Entry: I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

30: Chapter 30: The Heaven-Burning Cauldron of Blazing Fire – Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage!【Effect of trait ”Immortal Lord Fuzhe - Red” triggered, you have obtained Spirit Realm Low Grade Magic Treasure: Azure Nether Cold Light Sword】

【Azure Nether Cold Light Sword: Refined from Spirit Realm cold crystal, the blade is peerlessly sharp and contains hidden cold energy. It can spontaneously release freezing energy to slow down opponents during combat. (Friendly reminder: Magic Treasures are divided into Low Grade, Medium Grade, High Grade, and Top Grade)】

Gu Yan moved his mind, and a long sword appeared in his hand.

The sword was about three feet three inches long, like a solidified streak of azure nether cold light.

In terms of appearance, it was several times cooler than the Shadow Flow Sword that Lin Wei had gifted him years ago.

The most crucial point was that this was a Magic Treasure. Although it was only Low Grade, it had completely transcended the category of ordinary iron weapons.

”Spirit Realm...” Gu Yan frowned slightly.

In this trait description, an explicit prefix for another Realm had appeared for the first time.

”Since this martial arts world has Spiritual Qi, and ancient books occasionally record ancient Yao Beasts... Could it be that in corners unknown to me, there exist cultivators?”

Although he could not verify it, various nested world tropes he had seen in his past life flooded his mind.

Just as there are worlds beyond worlds, this world might only be a remote corner.

This thought made Gu Yan’s heart shiver.

”It seems that I must be more cautious in my actions from now on and not be too high-profile. Otherwise, I might attract unnecessary secret prying, and that would not be fun.”

Another year passed.

【Effect of trait ”Immortal Lord Fuzhe - Red” triggered, you have obtained Spirit Realm High Grade storage Magic Treasure: Sumeru Star Ring】

【Sumeru Star Ring: Contains a hundred-zhang space, can store inanimate objects with a thought, comes with basic refining techniques, and can be bound by a drop of blood or by injecting Spiritual Qi.】

Gu Yan refined it according to the method and probed with his Divine Sense, seeing only a stable, gray, misty space, incomparably vast.

He casually moved the Azure Nether Cold Light Sword into it and retrieved it with a thought, as easily as moving his own arm.

He thought to himself that from now on, he wouldn’t have to stuff everything into his clothes or hide things under the bed.

Thus, another eight years passed.

Gu Yan obtained a treasure through the trait every year.

Most of them were not worth mentioning; the most precious one was a defensive Top Grade Magic Treasure obtained in the fifth year: the departure fire burning heaven cauldron.

【departure fire burning heaven cauldron: Top Grade Magic Treasure, refined primarily from Spirit Realm core departure fire crystal, fused with various fire-attribute precious materials.】

This cauldron was entirely crimson, with three legs and two ears.

Gu Yan had played with it for a long time back then, unable to put it down.

With this cauldron in hand, his offensive and defensive capabilities would be qualitatively improved.

On this day, Gu Yan felt that the liquid Spiritual Qi in his Dantian had been compressed and solidified to the extreme, faintly showing signs of solidifying into crystals.

He knew the opportunity for a Breakthrough had arrived.

He rose to his feet and went to find the Xuan Chenzi, Xuan Chenzi.

”Xuan Chenzi, I need a place that is absolutely quiet and undisturbed to go into seclusion for a period of time.”

Although Xuan Chenzi did not know exactly what Gu Yan wanted to do, remembering the past mystery and generous gifts of this Longevity Daoist, he immediately agreed solemnly:

”Elder Gu, rest assured. Behind Danxia Peak, there is an Immortal Cave suspended in the air. It was a place where the founding Ancestral Master once briefly cultivated in seclusion. It is a secluded location, and ordinary Disciples can hardly approach it. I will arrange it immediately and personally set up a perimeter guard to ensure no one disturbs you.”

”I appreciate your trouble, Xuan Chenzi.” Gu Yan nodded.

A moment later, Gu Yan was already in a natural Immortal Cave halfway up the cliff behind Danxia Peak.

The entrance to this place was hidden, and the interior had its own unique features. In front was a bottomless abyss shrouded in clouds and mist.

Behind was thick, solid mountain rock. More importantly, this place was sufficiently spacious.

Gu Yan nodded in satisfaction, immediately sat cross-legged in the center of the Immortal Cave, cleared his mind of distractions, and began to circulate the Golden Core chapter of the Great Five Elements Reincarnation True Scripture.

As his mind sank into his Dantian and he exerted his full strength to compress the Spiritual Qi, a sudden change occurred!

Outside the Immortal Cave, the originally clear sky suddenly darkened.

Thick, dark clouds gathered above at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation had arrived!

This Breakthrough was far from the Foundation Establishment, which only had thunderclouds without thunder.

Not only did Heart Demons grow from his Sea of Consciousness, but outside, thunder rolled!

Furthermore, because Gu Yan had practiced both immortality and martial arts in his early years, his three hundred and sixty-five acupoints had long resonated with his Dantian. At this moment, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and the power of the tribulation thunder he attracted also rose accordingly.

The first tribulation thunder struck down directly, aiming squarely at the cliff Immortal Cave where Gu Yan was!

Even more heart-stopping was that the thunder seemed to possess intelligence.

The moment it was about to hit the mountain, it actually made a sharp turn in the air and headed straight for Gu Yan in the center of the Immortal Cave!

The thickness of the thunderbolt and the ferocity of its momentum were incredibly terrifying!

However, Gu Yan was well-prepared.

”departure fire burning heaven cauldron, rise!”

He gave a low shout, and the crimson treasure cauldron flew out from his storage ring, growing as it met the wind, transforming into a giant cauldron about a zhang in size.

