I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

”Screech!”

Amidst the towering and majestic Spirit Peaks, a black raptor with wings spanning over fifteen feet circled the sky, its sharp eyes scanning the layers of forests below, seemingly selecting its meal for the day.

This creature was a powerful demon of the Earth Demon Realm, a dominator of the expansive forest, taking what it desired at will!

”Roar!”

But just then, a Hanging-Brow White-Eyed Tiger with gleaming fur and wings on its back suddenly leapt up from the forest.

A terrifying wave of demon qi surged forth, forming a massive black cloud of malevolence, gripping one’s heart with awe.

”Screech!”

The black Eagle Demon felt a surge of caution and wanted to spread its wings and escape, but it was already too late.

Giant tiger claws, as though capable of tearing the heavens, directly smashed the head of the Eagle Demon. The Tiger Demon then caught the Eagle Demon’s corpse, took to its wings, and flew toward the mountaintop.

Atop the mountain, there was nothing but a White Jade Small Tower, suspended upside down, with flowing Dao charm and a mysterious aura emanating from it.

Beneath the White Jade Small Tower was a slab of bluestone, upon which a Daoist sat cross-legged.

The Daoist’s face was haggard and emaciated, his once well-fitting Daoist Robe now looking two sizes too large, fluttering in the breeze, making him appear extremely frail.

His black hair was dry, his skin sallow, and his entire presence was one of extreme decline.

He sat cross-legged on the bluestone like a sculpture, utterly still. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, he could have been mistaken for a dead man.

”Master, I caught an Eagle Demon. I’ll skin it for roasting right now for you to enjoy!”

The winged great tiger laid down the Eagle Demon’s body and spoke respectfully to the Daoist.

At these words, the Daoist’s eyes snapped open, a faint golden light flickering briefly within them.

”You are thoughtful!”

The Daoist spoke in a hoarse voice, as if he hadn’t spoken in a long time.

”To serve Master is my honor!”

The winged great tiger hurriedly responded.

Though the Daoist seemed extremely weak, as if a mere breeze could topple him, the tiger dared not show any disrespect.

Beneath this bluestone was the burial ground of two Great Demons.

”Boom!”

The great tiger roared, and numerous strands of demon qi transformed into swords. In an instant, the Eagle Demon’s body was prepared and cut into pieces. It opened its mouth and exhaled, causing black flames to surge up, enveloping the Eagle Demon’s body.

Before long, a faint aroma of cooked meat filled the air.

Seeing this, the Daoist’s eyes deepened, and he said nothing more, merely immersing his heart and spirit inward.

The Daoist was, of course, Gu Yuan.

It’s been eighteen years since he decided to cultivate the Dragon Essence Golden Core Skill.

Shattering the Golden Core and re-crossing the Celestial Tribulation seems simple in words, but in practice, it’s fraught with dangers.

Setting aside the Celestial Tribulation, shattering the Golden Core is truly the most critical step.

For an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, the instant their Golden Core is shattered, all their mana disperses, their entire cultivation vanishes, reducing them to a mortal.

This is the very foundation of a cultivator, the forging of a Dao Foundation into a gold-attribute entity. Once destroyed, it cannot be repaired.

The day the core is shattered is the day of demise.

Forget re-crossing the Celestial Tribulation; surviving alone would be great fortune!

Thus, how to shatter the core and cultivate anew is the primary method.

Gu Yuan spent the past eighteen years in intense cultivation, trying to comprehend this method.

And the first step in shattering the core is dispersing power!

Gu Yuan needed to disperse the Dharma Gate of the Great Thunder Origin Celestial Scripture, transforming all his mana into the ”Dragon Essence Golden Shell” to ensure that upon the Golden Core’s shattering, the foundation would remain, allowing him to re-cross the Celestial Tribulation!

This is a self-destructive step, and Gu Yuan paid a huge price for it; his cultivation regressed rather than advanced, leaving him gaunt and nearly a wreck.

Fortunately, after eighteen years of arduous cultivation, the dawn was finally approaching.

Gu Yuan’s awareness sank into his Dantian, and he saw that the previously thread-like thunder-imbued gold-attribute magical power had completely dispersed, with all mana melting away, forming a golden transparent shell, akin to an eggshell, wrapping around the center Golden Core.

This was the ”Dragon Essence Golden Shell.”

Only this shell could preserve the foundation after the Golden Core shattered.

”Master, please have some!”

At that moment, the winged great tiger, showing a sycophantic, human-like grin, used demonic power to present a slightly charred piece of eagle meat to Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan, hearing this, opened his eyes again and took the eagle meat.

For eighteen years, he had dispersed his power to cultivate the Golden Yuan Dragon Shell, abstaining from absorbing spiritual energy and thus needing to rely on meat to sustain his life.

Even without much seasoning, the Earth Demon Eagle Flesh, with its spiritual light, was exceptionally tasty, and Gu Yuan savored every bite.

Not stopping there, he took a few jugs of Spirit Wine from his Storage Bag, stored from years past, and drank deeply, pairing it with the eagle meat, finding the flavors delightful and refreshing.

”Satisfying!”

After eating and drinking to his contentment, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

”As long as Master is pleased!”

The great tiger responded quickly.

”Soon, you must leave this place, as far as possible, to avoid harm!”

Gu Yuan raised his Daoist Robe, wiping his mouth, then lowered his head to speak to the Heart-devouring Insect.

After eighteen years, the Blood-Dissolving Red Worm’s body had long since been consumed by the Heart-devouring Insect, its life nearing the end, and this Flying Tiger was its new body.

”Hm?”

Upon hearing this, the Heart-devouring Insect looked up, slightly confused.

It was unaware of Gu Yuan’s plan to shatter his core and re-cross the Celestial Tribulation.

”Ask no more, just leave, and soon you will understand!”

Gu Yuan said no more, simply waving his hand.

”Yes, Master!”

Seeing this, the Heart-devouring Insect dared not delay, quickly beating its wings to leave the area.