Chapter 358: Chapter 343: Bloom in an Instant! [1st Update, Please Subscribe]
What is known as the Golden Core Phenomenon refers to a heavenly phenomenon produced after a cultivator initially forms their Golden Core and connects with the heavens and earth.
This heavenly phenomenon is a kind of auspicious sign, a congratulation and blessing from the heavens for the Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
Usually, this Golden Core Phenomenon is related to the cultivation technique practiced by the cultivator.
The Golden Core Phenomenon generated by Jiang Fengxian after achieving the Golden Core was "Momentary Flower Bloom," a rare and uncommon Golden Core Phenomenon.
Under this Golden Core Phenomenon, within a ten-mile radius centered on her, all flowers, grasses, and trees, whether ordinary weeds or Tier Five Spirit Elixir plants, all bloomed with vibrant flowers in an instant.
Do not think this is just for show; in fact, its effect is significant!
For instance, the "Black Dragon Fruit" tree, a Tier Four Top Grade Spirit Fruit Tree in Cyan Cloud Garden, requires an entire three hundred and fifty years to bloom again after fruiting once.
But now, under the influence of the Golden Core Phenomenon "Momentary Flower Bloom," this fruit tree bloomed instantly.
Due to the great power generated by heaven’s blessing, these splendid blooms can completely mature into fruit.
In contrast, when Master Cyan Yang demonstrated divine techniques in front of Zhouyang, causing a garden full of peach blossoms to bloom, it was merely an eye candy that could not truly bear fruit.
Of course, this "Momentary Flower Bloom" is not without its drawbacks.
For example, plants that will wither after blooming suddenly bloomed, which equals shortening their life cycle by countless years.
Like those Thunder Bamboos outside the Cyan Cloud Garden’s gate, which originally had hopes of becoming thousand-year-old Thunder Bamboo, now due to the influence of this "Momentary Flower Bloom" phenomenon, suddenly bloomed rare bamboo flowers, and their life is soon to end.
Nonetheless, overall, the benefits of "Momentary Flower Bloom" certainly outweigh the disadvantages.
After all, even if the Thunder Bamboo dies after blooming, at least the bamboo flowers can mature into bamboo nuts.
And the bamboo nuts of Thunder Bamboo are a kind of rare Spiritual Object, which not only can enhance the aptitude of cultivators with Thunder Spirit Root directly upon consumption, but can also sprout and grow into new Thunder Bamboo when replanted.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang bearing a [Green Wood Spirit Body], forming the Golden Core and producing the [Momentary Flower Bloom] phenomenon is quite normal; it is just unknown what kind of Golden Core Phenomenon I might produce if I successfully form a core in the future?"
Within Cyan Cloud Garden, Zhouyang gazed at the blooming flowers filling the garden, his eyes reflecting both awe and wonder at the mighty heavenly power, and beautiful visions of his future cultivation journey.
Normally, after the appearance of a Golden Core Phenomenon, Jiang Fengxian’s core formation was considered complete, and she could have come out to accept the congratulations from others.
However, Zhouyang waited nearly another three months before finally seeing her come out of seclusion.
The reason for this situation was simple, that is, the newly successful core-forming Jiang Fengxian was busy spending this time refining several Tier Five Artifacts like the "Cyan Dragon Hairpin."
In this regard, Zhouyang naturally had grievances in his heart; after all, he had left Immortal Sun City for over ten years, which exceeded the promised return time to his Dao Companion Xiao Ying.
He feared that if he didn’t return, it would delay Xiao Ying’s time to open the Purple Mansion, and more fearfully, Xiao Ying might not resist coming out seeking him alone.
Even though he had such thoughts, the reality was that he certainly couldn’t leave without a word.
If he did that, wouldn’t all his efforts in protecting Jiang Fengxian during her core formation have been in vain?
"I apologize for the delay, busy refining artifacts after core formation, making Fellow Daoist Zhou wait long."
Inside Cyan Cloud Garden, after Jiang Fengxian successfully finished her training and came out, she first showed an apologetic expression to Zhouyang, who had been protecting her outside, without any of the airs of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
Seeing this, Zhouyang’s anger dissipated.
He glanced at the Jiang Fengxian who had become younger and more beautiful after core formation and quickly waved his hand to say: "Fellow Daoist Jiang is too courteous; it should be Zhou who congratulates Fellow Daoist Jiang on her successful Golden Core formation, with the great path waiting ahead!"
By the conventions of the cultivation realm, a Purple Mansion Stage Cultivator should pay respects as a junior when meeting a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
However, Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian had gone through life-threatening situations together, and previously treated each other as equals, so calling Jiang Fengxian elder now truly put him in a quandary.
Fortunately, Jiang Fengxian didn’t mind these norms.
Due to her [Green Wood Spirit Body], her real age was still less than two hundred years, technically only a few decades older than Zhouyang.
If Zhouyang suddenly called her elder, she might feel uncomfortable herself.
She looked earnestly at Zhouyang and said, "Regardless, this time you worked hard to protect me, Fellow Daoist, and this kindness and bond I will deeply remember."
Upon hearing her words, Zhouyang’s face immediately broke into a heartfelt smile, knowing that his efforts over the past few years had not been in vain.
With Jiang Fengxian possessing the "Green Wood Spirit Body," her future potential is immense, and she is very likely to become one of the very few Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators among loose cultivators. Being able to forge a deep friendship with her before she achieves Golden Core Stage is undoubtedly the most successful investment he has made in his life.
