Celestial Feather Sect’s secret vault,

Wang Erniu looked at the vortex before him, seemingly illusory yet nearly overflowing with dense Void Power, and couldn’t help but be shocked.

"Big brother... this... is this a teleportation vortex that can take us away from the Eastern Wilderness?"

"Half right!" Zhou Xun smiled faintly.

It was then that Wang Erniu understood why Zhou Xun took the position of the Grand Elder of the Celestial Feather Sect.

With such a passage, it had to be kept under strict watch; only by placing it directly under his nose would it be safest.

Zhou Xun took out two Teleportation Talismans and activated one of them. He affixed it to his body.

Wang Erniu followed suit,

"Come, I’ll take you out."

Saying so, he leapt toward the vortex, and Wang Erniu followed suit!

In just a moment, the two appeared in the Celestial Profound Secret Realm, and then Zhou Xun led Wang Erniu to the exit corresponding to the Land of the South Sea.

Then, the two rushed towards the direction of the Celestial Talisman Sect,

In the sky, looking at the boundless sea in front of him, with waves rolling endlessly, Wang Erniu couldn’t help but feel a rush of exhilaration.

Suddenly, he closed his eyes, sitting cross-legged in mid-air, Spiritual Light emanating from within, Sword Qi dancing chaotically around his body!

At the same time, a Pill Bottle flew out from the Storage Bag at his waist, an Elixir emerging from within and flying into Wang Erniu’s mouth.

"Crystal Condensing Pill!"

"Not good, he’s about to break through!"

"This isn’t a Spirit Vein Land!" Zhou Xun felt a bit anxious, as insufficient Spiritual Qi could easily lead to failure in breaking through.

Yet, at this moment, he was unable to awaken Wang Erniu and halt his breakthrough!

In fact, Zhou Xun didn’t know that the breakthrough process of a Sword Cultivator differs from that of a Dharma Cultivator; for them, advancing in Sword Intent is more crucial,

and they don’t require as much Spiritual Qi as Dharma Cultivators do.

Watching Wang Erniu’s increasing momentum, Zhou Xun knew that he intended to break through directly here!

"So be it, since you’ve made your decision, give it a try!"

Zhou Xun murmured, patting his waist, a flash of light transforming into an eight-foot-long wooden box.

Throwing it into the air, the lid opened automatically, revealing the Array Plate and Array Flags inside,

it was none other than Zhou Xun’s Tier Three Middle-Grade Array — the Ice and Fire Cloud Array.

Because this was the highest-tier Array Zhou Xun had with the Spirit Gathering Transformation ability.

With a flick of a finger,

dozens of Array Flags and the Array Plate were set up according to the array’s positions, enveloping Wang Erniu.

Zhou Xun held the Manipulation Command Flag, slowly injecting Mana, and then pointed at the array.

"Swoosh!"

Instantly, the Spiritual Qi within a range of tens of miles was all drawn in, gradually converging with Wang Erniu at the center.

At the same time, Zhou Xun patted his waist, hundreds of High-Grade Spirit Stones flew out.

"Go!"

Zhou Xun formed a spell with his hands, striking these Spirit Stones into the array!

"Boom!"

All the Spirit Stones exploded in an instant, releasing waves of pure Spiritual Qi, temporarily raising the Spiritual Energy Concentration within the array to the Tier Two Top-Grade level.

"Next, it’s just a matter of waiting!"

Zhou Xun sat cross-legged beside the array, protecting Wang Erniu.

...

Three days quickly passed,

above Wang Erniu’s head, an illusory Sword Shadow hovered, soaring skyward!

As time went by,

Suddenly—

the sky became overcast, with the naked eye, a massive amount of Spiritual Qi gathered to form a funnel-shaped vortex, pouring continuously with Wang Erniu at the center!

At the same time, a powerful Spiritual Pressure emerged, causing nearby fish and shrimp to flee!

"Three days have passed, according to Dharma Cultivator’s experience, three days means successful Core Formation!"

Seeing the astonishing phenomena in the distance, Zhou Xun displayed a gratified expression.

With Wang Erniu’s identity as a Sword Cultivator, once successfully forging his Core, his strength would immediately rival that of an ordinary Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivator.

Even for him now, it would be a considerable boost.

The fourth day, the phenomena persisted.

The fifth day,

The sixth day,

All the way until the eighth day,

the illusory Sword Shadow above Wang Erniu’s head suddenly transformed, abruptly quaking, the sword tip emitting streaks of golden light,

with clouds and mist rising around. Finally, the sword trembled fiercely, a powerful Sword Qi swept in all directions, dispersing all the clouds and Spiritual Qi.

Thus, all phenomena slowly vanished!

Below, Wang Erniu slowly opened his eyes, a flash of Sword Light flicked past his pupils.

In his Dantian, a small golden sword hovered, with Dao rhythm flowing around it.

Seeing this, Zhou Xun waved his hand, retrieving the array.

Wang Erniu stood up, flew to Zhou Xun’s side, bowed deeply to the ground, and gave a grand salute.

