Silently and uneventfully, a week passed by.
Xu Qingxian sat alone within the cold palace, surrounded by a suffocating stillness. He felt a steady stream of qi rushing toward him.
His breathing was calm and rhythmic, and a peaceful expression rested on his face as he inhaled and exhaled in perfect harmony, slowly drawing in the ambient energy from his surroundings.
His qi surged with growing intensity, gradually taking the shape of an illusory shell around him. Xu Qingxian had been attempting to break through to the Golden Core Realm for three days now.
The reason for this prolonged process was the immense number of intricate engravings forming on his golden core.
Ordinarily, when cultivators advanced to the Golden Core Realm, they formed a golden core within their dantian. The more heavenly engravings etched onto that core, the greater the amplification in power they received.
With a deep understanding of this principle gained from the Qi Gathering Technique, Xu Qingxian had chosen to condense as many heavenly engravings as possible.
As he pushed further, he realized that even after nearly completing the engravings, his core still had room for more. He was not yet at his limit.
The pain that came with this realization was excruciating. It tore through his meridians like molten metal. Despite the agony, Xu Qingxian endured.
Gradually, his aura began to transform, becoming deeper and more refined. Once again, dark impurities oozed from his pores, slithering down his skin like tar before drying into flakes and falling away. The process continued for what felt like an eternity before finally coming to an end.
At that moment, a surge of profound aura erupted from Xu Qingxian's body. The pressure was overwhelming, radiating in all directions.
Faint cracks spread across the stone walls of the cold palace. But Xu Qingxian quickly stabilized the energy and suppressed the overwhelming force.
His eyes slowly opened, and joy flickered within their depths.
"Finally... I've reached the Golden Core Realm," he murmured, his voice soft but resolute.
A faint smile tugged at his lips. He glanced at the shackles that bound his ankles. With a simple gesture, he stretched out his hand and tore them apart. The chains snapped with a metallic clink, and a wave of freedom washed over him.
His bare feet touched the cold marble floor as he stood. He took a few careful steps, then walked around slowly, savoring the feeling of unrestrained movement. Every step echoed in the chamber like a quiet proclamation of liberation.
"Now I can roam freely, right?" Xu Qingxian thought with a smirk spreading across his face.
After walking for a bit, he returned to his seat. With a light mood and a glimmer of excitement, he opened the group chat on his device.
[Transmigration Group Chat: 99+ Messages Unread]
[A total of 10 members from the newly arrived badge have died. Please watch the video and remain vigilant.]
Xu Qingxian's brows knitted together. He had almost forgotten that another week had passed, meaning new transmigrators had joined the group.
"Only two weeks left until the group mission begins," he muttered with a frown. Sighing, he tapped to open the group chat.
Bragging to Dominate the Martial World: I'm telling you, I'm the strongest in this world. I even slapped a Martial God to death with a flick of my hand.
Immortal Emperor: Brat, you know nothing of the vastness of heaven and earth. Come, let this old man show you what true toughness is.
Jade Beauty: This batch of transmigrators is full of weird lunatics. Did the group chat bring them in on purpose?
One Inch Stick: Nothing's certain yet. Let's hope they regain their senses after realizing how dangerous their worlds really are.
Laxy Feather: You all care too much. Let them die for all I care. It might even be entertaining to watch.
Immortal Emperor: Say that again, lazy brat, if you have the guts.
Laxy Feather: I'm your senior in this group. Show some respect. I'm far too lazy to waste time on you.
Crouching Down and Begging for Mercy: Please stop fighting. This group chat should remain peaceful.
Scholarly Youth: Do you all really have time to argue here? Wouldn't it be better to focus on improving your strength?
Xu Qingxian skimmed through the chat at incredible speed. From a distance, it would appear as if he was simply scrolling mindlessly.
The screen moved so fast it became a blur. However, his enhanced mental abilities allowed him to read, comprehend, and retain every word without missing a single detail.
After several minutes, he finished reading. Aside from Scholarly Youth, Immortal Emperor, and a few others, only two of the new members had introduced themselves.
He did not dwell on it. With a flick of his finger, he slid the screen to the check-in interface. Without hesitation, he tapped the check-in button.
[Congratulations on checking in for 14 consecutive days. Reward: Profound Grade Sword.]
The hierarchy of treasures began with Mortal and progressed through Profound, Earth, Heaven, Divine, and beyond. So, receiving a Profound Grade Sword instantly caused Xu Qingxian's smile to widen.
He glanced to his side. A sword had materialized in the space beside him. It gleamed under the cold palace light, its blade sleek and jet-black, as though forged from some mysterious obsidian stone.
The hilt shimmered faintly with the color of aged brass, though Xu Qingxian could tell the material was far from ordinary.
He picked up the sword, and in that moment, a stream of information surged into his mind. He closed his eyes, absorbed the data, and gradually came to understand the properties of the weapon.
Once that was complete, he moved to the video section containing the death records of group members. He scrolled through the footage with a calm expression.
After watching several clips, he shook his head solemnly, pity flashing across his face. He then placed the device aside.
A faint presence brushed against his spiritual sense.
Someone was approaching.
Just as he anticipated, the door creaked open. Lin Fan entered, holding a tray of steaming dishes. His expression was no longer weighed down by anxiety. His eyes shimmered with determination.
Xu Qingxian observed him and nodded slightly. "He's improving," Xu Qingxian thought to himself. "It seems he's adjusting well."
Without delay, Xu Qingxian picked up the chopsticks and began to eat. The meal was fragrant and warm, each bite bringing comfort as Lin Fan began to speak, narrating the events that had unfolded during the past week.
"Your Highness, word has it that the Cold North Prince will be arriving soon. Also, there are rumors of a genius cultivator sweeping through the cultivation world, defeating every challenger and emerging victorious every time," he said, his voice tinged with admiration and envy.
After finishing the meal and digesting the news, Xu Qingxian placed the chopsticks down. As Lin Fan turned to leave, he paused at the doorway. He hesitated, bit his lip, and then whispered softly.
"Master... you won't miss me, right? Forgive me for what I'm about to do…"
Without waiting for a reply, he turned away. A gloomy aura enveloped him as he walked out, his back looking lonely and burdened.
Xu Qingxian's expression shifted sharply. Just as he feared, Lin Fan was struggling. He must be planning something reckless.
"I have to stop him," Xu Qingxian thought firmly. Having grown used to Scholarly Youth's way of thinking, he could not sit idly by while someone he cared about headed into danger.
He rose from his seat, his face calm and composed. His fingers curled around the hilt of the Profound Grade Sword now resting in his grasp.
"It's time to see what the outside world is truly like," he whispered, and with a confident step forward, his figure vanished into the world beyond the cold steel door.