A new Golden Core cultivator? So soon?

Han Yu was surprised, but a theory quickly took shape in his mind.

Elder Lu, Senior Sister Li’s master, had previously spoken of nurturing new Golden Core cultivators and freeing the sect from external threats within a few decades. Han Yu now suspected the Elder hadn’t been speaking hypothetically. Wanchun Valley was likely emptying its treasury, pouring centuries of accumulated resources into a desperate gamble to create not just one, but multiple Golden Core powerhouses.

With three or four Golden Core experts, the sect could crush any crisis.

The vortex of spiritual energy hung in the sky, spinning silently for half a day.

At the Spirit Field Department, the Laborer Disciples initially panicked, fearing the drain on Qi would ruin the Green Grain Spirit Rice harvest. But as word spread that a new Golden Core was being forged, panic turned to awe. All eyes fixed on the main peak.

Finally, the vortex collapsed. The massive funnel of Qi surged downward, disappearing into the mountain.

In that instant, a terrifyingly powerful aura swept outward. Every disciple in Wanchun Valley, from the humblest laborer to the highest deacon, felt it in their bones: a new Golden Core existence had been born.

The Qi that had been sucked away exploded back outward like a tidal wave, washing over every corner of the valley. The spiritual density was now even richer than before, revitalizing the land.

At the mountain gate, the massive Ancestral Tree shook its ancient branches. Its leaves rustled in a thunderous rhythm, sounding like applause echoing through the valley in celebration.

A moment later, the Sect Leader’s voice, thick with joy, boomed across the sect: “Congratulations to Elder Yan for stepping into the Golden Core realm!”

The confirmation ignited a roar of celebration. From every peak and valley, disciples shouted in unison: “Congratulations to Elder Yan!”

Slowly, Elder Yan’s overwhelming aura receded. The main peak’s formation reactivated, and the Guardian Formation returned to its normal state.

Senior Sister Li, Hua Qi, and Han Yu descended from the sky. Disciples working in the fields rushed over, beaming.

“This is wonderful! Our sect has another Golden Core cultivator!”

Senior Sister Li and Hua Qi couldn’t hide their relief. With the Qi returned and the harvest safe, plus a new powerhouse to defend them, the mood among the Laborer Disciples shifted from anxiety to jubilation.

Wanchun Valley was secure. They could cultivate in peace.

As the crowd dispersed, Pig Third, who had been laughing along with everyone else, sidled up to the trio. He scratched his head, looking puzzled.

“Senior Brother Han, Senior Sister Li… there’s something I don’t get,” he said. “If the sect could push Elder Yan to the Golden Core realm in just a year, why didn’t they do it sooner?”

Senior Sister Li shot him a cold look. “If you spent half as much energy on cultivation as you do on nonsense, you wouldn’t ask such a childish question.”

“From Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, and from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core—these are life-and-death hurdles,” she lectured. “Every breakthrough is a gamble with fate. Even with ten times the resources, no one can guarantee success. It requires immense luck and courage.”

“Elder Yan’s smooth breakthrough makes it look easy to you. You think the sect just needed to spend money. You don’t realize this was a high-stakes gamble with the sect’s entire future on the line.”

“If Elder Yan had failed? If he had been stuck for fifty years, or died in the attempt? The sect would have lost everything.”

“And during the crisis,” she continued, “the Elders were trying to break through. But we couldn’t bet our survival on a hope that might never materialize. If they hadn’t broken through, would we all just sit here and wait to die?”

Pig Third looked chastened. Even Han Yu and Hua Qi nodded, the reality of the situation sinking in.

Previously, with three sects targeting them, the Elders had to divide their focus between cultivation and defense. Pinning everything on a breakthrough back then would have been suicide.

The day after Elder Yan’s breakthrough, Wanchun Valley announced a sect-wide celebration. Every disciple was granted a free opportunity to learn one Qi Refining spell from a selected list, including the Flame Technique, Ice Condensation Technique, Earth Control Technique, and Wind Blade Technique.

The disciples were ecstatic. A free spell meant saving precious merits and resources, a generous gift that deepened their loyalty. It was a smart move by the sect: boost morale and combat readiness in one stroke.

The selection was limited, so Han Yu didn’t have many options. He chose the Light Body Technique.

Upon mastering it, he felt his body become almost weightless.

When combined with the Wind Control Technique at full power, he still couldn’t fly, but his ground speed became explosive—rivaling the speed of his Plantain Leaf artifact.

Han Yu calculated silently: If I add the Bloodlust Technique and Blood Escape Technique to this speed, and layer it with the Thousand Illusions Secret Art… even if I face a stronger enemy, I might actually have a chance to escape.

However, there was one downside to the sect’s generosity. Now that every disciple had mastered at least one offensive spell, his large crow was out of a job.

The Laborer Disciples politely informed him that they no longer needed the bird to hunt pests. They could handle the Spirit-Stealing Rats themselves.

“Caw!”

The large crow landed on Han Yu’s shoulder, radiating dissatisfaction.

Hua Qi chuckled. “Junior Brother Han, your spirit beast is clearly unhappy about missing its rat feast.”

The crow fixed one dark eye on Hua Qi and cawed again.

Nonsense. My master feeds me well. I wanted those rats for my subordinates.

If my minions can’t get stronger, they can’t serve the master properly. That is why I am annoyed.

“It’s fine,” Han Yu said, smoothing the bird’s feathers. “I’ll find some spirit-infused food to help it reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining soon.”

Hua Qi nodded. “If it breaks through, your combat power will soar. Few Outer Disciples will be able to match you.”

He laughed again. “Your bird just missed the golden age! Back when Senior Brother Wang Hui was Steward, the valley was so lax. Rats ran rampant during harvest, and no one cared beyond chasing them off. That spy Zhang Shan even bred them!”

“If it were back then, your crow could have eaten like a king, and the disciples would have worshipped you for it.”

Han Yu chuckled. “Senior Brother Hua… I lived through those days too. The old Wanchun Valley was indeed… relaxed.”

“True. Luckily, things have changed,” Hua Qi agreed. “Everyone is working hard now.”

That night, Han Yu used his ability to replicate two Mystic Heart Fruits. He fed one to the large crow and one to the small crow.

As he expected, both birds were teetering on the edge of a breakthrough. They just needed a final push.

After consuming the fruits, the crows curled up on the floor, entering a deep meditative state.

Sometime past midnight, they awoke.

Their feathers remained ink-black, but they now possessed a toughness equivalent to an early-stage Qi Refining defensive artifact. Their beaks and talons had sharpened, gaining the lethality of offensive artifacts.

Their dark golden eyes were unchanged, save for a new detail: a ring of shimmering gold now circled their eye sockets, as if painted with gold dust.

Han Yu tested their new abilities.

The small crow’s upgrade was straightforward: it could now fire a rapid burst of three Wind Blades instantly. Its attack power had jumped a tier.

The large crow, however, was a cut above.

It could unleash four Wind Blades in a single breath. More importantly, its control over the crow flock had become fluid and instinctual, and its telepathic connection with Han Yu had extended significantly in range.