of forming the core is far greater than that of establishing the foundation."

Foundation Establishment is merely a matter of self-cultivation. As long as one accumulates enough resources and doesn't suffer any serious injuries, almost anyone can achieve Foundation Establishment; it's not difficult at all.

Xu Zhou sighed inwardly.

In the Kingdom of Mu, establishing a foundation is extremely difficult. It took me sixty-five years of accumulation to succeed, yet the other side described it as something anyone could do.

He didn't say anything and continued listening to Cui Donglin's story.

"The so-called Core Formation is essentially the process by which a cultivator condenses the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to form a true essence golden core within their body. The deeper one's cultivation, the more spiritual energy one can absorb, and naturally, the higher the quality of the final core will be."

However, the total amount of spiritual energy a cultivator condenses during the Core Formation stage is extremely high; it's not something that can be done just anywhere.

Xu Zhou seemed to be deep in thought.

He understood what the other party meant. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator were to fully absorb spiritual energy, they could easily deplete the surrounding spiritual energy, and it would take some time to recover.

Core formation is another major transformation process for cultivators, and the speed at which they absorb and exhale spiritual energy will only become more terrifying.

He then said, "In that case, I understand why the inheritance of array formations is so precious."

For cultivators aiming to form their core, a high-level spirit-gathering array is practically indispensable; no wonder major powers all want to cultivate their own array masters.

Cui Donglin gave a strange smile and then said, "Fellow Daoist Xu is quite perceptive. What you said is indeed correct. For sects that want to cultivate Core Formation cultivators, the Dao of Arrays is indeed more important than the Dao of Alchemy."

However, Fellow Daoist Xu is mistaken in one aspect; the Spirit Gathering Array is not as omnipotent as you think.

Xu Zhou pondered for a moment, and then understood.

"Too.

The Spirit Gathering Array merely concentrates surrounding spiritual energy in one place, but spiritual energy ultimately comes from the environment. If the overall spiritual energy in the environment is insufficient, the Spirit Gathering Array will be powerless to function.

He immediately looked at the other person: "So, one can only form a core in a spiritually rich place?"

"That's right."

Cui Donglin slowly said, "There aren't many rogue cultivators forming their cores in Mu Kingdom, mostly because spiritual lands are scarce."

I've heard that most spiritual lands are under the control of the Golden Flame Sect. Rogue cultivators who want to form their core can't even find a stable spiritual land; attempting to do so rashly is nothing short of suicide.

Xu Zhou nodded slightly, but then frowned slightly.

"Even sects can't completely control every inch of the Mu Kingdom. Can't independent cultivators just stumble upon hidden spiritual lands and rise to power after forming their core?"

Cui Donglin looked at himself strangely, and after a long while, he laughed and said, "It's my fault for not explaining clearly just now."

The amount of spiritual energy required for a cultivator to form their core is enormous, almost to the point of shaking the heavens and earth.

In this situation, the large amount of spiritual energy absorbed can have a significant impact on the environment, often causing serious damage to the spiritual land.

Once a Core Formation is successfully achieved, smaller spiritual lands immediately turn into barren wastelands, while larger ones will drop in rank and take hundreds or even thousands of years to slowly recover.

In this way, even if a rogue cultivator is lucky enough to find a hidden spiritual land and successfully form his core, the spiritual land will eventually be depleted, and there will be no spiritual land available for later cultivators.

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Xu Zhou felt a slight tremor in his heart upon hearing this.

He suddenly realized that the Golden Flame Sect controlled more than a dozen spiritual lands, but only opened half of them to its disciples, while the other half remained permanently closed.

In the past, he only thought that those sacred places were more dangerous, or that they contained rare resources that could not be easily released.

Now it seems that it was originally intended for cultivators within the sect to use in forming their core.

Cui Donglin took a sip of wine and casually added, "In the cultivation world, you can still occasionally find hidden spiritual sites."

However, truly superior spiritual lands are always in the control of powerful forces. We rogue cultivators... are lucky if we can even find such an opportunity.

Xu Zhou nodded slowly.

He then fell into a brief moment of thought.

When I aspire to form my core in the future, I will likely still have to go through the Golden Flame Sect.

However, given the Golden Flame Sect's style of doing things, they probably won't give away spiritual land of this caliber easily.

The sect only has a few spiritual lands, which Foundation Establishment cultivators simply cannot allocate.

Even if the sect is willing to provide it, it will definitely prioritize providing it to the descendants of the Supreme Elders, or to the most talented disciples who have a very high probability of successfully forming their core.

It would be difficult for me to fight for it myself.

Cui Donglin noticed the change in Xu Zhou's expression, took a sip of wine, and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Xu, there's no need to overthink it."

After all, a Core Formation cultivator's lifespan can reach ten cycles of sixty years, capable of summoning wind and rain, moving mountains and filling seas—a rare and highly accomplished senior even in the Zhu Kingdom. It's no wonder that such beings are beyond our reach.

If, in the future, Fellow Daoist Xu, you still aspire to form your Golden Core, you may also travel the world like me. Perhaps, by chance, you will find a sacred place somewhere to form your Golden Core.

He looked out the window, his gaze unusually absent.

"I wonder when my opportunity will arrive?"

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