91: Crimson Jade Mystic Heart Condenses Golden Elixir, Closed-Door Cultivation to Break Through the Barrier and Knock on the Gate of Elixir

Returning to Qingfeng Temple, twilight had already fallen.

Inside and outside the temple, it was still enveloped in that faint, earthy yellow protective halo—repaired and reinforced by Li Muchen—which appeared even more serene and peaceful as the sky darkened. The bustle at the foot of the mountain and the disturbances within it seemed to be isolated by this barrier originating from the earth.

Zhao Desheng and the others were relieved to see Li Muchen return safely. Although they were curious about where the temple master had been for the past two days, seeing his calm expression tinged with an imperceptible trace of fatigue, they didn't ask much. They simply prepared a light vegetarian meal and withdrew, allowing the temple master to rest well.

Li Muchen ate a simple meal in his quiet room and meditated briefly, reviewing the gains and losses of his trip to the back mountain. Enlightening the Demon Ape "Wukong" had temporarily resolved a potential threat, and obtaining a [Crimson Flame Vermilion Fruit] made the harvest of this trip far exceed expectations.

Especially this Vermilion Fruit, which was nurtured by the essence of thousand-year earth fire and Heaven And Earth Spiritual Essence. The Pure Yang fire spiritual energy and majestic life force it contained were, for him, the perfect aid for breaking through to the Golden Core Realm, tempering his Dao Foundation, and condensing the "Indestructible Seed."

The transition from Peak Foundation Establishment to Golden Core is the first true natural chasm on the path of cultivation. One must take their entire body of liquid True Yuan and, within the Dantian Qi Sea, undergo a process of tempering and refining to remove impurities, eventually condensing it into a single solid "Golden Core Seed." This process is exceptionally dangerous; the slightest error could lead to True Yuan running rampant, damaging the Dantian, and severing one's path to the Dao.

When ordinary Cultivators break through, they often seek out a blessed land with abundant Spiritual Qi, prepare sufficient auxiliary Medicinal Pills, set up protective Formations, and invite seniors to act as Protectors before cautiously attempting it. Although Li Muchen had no seniors to protect him, he had his own confidence. Firstly, his Foundation was incredibly stable, and the purity of his True Yuan far exceeded those of the same level; secondly, he relied on the earth veins of Yuntai Mountain, which he had initially conditioned, and communicated with and protected them using the [earth vein suppression talisman]; thirdly, there was this crucial [Crimson Flame Vermilion Fruit].

However, while directly consuming the Vermilion Fruit would grant majestic spiritual power, the blazing fire spiritual energy within it was too violent. If one were not careful, they could set themselves on fire and damage their Meridians. The best way was to refine it into a Medicinal Pill, harmonizing its medicinal properties and adding auxiliary ingredients to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks.

Fortunately, Li Muchen was not unprepared. Though the sign-in System was not omnipotent, after years of accumulation, he had in his possession some low-level Alchemy insights, fragments of Pill Formulas, and a bronze Pill Furnace of decent quality obtained from a special sign-in. Although the conditions were simple, with his Peak Foundation Establishment cultivation and meticulous control over True Yuan, supplemented by the Vermilion Fruit as the primary ingredient, refining a batch of Medicinal Pills suitable for his Breakthrough was not impossible.

"I will use this fruit as the main ingredient, supplemented by Yuntai Mountain's wild aged ginseng, fleeceflower root, solomons seal rhizome, and other substances that nourish Origin Qi. Then, using my own essence blood as a primer and harmonizing it with the Golden Light of Merit, I shall refine a batch of 'Crimson Jade Profound Heart Pills'." Li Muchen decided. The name of this pill was derived from the Vermilion Fruit being red as jade, and the pill's purpose being to temper the Dao Heart and condense a mysterious Golden Core.

Once the decision was made, he did not delay. He instructed Zhao Desheng that unless the sky fell or the earth split, he was not to be disturbed. Subsequently, he walked into the innermost part of the quiet room, where there was a stone chamber he usually used for Cultivation but almost never opened. The stone chamber was hollowed out from a single piece of mountain rock and had only one heavy stone door. Aside from a stone bed and a futon, there was nothing inside, but it had the advantage of absolute silence and was connected to the mountain body, providing stable earth Qi.

He placed the bronze Pill Furnace—about a foot and a half tall, with three legs and two ears, its surface covered in ancient cloud and thunder patterns—in the center of the stone chamber. From his storage Magical Artifact, he took out several kinds of wild medicinal herbs of sufficient age that he had prepared long ago, as well as several auxiliary minerals, and arranged them by category.

Finally, he solemnly took out the jade box containing the [Crimson Flame Vermilion Fruit]. The moment he opened the lid, a pure and gentle yet hidden scorching fragrance and spiritual light instantly filled the entire stone chamber, and even the air seemed to become thick and full of life.

