This humble Taoist priest, Qianhe, begins his quest for immortality by slaying demons and monsters.

Chapter 174 One Million Demon-Slaying Points, Condensing the Golden Core

Maoshan was originally a Taoist sect with abundant spiritual energy, and now a powerful suction force was forming above Zhongbai Courtyard.

Like a tornado passing through, the surrounding spiritual energy visibly flowed towards Zhong Bai's courtyard.

Inside the Hall of Law Enforcement, the elders sensed the loss of spiritual energy from heaven and earth and quickly came outside the hall. They were extremely excited to see the continuous flow of spiritual energy towards Zhong Bai's courtyard.

"As expected, this scene has indeed drawn together the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from all around..."

The elders who had witnessed Zhong Bai's cultivation all looked completely at ease. This was something they would never have believed in their entire lives. Ordinary cultivators would spend a lot of time and effort setting up a spirit-gathering array to gather spiritual energy within a radius of ten miles when breaking through to a higher realm. But Zhong Bai could do it easily without even needing a spirit-gathering array.

"It is only a matter of time before Daozi achieves the Golden Core True Monarch status!"

With eager eyes, Changsheng Zhenren continued, looking at the spiritual energy above Zhongbai's courtyard that had almost turned into a viscous liquid, "Senior Brother Qianyuan, congratulations!"

Haha, congratulations to you too!

When Zhong Bai truly broke through to the Golden Core stage, Master Qian Yuan no longer felt the pride he had for his disciple's success. In a sense, Zhong Bai was not his disciple, but the future of Maoshan!
Inside the courtyard, as the 520,000 demon-slaying points began to be consumed, Zhong Bai absorbed the endless spiritual energy of heaven and earth into his dantian for refinement.

At the same time, the three flowers bloom, and the essence, energy, and spirit are in a very subtle balance and blend together, transforming into a golden light that continuously flows from the top of Zhong Bai's head into the center of his dantian. Gradually, the golden light gathers together, and in the endless cycle, a phantom bead is quietly born!
This is the Golden Elixir!
However, the golden core has not yet truly condensed. As the essence of the three flowers continuously pours into this illusory golden core, the terrifying true essence within the body also surges towards the newly formed illusory golden core like a great river bursting its banks.

It was clearly just a small, illusory golden core, yet it managed to receive countless streams of true essence, as if it were a separate space within itself.

In such a scene, Zhong Bai had no time for curiosity. As the demon-slaying points continued to be consumed, the amount of spiritual energy surging in from heaven and earth increased, greatly increasing the refining pressure Zhong Bai faced.

From the initial area of ​​Maoshan, which was ten li in circumference, to twenty li, then fifty li...

Three days later, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a hundred miles of Maoshan surged towards Maoshan.

Such an unusual phenomenon naturally did not escape the notice of other Taoist and Buddhist sects.

......................................................

Longhu Mountain.

Being the closest to Maoshan, they naturally have the best understanding of its situation.

In the Celestial Master Hall, Celestial Master Lingxiao listened to the elders below report on the recent changes in Maoshan, especially the influx of spiritual energy from heaven and earth into Maoshan. Celestial Master Lingxiao was initially surprised, after all, the influx of spiritual energy from heaven and earth within a hundred miles into Maoshan was something that even an old Golden Core True Monarch like Ming Wanqian could not do, let alone him.

The only possibility is Zhong Bai!
Lingxiao Celestial Master naturally knew something about Zhong Bai's extraordinary abilities; otherwise, Longhu Mountain wouldn't have allowed Zhang Zhiwei to cultivate a good relationship with Zhong Bai.

After pondering for a few seconds, Master Lingxiao made his own judgment.

"It seems that the Taoist disciple from Maoshan is about to break through to the Golden Core True Monarch realm!"

Upon hearing this, the entire Celestial Master Hall fell silent. The elders of Longhu Mountain were somewhat incredulous, as the idea that Zhong Bai, who was not even fifty years old, was about to break through to the Golden Core True Monarch realm seemed like a fantasy.

"You should know that the cultivation method practiced by the Maoshan Daoist is the Shenxiao Five Thunder Technique of the Shenxiao Sect. Last time in Tengteng Town, this Daoist survived the tribulation of thunder and gained a preliminary grasp of the primary Purple Heaven Divine Thunder."

