"However, this junior has just comprehended the intent of heaven and earth and needs a few days to adjust my state. Senior, please use this item to recover from your injuries first," Chen Yuan said.

"Good."

Moro nodded slightly, not pressing the issue.

Because forcing it would be futile; cultivation values stability above all else.

Chen Yuan was also not in a rush to break through. The area within a hundred miles of the Sunken Blood Lake was sparsely populated, and no one would disturb him. Nor would anyone try to interfere when he was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Of course, even if there were, he wouldn't be afraid.

Furthermore, only a month had passed since he left the capital city, leaving him with ample time before the deadline that Zhang Yantong had given him.

There was no need to rush into a breakthrough immediately.

After speaking, Chen Yuan rose from the lotus, while Moro slowly sat upon it, a smile on his lips. Staying by the side of a heaven-favored person would bring good fortune.

Now was such a time.

Sitting cross-legged, Moro immediately entered a state of meditation. An invisible force began to envelop him, while Chen Yuan smiled and closed his eyes as well.

...

...

Time passed day by day. Chen Yuan continued to comprehend the lingering Dao aura from before, and his own aura began to become more and more harmonious, while Moro's aura became even more ethereal.

During this time, no one came to cause trouble. The commotion caused by Chen Yuan's previous breakthrough went unnoticed, and everything was moving in a stable direction.

Seven days passed in a flash.

On this day, when the midday Yang energy reached its peak, Moro opened his eyes, his aura much improved compared to before.

Chen Yuan also opened his eyes at the same time.

The two exchanged knowing smiles, and Chen Yuan nodded, saying:

"How are your injuries, Senior?"

Moro said calmly:

"After three days of seclusion here, this monk's primordial spirit has recovered nearly half of its injuries."

Chen Yuan:

"Then congratulations, Senior."

This was a sincere statement. Moro was closely related to him. The better Moro recovered, the safer Chen Yuan would be. He believed that as long as a Sixth Realm immortal did not descend,

with Moro's possessed power, he could likely roam the world freely.

"I must thank you, Fellow Daoist, for this opportunity."

"Senior, you flatter me. This junior dares not take the credit," Chen Yuan said thoughtfully.

Perhaps this place did help Moro recover a lot, but he felt that a large part of it was due to the Ascending Immortal Fruit. This immortal fruit was so highly valued by the Dao Lords of the Dao God Palace; it couldn't be completely useless.

More likely, Moro had spent the past seven days using the power of this place to fully absorb the Ascending Immortal Fruit's power. Of course, this was just his own speculation.

Until Moro confirmed it, no one knew the true situation.

"However, the remaining injuries will not be so easily healed," Moro said with a faint smile.

"Oh?"

"Next, this monk will likely have to leave alone for a period of time."

"Where does Senior intend to go?"

Moro turned his gaze to the north, saying softly:

"Beyond the borders, to the Northern Barbarians."

Chen Yuan nodded, not saying much. He estimated that he couldn't help much. The north was not like the south. Although this place was also adjacent to the Southern Wilderness, with demonic tribes causing trouble,

at least no major disturbances had occurred in over a hundred years. But the north was different; the barbarian tribes raided the borders every year, making it too dangerous. Unless Moro insisted, he himself had no interest in going there.

His foundation was in the south.

And Moro seemed to understand this, which was why he said he would leave alone for a period of time.

"When does Senior plan to leave?"

"In a few days, perhaps,"

Moro said.

"Mm."

Moro's somewhat illusory primordial spirit body slowly rose from the lotus. The moment he rose, the illusory lotus began to gradually crumble, and after the lotus disappeared,

the ancient tree trunk below also began to dissipate gradually.

Chen Yuan and Moro once again went deeper into the lake bottom, watching as the ancient tree trunk, over a hundred meters long, melted away, returning to its previous state.

Chen Yuan slowly walked forward, his eyes flashing.

The Yin and Yang energies that had flowed into it had completely disappeared and did not return to his body. He figured that they must have been nourishment for this Underworld Bone Tree.

As expected, the opportunities pointed out by the Destiny Altar were often closely related.

For example, the Yin and Yang energies and that bit of starlight.

Without these things, Chen Yuan was afraid that even if he found the opportunity, he wouldn't have been able to see the mystical changes in this thing.

