Li Feiyu ran and thought, and soon he came up with a countermeasure.
First, he would go to the core area to scout ahead and see how many dangers lay within.
Upon reaching the Myriad Year Soul Devouring Tree area, Level 6 Soul Devouring Beasts began to appear, one at every interval, and when they discovered Li Feiyu, they chased after him like he was their prey.
The Soul Devouring Beast's running speed far surpassed his, so he had no choice but to ride Crimson Crow and advance quickly.
Crimson Crow's speed naturally left them in the dust.
Before long, he arrived at the core area, where there were seven enormous trees, each with a diameter of over ten meters, their trunks pitch black and their leaves a vivid red, hanging on the trees like drops of blood.
The one in the middle was even more exaggeratedly massive, its age unknown, and its trunk surface seemed to have human-like facial patterns.
"Could that be the source of the Soul-Devouring Forest?" Li Feiyu was secretly shocked.
Upon arriving here, Crimson Crow's body immediately began to sway unsteadily, shaking its head, clearly greatly affected.
At the same time, several Soul Devouring Beasts appeared on the thick branches of the Myriad Year Soul Devouring Tree, and the aura they emitted made Li Feiyu's heart tremble.
"Run!"
Li Feiyu felt the danger of death and unhesitatingly made Crimson Crow fly away.
He turned his head and saw that the several Level 7 Soul Eating Beasts did not pursue him, and he breathed a sigh of relief; he had a premonition that if he stayed there any longer, once they unleashed their Startling God Cry, his current Divine Sense strength would be utterly unable to resist.
Even if he Advanced to the Core Formation Middle Stage, it would not be enough; unless he cultivated the third layer of the Great Development Art and tried to greatly enhance his Divine Sense with the quenching spirit pill mentioned by Xing Jueyi.
Li Feiyu stopped in a certain part of the Soul-Devouring Forest, restrained his aura, and took out a jade box from his Storage Pouch, which contained an extremely vibrant Spiritual Plant with seven leaves unfurled.
It was the rainbow skirt grass!
Li Feiyu planned to use the rainbow skirt grass to lure Level 6 and Level 7 Soul Devouring Beasts, and to ensure success, he directly catalyzed it to the level of a thousand-year Spiritual Plant.
The eighth, ninth, and tenth curled leaves slowly opened.
Crimson Crow could barely control its instinct to devour, but Li Feiyu used a blood Restriction to control it and keep it away.
A strange aura emanated, and wherever it passed, all the Soul Devouring Beasts instantly became agitated, their eyes turning red, and they turned to look at the source of the scent.
Subsequently, the Soul-Devouring Forest began to riot, and Li Feiyu once again delved deeper, heading towards the Myriad Year Soul Devouring Tree area.
"Indeed, a thousand-year-old level has an unparalleled attraction for Level 7 Yao Beasts; even a shapeshifting Great Yao nearby would probably be affected."
With the Level 7 Soul Eating Beasts gone, Li Feiyu immediately began searching for soul devouring stone.
However, affected by the Soul-Devouring Tree, once his Divine Sense left his body, there would be a feeling of being pulled.
Li Feiyu immediately withdrew it, forced to rely on manual excavation.
Fortunately, the area here was not large.
Under the thickest Soul-Devouring Tree in the middle, Li Feiyu finally found a soul devouring stone and also cut off a section of its root.
And then, at this moment, the Soul-Devouring Mother Tree began to violently shake its branches, making rustling sounds.
"Could it be that this Soul-Devouring Mother Tree, which has existed for countless thousands of years, has already developed sentience? Did I just awaken it?!"
Li Feiyu looked horrified, and a strong sense of impending death immediately rose in his heart.
Crimson Crow was already disoriented; Li Feiyu held it in his hand and immediately activated the Scarlet Sun Escape, fleeing at extreme speed.
A tree root quickly shot out from the ground, striking at Li Feiyu, but it was slightly too slow and missed, though its terrifying power created a deep crack in the ground, kicking up dust.
Li Feiyu was also fortunate; even Nascent Soul Stage old monsters dared not come here, because this Soul-Devouring Mother Tree had killed more than one Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator in the past.
The Soul-Devouring Mother Tree usually remained dormant, only awakening when attacked or when roused by Level 7 Soul Devouring Beasts.
At this time, the Level 7 Soul Eating Beasts had all been lured away by Li Feiyu, leaving the defenses here empty.
If Li Feiyu hadn't touched the tree root, he might not have awakened it.
Li Feiyu was deeply afraid that the Soul-Devouring Mother Tree possessed some special abilities, so he used the Scarlet Sun Escape three times consecutively, fleeing for nearly a hundred li before stopping.
He was gasping for breath, looking utterly shaken.
"That terrifying aura is definitely at the Nascent Soul Stage, and since it's a tree that developed sentience, it's even more terrifying than ordinary Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators."
Li Feiyu knew that this time he had truly walked a fine line between life and death.
"I was impulsive; there's a reason why this place is so desolate. I need to be more careful when encountering such places in the future."
Li Feiyu rested for a moment, woke Crimson Crow, and then headed to where the rainbow skirt grass was planted.
