Qingcang Mountain Range, a secluded valley.
Shen Mo had previously met Mo Yuheng here.
There was a deep cave nearby, where a large rock python could appear at any time.
This time, he had come back here.
However, this time, he was preparing to condense the Inferno Golden Core here.
Inside the cave, the large rock python smelled a familiar scent and immediately made a hissing sound.
Before long, a gigantic python head emerged.
Shen Mo took out several high-quality thunder crystals and threw them into its mouth.
Then, he gently stroked the scales on its nose.
The giant python instantly relaxed.
"I'm going to cultivate here. Keep an eye out for me," Shen Mo said with a smile.
The giant python blinked, indicating its understanding.
Only then did Shen Mo sit down cross-legged and take out various treasures.
"Forty-five top-grade treasures of the profound rank, and nine treasures for body restoration, all prepared."
He sighed with emotion.
The materials required to condense the Inferno Golden Core were too many.
Nine times more than what was needed for the Perfect Golden Core.
Therefore, he was even more looking forward to seeing the difference after condensing the Inferno Golden Core.
"Let's begin!"
Five treasures floated in front of Shen Mo, corresponding to the five elements: gold, wood, water, fire, and earth.
Vast spiritual power surged out, enveloping the five treasures and rapidly refining them.
These incredibly pure spiritual energies poured into Shen Mo's dantian, converging on the Dao platform.
Under the convergence of the five spiritual energies, a smooth golden core gradually took shape.
After two hours, the golden core condensed.
It was incredibly perfect, without a single crack.
It was indeed a Perfect Golden Core.
At that moment, Shen Mo's aura soared, reaching the Core Formation stage.
In the sky, a celestial phenomenon was about to appear.
Without hesitation, Shen Mo steeled himself and shattered the core!
With a cracking sound, the newly formed Perfect Golden Core shattered.
A sharp pain emanated from his abdomen.
Shen Mo spat out a mouthful of blood.
The most powerful defensive ability of a Core Formation stage cultivator is to expel the golden core from their mouth and strike the opponent.
This attack is extremely powerful.
But also extremely risky.
After all, the golden core is quite fragile.
Once shattered, it would directly degrade to the Foundation Establishment stage.
Naturally, Shen Mo suffered severe injuries as a result.
The celestial phenomenon that was about to form in the sky also gradually dispersed.
The giant python suddenly crawled over, blinking its large eyes, looking at him with concern.
Shen Mo felt warmth in his heart, "I'm fine, thank you for your concern."
The giant python pointed its tongue at the storage ring on his finger.
As if to say, if you're about to die, make sure to take out the minerals from the storage ring.
Shen Mo, "..."
All the warmth was for nothing!
Shen Mo took a few deep breaths and took a Longqing Protective Pill.
The verdant medicinal power surged, rapidly repairing Shen Mo's injured body.
In half an hour, his body was mostly healed.
"Begin the second core formation!"
Shen Mo took out five more top-grade treasures of the profound rank and started forming the core again.
The Perfect Golden Core was successfully condensed. Just as the celestial phenomenon was about to appear, he shattered the core again without hesitation.
After shattering the core, he quickly took the Longqing Protective Pill and other fast-acting healing pills.
This cycle repeated.
The celestial phenomenon in the sky also repeatedly appeared and disappeared.
If it had a temper, it would probably be cursing by now.
Time passed bit by bit.
The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time...
Until...
"The ninth time!"
Crack!
The ninth core formation, the ninth core shattering.
Shen Mo was drenched in cold sweat, almost collapsing.
He knew he had succeeded.
But, where was the promised Inferno Golden Core?
Just as Shen Mo was preparing to curse the ancestors of the Inferno Sect, something unusual happened in his dantian.
Shen Mo immediately inspected his dantian internally.
A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator's dantian consists of a lake of spiritual power and a Dao platform.
However, Shen Mo's physique and cultivation method were stronger than others, and the Dao platform he condensed was also a Perfect Dao Platform.
Therefore, while others had a lake of spiritual power, his dantian was practically a vast sea of spiritual power.