Surviving the tribulation meant he had the potential to condense a golden core. His essence, energy, and spirit were extremely strong, and his physical body was even more terrifying than his original form. Condensing the three flowers on his head should not be difficult for him.

"Considering the timing, now is the perfect time to condense the Golden Core, especially with the influx of spiritual energy from the surrounding天地 (heaven and earth), which further confirms this!"

Master Lingxiao's analysis silenced the previously incredulous elders of Longhu Mountain. They couldn't find a reason to refute it, but seeing Zhong Bai reach a level they could never achieve even with all their efforts, they all felt that they had wasted their years of cultivation.

"Alas! As expected, the gap between me and Fellow Daoist Qianhe is a chasm. He has already begun to condense the Golden Core, while I am only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

Master, do you really think I can break through to the Golden Core True Monarch realm within fifty years?

Zhang Zhiwei had the strongest reaction.

After all, they had the deepest contact with Zhong Bai and could better understand how terrifying he was. It wasn't just that his cultivation level was higher than theirs, but more importantly, Zhong Bai's supernatural abilities were not lacking at all while he cultivated quickly!

This kind of comprehensive improvement is what makes it so disheartening.

Lingxiao Celestial Master had a smile on his face.

"Zhiwei, your cultivation speed is no slower than mine was back then. You can do it within fifty years."

Master Lingxiao's words were very certain. Zhong Bai's situation was special, while Zhang Zhiwei was already among the top among normal disciples of the Taoist sect.

Anyway, when Lingxiao Celestial Master was Zhang Zhiwei's age, he had only just broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. Zhang Zhiwei, on the other hand, had already spent several years accumulating experience, and perhaps he could enter the late-Foundation Establishment stage in less than two years.

Upon hearing his master's affirmative answer, Zhang Zhiwei remained unmoved. Perhaps he already had the answer, but simply wanted to hear his master say it aloud.

"Let's all get ready. It won't be long before the Maoshan Daoist can truly condense his Golden Core. At that time, the talismans of the three mountains will be connected, and our Longhu Mountain will need to go to Maoshan to offer our congratulations."

Even without Lingxiao Tianshi mentioning it, Longhu Mountain had already begun preparations last month.

The Taoist sect's attitude was actually similar to that of Longhu Mountain; they both felt that adding a Golden Core True Monarch would definitely be a good thing for the entire Taoist sect.

Therefore, almost every Taoist sect was preparing a congratulatory gift for Zhong Bai's breakthrough to the Golden Core True Monarch realm.

Jinshan Temple...

Upon learning of the situation at Maoshan, Jinshan Temple was filled with complex emotions. "Abbot, I never imagined that the Maoshan Daoist would cultivate so rapidly. Such fluctuations in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth must have been achieved by breaking through to the Golden Core stage to stir up such a storm."

Before an Eight Treasures Pond, after Master Huikong finished speaking quietly, he saw that his abbot brother had no reaction at all, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"Huikong, calm your mind!"

After throwing a handful of fish food into the pond, the fish immediately swarmed over and snatched it all away.

"Whether the Maoshan Daoist is breaking through to the Golden Core True Monarch level is not important."

If so, then the world would simply have gained another Taoist True Lord.

If not, then the Maoshan Daoist's physical strength is already comparable to that of a Golden Core True Monarch, and in a sense, he has already achieved considerable power..."

Hearing this, Master Huikong calmed down a bit. It seemed that his senior brother was right, so whether it was true or not was meaningless.

“Senior Brother Abbot, what I mean is that this Taoist disciple of Maoshan is different from ordinary Taoist True Lords. If this Taoist disciple wants to suppress Buddhism in the future... our Jinshan Temple will probably be the first to bear the brunt.”

Upon hearing this, Abbot Huian was taken aback, then shook his head and said, "Junior brother is too attached to appearances. It seems you don't know much about the affairs of the mortal realm. Don't worry, this Maoshan Daoist can't stay in this world for long. He is a true immortal from heaven, and he will leave one day!"

Hearing his senior brother, the abbot, praise him so highly, Huian was a little confused.

"Senior Brother Host, is that you?"

"Do you think that your senior brother's comparison of him to a true immortal is an insult that boosts the arrogance of others and diminishes his own prestige?"
There are some things you know only to a limited extent, junior brother. In short, this Maoshan Taoist disciple really might become a celestial immortal in the future!

