As time passed, the strength of the two Flood Dragons didn’t change much, but a faint, almost imperceptible aura of majesty gradually emerged around them.
Soon, they completed their transformation, and the blood-red flames enveloping their bodies receded. Once they stabilized, they opened their eyes in unison, their gazes filled with excitement.
"Master, my Dragon Race bloodline is a bit denser than before! It must be because my dormant bloodline has been awakened!"
"Mine too!"
With the help of the Beast Heart Pill, the potential of the two had been vastly improved. Becoming Quasi-Tier Four Demon Beasts in the future would not be difficult. As for the Tier Four bottleneck, it would still be a tremendous hurdle to overcome—unless Li Chang’an prepared advancement Treasures for them. However, Li Chang’an hadn’t even secured his own Nascent Soul Treasure yet, so how could he have the time or energy to prepare theirs?
He instructed the two Flood Dragons, "Spend the next few days carefully sensing your condition. If anything feels off, tell me as soon as possible."
"Yes!" the two Flood Dragons replied in unison.
Li Chang’an said no more. He quickly left the Hundred Beasts Sect and returned to Changqing Mountain. After instructing Luo Qiantong to collect materials for him, he planned to find the Artifact Spirit and ask some questions. He remained somewhat skeptical about this Ancient Elixir that had been lost for so many years.
Right at that moment, Xu Fugui suddenly came looking for him, bringing Xu Changqing along.
"Brother, Changqing is planning his Core Formation. Could he borrow the Spirit Vein of Changqing Mountain?"
"Oh? This kid is finally undergoing Core Formation?"
Li Chang’an’s interest was immediately piqued. Many years ago, Xu Changqing had cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Peak, yet he had delayed his Core Formation. He had been holding it back this entire time! Li Chang’an wanted to see exactly what this kid had been holding back for.
He sent out a stream of Spiritual Power to thoroughly inspect Xu Changqing’s entire body.
"Not bad. There are no hidden injuries or old ailments in your body. Furthermore, since you’ve concurrently practiced Body Refinement, your Physique far surpasses Cultivators of the same stage. Having reached the Tier Two Peak, overcoming the Physical Body Barrier won’t be a problem.
"Your Divine Sense is also slightly stronger than Cultivators of the same stage.
"As for your Magical Power..."
Li Chang’an paused. Astonishingly, there were three hundred and sixty-two drops of Magical Power within Xu Changqing’s Dantian! He was only three drops away from the perfect state! Even among the Holy Sons and Saintesses of the major Sects, very few had a stronger foundation prior to Core Formation. Gu Yunqi, as the first disciple of Huang Sha True Monarch, was a Celestial Pride with an Earth Spirit Root and a Spirit Body, yet he had only accumulated three hundred and sixty-three drops—just one drop more than Xu Changqing.
In other words, even in a Nascent Soul Sect, Xu Changqing would be a top-tier Celestial Pride! Yet, he had no astonishing exploits and had always remained obscure. Even when presented with serendipitous opportunities, he wouldn’t fight for them, which often led to people teasing him as a "little turtle." The "big turtle" was naturally Li Chang’an. Now that he looked at it, the teasing wasn’t wrong at all; this kid was practically a weakened version of Li Chang’an.
Li Chang’an gave a slight nod. "Changqing, it seems you have encountered quite a few serendipitous opportunities over the years."
"Thanks to Uncle Li, the entire Changqing Mountain is brimming with immense fortune. Since I cultivate in the mountains year-round, my luck is much better than that of an ordinary Cultivator, making it easier to come across serendipitous encounters." Xu Changqing was completely devoid of arrogance, offering a humble and respectful reply.
Li Chang’an had no interest in probing into exactly what opportunities he had obtained. He simply told him to prepare well for his Core Formation. "Do you have enough Core Formation Treasures?"
"This junior has already prepared a complete set of Core Formation Treasures."
"That’s good. Go on, then. I will keep an eye on the surroundings for you."
"Thank you, Uncle Li!"
Xu Changqing bowed deeply before entering the secluded cultivation ground deep within Changqing Mountain.
Several hours later.
The winds and clouds shifted dramatically over Changqing Mountain as a massive Spiritual Power Vortex took shape.
"A ten-mile Celestial Phenomenon!"
"Someone from the Changqing Mountain Lineage is undergoing Core Formation!"
Looking at the astonishing Celestial Phenomenon, the numerous Cultivators in the Changqing Immortal City below the mountain were both shocked and envious. They all stopped what they were doing to earnestly observe the phenomenon.
Up on the mountain, within the courtyard.
Xu Fugui’s face was fraught with tension and anxiety as he paced back and forth in the yard. If Xu Changqing succeeded, the Xu Family would become a Golden Core Clan, ushering in several centuries of peak prosperity and glory. But if he failed, everything would amount to nothing!
"Brother, do you think Changqing will succeed?"
"Relax, there is no need to worry," Li Chang’an said with a smile, unbothered. That kid was exceptionally well-prepared. Just like him back in the day, Xu Changqing had used a massive amount of Treasures to push his success rate to a hundred percent! There was almost no possibility of failure.
Three days later.
As expected, Xu Changqing emerged from seclusion, his entire body radiating a Golden Core aura.
"An Immortal Golden Core."
Although Xu Changqing tried his best to conceal it, Li Chang’an could still tell. Forming an Immortal Golden Core didn’t require reaching the perfect state of three hundred and sixty-five drops; as long as the accumulation was profound enough, it was sufficient. Gu Yunqi, Cui Baihong, and a few others all had Immortal Golden Cores, but theirs couldn’t compare to Li Chang’an’s. Xu Changqing’s Immortal Golden Core was slightly weaker than Gu Yunqi’s.
Of course, no matter what, he had already earned the qualifications to attempt Nascent Soul Formation. He approached Li Chang’an and bowed once again.
"Thank you for acting as my Protector, Uncle Li."
"Mm." Li Chang’an nodded slightly, accepting his bow. Following that, he tapped a finger to send out a streak of Spiritual Light. Contained within this Spiritual Light was a vast ocean of Golden Core Stage Cultivation Insights. Not only did it include Li Chang’an’s own insights, but it also encompassed those from various major Nascent Soul Influences, and even Ancient Divinity Transformation Sects. All these insights compiled together pointed directly toward the path of the Nascent Soul!
"Cultivate well. Do not disappoint your father."
"Yes!"
Looking at the boundless Cultivation Insights within his Sea of Consciousness, a fleeting trace of imperceptible shock flashed through Xu Changqing’s eyes. He took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions before sending a Sound Transmission to Li Chang’an.
"Uncle Li, the reason I was able to accumulate such a profound foundation is that I obtained the legacy of an Ancient Divinity Transformation Sect."
"Oh? Which Sect?"