Qin Yue Forms a Golden Core

With the Flying Moon cheat, Qin Yue and Luo Yu spent their days at home farming experience. After the “Spirit Infusion Ceremony” had been held twice at the Palace of Defiance, Qin Yue’s experience bar was nearly full. During this period, as summer vacation had just begun, Luo Yu and Qin Yue were busy researching a device to ward off lightning.

Through their combined efforts, they settled on a design direction: spiritual energy was a “nonphysical” substance, untouchable by ordinary matter; even though it was distributed throughout space, it would not move with the flow of air, only manipulated by supernatural forces. Mana, on the other hand, was a “semi-physical” substance—it could interact with spiritual energy, touch physical objects, and inflict damage.

Heavenly lightning was generated purely as a byproduct of mana, which itself was created through the friction of spiritual energy. The injuries sustained during advancement came not only from the lightning carrying mana, but also from the impact of the mana itself. The latter’s damage, however, was negligible, as most of the mana was absorbed by the lightning.

If one were to completely block out mana, constructing a formation to forbid mana entry, it still might not withstand the onslaught of the great tribulation lightning in the future—and it would be troublesome. If the formation were destroyed by the lightning, causing spiritual energy turbulence, wouldn’t that be a huge loss?

Thus, they decided it was best to divert the lightning itself, which would carry away most of the mana and avoid the direct strike.

After much discussion and sketching, the two finally produced an unusual conceptual diagram: a colossal, metallic mesh cylinder—narrow in the middle and flaring out above, resembling a streamlined vortex. The upper, expanded part radiated metallic wires tipped with small rods, designed to contact the base of thunderclouds and draw down celestial lightning from above. The middle section of the cylinder was left open for the spiritual energy vortex to pass through, fitted with a formation to block mana, channeling it onto the giant mesh. The lower end, too, flared out to guide the lightning deep into the ground. The person undergoing the tribulation would sit at the center of the cylinder’s base.

After the family unanimously approved the design, it was quickly constructed. Made from affordable materials suitable for forging magical artifacts, it could be considered a gigantic magical implement, dubbed “Sky Theft 1.0 Beta.” If successful, a more powerful version would be crafted in the future.

Once complete, Qin Yue was chosen to test it. If the results were poor and spiritual energy became unstable, Qin Yue would halt her advancement at the Heart Demon stage, stopping before condensing her golden core.

With preparations set, they chose a mountain valley rich in spiritual energy. Luo Yu set up a large gathering array, waiting several days for the energy to accumulate before picking a day with favorable weather for the breakthrough. Qin Yue sat in the center of the “Sky Theft,” entering meditation. As she drew vast amounts of heaven and earth spiritual energy into her meridians, the surrounding air began to swirl, forming a vortex that slowly rotated around her. As Qin Yue continued absorbing energy, the vortex grew larger and began to generate mana, eventually spinning and rising like a bamboo dragonfly.

At this stage, the “Sky Theft” device remained stable, perfectly matching the shape of the vortex and not disrupting its formation in the slightest. The vortex accelerated and elongated, forming a column like a tornado, and the mana differentiated into the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Of these, only the water and fire element mana could “chemically react.” The other three found no medium and remained inert; the water element began to generate vapor, the fire element drove air currents, the vortex in the sky accelerated, drawing in surrounding spiritual clouds, gradually forming a massive cloud cluster overhead.

Perhaps because the gathering array had run for days, or because Qin Yue’s mana was particularly deep, the cloud cluster this time was half again larger than when Luo Li advanced.

Qin Yue’s internal spiritual energy reached its limit. Probing with her divine sense, she deemed everything favorable and began to impact her meridians, refining bones and marrow. Enduring excruciating pain, she encountered the Heart Demon trial. At this moment, the clouds above began to flicker with lightning. Qin Yue swiftly broke through the Heart Demon, continuing to observe the sky with her divine sense. Though the marrow refinement was not yet complete, she gritted her teeth, drawing more energy to further open her meridians.

The tail of the spiritual energy vortex in the sky began to channel into Qin Yue. The formations on the “Sky Theft” proved effective: the spiritual energy contained only trace amounts of mana, newly generated after passing through the formation. Though a connection of mana remained between Qin Yue and the thunderclouds, the formation had diverted most of it, so little tribulation lightning would be attracted.

A short while later, Qin Yue’s refinement was complete, meridian transformation achieved. By this time, much of the lightning in the sky had already been drawn into the earth by the “Sky Theft.” The vortex was not only unaffected, but operated even more smoothly, drawing in more spiritual energy—likely because much of the cumbersome mana had been carried away by the lightning. Seeing everything proceeding better than expected, Qin Yue decided without hesitation to advance.

As the celestial lightning was pulled underground and more spiritual energy surged in, the cloud cluster continued to swell. Finally, a balance was reached between the limits of the “Sky Theft” and the spiritual energy Qin Yue could draw, and the cycle came to an end. Shielded by the device, Qin Yue calmly absorbed the spiritual energy, which condensed into spiritual liquid in her dantian. Even before the energy above was depleted, the liquid began to congeal.

Qin Yue accelerated her absorption, drawing in the last remnants of energy. In the end, the spiritual liquid in her dantian coalesced into a giant golden core the size of a longan fruit.

