Translator: CinderTL
Starry Sky Profound Crystal.
A fifth-tier material.
This material corresponds to the Primordial Spirit level.
And the Primordial Spirit...
It is formed through the transformation of the Nascent Soul, integrating the essence, qi, and spirit of the entire body into a pure energy form. Not only can it scan vast distances with its Divine Sense, but it can also effortlessly transcend the limitations of distance and space.
Such power is beyond the imagination of all living beings on Blue Star.
Even the deities they know of might not compare to a true Primordial Spirit True Monarch.
It is an existence capable of suppressing an entire realm single-handedly.
The rarity of such a material is such that, unless the entire Azure lineage of the Taixu Sword Sect were to go bankrupt to exchange for it, it is unlikely that the entire sect could produce even one piece of this level of material.
How could Jiang Wanyu, a Golden Core cultivator, possess such a treasure?
Moreover...
"This treasure could help you transform your Lifebound Flying Sword into a Spirit Treasure once you reach the Nascent Soul stage. Why give it to me?" Li Chunjun asked.
"I believe this material will serve a greater purpose in your hands," Jiang Wanyu replied with a smile. "Not to mention, it's uncertain when I'll even reach the Nascent Soul stage. Even if I do, refining a fifth-tier material like this would take an unknown amount of time. But you're different. You've cultivated Sword Intent and have reached a minor mastery level, making it easier for you to refine this Starry Sky Profound Crystal."
Li Chunjun's gaze returned to the material, and he didn't respond immediately.
The Starry Sky Profound Crystal not only exceeded his expectations in terms of grade but also perfectly matched his needs.
If his Lifebound Flying Sword could be refined with this material, its rank would skyrocket to the pinnacle of Mystic Treasures, and its speed would reach a level unmatched in the Core Formation Realm.
At that point, any Golden Core cultivator he targeted would have no chance of survival.
Furthermore, the Starry Sky Profound Crystal was a fifth-tier material.
It could serve as the foundation for a Spirit Treasure.
If he were fortunate enough to obtain one or two more suitable fifth-tier materials in the future and refine them into the Scarlet Sky Sword, it would ascend to the level of a Spirit Treasure.
At that stage, not only would he dominate the current era and be invincible among Golden Core cultivators, but he could also face Nascent Soul True Lords head-on.
This would significantly shorten the time he had previously vowed to destroy the Chiyang Sword Sect.
"I've always wanted to give this Starry Sky Profound Crystal to someone, but I never found the right person. Junior Brother, your mastery of the Flaming Phoenix Bloodline far surpasses mine, and you've achieved minor mastery in Sword Intent at the Core Formation Realm. You are the perfect candidate," Jiang Wanyu said as she pushed the box toward him. "Please accept it."
With that, she stood up. "Alright, I won't disturb your cultivation any longer. I'll take my leave now."
"Wait," Li Chunjun called out.
He indeed desired the Void Mystic Crystal.
It would greatly accelerate his early-stage growth.
When it came to cultivation, he didn't bother with false modesty.
He stood up and said, "This Void Mystic Crystal will be of immense help to me. I'll accept it. Thank you, Senior Sister."
"I'm glad it'll be useful to you. I look forward to the day when your Flying Sword dominates the void, unrivaled in its path," Jiang Wanyu said with a smile, waving her hand as she turned to leave.
Li Chunjun looked at the crystal in the box in his hand.
After a long while, he finally spoke again, "It seems this time, my Essence Blood won't go to waste."
...
Six days later.
Li Chunjun adjusted his condition to its peak.
When his accumulated experience for advancement reached true "perfection," he didn't hesitate. With practiced ease, he began refining the Scarlet Sky Sword using his Essence Blood.
Upon reaching the True Core, Li Chunjun's control over his own body reached its peak.
He almost exhaustively squeezed out all his Essence Qi, Spirit, and Essence Blood, merging them into the Scarlet Sky Sword.
This method of refinement...
Was no less intense than a swordsmith throwing himself into the sword furnace to sacrifice his body for the sword.
As he refined all his Essence Qi, Spirit, and Essence Blood into the Scarlet Sky Sword, the restorative effects brought by his life level advancement followed closely.
The sensation of comprehensive strengthening and enhancement surged through him once again.
This time, Li Chunjun focused his mind to perceive the changes within himself.
He could discern that the energy strengthening him came from the Human Emperor Banner, a supreme treasure. However, the nature of this energy and why it possessed so many miraculous properties remained unclear to him, even though he had become the master of his own body.
After observing for a while, Li Chunjun concentrated his mind on the Scarlet Sky Sword, using his Sword Intent to guide the Starry Sky Profound Crystal into the sword.
In the process of using his Sword Intent, he suddenly sensed something.
In the next moment, the Sword Intent refining the Starry Sky Profound Crystal surged dramatically, directly increasing the efficiency of the refinement.
He knew that his Sword Intent had reached perfection.
Back when he had achieved the "epiphany" at the completion of life level 20, his Sword Intent had already made rapid progress, nearing perfection.
However, at that time, his mind was still weak, and his Divine Sense was insufficient, making it impossible to sustain the consumption of a perfected-level Sword Intent.
As he cultivated the Virtual Core and, more recently, the True Core, his control over his Essence Qi, Spirit, and Essence Blood had reached completion. However, the burden of his Lifebound Flying Sword had kept him in a state of "weakness."
Now, with the Lifebound Flying Sword finally restored through the refinement of Essence Blood, coinciding with his life level advancement and full recovery, along with the further comprehensive strengthening of his body...
The advancement of his Sword Intent was a natural progression.
"Not just the Sword Intent."
