The excitement and enthusiasm of the Southern Border celebration gradually settled, transforming into a warm memory in his heart. Tang Xiao Qi politely declined the Witch Tribe Chieftain's invitation to stay long-term but did not immediately depart for the Central Plains either. He deeply understood that forming the Golden Core, seemingly a surge in power, was actually like a child wielding a heavy hammer. If he could not completely control it, he would be harmed by it instead. The Southern Border sacred land was abundant in spiritual energy and had a peaceful environment. It was truly an excellent place for closed-door meditation to stabilize the realm and familiarize with Golden Core power.
When the Chieftain heard that Xiao Qi intended to enter closed-door meditation, without hesitation he personally arranged for Xiao Qi a cave dwelling in the deepest part of the sacred land that was both the most tranquil and had the most abundant spiritual energy. Located in the valley's heart, with a flowing spring on one side and lush ancient forest on the other, the cave dwelling's walls were smooth, clearly having been carefully maintained and inscribed with simple spiritual gathering and heart-calming talismans. Though it could not compare with Qingxu Temple's top-tier cave heavens, it had its own simple and natural charm.
Xiao Qi entered the cave dwelling, waved to set up several warning and isolation restrictions, then sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion in the center. He quickly entered a state of deep meditation where he forgot both self and surroundings.
His mind first sank into the dantian qi sea. That Golden Core the size of a dragon's eye slowly rotated at its own pace, like a miniature star at the center of the universe, radiating stable and vast energy fluctuations. Compared to when it had just condensed, its light was more internalized, and its rotation trajectory became increasingly smooth and natural. Clearly, after Heaven and Earth's gift and several days of nurturing, the foundation had initially stabilized. But Xiao Qi understood this was merely the beginning.
He carefully guided his spiritual consciousness, like the finest carving knife, beginning to comb through the connections between the Golden Core and his body's meridians and acupoints. During the Foundation Establishment stage, spiritual power flowed like streams in the meridians and required deliberate guidance to circulate. Now, the Golden Core formed its own system. Spiritual power rushed like great rivers. With just a thought, Golden Core power would arrive instantly, flooding his four limbs and hundred meridians. This feeling of power fullness and control was certainly wonderful, but also required extreme control. Otherwise, any carelessness, Golden Core power loss of control, would at least damage meridians, at worst shake the Golden Core's foundation.
He first began practicing the simplest spiritual power externalization. At his fingertip, a wisp of golden light pulsed uncertainly. Sometimes condensed like a needle, incomparably sharp, easily piercing through gold and stone; sometimes dispersed like mist, soft and dense, containing powerful defensive force. He continuously adjusted the output's intensity, form, and attributes, attempting to integrate a thread of the World-Purifying Ling Yan's fire intent, or draw upon a thread of the Azure Lotus Origin's purification characteristics, letting this pure Golden Core power display different qualities.
This process seemed tedious but was crucial. He must become familiar with every "expression" of Golden Core power, understand its consumption, speed, and might under different states, until reaching the realm of "thought triggers action, not a hair's breadth of error." Inside the cave dwelling, sometimes golden light would flash, sometimes white radiance would flow, sometimes heat waves would surge, sometimes clear light would scatter. Xiao Qi's figure among these changing lights and shadows appeared increasingly profound and unpredictable.
Beyond basic spiritual power control, he also invested significant effort into the application of spiritual sense—now it should perhaps be called spiritual consciousness. Spiritual consciousness underwent qualitative change at the Golden Core stage, with coverage up to ten thousand li. He did not blindly expand the range but focused on delicate control. Spiritual consciousness like silk threads, divided into several strands, even dozens of strands, simultaneously performing different operations: one simulating pill refining, delicately controlling virtual flame temperature and medicinal herb fusion; one simulating talisman drawing, outlining complex and powerful lines; another like tentacles, meticulously "feeling" the cave dwelling's inner walls, perceiving their finest textures and spiritual energy flow. This multi-tasking tempering greatly enhanced his control precision and resilience over spiritual consciousness, laying a solid foundation for later deploying more complex spells and simultaneously controlling multiple treasures.
