The spirits of the five elements. They are not something you can buy just by strolling down the street. I'm afraid that apart from the gods, no one else would dare to say for sure that they could collect the spirits of the five elements.
The old Taoist priest Xianyun raised his white eyebrows, about to rebuke him, when he suddenly remembered the boy's unexpected performance on Tianding Star. He had advanced one out of ten times! In the art of refining mouth-shaped artifacts, he was more than qualified to be his master's master.
Since that's the case, it's possible that there really is such a thing. Thinking of this, the old Taoist priest kept his mouth shut.
After waiting for a while, Feng and Zhang remained silent, while the Tianyi Sect Master and the old Daoist Xianyun looked hesitant, clearly considering Xiao Wenbing's theory on the evolution of immortal artifacts.
Xiao Wenbing frowned and said, "Master, Sect Master, now that we're here, please feel free to give us any instructions. We disciples will do our best and will not slack off. Of course, if we are lucky enough to capture the Earth Spirit, please share some scraps with us in recognition of our hard work. We would be extremely grateful."
Feng and Zhang glanced at him simultaneously. Only this Xiao, who had no awareness of being a cultivator, would speak like that in front of his teachers.
"Elder Xiao is joking," the Tianyi Sect Master smiled slightly. He was also quite troubled by this elder, so he could only say directly, "The spirit of the earth is a spiritual being. After you capture it, make a contract with it and ask it to promise something, then you can let it go."
"What?! Release them?" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed, wondering if he had misheard.
"Indeed, this thing gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and it is a rare sight in thousands of years. If we were to capture and refine it, it would be against the will of heaven and earth. When the heavenly tribulation comes one day, the crime would be compounded, and it would be difficult to survive that tribulation." The Tianyi Sect Master solemnly instructed.
Xiao Wenbing's face immediately changed slightly. Good heavens, so it turns out whoever captures whom dies. This old guy is really up to no good.
The old Taoist priest nodded and said, "The three of us have all reached the Tribulation Transcending stage. If we were to take action ourselves, I'm afraid the Earth Spirit would not even see it before the Heavenly Tribulation arrives."
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback. He had a very shallow relationship with the Tianyi Sect Master, and he didn't know anything about his character. But if you said that the old Daoist Xianyun would also harm him, he would be the first to disbelieve it. He immediately asked, "Master, if that's the case, why did you ask your disciples to take action?"
The old Taoist priest glared at him and said, "You talk the most." But he still explained, "The three of you are different from others. As long as you don't harm the life of the Earth Spirit, a mere Heavenly Tribulation won't be a problem for you."
"What if we hurt its life?" Xiao Wenbing continued to ask, as if determined to get to the bottom of it.
"Even if you are injured, it's nothing." The old Taoist said helplessly, "The three of you either possess spiritual roots or celestial artifacts. Although the Heavenly Tribulation is strong, it cannot be stronger than fate. As long as you can safely endure until the day of your tribulation, you will definitely pass through it safely."
Xiao Wenbing wanted to ask more, but suddenly heard Feng Baiyi coldly say, "For those with spiritual roots, the highest tribulation they can undergo is the Five Thunder Tribulation. If you can't even pass the Five Thunder Tribulation, then you don't need to cultivate at all."
Xiao Wenbing turned and glared at her, saying, "You and I have no relationship, but Yaqi is just an ordinary person."
"Yaqi possesses the Qiankun Ring. As long as her cultivation level is high enough, she can safely overcome not only the heavenly tribulations in the cultivation world, but also ordinary immortal tribulations in the immortal world."
"How did you know?" Xiao Wenbing asked in surprise.
Feng Baiyi was taken aback, gave him a rare glare, turned her head away, and ignored him.
Xiao Wenbing's heart skipped a beat, his mind filled with Feng Baiyi's angry glare just now. Such a girlish expression on her face was truly rare, and its destructive power was unparalleled.
Suddenly, a small hand quietly gripped his opaque hand. Xiao Wenbing was startled and turned around to see Zhang Yaqi slowly shaking her head at him.
Xiao Wenbing took a deep breath. A warmth filled his heart; these two beautiful people, so deeply missed…
"Master, Sect Leader, we have accepted this mission. However, may I ask how we can capture him, and what kind of contract we need to make with him?"
The Sect Master of Tianyi smiled slightly. Of the three elders, as long as the quirky Xiao Wenbing was dealt with, the other two would not be so troublesome: "We three old fellows have studied for hundreds of years and spent countless efforts to refine three wooden silkworm nets. If we can catch the earth spirit in the net, we can probably be considered to have captured it."
"Probably? Sect Master, do you mean that even if we go through all sorts of trouble to contain it, it might not be effective, right?"
The Sect Master of Tianyi Sect smiled somewhat awkwardly and said:
This item is quite rare, and we don't have much information available about it. However, since wood can overcome earth, it's probably similar.
"Alright, that's good enough," Xiao Wenbing thought to himself. Even if we fail, it's none of our business.
