The Wandering Immortal

Chapter 60 Storm
Six months later, one day, a sudden gale swept through the Wuling Mountains, causing the flowers, grasses and trees all over the mountains to sway incessantly, and thick clouds to roll in the sky, pressing down to the mountainside.

Jiang Yuan had been waiting for this day for a long time, knowing that Qinghe was about to successfully condense her elixir.

At this moment, Jiang Yuan was hiding on the mountaintop outside the cave, wary of any cultivators passing by and exploring the cave. He absolutely must not disturb Qing He at this time.

It is estimated that the celestial phenomenon of Core Formation will disappear in one or two hours.

Unexpectedly, the celestial phenomenon grew stronger and stronger, lasting for three whole hours, with torrential rain, lightning, and thunder below the mountainside.

Jiang Yuan stood alone on the mountaintop, watching the thunderclouds churning below. He inwardly groaned, "My wife is just forming a Golden Core, does she have to make it so grand and imposing? It's even more terrifying than someone condensing a Nascent Soul."

The Core Formation stage doesn't involve a direct lightning tribulation striking the cultivator's body; it's not at that level yet. However, by chance, when a large number of rain clouds gather nearby, lightning can often form due to fluctuations in spiritual energy.

Jiang Yuan's worst fears came true. The Core Formation celestial phenomenon lasted for too long. Those with lower cultivation levels who passed by didn't know what was going on and thought it was some kind of opportunity. Several Foundation Establishment cultivators were already spying on the area.

Jiang Yuan did not show up, only hoping that Qinghe would end soon.

A little while later, two Golden Core cultivators arrived. Judging from their attire, they seemed to be disciples of the Emei Sect, and it was immediately clear that someone had formed their Golden Core at the foot of the mountain.

"I never imagined that even in such a spiritually sparse place as the Five Ridges, there would be rogue cultivators forming their cores here."

Another person wondered, "Could there be a hidden spiritual vein at the foot of the mountain?"

“We have passed by this peak countless times, and even gathered medicinal herbs in the valley. If there is a spiritual vein, how could we miss it?”

"Then why did he form his core here?"

"How could rogue cultivators have the protection of a sect like you and me? Most of them risk their lives to hunt a few demonic beasts to ensure they have enough spiritual energy to support them, so it doesn't matter where they form their core!"

Jiang Yuan overheard their conversation but didn't seem to intend to disturb them; he decided to wait and see.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators, who had been peering around, dared not approach when they saw the two Golden Core cultivators hovering in the air.

A while later, a familiar face appeared – Gongye Yu from Luofu Mountain. He had also formed his Golden Core and was followed by two Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their flight on swords was a little slower.

When Gongye Yu saw the two Golden Core cultivators standing high in the sky, he didn't want to cause trouble, so he cupped his hands in greeting from a distance, indicating that he just wanted to take a look.

Gongye Yu glanced intentionally or unintentionally at the place where Jiang Yuan was hiding. Jiang Yuan knew something was wrong. Chu Yunfei was good at spying, and Gongye Yu was, after all, his direct disciple. He was afraid he would not be able to hide anymore.

When will my wife's golden core finally condense? If it doesn't emerge soon, I'll have to fight a whole bunch of golden core cultivators to the death.

Just then, the thunderclouds suddenly dissipated, and the wood elemental energy covering the mountains and plains gathered down the mountain in wisps, even solidifying into physical forms, visibly shimmering with green light.

Gongye Yu was quite surprised. Such strong wood elemental energy! This person's golden core must be quite remarkable.

Since they are all Golden Elixir, there are naturally differences in quality, but no one has bothered to investigate the differences.

Jiang Yuan did remember that there was once a master cultivator on Tianlong Star. He himself was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, but he spent his entire life studying various cultivation theories, compiling them into a book, which was widely circulated among low-level cultivators.

The master's writings mention the nine grades of alchemy, which is probably a set of nine grades of alchemy techniques. This led many cultivators who had reached the Core Formation stage to believe it. However, his nine grades did not have a clear standard for division, and in the end, the only way to determine who was stronger was through a battle of magic.

