Chapter 287: The Xuan Bird Clan

Half a month later.

Grand Void Peak’s Cultivation Chamber.

The chamber, previously destroyed by an explosion, had been restored. Patriarch Guhe of the Great Void sat beside the Pill Furnace, demonstrating the intricacies of Fourth-Tier Fire Control Art to Chen Luo. Chen Luo’s own pill refinement skills were at the second rank; with True Person Gu Yue’s brain, he could barely qualify as a Third-Tier Pill Refiner. The legacy of Fourth-Tier Pills contained many concepts beyond his comprehension.

If only he could acquire a Fourth-Tier Alchemist’s brain, this problem would be resolved completely.

The orange-red flames in Patriarch Guhe’s grasp danced like tamed spirit beasts, precisely circling the Pill Furnace. Compared to Chen Luo’s ‘Starlight Fire Pill Refining Technique’, the Founding Ancestor’s execution was far more refined. Upon closer inspection, each ‘starfire’ encircling the furnace glowed in distinct hues - indicating varying temperatures that maximized the medicinal efficacy of spiritual materials.

“Have you grasped the principles?” Patriarch Guhe asked, withdrawing his aura as he observed Chen Luo.

Such personal instruction from a Founding Ancestor was a privilege unmatched within the entire Qiong Hua Sect.

“I comprehend only fragments,” Chen Luo replied.

Chen Luo had been using True Person Gu Yue’s brain throughout the process, but even that could only reveal a small part of the truth. While the Nascent Soul Realm Demonic Heart Ancestor’s brain could clearly show the techniques, he wasn’t an alchemist in life, so understanding the medicinal properties remained beyond reach. By combining True Person Gu Yue’s brain with his own, he could keep up with the progress.

The Mummified Brain had been helping Chen Luo organize the ‘Golden Core Method’ dao path recently, leaving it occupied with the process.

“Don’t worry. Understanding even a little puts you ahead of many others.” Gu He reached out, and the pill furnace lid opened.

A dark golden third-rank pill flew out.

“This is a third-rank Golden Saint Pill, a medicinal pill for Core Formation Stage Body Cultivators. You’re taking it slightly early, but laying a solid foundation will better prepare you for the Heavenly Tribulation.”

The dark golden pill landed in Chen Luo’s hand, and he could clearly feel the terrifying medicinal power contained within.

A Fourth-Tier Alchemist, the Grand Void Ancestor himself had personally helped refine this pill.

If others knew, their eyes would turn red with envy.

“Many thanks, Martial Uncle.”

After carefully storing the pill, Chen Luo expressed his sincere gratitude.

“Given your current accumulation of spiritual energy, what you need most now is practical experience - preparing for the Demonic Heart Tribulation.”

Gu He’s divine sense swept over Chen Luo before he produced a jade slip from his robes.

“This contains my insights from overcoming the Demonic Heart Tribulation. It may prove useful to you.”

He pressed the jade slip into Chen Luo’s palm.

The Demonic Heart Tribulation represented the most formidable challenge in forming a Golden Core. Gu He didn’t even mention the ‘one-nine’ Thunder Tribulation - external aids like formations, magic artifacts, or spirit talismans could assist with that. With Patriarch Gu He of the Great Void present, securing such tribulation-transcending tools posed no difficulty. The true trial remained the Demonic Heart Tribulation.

This tribulation originated within the self, requiring solitary confrontation.

Chen Luo placed the jade slip against his forehead. The records of the Demonic Heart Tribulation flooded his mind.

The tribulation manifested inner demons from one’s own negative emotions - anguish, anxiety, fear, greed, inferiority - all materializing as obstacles during Transcendence. More insidiously, these manifestations could assume the forms of the Pass Transcendence’s loved ones. During Elder FusionSpirit’s Transcendence, Chen Luo himself had become the elder’s closest kin.