The place was a mess, clearly the aftermath of a major battle.
The rainbow skirt grass was gone, and on the scene, there were two Fifth Level Soul-Devouring Beast corpses, one Level 6 Soul Eating Beast corpse, and six Level 4 Soul Devouring Beasts.
Li Feiyu's face lit up with joy; making the Soul Devouring Beasts fight among themselves so he could reap the benefits was one of his goals in planting the rainbow skirt grass.
He patted his Storage Pouch, and the Soul Devouring Yin Plate flew out, pulling the souls of the Soul Devouring Beasts into it.
After inspecting the Level 5 Soul Devouring Beast and Level 6 Soul Eating Beast, Li Feiyu was greatly surprised to find their inner cores still intact.
"Could it be that the Soul-Devouring Mother Tree was enraged and hastily summoned them away, leaving no time to devour them?"
"Haha, that just benefits me."
Li Feiyu unexpectedly obtained three inner cores, then collected their corpses, and also put the surrounding broken Soul-Devouring Trees into the lihuo cauldron.
He glanced at the depths of the Soul-Devouring Forest, then turned and left on his sword.
Outside, besides Xing Jueyi, there were actually a few other people; Li Feiyu glanced sideways, flew over, and greeted Xing Jueyi.
"Brother Li, you're finally out. I felt the Soul-Devouring Forest was in turmoil, and I almost thought you wouldn't make it out."
Li Feiyu smiled, looking at the other few people, his eyes slightly narrowed, two men and two women, all Core Formation stage cultivation.
"Who are they?"
Xing Jueyi's expression was a little unpleasant, "That's my eldest brother, Star Water Sky, and my second sister, Xing Yao'er. Behind them are their respective guardians."
"Only by completing the trial can one recruit a Core Formation Elder from the Chamber of Commerce as their guardian, but it must be voluntary and limited to one."
Star Water Sky was as graceful as a jade tree, with a resolute face, showing more composure and maturity than Xing Jueyi.
Xing Yao'er wore a veil, revealing only her eyes, which were like stars, captivating and profound, with a snake-like waist and a perfect figure; though her face was unseen, she was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women in the Chaotic Star Sea.
Star Water Sky's lips curled slightly, with a hint of disdain in his eyes, saying, "Third Brother, you didn't go in yourself, letting your friend brave life and death. That's not very kind."
"Fellow Daoist Li, is it? Why don't you come work for me? I guarantee you can become a powerful Elder of my Star Commerce Alliance in the future, how about it?"
"A powerful Elder, how much power does that entail? Enough to command you?"
Li Feiyu said with a smile, Star Water Sky's face darkened, and suddenly an old man darted out from behind him, condensing a huge magical power palm print in his hand, which he directly slapped towards Li Feiyu, including Xing Jueyi.
Li Feiyu also condensed a crimson-gold magical seal and met it.
Boom~
The two magical seals exploded simultaneously, as dazzling as fireworks.
"The strength of a Core Formation Early Stage peak is nothing more than this." Li Feiyu's lips curled slightly.
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With a Five-Colored Golden Core, five times the magical power, and refined magical power far purer than that of Core Formation Cultivators of the same level, Li Feiyu was full of confidence and didn't take the opponent seriously at all.
Star Water Sky said, "Third Brother, the person you recruited has good strength. It's hard for you to recruit such a talent."
Li Feiyu said, "Are you all here to watch the show? If so, I apologize, the show is over. If you wish to challenge the Soul-Devouring Forest, you are welcome to enter; we will not accompany you."
Li Feiyu summoned the Clear Wind Boat and left with Xing Jueyi.
Star Water Sky's face showed anger; he couldn't openly attack Xing Jueyi, but Li Feiyu...
"Elder He, go investigate and see what background the person next to Xing Jueyi has. How dare he participate in my Xing Family's struggle for the family head position? I'll make sure you die without a burial place!"
Xing Yao'er glanced at Li Feiyu and their departing figures, not saying another word, and also left with her guardian Elder.
Elder He said, "Young Master, what does the Second Young Miss mean by coming this time? Is she just here to watch the show?"
Star Water Sky shook his head, "I'm not sure either, but I know she doesn't seem very interested in the family head position, so my main opponent is still Xing Jueyi."
"I also don't know if he obtained the Soul Devouring Beast's inner core this time. If he really completed it, then his ranking will definitely be ahead of mine."
He glanced at the Soul-Devouring Forest, his eyes full of apprehension, and he whispered, "Let's go, back!"
After Han Li arrived at Heavenly Star City, he settled in an Immortal Cave on the thirty-ninth floor of Shengshan Mountain. He often went to the Heavenly Star City market to purchase Puppet Materials.
Once prepared, he planned to go out to sea to hunt some Demon Beasts, use their inner cores for Alchemy, improve his cultivation, and go into seclusion for Core Formation.
After a month.
Li Feiyu and his group returned, and the two parted ways in the market.
Before parting, Xing Jueyi told Li Feiyu that in half a year, the Tianyu Auction House would auction a top-tier Earth-element Cultivation Technique, the "Earth Emperor Skill," which could be cultivated to the Nascent Soul Early Stage.