As his control of basic Golden Core power and spiritual sense grew increasingly proficient, Xiao Qi began turning his gaze to the cultivation methods he practiced. The "Swimming Dragon Nine Turns" body movement technique, which had already given him speed and flexibility far beyond his peers during the Foundation Establishment stage, would now, stimulated by Golden Core power, undergo even more earth-shaking changes.
His body did not move, but his spiritual consciousness had already simulated countless complex and bizarre evasion trajectories within his consciousness sea. The abundant energy provided by the Golden Core was sufficient to support longer duration and higher intensity space warping and rapid movement. He repeatedly deduced the mysteries of the second turn "Cloud Dragon Explores the Claw" and third turn "Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail," attempting to integrate that thread of spatial insight from the Void Dragon Crystal he had comprehended. Gradually, within his spiritual consciousness's simulated world, his figure was not merely fast but also carried a flavor of flickering and hard to lock onto, as if able to at any moment merge with surrounding space fluctuations for ultra-short distance "gliding" or even "flashing." Though still far from true instant movement, its strangeness and practical combat value were already not to be mentioned in the same breath.
Next came the "Adamantine Subduing Demons Divine Technique." This body-refining secret art obtained from the Goldsand City in the Western Desert, after Xiao Qi formed the Golden Core and underwent Thunder Tribulation body tempering, had made his already powerful physical body even more enhanced. At this moment, he operated the divine technique's method. Qi and blood within his body roared like mercury, emitting low rumbling sounds. On his bones, pale golden runes flickered; beneath his skin, as if covered by an unyielding golden network, it emanated a chilling defensive force.
He stimulated the divine technique with Golden Core power. A fist slowly thrown out, without employing any spells, merely the physical body's power causing the, made the air ahead emit an unbearable hum, forming a visible distorted wave. He could feel that this body of his had become a powerful humanoid treasure. Ordinary spirit weapons probably could not injure it in the slightest. He attempted to integrate a thread of purification power into his fist intent and discovered it could create additional restraining effects on sinister energy. This undoubtedly elevated the Adamantine Subduing Demons Divine Technique's practicality another level.
Additionally, he did not neglect cultivation of the "Spirit Concentration Mantra." The heart-realm cultivation at the Golden Core stage was equally important. Powerful spiritual consciousness required an equally powerful mind to control. The "Spirit Concentration Mantra" helped him maintain clarity on his spiritual platform at all times and resist inner demons, especially during the initial period when power surged rapidly. Under the assistance of the Spirit Concentration Mantra, the fine restlessness occasionally arising from his power increase was quickly smoothed away. His Dao Heart became increasingly crystalline, reflecting all things yet undisturbed.
Time silently passed in closed-door meditation. Outside the cave dwelling, sun and moon alternated. The Southern Border rainforest remained full of life. Inside the cave dwelling, Xiao Qi was wholehearted, dedicating himself fully to exploring and mastering this new power. His use of Golden Core power progressed from initial clumsiness to gradual proficiency, to being as natural as using his own limbs, and even began attempting some unique combinations and variations.
When he opened his eyes again, the divine light in his eyes had completely internalized. His surrounding aura was seamless and flawless, no longer any leakage or fluctuation from when he first entered the Golden Core stage. He slowly stood up, feeling that vast yet obedient-to-command boundless power within his body like abyss and sea. A satisfied smile appeared on his lips.
The realm was thoroughly stabilized. Golden Core power was familiar in his heart. Several main cultivation methods had also, by this opportunity, been elevated to new levels. At this moment, he could truly be called a genuinely, solidly grounded early Golden Core cultivator.
"It is time to return." Xiao Qi softly murmured to himself, his gaze seeming to penetrate the cave dwelling's stone walls, looking toward the Central Plains direction. Qingxu Temple, Senior Brothers and Sisters, unfinished missions, and the lurking demonic entity threat in the shadows. all awaited him. Now, bearing the might of the Golden Core, he had even more sufficient courage to face all of this.
He removed the restrictions, walked out of the cave dwelling. Warm sunlight and fresh air rushed to greet him. This Southern Border journey's gains far exceeded expectations. Not only did he succeed in forming the Golden Core and stabilizing the realm, but he also formed deep virtuous fate with this land. This return would certainly create new disturbances.