At this moment, Shen Mo felt something rising from the bottom of the sea of spiritual power.
Before long, those things all broke through the surface.
They were the fragments of the previously shattered Perfect Golden Cores!
Shen Mo's eyes widened as he instinctively activated the Inferno Annihilation Sutra.
Sure enough, the fragments rose and converged even faster.
In the blink of an eye, they gathered above the Dao platform and reformed into one!
Boom!
A golden core far larger than the previous nine Perfect Golden Cores suddenly appeared!
Its size was equivalent to that of three Perfect Golden Cores.
Unlike the radiant surface of those Perfect Golden Cores, this one was covered in crimson stripes.
Even more astonishing to Shen Mo was that this golden core could automatically shatter and reform!
It could split into a total of forty-five fragments.
Each fragment could be used to attack enemies!
When all forty-five fragments were unleashed together, it was like a meteor shower raining down from the sky.
Unless a cultivator was more than two minor realms above Shen Mo, they would find it difficult to withstand such terrifying power!
If used well, it could have unimaginable effects!
After all, no one would expect Shen Mo's golden core not only to shatter but for the fragments to also be capable of attack!
"Wow, the Immortal Hell Flame was a genius! Coming up with such an extraordinary golden core!"
Shen Mo was overjoyed.
At the same time, astonishing celestial phenomena suddenly appeared around him.
A torrential downpour suddenly drenched the vegetation.
The plants grew wildly, becoming incredibly robust in an instant.
The overgrown plants soon shed many withered branches, which accumulated rapidly and ignited in the dry, hot environment.
The fire burned, reducing the plants to ashes in no time.
The ash accumulated, forming mountains and stones, which eventually cracked, revealing incredibly hard metals inside.
The metals, exposed to the elements, gradually condensed water droplets.
The water droplets increased, forming large rivers.
On the banks of these rivers, the vegetation grew strong again.
And so, the cycle repeated.
Each cycle expanded its influence.
After nine cycles, the phenomena gradually subsided, but the affected area reached three hundred feet!
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was so disrupted that it could not recover for a long time.
Shen Mo was slightly amazed.
He seemed to understand the essence of cultivation.
To build the Dao platform, one needs the five elemental foundations.
Condensing the golden core also requires these five elemental foundations.
Regardless of one's constitution, ultimately, one must complete the other attributes to pave the supreme immortal path.
Buzz!
A vast aura suddenly radiated from him in all directions.
Dust swirled.
But within a radius of thirty feet around Shen Mo, there wasn't a speck of dust.
After a while, the dust settled.
Shen Mo also exhaled a breath of impure air.
He gathered his strength and suddenly punched the air in front of him.
The technique was simple, just a Yellow-rank Tiger Roar Fist.
However, when he threw this punch, it seemed as if a fierce tiger appeared out of nowhere, ready to devour anyone in its path.
The tiger's roar echoed through the mountains for a long time!
Spiritual energy from all directions converged, compressing suddenly and blasting forward.
Thirty feet away from Shen Mo, a giant tree, which would take three people to embrace, was suddenly struck by the air.
In an instant, it exploded into countless pieces!
Shen Mo smiled slightly.
This was the power of a Core Formation stage cultivator!
Every move connected with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
With just a little spiritual power within, one could unleash power far beyond that of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator!
Shen Mo suddenly leaped into the air.
Spiritual energy gathered beneath his feet.
Although there was nothing under his feet, he felt as if he was floating in mid-air.
After a brief adjustment, he shot through the sky like a stream of light!
Just the ability to ride the wind and walk on air was enough to set a Core Formation stage cultivator far above the Foundation Establishment stage!
The world is vast, and I am free to roam!
🌟 Unlock Exclusive Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers!
Join my Patreon community to enjoy:
📚 Daily Updates: Never wait for new chapters—get your story fix every day!
📖 20 Chapters Ahead: Access new chapters far in advance of RoyalRoad releases.
Support the creation of the stories you love and dive deeper into my world!
Patreon.com/Alex_Cruise