As for top-tier Metal-element Cultivation Techniques, there was no news; the only thing he knew was that the Wan Jian Sect had one, but it was not for external transmission, and even within the sect, it was only passed down to direct Disciples.
When Li Feiyu returned to his residence on Shengshan Mountain, he stopped by the Immortal Cave rental office.
"Senior, is there anything I can help you with?" the white-robed Star Palace Cultivator respectfully asked.
"I'd like to inquire if there have been any Immortal Caves for rent on the thirty-ninth floor in the last three months?"
"This…"
Li Feiyu took out five low-grade Spirit Stones and threw them to him, "I only need an answer, not the renter's information. Just give me a clear answer."
The Star Palace Cultivator put away the Spirit Stones and smiled slightly, "Please allow me to check."
A moment later, the person said, "Yes, over a month ago, a Core Formation Senior rented one, and there have been no others."
Li Feiyu nodded, first returning to his Immortal Cave.
The entire insect chamber was paved with jade walls, this was to prevent the Gold Devouring Bugs from escaping.
Gold Devouring Bugs can devour all things, but they specifically do not eat wood and jade, so to contain them, these two Materials must be used.
Li Feiyu took out a dozen Gold Devouring Bugs eggs and then went to Han Li's Immortal Cave.
He patted his Storage Pouch, and a sound transmission talisman flew out; he whispered a few words, and the sound transmission talisman passed through the Immortal Cave Formation and flew in.
Not long after, Han Li came out with a surprised expression.
"How did you know I was here?"
Li Feiyu smiled mysteriously, "I arrived several years before you, so naturally I have a wider network here."
Han Li believed him, because this reason was indeed reasonable, otherwise he wouldn't have found him so accurately.
"Senior Brother Li, congratulations on successfully forming your Core."
"You too, with Qu Hun forming his Core, you also possess Core Formation battle power."
Han Li smiled bitterly, "But that is external power after all. If I cannot form my own Core, in another hundred years or so, I will die and my Dao will vanish."
"So, I've brought you something."
"What?"
Li Feiyu took out a jade bottle from his Storage Pouch and handed it to Han Li.
Han Li examined it with his Divine Sense and exclaimed, "Dustfall Pill?!"
Li Feiyu smiled slightly, "I only used one to successfully form my Core, and I thought you might need it, so I saved it for you."
In fact, Li Feiyu didn't use a single one; after his Spiritual Root was purified to the Five Elements Heavenly Spiritual Root, he spontaneously formed his Core.
Han Li was deeply touched, but then he thought, "No reward without merit, Senior Brother Li, please state your business."
"As expected of Junior Brother Han, you know me well. I know you have methods for refining corpses and condensing Incarnations, and I want those."
"Condensing Incarnations?" Han Li lowered his head, lost in thought.
Li Feiyu patted his Storage Pouch, and another jade box flew out, "Take a look at this; I think you'll be interested."
Han Li opened it curiously and saw some insect eggs.
"These insect eggs… could they be…?"
"That's right, they are Gold Devouring Bugs. You've obtained some insect-controlling techniques from the Yuling Sect, so I assume you'd be interested in cultivating these Gold Devouring Bugs, ranked twelfth on the list of exotic insects."
Han Li naturally knew that if he cultivated a large number of adult Gold Devouring Bugs, they could definitely serve as a major trump card for his future.
This time, he was truly overjoyed.
"No problem, I agree."
Han Li also patted his Storage Pouch, taking out the secret art for refining corpses and the method for condensing an Incarnation, and handed them all to Li Feiyu.
"Thanks. Recently, cultivating while also learning Formation and Artifact Refining, I truly feel spread thin."
"Artifact Refining, Formation, how are you learning, Senior Brother Li?" Han Li raised an eyebrow, asking curiously.
"So-so, just alright. I don't have the talent of Miss Xin and the others, so I can only rely on time to research."
Han Li nodded in agreement.
"Then I'll be going. I live in Immortal Cave number thirty-two on the forty-seventh floor. Feel free to come find me if you have time or need anything."
"Alright."
After Li Feiyu left, Han Li returned to his Immortal Cave with a smile, then realized that Li Feiyu lived on the forty-seventh floor, and couldn't help but gasp.
What a rich person he truly was!
He was worried that his success rate for Core Formation was low due to his poor Aptitude, but now Li Feiyu had given him a Dustfall Pill, increasing his chances by another point.
And the Gold Devouring Bugs were an unexpected bonus.
After Li Feiyu returned to his Immortal Cave, he studied the corpse refining secret art and the method for condensing an Incarnation.
The corpse refining secret art was somewhat rudimentary and not very difficult; the challenge lay in finding suitable corpses.
The corpse required for condensing an Incarnation had to be physically intact and its cultivation could not exceed Qi Condensation Level 6.
This limitation was quite significant, and it would require re-cultivation.
Actually, what Li Feiyu wanted was the corpse of a Core Formation stage Stage Cultivator, and then to refine it into an Incarnation.
But it seemed impossible for now, unless he found a more Advanced method for condensing an Incarnation, or simply refined a Second Primordial Spirit.