Chapter 143: Chapter 142: Fake Core

Sha Miaomiao wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and lifted the hair from Ouyang Yun’s forehead, concerned, she said, “Ouyang, are you okay?”

“Daoist Ouyang, are you feeling alright now?”

The white-clothed youth leading the group saw that Ouyang Yun remained silent, and as he raised his hand slightly, several people instinctively arranged themselves in a special formation to prevent any accidents from happening to Ouyang Yun.

“Ahem, I’m fine.”

Ouyang Yun could actually feel an unprecedented strength at the moment.

A faint black glow floated in his Dantian.

The black glow was connected to his life and integrated with his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

This was clearly the characteristic of a Fake Core.

What is a Fake Core?

Fake means not real.

But it also has another meaning.

Fake means borrowed.

A Fake Core can also be understood as a borrowed Golden Core.

The gap between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core is truly vast, impossible for ordinary people to bridge.

They need to acquire Fake Core Spiritual Objects.

By obtaining a Fake Core Spiritual Object that resonates with oneself and refining it, one can experience the power of the Golden Core level in advance.

With the stepping stone of a Fake Core Spiritual Object, one has the ability to ascend to the Golden Core level.

Most Fake Cores come from the Demon Pill of monsters.

Though a Golden Core level monster’s Demon Pill is precious, it is the easiest Fake Core Spiritual Object to find, and the various attributes of the Demon Pill also match with the Golden Core, making it suitable to be refined into a Fake Core.

In addition, there are various celestial and earthly treasures that can be refined into Fake Cores, and some can even provide special Acquired Talents to cultivators.

So the Fake Core does not belong to oneself, but possesses various traits of a Golden Core and connects with one’s Essence, Qi, Spirit, and life.

Some cultivators remain stuck at the Fake Core stage for too long and may be unable to break through to Golden Core, as their Fake Core has completely occupied their Golden Core position.

This is why many people are stuck at the Fake Core realm.

Currently, this faint glow is a kind of celestial treasure, which has become Ouyang Yun’s Fake Core…

But…

From what these people say, this Fake Core is actually the remnant body of a presence seen by Ouyang Yun in an Illusion Realm who dared to slay Immortals?

This is… the power of the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique?!

Ouyang Yun simply felt the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique continually operating.

And in a certain instant, his Meditation Technique suddenly became ’empty’.

The Meditation Technique had been operating day and night to suppress the side effects of the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique, but now those side effects were completely gone.

The five major Celestial Demons vanished without a trace.

Instead, the aura of the Fake Core emerged…

Ouyang Yun could feel the formidable strength within himself.

Although it was just a Fake Core, he could sense that the power within him was even stronger than Sha Miaomiao’s.

The faint glow in his Dantian flickered, and power continuously dissected within Ouyang Yun.

Even the Three Pure Yang Qi was increasing to a certain extent.

……………

Jiang Ming rubbed his brow.

The origins of the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique remained unknown to him.

It initially came from a martial arts myth in Rainbow Kingdom.

And the accidental acquisition of the Meditation Technique could eliminate all side effects of the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique.

Jiang Ming then used the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique as a low-cost cultivation speed accelerator.

It was largely responsible for Zhu Chen’s ability to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Stage, as it provided Zhu Chen with cultivation speed nearly akin to Four Spirit Roots.

However, the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique later interacted with the God-Demon List, attracting it and leading to Zhu Chen’s demise.

Now, the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique has absorbed the remnant of the so-called Demon Venerable, transforming it into a Fake Core…

Again, it’s related to the God-Demon List.

What exactly is the origin of the Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique…

But for now, it seems not only not fatal but even has some benefits…

……………

[In the year 8139 of the Nine Rivers Calendar, you awoke from the Illusion Realm of Kunmi Mountain.]

[You went to explore the remnants of the Demon Pavilion, and your Celestial Demon Heart Devouring Technique unexpectedly activated, assimilating the Demon Venerable’s remnant body into your Dantian, forming your Fake Core.]

[You’ve broken through and become a Fake Core Cultivator.]

[According to the study by the reincarnated Preaching Envoys, the Demon Venerable’s remnant body as your Fake Core is beneficial to the entire Nine Rivers.]

[However, following everyone’s unanimous agreement, since you carry the Demon Venerable’s remnant body, you must remain in the Kunmi Mountain Secret Realm.]

[For humanitarian reasons and due to your contributions, you are allowed to occasionally leave Kunmi Mountain but must be accompanied by several from amongst them.]

[You feel like you’re in prison, but sensing the presence filled with Demon Intent in your Dantian, you eventually agree to their conditions.]

[Henceforth, a Fake Core Cultivator guarding the Kunmi Mountain Secret Realm emerged.]

[You can feel the increasing power within your body, constantly enhancing everything about you.]

[You even feel you have enough strength to single-handedly challenge Fake Core Cultivators of the Cyan Yuan Sword Sect, despite not excelling in combat.]

[The channel between Kunmi Mountain and Nine Rivers opens, and you remain at Kunmi Mountain under the identity of the Mountain Guardian.]

[Accompanied by Sha Miaomiao and frequently visited by Longevity Pavilion disciples to seek guidance, you do not feel lonely.]

[From Sha Miaomiao’s words, you come to know the secrets of Nine Rivers…]

Most were seen by Ouyang Yun in the Illusion Realm previously.

An entity whose exact name and realm are unknown, yet this person is at least of the Divinity Transformation level.

