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Southeastern border of Liang Kingdom.
Amidst a collapsed mountain, dust still swirled in the air.
A fierce Core Formation-level battle had just ended.
Zhang Tieshan coughed up blood, forcibly circulating his spiritual power to stabilize his shaking and weakened body.
Looking at the corpse of the True Dan stage cultivator not far away, a gleam of joy flashed in his eyes.
"Not bad. A Fake Dan cultivator managing to slay a full-powered True Dan stage cultivator. Even in the grand and ancient Central State's cultivation world, it's a rare sight."
A childlike yet deliberately aged voice echoed in Zhang Tieshan's mind.
"If not for your help, Senior Artifact Spirit, this junior wouldn’t have been able to achieve this," Zhang Tieshan said humbly as he stepped forward to collect the spoils from the Feng Kingdom True Dan cultivator’s body.
Three years ago, after trading for the Five Element Earth from Lan Chang'an, the progress in restoring his spiritual treasure fragment had advanced significantly, awakening more of the treasure’s spiritual power.
Though it could only unleash a portion of its abilities and for a short time, it was already enough to suppress most ordinary magical treasures.
"When do you plan to reform your core?"
"After this mission, I was hunted by the Feng Kingdom’s True Dan cultivators. This is the perfect opportunity to leave the sect and battlefield for a while. Once my wounds are healed, I’ll head to Wangyue Immortal City to transform the core back into liquid and form my core again."
Zhang Tieshan swallowed two pills and answered respectfully.
"Hmm. With my assistance, your Core Formation will be smooth. If I grant you a bit of spiritual treasure energy, it could even enhance the quality of your core."
"Thank you for the generous gift, Senior!" Zhang Tieshan exclaimed joyfully.
"If you can help this Artifact Spirit recover more fragments and absorb other pieces of spiritual essence, this minor benefit is nothing."
The childlike voice continued.
"By the way, you can use that remaining portion of Five Elements Soil during your Core Formation."
"Five Element Earth?" Zhang Tieshan asked, puzzled.
"Five Elements Soil, also known as the universal soil source, can be used as a spiritual object for Core Formation. Not only can it improve the quality of the core, but it also stabilizes the formation process, reducing risk."
"Unfortunately, since your cultivation method isn’t earth-based, it won’t yield its full potential as a core-forming spiritual object."
...
Back at Autumnwind Isle, in the underground chamber beneath the residence.
Lan Chang'an took out two jars of Five Element Earth, one of which was only half full.
The Earth Burrowing Rat’s eyes lit up with excitement, nearly drooling as it stared at the two jars in its master’s hand.
"Five Elements Soil—the legendary Heaven and Earth spiritual object, the universal soil source. And the Earth Burrowing Rat is a creature of the earth element..." Lan Chang'an quickly understood.
He recalled that he had only ever encountered brief mentions of the Five Element Earth in ancient texts and was unclear on its full uses.
At the moment, Lan Chang'an could only confirm that the Five Element Earth could be used as a core-forming spiritual object for earth-elemental beasts or cultivators with earth-aligned cultivation methods.
Whether it could be used as a general-purpose core formation item was still uncertain.
"If the Five Elements Soil can be universally used as a spiritual object, then that trade with Zhang Tieshan might not have been as advantageous as I thought..." Lan Chang'an mused.
Fortunately, he had strictly controlled the amount of Five Element Earth he traded.
If that superior Core Dissolution Technique could significantly enhance the quality of his future core, then the deal would still be worth it.
"Hmm, this half jar of Five Element Earth—should be enough for you, right?" Lan Chang'an asked with a smile.
Squeak, squeak!
The Earth Burrowing Rat nodded eagerly, like a chick pecking at grain, extending its paw to receive the half jar of Five Element Earth.
But just as it was about to take it, Lan Chang'an seemed to think of something and pulled the jar back.
Squeak?
The Earth Burrowing Rat looked puzzled, staring pitifully at its master.
"Follow me!"
