93: The Golden Elixir is initially formed, and the Daoist principles manifest; my destiny is in the hands of Heaven and also in my own.

The Heavenly Tribulation dissipated, and sunlight broke through the clouds.

Before Qingfeng Temple, everything was in a mess. Charred pits, broken stone slabs, and scattered branches and leaves all spoke of the terror of the heavenly power just now. A faint smell of ozone from the lightning and pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi still lingered in the air, mixing into a strange scent.

But at this moment, everyone's gaze was focused on the solitary figure standing in the center of the courtyard.

Li Muchen stood still on the spot. The blue-gray Taoist robe on his body, which had long since been reduced to rags during the Lightning Tribulation, now seemed to be cleansed by an invisible Qi. Although it still looked old, it was spotless, carrying a sense of cleanliness and transcendence. His originally handsome face now had a few more touches of lustrous glow; the youthful greenness in his eyes had lessened, replaced by a deeper sense of calm and maturity.

Most eye-catching was the layer of warm, jade-like, yet restrained and deep golden halo faintly circulating around him. It wasn't intentionally emitted, but was a natural phenomenon of the Golden Core being newly formed and the Dao Body manifesting itself.

He just stood there, his aura peaceful and long, out of place with the surrounding mess, yet seemingly forming a seamless, harmonious rhythm with the earth beneath his feet, the blue sky above his head, and this entire Yuntai Mountain.

"Temple Master..." Zhao Desheng called out in a trembling voice, old tears streaming down his face, though it was hard to tell if it was from shock or joy. The earth-shattering scene just now had almost made him think the temple would be destroyed and the Temple Master would perish. Now, having survived the disaster, the Temple Master was safe and sound, his temperament transformed as if he were a deity. The excitement in his heart was beyond words.

Zhao Xiaowen gripped her camera tightly, her fingers turning white from the excessive force, yet the lens was aimed steadily at Li Muchen. She knew that what she had just recorded might be the most incredible and "real" supernatural footage of this era.

And at this moment, the indefinable quality about the Temple Master—as if he had merged into one with heaven, earth, and nature—shocked her even more. She felt that any words or lenses would be hard-pressed to capture even a fraction of it.

Li Shiyu stared blankly, tears shimmering in her eyes, yet a heartfelt smile hung on the corners of her mouth. She remembered the calm and indifferent young Taoist when she first went up the mountain, remembered his compassion and decisiveness when resolving the resentment of the spirit of the pen, and remembered his composure when facing the dispute between Buddhism and Taoism... And now, having undergone the baptism of heavenly thunder and emerged from the tribulation, he seemed to have truly attained "Perfection" in something, transcending a certain boundary.

Li Muchen felt everyone's gaze. He slowly turned around, his eyes sweeping across faces that were excited, reverent, shocked, or worried. He saw the tears in Zhao Desheng's eyes, the reflection of Zhao Xiaowen's lens, and the smiles and tears on Li Shiyu's face.

He nodded slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his lips that seemed capable of smoothing over all panic.

"I have startled everyone." His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying a strange soothing power. "The Heavenly Tribulation has passed; all is well."

As his voice fell, he gently raised his right hand. A faint golden light flickered at his fingertips as he brushed the air toward the messy open ground in front of the temple.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, only a warm, water-like, yet irresistibly vast invisible force that quietly brushed past like a spring breeze turning into rain.

In the next moment, a scene that left everyone dumbfounded occurred.

In those charred pits, the overturned soil seemed to possess a life of its own, backfilling and smoothing itself out to its original state. The broken stone slab fragments actually flew up automatically, piecing together and healing seamlessly, even the textures on them restoring their continuity. The scattered branches and leaves of the ancient cypress tree moved without wind, fluttering back to the branches. Greenery sprouted at the breaks, showing signs of reconnecting and growing!

