"I, Jiang Linglong, have always been clear about what I love and hate. If I like something, why would I need a reason? And why would I care about what others think?"
She suddenly turned to Elian, her eyes deeply reflecting his image.
"If you need a reason.. it's because you are the most handsome person I've ever seen."
Elian: "…"
"Of course, your talent is exceptional as well. For someone with five spirit roots to achieve Foundation Establishment on their own, your potential is far greater than you imagine."
"Five spirit roots have great potential?" Elian's pupils shrank, and he couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"
"Because a cultivator's Golden Core has three qualities…" Jiang Linglong turned her gaze to the snowy landscape before her and began to explain.
When a cultivator breaks through to the Golden Core stage, the quality of their core depends on their foundation. There are three types:
The first is the lower-grade Golden Core, formed with the aid of external items such as five-element spiritual fruits. While this method makes the breakthrough easier, it results in milder spiritual energy and less pure essence.
Cultivators with lower-grade Golden Cores often have unstable foundations. Without external aids, their chances of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage are almost zero. Even with treasures like Nascent Soul Pills, they are often limited to the initial stage of Nascent Soul.
The second type is the mid-grade Golden Core, achieved without external aids. These cultivators are often naturally gifted, and their cores are more powerful and of higher quality. With mid-grade cores, they have a 20% chance of reaching Nascent Soul on their own and a 40-50% chance with external aids.
The third type is the rare upper-grade Golden Core. To form this, a cultivator must avoid using any external aids during major breakthroughs from Foundation Establishment onward.
Because progressing without aids is extremely difficult, upper-grade Golden Core cultivators are exceedingly rare. Typically, only those with heavenly spiritual roots have a slight chance of achieving this. These cultivators, barring untimely deaths, have an 80-90% chance of reaching Nascent Soul with external aids and a 40-50% chance even without them.
Legends say that those who become Dao Lords in the Purple Cloud Realm almost always formed upper-grade Golden Cores and were once famous Golden Core grandmasters.
"Those who form upper-grade Golden Cores are almost destined to become late-stage Nascent Soul grandmasters if they don't fall prematurely," Jiang Linglong said, her gaze shifting to Elian.
"I was born with heavenly spiritual roots. At fifteen, I achieved Foundation Establishment on my own, and by twenty-eight, I reached the Purple Mansion stage without relying on external aids like the Purple Sun Jade."
"And yet, after two hundred years, do you know why I've remained at the Purple Mansion stage?" (Well, that's it, this is her age :c )
Elian felt a tremor in his heart, shocked once again.
It was well known that Jiang Linglong excelled in alchemy, formations, weapons, and talismans, making her an unparalleled talent. But no one could have imagined the extent of her accomplishments.
Suppressing his astonishment, he ventured a guess, "Is it because you're striving for a higher-quality Golden Core?"
Jiang Linglong nodded calmly.
"There's a legend of a Golden Core even greater than the upper-grade core. It is called the Supreme Golden Core. Those who form it are said to possess the demeanor of immortals."
"The Supreme Golden Core is also known by another name—the Five Elements Primordial Supreme Golden Core."
"What?" Elian's eyes widened in shock.
"Yes, just as you think," Jiang Linglong continued.
"To form a Supreme Golden Core, one must not use any external aids like Foundation Establishment Pills or Purple Sun Jade. Furthermore, the cultivator must possess all five spirit roots."
She nodded slightly, her tone steady.
"Once formed, the Supreme Golden Core grants combat prowess and potential far beyond other cultivators of the same realm."
"To form a Pure Yin Supreme Golden Core, I've spent two hundred years perfecting my spiritual roots. I've progressed from having heavenly spiritual roots to four spirit roots. Now, I'm just one step away."
Her gaze settled on Elian.
"You, on the other hand, were born with five spirit roots and achieved Foundation Establishment in your early twenties. As long as you avoid external aids and progress to the Golden Core stage on your own, you can form a Pure Yang Supreme Golden Core."
Elian finally understood that five spirit roots weren't a hindrance but a rare opportunity to ascend toward immortality.
Most five-spirit-root cultivators, however, had excruciatingly slow progress. Without a solid backing, they would exhaust their lifespan before even reaching the middle stage of Qi Refinement. Many couldn't even touch the threshold of Foundation Establishment, let alone form a Supreme Golden Core.
Cultivators with five spirit roots needed decades of meticulous refinement just to stabilize their Qi Refinement stage without external aids. Even with the support of a Dao Lord, producing a Supreme Golden Core was nearly impossible.
"The moment I met you, I knew you were different," Jiang Linglong said. "We are the same kind of people. Only those like us can make it to the end."
She gazed out over the vast, snowy wilderness, her eyes reflecting the tumult of the mortal world.
"And only I can accompany you on this journey."
Elian listened silently, sensing a trace of loneliness in her figure. His heart inexplicably ached, and he couldn't help but ask, "What happened back then that brought you from the Eastern Sea to this barren wilderness?"
The air grew still. Jiang Linglong stood under her umbrella, unmoving, her silence a response in itself.
She seemed like a wandering soul, standing quietly on the snow-covered earth, mourning those long gone.
Time passed, the snowstorm subsiding. Finally, she spoke softly, "Those people and events are buried in the past."
"With your current cultivation, you're not ready to know these things."
Elian said nothing, his gaze lingering on her solitary figure. He recalled a moment from years ago.
That night, upon hearing of the Second Elder's death, he had played his zither in the rain. She had held an umbrella over him, shielding him from the storm.
At that time, he had been like a wandering soul, much like she was now. They were so alike, kindred spirits on the same path.
In a sudden flash of insight, Elian understood his feelings and more importantly her feelings. Locking eyes with her, he spoke impulsively yet earnestly.
"No matter what lies ahead, no matter what you face, I will walk this path with you."
She looked at him, her gaze meeting his unwavering resolve.
Snow fell softly, covering the vast wilderness in a thick, pristine layer. Standing atop a lonely mountain, she became a part of the scene—a timeless portrait.
The immortal path was solitary, its road stretching endlessly.
The past was like a long night, and memories felt like a dream.
She reflected on her past, her expression distant. After a long silence, her lips curled into a faint smile.
"The Jiang clan has only me left. With you by my side on this journey, I won't have to walk alone anymore."
"I think that will be wonderful."
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D