18: As the Golden Core was first formed, the Demonic Source began to stir.

The terrifying willpower impact was like an invisible tsunami, sweeping across the entire Star Gazing Platform. The starlight vortex violently swayed, flickering erratically, as if it could collapse at any moment.

Lin Xuan bore the brunt of the attack, feeling as if his Divine Soul had been struck by a heavy hammer. His vision went black, a metallic sweetness filled his throat, and he spat out another mouthful of fresh blood. He endured the tearing pain in his Sea of Consciousness, frantically circulated the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art and his own Spiritual Qi, desperately maintaining the connection with the “immortal abode pivot token” and the Formation.

"Lin Xuan!"

"Junior Martial Brother!"

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan exclaimed simultaneously. Ignoring their own churning Qi and blood, they flashed to Lin Xuan's sides, one on the left and one on the right. Su Wanqing placed her jade hand against his back, continuously transferring pure and cool Taiyin Spiritual Power to help stabilize his Sea of Consciousness and calm his agitated Qi and blood. Qu Feiyan, meanwhile, formed hand seals, deploying a pink light barrier to try and weaken the invisible willpower impact. Her charming face was filled with seriousness and concern.

Gongsun Yu also struggled to get up, slapping several treasured "Calm Mind and Soothe Spirit Talismans" onto Lin Xuan as if they were worthless.

Aided by the Three women, Lin Xuan's pressure slightly decreased. He fiercely bit the tip of his tongue; the sharp pain jolted his spirit, and a look of absolute resolve flashed in his eyes. He couldn't continue passively enduring this!

"Help me hold on for ten breaths!" Lin Xuan roared, completely abandoning his defense. He sank his entire mind into his body, frantically mobilizing his Foundation Establishment Peak Spiritual Qi, while simultaneously drawing upon the initially purified Power of Stars gathered by the Circumferential Stars Purification Grand Array, slamming it fiercely against the incomparably solid Realm barrier!

He was actually attempting to forcefully assault the Golden Core Dao at this moment, using the pressure from the demonic source and the Power of Stars!

"Are you insane!" Qu Feiyan cried out. How dangerous was it to break through from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core? It required secluded cultivation and complete preparation; the slightest mistake meant death and the scattering of the Dao! Attempting a Breakthrough in such a desperate situation was tantamount to seeking death!

Su Wanqing's face was also deathly pale, but sensing the resolute will and surging power within Lin Xuan, she gritted her silver teeth. Instead of stopping him, she transferred even more pure Grand Yin Origin Power to him, her cold voice filled with undeniable conviction: "I will help you!"

Her Taiyin Youying Bloodline Power, being supremely Yin and pure, could perfectly form a subtle balance and assistance with Lin Xuan's extremely Yang and rigid Spiritual Qi and the neutral and peaceful Power of Stars!

Seeing this, Qu Feiyan narrowed her charming eyes and stopped talking nonsense. A blood-red lotus phantom bloomed behind her, and a pure stream of Charming Essence Power, imbued with a strange vitality, also merged into Lin Xuan's body, helping him harmonize the potential conflicts between those powerful forces. Although her Red Dust Charming Bone Technique leaned toward unorthodox methods, it had unique merits in balancing Yin and Yang and stabilizing the mind.

Gongsun Yu desperately activated all the remaining defensive Talismans, setting up layers of light shields around the four of them. Although they shattered like paper under the terrifying willpower impact, they barely managed to buy a moment of respite.

Inside Lin Xuan's body, it was like the creation of heaven and earth! Vast Spiritual Qi, surging Qi and blood, cool Taiyin Power, alluring Charming Essence, pure starlight... several powerful forces wildly collided and merged within his Meridians and Dantian! The Realm barrier groaned under the strain, cracks spreading like spiderwebs!

In this world, the Cultivation Rank is strictly hierarchical, divided from bottom to top into:

· Qi Refinement Stage: Absorbs Spiritual Qi, tempers the Physical Body, condenses spiritual power. Lifespan can reach 150 years. Divided into layers one through nine.

