Chapter 231 - 125: 30,000 Guan Around the Waist

Chapter 231: Chapter 125: 30,000 Guan Around the Waist

More importantly, this change wasn’t just limited to the present; it also elevated his future path.

The Fierce Lion Burning Blood Technique transformed from a Scattered Immortal’s method into a Half-Life Immortal Technique!

Even if this was the only use for the Karma Fire Gold Essence, it was already worth its exorbitant price and rarity.

"Ugh."

As his Physique grew stronger, Lin Shu found that his Body-Nourishing Spirit Root was healing his injuries several times faster.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, then nonchalantly tugged at his lapels to cover the rapidly healing wounds.

The atmosphere among the disciples below had already reached a peak. ’I might as well keep lying here for a bit,’ he thought. ’It’s quite comfortable, anyway.’

"This stuff is too little, just enough for a taste. It’s no fun. Once we save up more, I’ll let you eat your fill all at once."

Lin Shu gave the Filthy Moon Wolf Lord an encouraging look, using his Heart Thought to paint a beautiful future for it.

The wolf cub, which had been a little dejected, instantly grew excited upon hearing this. It panted and nodded repeatedly.

"Your turn."

He shifted his gaze to the Little Cyan Sparrow.

Lin Shu first summoned the wisp of Immortal Qi that Yu Sheng had given him and tried to merge it into the Cyan Sparrow’s phantom image.

This little bird’s phantom had been born from the aura Yu Sheng left behind in the Old Woodshed. As they shared the same origin, the two quickly fused into one.

The Calamity-Crossing Cyan Simurgh had devoured Yu Qiheng’s Soul, raising its upper limit to the Golden Core.

Next, by investing Merit Coins, he could help it grow and gain another source from which to borrow techniques.

Moreover, this Little Cyan Simurgh grew by devouring Merit Coins, so its Magical Power was more compatible with his status as an Immortal Disciple, which would be helpful when traveling through Yongzhou in the future.

As one Jade Glow Silver Ingot after another flew up, a surging white river roared and poured into the Cyan Sparrow’s body.

[Fifth Grade Core Formation. Cyan Simurgh Nourishing Yuan Palace: Minor Success]

Using Merit Coins to raise an Immortal Technique Level was a much slower process. Just for the Middle Third Grade, it required nearly a thousand silver ingots to break through a single barrier.

Not to mention, he also had to simultaneously increase the proficiency that represented his Realm.

The cost was terrifyingly high.

But no matter how high the cost, it couldn’t withstand the sheer quantity he possessed.

As a thousand Merit Coins poured in, the Inner Technique quickly reached the limit of the Fourth Grade, entering the state of Great Success.

...

Upon breaking through to the Late-stage of Core Formation, the Mountain and Sea Immortal Mansion inside Lin Shu’s body trembled violently.

The vast aura was completely locked within his body by the Tribulation-Resisting Spirit Root. Let alone the many disciples below, even Yu Sheng, who was pressed close against him, didn’t notice anything unusual.

The nine crimson blood dragons became incredibly thick, tightly connected to the Immortal Mansion.

This was the limit of "Nine River Attraction"!

Another three thousand Merit Coins were devoured by the Calamity-Crossing Cyan Simurgh.

ROAR!

Within the Spirit Sea formed from Dao Essence, blood dragons suddenly leaped up one after another. With immense momentum, they surged into the Immortal Mansion in unison.

In an instant, a hundred dragons soared across the void, seeming to occupy the entire sky!

[Core Formation Third Grade. Cyan Simurgh Nourishing Yuan Palace: Perfection]

Lin Shu closed his eyes. In a mere moment, he had already completed the entire Core Formation path.

He now possessed an Inner Technique at Upper Three Grades Perfection, forging the "Absorbing Hundred Rivers" phenomenon.

If not for his missing heart and the resulting lack of the fire element, with this foundation, he would have had a fifty percent chance of successfully manifesting a Sixth-Transformation Dragon Tiger Treasure Pill!

But now, he could only continue his deductions and seek out the final phenomenon.

’I’ve already used four thousand...’

The Inner Technique was already at Perfection, and the Realm could not be broken through any further. The only thing left was to raise its grade.

