Chapter 399: Impacting the Core Formation Stage

“Disciples greet Martial Uncle Xu.” Xu Zihua waved his hand and instructed, “No need for formalities. This is Wang Changsheng, a relative of my disciple Wang Mingren. Register him; I will take him into the sect.”

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators acknowledged. One of them took out a white mirror and aimed it at Wang Changsheng. A white light flashed, and a large expanse of white ethereal light shot out, enveloping Wang Changsheng.

The white mirror showed no abnormalities. The other Foundation Establishment cultivator took out a jade plate and a jade pen and registered Wang Changsheng's name.

After registration, Xu Zihua performed a hand seal. The white flying boat glowed brightly, carrying the three of them into the white light gate.

An hour later, the white flying boat landed on the summit of a peak that soared into the sky. There was a large complex of buildings on the mountaintop. In the center was a magnificent golden palace, with a lacquered gold plaque hanging at its entrance. The plaque bore three large characters, written in a flourishing style: “Haotian Hall.”

Xu Zihua led Wang Changsheng and Wang Mingren inside. In the hall, there was a long green jade table, and two deacon disciples sat behind it.

“Disciples greet Martial Uncle Xu.”

Seeing Xu Zihua, the two quickly stood up and bowed.

“Where is Senior Brother Chen? I've brought the person.”

“Martial Uncle Chen is already waiting in Stone Chamber D. He said that when Martial Uncle Xu arrives, you can go directly to Stone Chamber D. Martial Uncle Xu, please follow me.”

One of the deacon disciples stood up and led the way for Xu Zihua and the other two.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of a tightly sealed stone chamber. A large character 'D' was carved on the stone door.

Before the deacon disciple could announce their presence, the door automatically opened. A surge of pure spiritual energy rushed out. Wang Changsheng took a light breath and felt his spirit instantly refreshed.

The stone chamber was over a hundred zhang in size, fully furnished. On the left stone wall, there was a fist-sized golden groove, very conspicuous. A Taoist in a green robe, about fifty years old, was lying in a grand master's chair, holding an exquisite teapot in his hand.

“Senior Brother Chen, this is Wang Changsheng, a relative of Mingren. He is the one who wishes to use the Haotian Mirror.”

Xu Zihua introduced, pointing at Wang Changsheng.

“Junior Wang Changsheng pays his respects to Senior Chen.”

The green-robed Taoist wasted no words. He took out a shimmering silver talisman and threw it to Wang Changsheng, saying:

“This is a mid-grade Tier 3 Qianyuan Spirit Protection Talisman. It might save your life when you attempt to form your Core. The spiritual land and the Qianyuan Spirit Protection Talisman together cost 300,000 spirit stones. If you attempt to form your Core within a year, you need to pay 300,000 spirit stones. This is the base price; after that, it's 10,000 spirit stones per month. Don't say the price is expensive. The spiritual land is built upon a mid-grade Tier 3 spiritual vein and is enhanced by a Tier 3 spirit gathering formation. The spiritual energy is abundant here, and cultivating here will yield twice the results with half the effort. If you are ready to attempt to form your Core, just press the groove on the stone wall. I will activate the Haotian Mirror to draw down the Heavenly Gang Qi to assist you in forming your Core. Whether you succeed or not depends on your luck.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. Junior understands.”

Wang Changsheng expressed his gratitude and put away the silver talisman.

“Alright, I've said what needed to be said. I won't disturb your cultivation now. This is the key to the stone chamber. Junior Brother Xu, we haven't seen each other in a long time. Come to my place for a cup of tea, and we can have a good chat.”

The green-robed Taoist tossed a golden token to Wang Changsheng, then stood up and walked out.

Xu Zihua said nothing more and followed the green-robed Taoist out.

“Changsheng, you must successfully advance to the Core Formation stage. I'll be waiting for your good news.”

Wang Mingren patted Wang Changsheng's shoulder, offered a word of encouragement, and then left.

Wang Changsheng let out a long breath, injected spiritual power into the token, and a golden light flew out from it. The door automatically closed, and a faint golden light screen appeared on the surface of the stone door.

The spiritual energy in the stone chamber was incredibly abundant; cultivating here would indeed yield twice the results with half the effort. However, he had already reached the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, just a step away from the Core Formation stage.

He didn't know how long this attempt to form his Core would take, but he absolutely had to succeed. If success wasn't possible, he still had to preserve his life, because if he died, his wife and children would be burdened with huge debts.

Wang Changsheng took a deep breath, walked to the stone bed, and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes, resting to adjust his condition to its peak before attempting to form his Core.

***

Wei State, Green Lotus Market.

The wide streets were crowded with people. The quinquennial Green Lotus Minor Assembly attracted a large number of cultivators to the Green Lotus Market for trade.

The Wang family held the Green Lotus Minor Assembly every five years, inviting guests far and wide, and it had been held many times.

