A rather bold conjecture had already formed in Lin Shu’s mind.
"This seems even more difficult than I thought."
He reached out and touched his seemingly normal chest, feeling the emptiness within. A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.
’No wonder the Body-Nourishing Spirit Root can restore my flesh but can’t reconstruct my heart.’
’There must be some kind of invisible restriction still on me.’
’To solve this problem for good, I’ll definitely have to make a trip to Yongzhou.’
"But if this was truly the handiwork of the number one person beneath the Immortals, then relying on the little chick alone is far from safe."
"I need to prepare another escape route."
Even if Yu Sheng revealed her adult form, she was still a long way from being a Celestial Pride of an Immortal Sect.
At best, she could provide him with an identity to move about the world, but it would be difficult for her to contend with the Celestial Prides of other Half-Life Immortal Families.
Besides, from what the Golden Bear said, that Young Master Qi was more than just a simple Celestial Pride.
The man controlled the Demon-slaying Bureau and acted without restraint. He was more like a central pillar of the Qi Family.
’If I really stir up some trouble and am forced to flee...’
Lin Shu gazed out of the thatched cottage, his eyes landing on Yongzhou Pass.
’Given Young Master Qi’s status, neither the Court nor any of the other Immortal Sects would dare to shelter me.’
’Demon King Yuan Yuan may be grievously injured, but his actions have proven one thing.’
’There is still a group in this world unwilling to be enslaved by the Immortal Descendants. Not even the arrival of a true Immortal in person could make them yield.’
’But if I want to integrate into this group, I’ll have to show a corresponding level of sincerity.’
"I’ll think about it more."
Lin Shu reined in his thoughts.
With his current strength, he had to find the right position if he wanted to survive this calamity.
Whether to go or to stay.
If he decided to go, where would he go?
If he were to stay, what could he do?
All these matters needed to be considered carefully.
With a wave of his sleeve, he summoned the wisp of Cyan Simurgh Immortal Qi.
A thousand Merit Coins transformed into jade light and poured into it.
At the same time, Lin Shu’s eyes closed slightly, and his Divine Thought returned once more to the space between the sea of blood and his mountain-like Immortal Mansion.
Nine long, crimson dragons surged up from the Dao Essence Spirit Sea, connecting to the Immortal Mansion.
After digesting the information about the Inner Technique, he now had a slight understanding of the Core Formation Realm.
Inside the Immortal Mansion, crimson streams of air were churning and converging into the shape of an Elixir Pill. This was the state of Early-stage Core Formation.
Once it solidified into a tangible substance, he would step into the Mid-stage.
When the surface of the Elixir Pill became flawless and pulsed with vibrant life, that would be the Late-stage Core Formation.
This path seemed simple, with no bottlenecks. As long as one had a sufficient foundation, reaching the end only required time and steady effort.
If one could consume enough Spiritual Objects, the process could be greatly accelerated.
But that wasn’t the case.
The true mystery lay in the nine long dragons outside.
Core Formation Inner Techniques were different from Immortal Techniques.
The grade of an Immortal Technique represented the level of power it could unleash. Even the most special Body Tempering Technique fell into the category of Immortal Techniques.
The proficiency of an Inner Technique, however, already encompassed the early, mid, and late stages of Core Formation.
An increase in its grade brought about other changes.
This Nine Dragon Phenomenon was called "Nine River Attraction," and it was an effect of a Mid Third Grade Inner Technique.
Lower Three Grades Inner Techniques had no such phenomenon.
But if one stepped into the Upper Three Grades, the phenomenon could advance further, becoming what was known as "Absorbing Hundred Rivers."
If one had achieved Dao Essence Foundation Establishment and their Inner Technique reached the First Grade, there was a chance to witness the legendary "Star Fighting."
Only by having more rivers of Dao Essence connecting to the Immortal Mansion would there be enough Spiritual Power to refine the Golden Core.
Those with Nine River Attraction could form a Third-Turned Spirit Firming True Pill.
Forming this Golden Core would allow one to shed their mortal body, stabilize their own Spiritual nature with the Golden Core, and increase their lifespan by eight hundred years.
It was considered the easiest path to forming a Golden Core.
Those with Absorbing Hundred Rivers had a chance to form a Sixth-Transformation Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill, increasing their lifespan by twelve hundred years.
This had been Lin Shu’s initial goal.
He didn’t care much about the length of his lifespan.
After all, he had lived two lives but was only in his twenties. A thousand years was too long for him to have any concrete concept of it.
However, the Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill provided a huge boost to one’s Magical Combat abilities, making its wielder far more powerful in a fight than someone with a Third-Turned Spirit Firming True Pill.
But after mulling it over, Lin Shu was stunned.
’Kan and Li intersecting, Subduing the Dragon and Tiger—this is the Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill.’
’The two represent kidney-water and Heart Fire, respectively.’
’And yet... I have no heart.’
’A Cultivator’s five viscera correspond to the five elements. With the element of fire missing, it is difficult to attain the Great Dao.’
"I can either resign myself to my fate and form the Third-Turned Spirit Firming True Pill, or..."
Lin Shu pressed his hand to his chest, his expression gradually turning strange.
’Above the Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill, there’s still the Illusory and Vague Nine-Turns Purple Sky Golden Core.’
’The conditions to form this core are extremely harsh.’
’The "Star Fighting" phenomenon is manageable. As long as I have enough Merit Coins, I can eventually deduce a First Grade Inner Technique.’
’But the problem is, even if I manage to manifest this phenomenon, the probability of forming the core is still slim. There are nine refinements, each more perilous than the last.’
"Did you do this on purpose?"
Lin Shu glanced at the Filthy Moon Wolf Lord. He had a nagging feeling that the Qi Family hadn’t just simply dug out his heart.
It was as if they had deliberately severed his path as a Cultivator.
Even if you were a genius of immense talent with a string of fortuitous encounters.
In the end, you would still be confined to the Third-Turned Spirit Firming True Pill, unable to take even half a step further.
Above the Golden Core was the Nascent Soul.
Which happened to be the Realm of that Young Master Qi.
"Awooo..."
The Filthy Moon Wolf Lord let out an innocent whimper, as if to say it had nothing to do with that damn Young Master Qi.
Lin Shu withdrew his gaze and sank back into introspection.
The nine long dragons grew thicker, representing an increase in the grade of his Inner Technique.
Based on the three hundred Sin Coins required to break through an Immortal Technique, advancing a Mid Third Grade Inner Technique by a single grade, without external help, would cost around nine hundred Merit Coins.
[Fifth Grade Core Formation. Cyan Simurgh Nourishing Yuan Palace: Minor Success]

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