Therefore, the Merit Coin consumption also decreased significantly; a little over two thousand was enough to break through one barrier.

"Hah."

Lin Shu looked at his dwindling supply of Merit Coins and actually felt a hint of nervousness.

Finally, when only six hundred silver ingots remained.

The final notification abruptly popped up.

[First Grade Core Formation. Cyan Simurgh Nourishing Yuan Palace: Perfection]

Above the Spirit Sea, the hundred blood dragons roared and disintegrated, transforming into crimson wisps.

They resembled a spider’s web, or perhaps the veins of the stars.

In an instant, heaven and earth abruptly inverted. The Spirit Sea became the firmament, enveloping the Immortal Mansion that stood between towering mountains!

’Is this "Star Fighting"?’

Lin Shu’s eyes were tightly shut as he sank into introspection.

But a trace of shock still flickered across his pale face.

Never mind ordinary Cultivators; it was likely that even those Golden Core Powerhouses had rarely witnessed this phenomenon with their own eyes.

’Come!’

Lin Shu went all in, taking advantage of the moment his internal Spiritual Power was at its peak to pour in the remaining several hundred Merit Coins all at once.

The scarlet veins glowed simultaneously, like countless blood vessels expanding and contracting.

Inside the Immortal Mansion, the already-formed Mud Pill was engulfed by the Dao Essence surging in from all directions.

Its rough surface gradually gained a luster.

It was no longer as lifeless as before, and it even began to bob gently, as if it had gained Spirituality and was slightly joyful.

Once the Dao Essence was completely consumed.

An esoteric pattern had appeared on the smooth, round Elixir Pill.

A Third-Turned Spirit Firming True Pill’s purpose is to solidify a Cultivator’s Spirituality, allowing them to completely shed their mortal body.

At this moment, Lin Shu’s Mud Pill had clearly undergone one round of refinement.

It could be called the "First Transformation."

Although it couldn’t allow him to truly transcend mortality, it now possessed a slight bit of Spirituality.

He was still a ways off from stepping into the Golden Core Realm, but there was now a fundamental difference between him and all other beings below the Golden Core.

’I get it. Half-Step Golden Core Great Perfection.’

’I wonder if they’ll invite me to the Golden Core meetings.’

Lin Shu was in a great mood, even teasing himself in his mind.

The Nine-Turns Purple Sky Golden Core was still Illusory and Vague.

But from now on, as long as he had enough Merit Coins to refine the Mud Pill three times, he would possess the ability to manifest a Third-Turned Spirit Firming True Pill at any moment.

If he ever ran into an enemy he couldn’t beat and couldn’t escape from, he could just break through on the spot and take them down with him.

[The arsonist wears a belt of gold, the bridge-builder’s bones lie cold. For killing one Spiritual Object, you are awarded 6,000 Sin Coins. Additional reward: one mace of Karma Fire Gold Essence.]

Just then, another notification popped up, adding joy upon joy.

Lying on Yu Sheng, Lin Shu looked toward Yongzhou Pass with some surprise.

Zhao Zhiyue’s death, however, was within his expectations.

Even with the Cloud Dragon Demon Monarch injured, Demon Monarch Hong Ling alone would have had no trouble finishing off a ferocious tiger that had been blasted away at point-blank range by the Mountain God Mirror.

What surprised him was that he had actually received Sin Coins.

’So the criterion is whether my participation played a decisive role?’

Lin Shu recalled his first Sin Coin. If his predecessor hadn’t gotten involved, Mrs. Chen wouldn’t have died because of that incident.

It was likely the same principle this time.

Without the Mountain God Mirror grievously wounding him, Zhao Zhiyue could not have died at Yongzhou Pass.

But in a situation like when the Group of Demons besieged Yu Duchuan, where the Immortal Descendant was doomed to die whether he intervened or not, he probably would have had to land the killing blow himself for it to count.

In any case, he had struck it rich.

The amount of Sin Coins had now reached 16,800 silver ingots. As long as he could absorb them all...

Lin Shu no longer looked toward the magnificent Border Region, but turned his head to look at Yongzhou on the other side.

He stared at the dense tribulation clouds. In addition to his previous wariness, his eyes now held a new, imperceptible trace of excitement.