Chapter 404

Words : 1294 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

Chapter 404"The feeling of my cultivation surging rapidly is truly intoxicating." —Jiuli Village, Lu Family. Lu Qing emerged from his meditative state, a look of heartfelt amazement in his eyes. "Unfortunately, I've hit a bottleneck for now." He began assessing his current condition. At this moment, the spiritual energy within his dantian and sea of qi roiled turbulently, pure and dense to the point of near solidification. Between his brows, the brow acupoint emanated a warm glow, with the soul talisman nestled within radiating a steady and comforting brilliance. His physical body surged with vitality, akin to that of an ancient giant beast—vast and boundless. Every inch of his flesh seemed brimming with raw power. With a simple gesture, it felt as though he could shatter space itself. Of course, Lu Qing knew this was merely an illusion. Breaking through space with physical strength alone was impossible, even for a Golden Core Realm body cultivator. Such a feat required the strength of a Nascent Soul Realm expert at the very least. With a thought, a faint glow surfaced on Lu Qing's skin. But unlike before, this time the body radiance state had changed from its previous white hue to a faint red. "Red body radiance!" At this moment, Yan manifested in human form, gazing at the glow emanating from Lu Qing with astonishment written all over his face. Ordinarily, only Golden Core Realm body cultivators could achieve the red-hued body radiance state. Yet Lu Qing had not yet undergone a tribulation to reach the Golden Core Realm. This could only mean one thing. "Youthful Master, your physical body is already comparable to that of a true Golden Core Realm body cultivator!" "More or less." With a subtle thought, Lu Qing willed the red glow surrounding him to coalesce and transform, warping and reshaping until it materialized into a battle blade in his grasp. "Divine Radiance Weaponry!" Yan's expression shifted again, deeply moved. The technique Lu Qing had just displayed was one of the hallmark abilities of Golden Core Realm body cultivators: Divine Radiance Weaponry. "So this is Divine Radiance Weaponry?" Lu Qing scrutinized the power of the blade in his hand, discovering its essence bore similarities to techniques like blade energy or sword qi, but with notable distinctions. Its potency was far greater, capable of directly attacking the soul, and it stemmed from the pure essence of a body cultivator's vitality and spirit, granting unparalleled control and versatility. Moreover, it could change forms at will, making it far more flexible than traditional weapons or magical artifacts. The red body radiance in Lu Qing’s hand continued to shift forms—one moment a battle blade, the next a long sword, then a spear. In no time, he had cycled through nearly every weapon form imaginable. After a while, he retracted the radiance, absorbing it back into his body. "No wonder they say that once body cultivators reach the Golden Core Realm, they can begin to make up for their shortcomings. This Divine Radiance Weaponry is essentially no different from the spells and techniques of qi cultivators. And as my cultivation deepens, the power of this radiance will continue to grow. In the future, it may rival even the mightiest magical treasures." Lu Qing's understanding of the body cultivation path had reached a new height. "Youthful Master, you haven't yet reached the Golden Core Realm, have you?" Yan, who had been watching Lu Qing manipulate the Divine Radiance Weaponry, couldn't help but ask. "Of course not. Forming a Golden Core requires undergoing a tribulation—that is an immutable law of cultivation. Surely you're aware of that, senior?" "Naturally, I know! But if you haven't reached the Golden Core Realm, how are you able to use the techniques of a Golden Core body cultivator?" Yan's question was absurd, and he knew it. After all, he had been by Lu Qing's side the entire time and was well aware that Lu Qing had not yet faced a tribulation. However, Lu Qing's performance had been so extraordinary that it defied his understanding of cultivation, leaving him no choice but to ask. "It's simply because my foundation is exceptionally solid, my physical body stronger than average, and my cultivation level slightly higher than most," Lu Qing replied nonchalantly. The red-hued body radiance state stemmed from the overwhelming vitality and spirit of the physical body and was not exclusively tied to the Golden Core Realm. There was no absolute correlation between the two. "A stronger body... and higher cultivation level..." Yan was left speechless by Lu Qing's response. The explanation was simple, yet it only deepened Yan's astonishment. To have a physical strength on par with a true Golden Core body cultivator without yet reaching the Golden Core Realm was far more shocking than merely being able to wield Divine Radiance Weaponry. What would happen when Lu Qing finally underwent his tribulation and stepped into the Golden Core Realm? Yan found the thought almost too daunting to entertain. "So, Youthful Master, your current cultivation level is..." "On the verge of reaching Peak Foundation Establishment. With a bit more refinement, I should be ready to undergo my tribulation," Lu Qing replied. He glanced at the Five Elements Gourd within his dantian. Inside, there remained an abundance of Five Elements Spiritual Liquid. Advancing to Peak Foundation Establishment had only consumed a fraction of it. Unfortunately, achieving the Golden Core Realm required the cleansing of a tribulation. Otherwise, Lu Qing would have preferred to remain in seclusion, refining the entire gourd's contents to accelerate his growth. After all, the sensation of rapidly improving his cultivation was utterly euphoric. But for now, he had to first refine his body to perfection and face the tribulation. Only after becoming a Golden Core could he continue absorbing the liquid. Calming his thoughts, Lu Qing once again entered a state of meditation. This time, instead of refining spiritual liquid, he focused entirely on polishing his foundation. His aim was to achieve a perfect harmony of body, soul, and vitality—a state of true perfection. When that time came, so too would his tribulation. ... While Lu Qing immersed himself in refining his body and spirit, deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, a streak of light flew across the sky. It landed in a secluded valley where the entrance to a hidden realm lay. As the light dissipated, two figures were revealed: a white-robed young man and the Peak Innate Stage cultivator he carried. "The spatial fluctuations emanating from this entrance... This hidden realm is larger than the previous ones!" The white-robed young man tossed aside his captive nonchalantly and gazed at the black vortex with undisguised delight. Given his cultivation level, it was clear at a glance that this hidden realm far surpassed the ones he and his fellow disciples had previously conquered. This meant that the treasures within were likely far greater as well. "It seems this trip wasn’t in vain!" A grin spread across the young man’s face as he prepared to step into the hidden realm. Suddenly, he let out a cold snort and waved his hand. Several streaks of light shot forth, accompanied by faint sounds of impact. In an instant, several life auras in the surrounding valley vanished without a trace. "Insects dare spy on this lord?" The white-robed young man sneered disdainfully, paying no attention to the trembling captive at his feet. With a flicker of movement, he disappeared into the black vortex. Moments later, his figure appeared within the hidden realm. As he surveyed the surroundings, his expression lit up with unrestrained joy. "The Five Elements are complete—this hidden realm is a fully integrated Five Elements Hidden Realm!"

Chapter 404

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