Chapter 74: Golden Core Stage! Shen Xuanli’s Warning

As soon as the Thunderflame Fruit entered her belly, Ye Qingning sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the immense energy it contained.

As time passed, an intense surge of lightning spread from Ye Qingning’s body, intertwined with flickering flames.

With each breath she took during the absorption process, it was as if she was resonating with the lightning between heaven and earth, and her aura steadily climbed.

This powerful force surged through her body like a thousand rivers merging into the sea—roaring and vast—filling her with both excitement and tension.

She could deeply feel the force battering the barrier between realms like a raging storm.

Each impact was excruciating. To put it simply—it hurt, but it felt amazing.

Soon, that seemingly indestructible barrier began to tremble under the repeated assaults, and eventually, cracks started to appear.

Ye Qingning intensified her absorption of the Thunderflame Fruit’s energy, throwing herself entirely into breaking through. As the cracks widened, her aura peaked.

Finally, with a thunderous boom that shook the skies, the unbreakable barrier shattered completely.

At the same time, within her spiritual core, a dazzling golden core began to take form, and an invisible force surged in from all directions, trying to crush her.

Only by withstanding this immense pressure could the golden core be fully solidified.

As it continued to form, the surrounding spiritual energy responded like a tidal wave, madly rushing into her body to nourish the emerging golden core.

Her body underwent a massive transformation—every meridian, every bone felt like it was reforged through divine hammering, becoming more resilient and powerful.

With the unceasing flow of spiritual energy, the golden core finally solidified completely, radiating a dazzling brilliance. At that moment, Ye Qingning’s cultivation broke through to the Golden Core Stage.

Her entire being felt reborn, brimming with power—as though she could shift mountains and stir the seas with a wave of her hand.

However, this was the Cloudmount Secret Realm. Though she had broken through to the Golden Core Stage, her cultivation was still being suppressed to the Foundation Establishment Stage due to the special environment here.

But this didn’t stop her from releasing her spiritual sense.

Compared to Foundation Establishment cultivators, those in the Golden Core Stage could extend their spiritual sense for hundreds of miles, a massive increase in capability.

She released her spiritual sense, hoping to see if those crazed birds had finally left.

Only then did she realize—it was already the next day, and those birds had indeed left the area.

Ye Qingning withdrew her spiritual sense and was about to leave when she took one last internal glance at her newly-formed golden core.

That glance startled her—within the swirling core fire, lightning flickered like silver serpents dancing through golden flames.

To cultivators, core fire could be used for alchemy, forging, even soul refining.

Only Golden Core cultivators and above could possess this life-linked core fire.

This core fire was an extension of the golden core’s power and was considered an invaluable treasure. Alchemy using core fire far surpassed the effects of using spiritual flames.

And core fire imbued with lightning power—was even more powerful.

Previously, her core fire was just ordinary. Who would’ve thought that after one near-death experience, the heavens would treat her so favorably?

Ye Qingning suppressed the joy in her heart and slowly opened her obsidian eyes, only to see Shen Xuanli looking at her.

Just as she was wondering what to say, she heard Shen Xuanli plainly utter two words: “Congratulations.”

Ye Qingning’s lips curved into a small smile, dimples faintly appearing. She couldn’t afford to be prideful in front of such a prodigious male lead.

Very formally, she said, “As disciples, we should all take our senior brother as a role model—learn his character, emulate his conduct, and strive to advance further on the path of cultivation!”

System: …Damn, you really know how to flatter!

Shen Xuanli stared at Ye Qingning, probably not expecting that his simple congratulations would result in him being praised instead.

With that kind of eloquence, no wonder the master liked her.

Unlike him, who was always being scolded by the master for being too quiet—he didn’t even have anyone to talk to and could only chat with the bird in the Sect Leader’s Hall.

If she could become the master’s disciple, the master probably wouldn’t need to talk to the bird anymore.

Ye Qingning had no idea what Shen Xuanli was thinking. Seeing that he wasn’t responding, she wondered if she’d said something wrong.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Shen Xuanli solemnly spoke: “There’s no thunder tribulation at the Golden Core breakthrough. However, not long after the breakthrough, a cultivator will face the test of the Heart Demon Illusion.”

“A cultivator who has broken through to the Golden Core Stage is only truly one once they overcome the Heart Demon Illusion.”