Li Chunjun condensed his Essence Qi, nurtured his spirit, and through the refinement of his spirit, transformed it into Divine Sense, which he then projected outward.
In an instant, the range of his Divine Sense perception broke through the thirty-six li limit of the Virtual Core Realm!
Moreover, it rapidly expanded to forty li, forty-five li, fifty li, fifty-five li, sixty li...
Only when his Divine Sense reached sixty-six li did the perception become difficult and blurry. This level of improvement...
"Once I cultivate the Golden Core and optimize my life form to perfection, it might reach eighty li."
Li Chunjun thought to himself.
In theory, the Divine Sense range of the Core Formation Realm is only ten to thirty li. Only a rare few who cultivate Divine Sense secret techniques, condense Sword Intent, or obtain treasures that strengthen the mind can push their Divine Sense beyond forty li, fifty li, or even sixty li.
But sixty li is essentially the limit for the Core Formation Realm.
After Li Chunjun condensed the perfect Golden Core, his Divine Sense could reach eighty li...
This was not far from the Nascent Soul standard of one hundred li.
A powerful Divine Sense meant he could detect enemies before they could locate him.
A powerful Divine Sense could also conceal his own energy fluctuations, making it difficult for enemies to detect him.
Similarly, the enhancement of Divine Sense had an immediate impact on the manipulation of Arcane Arts, control of the Flying Sword, and the circulation of power.
Although it would increase consumption and reduce endurance, the various enhancements made it difficult for Li Chunjun to gauge just how much his True Core had been strengthened.
"My combat power as a True Core is certainly more than that of an ordinary True Core. I just don't know if it has reached the level of the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy."
Li Chunjun pondered in his heart.
Although he excelled in Sword Intent and Divine Sense, his killing techniques, secret arts, and cultivation level were holding him back.
So, the only way to know for sure was to fight it out.
As he pondered, his gaze fell upon the Scarlet Sky Sword before him.
With a thought, the Scarlet Sky Sword swiftly darted around, its speed so fast that it truly seemed to transform into a streak of dark red light.
No! With the Starry Sky Profound Crystal being refined into it, the originally dark red hue of the Scarlet Sky Sword had lightened considerably.
Although it still emitted a dark red glow, the sword itself seemed to possess a certain concealment effect, making it somewhat indistinct if one wasn't paying close attention.
"It can barely be considered a top-tier Mystic Treasure now!"
Li Chunjun judged.
Next, he glanced at the Starry Sky Profound Crystal that hadn't been fully refined into the flying sword yet...
"I'll probably need to perform another Essence Blood Sacrifice... maybe even twice if my condition isn't good."
It was worth noting that he had now achieved mastery in Sword Intent.
Such Sword Intent provided immense assistance in refining flying swords.
Even so, to fully refine the Starry Sky Profound Crystal, he would still need to expend one or two more instances of Essence Blood. The difficulty of refining a fifth-tier material was evident.
But no matter how challenging the refinement, any Core Formation Cultivator who had the chance to obtain such a treasure would not hesitate to use it.
A Sword Cultivator's Lifebound Flying Sword lays the foundation for a Spirit Treasure!
In a way, it's equivalent to a Core Formation Cultivator laying the foundation for their Primordial Spirit!
They would spare no effort in striving for this goal throughout their lives.
...
Li Chunjun spent half a month adapting to the various changes brought about by his mastery in Sword Intent, his True Core cultivation, and the full recovery of his Lifebound Flying Sword.
Then, he eagerly emerged from seclusion.
After emerging, before he could inform anyone, he found Qin Zhou waiting outside the courtyard.
It seemed he had been waiting for quite some time.
At that moment, Li Chunjun cleaned himself up, changed his clothes, and headed to the main hall.
As soon as he entered the main hall, Qin Zhou quickly stood up.
However, after a moment of hesitation, he slowed his pace and walked up to Li Chunjun.
"Something happened?"
"There's a piece of news..."
Qin Zhou nodded.
He carefully chose his words before speaking, "The Chiyang Sword Sect has sent some information, saying... the Sword Prodigy's mother misses you dearly and wishes for you to return and see her."
Mother?
Hearing this word, Li Chunjun felt a bit dazed.
But it was only for a moment before he regained his composure.
Due to the growth of his mental state, his memory had also improved, allowing him to recall the woman's appearance once more.
A year ago, her specific features had already become blurry.
After all, she left when he was only three years old.
Since then, he had never seen her again.
And by the time he was seven, his father, who had occasionally shown up, had also completely disappeared.
Therefore, there wasn't much fluctuation in his expression.
Like a child who had been abandoned for too long, even if he were to meet his biological parents, there might not be much emotion to speak of.
Even...
During the hardships he and his sister endured together, there was a time when he not only didn't love them but even harbored hatred.
But as time passed, the hatred faded, and now, looking back, it was as if they were strangers.
"Is this a threat from the Chiyang Sword Sect?"
Li Chunjun asked.
"Yes."
Qin Zhou nodded with a grim expression. "The Chiyang Sword Sect's actions are utterly despicable. Our sect leader has repeatedly attempted to negotiate with them, but they have always found various excuses to brush us off."
"The Taixu Sword Sect believes in reciprocal retaliation. If the Chiyang Sword Sect intends to annihilate our entire sect, then in the future, when I annihilate theirs, no other sect can object, correct?" Li Chunjun said.
"That's only natural!" Qin Zhou nodded emphatically. "The Chiyang Sword Sect's behavior is utterly shameless!"
"Very well," Li Chunjun said calmly. "It just so happens that I have recently achieved the True Core and emerged from seclusion. I need to stretch my legs, so I'll pay a visit to the Chiyang Sword Sect."
(End of the Chapter)
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