Everything was destiny.

"Senior, can this be taken away?"

Chen Yuan asked, pointing to the withered wood rooted in the lake bottom.

Compared to before, this section of withered wood was even more decayed, as if it had consumed most of its power in helping Chen Yuan break through. But no matter what, this thing was an extraordinary spiritual object.

Perhaps it would be useful for something else in the future.

Moro slowly closed his eyes and placed his hand on the withered wood. After a long while, he slowly shook his head, saying:

"This thing cannot be taken away. This ancient tree is connected to the earth, rooted thousands of meters deep. It may seem like only a short section, but its volume is too large. Even if it were taken away,

it probably wouldn't survive."

"It seems this thing is not meant for me."

Chen Yuan smiled. Since he couldn't force it, there was no need to. Anyway, this thing would always remain here, and he could come back to take it if he really needed it.

After confirming that this thing could not be taken away, the two did not linger any longer. Chen Yuan casually did some disguising before leaving the lake bottom.

During their conversation, Chen Yuan also learned of Moro's speculation about this thing, saying that it was a bit strange and different from the Underworld Bone Tree recorded in ancient texts.

At least, the records never said that this thing could help people comprehend the Dao.

Chen Yuan also nodded in understanding, not delving too deeply.

Even Senior Moro, with his extensive knowledge, found this thing strange. To him, it was naturally even more mysterious. Investigating would only be a waste of time.

However, thinking that this thing might be useful in the future, Chen Yuan still took a small piece of the withered wood and placed it in the Heavenly Book space.

Leaving the Sunken Blood Lake, Moro asked Chen Yuan where he wanted to break through. Chen Yuan's answer was that anywhere near the Sunken Blood Lake was fine; the desolate area was perfect for breaking through.

As for the thinness of the heaven and earth spiritual energy...

What were spirit stones for?

He, Chen, had accumulated a considerable fortune from experiencing so many exterminations. Although he hadn't compared it, he figured that even a Core Realm grandmaster probably didn't have as many savings as he did.

Even a Transformation Realm Perfected Master might not be able to match him.

With the breakthrough location decided, the rest was much simpler. Chen Yuan found a mountain peak in the northwest direction of the Sunken Blood Lake and leveled the area with a single slash.

Then, spirit stones were buried in the ground according to the positions of a formation.

In fact, unless it was a secret realm with dense spiritual energy, a Spirit Gathering Formation was indispensable for breaking through, regardless of the location. The only difference was the amount of energy required.

After setting up the Spirit Gathering Formation, Chen Yuan began to prepare for his Heavenly Core breakthrough.

Moro remained calm, his figure even concealed in the void, both to protect Chen Yuan from disturbances and to prevent Chen Yuan from being distracted.

Before Chen Yuan was about to break through, Moro did not offer any guidance, so as not to influence Chen Yuan.

For Core Realm grandmasters, most had already found their own path. This was even more true for someone like Chen Yuan, so there was no need for much guidance. As for the breakthrough process,

he had already memorized it thoroughly.

Whether it was the Dao Lords of the Dao God Palace or Zhang Yantong of the Sky Surveying Division, they had all described the breakthrough process to him. Therefore, Chen Yuan no longer needed any guidance.

Chen Yuan closed his eyes, his mind completely immersed. The solid core within his dantian was also gradually rotating under the guidance of his mind, adjusting his own state.

One must not be careless during a breakthrough!

Chen Yuan was no stranger to the Heavenly Core realm. He knew that it was the limit of the Core Realm, progressing step by step from the False Core to the Solid Core, and then to the highest level, the Heavenly Core.

His strength was also gradually increasing.

Comprehending the heaven and earth spiritual energy was a necessary process for breaking through to the Heavenly Core. In addition, the solid core had to be perfectly round and without any flaws, otherwise it would not be able to withstand the influx of massive heaven and earth spiritual energy into the core.

And once Chen Yuan broke through, he would only be one step away from the Transformation Realm, and he could begin to seek a place outside the capital to build up his strength.

Therefore, this level was crucial for Chen Yuan.

At the same time, it would bring him strength far beyond what he had before!