Lan Chang'an led the way through a tunnel, heading toward the bottom of a deep pool.
At the bottom of this pool stood a stone chamber, concealed by a formation that shielded it from water.
Inside the chamber was a large porcelain vat filled with multicolored soil, where the Xuanmu Vine was planted. The vat had a large hole at its base, allowing the Five Element Earth within to connect with the soil of the lakebed and absorb the natural essence of the earth.
Nearby, the Profound Water Turtle was busy performing a cloud rain spell, watering the Xuanmu Vine.
Focused intently on its task, the Profound Water Turtle didn’t even notice Lan Chang'an and the Earth Burrowing Rat enter the chamber.
Although the Profound Water Turtle was normally lazy, it was very diligent when it came to watering the Xuanmu Vine.
This unusual behavior led Lan Chang'an to suspect that the turtle was gaining some hidden benefit from the process.
However, he had yet to observe any significant changes in the turtle.
Lan Chang'an himself frequently nourished the vine with his Evergreen mana, but he hadn’t felt any clear benefits either.
Puh-oh!
Annoyed by the disturbance, the Profound Water Turtle let out a grumpy noise as Lan Chang'an dug a small portion of the Five Element Earth near the gourd vine.
The Earth Burrowing Rat shot a stern glare at the turtle, which quickly quieted it down.
"Is this enough?"
Lan Chang'an handed the small portion of Five Element Earth to the Earth Burrowing Rat.
After regularly nourishing the Xuanmu Vine, Lan Chang'an had discovered that the Five Element Earth from this spot seemed to possess greater spiritual essence—an indescribable vitality.
In comparison, the Five Elements Soil stored separately seemed to lack that same level of spiritual vitality.
Squeak!
The Earth Burrowing Rat looked a bit disappointed as it took the reduced portion of Five Element Earth.
After a brief exchange, Lan Chang'an confirmed that this amount of soil would suffice.
The reason the Earth Burrowing Rat had wanted more was that Five Elements Soil, aside from being a core-forming spiritual object, had immense benefits for earth-elemental beasts in general.
At its core, the tension stemmed from an unequal distribution of power and resources.
Decades ago, the Xia Family had been the dominant force in the Wufu Merchant Association, with the guild leader's position always held by the Xia family.
But ten years ago, a Fake Dan cultivator emerged from the Xin Family, younger than the Xia Family’s patriarch, Xia Hongyu.
Although the Xia Family had ceded some power, the Xin Family remained dissatisfied, clashing with the Xia family over their differing approaches to guild management.
If Xia Shenglan stayed with the Xin Family, she would be completely isolated and strictly monitored by her husband’s family.
...
One month later.
In the northern part of Jing Kingdom, within a branch of the Black Fog Mountain Range.
A steel fortress stood in a valley basin, concealed by a third-rank formation.
Inside the side hall of the steel fortress, a man and a woman sat across from one another.
"Xiang Immortal, I apologize for keeping you waiting."
Hanyu Immortal, with her silver hair and snow-white robe, her skin as delicate as jade and her demeanor icy, politely apologized to Lan Chang'an.
"No matter. After all, this spiritual vein site isn’t solely owned by your merchant guild."
Lan Chang'an, disguised as an elderly man with a straw raincoat and the surname Xiang, responded calmly.
Half a month ago, Lan Chang'an had reached out to Hanyu Immortal from the Snow Fox Merchant Association, planning to borrow their special demonic spiritual vein located in the Black Fog Mountain Range.
Hanyu Immortal had readily agreed but also imposed some conditions.
In addition to paying a usage fee for the site, Lan Chang'an would owe the Snow Fox Merchant Association a favor.
The guild only asked for a verbal commitment.
Naturally, Lan Chang'an agreed without hesitation.
Upon arriving at this secret base, Lan Chang'an learned that the Snow Fox Merchant Association shared ownership of the site with another merchant guild, and one of the guild’s spiritual pets was currently attempting to break through to the third rank.