Discerning truth from deception, resisting temptation - these formed the core of the Demonic Heart Tribulation’s trial.

Immortal cultivators contend with the heavens for their lives. Their greatest enemy is not the cosmos, but themselves. Only through a heart as clear as a mirror can one attain the path of immortality.

Chen Luo had gained some prior experience through his cultivation techniques.

During Elder FusionSpirit’s Demonic Heart Tribulation in Blackstone City, Chen Luo entered the tribulation as a Heavenly Demon. He witnessed Zhang Rongling’s entire life unfold within the tribulation. Throughout this life, Zhang Rongling’s greed for power became his downfall. In the end, he failed to overcome the tribulation and could not reclaim his true cultivation heart.

Another similar experience came when he guided his junior sister Huang Ying. He entered her Demonic Heart Tribulation aura. This tribulation aura, being at the Foundation Establishment level, was easily broken through. Within it, Huang Ying managed to maintain her true heart, providing Chen Luo with successful experience.

These two experiences gave Chen Luo far greater understanding of the Demonic Heart Tribulation than most people.

The experience Patriarch Gu He gave him was also very valuable. According to Patriarch Gu He’s experience, the Demonic Heart likes to use the weaknesses of those undergoing the tribulation. All past experiences become part of the ‘tribulation’ during the Transcendence.

Seeing through it breaks the tribulation!

From this perspective, Patriarch Gu He found a way to increase the success rate of the Demonic Heart Tribulation.

Worldly Immersion!

Patriarch Gu He sealed his cultivation to transcend his tribulation, living a century in obscurity within a small village. There he experienced the full spectrum of human life - its bitterness, sweetness, hardships, and joys.

He bid farewell to his beloved wife, lying in his casket as he heard the tearful farewells of his descendants. Only when the earth closed over him did that phase of cultivation come to an end.

Birth, aging, sickness, death - a cycle completed.

Pick up, then let go.

Through this experience, he gained enlightenment. When facing the Demonic Heart Tribulation again, his mindset was fundamentally different. Having seen through many things, the tribulation no longer troubled him. He broke through effortlessly, forming his Golden Core.

“Worldly Immersion?” Chen Luo set down the jade slip, a contemplative glint in his eyes.

Gu He’s method was indeed effective. Unlike other cultivators who feared the Demonic Heart Tribulation, Gu He chose to confront it head-on. By picking up and letting go, one could indeed find their own path.

“The Worldly Immersion Method wasn’t my creation,” Gu He said. “This technique has ancient roots. I merely made some modifications to the existing secret method.”

As he spoke, Gu He suddenly frowned, his gaze shifting to the side.

A streak of azure light - a magic sword - flew into the room. The restriction formation proved utterly ineffective against it. With a single motion, Gu He caught the blade.

As the magic sword entered his hand, a message transmitted from within.

A communication magic sword.

Chen Luo stood to the side, observing. As one of the Seven Patriarchs of Jade Purity, Gu He was typically occupied with numerous responsibilities. Even during his rare moments of leisure, he devoted himself to cultivation. The fact that he had taken time to mentor Chen Luo constituted special treatment. Even Jun Yao, Gu He’s Personal Disciple from Grand Void Peak, needed to schedule specific times to consult her Master.

“Requesting an audience with the Grand Void Ancestor.”

Having deciphered the message from the Magic Sword, Gu He rose and began moving toward the exit of the cultivation chamber.

“Come with me.”

At these words, Chen Luo followed.

He understood that Patriarch Gu He was paving the way for him, introducing him to influential figures and helping establish his own network. Medicine King City was precisely the legacy Gu He had chosen to entrust to Chen Luo, which was why he had intervened to protect the city.

The two figures emerged from the chamber, their footfalls glinting with light. When the radiance dissipated, they found themselves outside the assembly hall.

Even now, Chen Luo couldn’t comprehend how Nascent Soul cultivators manipulated the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. This technique that seemed to shrink distances to nothing remained profoundly mysterious - he suspected he wouldn’t grasp its principles until reaching the Core Formation stage.