"Elder Xiao, as you know, our cultivation world on Earth has almost no cultivation resources left. Whether it's the mining of spirit stones or the growth of medicinal herbs, both have been declining year by year, and we've long been unable to continue."
Xiao Wenbing's heart stirred, and he asked, "Could this Earth Spirit possibly solve this problem?"
The Tianyi Sect Master nodded hurriedly and said, "That's right. Among the five elements, earth, water, and wood are the three elements that can nurture all things. As long as they can live peacefully in the eye of the planet for a thousand years, they will naturally be able to radiate infinite spiritual power, enough to bring a planet back to life and make it flourish again."
"Sect Master, the Xingyanpi family didn't have any impact on the Earth Spirit, did they?"
"Absolutely not. For the spirits of the five elements, everywhere is the same."
"Isn't this task quite simple?"
"The problem is that once the spirit of the five elements encounters other creatures, it will immediately disappear without a trace. If we can't make a contract with it, how can it stay in one place for thousands of years?" Old Daoist Xianyun explained, "Catching it is the most difficult thing."
"Yes, I understand. I will do my best." Xiao Wenbing stretched out his hand and asked, "Where are the things?"
"What?"
"Where's the wooden silkworm net?"
With a wave of his hand, the Sect Master of Tianyi Sect displayed three small nets in the hands of the three of them. He then said, "This old Daoist will teach you a Three Talents Formation. Over the next few months, you must practice diligently at all times and pay attention to your coordination. Remember, the formation originates from the heart. Only when your hearts are in sync can you unleash the full power of the Three Talents Formation."
"A meeting of minds?" Xiao Wenbing asked with a strange expression.
"Indeed, you don't have much time left. In these remaining months, you must stay together and concentrate. Remember that."
Xiao Wenbing was immediately overjoyed and praised loudly, "Sect Master is wise! We disciples will keep this in mind and would never dare to disobey in the slightest."
Feng and Zhang glanced at each other unintentionally, and both saw something unusual in each other's eyes.
Volume 4, Chapter 121: Copying the Golden Core
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Over the next few days, Xiao Wenbing and the other two entered a quiet room and, under the guidance of the Tianyi Sect Master and the old Daoist Xianyun, began practicing the so-called Three Talents Formation.
However, within a few days, Xiao Wenbing and the others realized that this so-called Three Talents Formation was actually a variant of the Taoist Five Elements Formation.
In the actual operation, the three people stood according to the five elements. Xiao Wenbing was in charge of the central earth element, which was naturally of paramount importance and required someone to guard it.
But whether it was Xiao Wenbing or the others, they all knew one thing clearly: it was because Xiao Wenbing's cultivation was too shallow, not comparable to the Golden Core realm of Feng and Zhang, that they assigned him the simplest task.
Although everyone knew the truth, the two women never showed any unusual behavior. This attitude made Xiao Wenbing feel grateful and also inspired him to never give up.
He may not be as good as the Sect Master of Tianyi Sect, the Taoist Master Xianyun, or even Zhang Jie or Mingmei. However, the idea that he is inferior to Feng and Zhang is something he can never accept with a clear conscience.
Normally, he might not care so much, because everyone knows that he, Xiao, is exceptionally talented and can form his core in a year. Such speed is unparalleled in the world. Given time, catching up with and surpassing the two women is a certainty and beyond doubt.
However, the situation was quite different now. Once the Three Talents Formation was activated, Xiao Wenbing's insufficient skill often made him a major burden on the formation. Therefore, the two women had to pay close attention to him and fill in the gaps, which was extremely arduous for them.
If Xiao Wenbing could remain nonchalant under these circumstances, then he wouldn't be Xiao Wenbing.
On this day, the Sect Master of Tianyi watched them practice once, and couldn't help but sigh deeply, remaining silent.
As training time increased, their teamwork became increasingly seamless, and they could handle basic operations. However, when unexpected events occurred, or when attempting to capture earth spirits, this makeshift formation became fraught with problems.
However, this is not something that can be resolved overnight. As long as Xiao Wenbing's cultivation level does not reach the Golden Core stage, this set of formations will never reach a perfect state.
The Core Formation stage has become the biggest factor hindering the power of this Gengfa technique. And to expect Xiao Wenbing to unleash his divine power again, to create a miracle, and to transform a Core Formation cultivator into a Golden Core cultivator in just a few days…
Even the most optimistic person wouldn't hold such an unrealistic view.
In the Tianyi Sect, there is a place designated as a forbidden area by the sect leader, where there is a quiet room that no one dares to approach.
At this moment, in the quiet room, the three people stared at each other, an indescribable eeriness in the air.
"I say, Baiyi, you are incredibly powerful, even knowing about the Immortal Realm and the Five Great Divine Secrets. So, is there any way for me to advance to the Golden Core stage in one fell swoop?"