The Preaching Envoys all refer to him as the Demon Venerable.

The Demon Venerable’s evil thoughts are boundless, and he remains unyielding in death, leaving behind a remnant.

Naturally, the so-called remnant is merely a finger, but for such an entity, a single finger is enough to possess a body.

The remnant might incite a new catastrophe.

Preaching Envoys came here for various reasons to guard the remnant and establish the Demon Pavilion.

The “Demon” in Demon Pavilion naturally refers to the Demon Venerable.

These reasons are invariably the Preaching Envoys owing a debt to heavenly fate.

For instance, Sha Miaomiao previously used a secret technique to resurrect her sister who died unexpectedly, defying heavenly destiny without incurring celestial punishment.

Similarly, a cultivator skilled in divination asked the heavens, avoiding a disaster predestined for his hometown, thus leaving a karmic debt.

Ultimately, these Nascent Soul cultivators regarded this task as their mission; otherwise, no force could compel them in this manner.

And the Preaching Envoys will perish.

Even though there is the Nascent Soul Cultivation Method, the chance of the Golden Core breaking through to Nascent Soul is too slim.

Even if they were to attempt another breakthrough, these Preaching Envoys have little confidence.

Thus, the idea of Preaching Envoys seeking successors is impractical.

Even the Nascent Soul Sect faces extinction.

Ultimately, these Preaching Envoys choose to take a risk.

While their power remains.

They searched for five hundred years, scouring countless Cultivation Realms beyond the Nine Rivers.

In the end, they found Aman.

A supreme genius possessing the Celestial Spirit Root, Celestial Blade Body, and Nine Spirits Long River Body.

The Demon Venerable favored the saber; it is rumored he nearly slew an immortal with the Immortal Slaying Saber.

Only the Immortal Slaying Saber can vanquish the Demon Venerable.

Thus, the Preaching Envoys began attempting to have Aman cultivate the saber technique, though some of the envoys disagreed on Aman practicing this technique.

Ultimately, Aman comprehended the Immortal Slaying Saber.

The Preaching Envoys therefore let nature take its course and attempted.

The final results were also witnessed by Ouyang Yun.

This Celestial Blade Body turned out to be Demon Venerable’s backup plan.

It’s unclear when he became a part of Demon Venerable’s backup, perhaps on a certain day at the Demon Pavilion.

Aman became the means for Demon Venerable’s liberation.

The Preaching Envoys had no choice but to activate their backup plan.

Sacrificing their bodies to set down a secret technique.

Using their beings and the wish power of Nine Rivers cultivators as strength, they suppressed the Demon Venerable.

Using inheritance as the guide, they allowed their reincarnation bodies to return.

The inheritance also served as a bond between these Preaching Envoys and Nine Rivers cultivators, and through the implicit karma in the inheritance, they could harness the wish power of all beings in Nine Rivers.

Ouyang Yun listened, somewhat confused.

The realm of Nascent Soul cultivators was still too distant for him.

And Ouyang Yun was the anomaly among them.

He wasn’t a Preaching Envoy but benefited from Aman’s cultivation of the Immortal Slaying Saber.

This saber wasn’t owned by the Demon Venerable, but was crafted from ore infused with a hint of Demon Venerable’s saber intent, refined by the Preaching Envoys into the Immortal Slaying Saber, allowing Aman to instantly understand the saber technique.

Later, it was again imbued with Immortal Slaying Saber intent by Aman.

Thus, the saber was completed.

The method of opening the Kunmi Mountain Secret Realm is identical to that of the Preaching Envoys sealing the Demon Venerable.

Both rely on profound and mysterious karma.

The Immortal Slaying Saber falls within this realm, thus involving Ouyang Yun…

[Knowing the past cause and effect brings you complex emotions.]

[You never thought a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like yourself could get involved in such matters.]

[Sha Miaomiao softly comforts you, and together you set up camp at Kunmi Mountain.]

[At the entrance to Kunmi Mountain, the two of you build a small house.]

[You feel the Fake Core gradually fusing with your Essence, Qi, and Spirit, realizing you have no hope of breaking through to the Golden Core.]

[Like those cultivators stuck at the Fake Core Realm, the Fake Core has entirely replaced the Golden Core, preventing you from condensing your own Golden Core.]

[However, you feel the Fake Core constantly transmitting powerful energy to you.]

[With your Dao path severed, you begin immersing yourself in the Alchemy Dao.]

[Thanks to the Fake Core, your lifespan extends by another two hundred years, and you sense the Fake Core steadily transmitting Vitality Power to you, enabling you to live longer.]

[You switch to cultivating the Nascent Soul Technique, Nine Lotus Longevity Technique from Jie Fangtao’s previous life.]

……

[In the 8192nd year of the Nine Rivers Calendar, you successfully refine your first seventh-grade pill, formally entering the realm of a Seventh-Grade Alchemist.]

[Your disciples, Xiang Shanzhou and Li Cai, come to congratulate you and inform you of some news: Master Yunding and Sikong Jingyang have both passed away.]

[The two had exceedingly complex relationships with you, but you feel an inexplicable sadness in your heart.]

[You announce your status as a Seventh-Grade Alchemist, taking up the role of president of the Alchemist Association at the lower reaches of Qingqiu River, with the vice president being Fang Tao, who often works outside.]

[Having undergone reincarnation inheritance, Fang Tao gradually surpasses you in the Alchemy Dao, and the two of you frequently spar and exchange insights, continuously improving your alchemy cultivation.]

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