Chapter 195 – Supreme-Grade Golden Core with Twelve Patterns, Supreme Great Dao Path to Heaven

“Little Dong, it seems I’ve underestimated you, kid. You really have some substance.”

“I thought you might be a sore loser, but I didn’t expect your Dao Heart to be so steadfast. Truly worthy of being the Qilin Son of our Jiang Family, you haven’t disappointed your aunt.”

Jiang Qing looked at Jiang Dongliu who had flown back, stepped forward and patted his shoulder, speaking with clear approval.

In response, Jiang Dongliu rolled his eyes at Jiang Qing in exasperation.

Because he clearly remembered how resistant his aunt had been when he first mentioned wanting to spar with Lu Chen.

Though he knew she meant well, fearing his Dao Heart might break.

But this worry was completely unnecessary.

Who did she think he was?

He was the current eldest direct descendant of the Jiang Family, the Sword Institute Chief of Clear River Dao Academy, the youngest Scripture Master in Qingzhou Shanhai Division’s history – Jiang Dongliu!

How could his Dao Heart possibly break so easily!

Even if he lost to Lu Chen, even if one day he truly proved inferior and died by Lu Chen’s hand, cut in half at the waist.

He would only blame himself for being too weak, for not letting Lu Chen fight to his heart’s content.

Not resent Lu Chen for being so strong.

The strong wield their swords against the stronger, while the weak throw punches at the weaker.

What Jiang Dongliu cared about was never winning or losing.

Because in his eyes, his only opponent was always himself.

Losing to others meant nothing.

But if he conceded defeat in his heart before even crossing swords, that would truly affect his Dao Heart.

Because that would mean he had lost to himself.

Although Jiang Dongliu had lost to Lu Chen in their Sword Path contest, if they were to fight seriously without limiting themselves to just sword techniques,

Jiang Dongliu believed the final victor would be himself.

Because the ‘Imperial Jade Seal’ transformed through Bai Ze’s Shanhai Scripture Master ability was comparable to a Fourth Realm Dao Artifact.

And a Fourth Realm Dao Artifact was equivalent to a Dao Integration Realm Sword Domain.

So as long as he used this ‘Imperial Jade Seal’, even if Lu Chen had mastered multiple Dao Integration Realm Sword Domains, he would still struggle to contend against Jiang Dongliu in this state.

But for someone as proud as Jiang Dongliu, he had no interest in bullying the weak.

Just as he had said, using Golden Core Stage cultivation to deal with someone at Foundation Establishment Stage

was already somewhat embarrassing in itself.

If he had to resort to the power of Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts in the end, even if he won, it would be an unfair victory.

Yet thinking about how Lu Chen could master four Dao Integration Realm Sword Domains while still at Foundation Establishment Stage, Jiang Dongliu couldn’t help but clench his fist.

“Aunt, I want to return to the family ancestral land for a while.”

“Hmm?”

Hearing Jiang Dongliu actually wanted to return to the ancestral land, Jiang Qing quickly understood he had been stimulated by Lu Chen and was preparing to train seriously.

Thinking this, Jiang Qing smiled and said: “Alright, I’ll tell your mother later and have her take you to the ancestral land.”

“But you need to be prepared – what remains in the ancestral land are all the past powerful experts of our Jiang Family.”

“Though they’ve only left behind wispy remnants of their souls, each was once a renowned existence.”

“Without gaining their approval, you won’t be able to leave even if you want to.”

“Can you endure that solitude?”If it were before today, the easygoing Jiang Dongliu would naturally be unwilling to confine himself to one place for a long time.

Especially not a place like the Ancestral Land where the flow of time differs from the outside world.

Spending five years in such a place might mean only one year passes in the outside world.

And that would mean Jiang Dongliu couldn’t play with pretty young ladies for five years.

But compared to these, the current Jiang Dongliu felt he had found something more interesting.

That was to strive to reach the Harmony Realm before the Dao Academy competition.

By then, he believed that even if only in terms of the Sword Path, he should be able to compete with Lu Chen.

And that day wouldn’t be too far off.

Because during this brief spar with Lu Chen, he vaguely felt he had touched the threshold of that realm.

At this moment, it was as if there was a vague concept in his mind, but no matter how much he thought about it, this concept wouldn’t become clearer, only increasingly blurry.

This feeling was like when you think of something, but the more you try to recall it, the more it slips away.

Jiang Dongliu had experienced similar situations many times before.

When he previously comprehended Sword Intent, he had encountered such circumstances.

And his method for resolving this was quite simple.

That was to leave it alone.

Because as long as the right opportunity appeared, this vague thought would suddenly become clear in his mind like a flash of inspiration.