With the wood elemental energy so concentrated, the three Golden Core cultivators knew the exact location of the Core Formation cultivator. If they wanted to cause trouble, even simply dispersing the wood elemental energy would greatly interfere with Qinghe. Jiang Yuan had no choice but to reveal himself and called out, "Senior Brother Gongye!"

Gongye Yu knew that someone was hiding there, but he did not intend to call out the name. However, he was surprised when someone called out his name. He looked closely and couldn't remember who the person was for a moment.

The two Emei Golden Core cultivators were actually closer to Jiang Yuan. Jiang Yuan's sudden voice startled them, and they actually dodged several feet away. When did this guy hide nearby?

Jiang Yuan transmitted his voice to Gongye Yu, "Junior Sister Cui Qinghe is forming her core at the foot of the mountain. I hope Senior Brother Gongye will protect her for the sake of Master Chu."

Gongye Yu immediately realized that this was Cui Qinghe's husband, Guan Canghai.

Gongye Yu immediately understood that the biggest threat at this moment was the two Emei cultivators, but they did not show any malice. So he went up to greet Guan Canghai and also cupped his hands to the two Emei cultivators.

"Please do not be alarmed, you two. This is a disciple of the outer sect of Mount Luofu who has formed his core at the foot of the mountain."

"I see. Then we will not disturb you any longer." The two Emei cultivators cupped their hands and then transformed into streaks of light and flew away.

Jiang Yuan was finally relieved.

Gongye Yu laughed heartily, "Hehe, I really didn't expect that in just a few years, Junior Sister Cui has also formed her Golden Core. It truly makes us ashamed!"

Gongye Yu knew that Cui Qinghe had only just established her foundation when she left Mount Luofu, and that she had been traveling as a rogue cultivator for many years, reaching the Core Formation stage in less than ten years. He himself was a true disciple of the inner sect of Mount Luofu, and it had taken him more than twenty years to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. The difference in their talents was so great that it was no wonder his master always remembered this junior sister who had not yet entered the sect.

Jiang Yuan bowed respectfully, "If it weren't for Senior Brother Gongye, things might have been quite troublesome!"

"It's alright, it's alright. I think Junior Sister Cui has already achieved her Golden Core. Congratulations!"

Indeed, the gathering of wood spiritual energy has stopped, and now is the most difficult time of inner demon tribulation. To outsiders it may only be a moment, but cultivators may be immersed in the illusion for hundreds of years.

Seeing that there were still Foundation Establishment cultivators spying around, Gongye Yu called out loudly, "Fellow Daoists, there is no opportunity here. It is just a disciple of Luofu Mountain refining a magic weapon. Please do me a favor!"

Upon hearing the name of Mount Luofu, the Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately dispersed.

After dispersing the onlookers, Gongye Yu asked again, "Why did Junior Sister Cui choose such a place with sparse spiritual energy to form her core?"

Jiang Yuan could only reply by borrowing the words of the Emei cultivators, "After traveling for several years and obtaining a few wood-type demon cores, my spiritual power is sufficient. It doesn't matter where I form my core."

Gongye Yu didn't think much of it, assuming that Guan Canghai had simply dug a temporary cave at the foot of the mountain, since there had never been any talk of spiritual veins in the Five Ridges.

Now that the matter was settled, Gongye Yu did not intend to linger. Cui Qinghe, of course, still needed to consolidate her cultivation level, so he simply exchanged a few polite words and said that he would visit Mount Luofu when he had time.

He naturally knew that Cui Qinghe would rather cultivate her core in the Five Ridges than return to Mount Luofu because she still harbored resentment and could not be forced to come.

Jiang Yuan respectfully saw Gongye Yu off, and only then did his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settle down. After flying around the mountain for the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, and confirming that no other cultivators were spying nearby, he entered the cave.

Qinghe was still meditating under the spiritual spring to consolidate her cultivation, unaware of the commotion she had caused earlier.

(End of this chapter)