“You’re saying this is the Invincible Core?!” Lu Yang didn’t know what expression to show.

He had pored over numerous insights on forming a core, painstakingly searching for inspiration, and finally, in the heat of battle, formed a unique Golden Core.

And now you tell me this Golden Core is the same as your Invincible Core?

“Aiya, I’ve told you, continuous battles, fearless challenges, winning a hundred battles, nurturing an invincible aura that recognizes no one above yourself. Using this aura as a guide, you circulate your spiritual energy and condense it into a core.”

“At this point, stop pretending. You followed my steps exactly and successfully formed your core.”

Everlasting Fairy assumed Lu Yang was too embarrassed to admit he was imitating her.

“There’s nothing to be shy about. Follow me, and I guarantee you’ll dominate the ages. When I return to my peak, I’ll be first, you’ll be second, and that little girl Yun Zhi will be third!”

Lu Yang couldn’t help but recall how Everlasting Fairy had described her unique core formation experience.

“Fairy, do you remember how you said you formed your core?”

…

“This is my unique Golden Core. I named it the Invincible Core.”

“I don’t tell just anyone how to form this Golden Core! See the benefits of being with me?” Everlasting Fairy said proudly, expecting admiration from Lu Yang.

“Just to be sure, when you say winning a hundred battles, do you mean fighting people of the same level or with a one level difference?”

“Of course, with a one level difference!”

…

“Exactly, one level higher. I defeated Golden Core Stage cultivators while at the Foundation Building Stage. Isn’t that a one level difference?” Everlasting Fairy stated matter-of-factly, not understanding why Lu Yang was so surprised.

Hadn’t she always said she was known for her beauty and combat prowess before becoming an immortal?

Known for her battle prowess, wasn’t it routine for her to fight above her level?

Lu Yang: “…”

It wasn’t Lu Yang’s fault for not thinking of this. Everlasting Fairy had never given him any reliable guidance, and she often boasted about bullying lower-level cultivators as a point of pride.

All along, Lu Yang had regarded Everlasting Fairy as an ancient source of black comedy, not taking her cultivation advice seriously.

Listening to Everlasting Fairy’s cultivation tips was less reliable than asking Eldest Senior Sister for advice.

Although asking Eldest Senior Sister might not yield an answer either.

Lu Yang had always found Everlasting Fairy’s cultivation methods unreliable.

And Eldest Senior Sister’s methods seemed absurd.

Neither were useful as references.

“Back in my late Foundation Building Stage days, I exhibited extraordinary talent, undefeated among Foundation Building cultivators. Holy Sons and Holy Daughters of major sects, Heaven’s blessed individuals, and those with supreme physiques… none were my match. My talent incited envy.”

“The protectors of these geniuses saw me as a future threat and wanted to eliminate me. However, they were prominent figures and didn’t want to tarnish their reputation by bullying a junior, so they sent numerous late Foundation Building cultivators who would break through to Golden Core Stage during battle. This way, if I lost, it wouldn’t look bad.”

“Hah, those guys thought they could defeat me? So what if they broke through to Golden Core Stage? They were all trash, none could fight!”

“I kept defeating them, honing my skills in battle, forming an invincible aura, and successfully forming my core!” Everlasting Fairy spoke nonchalantly as if it were a trivial matter.

“My Golden Core was unprecedented, and since I was invincible, it naturally had to be named the Invincible Core.”

“Alright, this body’s power is nearly exhausted. The rest is up to you. Later, I’ll teach you how to use the Invincible Core. Yawn—”

The downside of a clone is that it can’t replenish spiritual energy like the main body. Once used up, it can’t be restored.

Everlasting Fairy stretched and yawned before sinking back into the earth, her spirit returning to the mental space.

After all that hard work, she deserved a good nap as a reward.

The Mu Tian Grass remained silent throughout. If it were human, cold sweat would have drenched its back by now.

Though Lu Yang seemed to be conversing with his clone, the Mu Tian Grass could sense that Lu Yang’s divine sense was firmly locked onto it. Any slight movement from the Mu Tian Grass would have been met with Lu Yang’s swift sword strike.

“Quick, stop him…”

Before the Mu Tian Grass could finish, Lu Yang’s figure blurred into a flash of lightning, knocking aside the beasts blocking his way and appearing directly in front of the Mu Tian Grass.

“Who are you trying to stop?” Lu Yang bent down and grabbed the Mu Tian Grass, his voice icy.

Having ascended to the Golden Core Stage, not only had his strength greatly increased, but his speed had as well.

Without giving the Mu Tian Grass a chance to explain, Lu Yang yanked it up by the roots.

The Mu Tian Grass’s roots spread throughout the entire swamp. As Lu Yang pulled out all of its roots, he discovered they were entangled with numerous bones—both of beasts and humans—its previous nutrients.

Lu Yang’s gaze grew even colder. He removed the bones one by one, tore off the Mu Tian Grass’s roots, and tossed them aside.

Carrying the Mu Tian Grass, he left the swamp. Seeing a beast fighting with a cultivator, he casually struck it down and asked the cultivator where they were.

The cultivator, shocked by Lu Yang’s effortless kill of an early Golden Core Stage beast, dared not lie and respectfully provided the location.

After calculating, Lu Yang found that they were about six hundred miles from the Demon Subjugation Pass—close enough.

When Lu Yang returned to the Demon Subjugation Pass, he saw Meng Jingzhou and the others anxiously waiting at the gate. Beside them stood a young man with red lips and white teeth, looking a few years younger than Lu Yang.

“Where did the Mu Tian Grass take Senior Brother Lu?” Peach Blossom Leaf was frantic. They had brought help to find Lu Yang, only to discover a huge pit where the swamp had been.

“Don’t worry, Lu Yang has the ultimate trump card. Nothing will happen to him,” Meng Jingzhou reassured, though he was still on edge. If Lu Yang had summoned Eldest Senior Sister to deal with the Mu Tian Grass, he should have returned by now. If he hadn’t, how could he have managed it alone?

“I’m back.” Lu Yang’s cheerful voice rang out, bringing joy to everyone.

“Lu Yang!”

“Senior Brother Lu!”

“Brother Lu!”

Dressed in pristine white, with a sword at his waist and a jade pendant, Lu Yang held the defeated Mu Tian Grass, looking every bit the dashing young noble.

“You dealt with the Mu Tian Grass by yourself? How?” Meng Jingzhou noticed the Mu Tian Grass in Lu Yang’s hand.

“Who do you think I am? A mere Mu Tian Grass, I can pull it out effortlessly.”

“He’s formed his Golden Core,” the young man with red lips and white teeth suddenly said, secretly amazed. He had heard of the Mu Tian Grass’s oddities. For someone to defeat it just after reaching the Golden Core Stage was beyond his own capabilities.

“You’ve formed your Golden Core?” Meng Jingzhou had thought he would be the first, but Lu Yang had beaten him to it.

“And who might this be…”

“Let me introduce you. This is Zeng Tairan, the guardian of Demon Subjugation Pass. I asked him to rescue you as soon as I returned.”

“Greetings, Lord Zeng.”

Zeng Tairan waved his hand. “You will achieve far more than I. No need for formalities.”

“Brother Lu turned misfortune into a blessing and successfully formed his Golden Core. He’s the first of our generation to do so. We should go back and celebrate properly,” Barbarian Bone suggested.

Lu Yang shook his head. “Not just yet. There’s still something to deal with. Protector Zeng, may I ask how many Void Refinement Stage cultivators are in the Demon Subjugation Pass?”