In the martial world, almost every grandmaster who shook the Jianghu was a Heavenly Core cultivator. Only at this level could they truly stir up the winds and clouds of the Jianghu. Like Tang Xianzhuo, the forces they sat over would be called top-tier forces.

Without other powerful figures, dominating a prefecture would be easy.

On the Wind and Cloud Ranking, almost all of the top fifty experts, with the exception of a few geniuses, were Heavenly Core grandmasters. This was the limit of the Core Realm.

It was also the source of being called a "grandmaster."

Chen Yuan closed his eyes and breathed, his aura gradually merging with the heaven and earth. Sitting there, under the influence of the Dao aura, he seemed to have truly integrated into the heaven and earth.

Another three days passed. He had already raised his aura to nearly its peak, and the core spiraling within his dantian was spinning frantically.

Finally, when Chen Yuan's aura completely reached its peak, he opened his eyes, exhaled a long breath, and a look of solemnity and determination flashed in his eyes as he whispered:

"Today, enter the Heavenly Core!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Yuan's aura soared into the sky, his blood surging. Every tremor sounded like the descent of the divine thunder from the nine heavens, and the heaven and earth spiritual energy within a thousand meters began to be stirred along with it.

Above Chen Yuan's head, a palm-sized vortex began to condense, and then suddenly began to expand at a speed visible to the naked eye. In a short while, it grew to several zhang in size.

And this... was not enough!

With a thought, the Spirit Gathering Formation that Chen Yuan had set up earlier was activated, and beams of spiritual energy began to converge on the vortex. Under the dissipation of the spirit stones,

the surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy began to surge!

The density of spiritual energy increased several times in just ten breaths, and the size of the vortex began to expand even further, gathering the heaven and earth spiritual energy within several thousand meters.

It was like a giant tornado.

And in the center of the tornado was Chen Yuan!

His body, which was sitting cross-legged, began to slowly float, gradually reaching the center of the vortex. In the void, due to the restlessness of the spiritual energy, the winds and clouds began to gather.

The dark clouds, like an army pressing down on the border, obscured the entire sky and earth.

Chen Yuan looked up at the sky, realizing that the time had come. He immediately opened his mouth, and a core as solid as a substance rose up with a bang, heading straight to the center of the spiritual energy vortex.

As soon as the solid core arrived, the gathered heaven and earth spiritual energy began to converge towards the solid core almost frantically.

A huge pressure also pressed down on him like the collapse of the sky.

At the same time, Chen Yuan closed his eyes again. The solid core absorbed the heaven and earth spiritual energy above his head, while he immediately stabilized his mind, refined the spiritual energy, and endured the pressure of heaven and earth.

At this moment,

only this one person existed between heaven and earth!

...

...

In the nearby void, Moro quietly watched the commotion of Chen Yuan's breakthrough, nodding slightly. The range covered by the spiritual energy had gradually reached over ten li.

It was even stronger than when he broke through in the past.

Although this didn't mean much, it at least showed that Chen Yuan's foundation was exceptionally stable and that he could withstand far more heaven and earth spiritual energy than ordinary grandmasters.

His strength was naturally far beyond that of those in the same realm.

In his opinion, Chen Yuan would likely be able to reach the top three of the Wind and Cloud Ranking once he broke through to the Heavenly Core. If he combined this with his powerful methods,

without the Transformation Realm, he could be called invincible in the Core Realm.

And if Chen Yuan's cultivation reached the peak of the Core Realm, perhaps... even a Perfected Master could be killed!

Even without relying on other external forces.

This was different from Jiang He. Although he seemed to be a Core Realm cultivator, he had already cultivated a primordial spirit, which was only residing within his core.

It was normal for him to be able to resist Perfected Masters. In fact, if it weren't for fear of attracting attention, Jiang He's strength would have been enough to kill that old Cloud Family ancestor when he came to demand an explanation!

When Chen Yuan reached the true peak of the Core Realm, he would also be able to do this.

"Perhaps it won't take too long for him to grow,"

Moro whispered to himself with a faint smile.

If Chen Yuan's cultivation speed could continue as it was now, Moro estimated that he would have the strength of a True Monarch in at most three years.

And by that time, his own primordial spirit injuries would probably be completely healed. With the talent of the Heavenly Sword Dao Lord Jiang He, he would also be able to break through to the Yang God Realm.

