Volume One, Chapter Five: Breaking Through to the Golden Core Stage

Thinking of this, she could not help but look at Lin Yang with a complex expression.

In the outside world, it was rumored that Lin Yang was a good-for-nothing peak master who hadn't even reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, and he was ridiculed everywhere within the Great Wilderness Immortal Sect.

But seeing him now, it was clear that Lin Yang was not as simple as he appeared on the surface. How could someone who could casually pull out a Phoenix Immortal Herb and an Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill be an ordinary person?

"Alright, hurry up and make your breakthrough. As your master, I'm waiting for you to shine at the sect grand competition in a month."

With that, Lin Yang turned and left without looking back, as if he had only come to deliver something of no consequence.

Lin Yang didn't think much of it; he simply didn't want Lin Hongye to lose at the sect grand competition in a month, otherwise, he would have to endure the smug face of the Sword Peak Master.

However, in Lin Hongye's heart, many thoughts were racing.

"To keep me from leaving Red Sun Peak, Master was actually willing to give me an Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill? And the Red Sun Immortal Herb..."

A strange feeling stirred within her. In her past life, she had been betrayed, leading to a failed breakthrough, and from then on, she dared not trust anyone easily. But Lin Yang's various actions truly moved her.

Lin Hongye stood at the entrance of her cave dwelling for a long while, her gaze gradually hardening with determination.

"Since Master is so unwilling for me to leave Red Sun Peak, then I must certainly work hard!"

She let out a cold huff. She merely felt that staying at Red Sun Peak was more convenient for her cultivation; she was absolutely not touched by Lin Yang—absolutely not!

Lin Hongye returned to her cave. With the Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill in hand, she could begin her breakthrough. Looking at the pill, which shimmered with Dao rhymes and emitted rich spiritual energy and the aura of the Emperor level, she swallowed it in one gulp.

Instantly, immense and surging spiritual energy flooded her limbs and bones. Her body, like a dried-up sponge, began to greedily absorb the energy. As she absorbed it, her body began to emit intense heat, and a faint phantom of a rising sun slowly appeared above her head.

With the help of the Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill, her previously damaged foundation and incomplete spirit began to be repaired and strengthened, and the perfect sun above her head gradually solidified.

"Boom!"

A red beam of light violently pierced through the mountain, shooting straight into the sky. The massive disturbance immediately attracted countless disciples and elders of the Great Wilderness Immortal Sect.

Sect Master Zhang Xianfeng was in the main hall when he heard the commotion. He flew out of the hall and saw a towering red beam of light erupting from Red Sun Peak. The beam pierced the clouds and shot into the heavens, its power causing all cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage to tremble in fear.

Zhang Xianfeng looked at the beam with a grave expression. He knew clearly that this was the phenomenon caused by Lin Hongye breaking through to the Golden Core stage.

"Having joined the Great Wilderness Immortal Sect for only a day, she has already broken through to the Golden Core stage. Truly, heaven blesses our Great Wilderness..."

Back on Red Sun Peak, Lin Yang looked at the beam of light from the nearby cave and couldn't help but sigh: "Isn't the momentum of this breakthrough a bit too grand?"

As for the pressure the beam exerted on Lin Yang, it meant nothing at all; if he wished, he could dissipate it with a mere wave of his hand.

Inside the cave, the stone-colored orb in Lin Hongye's dantian began to crack on the surface, revealing a brilliant golden light within.

"Boom!"

With a burst, the stone shell of the Golden Core shattered—the Golden Core was formed! Lin Hongye had successfully broken through to the Golden Core stage!

The red beam of light slowly retracted, and the commotion on Red Sun Peak gradually dissipated, returning everything to calm. Lin Hongye opened her eyes; traces of the Dao rhyme from the Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill still lingered on her skin.

Filled with anticipation, she turned her consciousness inward to inspect her foundation and spirit. Her foundation had been completely mended, and thanks to the Emperor-grade pill, it had grown significantly stronger, meaning her future cultivation speed would be much faster than before.

At the same time, her spirit had been fully restored, and the aftereffects of her soul transmigration had vanished. Most importantly, her spirit had solidified, almost as if it had become physical. This enhancement of her spirit sharpened her senses and perception, granting her a much greater aptitude than before.

"I never imagined that becoming an apprentice this time would bring me such a tremendous opportunity..."

Lin Hongye murmured. She felt incredibly fortunate to have joined Lin Yang’s Red Sun Peak; without this, she would have had to wait until the end of time to achieve all this.

Meanwhile, Lin Yang, on Red Sun Peak, was grinning from ear to ear.

[Ding! Detected that Lin Hongye has broken through to the Golden Core stage! Synchronizing cultivation level for the host!]

[Ding! Cultivation level synchronized!]

Instantly, Lin Yang's cultivation broke through to the Feather Transformation stage. The Great Wilderness Bell, which had only just fallen silent, was struck violently once more.

Feeling the cultivation level within him, Lin Yang could not help but be overjoyed. In less than a day, he had broken through to the Feather Transformation stage; even riding a rocket wouldn't be this fast!

As for the Great Wilderness Bell being rung repeatedly, Lin Yang didn't care. What did it have to do with him? He was just a low-level cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining!

After breaking through to the Golden Core stage, Lin Hongye found that many things she previously couldn't understand now became clear with just a little thought—this was the benefit of her improved aptitude.

At the same time, she became curious about Lin Yang's identity. Casually handing out an Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill and using the Red Sun Immortal Herb to cook dishes—could this really be a low-level cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining? Lin Yang was definitely not as simple as he appeared.

"Lin Yang, just who are you exactly..." Lin Hongye was deeply curious, but she didn't dwell on it too much; after all, these things would be cleared up sooner or later.

"Forget it, let me first use the remaining Dao rhyme from the Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill to contemplate the Great Dao of Immortal Fire."

Although she had successfully broken through to the Golden Core stage, much of the pill's medicinal power remained. Adhering to the principle of not wasting anything, she intended to use it to comprehend the Great Dao of Immortal Fire and reach the Great Completion stage as soon as possible.

Just then, Lin Yang's voice came from the door of her cave again:

"Disciple, have you finished your breakthrough?"

Lin Hongye went to the cave entrance and opened the door to find Lin Yang looking at her with a smile.

"Disciple, how do you feel?"

Lin Hongye nodded, her attitude finally showing a hint of closeness.

"Thank you for the Emperor-grade Crystallization Pill. I have successfully broken through to the Golden Core stage."

"Small matter, small matter. Since you've reached the Golden Core stage, let's have a chat."

Lin Yang was eager to complete his system tasks, so the moment Lin Hongye succeeded, he rushed over to finish the second one.

"A chat?" Lin Hongye was a bit puzzled, but since she had just finished her breakthrough and had some time, she nodded.