After a fierce internal struggle, Xiao Wenbing finally decided to put aside his pride, humbly seek advice, and not be ashamed to ask questions.
Feng Baiyi looked at him calmly, her tranquil gaze so gentle it seemed to melt anyone's heart. Then, she smiled sweetly, like a hundred flowers in full bloom.
Xiao Wenbing was overjoyed, and just as his excitement reached its peak, he suddenly heard Feng Baiyi sweetly say two words: "No."
"What..." Xiao Wenbing was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. If there was nothing, why were you smiling so happily and charmingly? Were you trying to seduce me?
Looking at Zhang Yaqi again, she was already clutching her stomach and bent over.
"Yaqi!" Xiao Wenbing shouted angrily.
"Hmm." Zhang Yaqi raised her head, her clear eyes brimming with a deep smile, which made his heart flutter.
Xiao Wenbing swallowed hard, a strange thought rising in his mind.
Suddenly, the two women who had been looking at him turned their faces away at the same time, and even the usually cold and aloof Phoenix Fairy had a faint blush on her face.
Xiao Wenbing inwardly groaned. This damned Three Talents Formation was truly strange. After a month of cultivation, although the three of them could not yet achieve complete telepathy, they could more or less sense each other's thoughts by looking into each other's eyes.
Just like at this moment, they also sensed some of the party-based thinking that came from human instinct within themselves.
He chuckled, about to explain, when he saw Zhang Yaqi stand up with a flushed face, and dash out of the quiet room. Just as Xiao Wenbing was about to call her back, Feng Baiyi also stood up and swaggered away.
"Sigh..." He sighed helplessly. This kind of thing was probably inexplicable. If he really went after him to explain, he would probably only make things worse and make things worse. He shook his head and decided to talk about it later.
It seems that everything has its advantages and disadvantages. Being able to understand each other is certainly a good thing, but being too compatible may not necessarily be a blessing.
Bored, Xiao Wenbing sat down and sighed deeply. Golden Core, Golden Core—these two words had filled his mind these past few days. He was practically obsessed with the Golden Core whether he was opening his eyes, closing his eyes, practicing, or sleeping. He was going crazy thinking about the Golden Core.
A thought suddenly struck him: it's just a Golden Core, isn't it? He already has a top-tier Golden Core demon residing in his Heavenly Void Ring. Why not go and observe what a Golden Core really is?
Without hesitation, he gave the order, and the butterfly fairy obediently crawled out and stood in front of him.
Xiao Wenbing focused his consciousness and followed the meridians within the Butterfly Fairy's body, diving into its dantian.
Before this, Xiao Wenbing insisted on reform and opening up. He wondered if he could find the Golden Core of the Butterfly Fairy. After all, there was a difference between humans and demons, and it was perfectly normal for the Butterfly Fairy to not have meridians in her body.
However, you can now put aside your worries. Although the meridians in the Butterfly Fairy's body are very different from those of humans, it is undeniable that she still has meridians.
After passing through the meridians of a demon, Xiao Wenbing finally arrived at that unique dantian.
If the human dantian is a perfect circle, then the butterfly-shaped dantian is flat, somewhat semi-circular and not square.
After examining this strange dantian, Xiao Wenbing finally admitted that humans and demons are, after all, different.
In the very center of the dantian, a golden inner core was slowly rotating. With each rotation, it absorbed a certain amount of spiritual energy from the outside world. This mode of spiritual energy conversion was far superior to that of the inner core.
Upon careful recollection, after Zhang Yaqi underwent the Five Elements Tribulation, she advanced to the top level of the Golden Core realm in one fell swoop. Hmm, that Golden Core and the one before me weren't much different.
It seems that the dantian may be different, but the golden cores of the beings and demons are exactly the same.
After observing carefully for a while, Xiao Wenbing finally came to the correct conclusion: the process of the Golden Core absorbing spiritual energy is not much different from the process of the Natal Cultivator absorbing spiritual energy.
The caterpillar remained motionless, its heart filled with trepidation, wondering what its master was up to. However, as the servant in the contract, it had no power to resist whatsoever.
What a beautiful golden core! A hint of envy appeared in Xiao Wenbing's eyes. Is this the top-grade golden core? The golden color flowing on it was so rich that it seemed as if it would explode at any moment. And once it exploded, it would be the moment when the Butterfly Immortal took shape and formed his nascent soul. In other words, it would be the moment when he, Xiao Wenbing, would face the Heavenly Tribulation.
After looking for a long time, he still couldn't figure it out. However, Xiao Wenbing was certain of one thing: the energy contained within the Golden Core far exceeded his own by more than a hundred times.
With his supernatural power activated, Xiao Wenbing finally scanned the golden core.
Inch by inch, Xiao Wenbing unexpectedly discovered that this tiny thing was extremely rare in terms of its complex structure and powerful energy.
However, thanks to Xiao's tireless efforts, he finally succeeded and fulfilled his wish, and Xiao Wenbing withdrew from the caterpillar's dantian.