Chapter 197: The Breakthrough of the Incarnation
"The item for the trade?" Xiaohua tilted her head in confusion.
"Master, Senior Xiaohua is here to trade for the Tier-4 Solar Yang Pill," Gu Mo explained from the side.
"What! It's already done?"
Xuan Tianhen was shocked. It hadn't been long at all, and the Tier-4 Solar Yang Pill was already completed? When did Shennong Valley's pill-refining capabilities become this formidable?
After his initial shock, Xuan Tianhen quickly took out a jade slip and inscribed the Grand yan Sword Canon onto it. Naturally, he couldn't hand over the original inheritance jade slip.
This slip he inscribed was a single-use version, and reading it required swearing an oath not to pass its contents on to anyone else.
Once the inscription was complete, Xuan Tianhen received a jade bottle from Xiaohua. As soon as he uncorked it, a brilliant beam of Sunlightburst out from the bottle.
"It really is a Tier-4 Solar Yang Pill!"
Xuan Tianhen quickly resealed the bottle. Although he wasn't an alchemist, he could still recognize a pill's grade. And the energy contained in this pill was anything but ordinary.
"Disciple, you must tell your friend—this Tier-4 Solar Yang Pill must never be leaked."
Xuan Tianhen solemnly warned Gu Mo. If the demonic sects caught wind of the pill's existence, they would stop at nothing to assassinate the pill refiner—and possibly even prioritize targeting the spiritual planter who provided the Tier-4 Sun Essence.
"I understand!"
Startled by the gravity in Xuan Tianhen's tone, Gu Mo quickly realized the seriousness of the situation. He had limited understanding of the ongoing conflict between the righteous and demonic paths, but Xuan Tianhen had battled on the frontlines for years—he knew the rules of that dark game all too well.
Now that he understood, Gu Mo saw how careless he had been. Fortunately, as of now, only he and Xuan Tianhen knew about the pill. And given Xuan Tianhen's hatred for the demonic path, there was no chance he'd betray Gu Mo.
Even Liu Shulan had only handed over the pill formula, unaware that Gu Mo had attempted multiple refinements, modified the recipe, and ultimately succeeded in producing a Tier-4 Solar Yang Pill.
So long as Gu Mo kept his mouth shut, no one else would know.
Even if traces of the truth leaked in the future, as long as Gu Mo remained within Shennong Valley, the demonic sect would face a steep price for making a move.
With that reassurance, Gu Mo felt at ease. Now that he had access to a Tier-4 spirit field, becoming a Nascent Soul True Lord was only a matter of time. Once he advanced, even if the secret of the Solar Yang Pill got out, he wouldn't fear them.
To achieve that goal, Gu Mo resumed his farming cultivation lifestyle—only through farming could he grow stronger.
Meanwhile, Xuan Tianhen began his closed-door recovery using the Tier-4 Solar Yang Pill. Gu Mo's incarnation started preparing for Core Formation. Once Xuan Tianhen was fully healed, Gu Mo would begin his breakthrough.
When the demonic sect's agents rushed in to sabotage things, they'd be in for a surprise—a fully recovered Xuan Tianhen. And Gu Mo would have a surprise of his own in store.
Time passed.
With the aid of the Tier-4 Solar Yang Pill, it only took three months for Xuan Tianhen to purge the demonic energy within him. With its eradication, the curse left behind by the dying Nascent Soul demon lord dissipated on its own.
"Master, you've recovered?"
Seeing Xuan Tianhen radiating vitality once more, Gu Mo was overjoyed.
"Not yet at my peak," Xuan Tianhen shook his head. Though the demonic energy was gone, the corrosion had left lasting damage—it would take time to heal.
"But I can fight—and I can win!" he added with the confidence of a Nascent Soul sword cultivator. When it came to slaughter, sword cultivators were in a league of their own.
"Then, Master, I'm ready to break through."
Hearing this, Gu Mo nodded. He had already completed all the preparations for Core Formation. Having gone through it once with his true body, this time it felt routine.
"Good."
Xuan Tianhen nodded gravely. His eldest disciple had perished attempting Core Formation, and now his youngest was going to attempt the same. He couldn't help feeling nervous.
And there was a murderous glint in his eyes—this time, he would not allow the demonic sect's saboteurs to succeed.
With his master's approval, Gu Mo arrived at the sect's central spiritual ground and began circulating the Core Formation method of the Grand yan Heavenly Cycle Technique.
As the core cultivation method of the Grand yan Sword Sect, its Core Formation approach was anything but ordinary. The moment Gu Mo began, spiritual energy began to spiral overhead.
The vortex expanded rapidly, soon surpassing the scale seen during his senior brother's attempt—and it wasn't done yet.
"This… this is…"
Xuan Tianhen stared at the swirling vortex in the sky. Were it not for the absence of tribulation clouds, he might have thought someone was attempting a Nascent Soul breakthrough.
"My disciple's fortune is truly extraordinary." After the initial shock, Xuan Tianhen could only sigh in awe, attributing the phenomenon to the immortal power residing in Gu Mo's body.
No matter how solid a Foundation Establishment cultivator's base was, none could compare to someone who possessed a strand of immortal power. With this alone, Gu Mo was almost destined to condense an immortal-grade golden core.
Meanwhile, in the basement of a small demonic sect…
"Xuan Tianhen's recent actions have enraged the higher-ups. He must die—and so must his disciple," a cold, furious voice echoed in the shadows.
Xuan Tianhen had stormed into demonic territory and slain two Nascent Soul demon lords. If the demonic sect failed to retaliate, they'd be the laughingstock of the cultivation world.