"The formation and the training chamber are prepared. Please, Xiang Immortal, follow me."
Receiving a message via jade slip, Hanyu Immortal gestured for Lan Chang'an to accompany her.
They walked side by side until they reached the heart of the steel fortress: a grand cultivation hall.
This hall was equipped with a Spirit Gathering Formation and a Demonic Fiend Formation, its spiritual pressure nearing that of a third-rank spiritual vein—perfect for a beast attempting to break through to the third rank.
"What’s your companion’s name? And what kind of demonic beast are they attempting to raise to the third rank?"
A burly man in a tiger-skin cloak stood at the entrance to the cultivation hall, his tone indifferent as he asked.
Hanyu Immortal gave Lan Chang'an a knowing glance.
"So, this is Huxiao Immortal from the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association."
Lan Chang'an had heard of him before. Hanyu Immortal had mentioned that this man was the overseer of the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association at this site.
Upon arriving at this special spiritual vein, Lan Chang'an had also learned that although the Snow Fox Merchant Association and the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association jointly controlled the site, the latter had more authority.
This was because the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association was far stronger and known as the best in Jing Kingdom when it came to beast taming.
The Snow Fox Merchant Association had initially discovered this spiritual vein site, but after the information leaked, they had been forced to share it with the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association.
"I’m just a minor loose cultivator who formed a Fake Dan in a small place. I haven't yet taken on a Daoist title. The beast attempting to form its core this time is an earth-element demonic beast."
Lan Chang'an didn’t reveal any useful information.
He had previously communicated with Hanyu Immortal that this core formation for his spiritual pet would need to be kept highly confidential.
Huxiao Immortal snorted coldly but didn’t ask any more questions as he opened the door to the cultivation hall.
The Snow Fox Merchant Association controlled half of the site’s usage rights, and he had no reason to block their access.
...
"Huxiao Immortal's previous quasi-third-rank tiger demon died in battle. Later, he raised the offspring of that tiger demon, which attempted to form its core a month ago by consuming a Sha Yuan Pill, along with a standard core-forming spiritual object. Unfortunately, the tiger demon’s attempt failed. The pill’s medicinal power was too intense, causing a backlash that resulted in the tiger demon’s cultivation level dropping..."
Inside the cultivation hall, Hanyu Immortal explained the situation.
This was likely the reason for Huxiao Immortal's foul mood.
"Understandable," Lan Chang'an nodded before listening to Hanyu Immortal’s instructions on how to use the hall.
"This formation token can control the hall’s formations, adjusting the intensity of the spiritual pressure..."
After a few more words, Hanyu Immortal left the hall.
She was quite curious about the type of spiritual pet Lan Chang'an was raising to the third rank and what kind of core-forming spiritual objects he had prepared.
However, Lan Chang'an had been tight-lipped, revealing no crucial details.
Still feeling uneasy about the hall's formations, Lan Chang'an added several more layers of his own restrictions.
He even placed isolating materials crafted from Shadowstones around the cultivation bed, preventing any outside spiritual sense from probing the area.
Once everything was ready...
The Earth Burrowing Rat emerged from its spirit pet bag and sat on the stone bed in the center of the hall.
Squeak!
The Earth Burrowing Rat glanced at its master, then closed its eyes in peace, beginning to circulate its bloodline power and demonic energy.
Lan Chang'an sat a few zhang behind it, personally guarding the process.
Half a day later, the Earth Burrowing Rat had smoothly entered the initial stages of core formation, with its essence, energy, and spirit steadily rising.
The early stages of core formation posed little risk.
Lan Chang'an’s gaze drifted toward the northeast, beyond the Black Fog Mountain Range.
Looking in that direction, his eyes seemed to pierce through countless distances, spanning across Jing Kingdom, passing by the Beast Taming Zhou Family and Wuqi Mountain.
Further north, his gaze eventually reached the location of the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm.
"I'm already 146 years old. The last time the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm opened was exactly fifty years ago."