Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

"Elder Taoist Feng Yu, Master Buhu, Qian Zhenzi, Xinggu Wanderer…"

Zhao Sheng glanced over one by one, all the people he saw were well-known Foundation Establishment talisman cultivators of Pocket World City.

They shared another identity with Zhao Sheng; they were all Loose Cultivators who had not joined the Origin Return Sect.

"Master Zhao!"

"Taoist Zhao!"

"Brother Zhao, you've come too!"

As Zhao Sheng entered, everyone greeted him in turn.

They were all Fellow Daoists of talisman cultivation and had become acquainted with each other previously.

"Everyone is well, I hope!" Zhao Sheng greeted each with a fist and palm salute, then casually found a seat and sat down.

No sooner had he settled down than the aged Elder Taoist Feng Yu leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Master Zhao, you are always well-informed. Do you know why we have been invited here?"

"I won't hide it from you, Senior, I am also in the dark. However, I think everyone here might already have some guesses," Zhao Sheng said, his words laden with implications, prompting Elder Taoist Feng Yu to nod in understanding and take his seat again.

At that moment, everyone exchanged looks, each falling silent, lost in thought.

After a while, two more Foundation Establishment talisman cultivators hurried to this place.

Zhao Sheng silently counted and realized that all the Foundation Establishment talisman cultivators who had not joined the Origin Return Sect were present.

A while later, footsteps were heard coming from outside the door.

Zhao Sheng looked towards the source of the noise and saw a "young man" with snowy eyebrows, green eyes, red lips, and clad in a red Taoist robe entering from outside.

With this person's arrival, a tremendous pressure suddenly spread out, quickly suffusing the entire hall.

Even more astonishing was the phenomenon that manifested behind him.

There appeared a faceless giant, over three meters tall, materializing out of the void.

The giant was bare-chested, with muscles bulging on the torso, occasionally producing a thousand arm illusions from its shoulders, sometimes transforming into two robust arms.

Below, its lower half was shrouded in a swirling cloud of blood mist, which churned ceaselessly, sometimes forming faceless figures within it.

Upon seeing this person, everyone's faces showed profound shock, and they stood up in unison.

Xinggu Wanderer even cried out with agitation, "Elder Jing Hong!"

"Taoist Brother Jing Hong, have you truly formed your Golden Core?" Elder Taoist Feng Yu exclaimed in disbelief.

On the side, Zhao Sheng remained silent, but he was equally astonished.

The person who had come was Jing Hong, a talisman cultivator by profession. He was quite famous in Pocket World City and was once one of the rare Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the city.

When the Origin Return Sect was established, Jing Hong had actively enlisted with them.

It was unthinkable that in just a few years, he had ascended all at once, becoming a Golden Core Master.

If the success rate of progressing from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment was one in ten, then the likelihood of a Foundation Establishment forming a Golden Core was even one in a hundred.

The Golden Core mentioned here refers to a true Golden Core, not a Fake Pill solidified by external objects.

A Golden Core Master has a lifespan of eight hundred years, unlike a False Core Master, who only has five hundred years, so they are incomparable.

Read the latest on empire

The presence of a Golden Core Phenomenon is the key to distinguishing between a True Pill and a Fake Pill.

The Golden Core has it; the Fake Pill does not. Identifying them is that simple.

In the Tianzhu Realm, most Golden Core Masters ascend with the assistance of external objects, and a True Golden Core like Jing Hong's is extremely rare, mostly found among the top echelons.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

For the recently established Origin Return Sect to have produced a True Core Master was simply inconceivable.

Zhao Sheng was not at all familiar with Jing Hong, so he did not join the others in approaching him and simply watched with a smile from behind everyone.

Once Jing Hong had greeted everyone and rekindled their rapport, the atmosphere in the hall became incredibly warm.

After bidding everyone to take their seats, Jing Hong got straight to the point, "I am very familiar with my fellow Daoists here, so I'll skip the pleasantries. Today, I have invited you all with the hope of asking you to join our Origin Return Sect. What are your thoughts on this proposal?"

As soon as these words were uttered, Elder Taoist Feng Yu was the first to stand up and decisively said, "With Master Jing's sincere invitation, I wouldn't think twice. I will join the Origin Return Sect!"

Feng Yu Elder Taoist had hardly finished speaking when someone immediately cursed in their heart, "Damn, this old geezer switched sides way too fast. He got a head start on us!"