Destroying the entire Grand yan Sword Sect wasn't realistic, but smuggling in a Nascent Soul demon lord for an assassination? That was doable.
Especially now—Xuan Tianhen was cursed and weakened. The time to strike was now.
"Luo Bijun, I'll handle suppressing their protective array. You do the killing," the voice turned softer as it addressed a curvaceous woman in the corner.
She was the stationed Nascent Soul demon lord, and the one responsible for interrupting Gu Mo's senior brother's breakthrough.
To ensure Xuan Tianhen's death, the demonic sect planned to send two Nascent Soul demon lords to achieve swift, decisive victory.
After all, Shennong Valley wasn't too far away—if things dragged on and their elite farmers arrived, it could get messy. Shennong cultivators weren't known for combat strength, but their long lives, high cultivation, and battle flora were a serious headache.
"With Senior Brother Chaiyang taking action, Xuan Tianhen will be left with no escape!" Luo Bijun's voice was seductive as she nodded.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, her expression changed. She raised her hand and summoned a jade slip. A brief scan with her divine sense made her expression darken.
"What is it?"
Chaiyang asked, noticing the shift.
"Xuan Tianhen's little disciple—he's breaking through to the Core Formation realm!" she said grimly.
"Just a Core Formation breakthrough? We'll kill him too while we're at it." Chaiyang waved it off.
"No, it's not a normal breakthrough. See for yourself." Luo Bijun tossed him the jade slip. Her irritation was growing.
The fact that she'd only just received this news showed that the demonic spies in the Grand yan Sword Sect had lost access to key intel. That alone was deeply unsettling.
And the size of the spiritual vortex indicated immortal-grade golden core potential—an absolute threat to their future.
"Then let's move," Chaiyang said after examining the slip, his gaze now grim. Even Xuan Tianhen hadn't managed to form an immortal-grade core, and still caused massive damage to the demonic sects.
If they let this disciple grow, who knew what he might become?
At the Grand yan Sword Sect—
Disciples stared at the vortex above, numb after days of shock. Normally, a Core Formation breakthrough took a few hours—maybe a full day, tops.
But Gu Mo's vortex had persisted for half a month, and still showed no sign of waning.
Even Xuan Tianhen began to worry. But Gu Mo remained calm. Half a month? That was only halfway. His true body had taken a full month—and that was without immortal power.
This time might take even longer. Then again, it might end soon—because enemies wouldn't let him complete the breakthrough in peace.
Outside the sect, several figures lurked in the shadows—demonic sect cultivators stunned by the vortex overhead.
"Our planted agents have vanished," Luo Bijun said darkly.
Originally, they had planned to trigger the hidden curses implanted in elders and disciples, sabotaging the sect's protective array to aid their infiltration.
But the plan had failed—those agents were now gone. Their elaborate setup had crumbled.
"Then we attack directly."
Chaiyang waved his hand. If Xuan Tianhen were at full strength, he wouldn't dare. But in his current, cursed state? What was there to fear?
"Alright."
Luo Bijun nodded. With no insiders, they either retreated—or launched a direct assault. And retreat was not an option.
If they let the sect produce an immortal-grade golden core cultivator, the consequences would be disastrous.
As they spoke, Chaiyang struck first. He unleashed a tidal wave of blood energy that formed into a massive hand, slamming down on the Grand yan Sword Sect's protective array.
"The demonic sect is attacking!"
Seeing the crimson giant hand in the sky, the disciples cried out in alarm. They quickly summoned their flying swords, channeling them into the defensive array.
"Two of them, huh?"
Inside the central spiritual ground, Xuan Tianhen glanced up at the blood hand. This wasn't the same magic as the one that ambushed his eldest disciple.
"Tricky, but…" His eyes glinted with killing intent. This was righteous territory. As long as he held them off long enough, reinforcements from other sects would arrive—and both demon lords would die.
"Clang!"
Just as Chaiyang prepared another strike, a brilliant sword light streaked through the air. The sight of it made his heart seize.
When he saw the one wielding it—Xuan Tianhen—his voice faltered.
"You… how—"
Slash!
Before he could finish, the sword light cleaved into him, carving a deep wound. Empowered by the sect's formation, and delivered as a surprise strike, it packed terrifying force.
Though Chaiyang rapidly used blood refinement arts to heal, his aura weakened significantly.
Xuan Tianhen didn't pause. Seeing the enemy weakened, he struck again—no talking, no mercy.
But a powerful wave of divine sense disrupted him, causing a slight pause. Chaiyang narrowly evaded the blow.
"Your curse is… gone?" Luo Bijun appeared beside Chaiyang, glaring at Xuan Tianhen. The two were stunned.
They knew exactly how potent the curse was. It should have crippled him for months. Did he get help from a Soul Formation cultivator?
But Xuan Tianhen wasn't the disciple of any such figure. How could he have earned their help?
Even if it made no sense, the truth was undeniable.
"What now?"
With Xuan Tianhen fully recovered, their plan crumbled. They could suppress him together, but if other righteous Nascent Souls arrived, they were doomed.
Retreat would be humiliating. But staying could be fatal.
"I'll hold him. You kill the kid breaking through."
That was their final choice. If they couldn't kill Xuan Tianhen, they'd at least eliminate Gu Mo.
They couldn't allow the Grand yan Sword Sect to produce an immortal-grade golden core. If they killed Gu Mo, the mission wouldn't be a total failure.
Returning empty-handed was simply unacceptable.
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