Translator: AnubisTL
"Today, by fortunate coincidence, so many fellow cultivators have gathered here. Since I, Li, have just successfully achieved core formation, let us hold a Core Formation Celebration today!"
"This will also be an opportunity for me to share some insights I gained during my core formation process. I hope you won't find them unworthy of your attention."
Li Qing spoke in a clear, resonant voice, radiating confidence and vigor.
His words stunned the assembled cultivators, but their shock quickly gave way to delight.
"Senior Li's generosity is truly remarkable!"
"Senior Li's generosity is truly remarkable!"
For a newly formed Core Formation True Lord to impart insights from his breakthrough was an exceedingly rare opportunity for these rogue cultivators.
Even if most of them might never have a chance to apply such knowledge, simply hearing it would do no harm.
The majority of them were rogue cultivators, lacking any established sect or powerful backing.
Such precious insights were virtually impossible for them to access under normal circumstances.
Their expressions were filled with excitement as they prepared to memorize every word of Li Qing's teachings.
Even if they couldn't use the knowledge themselves, they could pass it on to their descendants. Who knew? Perhaps a future generation might find it invaluable.
The gathering numbered over fifty cultivators, mostly from the foundation establishment realm, with only a handful still in the qi refining realm.
The crowd was so large it rivaled the number of elders in a small sect.
Li Qing couldn't help but sigh as he surveyed the crowd, realizing the commotion surrounding his core formation had indeed been significant, drawing cultivators from far and wide.
He shuddered to think what the scene would have been had his core formation failed.
"Heh, please come in, everyone!"
Though Li Qing's cave abode was spacious, accommodating such a large crowd would still be cramped.
Without hesitation, Li Qing flicked his fingers, sending several streams of razor-sharp true essence soaring forth like swords. Instantly, the cave walls crumbled like tofu under the onslaught.
He was expanding the cave abode on the spot, relying solely on his true essence without using any magic artifacts.
Witnessing Li Qing's decisive actions, many foundation establishment realm cultivators felt a chill run down their spines. They knew that even top-grade magical artifacts might not withstand such an attack.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As the cave abode expanded exponentially, a significant portion of Nanyang Spirit Peak's interior was hollowed out. Now, there was ample space to accommodate all the cultivators present.
"Heh, please come in, everyone!" Li Qing chuckled, gesturing invitingly.
Patriarch Zhao Tianxiong of the Zhao Family was the first to step forward, presenting a lavish gift. "Congratulations, Senior Li, on your successful core formation," he said. "This humble offering is a token of our heartfelt congratulations!"
He handed over a spirit wood box, its exquisite craftsmanship hinting at the valuable contents within—certainly no mere token!
Li Qing smiled faintly and accepted the box without hesitation, though his words remained polite. "Patriarch Zhao, you're far too kind. Your presence alone would have been enough. Bringing such a gift is truly excessive!"
Despite his words, Li Qing subtly extended his divine sense to examine the contents of the wooden box.
Inside lay several Clam Pearls, each the size of an infant's fist!
Clam Pearls stored in a spirit wood box were clearly no ordinary pearls. These were precious treasures likely produced by an ancient Clam Demon.
Whether used for artifact refinement or ground into powder for medicinal purposes, they would undoubtedly prove invaluable.
After storing the wooden box in his storage pouch, Li Qing's smile grew noticeably more pleased.
Soon, Fan Mingdong, the owner of the Azure Wind Merchant Guild, and the Clan Heads of several cultivation clans also presented their gifts.
"Senior Li, this spirit ginseng is a small token of our respect! Please accept it with our humble wishes!"
"True Lord Li..."
"Hahaha, you've all been so thoughtful," Li Qing chuckled. "This Li is unworthy, but I shall humbly accept your generosity."
Li Qing nearly burst with joy as he surveyed the gifts.
A three-hundred-year-old Purple Origin Ginseng, a small piece of Dragon Blood Wood, and a jet-black feather of unknown origin—even he couldn't identify it!
It had to be said, these leaders of regional powers truly knew how to conduct themselves. Their gifts were meticulously chosen and immensely pleased him.
As these dignitaries entered the cave abode, the remaining rogue cultivators felt a pang of awkwardness.
Compared to the others, they had come unprepared, intending only to observe the spectacle. The thought of gift-giving hadn't even crossed their minds.
But no matter. A guest is a guest. How could one refuse a personal invitation from a Core Formation True Lord to attend his Core Formation Celebration without causing a serious loss of face?
So, even without prior preparation, they reluctantly rummaged through their storage pouches and produced a few spirit stones as gifts.
Li Qing accepted everything without discrimination, regardless of quantity, storing it all in his storage pouch.
Of course, he silently noted those whose gifts were particularly "thin."
For his core formation, he had nearly exhausted his entire fortune and was in desperate need of replenishment.
After welcoming the last qi refining realm cultivator inside, Li Qing clapped his hands and strode into the cave abode.
"Heh heh, please forgive me, everyone. This Core Formation Celebration was arranged rather hastily, and I haven't had time to prepare any delicacies or fine dishes to entertain you. I hope you won't take offense!"