Crimson light flowed across the cauldron’s body, forming a scorching light shield that protected Gu Yan within.

Boom!

Violent thunderbolts struck the light shield one after another.

The light shield shook violently but remained as steady as a rock, neutralizing the vast majority of the tribulation thunder’s power.

The power of a Top Grade Magic Treasure was fully revealed at this moment!

The Heavenly Tribulation was not a cause for concern.

The real test came from within.

After nine thunderbolts, Gu Yan fell into a Heart Demon illusion.

In the illusion, he seemed to have returned to the five years when he was the Incarnation of imperma nence yama.

Before his eyes, it was no longer the suspended Immortal Cave, but a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, with resentment soaring to the heavens.

Countless distorted and hideous faces of the wicked, bandit leaders, and demonic cultists he had killed emerged in dense numbers, surrounding Gu Yan completely.

They had missing limbs, were bleeding profusely, and constantly emitted shrill howls and curses.

”imperma nence yama! So what if you killed us?”

”The evil in this world is like weeds; you can never kill them all!”

An old demon phantom with the most sinister aura emerged from the crowd and laughed hoarsely:

”Do you think that by cutting us all down, the world will be peaceful?”

”Heaven and Earth have Yin and Yang; the universe is divided into righteous and evil.”

”We, in relation to this churning Mortal World, are like rot to maggots, like decaying flesh to ants; it is an inevitable part of the Heavenly Dao cycle!”

”Today, you eliminate us small evils, seemingly accumulating boundless Karma, but in reality, you are removing the barriers that Heavenly Dao has set against the evil energy in this world.”

”Once the old barriers fall and the checks are lost, greater evils that are more hidden, more powerful, and more in tune with this world will inevitably arise!”

”When that time comes, facing the true great evil that even Heaven and Earth tacitly allow, when you cannot resist, what will you do? Hahaha!”

All evils laughed together, the sound wave overwhelming and full of mockery.

In the illusion, Gu Yan was expressionless, just swinging his sword continuously.

He did not answer with any high-sounding grand principles.

He did not speak any bold words about going forward even if there are millions of people.

Nor did he fall into the debate of whether eliminating evil is meaningful.

If a new, more powerful evil truly appears in the future, as long as he is strong enough, he will just cut it down.

If he is weak and cannot resist at that time? Then he will ignore it. He will wait until his strength is sufficient before doing it.

If his strength is never enough? Then he will never do it. If he can’t beat them, can he not avoid them?

Gu Yan’s Dao Heart was clear; he was not confused by external demons, not burdened by empty fame, only seeking to follow his own heart and act according to his ability.

The more fiercely the demon shadows in the illusion howled, the more solid his sword light became, and the more stable his mind grew.

Outside, nine days and nine nights passed.

The final thunderbolt struck the protective shield of the departure fire burning heaven cauldron, and the treasure cauldron emitted a hum.

Although the treasure cauldron’s brilliance was slightly dimmed, it suffered no major damage.

At the same time, the Heart Demon illusion shattered completely like a bubble.

Inside Gu Yan’s Dantian, a Golden Core the size of a longan, round and flawless, shining with five-colored brilliance, had finally completely condensed and formed!

...

In the distance, on the peak of a mountain.

Xuan Chenzi Xuan Chenzi and Grand Elder Yun Chenzi had long been alarmed by the terrifying phenomena behind Danxia Peak that had lasted for nine days.

The two watched from afar, not daring to approach.

”Jun... Junior Martial Uncle, what... what kind of Heavenly Might is this? Elder Gu, he...” Xuan Chenzi’s face turned pale, and his voice was hoarse.

Those thunderbolts made him feel that even if he were grazed by the thinnest one, he would likely be reduced to ashes in an instant.

Yun Chenzi’s hair and beard stood on end, and he muttered: ”It cannot be wrong... This is definitely not a sign of a martial arts Breakthrough!”

”Ancient books record that ancient Qi Refiners defied the heavens, seizing the fortune of Heaven and Earth, only then would Heavenly Thunder descend to temper their bodies...”

”Elder Gu, no, Immortal Lord Gu... He is undergoing the tribulation of the Immortal Dao!”

...

Inside the suspended Immortal Cave.

Gu Yan slowly opened his eyes, feeling the Spiritual Qi throughout his body surging and harmonious, and his connection with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was several times clearer.

With a thought, he summoned his personal panel:

【Gu Yan】

【Lifespan: 131 / 1200】

【Realm: Golden Core Stage · First Level】

【Traits: ”Immortal Lord Fuzhe - Red”, ”Five Elements Spiritual Body - Orange”】

【Cultivation Technique: ”Great Five Elements Reincarnation True Scripture”...】

【Mystical Arts: ”Five Elements Escape Technique”, ”Five Elements Protection Spell”...】

【Magic Treasure: ”Azure Nether Cold Light Sword · Low Grade”, ”Sumeru Star Ring · High Grade”, ”departure fire burning heaven cauldron · Top Grade”...】

”The panel has changed quite a bit.” Gu Yan glanced at it, understanding in his heart.

The original martial arts column was completely replaced by the Mystical Arts column, and a new Magic Treasure column was added.

In the Mystical Arts column, the Five Elements Escape Technique and Five Elements Protection Spell were practical Mystical Arts that came with the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment chapters of the Great Five Elements Reincarnation True Scripture, which he had already mastered.

Now that he had broken through to the Golden Core, he could also begin to comprehend and Cultivate the powerful offensive Mystical Art corresponding to the Golden Core chapter of the Cultivation Technique, the Lesser Five Elements Destruction Divine Light.