Heavenly Axis Realm, "Cloud Sea of Enlightenment."
Time quietly passed. It was already the eighth day Xiaoqi entered the realm.
During these eight days, he was like a dry sponge, frantically absorbing this place's spiritual energy over ten times richer than outside. He continuously tempered his liquid spiritual energy, making it more and more condensed and pure, nearly reaching the theoretical limit a Foundation Establishment cultivator could achieve. Within his dantian sea, that vast spiritual energy lake was calm, yet contained terrifying energy.
Meanwhile, he immersed most of his mental focus in comprehending and merging the Swimming Dragon Nine Turns' subsequent movement techniques. The second turn "Cloud Dragon Nine Manifestations" was already proficient. With one thought, he could create three solid, realistic-looking afterimages. Combined with the first turn "Emerging Dragon from the Abyss," his movement trajectory became increasingly unpredictable. The third turn "Divine Dragon Swipes Tail's" essence was also mastered. That ability to change direction at extreme speed defying common sense made his movement less mechanical and more naturally intelligent.
He even began attempting to touch the vaguely recorded fourth turn "Swimming Dragon startles the phoenix's" edge. Though still like viewing flowers through fog, occasional flashes of insight seemed to catch a trace of the mysterious Dao involving spatial displacement.
However, no matter how hard he worked absorbing spiritual energy or perfecting movement technique, that chasm separating Foundation Establishment and Golden Core, that unshakeable bottleneck barrier, remained like an ancient rock, unmoved, firmly locking his forward path.
Foundation Establishment Great Circle—spiritual energy was full, soul also tempered through consecutive intense battles and realm insights, reaching the current realm's peak. But that crucial step of condensing, sublimating, and finally solidifying liquid spiritual energy into a Golden Core remained impossible to take. It was as if lacking some vital opportunity, or the maturation of accumulation was still short that final bit.
Xiaoqi wasn't discouraged. He knew the Golden Core realm was extraordinary—a true qualitative change checkpoint on the cultivation path. Countless talented individuals were stuck here, unable to advance their entire lives. He settled his heart, no longer pursuing forceful breakthrough. Instead, he turned more focus to sorting and settling his understanding of his own Dao path.
He recalled scenes since Clearwater Mountain Village's destruction: Cleanness Void Sect's acceptance and cultivation, Master's teachings, Senior Brothers' and Sister's care, life-and-death fights in the realm, Dao technique exchanges on the arena, unfinished battle with Mu Xue... The belief in guarding grew clearer and more resolute in his heart.
Guard Cleanness Void Sect, guard family and friends, guard the Dao in his heart.
This belief, combined with the Springtime Longevity Art's continuous generation, Swimming Dragon Nine Turns' agility and freedom, Red Flame Sword's warmth and heroism, Guardian Sword Intent's steadfastness, and the jade pendant's purification source's pure tolerance, began slowly merging within his body.
He no longer deliberately distinguished them. He let them naturally flow, mutually nurture. Spiritual energy operation carried traces of Swimming Dragon Nine Turns' agility trajectory; when deploying movement technique, it also integrated Guardian Sword Intent's steady core; even the purification source seemed to imperceptibly wash away the final traces of impurity in his spiritual energy, making it purer.
He immersed himself in a mysterious state of self-forgetfulness, no longer chasing breakthrough, merely following inner insights, sorting his learned knowledge, harmonizing various powers.
The ancient Dao rhythm fragments pervasive in the realm seemed attracted by this state, gathering like fireflies, sparkling and dotting around him. Those broken rune phantoms flickered uncertainly, seeming to tell him ancient mysteries.
On the eighth day, at some moment—
When Xiaoqi's heart was completely immersed in sorting and merging his Dao path, and various powers within his body achieved a subtle, dynamic balance, the speed of his absorbing external spiritual energy suddenly accelerated! His body's pores seemed to become countless tiny vortices, madly devouring the realm's abundant-to-extremity spiritual energy!
This spiritual energy entering his body didn't, as usual, flow into his dantian sea, increasing spiritual energy's quantity. Instead, it seemed drawn by some invisible force, beginning to condense and compress toward his dantian's core, that most condensed point, with unprecedented intensity!
"Buzz..."
A slight hum only Xiaoqi could hear, from life's deepest origin, sounded within his body.
That Foundation Establishment Great Circle bottleneck, always like solid rock separating the path ahead, under this internal-external, (naturally occurring) vast power's impact, finally... gently... trembled!
Not breaking, but like the first tiny crack on ice-covered river after winter!
An indescribable thrill spread throughout his body. Xiaoqi's eyes burst open. Brilliant light shot out like substance!
He clearly felt—the barrier obstructing him for so long had loosened!
Though only a tiny crack, through that gap he seemed able to glimpse the vaster, more magnificent heaven and earth beyond! Felt a more advanced, more fundamental power level!
That was the Golden Core Dao's aura!
Hope! He saw hope for forming a Golden Core!
No longer an unattainable desire, but the next step, tangible and reachable!
Xiaoqi fiercely suppressed the wild joy in his heart. He knew this was only the beginning. The bottleneck showing cracks meant his accumulation was sufficient, finding the correct direction. But truly wanting to break through and form a Golden Core required an appropriate opportunity and the final push.
He took a deep breath. The realm's abundant spiritual energy entered again, solidifying that hard-won crack. He didn't (seek quick success), trying to forcibly expand the result. Instead, he maintained that mysterious comprehended state, (carefully savoring) the subtle changes in his spiritual energy and soul after the bottleneck loosened.
Two days remained. He must use this final time to stabilize this state, preparing the most complete preparation for leaving the realm and seeking an opportunity to formally form a Golden Core.
The Foundation Establishment Great Circle bottleneck had loosened. The Golden Core Dao was right before his eyes!