In just a few breaths, the courtyard that had been a mess just moments ago, as if struck by a natural disaster, had restored eighty to ninety percent of its original appearance. It was even cleaner and more natural than before, as if the world-destroying Lightning Tribulation just now was merely a dream.

"This... this is immortal magic!" Some pilgrims knelt on the ground in excitement, kowtowing repeatedly.

"The Temple Master has manifested! The Temple Master has achieved Immortal Ascension!" More people exclaimed, their eyes filled with fanaticism and worship.

Zhao Desheng and the others were also dumbstruck. Although they had long known the Temple Master possessed great Divine Abilities, this kind of method that nearly "turned decay into magic" and "smoothed over wounds" had already exceeded their scope of understanding.

Li Muchen looked at the restored courtyard, but there wasn't much of a ripple in his heart. This wasn't some profound Spell; it was merely a more refined control over his own power after the Golden Core was initially formed, as well as a low-level application of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi and earth vein Qi. Combined with the communication of Yuntai Mountain's earth Qi through the earth vein suppression talisman, achieving this wasn't difficult. True power of "Creation" was far beyond what he could reach at this moment.

What he cared about more was the newborn Golden Core within his body, and... the feedback from the Heavenly Dao after the Lightning Tribulation.

At that moment, a profound and mysterious insight, like a clear spring, naturally flowed into his Sea of Consciousness.

With the Golden Core formed, he had truly stepped onto the threshold of "Refining Qi into Spirit," shedding his mortal coil and condensing his own "indestructible Dao Foundation." His Lifespan surged, allowing him to enjoy at least five hundred years of life. His Physical Body was constantly nourished by the Core Essence, making him immune to all diseases and unafraid of heat or cold. The range and strength of his Divine Sense had taken a qualitative leap; with a single thought, it could cover a radius of ten miles, revealing everything in minute detail. His sensitivity to and efficiency in absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was more than ten times that of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

More importantly, he could finally preliminarily utilize some "Divine Abilities" that could only be performed in the Golden Core Realm. For example, preliminary "Bigu," allowing him to go without food or drink for long periods, maintaining vitality solely by absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi; for example, short-distance "Wind Riding" or "Sword Kinesis," which, though not sustainable for long, already allowed him to break free from the shackles of the earth; for example, more profound Talisman refining, Formation layout, and even preliminary attempts at Great Dao arts like Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

"Swallowing a Golden Core into the belly, only then do I know my life is dictated by me and not by Heaven..." Li Muchen silently recited this Taoist verse he was familiar with from his previous life, but now it held a brand new, personal realization.

This "my life is dictated by me" wasn't so arrogant as to ignore the Laws of heaven and earth and act recklessly. Rather, it meant that by condensing a Golden Core, it was as if he truly possessed his own "rudder" and "sail" on the boat of life. From then on, he was no longer drifting with the current, passively enduring the washing of fate, but could rely on the cultivation and power he had earned to choose his course, fight the waves, and grasp the trajectory of his own destiny to a certain extent.

The Heavenly Dao is vast and its rules are strict; a Golden Core Cultivator is still minuscule. But this Golden Core is the place the Cultivator wins for himself between heaven and earth, a point of "autonomous" authority. This is what is meant by "dictated by me."

But at the same time, Li Muchen also more deeply felt that his connection with this world had become tighter than ever before. Every breath merged with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi; every heartbeat seemed to trigger a slight ripple in the earth veins. He could more clearly "hear" the language of the wind, "see" the "breathing" of the mountains, and "feel" the "joy" and "sorrow" of the plants.

This was a very wonderful state—he felt an unprecedented "freedom" and "power," yet also experienced a deeper sense of "bond" and "responsibility."

My life is dictated by me, and also by Heaven. Heaven bestows rules and tests; I seek the path within the rules and prove my Dao through the tests. This, perhaps, is the true meaning of the phrase "my life is dictated by me and not by Heaven" on the path of cultivation—not confrontation, but seeking transcendence within compliance and striving for initiative within reverence.