"Thank you, big brother!"

Though he had been in a state of enlightenment break through earlier, he had perceived everything happening externally.

Therefore, all that Zhou Xun did, he saw with his own eyes.

"We are brothers, no need for such formality!"

Zhou Xun waved his hand, then curiously asked:

"Eight days into Core Formation, and you have already achieved the Immortal Golden Core?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Erniu scratched the back of his head and nodded with a simple smile,

"Good!"

Zhou Xun clapped his hands in great admiration!

"An Immortal Golden Core, it’s truly a Nascent Soul Seed, it seems we brothers will surely have a foothold in this Cultivation Realm in the future!"

Wang Erniu was the fourth Immortal Golden Core Cultivator he’d seen, unable to contain his delight at the sight,

he suggested:

"As a Sword Cultivator, you’re inherently adept at combat, plus the Immortal Golden Core foundation, I wonder how formidable your power has become,"

"Why not have a duel?"

"Well..."

Looking at Zhou Xun, Wang Erniu hesitated slightly,

"Are you suggesting that you think your elder brother can’t defeat you?" Zhou Xun ’complained’.

"I wouldn’t dare!" Wang Erniu hurriedly waved his hands, momentarily at a loss.

"Come on!" Seeing Wang Erniu like this, Zhou Xun sighed and shook his head.

For some reason, standing before Zhou Xun, Wang Erniu seemed as if he was back at the Pill Treasure Pavilion years ago,

once again becoming that honest young boy.

Zhou Xun performed a gesture spell with his hands, his figure flickered, ascending to several hundred feet in the air.

Wang Erniu immediately followed, hovering opposite Zhou Xun, shaking slightly in the air.

"Make your move!"

"Then, elder brother, be careful!"

Wang Erniu formed a gesture spell with both hands, his Sword Intent burst forth, and a golden longsword shot out instantly,

Then, with a thought, the golden sword unwaveringly stabbed straight toward Zhou Xun.

The speed was astonishing!

"Ding!"

Zhou Xun changed the gesture spell in his hand, the space of several hundred feet transformed entirely into a Spirit Wood Domain,

Then a gigantic wooden shield intercepted the golden sword, blocking it!

Seeing this, Zhou Xun coldly snorted, dissatisfied:

"Attack with full power, or else your elder brother will be angry!"

Indeed, Wang Erniu’s strike, though extremely fast, lacked any force, clearly holding back!

Hearing this, Wang Erniu was flustered, but dared not hold back anymore, with a thought, the Sword Qi erupted instantly,

"Boom!"

The wooden shield was instantly breached, shattered into countless fragments!

"Well done!"

Seeing this, Zhou Xun praised loudly!

The power of that strike had reached the Late-Stage Core Formation level!

Immediately changing the gesture spell, an expanse of green light spread over a range of several thousand feet,

Numerous Spirit Woods grew!

Simultaneously, Wang Erniu felt his Lifebound Flying Sword sinking into some kind of swamp,

its movements becoming several times slower!

At that moment, countless green Sword Lights appeared in the sky, then surged toward Wang Erniu’s Lifebound Flying Sword,

"Ding Ding——"

Emitting numerous crisp sounds!

Simultaneously, layers of green vines began to emerge, enveloping the golden sword!

With a thought, Wang Erniu made the golden sword tremble, countless vines snapped,

However, the next scene left him shocked,

Those vines, after breaking, regrew and continued to wrap around the flying sword!

Gradually, more and more vines covered it, Wang Erniu felt his connection with the flying sword seemed to slightly lag,

He looked at Zhou Xun in surprise,

Previously, he had not underestimated Zhou Xun, but he knew his own strength after the breakthrough,

An ordinary Immortal Golden Core was definitely not his opponent, yet he didn’t expect to be defeated by Zhou Xun,

But soon he was pleased,

"I lost, after all, elder brother is indeed elder brother!"

Zhou Xun laughed heartily, patting Wang Erniu’s shoulder, comforting him:

"With your current strength, you’re no less than those Late-Stage Core Formation cultivators!"

Then he changed the topic,

"What do you plan to do next, return to the Eastern Wilderness with me to cultivate, or stay in the South Sea?"

Wang Erniu thought for a moment, then spoke,

"Elder brother, I want to stay in the South Sea, there are many Demon Beasts here, suitable for my cultivation as a Sword Cultivator focusing on combat!"

"Very well!" Zhou Xun nodded,

"Daoist Wang Lin of the Celestial Talisman Sect is a close friend of mine, his strength is not inferior to mine. If you need help, you can seek him out!"

"Yes, Erniu will remember!"

The two then parted here, Zhou Xun returned to the Eastern Wilderness through the Celestial Profound Secret Realm.

...

In the Celestial Talisman Sect, Zhou Xun was cultivating,

Suddenly, a Sound Transmission Talisman flew in, Zhou Xun gently tapped it, and a voice echoed from it,

"Reporting to the True Man, there is a cultivator outside claiming to be Wang Erniu!"