With a wide smile, he nodded and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Jiang has successfully formed her core, it is time for me, Zhouyang, to bid you farewell. It will be over ten years until I return; my wife is still waiting for me in Immortal Sun City to help open her Purple Mansion!"
"If Fellow Daoist Zhou wishes to leave, I certainly won’t stop you. However, considering that this is the deep Wilderness Jungle, it might be somewhat dangerous for you to return to the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm alone. How about letting me escort you for a while?" Jiang Fengxian said, her beautiful eyes sweeping over him, her smile as radiant as a flower.
Honestly, traveling alongside a female cultivator like Jiang Fengxian, who combines beauty and strength, is definitely a pleasure.
Zhouyang certainly wouldn’t refuse Jiang Fengxian’s kind offer.
"Then I’ll trouble Daoist for this favor." He nodded, accepting directly without pretending.
Next, under Jiang Fengxian’s strong insistence, Zhouyang accepted her compensation of over a thousand middle-grade Spirit Stones, then the two tidied up their cave dwelling before leaving the residence where they had stayed for seven or eight years.
After leaving the cave, Jiang Fengxian took the initiative to display the signature divine technique of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, "Soaring Through the Clouds," carrying Zhouyang into the sky.
Although this was somewhat ostentatious, Zhouyang understood Jiang Fengxian’s desire to flaunt her power after successfully forming her core.
If it were him, having painstakingly formed a Golden Core, he would also want to show off.
After all, once achieving the Golden Core, the world is vast and open for exploration.
If, after becoming a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, one continues to be restrained and lacks freedom as before, what’s the point of all the hard cultivation?
Cultivators seek eternal life and freedom; both are indispensable.
The escape speed of a Golden Core Stage Cultivator is extraordinarily fast. Jiang Fengxian carried Zhouyang, and in less than two days, they reached the outskirts of the Wilderness Jungle, much quicker than when they initially arrived.
It’s understandable, as when they came initially, they had to be cautious about hiding their traces to avoid detection, frequently stopping to find reference points to correct their direction, and carefully avoiding some powerful Demon Beasts and Barbaric Beasts to prevent unnecessary conflicts.
But now, while leaving the Wilderness Jungle, Jiang Fengxian only needed to fly in one direction, and most things that could threaten them as Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators before were now all humbled, not daring to show any odd behavior in front of Jiang Fengxian, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator.
Even those barbaric Alien Races, unless they are absolutely confident they can retain a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, wouldn’t recklessly attack one.
"Well, Fellow Daoist Jiang, you can drop me off here. For the rest of the journey, it will be more convenient for me to travel alone."
On a small hill at the outskirts of the Wilderness Jungle, Zhouyang and Jiang Fengxian landed here, about to bid farewell.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, travel safely. If in the future there’s anything you need my help with, feel free to come to Nanman Country to find me. As long as it’s within my power, I won’t refuse."
Jiang Fengxian’s beautiful eyes settled steadily on Zhouyang’s handsome face, looking at him with a smile.
"Hehe, since Fellow Daoist Jiang says so, I will remember."
Zhouyang chuckled, then cupped his hands in farewell and said, "Farewell!"
"Take care!" Jiang Fengxian returned the gesture with a smile, then watched as Zhouyang released the Golden-winged Thunder Eagle, riding the wind, quickly disappearing from sight.
After parting ways with Jiang Fengxian, Zhouyang did not enter the territory of Nanman Country. Instead, he flew along the border between Nanman Country and the Wilderness Jungle, bypassing Nanman Country, entering the domain of its neighboring country, Yuanwu Country, leaving the Wilderness Jungle completely.
He dared not return to Prison Fire City, and he also entrusted Jiang Fengxian to return Xiao Feng’s remains and relics to his disciples, while he himself aimed to go to a certain place within Yuanwu Country to find the "Nine Heavens Profound Gold" hidden by Xu Song.
Back when Xu Song prepared to bring this item out to exchange for treasures, he was thoroughly prepared, so even when Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators personally took action later, they gained nothing without capturing him.
However, guided by Xu Song this time, Zhouyang easily retrieved this treasure under a small lake within Yuanwu Country.
"Is this truly the legendary [Nine Heavens Profound Gold]? Besides being much heavier than ordinary Spiritual Gold, there’s nothing special about it."
Inside a cave on a barren mountain within Yuanwu Country, Zhouyang held a spindle-shaped dark golden metal piece before his eyes, inspecting closely, showing curiosity but also a hint of undisguised disappointment.
As he articulated, the dark golden metal, about two feet long, despite its weight being three to four times that of a similar-sized piece of Profound Iron, showed no particularly noticeable features otherwise, completely unlike the Immortal Gold that even Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators scramble for.
"Fellow Daoist Zhou doesn’t understand. Haven’t you heard that divine objects conceal themselves? Treasures like [Nine Heavens Profound Gold] mostly have restrained divine glow; unless a truly knowledgeable person possesses them, they won’t recognize the treasure even if obtained."
"If Daoist doesn’t believe, try using True Flame to burn this object; then Daoist will see its miraculous nature."
Behind Zhouyang, Ghost Servant Xu Song emerged from the "Spiritual Treasure Token" at some point, smiling as he explained the cause.