In the deep-sea cavern, Nan Yan sat facing the wall. She consumed all available elixirs, saturating her spiritual energy to its limit. Cultivators often seek adventure or engage in battles before advancing to higher realms, as the serenity gained from such experiences is ideal for forming a golden core.
The cavern brimmed with malevolent energy. As soon as Nan Yan escaped the spirit-binding lock, the mental techniques of the Seven Buddhas’ Karma Scripture began circulating ceaselessly, drawing threads of spiritual energy towards her dantian.
In the early stages of cultivation, spiritual energy resembles clouds. When these clouds condense into rain, it marks the Foundation Building stage. Continued cultivation thickens this energy like soil. When the dantian can no longer contain it, the time has come to refine it into a golden core.
At this crucial juncture, the cultivated spiritual energy, now purified, undergoes a qualitative change. Nan Yan’s consciousness gradually deepened. As her energy circulated, she continually compressed it. Soon, she sensed a wisp of dan fire emerging from her dantian.
Dan fire is the hallmark of Golden Core cultivators. It can be used to refine medicines, forge artifacts, and even attack enemies. Some cultivators specializing in this art engage in duels, pitting their dan fires against each other.
The color of a dan fire typically matches one’s spiritual root. Nan Yan had once witnessed Mu Zhanting’s dan fire blazing like a crimson aurora over the sea, a testament to his exceptionally strong fire spiritual root. Few, if any, could surpass him at the same level.
Nan Yan’s spiritual roots were peculiar. While others’ roots were easily identifiable as one of the five elements, hers defied categorization. It resembled a stubborn stone, capable of cultivating all five elements yet not a typical waste root.
As her spiritual energy continued to compress, the once-vast dantian began to concentrate into a fist-sized sphere. After half an hour, it further condensed to the size of a walnut. Impurities rose to its surface, continuously burned away by the white dan fire.
Now, she needed to keep supplying spiritual energy to fuel the dan fire. Sweat trickled down Nan Yan’s face as she realized how rapidly her white dan fire consumed energy. With only 30% of her spiritual energy remaining, failure loomed if the dan fire couldn’t trigger the qualitative change before her energy depleted.
As time ticked by and her spiritual energy neared exhaustion, Nan Yan grew anxious. Meanwhile, nearby, Qi Yang finished his meditation and gazed at her.
Knowing that a cultivator’s advancement must not be disturbed, Qi Yang observed silently for a long while. He then took out his Bing Jiu Qin and began to play. This time, instead of “Night Serenade,” he performed a nameless tune his master often played, known for its calming effects.
Though meant to soothe, the melody carried a hint of melancholy. As Qi Yang played, Nan Yan gradually entered a trance state. The final hurdle in forming a golden core was overcoming the heart demon. With her senses sealed, she had to rely solely on herself to pass this trial.
As Qi Yang finished playing, he suddenly heard a distant voice calling out, “Fellow cultivator playing the qin, might we meet?” The voice sounded familiar. After a moment’s reflection, Qi Yang recalled the cultivator who had been dragged into the deep sea by the spirit-binding lock. He smiled slightly, closed his eyes, and his presence seemed to vanish.
In the next instant, Qi Yang’s shadow seemed to gain sentience, rising to form a mysterious figure cloaked in a robe. His physical body remained, appearing to be in deep meditation to any observer. He lowered his hat brim, revealing his right hand from his sleeve. The missing fingers had been replaced by mechanical prosthetics—the same ones Nan Yan had glimpsed on the whaleship.
After a final glance at Nan Yan, estimating she’d need another hour to finish, he left a talisman at the site and headed toward the voice.
The cavern was vast. Near the volcano’s mouth where lava flowed, monstrous beast skeletons clung to the walls, growing more terrifying as one ascended. Qi Yang carefully avoided the dangling spirit-binding locks. Some charred skeletons exuded such powerful auras that their pressure could be felt from afar.
“Fellow cultivator! I’m here!” The voice called from nearby.
Rounding a cluster of stalactites, Qi Yang saw several long chains lowering something into the lava. After a few breaths, they slowly pulled it up.
The rescued cultivator was Li Chi, whom Qi Yang had previously thrown into the sea. His right arm was severed, his face contorted in pain, yet his body remained intact. A closer look revealed a black jade cicada around his neck—a protective treasure that emitted a dark glow, shielding him from the lava even as his body’s spiritual energy was cut off.
Protected by the jade cicada, Li Chi had barely survived, but its power seemed nearly exhausted. The dark glow had dimmed significantly, likely unable to withstand another lava immersion.
Upon regaining consciousness and finding himself trapped, Li Chi cursed for half a day. Realizing no one was coming to his rescue, not even his attacker, he spiraled from anger to despair. As he awaited death, he suddenly heard the qin music—his only hope for survival—and desperately called for help.
Seeing a black-robed figure approach, Li Chi’s heart leaped with joy. Noticing the newcomer’s demonic aura, he quickly said, “I… I am the prince of Si State. Whatever your identity, if you can free me, you may choose any treasure or cauldron from Si State!”
The black-robed figure observed him with interest before concocting a story. Speaking in a harsh, middle-aged voice, he said, “So, you’re the prince of Si State… It’s been decades since I left. What year is it now?”
Uncertain of the stranger’s background but desperate to escape, Li Chi hastily replied, “It’s the 27th year of Cang Yan. This undersea area is a great demon-sealing formation. How did you end up here?”
As he walked, Qi Yang explained, “I came seeking to rescue my master. In my youthful recklessness, I entered the demon-sealing formation and was dragged to the sea bottom by a spirit-binding lock. Fortunately, my secondary cultivation in mechanical arts allowed me to escape, but I’ve been unable to find an exit. Since we’re both from Si State, I’ll free you now.”