Li Muchen took a deep breath, suppressing the slight ripples in his heart. He sat cross-legged in front of the Pill Furnace, closed his eyes to concentrate, and adjusted his state to its Peak.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he suddenly opened his eyes, a brilliant divine light shining in them. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of pure True Yuan entered the runes pre-set at the bottom of the Pill Furnace.

"Buzz..."

The bronze Pill Furnace vibrated slightly, and the cloud and thunder patterns on its surface lit up one by one with a faint cyan light. There was no open flame inside the furnace; instead, using True Yuan as a guide, it activated the "Fire Gathering Formation" and "Temperature Control Formation" engraved on the furnace itself to form a stable and controllable "True Fire." Although this fire was not as domineering as Earth Vein True Fire or the Samadhi True Fire of a Golden Core Cultivator, it was gentle and stable, easy to control, and perfectly suited for his current cultivation level to refine this grade of Medicinal Pill.

Once the furnace temperature had risen evenly to the appropriate level, Li Muchen’s expression became solemn as he began to add the auxiliary herbs according to the steps he had deduced countless times in his mind.

aged ginseng whiskers, fleeceflower root slices, solomons seal rhizome chunks... these ordinary medicinal herbs, under the protection of his precise True Yuan and the tempering of the furnace fire, quickly turned into various medicinal liquid essences, suspended within the furnace and emitting different fragrances.

Next were the mineral powders for harmonizing and stabilizing the medicinal properties. The yang harmony of cinnabar and the restraining nature of mica blended with the other medicinal liquids, gradually forming a fist-sized lump of basic medicinal liquid with mottled colors but an increasingly peaceful aura.

It was time for the most critical moment—adding the main ingredient, the [Crimson Flame Vermilion Fruit]!

Li Muchen’s expression became even more focused, as if he had poured his entire soul into it. He carefully wrapped the crimson, translucent fruit in True Yuan and slowly sent it into the Pill Furnace. The moment the Vermilion Fruit entered the furnace, the previously peaceful medicinal liquid inside instantly began to boil! A violent yet pure crimson-gold fire spiritual energy, like an awakening Dragon, erupted suddenly, battering the furnace walls and the surrounding medicinal liquid!

Li Muchen was prepared. His hands quickly formed seals, and his internal True Yuan continuously poured into the furnace's fire control Formation, forcibly suppressing and channeling this violent energy. At the same time, he bit the tip of his tongue and forced out a drop of heart essence blood, mixed it with a sliver of condensed Golden Light of Merit, and flicked it into the furnace!

"Sizzle!"

The essence blood and Golden Light of Merit merged into the boiling medicinal liquid, seemingly acting as a wonderful "harmonizer" and "soother." Under the soaking of the Golden Light of Merit, the violent crimson-gold fire spiritual energy's ferocity greatly diminished, becoming much more docile, and began to slowly fuse with the basic medicinal liquid.

The subsequent process was long and tedious, yet it allowed for not even a moment of relaxation. Li Muchen had to use his Divine Thought to constantly perceive the changes in the medicinal properties within the furnace, continuously fine-tuning the size and distribution of the True Fire, and guiding the medicinal powers of different natures to blend, penetrate, and sublimate with each other. At the same time, he had to continuously inject True Yuan and Golden Light of Merit to stabilize the environment inside the furnace and prevent the medicinal power from conflicting or dissipating.

Sweat gradually soaked his blue robe. Veins bulged slightly on his temples, showing the immense mental exhaustion.

One day, two days, three days... In the stone chamber, there was only the slight hum of the Pill Furnace and Li Muchen's long, steady breathing. Inside the furnace, under the tempering of the True Fire and the guidance of Divine Thought, the color of the medicinal liquid changed continuously, from mottled to crimson-gold, and then to a warm jade-like color peeking through the crimson-gold, while its volume continued to shrink and solidify.

Finally, at dawn on the seventh day, when the first ray of daylight shone into the room through a small ventilation hole specially left at the top of the stone chamber.

Within the Pill Furnace, the lump of medicinal liquid that had undergone countless temperings and Fusions had finally condensed into three dragon-eye-sized pills that were perfectly round, crimson in color like top-grade blood jade, and had faint golden cloud patterns appearing on their surfaces! The pills floated quietly, no longer leaking any medicinal power; instead, they were restrained and profound, emitting a strange pill fragrance that was as warm as jade yet contained majestic life force.

It was done! "Crimson Jade Profound Heart Pills," three pills in total!

Li Muchen exhaled a long breath of turbid Qi, his face showing unavoidable fatigue, but his eyes shone with a light of joy. He carefully wrapped them in True Yuan, took out the three still-warm pills, and sealed them in a cold jade bottle he had prepared.