“If they fail to overcome it, the golden core formed may shatter at any moment, and all cultivation will be lost.”

“Though there’s no thunder tribulation, many disciples have still perished during the Heart Demon Illusion.”

“You just broke through to the Golden Core Stage—your cultivation and mental state are both elevated yet unstable. This is when the Heart Demon Illusion is most likely to strike.”

“Though it’s called an illusion, it’s a projection of your inner self. Everything you see, every creature and scene within the illusion, will feel overwhelmingly real, making it hard to distinguish between reality and fantasy.”

“During this period, you must stay vigilant. Once caught in the Heart Demon Illusion, only by overcoming your innermost fears, desires, and hatred can you escape. A single misstep, and you may be lost forever—remember this.”

Ye Qingning and the system were both dumbfounded.

They weren’t shocked by the impending Heart Demon Illusion—but by the fact that the aloof flower on the peak, Shen Xuanli, had actually said so much in one go!

How many words was that?! Wasn’t he only capable of saying “Hmm”?

This world really had gone mad!

After a moment, Ye Qingning snapped out of it and hurriedly thanked Shen Xuanli. “Thank you, Senior Brother, for the reminder! I’ll be extra careful about the Heart Demon Illusion!”

In her past life, she had also reached the Golden Core Stage, and the illusion came the night she arrived at Luoyun Sect.

She had been asleep when she was pulled into it in her dreams.

But that didn’t mean it would happen the same way in this life—it might come earlier.

“Let’s go,” Shen Xuanli said coldly with just two words. Ye Qingning twitched her lips and quickly followed after him.

…

Ye Qingning rejoined Si Qian and the others. Seeing her unharmed, everyone finally relaxed. Ye Qingning also returned the unused invisibility talisman to Si Qian.

Li Taizhi, however, was wailing, “My Thunderflame Fruits are gone! All of them! I didn’t even see where the second fruit went—it was just gone! I almost got pecked to death by those crazy birds! Don’t try to comfort me—just let me cry it out!”

Si Qian was getting a headache. How could a grown man cry more than a woman?

The blade-wielding girl, always straightforward, said, “Stop crying. You look so pitiful—how about I split this Thunderflame Fruit with you?”

Li Taizhi immediately stopped crying. “Really? You’re not lying to me?”

Si Qian rolled her eyes. “Why would I lie? We agreed—if we got three fruits, we’d each take one. We only got two, and if it weren’t for Junior Sister Ye, I wouldn’t have escaped those birds. So you can have half of mine.”

Ye Qingning smiled and handed the mustard seed pouch she’d taken out earlier to Li Taizhi.

“No need to split. That second fruit’s with me. You led the birds away—you deserve it.”

Everyone—shocked! Their eyes grew wide.

Junior Sister Ye is incredible! When did she even grab that fruit?! None of them saw it!

Li Taizhi, overwhelmed and trembling, was about to open the pouch when Song Ziyan slapped him on the head.

“Are you stupid? Want to attract those crazy birds again? Haven’t you been pecked enough?!”

Only then did Li Taizhi realize—the Thunderflame Fruit had a unique fragrance. They couldn’t risk attracting more birds! He immediately tucked the pouch away.

The group set out again. Over the next few days, thanks to Mu Xingchen’s divinations, their luck was good and they found many treasures.

But conversations were sparse—probably because for some unknown reason, Shen Xuanli stayed with them the entire time.

Everyone felt a bit stiff in his presence. The good news was, even though they sensed they were being watched a few times, no one dared attack them.

Clearly, the title of “Number One Sect’s Chief Disciple” wasn’t just for show.

Ten days passed, and the Cloudmount Secret Realm reopened.

All disciples were transported out as the realm closed.

The various sect elders were already waiting outside, eager to check on their disciples’ status.

As soon as Ye Qingning exited, she saw the rich and generous Second Elder waiting.

Surprisingly, not just the Second Elder, but Pei Yin, Xuanyangzi, and Tianji Zi were also present.

Honestly, the sect leader, the supreme elder, and the elder in charge of enforcement all showed up—were they that free? Someone who didn’t know better might think they were about to play mahjong together.

Or maybe… they just truly cared about their disciples!

After all, they were chosen through careful selection by the elders. Maybe it was her narrow thinking all along!