Although Jiang Dongliu didn’t know what the opportunity that would allow him to enter the Harmony Realm was.

He felt that with just a few more similar battles, he might be able to grasp that feeling.

And the Jiang Family Ancestral Land could provide him with such opportunities.

Thinking of this, Jiang Dongliu glanced at Lu Chen, who had also descended from the sky and walked over to Yu Tianqi and the others.

Although there was still about a year until the Dao Academy competition, he was already beginning to look forward to their second encounter.

That time, he believed, would be even more interesting than now.

Perhaps sensing Jiang Dongliu’s gaze, Lu Chen politely nodded to him.

Although neither spoke, many things didn’t need to be said – both understood in their hearts.

The Dao Academy competition one year later would be the time for their true match.

Except that by then, one would represent Clear River Dao Academy.

While the other would represent Lihuo Dao Academy.

Regarding this, Lu Chen was actually quite looking forward to it as well.

After all, Jiang Dongliu was by far the most challenging contemporary he had encountered, without exception.

In the valley of Five Springs Mountain Realm at Luocheng High School.

After the spar ended, Jiang Dongliu temporarily left with Bian Shouyi.

Although he said he was going to the Jiang Family Ancestral Land.

Before that, he needed to first help Bian Shouyi successfully breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

As for Jiang Qing, since she needed to protect Mu Xiaoye, she only exchanged a few brief words with Jiang Dongliu before letting him return alone.

After all, given Jiang Dongliu’s current cultivation level, he had reached the point where he could stand on his own.

With a Heavenly Dao quality Golden Core, plus the Sixth Bureau Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast Bai Ze.

As long as Jiang Dongliu didn’t provoke those old monsters at the Nascent Soul Stage.

He could essentially roam freely throughout the vast Immortal Alliance, with few able to threaten him.

After Jiang Dongliu left, Lu Chen separately approached Jiang Qing.

Because he had some questions he wanted to ask this Nascent Soul Stage expert.”Real Person Jiang, I wonder if you have a moment now?”

Hearing Lu Chen’s words, Jiang Qing knew he probably had something to ask her, so she nodded and said: “You can ask directly whatever questions you have. As long as I can answer them, I will answer them all.”

Lu Chen didn’t beat around the bush either, directly inquiring: “Real Person Jiang, I wonder what conditions a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator needs to meet to achieve a Superior Golden Core?”

Jiang Qing was taken aback. Though Lu Chen was only at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, he was already considering this question.

Wait, fourth layer of Foundation Establishment?!

Previously, because her attention had been focused on Lu Chen’s Sword Path, Jiang Qing hadn’t paid much attention to his cultivation level.

Only now did she suddenly realize that Lu Chen had already reached the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment. His cultivation speed was so fast that Jiang Qing found it somewhat incomprehensible.

One must know that although Jiang Dongliu achieved Golden Core Stage at twenty-two years old, this was because the Jiang Family had invested considerable cultivation resources in him.

Coupled with the specific Blessed Lands within Clear River Dao Academy, his cultivation speed could be this rapid.

One year of cultivation in the Dao Academy was comparable to ten years or even longer elsewhere.

This was also why even the long-established Jiang Family would send their clan members to study at the Dao Academy.

In terms of educating disciples, the Four Great Academies indeed had their unique advantages.

Yet Lu Chen had currently cultivated to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment without even entering a Dao Academy.

And this was under the circumstance that Lu Chen had only broken through to Foundation Establishment half a year ago.

Having seen Lu Chen’s records, Jiang Qing understood all too well what his current cultivation level meant.

Was this young man’s talent special, with cultivation speed different from ordinary people, or did he have some special opportunity?

Though somewhat curious about the reason for Lu Chen’s rapid cultivation, Jiang Qing didn’t presumptuously ask about it.

After all, the Immortal Alliance was vast, and having some unusual encounters was quite normal.

As long as one wasn’t following the Evil Path, neither the Immortal Alliance nor other Immortal Alliance forces would inquire too much.

Situations like killing others to seize treasures only occurred in the barbaric era before the Immortal Alliance was established.

After the Immortal Alliance came to rule the Nine Provinces Ten Lands, although such situations still occurred, they had become rare.

After all, if you could do it to others, others could do it to you.

To avoid such mutual internal consumption, the Immortal Alliance had very severe punishments in this regard.

And currently, with Lu Chen at the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, he was indeed qualified to know some things about Golden Core Stage breakthroughs.

Thinking of this, Jiang Qing immediately spoke: “To break through to Superior Golden Core, you need to meet three conditions.”

“First, the quality of your immortal foundation during Foundation Establishment must reach high grade, meaning third-grade Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment or above.”

“Second, your Divine Soul realm must reach ‘Solid Realm’.”