He then produced two copper-like objects from his spatial pouch. Working quickly before the spirit-binding lock could descend again, he released Li Chi’s restraints.
Once free, Li Chi immediately flew away from the lava, landing on a safe rock. He took out a wax ball from his spatial pouch, broke its seal, and consumed a fragrant pill inside. As he meditated to recover, his severed right arm gradually regenerated.
Having narrowly escaped death, Li Chi felt immense relief. After recovering some spiritual energy, he addressed the black-robed figure, “These spirit-binding locks represent the pinnacle of mechanical arts. The cavern is filled with them, responsible for countless powerful demons’ deaths over the millennia. Besides a few masters from the Lu family in You State, few in the world can undo these locks. You mentioned coming to rescue your master—who might that be?”
“My master wasn’t primarily versed in mechanical arts,” Qi Yang replied. “He was the vice-leader of the Tianxie Sect, Si State’s greatest sect. He rescued and accepted me as a disciple in my youth. Later, he went to Chen State for a duel, seeking rebirth through possession, but was suppressed in this demon-sealing formation by the Hall of Righteous Law.” Qi Yang sighed deliberately, adding, “The Hall’s judgment was unjust. I once pleaded before the Heavenly Dao Stele but was forcefully rejected.”
Convinced by the detailed account mentioning Chen State and the Heavenly Dao Stele of the Hall of Righteous Law, Li Chi, who had visited the Hall before, believed nine-tenths of the story.
“That’s excellent!” Li Chi exclaimed joyfully. “I’m the only son of Duke Yu Xie. Huo Wuji, the vice-leader of the Tianxie Sect, is my uncle-master. This makes you my senior disciple brother. It must be fate that brought me here, and it’s time for you to escape too. I had a release order from Dao Sheng Tian before coming, but it was stolen en route. Once we rescue Uncle-master, we’ll see where those Chen State weaklings can hide!”
His words dripped with malice. Qi Yang asked, “Saving master is all that matters, but Prince if your release order was stolen, how can you unlock the Punishment Copper Pillar of the demon-sealing formation?”
Li Chi fell silent, a hint of fear crossing his usually arrogant face. “Before coming here, I met the Mysterious Governor of Zi State behind a curtain. He casually broke a pear blossom, using it for divination. He predicted obstacles in my journey, so he branded a second release order into my consciousness, saying it would prove useful.”
That person… still as prescient as ever. Hence, under the gaze of the Heavenly Emperor, he could only feign amnesia, fearing the Mysterious Governor might discover him through the Heavenly Dao.
Seeing Qi Yang’s silence, Li Chi said, “You’ve stayed here for decades, proving your loyalty to uncle-master. Now, with the Chen-Si war and the Mountain-Sea Prohibition, we need capable people. After rescuing uncle-master, you should return to the Tianxie Sect’s main branch with me.”
Li Chi wasn’t worried about any ulterior motives; upon meeting Huo Wuji, anyone’s true nature would be revealed.
“Alright, but I’ve been here for years and need to gather some things from my cave dwelling. Prince, please rest here. I’ll return shortly.”
After leaving Li Chi’s spiritual sense range, Qi Yang vanished like flowing sand, returning to his physical body moments later.
Lost in thought, he opened his eyes to find a pair of clear eyes staring at him.
Qi Yang: “…”
Nan Yan knelt before him, her face extremely serious, staring intently.
Realizing her eyes lacked focus and her spiritual energy hadn’t settled, Qi Yang understood she was still in the heart demon trial.
“Shao Cang,” Nan Yan said solemnly as if triggered by something, “I’ve been thinking about you.”
Qi Yang: “…”
Nan Yan: “After careful consideration, I have some thoughts about you.”
Qi Yang: “What thoughts?”
Nan Yan: “I have thoughts about your hair.”
Qi Yang: “…”
Nan Yan: “That year, after we parted, I found a monk master. He said only those with a shining crown can be truly carefree.”
Qi Yang: “…”
Nan Yan: “You’re always so troubled. I want you to convert to Buddhism with me, let go of everything, realize the emptiness of all things, and appreciate life’s simple pleasures.”
…Her heart demon trial symptoms were indeed severe.
Knowing he shouldn’t contradict her now, Qi Yang took her hand and sat down, gently persuading, “Ah Yan, do you want to break through the void and attain the great Dao?”
Nan Yan stared blankly and shook her head. “No, I wish to emulate Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva: until the hells are empty, I vow not to become a Buddha.”
Qi Yang: “Do you see me as hell?”
Nan Yan: “If you ascend through the righteous path, I’ll have nothing to say. But if you walk the demonic path, I’ll drag you down wherever you go, keep you by my side to convert you. You can’t leave until I die.”
Qi Yang brushed away her stray hair and asked softly, “I’m like those demonic cultivators. Have you never thought of killing me?”
Nan Yan lowered her head as if admitting a mistake. “…I treat you differently, harboring a biased heart.”
…How adorable.
Qi Yang closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers, suppressing the tempting palpitations in his heart. He said hoarsely, “Remember this: you’ve given your biased heart to me. One day, I’ll come to claim it from you.”
“Mm…”
As he spoke, the unease in Nan Yan’s expression gradually faded. A soft cracking sound came from her dantian, and the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator dissipated, replaced by that of a Golden Core cultivator.
It would take another quarter hour for her five senses to return, and then everything would be different.
As she remained unconscious, a demonic aura approached from afar. Li Chi, having fully recovered his powers, rode a fifth-rank horned python, racing towards them. His spiritual sense swept over them brazenly as he laughed maliciously:
“I knew there had to be a reason for Dan Fire Qi here. So, she’s forming her Golden Core. This female cultivator, crossing my path twice, must be destined to be mine! As for you, allying with Chen State was your greatest folly. Today shall be your death!”