Regarding Zhong Bai's possible journey to the new world, although neither Maoshan nor Longhushan has released any information, the underworld is not a secret. With a little speculation, the Buddhist sect can determine who the Taoist sect will send to the new world.

Abbot Huian could guess what his junior brother was thinking; it was nothing more than wanting him to contact other Buddhist temples to hinder the breakthrough of the Maoshan Taoist.

Such thinking is too naive.

Zhong Bai has the tablets of the Ten Ancestors of Maoshan Underworld on his person. Even if all the elders of Maoshan leave now, Huian and other Buddhists would not dare to go there.

Life is precious!

"Junior Brother Huikong, remember to prepare a congratulatory gift. The Maoshan Daoist will probably be able to condense his Golden Core soon. At that time, the Daoist sect will offer their congratulations, and our Buddhist sect can also go to Maoshan to establish a good relationship."

"Amitabha Buddha, Abbot, I understand. I will give the order immediately..."

Watching his junior brother Huikong leave, Abbot Huian gently exhaled a breath of stale air.

"A Golden Core True Monarch who is not even fifty years old... Heh, Heaven really is favoring him!"

After a soft sigh, Hui'an appeared somewhat forlorn. It was actually Zhong Bai's breakthrough that moved them the most, as they had already reached their limit and would be stuck at the Golden Core True Monarch level for the rest of their lives.

As for Zhong Bai... he can go to the new world, still at the level of a Golden Core True Monarch who is less than fifty years old. After several decades, he may even be able to go to the new world at a level close to that of a Nascent Soul Dao Monarch.

The world is in flux, and that is Zhong Bai's opportunity, while they can only watch helplessly...

Rumors about Zhong Bai were spreading like wildfire in the cultivation world, and discussions about him never stopped. But Zhong Bai really didn't care about these outside voices. At this moment, all he cared about was the golden core that was about to solidify!

"Soon, soon!"

After muttering to himself, Zhong Bai once again swung his hand and dumped 500,000 Demon Extermination Points.

After several days of consumption, the 520,000 Demon Extermination Points have been exhausted. Although the surrounding spiritual energy can help Zhong Bai break through, the process of slowly refining it is too long. Just look at how Xuan Mingzi took several years to break through to the Golden Core True Monarch realm. Zhong Bai cannot waste such a long time.

Therefore, smashing the demon-slaying point is the best outcome.

The surge of spiritual energy from heaven and earth caused Zhong Bai's already nearly solidified golden core to radiate light instantly. The three flowers above his head were almost nonexistent. After the last bit of essence, energy, and spirit was absorbed by the golden core, the three flowers completely dissipated.

At the same time, a terrifying aura was released from Zhong Bai's body from the Golden Core, which was the pressure unique to a Golden Core True Monarch!

Inside the Hall of Enforcement, the Maoshan elders who had been waiting for a long time trembled the moment they felt the terrifying pressure coming. Even though Zhong Bai had not deliberately targeted them, they were still under immense pressure.

Xuanmingzi waved his whisk, dispelling all the oppressive aura, and then laughed, "It's done!"

Xuanmingzi's eyes gleamed. Compared to him, Zhong Bai's achievement of the Golden Core stage was far inferior. The strength of Zhong Bai's aura was even comparable to his own, even though he had been a Golden Core True Monarch for over a decade.

"The new generation surpasses the old, but I never imagined that my master would be surpassed by my junior disciple Zhong Bai so soon after his breakthrough..."

Although he knew the situation was like this, Xuanmingzi was not sad at all. On the contrary, he felt it was quite good. From now on, Maoshan would not be under his command alone. He could travel around. It would be best to hand over the position of sect leader to Zhong Bai tomorrow.

Such ideas sprang up like mushrooms after rain, growing wildly. Before long, Xuanmingzi actually began to consider the possibility of having Zhong Bai succeed as the leader of Maoshan.

In terms of ability, Zhong Bai is absolutely qualified.

In terms of fame, Zhong Bai's reputation is not low.

In terms of procedures, it seems quite reasonable and compliant.

The more Xuanmingzi thought about it, the more obvious the smile on his lips became. He wanted to give it a try!
(End of this chapter)