“Greetings, Grand Void Ancestor.”

The moment they appeared, the assembly hall’s occupants knelt in unison. Even the leader bowed his head in deference - this was the reverence due to true power.

“What brings you here?”

Patriarch Gu He took his seat at the head of the hall, with Chen Luo standing behind him.

Three figures occupied the reception room - two Foundation Establishment cultivators and one Core Formation expert. Their black robes bore Mysterious Bird emblems at the sleeves. Despite their efforts to conceal it, Chen Luo detected faint traces of demonic qi emanating from their bodies. The leader’s cold, angular features still clung to remnants of black feathers across his cheeks.

Mysterious Bird Demon Clan.

The Southern Heaven Domain harbored its own demon clans, though none here reached beyond the Core Formation Realm. Unlike the demonic cultivation realm, no sacred grounds comparable to Hu Mountain existed here.

“Our clan faces peril,” the Core Formation leader began. “We beg the Founding Ancestor to remember Lady Mysterious Bird’s past kindness.”

He produced a seven-colored feather from his robes. At the sight of it, Patriarch Gu He’s eyes flickered with an emotion Chen Luo had never witnessed before.

“How fares Xuan Su now?”

“The Lady approaches her final moments. She forbade us from seeking you out. I acted without her leave. Should the Founding Ancestor find fault, let me bear full responsibility. All errors stem from this unworthy one.”

Gu He extended his hand, drawing the feather into his palm. As he sensed the familiar aura upon it, a flicker of memory involuntarily crossed his eyes.

He had once shared a complicated history with Xuan Su, the Holy Maiden of the Blackbird Clan. At that time, he had not yet formed his Nascent Soul. During an unexpected encounter, he developed feelings for Xuan Su. Later, due to conflicting positions, they parted ways. To leave the Blackbird Clan, he had even experienced some unpleasant incidents.

However, all that had happened over a thousand years ago. The longer one cultivates, the fewer old friends remain. Gu He hadn’t seen his old friends in ages, so naturally, he wouldn’t blame the leader over such a minor matter.

Chen Luo stood behind him, remaining silent.

He had heard from the City Lord of Medicine King City about the Blackbird Clan when he was there. They were a mid-sized power like Medicine King City. With more than three Core Formation cultivators in their clan, such a formidable existence could only bow their heads and seek help from the Qiong Hua Sect. This further demonstrated the true strength of the Qiong Hua Sect to Chen Luo.

“Still the same… In the end, it must come to a conclusion.”

Gu He rose to his feet, a green magic sword materializing beside him.

Taixu Divine Sword!

The sudden incident involving the Blackbird Clan compelled him to seek out Xuan Su. The lingering entanglements from their past needed resolution. The higher one’s cultivation, the more such matters mattered.

After taking half a step forward, Gu He turned to address the leading Core Formation cultivator.

“While I’m away, you’ll accompany my nephew.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

The Core Formation cultivator paused, his gaze shifting to Chen Luo. He’d initially dismissed Chen Luo as a new disciple of the Grand Void Ancestor, but now realized he needed to reassess the young man’s status.

With a flicker of light, Patriarch Gu He’s voice faded away. This time, he truly departed.

The Blackbird Clan’s Core Formation cultivator and two Foundation Establishment experts rose to stand behind Chen Luo like loyal attendants.

“You needn’t be so formal,” Chen Luo said, gesturing for them to sit as he took a seat himself. “My Martial Uncle’s words were merely casual. If you have other matters to attend to, feel free to leave. I won’t inform him.”

“Your presence is our most important task,” the Core Formation cultivator responded with utmost respect. The other two Blackbird Clan experts dared not speak, nodding vigorously instead.

Seeing their reaction, Chen Luo let the matter drop. This was the true might of the Grand Void Ancestor.