261: Mid-stage Golden Core realm is just around the corner!

A faint, dark light flashed in Lu Ming's eyes.

"If I use him as the main soul for the soul devouring banner, combining the Imperial Dao with the Ghost Dao, it might just produce a wondrous chemical reaction!"

Just imagine, in the future, with Ji Ruge commanding ten thousand ghosts, he might actually end up earning the title of 'Emperor of the Underworld'!

That would truly be a proper "human emperor banner!"

However, thinking about that now is still too far off; I should focus on the task at hand!

Ignoring the dharma body working diligently on the side, Lu Ming took out Cheng Qingxuan's corpse, which was still warm.

It's still quite fresh; gotta strike while the iron is hot...

That was, of course, a joke.

A Golden Core Cultivator already possesses a trace of immortal golden essence; their Physical Body will not decay for a thousand years, and if the Golden Core within is not interfered with by external forces, it will turn into an existence similar to a 'sarira'.

Looking at Cheng Qingxuan's corpse, Lu Ming began to ponder his subsequent Cultivation matters.

"Shen Yuan, Ji Ruge, and Cheng Qingxuan—the corpses of these three Mid-stage Golden Core Cultivators are enough for me to take a big step forward in the Early Golden Core Stage!"

Although it is not enough to break through to the Mid-stage Golden Core in one go—after all, I still need to distribute some spiritual power to nurture the dharma body!

But if I can take down Mu Han as well, with his Late Stage Golden Core cultivation, even if it is a heavily injured body, it would be enough to make up for the final gap and cross the threshold of the Middle Stage in one fell swoop.

It might even be that this Breakthrough speed will be faster than the speed of breaking through from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core!

"In this way, when I walk out of the Southern Wilderness Region, I will be at the Mid-stage Golden Core level. By then, no matter where I go, I will have a measure of self-preservation power."

A glint of anticipation flashed in Lu Ming's eyes, and his hands had already formed an arcane dharma seal.

The 《Asura Prison Tribulation Scripture》 began to circulate with a roar!

This fourth-tier Cultivation Technique ultimately fell into Lu Ming's hands, but unfortunately, it only contained the third-tier content.

In Ji Ruge's memory, there was no Origin for this Cultivation Technique, because it was left behind by the founding emperor of the Immortal Dynasty.

However, because the 《Asura Prison Tribulation Scripture》 fundamentally conflicted with the Immortal Dynasty's imperial Cultivation Technique—one being insidious and treacherous, the other grand and upright—and coupled with the lack of fourth-tier content, there was absolutely no need to change his Cultivation Technique.

Thus, the 《Asura Prison Tribulation Scripture》 had been sealed away ever since.

It wasn't until Ji Ruge's generation that he realized his cultivation could not progress any further, and not wanting to give up on the immortal path, he had crooked thoughts and dug up the 《Asura Prison Tribulation Scripture》.

However, Ji Ruge did not change his Cultivation Technique... actually, even if he wanted to, he couldn't!

He was already at the Mid-stage Golden Core, his dao foundation had long been set, and abandoning his cultivation to start over would be tantamount to seeking his own death.

So he only selected a few secret techniques from it that were useful to him.

For example, the Blood-Drawing Foundation-Seizing Method, the Myriad Spirits Congealing Elixir Secret Record, and the Asura Dharma Body.

Oh right, the Asura Dharma Body is also known as the Asura Path — Dao Outside Incarnation!

Among these secret techniques, he used some for his schemes and kept others for his own use.

But now, they have all benefited Lu Ming!

Although it was a pity that there was no fourth-tier Cultivation Technique, Lu Ming didn't care that much.

He was still a long way from the Nascent Soul Stage; since he hadn't even figured out the Golden Core stage yet, he shouldn't be overly ambitious.

When the time came that he needed it, he would have already left the Southern Wilderness Region.

He believed that by then, some kind-hearted person would contribute a fourth-tier Cultivation Technique for him.

Withdrawing his wandering thoughts, Lu Ming formed an arcane dharma seal in front of him with both hands, and the aura around his body suddenly became deep and obscure.

"Devour!"

Following a low shout from his mouth, an invisible vortex seemed to form in his palm, and a powerful suction force instantly enveloped Cheng Qingxuan's corpse.

The corpse shuddered violently, and wisps of extremely pure life essence began to emanate from it.

This life essence displayed a pale cyan luster, and as if guided by an invisible force, it turned into a trickling stream, continuously flowing into Lu Ming's palm.

It then surged and circulated along the Meridians in his body, finally returning to his Dantian and Qi Sea.

At the same time, at Cheng Qingxuan's Dantian, that pigeon-egg-sized Golden Core, with faint, mysterious patterns on its surface, also began to tremble violently.

It seemed to sense a fatal threat and instinctively resisted the devouring force.

"Hmph, an ownerless object, yet you dare to act presumptuously!"

Lu Ming snorted coldly, his dharma seal changed again, and the devouring force intensified abruptly.

The surface of the Golden Core began to crack inch by inch, and finally, the purest Origin golden essence was forcibly extracted.

This was a power far more vast and condensed than the essence of flesh and blood, and it even contained the essence of Cheng Qingxuan's lifelong cultivation.

As this golden energy poured into Lu Ming's body, it made the Meridians all over his body feel a sense of distension and burning.

He immediately circulated his Cultivation Technique, beginning to guide and refine this powerful force.

At the same time, his own Golden Core was also spinning rapidly in his Dantian, greedily absorbing the Origin golden essence.

The luster upon it became increasingly brilliant and solid at a speed visible to the naked eye, and its volume also grew slightly larger.

The entire process lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

When the last trace of Origin golden essence was completely extracted, Cheng Qingxuan's corpse completely turned into a withered, lifeless husk.

Finally, impacted by the surging Spiritual Pressure around Lu Ming, it completely turned into flying ash and dissipated.

Lu Ming slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance passing through his pupils, and the aura around him was significantly stronger.

Feeling the surging spiritual power in his body and his more solid Golden Core, he nodded with satisfaction.

"As expected of a Mid-stage Golden Core, the Origin is truly abundant. At this rate, once I finish refining the other two, and then take down Mu Han... Mid-stage Golden Core, it is just around the corner!"