In addition to Jiang He, the Nether Prison Dao Lord Chu Changfeng also had a great chance of breaking through.

At that time, the Dao God Palace would have at least three True Monarch-level combatants. With this strength, apart from immortal sects like Mount Spirit, they would be completely fearless of other immortal sects like the Seven Kill Hall and Mount Shu.

As long as immortals did not appear, the Dao God Palace would be able to roam the world unhindered.

By that time, he would be able to start preparing to retrieve his physical body from Mount Spirit!

Three years...

This was a node!

And he would do everything in his power to help Chen Yuan grow within these three years until one day, he no longer needed him.

Jiangdu Prefecture, Chen Family Village.

It was still that lake, still that boat, and still... that person.

Wu Daozi seemed to always be that same way, calmly fishing for willing fish in the lake, watching as it trembled in his hand. He gently pulled, and another three-jin carp fell into the fish basket.

While waving the rod in his hand, Wu Daozi said faintly:

"If you've come, you've come. Why bother hiding?"

"This seat just wanted to see if your cultivation is truly gone." In a moment, a black-robed figure slowly appeared beside Wu Daozi. It was Chen Yuan's uncle, whom he had never met.

"What? You're still hoping that this old man with old arms and legs will help your Chen Family conquer the world?" Wu Daozi chuckled softly.

"Chen Yuan grew up under your care. Why? Are you unwilling to help him?"

The black-robed man said slowly.

"This old man only has a broken body left. What can I do to help him?"

"This seat doesn't quite believe it. This old fellow has always liked to hold back. I didn't feel it before, but the more I thought about it after returning, the more I felt that something was wrong."

"This old man thinks you're confused. Alright, what did you come here for today?"

Wu Daozi said casually, his eyes still fixed on the lake.

"Can't this seat come to reminisce with you?"

"We already reminisced before."

"You old fellow is really a bit boring. After decades of not seeing each other, you're still the same as before."

"Heh..."

"Alright, since you're unwilling to reminisce, then this seat will speak directly. I'm here today to tell you two things."

"Speak, then. Don't be so long-winded."

"The first thing is that Chen Yuan is fine. The one who assassinated him this time was the Wheel-Turning Yama of the Seven Kill Hall. Ten days ago, according to the information I received, he has already fallen."

"Isn't that normal? With over a hundred thousand heroic souls of the Chen Family Army here, not to mention the Wheel-Turning Yama of the Seven Kill Hall, even a True Monarch-level Yama would probably only be able to fight to a draw. Is that even worth mentioning?"

"Old Wu, if you dare to be rude again, this seat will kick the fish in your fish basket into the lake."

Wu Daozi curled his lips:

"Alright, you go on."

"This time, the people who hired the Seven Kill Hall were the three major families of Dongying. Old fellow, do you think this seat should give these dwarves some suffering?"

"That's up to you. Hmm... How did you find out so clearly?"

Wu Daozi frowned and turned his gaze to the man in black, thoughtfully.

"This seat has said that I have my own ways."

"What about the second thing?"

"According to the information I received, the Xiang Family and the people of the imperial court are now tracking down your whereabouts. Old Wu, what secrets do you still have?"

The black-robed man turned his gaze to Wu Daozi.

"You want to know?"

"Would you tell me?"

"What secrets could this old man have? You're thinking too much. Instead of wasting time on that, you might as well think about when your nephew will break through to the Heavenly Core, and when he will reach the Transformation Realm."

Wu Daozi said casually.

"With his talent, he will definitely break through within a year."

"Want to make a bet?"

"What bet?"

"Within a month, this kid will definitely break through."

"Impossible. How long has it been since he broke through to the Solid Core? I think you're getting senile."

"Heh, forget it. If you don't want to bet, then you don't want to bet. Boring, boring..."

...

...

Sunken Blood Lake.

Chen Yuan, who was sitting cross-legged in the void, suddenly opened his eyes, shooting out a beam of light. Then, a long roar shook the sky, dispersing the enveloping spiritual energy vortex.

Now, he had reached his limit.

With a thought, the solid core suspended in the void shone brightly, like a small sun. At the same time, the dark clouds enveloping the void were pierced by sunlight, which fell on the golden core.

On this day, Chen Yuan broke through to the Heavenly Core Realm!