Two Realms: I Will Become the Immortal Emperor

Chapter 354: Chapter 325: Xuan Peng’s Core Formation

”...Look at the center of this Sword Pill.”

After a Magical Artifact recognizes a master, others cannot control it. But for a Divinity Transformation expert, this was a trivial matter. As he opened his right hand, he managed to make the Sword Pill bloom to an extent that even Chen Che couldn’t achieve.

Over ten thousand Flying Swords appeared, arranged in dense, overlapping rows, shimmering with layers of light. Standing before them, Chen Che felt the illusion that he might be wounded by the Sword Qi.

”What do you see?”

Gu Yuan slightly closed his fingers, and the Sword Qi was instantly contained within his palm, not a single trace escaping.

”Swords!”

Zong Yudao blurted out.

”I wasn’t asking you!”

Gu Yuan had no desire to speak with a Qi Refining student.

Chen Che observed for a moment before thoughtfully replying, ”The stamen of a flower?”

”Correct.”

Gu Yuan examined the Sword Pill in his hand with a hint of curiosity.

”I wonder which master forged this thing. The materials used are quite extraordinary; it should have been able to reach Tier Four. However, for some unknown reason, it seems the forging was never completed. It’s missing its core...”

”A Sword Pill is a powerful offensive weapon, but it must have a primary and secondary component. Otherwise, it’s like a dragon without eyes. You should understand what that means.”

Although he had never seen this type of Sword Pill before, he wasn’t surprised. During his own early days of Cultivation, he had discovered that many legacies had been lost.

Besides, the Great Dao has three thousand paths; there were bound to be things he didn’t understand.

”It’s missing the defining stroke?”

Chen Che nodded, focusing his attention and listening intently.

Although the Sword Pill was of a lower tier than the Yellow Gourd, it was currently his most powerful offensive tool.

”You catch on quick, just like I did in my youth... Speaking of this Sword Pill, it’s missing that defining stroke. While it still looks powerful, it means its strength can’t be focused, making it impressive but impractical.

The difference is like that between a standard artillery shell and an armor-piercing round. The former might not be able to harm a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but the latter could.”

”I see.”

Chen Che was a little surprised. He never would have thought the Sword Pill had such a fatal flaw.

Then again, he still couldn’t even make the entire Sword Pill bloom, so it was normal that he was unaware of it.

”Furthermore, it is precisely because the Sword Pill’s forging is incomplete that it’s stuck at Tier Three.”

”Dean, does that mean the Sword Pill can still be upgraded... In that case, how can I complete this ’defining stroke’?”

Chen Che asked hurriedly.

”Of course it can be upgraded. You can nourish it with Sword Qi. As for completing it, you just need to refine a few more Flying Swords and place them inside, though the tier of the Flying Swords can’t be too low. However, I’m not an Artifact Cultivator, nor am I a Sword Cultivator, so I’m not too familiar with the process. I just happened to overhear someone mention it once. You could give it a try if you get the chance.”

Gu Yuan said this casually, then paused for a moment before adding:

”However, for you, it’s still too early. If I’m not mistaken, you are completely unable to control this Sword Pill right now.”

”Yes...”

Chen Che didn’t refute it, of course. He could only think that the Dean’s judgment was truly sharp.

”In that case, let me teach you a clever trick...”

Gu Yuan glanced at Chen Che. The student’s thoughts were practically written all over his face. ’Since I’ve already started, I might as well say a bit more,’ he thought.

”Relax your body. I’ll help you draw out your True Essence.”

With a crook of the man’s finger, Chen Che felt his own True Essence surge out of his control. In a single instant, it felt as if ninety-nine percent of it had been drained. Then, as the man clenched his fist, all of his Golden Core True Essence rapidly condensed into a single golden needle.

After inserting the ”Golden Needle” into the Sword Pill, the Sword Leaves folded in, layer by layer, until it once again became an unremarkable metal sphere.

Chen Che felt it out and immediately sensed what seemed to be a new, telepathic connection with the Sword Pill, though it was extremely faint.

Perhaps it had always been because his Divine Sense was insufficient, which was why he had never been able to fully control the Sword Pill.

”I’ve infused the Sword Pill with all of your True Essence. From now on, use the Sword Qi within the pill to nourish it in return. Eventually, it will form a True Essence Flying Sword, which will allow you to mobilize the Sword Pill’s full power. But you must remember, this is a one-time-use ability. Once used, it’s gone. It should be enough to deal with a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator.”

”Thank you, Dean.”

Chen Che was overjoyed.

To the Dean, this was perhaps just a little trick he demonstrated for a student on a whim, even if it was only a one-time use.

But for him, it was a life-saving trump card.

’If only the Gourd and the seashell could help me out too.’

However, the thought only lingered in his mind for a moment before he dismissed it. He really had no way of explaining those two items.

”Dean, what about, uh, me...?”

Zong Yudao stared on from the side, his eyes wide with anticipation.

That’s how it always happened in the TV shows: the reclusive master would bestow gifts upon the younger generation. His classmate had gotten something good; he couldn’t just leave empty-handed.

”You’re only in the Qi Refining Realm. We’ll talk after you reach Core Formation.”

Gu Yuan waved his hand. Zong Yudao wanted to say more, but his vision blurred, and he found himself already expelled from the small grove.

Chen Che looked up, but there was no longer any trace of the Dean.

Zong Yudao, not giving up, returned and circled the tree twice before finally leaving in resignation.

’So, his luck arrived, but his strength was insufficient to grasp the opportunity?’

Chen Che stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Having witnessed it firsthand again, his understanding deepened. The Dean was clearly more interested in Zong Yudao. But because Zong Yudao was only at the Qi Refining Realm, the Dean couldn’t even be bothered to say an extra word to him.

What a pity. He, on the other hand, had many questions he wanted to ask.

...

Afterward, Chen Che went to see Li Tingyu again.

Li Tingyu explained that the Dean was elusive like a Divine Dragon, showing his head but never his tail. As the highest authority in the Immortal Sect, he didn’t need to report his whereabouts to anyone. Sometimes he would be on the Earth Element Star, other times he would be off exploring interstellar space.

He was basically a hands-off Shopkeeper. If things ever reached the point where they absolutely had to contact the Dean, it would probably mean the entire Immortal Sect was facing a moment of life and death.

”Zong Yudao’s luck really is something else...”

Chen Che couldn’t help but sigh.

However, that luck of his was fickle. Zong Yudao came running back the next day, but this time, he didn’t get to see the Dean.

In the blink of an eye, another ten-odd days passed, and the winter break was approaching.

「On this day.」

Chen Che was cultivating in the valley when he suddenly felt a stir in his heart. His figure moved like the wind, and in an instant, he arrived before the Locust Tree Forest. At that moment, a bird about the size of a sparrow was perched on the Earth Store Profound Tree, stretching its claws and vigorously flapping its wings.

”Master!”

Seeing Chen Che appear, the Little Chick immediately flapped its wings.

”When did you form your Core?”

Chen Che glanced at the Xuan Peng in astonishment, unable to hold back his delighted question.

He knew the Little Chick would reach Core Formation around this time, but he hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

”I formed my Core three days ago in Ze State, after I ate a few Silver Moon Wolves...”

After advancing, the Xuan Peng’s appearance hadn’t changed much, except for its feathers. Compared to their previous metallic texture, they had now become fluffy, giving off a sense of returning to a natural, primal state. Yet, between the feathers, a light like that of the stars shimmered.

”What Divine Abilities did you awaken?”

Chen Che asked eagerly.

This was what he was most concerned about.