“Third, and most importantly, you must master sufficient Entering Dao Conception, so you can leave enough Dao Patterns on your Golden Core.”

“One Dao Pattern is ninth grade, two are eighth grade… and so on.”

“Therefore, the minimum requirement for Superior Golden Core is seven Dao Patterns.”

“By the way, do you know how Dao Artifacts are born?”

Lu Chen was startled, then shook his head, indicating he didn’t know.”I figured as much, since you probably haven’t been exposed to this kind of information before.”

“Actually, the biggest difference between Dao Artifacts and ordinary Spirit Treasures or Magic Treasures lies in the Dao Patterns on them.”

“But unlike a cultivator’s Golden Core which only requires Entering Dao Conception to leave Dao Patterns, the standard for Dao Artifacts is that they must bear Harmony Realm Dao Patterns to be considered qualified.”

“If it’s merely Entering Dao Conception, then it can only be considered a quasi-Dao Artifact.”

“The four Spirit Swords in your hands have already reached the level of being infinitely close to quasi-Dao Artifacts.”

“The reason I’m telling you this is to help you understand what exactly Golden Core Stage Dao Patterns are.”

“By now you should understand that the first two conditions I mentioned earlier for achieving a Superior Golden Core are actually just preparation.”

“What truly matters is only the last one – the Golden Core Dao Patterns.”

“Cultivators who haven’t achieved the Heavenly Dao Immortal Foundation during the Foundation Establishment Stage won’t have sufficient Spiritual Power to engrave seven or more Entering Dao Conceptions onto their Golden Core.”

“Cultivators whose Divine Soul hasn’t reached the Solid Realm cannot carve patterns on their Golden Core.”

“The reason many Pseudo-core Stage cultivators remain in that stage is precisely because their Golden Cores lack Dao Patterns.”

“Such Golden Cores at best only allow cultivators to have slightly deeper and higher quality Spiritual Power than the Foundation Establishment Stage, without many special characteristics.”

“But a Golden Core with Dao Patterns is completely different.”

“You’ve probably witnessed the power of Golden Cores quite a few times, right?”

Lu Chen nodded. He had indeed encountered the so-called power of Golden Cores many times.

It was a special domain between Entering Dao Conception and Harmony Realm.

Somewhat like a result forcibly manifested by Golden Core Stage cultivators through their cultivation base.

Previously he didn’t understand the principle behind the power of Golden Core.

But now he roughly understood.

It was the Dao Patterns left by cultivators on their Golden Core, empowered by their Golden Core energy.

Even if the cultivator’s own realm hasn’t reached Harmony Realm.

They can still temporarily break through the limits of Entering Dao Conception and reach the half-step Harmony Realm level.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen suddenly became curious about one question…

“Master Jiang, can a person’s number of Dao Patterns exceed nine?”

“What? Are you that crazy?”

Although Lu Chen didn’t explicitly say it, Jiang Qing immediately understood his meaning.

Without doubt, Lu Chen wanted to engrave all four of his Harmony Realm Sword Domain Dao Patterns onto his Golden Core.

But this was almost impossible…

“Lu Chen, there are some things I must say even though you might not listen.”

“You who can master four Harmony Realms during the Golden Core Stage can indeed be called unprecedented in Sword Path talent. In the ten-thousand-year history of the Immortal Alliance, not to mention mastering four Harmony Realms during Foundation Establishment, there hasn’t even been a single Foundation Establishment cultivator who mastered one Harmony Realm.”

“But comprehension ability is one thing, cultivation base is another. The number of Dao Patterns a Golden Core can accommodate is limited.”

“If you want to engrave all four of your Harmony Realm Dao Patterns onto your Golden Core, the only outcome I can imagine is…”

“Boom, exploding like a balloon.”

As she spoke, Jiang Qing very vividly spread her hands to illustrate.

She did this only because she didn’t want Lu Chen to take such a terrifying risk.Because before Lu Chen, no one had ever mastered a Harmony Realm Sword Domain during the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Naturally, no one had ever attempted to inscribe Harmony Realm Dao Patterns onto their Golden Core.

Although the Harmony Realm could be understood as the fusion of three Sword Intents of Initial Dao, both its quality and the weight of the Concept it carried far exceeded the sum of three Initial Dao Conceptions.

If Lu Chen truly wanted to inscribe the four Dao Patterns of his Harmony Realm Sword Domains onto his Golden Core, it would be equivalent to requiring his Golden Core to accommodate twelve Dao Patterns.

Twelve Dao Patterns—this already exceeded the limit of nine Dao Patterns for a Superior Golden Core.

And this was only Jiang Qing’s most conservative estimate.