He did not immediately take the pill to break through to the Golden Core. Seven consecutive days of highly concentrated Alchemy had greatly exhausted his mind and True Yuan; now was definitely not the best state.

He took a few ordinary Qi-replenishing pills and sat cross-legged to regulate his breath and recover his energy.

Another three days passed. When his essence, Qi, and spirit had all recovered to their Peak—and his mind had even been tempered by the successful refining of a high-grade pill, becoming slightly stronger than before—Li Muchen finally prepared himself once again.

This time, he took out the [earth vein suppression talisman] and placed it in the center of the stone chamber floor, while he himself sat cross-legged upon the talisman. He intended to use this talisman to maximize communication with and draw upon the earth vein Qi of Yuntai Mountain to act as his Protector, while also using the heavy and stable nature of the earth Qi to help suppress and condense the True Yuan within his body.

He also placed the thunder-struck wood horizontally across his knees to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

Finally, he solemnly took out the cold jade bottle and poured out one "Crimson Jade Profound Heart Pill."

The pill was warm and slightly heavy in his hand, its crimson jade luster restrained within. Although the pill fragrance was contained, being so close, he could still feel the vast and pure Pure Yang spiritual power and burgeoning life force within it.

"Success or failure depends on this one move."

A flash of determination crossed Li Muchen's eyes. Without further hesitation, he tilted his head and sent the pill into his mouth.

The pill melted the moment it entered his mouth. It did not turn into a scorching torrent as imagined, but instead became like a stream of warm, sweet nectar, flowing down his throat and instantly dispersing into his limbs and bones, merging into his Meridians and blood.

Immediately after, an indescribable, pure, gentle, yet majestic and boundless warm current rose from every corner of his body! This warm current was not simply heat, but contained the most original Pure Yang life force and the great virtue of the earth, quickly merging with the True Yuan in his body.

Within the Dantian Qi Sea, that pale golden True Yuan vortex, which had long been refined to the extreme and was rotating slowly, suddenly accelerated its rotation as if receiving rain after a long drought! Its volume began to expand, compress, and expand again, visible to the naked eye! With each cycle, the color of the True Yuan became a shade deeper, and its texture grew more viscous, moving toward the limit of its liquid state.

At the same time, the majestic life force and a certain mysterious "dao rhyme" contained in the pill began to wash over and nourish his Physical Body and Divine Soul. His bones emitted a faint, slight hum, becoming more dense; under the soaking of the warm current, his Meridians widened and became tougher; his internal organs were full of vitality; within his Sea of Consciousness, his Divine Sense power was also growing steadily, becoming more condensed and clear.

And the [earth vein suppression talisman] beneath his knees also seemed to be triggered by the boiling True Yuan and pill power within its master, emitting an even richer earthy yellow light. Wisps of pure and thick earth vein Qi surged from the stone chamber floor, passing through the talisman and slowly seeping into Li Muchen's body. Like the most stable Foundation, they assisted in sorting and stabilizing the wildly growing energy within him, preventing it from spiraling out of control.

Li Muchen's mind sank into his body, acting like the most skilled helmsman, guiding this unprecedented flood of power. Following the Core Formation method recorded in the "Supreme Clarity Purple Mansion Returning to Origin True Scripture," he repeatedly pushed, compressed, and refined the True Yuan core in his Dantian.

Time lost its meaning in deep meditation.

Outside the stone chamber, life at Qingfeng Temple continued as usual. Zhao Desheng and the others kept the temple master's instructions in mind; aside from listening quietly outside the stone chamber every day to confirm there were no abnormalities before quietly leaving, they never disturbed him. The temple's incense offerings continued, but without the temple master personally receiving guests, there was ultimately a bit of unusual silence. Deep in the back mountain, the Demon Ape "Wukong," who had been enlightened and named, also seemed to keep its promise, never appearing to disturb them again, and Yuntai Mountain returned to its former tranquility.

Only within the stone chamber did the tides of energy surge incessantly.

The True Yuan within Li Muchen's body, with the dual assistance of the pill and earth vein power, was undergoing an unprecedented tempering and sublimation. In his Dantian, that True Yuan vortex rotated faster and faster, and the pressure at the center grew greater and greater. The viscous True Yuan liquid began to slowly transform into a more stable and mysterious solid structure... the Golden Core seed was being nurtured.

Whether he would break out of the cocoon as a butterfly or fail at the final hurdle was all within this period of seclusion.

The mountain wind blew through the courtyard, and the ancient cypress tree swayed gently.

The stone door of the quiet room was tightly closed, isolating the inside from the outside.

A transformation concerning the very Foundation of his path to the Dao was quietly taking place here at the Peak of Yuntai Mountain.