· Foundation Establishment Stage: Spiritual Qi liquefies, establishing the Dao Foundation. Capable of flying with artifacts. Lifespan is 300 years. Divided into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak four stages.

· Golden Core Stage: Liquid condenses into a Core, the beginning of the Great Dao. If the Golden Core is not destroyed, spiritual consciousness transforms into Divine Sense. Lifespan is 1,000 years. Divided into three stages: False Core, Solid Core, and Golden Core, with each stage having Early, Middle, and Late periods.

· Nascent Soul Stage: Golden Core breaks into a Nascent Soul, the Divine Soul materializes. Can initially comprehend the Law of heaven and earth. If the Nascent Soul is not extinguished, Possession and Rebirth are possible. Lifespan is 3,000 years. Divided into Early, Middle, Late, and Great Perfection four stages.

· Soul Transformation Stage: Nascent Soul transforms into Soul Transformation, Divine Soul roams the Void Realm. Initially grasps the Power of Space. Divine Abilities are vast. Lifespan is 10,000 years. Divided into Early, Middle, Late, and Peak four stages.

· Void Refining Stage: Divine Soul merges with the Void Realm, refining the Void Realm. Can create a small Cave Heaven. Words become Law. Lifespan is tens of thousands of years. Divided into Early, Middle, Late, and Perfection four stages.

· Body Integration Stage: Divine Soul, Physical Body, and Cave Heaven perfectly integrate, forming a prototype of a Small World, worthy of being called a Great Power. Lifespan is over 100,000 years.

· Mahayana Stage: Law reaches Perfection, awaiting the Ascension Heavenly Tribulation. The Peak existence of this Realm. Lifespan is nearly endless.

· Undergoing Tribulation Stage: Passing the Ascension Heavenly Tribulation allows for Ascension to the Immortal Realm, transcending this Realm. Failure results in turning to ash and smoke or dissolving the body to become a Loose Immortal.

And at this moment, Lin Xuan was standing on the chasm separating Foundation Establishment Peak from the Golden Core Dao!

"Boom—!!!"

A tremendous sound, like the beginning of Chaos, burst forth from within Lin Xuan! The cracked Realm barrier shattered completely! Endless Spiritual Qi and various energies frantically rushed into his Dantian, spinning rapidly, compressing, and condensing!

A Golden Core, the size of a longan, its surface wrapped in faint gold, moonlight white, and pink tricolored halos, with what seemed like flowing nebulae inside, containing terrifying power, finally took complete shape!

Golden Core, formed!

In that instant, Lin Xuan's Aura surged dramatically! His previously depleted Spiritual Qi was instantly replenished, and both its quality and quantity underwent earth-shattering changes! His Divine Sense spread out like a surging tide, its coverage expanding by more than ten times, becoming more concentrated and acute! Every cell in his Physical Body was rejoicing, filled with infinite power!

He officially stepped onto the Golden Core Dao, becoming an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator!

"He succeeded!" Gongsun Yu cried out in pleasant surprise.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan also sighed in relief, smiles of relief appearing on their faces. However, when they looked at each other, the smiles became slightly nuanced. Both had spared no effort in helping him Breakthrough just now, and it was hard to tell whose contribution was greater.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, a golden light flashing and disappearing within his pupils, which were as deep as a sea of stars. Feeling the surging Golden Core Power within him, and the tighter bond with Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan formed by their joint effort in helping him Breakthrough, a sense of heroic spirit immediately arose in his heart.

He looked up, gazing toward the demonic source deep within the immortal palace, his eyes sharp as knives.

The willpower impact from the demonic source still existed, but for him now, the pressure had greatly decreased.

"Now, it's our turn to strike back!"

He took a step forward, releasing the Golden Core Prestige around him without reservation, completely fusing with the Circumferential Stars Purification Grand Array! The starlight vortex, which had been flickering about to die out, suddenly stabilized and rapidly expanded, drawing in even thicker and purer starlight.

The Light of Purification, like a prairie fire, began to counter-corrode the surrounding Devilish Qi!