Anxious to return home, Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu rushed all the way. The familiar mountain gate outline of Clear Void Temple was already in sight—the continuous mountain range shrouded in lingering spiritual energy, like a dormant green giant beast. Only half a day more and they could step into the mountain gate, making final preparations for the upcoming Core Formation.
However, just as they passed through a cultivation market town belonging to Clear Void Temple's sphere of influence, preparing to briefly rest and purchase some ordinary supplies to assist Core Formation, an extremely weak yet uniquely wild-atmosphere flowing light, as if possessing spirituality, precisely penetrated the market town's sparse defense array above, quietly stopping before Xiao Qi.
This was a message talisman folded from some emerald-green, almost dripping leaf. On the leaf's surface, strange insect and bird totems were drawn using some dark red mineral pigment, emitting faint grass and wood fragrance and a barely perceptible Gu worm aura.
"Hmm?" Xiao Qi's eyebrows rose slightly as he reached out to catch this peculiar message talisman. This wasn't the jade slip or talisman paper style common in the Central Plains cultivation world, but more like... Southern Frontier region's methods. His divine consciousness probed into it, and a clear message immediately surged into his mind.
The message wasn't from a specific person's name, but originated from an intent—"Black Seed Gu Village, Village Chief Mu Yan."
The message's content made Xiao Qi's heart move:
"Young friend Tang, after years apart, are you well? In the past, young friend righteously acted, using supreme purification power to dispel the demonic fire accumulated in my village's sacred ground 'Ten Thousand Gu Cave' depths, saving my village from danger—the grace was like being born again. Our Black Seed people will never forget for generations."
"Now that the demonic fire has dispersed, the sacred ground has revived. Perhaps in gratitude for young friend's purification merit, or perhaps due to heaven and earth's creation wonder, recently at the demonic fire's dissipated core, a spiritual flame has been born. This flame shows seven colors, pure and flawless, containing infinite vitality and purification meaning, moreover able to calm restless Gu worms and nourish all things. We named it 'Purifying World Spirit Flame'."
"However, this flame's spirituality is extremely high; only those with destiny can approach. We observed its characteristics—they come from the same source as young friend's displayed purification origin that day, even more pure and miraculous. This flame for young friend may be supreme assistance for condensing and refining the Golden Core, sublimating the origin."
"Especially sending this message, presumptuously inviting. If young friend is interested, please come to Southern Frontier again. Black Seed Gu Village has prepared everything, willing to gift this flame to repay past kindness, and fulfill this flame and young friend's destiny."
The message ended there, but those four words "Purifying World Spirit Flame" were like carrying some magic power, deeply imprinting in Xiao Qi's mind.
Purifying World Spirit Flame! Originating from the purified demonic fire core, containing infinite vitality and purification meaning!
Xiao Qi's heart involuntarily accelerated. He bore the Purification Source—this was his Dao foundation's root. The Core Formation realm was the ultimate condensation of essence, qi, spirit and one's own Great Dao. If during the Core Formation process he could integrate this spiritual flame so compatible with his origin, possibly even superior—what level would his condensed Golden Core's quality reach? I'm afraid it would far exceed the ordinary Nine-Turn Golden Core!
This wasn't just icing on the cake, this was a tailor-made creation! An excellent opportunity to let his Golden Core contain a trace of "creation" and "purification" origin!
The originally crystal-clear Core Formation premonition, because of this sudden invitation and "Purifying World Spirit Flame's" appearance, once again stirred up waves. Returning to Clear Void Temple, proceeding step by step with Core Formation, he had ten-tenths confidence in success, and Golden Core quality absolutely wouldn't be low. But if going to Southern Frontier, obtaining this Purifying World Spirit Flame... although there were risks (after all, Southern Frontier Gu arts were strange, the journey far), once successful, the harvest would be immeasurable!
Seeking stability, or taking a risk to pursue that extreme perfect Golden Core?
"Brother Qi, what's wrong? What is this leaf?" Zhao Tiezhu leaned over, curiously looking at that emerald message talisman.
Xiao Qi briefly told Zhao Tiezhu the message talisman's information.
Zhao Tiezhu listened with wide eyes: "Purifying World Spirit Flame? Sounds very impressive! Brother Qi, this has great benefit for your Core Formation! Are we going or not?" He now had almost blind trust and support for Xiao Qi, only feeling that if there was good stuff, Brother Qi should go get it.
Xiao Qi pondered silently, his gaze once again casting toward Clear Void Temple's mountain gate already in sight. The sect was within reach, a safe meditation place was at hand. And Southern Frontier meant unknown and variables.
However, for cultivation people, competing with heaven for fate, how could one abandon the opportunity to possibly touch higher levels due to fear of risk?
He recalled his experiences all along—wasn't every time gambling for opportunity in risk? Northern Plains facing Mystic Ice Pavilion elder, Western Desert deeply entering Golden Sand ancient city... If being timid and hesitant, he wouldn't have today's accumulation.
Moreover, that Black Seed Gu Village Chief Mu Yan's words were sincere, inviting with repaying kindness as reason, and pointing out this flame had destiny with him—credibility was quite high. And he bore the Purification Source; though he didn't understand Southern Frontier Gu arts, self-preservation should be no problem.
The balance in his heart gradually tilted.
That Core Formation premonition didn't disappear due to this sudden change, but became more active, as if urging him to go obtain this last piece, also most crucially important piece!
Xiao Qi took a deep breath, a decision flashing in his eyes. He turned to look at Zhao Tiezhu, saying in a deep voice: "Tiezhu, we're changing route, going to Southern Frontier."
Zhao Tiezhu was first stunned, then heavily nodded without any hesitation: "Alright! Wherever Brother Qi goes, I go!"
Xiao Qi took one last look at Clear Void Temple's direction, temporarily suppressing that homecoming urgency. He crushed the green leaf message talisman in his hand, a barely perceptible intent transmitting out, counting as responding to this invitation.
Then, he resolutely turned, together with Zhao Tiezhu, becoming two flowing lights, deviating from the original return-to-sect route, rushing toward the south—toward that mysterious and unknown Southern Frontier land!
For that "Purifying World Spirit Flame" that might let him forge a supreme Dao foundation, this Southern Frontier, he had to go once more! The Core Formation opportunity, due to this unexpected invitation, once again appeared with new variables and... greater possibilities!