The imagined clash with the hiker, though likely a misunderstanding, had left Li Wei with a heightened sense of purpose. The scroll's talk of "clan warfare" had stirred his imagination, transforming the tranquil hidden valley into a battlefield where he defended his path to immortality. The warmth in his dantian, now a steady pulse that seemed to resonate with the valley's mystical energy, reassured him that he was progressing. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast companion, lay curled by the stone altar, a quiet reminder of his growing connection to the world around him. But the scroll's next passage beckoned with a new milestone: "Core Formation, the forging of the Golden Core, where qi condenses into the seed of immortality."
In the cultivation stories Li Wei had devoured in his old life, Core Formation was a pivotal stage, a moment when a cultivator transformed their diffuse qi into a concentrated orb of power within their dantian, granting strength and longevity beyond mortal limits. The scroll's description was less grandiose but no less compelling: "Gather the qi, refine it through will, and birth the core that binds the spirit to the eternal." It warned of intense focus and physical strain, requiring a harmony of body, mind, and environment. Li Wei, emboldened by his recent trials—lightning, betrayal, and imagined foes—felt ready to take this step, even if his body was weakened by hunger and the lingering effects of his alchemical misadventure.
He prepared with the solemnity of a sacred rite, choosing a spot beneath the valley's ancient tree, where the glowing blossoms seemed to pulse in time with his qi. The tree's roots, twisted like dragons, anchored his new altar, now adorned with the jade slip, the scroll, and a few wilted "Spirit Root Herbs." The valley's mist curled around him, the air humming with an energy that felt like the breath of the Dao itself. Li Wei fasted for a day, sipping only the valley's crystal-clear water, to purify his body as the scroll advised. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as if sensing the gravity of the moment.
At dawn, when the first rays of sunlight pierced the mist, Li Wei began. He sat cross-legged, the scroll open before him, and closed his eyes, focusing on his dantian. The scroll instructed him to "compress the qi, layer upon layer, until it shines like gold." He visualized the warmth in his core as a swirling mist, gathering it with each breath, willing it to condense. His chants, drawn from the scroll's incantations, echoed softly, blending with the valley's whispers. The process was slow, his mind wandering to doubts—the hiker's mockery, Wang Hao's betrayal, the possibility that the scroll was a fraud. He pushed them aside, focusing on the warmth, imagining it solidifying into a radiant orb.
Hours passed, his body trembling from the effort. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his stomach growled, a sharp reminder of his mortal frailties. The warmth in his dantian grew intense, almost painful, as if resisting his attempts to shape it. The scroll had warned of "resistance from the mortal vessel," and Li Wei saw this as another tribulation. He pressed on, his chants growing louder, his hands pressed to his abdomen as if physically molding the qi. Azure Dragon whined softly, nudging his knee, but Li Wei barely noticed, lost in the struggle to forge his core.
Then, a breakthrough. The warmth in his dantian surged, a sudden heat that felt like a spark igniting kindling. He gasped, his vision flashing with golden light, and for a moment, he saw it in his mind's eye—a tiny, radiant orb, pulsing like a star within him. The sensation was fleeting, replaced by a wave of dizziness that sent him sprawling onto the grass. His heart raced, his breath ragged, but the warmth remained, steadier than ever, as if the core had taken root, however small. Was this the Golden Core? Or was it, as a small voice whispered, just heartburn from days of fasting and stress?
Li Wei lay there, staring at the blossoms drifting from the ancient tree, their glow reflecting in the pool. He grabbed his notebook, scribbling with trembling hands: "Core Formation attempted. Golden spark seen, qi condensed. Body weak, but spirit ascends." He wasn't sure if he'd truly formed a core or if his mind, desperate for progress, had conjured the vision. But the warmth in his dantian felt different—denser, more focused. He chose to believe it was real, a milestone on the path to immortality.
During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared his experience, his voice hoarse but triumphant. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, declared it a "major breakthrough," urging him to refine the core with alchemical elixirs. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, cautioned him to rest and nurture his body. "The core is fragile at first," she said, citing her own studies. Li Wei nodded, grateful for their support, even as he hid the extent of his exhaustion. The valley's energy, the scroll's guidance, and Azure Dragon's quiet presence were enough to keep him going.
As night fell, Li Wei meditated under the tree, the jade slip in his hands, its faint warmth mirroring his own. The scroll promised that Core Formation was the gateway to greater power, but also greater trials. Li Wei, with his nascent core and unyielding faith, felt ready. The valley's whispers seemed to chant in approval, and Azure Dragon's soft snores grounded him in the moment. The Golden Core, real or imagined, was his foundation now, and he would build upon it, step by perilous step, toward the heavens.