He suddenly thought of the Demon Ape in the back mountain that he had enlightened and named "Wukong." That he could form the Golden Core today and gain this insight, the Demon Ape's Vermilion Fruit and its heart for seeking the Dao were also contributing factors. The cycle of Karma is mysterious beyond words.

Just as his thoughts turned, his brow suddenly felt a slight heat.

A pure, gentle, yet supremely majestic and strange energy was born out of thin air, descending from the void and sinking deep into the Sea of Consciousness between his brows!

Golden Light of Merit! And it was a much more condensed and pure... Heaven-bestowed Karma, far exceeding anything before!

Li Muchen understood instantly. This was the "reward" and "recognition" given by the Heavenly Dao for crossing the Golden Core Lightning Tribulation! The Lightning Tribulation is a test and also a tempering. After passing it, there is not only an increase in cultivation but also the addition of Karma and the growth of Luck, demonstrating that the Heavenly Dao is supremely just, clear in its rewards and punishments.

This newly obtained Golden Light of Merit quickly merged with the Karma originally accumulated in his Sea of Consciousness, raising its total amount and quality by a level. He could feel his Divine Soul becoming more stable and clear under the nourishment and protection of this Golden Light of Merit, with its resistance to external evils and Heart Demons greatly enhanced. Even his own Luck seemed to have become a bit more lively and long-lasting.

"Misfortune and fortune rely on each other; after a tribulation, fortune is born. It truly does not deceive me." Li Muchen felt emotional in his heart.

He composed his mind, slowly suppressing the Golden Core phenomena naturally circulating around him, leaving only that indelible, brilliant golden light deep in his eyes.

"Layman Zhao," he looked at Zhao Desheng, who was still in a state of excitement, "Starting today, the temple will be closed for three days for cleaning and reorganization. Externally, say that a blessing ritual needs to be performed in the temple, and we will temporarily not receive pilgrims."

"Yes, Temple Master!" Zhao Desheng quickly complied.

"Xiaowen, Shiyu," he then looked at the two women, "The video recordings of today's events can be properly kept, but unless necessary, there is no need to promote them externally. As for external rumors, just let them be."

The two women nodded solemnly. They understood that today's events were too shocking; over-promoting them might not be a blessing for the Temple Master or the temple.

Li Muchen then looked at those pilgrims in the courtyard who were still kneeling on the ground and excited, his voice calm yet clearly reaching the entire field: "Everyone, the celestial abnormality has settled. The temple needs to close its doors for quiet cultivation. Please descend the mountain in an orderly manner and return home to rest. Sincerity brings results; there is no need to be obsessed with external appearances."

His words carried a strange soothing and persuasive power. Although the pilgrims were reluctant, they all stood up as instructed and, filled with shock and reverence, gradually descended the mountain, looking back every few steps.

Once everyone had dispersed, the temple returned to tranquility.

Li Muchen walked alone to the ancient cypress tree and sat down on the bluestone that had been grazed by the aftershocks of the Lightning Tribulation but remained stable.

As the sun set in the west, it stretched his shadow long.

He looked inward at himself. Within his Dantian, the newborn Golden Core was slowly rotating, breathing in and out vast amounts of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, transforming it into strands of pure Golden Core Essence that nourished every corner of his body like sweet spring water.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the Golden Light of Merit shone like the sun, clear and bright.

An unprecedented sense of fulfillment, power, and a clearer sense of control over his own destiny filled his heart.

The immortal path is long; the Golden Core is just the beginning.

The road ahead may still have more tribulations, more challenges, and more unknowns.

But at this moment, with the Golden Core in hand, Karma on his shoulders, Yuntai at his back, and the Great Dao in his heart.

Li Muchen raised his head and looked at the brilliant evening glow on the horizon, his gaze distant and firm.

My life is dictated by me, and also by Heaven.

And my Dao lies between this compliance and transcendence, within this reverence and striving, stepping towards that higher and more distant... front, one step at a time.