At the instant of core formation, Qin Yue’s soul stirred, as if a chrysalis becoming a butterfly, her spirit breaking free from her body—Nascent Soul projection! With delight, she surveyed her surroundings: the nearby trees appeared diminished, Luo Yu stood on a nearby peak, gawking at her; without any effort, she could see the veins on the leaves at the edge of the array, her senses and divine awareness magnified to unprecedented levels, her body brimming with mana, as if she could soar to the heavens with a mere thought... But before she could savor the sensation, her body exerted a pull, drawing her soul back in.

Qin Yue opened her eyes: what she had just experienced was merely the instability of the soul after advancement. A cultivator who had formed the golden core could not truly project their Nascent Soul—only upon forming a full Nascent Infant could one freely leave their body, though even then, not for long.

At this moment, Luo Yu rushed over, anxiously asking, “Did it work well?”

Qin Yue nodded joyfully. “Very well! My mana now is likely double that of an ordinary golden core cultivator. Also, breaking through the Heart Demon early lets me spend more time expanding my meridians and improving my body’s condition... remember that.”

Luo Yu retorted fiercely, “There aren’t many who’d dare do it your way... Absorbing so much spiritual energy, weren’t you afraid your dantian would burst!”

Qin Yue laughed. “That’s thanks to the Heavenly Dragon Scripture you let me refine, and your Nirvana True Fire. A little extra energy is nothing.”

They left the “Sky Theft” in the valley for Luo Yu’s future use and sealed it with a formation before heading home.

Summer vacation was always delightful—sunshine golden and bright, the rooster crowing its song thrice.

Luo Yu rose early, humming a tune as she swayed her way to the old residence.

Now, with Qin Yue, a golden core expert, as her protector and an experience farming cheat at her disposal, Luo Yu had nothing left to worry about—her only shortcoming was her spiritual roots, but as long as she kept grinding experience, she’d level up eventually! Thus, her focus shifted back to formation research—the great formation program Luo Ling had given her still hadn’t been fully deciphered.

During this period, Luo Yu, inspired by her studies, developed many strange and novel formations, selling them via Supreme Ware—now she had underlings and bodyguards at her beck and call, with nothing left to fear, no need to keep a low profile.

Thus, suspicions that Supreme Ware was responsible for stealing from the major sects became all but confirmed:

Passerby A said, “All those formations Supreme Ware sells, Bamboo Grove Academy buys for research!”

Passerby B whispered mysteriously, “I hear Elder Su of Bamboo Grove Academy and the owner of Supreme Ware have a thing going on—she admires the owner’s mastery of formations and wants to learn a few tricks on the pillow.”

Passerby C expressed doubt, “But there are two owners of Supreme Ware. If Elder Su’s being unfaithful, wouldn’t the other one throw her out?”

Passerby B, flustered, argued, “Elder Su is a golden core cultivator—if the Supreme Ware owner is cuckolded, what can he do but swallow his pride?”

Passerby C pressed on, “But the Supreme Ware owner is also a golden core cultivator—why should he have to swallow anything?”

Passerby B said, “You must be mistaken. The owner is only a foundation establishment cultivator!”

Passerby C scoffed, “You’re so out of the loop. If both were only foundation establishment cultivators, how come no one who ever caused trouble at Supreme Ware came back? Listen, the main owner is a golden core cultivator! He was recently recognized by another golden core cultivator who came to buy formations—he’d been hiding his cultivation all along! Those foundation establishment troublemakers never saw through it, only courting disaster!”

Passerby A suddenly understood, “So it really was them who stole from all the major sects! I never got why a golden core cultivator would steal herbs meant for foundation establishment. Now I get it—it was for their partner!”

With the rumor mill working overtime, the Supreme Ware owner’s formidable mastery of formations spread rapidly throughout the cultivation world.

Luo Yu was absorbed in tinkering with formations when suddenly, a female attendant knocked on the door. “Master, someone at the outer courtyard requests an audience, claiming important business. Should I admit him or not?”

Luo Yu asked, “Is he here to order a formation?”

The attendant replied, “I asked, and he said he must explain personally to the master.”

Luo Yu curled her lip—there was no avoiding strange customers in business, and she couldn’t just refuse to meet. She clapped her hands, opened the door, and went out to greet her guest. Passing through the flower hall, she saw an elderly man with an immortal’s bearing standing in the courtyard. A casual glance revealed she could not discern his cultivation—at least a golden core cultivator!

Luo Yu began to take things seriously: a golden core cultivator seeking her out for important business would probably make some special request. If she didn’t serve the customer well, any fallout would be troublesome.

The old man, seeing Luo Yu approach, cupped his hands in greeting. “You must be the young friend Luo.”

Luo Yu now knew that those of higher cultivation rarely saluted those of lower status—when she’d first arrived in Luofeng Town, the cold treatment from the innkeepers wasn’t due to poor manners, but to disdain for those beneath their cultivation level.

A bit flustered, Luo Yu hastily returned the salute. “I am Luo Yu. If you have any requests, Senior, please come inside to discuss them.”

She led the old man into the parlor and had the staff serve spirit tea.

The old man took a sip, praised its quality, and then got straight to the point. “My name is Jiang Qingshuo, patriarch of the Flowing Cloud Manor in Huangshan. I come on behalf of the major sects, to discuss an urgent matter with you.”

Luo Yu was surprised. “On behalf of the major sects? …Could it be…” They want me to return the spirit herbs I ‘borrowed’? But they have no proof! Or do they intend to threaten me with force?

Author’s note: Drew a schematic for the cheat device~ Uh, maybe it should be even bigger??? Anyway, that’s the general idea… I wonder if it matches what you all imagined?

Cultivation Buddy Chronicles, Chapter 74—The Golden Core of Qin Yue is complete!