Leaving Heavenly Axis City, Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu were anxious to return home, raising their speed to the limit, rushing toward Clear Void Temple's direction like wind and lightning. Along the way, mountains, rivers, towns and villages rapidly retreated beneath their feet. Familiar scenery stirred up that deep attachment to the sect in Xiao Qi's heart.
However, rising along with this homecoming eagerness was also a kind of increasingly clear, increasingly intense palpitation, originating from his dantian's depths, from his flawless essence, qi, and spirit.
His body, after the Western Desert "Indestructible Diamond Body's" initial tempering, had already reached the physical body extreme possible in the Foundation Establishment period. Qi and blood like mercury, bones like jade, internal organs shining, every inch of flesh and blood contained explosive power, yet was harmoniously unified, controllable at will. This body was the most solid precious vessel for bearing the Golden Core.
His spiritual power, under the Northern Plains extreme cold and ancient city Dao rhyme's repeated tempering, had long been condensed and pure to the extreme, heavy and spiritual like mercury, surging and circulating in meridians without any slightest emptiness or stagnation. This majestic and pure spiritual power was the most original material for condensing the Golden Core.
His mind, having experienced the East Sea's vastness, Northern Plains' harshness, Western Desert's treachery, having seen different civilizations and Dao methods, having comprehended water and fire, hardness and softness's balance, having dispelled demonic thoughts, having firmed the guardian Dao—his mind state was open as the sea, clear as glaze, no longer having confusion or obstacles. This firm and open Dao heart was the most critical master for guiding essence, qi, spirit to unite and condense the Golden Core.
Essence, qi, spirit—the three all reached Foundation Establishment period's perfect peak, forming a stable yet vitality-filled triangular structure, circulating on its own within him, flawlessly harmonious.
And at this moment, at this perfect triangular structure's center, at the Dantian qi sea's deepest place, a strange "hunger" and "traction" was transmitting. As if there an invisible vortex was slowly forming, craving to swallow and refine all his essence, qi, spirit, finally condensing into one representing life's sublimation and the Dao path's new starting point—a Golden Core!
This feeling didn't come suddenly, but became stronger and more impossible to ignore as he continuously approached Clear Void Temple. Like a seed deeply buried underground, having absorbed enough nutrients, already sprouted with vitality, only awaiting the moment to break through the soil.
He clearly "saw" that threshold leading to the Golden Core Great Dao, right before his eyes, within reach.
"The timing for Core Formation... has arrived." Xiao Qi silently said in his heart. This wasn't guesswork, but a definite premonition originating from life's source and the Great Dao'ssense. He already stood before that threshold; with just a light step, he could enter a completely new world.
However, he also understood that this final step, seemingly simple, was actually critically important. Condensing the Golden Core was going against heaven, stealing heaven and earth's creation, inevitably inviting heavenly tribulation's test. Moreover, the Golden Core's quality directly related to how far the future Dao path could go.
What he needed was no longer accumulation, but a perfect "opportunity" and an absolutely safe "location."
The opportunity might be a deep-level enlightenment, might be a hearty release, might be just that instant of spiritual light when thoughts flow smoothly and water naturally forms a channel. This couldn't be forced, could only be awaited, naturally triggering at the moment of most complete state.
And the location was even more critically important. The Core Formation process couldn't tolerate any interference, and heavenly tribulation's descent needed sufficiently vast and solid space to bear. Clear Void Temple was undoubtedly the best choice. There was his familiar cave dwelling, there were caring elders and fellow disciples who could guard him, there was the sect's great array that could to some extent shield aura and weaken heavenly tribulation's affected range—it was the safest, most reliable place for Core Formation.
He could even faintly sense that from Clear Void Temple's direction, something seemed to be calling him, producing subtle resonance with the palpitation within him. There was where his Dao path began, and would inevitably be where he completed this crucially important transformation.
"Brother Qi, what's wrong? I feel your aura's a bit different." Beside him, Zhao Tiezhu, though rough, also detected that strange state on Xiao Qi—held back yet seeming to faintly merge with the surrounding heaven and earth—couldn't help asking.
Xiao Qi returned from the mysterious premonition, looking at Zhao Tiezhu, his eyes flashing with unprecedentedly bright radiance, his tone calm yet carrying unquestionable firmness: "I sense that the Core Formation opportunity is right before my eyes. We need to return to the sect as soon as possible."
Zhao Tiezhu was first stunned, then huge joy surged into his heart, he excitedly nodded heavily: "Excellent, Brother Qi! I knew you could definitely do it! Let's go faster!" He was even more excited than Xiao Qi, as if the one about to form a Core was himself.
The two no longer spoke, raising their speed to the limit, becoming two barely-visible flowing lights, cutting through the sky, flying at full speed toward Clear Void Temple's direction.
The return journey's scenery blurred in their eyes, but Xiao Qi's mind became increasingly clear. That Core Formation premonition was like a distant lighthouse, guiding his forward direction. The perfect essence, qi, spirit within him was like a ready-to-burst flood, only awaiting return to the sect, finding that final opportunity, then about to break through all obstacles and complete life's nirvana.
The Golden Core Great Dao was within reach. And Tang Xiao Qi's era was about to officially begin with that soon-to-be-born Golden Core.