177: Chapter 177 Yun Tianfan Begins Core Formation!

...

Tranquility returned to Zixiao Peak.

Shi Jian closed his eyes, but his mind was mulling over one thing.

Without heaven and earth qi, forcing a Core Formation.

Great Elder Yun Tianfan... will not survive.

Although he hadn't seen many failures, this law was truly infallible. Don't look at how Qingcang Country has gained several Golden Core Masters in recent years.

But how many people have tried to make the Breakthrough? More than just a few dozen.

It was the result of the great waves washing away the sand among over a hundred Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators from various forces, leaving only those few successful ones.

For Foundation Establishment Cultivator, if they rush to Golden Core without heaven and earth qi, nine and a half out of ten will die. The remaining half...

There is an extremely small probability of barely preserving their lives to become Cultivators of the False Core Realm, with no possibility of further Breakthrough in their lifetime...

But he didn't say it.

Daoist Yun Du also understood in his heart, understood better than anyone.

Yet there are some things in this world that, even knowing it means death, one must do.

Like a moth to a flame, refusing to turn back until hitting the southern wall; that is what this is. Knowing it is a dead end, one must still walk it to know their true self.

Besides, he is two hundred years old.

Not rushing means waiting for death. Rushing might offer a one in ten thousand chance of survival. If he is lucky enough to survive, that would be five hundred years of lifespan.

That is five hundred years! To live a few hundred years longer, who wouldn't want to fight for it!

"Sigh~"

"Life and death are fated, the Dao is heartless. The Human Race is still like this, I wonder how many of my subordinates will make it in the future?"

"It is time, it is fate."

"In the blink of an eye, all becomes empty. The Dao is long and obstructed~"

Shi Jian sighed, the contours of distant mountains reflected in his Thunder Pupils.

On the path of immortal cultivation, how many people can reach the end.

...

Half a year later.

White Cloud Temple, southern mountain range, east of Baifeng Cloud Gorge.

A high mountain was crowded with people.

The over three thousand Disciples of White Cloud Temple, whether they were Foundation Establishment Elders, stewards, or Qi Refining Disciples, were all present today.

The Sword Cultivators of the Guiyuan Sword Tomb stood on the east side, sword cases on their backs, their faces solemn.

The Elders of the Formation, Alchemy, Talisman, and Artifact Refining halls, as well as the External Affairs Hall, stood on the west side, with varying expressions.

Sun Mao stood in the front row of the crowd, hands behind his back.

His gaze was cast into the distance, toward that tightly closed Immortal Cave stone door among the distant mountain Peaks.

Zhao Yanshan stood beside him and said in a low voice: "It has come to this..."

"I hope the Grand Elder can pass through successfully."

Sun Mao did not reply.

In his heart, he knew clearly; attempting Core Formation without heaven and earth qi is called a desperate struggle when put nicely, and seeking death when put bluntly.

But no one would say this aloud.

White Cloud Temple needs this struggle.

Great Elder Yun Tianfan needs this struggle.

Even if the hope is slim, one must fight. Cultivation is like this: not advancing means retreating; advancing leads to a vast sky, while retreating leads to death and the dissipation of the Dao...

"They are here."

Sun Mao looked up.

Two rays of light flew in from the north.

The white one in front was Immortal Master Daoist Yun Du, and the purple-gold one behind, wrapped in Demonic Qi black clouds with the might of thunder, was Shi Jian.

Shi Jian did not reveal his true form today, but was shrouded in a mass of purple-gold thunder clouds, with only a pair of huge Thunder Pupils visible in the black clouds.

The pressure of the Mid-stage Golden Core was like Mount Tai pressing down.

All the Foundation Establishment Cultivator present turned pale, subconsciously lowering their heads.

"The Old Ancestor has arrived!"

A Disciple whispered.

Shi Jian did not land, but hovered a hundred zhang above the Immortal Cave, watching the scene below in silence.

Daoist Yun Du landed in front of the Immortal Cave, facing the Disciples.

"Today, Grand Elder Great Elder Yun Tianfan is attempting Core Formation."

His voice reached the ears of everyone present, not loud or soft, but every word was clear.

"This poor Daoist and Fellow Daoist Shi Jian will act as Protectors. You all shall retreat to ten miles away and must not approach without authorization. If there is any abnormal celestial phenomenon, the stewards of each hall shall act according to orders and protect the low-level Disciples as they retreat."

"Yes!"

Over three thousand Disciples responded in unison, then retreated in an orderly fashion.

A moment later, within a ten-mile radius of the Immortal Cave, only Daoist Yun Du, Shi Jian, and Great Elder Yun Tianfan inside the distant Immortal Cave remained.

The Immortal Cave stone door slowly opened.

A white-haired Cultivator walked out. Great Elder Yun Tianfan's appearance had become much older, looking somewhat like he was on the verge of death...

Two hundred years of age had left too many marks on him.

White hair like snow, a gaunt face, and deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

But his aura was as steady as a rock.

At the Perfection of Foundation Establishment, his spiritual power was extremely abundant, and clouds faintly circled his body.

"Clan Brother."

Great Elder Yun Tianfan looked at Daoist Yun Du and smiled. There was everything in that smile.

Relief, openness, and a little bit of reluctance hidden very deeply.

"Tianfan." Daoist Yun Du's throat moved, unable to say a second sentence.

"I trouble Clan Brother and Senior Shi Jian to be my Protectors." Great Elder Yun Tianfan bowed toward the thunder mist in mid-air, as if he were saying goodbye.

Shi Jian's Thunder Pupils blinked, a form of acknowledgment.

Great Elder Yun Tianfan turned around and faced the depths of the Immortal Cave.

He took a few Jade Slips from his sleeve and handed them to Daoist Yun Du.

"These are the notes on the affairs of the halls I have managed over the years, as well as the draft of the Sect's plan for the next thirty years."

"If I cannot pass... Clan Brother, please execute according to this."

"It will save Clan Brother quite a bit of effort."

Daoist Yun Du took the Jade Slips, his fingers trembling slightly, a sense of desolation rising in his heart.

"You will pass."

Great Elder Yun Tianfan smiled, noncommittal.

"Also, among the young Disciples, I have my eye on three people."

"Sun Chengzhu's talent in the Dao of the Sword goes without saying, and that child Lu Xun has a Lightning Spiritual Root; he will surely have great fortune in the future..."

"The other one, a female Disciple named Lin Ruoshui, is also a Dual Spiritual Root seedling. Her Water Spiritual Root is excellent. If she can obtain the heaven and earth qi of the Water Dao, she also has the Aptitude for Core Formation."

"Clan Brother, just keep that in mind."

After saying this, Great Elder Yun Tianfan took one last deep look at the sky outside.

Blue sky and white clouds, green mountains.

Good weather.

Suitable for meeting death, and also suitable for Rebirth.

"I am going."

He turned and walked into the Immortal Cave.

The stone door closed.

Thus, the inside and outside were cut off.