"I'm joining too!"

"Count me in as well!"

Soon, two more people spoke up, announcing their intention to join the Origin Return Sect.

There's no need to doubt why these few were so eager.

Master Jing Hong was a perfect example for them.

Since the Origin Return Sect could quickly cultivate a True Golden Core, it had the ability to cultivate many more.

For any Foundation Establishment Cultivator aspiring to form their Golden Core, this was an irresistible temptation.

In the time it took for a few sentences to be spoken, about half the crowd had defected, swearing they would join the Origin Return Sect.

However, this left the Loose Cultivators like Zhao Sheng and Master Buhu, who were unwilling to join, in somewhat of an awkward position.

After all those willing had made their intentions clear, the rest turned their gazes towards Zhao Sheng and the others, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately turned cold.

Seeing this, Feng Yu Elder Taoist jumped back into the fray, directly questioning Zhao Sheng, "Master Zhao, could it be that you are unwilling to join the Origin Return Sect?"

Zhao Sheng felt Master Jing Hong's gaze on him, and a heavy pressure suddenly descended upon him.

Zhao Sheng remained silent, feeling some resistance to joining the Origin Return Sect.

Perhaps it was because of the strange incident he had encountered on the dark side of Heavenly Pillar Mountain some years before.

Perhaps it was his grave concern about the intense, cutthroat atmosphere of the Origin Return Sect.

Or perhaps it was an instinctual wariness.

Just then, Master Jing Hong suddenly let out a hearty laugh, drawing everyone's attention and simultaneously lifting the pressure that engulfed Zhao Sheng.

Zhao Sheng heaved a sigh of relief, then heard Master Jing Hong say, "Feng Yu, Taoist Qian Zhenzi, and the others spoke too quickly just now, and I didn't get the chance to say something.

In order to invite everyone here, our sect has made the most sincere offer.

If you join us, our sect will bestow upon you a Golden Core Level Cultivation Method that absolutely matches your Spirit Root Attribute."

Before he had finished speaking, Master Buhu couldn't help but interject, "I cultivate a Water Element Technique, and I wonder if your esteemed sect has a suitable technique for me?"

Master Jing Hong nodded and said, "Yes, in fact, we have two. 'Mystic Primordial Heavy Water Technique' and 'Wave Stepping Sea Treading Technique' are both Golden Core Techniques that fit your requirements perfectly."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng couldn't help but be tempted as well.

After all, the 'Mystical Spirit Skill' he was cultivating was a Water Element Technique.

Golden Core Techniques were incredibly precious, and in any Cultivation Forces, they were highly confidential.

Before any Cultivator was granted a Golden Core Technique, they had to swear an oath to a Heart Demon that they would never disclose it.

Even the Ksitigarbha Sect, as generous as it was, only let out techniques below the Golden Core Chapter, keeping anything above that tightly concealed.

"Master Jing, my cultivation is in the Wood Element, do you have something that fits me?"

"Yes, 'Ten Thousand Trees Reach the Sky Technique'."

"What about Fire Element?"

"The Golden Core Chapter of the 'Golden Crow Burning Sky Technique' is currently harbored within the scripture pavilion of our sect."

With each question asked, Master Jing Hong promptly provided a satisfactory answer.

Once everyone had made their inquiries, he confidently smiled and said, "Does anyone else have questions?"

"Master Jing, after joining your sect, what sect rules and precepts must we comply with? Not to conceal anything from the True Immortal, but we have long been accustomed to a laid-back life and I fear we couldn't endure overly strict constraints."

Master Jing Hong immediately responded, "Rest assured, everyone, our sect's precepts are quite lenient. As long as you don't disrespect your masters or betray the sect, there are no other restrictions."

"I dare to ask bluntly, Master Jing Hong, how did you ascend to Golden Core so quickly? Is there a secret to it?"

No sooner had these words been spoken than the hall fell silent, every gaze burning with intense eagerness as they looked at Master Jing Hong.

Master Jing Hong haughtily laughed and said, "As for the secret, there indeed is one! You all should be aware that our sect's core cultivation script is the 'Blood Soul Scripture'."

The crowd nodded in unison, for how could they not? At least half of those present had cultivated the 'Blood Refining Body Forging Technique' from the Qi Refining Chapter of the 'Blood Soul Scripture'.