Because the weight of four Harmony Realms could not be compared to a mere twelve Initial Dao Conceptions.

This was why Jiang Qing was so certain that if Lu Chen truly attempted this, he would undoubtedly explode and perish.

However, Lu Chen felt that he might actually have a chance to try it now.

Because the quality of his Foundation Establishment was the First-Grade Great Dao Immortal Foundation.

His own Spiritual Power upper limit was a terrifying “twenty million points.””

Two hundred times that of a normal Ninth-Grade Human Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator.

But even so, bearing four Harmony Realm Dao Patterns might still be somewhat difficult.

After all, a single Harmony Realm could suppress a Golden Core Stage cultivator with Spiritual Power reaching tens of millions.

In other words, fusing a single Harmony Realm Sword Domain would nearly consume tens of millions of his Spiritual Power.

Thus, by conservative estimates, he should only be able to inscribe two Harmony Realm Dao Patterns at present.

But if the four sword formations of the “Fiend-Slaying Sword Formation” could not be combined, their power would be vastly different.

If he hadn’t known about Golden Core Dao Patterns, it would have been one thing.

But now that he knew, he naturally wanted to pursue perfection.

Moreover, with the “Shard of Heavenly Dao (Return)” in his possession, Lu Chen felt he had room for error.

After all, the function of the Shard of Heavenly Dao (Return) was to allow him to revive at full health.

And having experienced this power, Lu Chen knew that the principle of this revival was akin to a phenomenon of time reversal.

It would revert his body to a certain point in time.

So even if his attempt failed, he wouldn’t directly explode and die. Instead, he could use the Shard of Heavenly Dao (Return) to restore himself to the state before he began the breakthrough.

Thinking of this, Lu Chen’s thoughts became increasingly clear.

Vaguely, he sensed an unprecedented, supreme Great Dao appearing before him.

No one had comprehended the Harmony Realm during the Foundation Establishment Stage, but he had already achieved it.

So why couldn’t he be the one to inscribe Harmony Realm Dao Patterns on his Golden Core, something no one had ever done?

A Transcendent Golden Core with twelve Dao Patterns…

For this, Lu Chen had both the will and the ability to try!

Although he had already made a decision, Lu Chen did not show it outright.

Because he knew his idea was too insane.

So insane that even if he spoke of it, others would surely be unable to comprehend it.

Thus, Lu Chen changed the subject and asked, “Jiang Zhenren, do you know of any methods to further enhance the potential of a Foundation Establishment cultivator?”

Jiang Qing looked at Lu Chen seriously, sensing that this young man seemed genuinely intent on trying to inscribe multiple Harmony Realm Dao Patterns on his Golden Core.

However, this was Lu Chen’s own decision, and she felt it was not her place to interfere.

So she chose to answer Lu Chen’s current question without delving into other matters.”There are many methods to enhance a cultivator’s potential, whether through rare natural treasures, unique cultivation manuals, or special blessed lands.”

“And I suspect you wish to maximize your potential so your Golden Core can fuse with more Dao Patterns.”

“Although I’d strongly advise against such recklessness…”

“For some reason, I feel you probably wouldn’t listen even if I warned you.”

“Currently, there are limited methods to improve a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator’s potential, and most would be ineffective for you. While I don’t know the exact quality of your immortal foundation, it’s undoubtedly at least High Grade.”

“However, I know of one cultivation manual that might help. The problem is it belongs to another longevity clan’s secret heritage, so I can’t obtain it for you.”

Lu Chen asked curiously: “Which manual?”

“The Liuzhou Xu Family’s ‘One Breath Scripture’.”

“Cultivating this method allows practitioners to inscribe talismanic power on their bodies, effectively enhancing their Physique.”

“But the requirements are extremely demanding: exceptional talent with Talismans and a highly advanced Divine Soul Realm.”

“With your Comprehension Ability, you could probably master it.”

“However, the Xu Family’s ‘One Breath Scripture’ is like our Jiang Family’s ‘Southern Departure Bright Fire Art’ – both are foundational Immortality Arts that are never taught to outsiders.”

“You’re not from the Xu Family, so getting them to teach you is practically impossible.”

Lu Chen persisted: “Are there any other methods?”

Jiang Qing thought briefly before shaking her head: “None. You understand your own body better than I do – your immortal foundation has essentially reached its limit.”

“If you truly want to enhance your potential, you’ll need to seek improvement elsewhere.”

“Similarly, most natural treasures and blessed lands would have minimal effect on you now.”

“They essentially just refine and dilute existing immortal foundations.”

“For a cultivator like you who has already perfected their foundation, even if they work, the results would fall short of your requirements.”

“The ‘One Breath Scripture’ might be your only option.”

(End of Chapter)