As soon as these words were spoken, many inwardly scoffed, You're a core formation realm senior! Who would dare take offense?
Even if they were only served a bowl of water today, they would still shower him with flattering remarks!
Of course, Li Qing had no intention of actually serving his guests only water.
As a connoisseur of fine wines, Li Qing had stored quite a bit of spirit wine in his storage pouch. Though it wasn't some rare nectar of the gods, its flavor was remarkably good.
Li Qing proceeded to retrieve jar after jar of spirit wine from his cave abode. With a subtle manipulation of energy, he drew the wine from the jars and poured a full bowl for each guest.
"Hmm, the aroma of this wine is so intense! Just the scent alone is intoxicating, and it makes my vital energy surge. This is truly rare spirit wine!" someone exclaimed.
Soon, many others joined in the praise.
Li Qing found their exaggerated compliments amusing. This wine isn't nearly as remarkable as they're making it out to be.
Do you remember the two Medicinal Liquor recipes he had given to the orphans at the black market?
On a whim, he had bought a large quantity of spirit rice and brewed a batch of spirit wine. He then acquired demon beast bones and rare insects from the black market to create this unique brew.
It could be considered an improved version of both the Tiger Bone Nourishing Wine and the Five Poisons Blood-Activating Wine. He wasn't sure how it tasted, as he had been too busy preparing for his core formation breakthrough to open a jar. The wine had been aging in his cave abode all this time.
"Everyone, let us raise a toast!"
"May your dao paths be smooth and prosperous!"
At Li Qing's lead, everyone raised their wine bowls high and drained them in one gulp.
"Hahaha, refreshing!" Li Qing set down his bowl, cleared his throat, and began to speak:
"Regarding this core formation breakthrough, I've had many profound realizations. I now deeply understand just how arduous the immortal dao we pursue truly is."
"We cultivators spend our entire lives striving on this path. For what purpose? Simply for the sake of longevity!"
"The pursuit of the immortal dao is solely for the sake of eternal life!"
His words struck a chord with everyone present. Cultivating immortality—what else could it mean but seeking eternal life?
Imagine if they hadn't embarked on the immortal dao. Many would likely already be buried beneath the earth.
Having already set foot on the immortal path, what did hardships matter?
Would anyone willingly abandon it now?
The word "abandon" rolled off the tongue easily, barely a brush of the lips. But putting it into practice? Few could truly do it.
Li Qing smiled faintly and said, "Next, I will share some insights and personal experiences from my core formation. If they can help you in the future, it would be my honor."
Anticipation quickly spread across everyone's faces. This was precisely why they had come.
And so, Li Qing began to detail his personal insights from his core formation, as well as the insurmountable obstacles one might encounter during the process.
Naturally, he kept silent about secrets related to his cultivation manual's transformations. His relationship with these people wasn't close enough for such revelations.
Even so, these firsthand insights were invaluable lessons, the kind many might never encounter in their entire lives.
Most importantly, Li Qing had just completed his core formation, making his recollections of the process exceptionally vivid.
As Li Qing highlighted one key point after another, many faces lit up with sudden understanding.
"Hiss... So that's how it is! The assistance of spiritual objects during core formation truly seems crucial."
"..."
Li Qing spoke with enthusiasm, and the audience listened intently.
When he finished, many still wore expressions of lingering satisfaction.
"May I ask, True Lord, what kind of Spiritual Root do you possess?"
The question sparked immediate curiosity among the crowd, eager to learn about Li Qing's innate aptitude.
A person's spirit root aptitude wasn't exactly a secret; revealing it to others was generally harmless.
Li Qing smiled faintly and replied, "This humble one lacks water among the Five Elements. Otherwise, I'd be a complete waste of cultivation talent with all five spirit roots."
Hearing Li Qing's self-deprecating words, gasps of cold air echoed through the crowd.
While many had long suspected Li Qing's spirit root aptitude, hearing him personally admit to possessing only a Pseudo Spiritual Root still sent a shockwave through the assembly.
"Truly a miracle," someone murmured.
Indeed, a cultivator with a Pseudo Spiritual Root had just achieved core formation before their very eyes! What else could this be but a miracle?
Many present were cultivators with three spirit roots, or even dual spirit roots—considered quite exceptional aptitude, otherwise they wouldn't have reached foundation establishment.
Yet compared to Li Qing, they felt their own spirit roots were wasted on them.
As the crowd reeled from this revelation, a casual voice rang out from outside Li Qing's cave abode:
"I'd heard someone on Nanyang Spirit Peak was undergoing core formation. It seems they've succeeded."
"Heh heh heh, which fellow Daoist has attained the Golden Core fruit here? I, Gui Fan, wish to make their acquaintance and pay my respects!"
Outside Li Qing's cave abode, a tall, handsome man stood suspended in mid-air, a jet-black ghost sword strapped to his back.
It was none other than Gui Fan, the young sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect, whom Li Qing had encountered earlier in the Ancient Imperial City.
(End of the Chapter)
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