The Green Lotus Minor Assembly had become a grand trading event in Ningzhou, attracting merchants from all corners. During each Green Lotus Minor Assembly, the Wang family would host a small auction, featuring Tier 2 puppet beasts, complete sets of magical artifacts, Tier 2 talismans, and Tier 2 formations.

Inside the market town, there was a spacious bluestone plaza designated for rogue cultivators who couldn't afford stalls to set up their own. No fees were charged, but the size of the stalls was strictly limited.

Wang Qingjun walked slowly, his gaze swiftly sweeping over the items on the small stalls.

He had accompanied Wang Changhao and Wang Qingshan on hunts for demonic beasts and had visited many large markets, making him well-traveled and knowledgeable. Naturally, he didn't think much of the items on these stalls, but he still decided to wander around the rogue cultivator plaza, hoping to chance upon something.

He circled the plaza but found nothing that interested him.

Suddenly, a fierce quarrel erupted from a stall ahead.

Wang Qingjun frowned. During the Green Lotus Minor Assembly, a large number of external cultivators came to the Green Lotus Market, and disputes arising from various reasons were quite common. The Wang family had dispatched three teams of patrolling cultivators to prevent trouble.

The patrol team had just passed by. As a member of the Wang family, Wang Qingjun naturally wouldn't stand idly by, so he quickly walked over.

In front of a stall, two women were arguing. One of them was Wang Qingling, and the other was a young woman in a blue dress in her thirties. The stall owner was a large, dark-faced man with thick hands and feet.

On the stall were some demonic beast materials and a blue wooden box. Inside the wooden box was a green egg, the size of a watermelon.

“There's a first-come, first-served principle in everything. This demonic bird egg was clearly seen by me first.”

Wang Qingling said with a frown.

“The highest bidder wins. The owner hasn't said he'd sell it to you yet! I'll offer 100 spirit stones. If you can offer more, then this spiritual bird egg is yours.”

The young woman in the blue dress refused to back down.

Wang Qingling's brows were tightly furrowed, and she was about to say something when her eyes lit up. She called out to Wang Qingjun in the crowd: “Twelfth Brother, lend me some spirit stones. I want to buy this spiritual bird egg.”

Wang Qingjun emerged from the crowd, crouched down, and carefully examined the green egg. He asked, “Tenth Sister, are you sure it's a spiritual bird egg? What's the asking price?”

“It's definitely a spiritual bird egg. He said it's a Tier 2 Azure Feather Eagle egg. Even if it's not an Azure Feather Eagle egg, it's still some other spiritual bird egg. The asking price was 70 spirit stones. We had already agreed, but then this person suddenly came out and started contending with me for this spiritual bird egg. Twelfth Brother, lend me some spirit stones. I'll pay you back immediately when I get my stipend.”

Wang Qingjun smiled slightly and said to the dark-faced man, “Seventy spirit stones, are you selling?”

“This fairy offered 100, and you only offered 70. Not selling.”

The dark-faced man shook his head.

“In that case, forget it, Tenth Sister. There's another stall ahead that sells spiritual bird eggs. Let's buy from them.”

Without further ado, Wang Qingjun pulled Wang Qingling away.

“Twelfth Brother, that's a Tier 2 Azure Feather Eagle egg. The Azure Feather Eagle is a spiritual bird with fast flying speed. Not to mention anything else, if you spend the time to hatch it and then sell it, you can earn a sum of spirit stones.”

Wang Qingling said, somewhat unwillingly.

Wang Qingjun chuckled and said, “That spiritual egg isn't an Azure Feather Eagle egg at all. They've just coated its surface with some kind of dye to disguise it as one. Tenth Sister, you rarely deal with outsiders, so you don't know how cunning people can be. The stall owner and that buyer are in cahoots. Look at their attire and their cultivation levels; at most, they are at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement. They are definitely rogue cultivators. They can barely afford their own cultivation, so would they really spend 100 spirit stones on a spiritual bird egg?”

Wang Qingling thought carefully for a moment and then realized.

“That's true, it was my oversight.”

“By the way, Tenth Sister, I remember you're not a spendthrift. How is it that you don't even have 100 spirit stones? Did you buy another pile of useless spirit beasts and spirit insects?”

Wang Qingling gave a sweet smile and took out a blue wooden box containing five white insect eggs.

“These are five insect eggs, supposedly from an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. They cost me 100 spirit stones.”

Wang Qingjun gave a wry smile and said, “You've definitely been tricked again.”

“I don't think so! The life aura emanating from these five insect eggs is faint and indistinct, suggesting they might indeed be eggs that have been stored for many years.”

Wang Qingling smiled sweetly, full of confidence.

“I hope so! You need to be more vigilant, otherwise, no amount of spirit stones will be enough for others to trick you out of.”

“I know, I know. A new stall just appeared. I'll go check it out.”

After saying that, Wang Qingling put away the blue wooden box and walked towards a new stall.

Wang Qingjun shook his head and turned to leave.