"Alright, my dear. Go into seclusion now. I’ll stand guard for you."

Ling Changqing said to Tang Qiu Yao.

"Of course, my husband."

Tang Qiu Yao replied in a soft voice, reverently putting away the Jade Box before walking into the Cultivation Chamber as the other women watched.

Ling Qiyue spoke up. "You can all go about your business for now. My husband and I will keep watch here.

I estimate Qiu Yao’s seclusion will take a month or two. If all goes well, the Ling Family will have another Golden Core Master!"

Ling Bingyun and the other women agreed, then rose and took their leave.

「One month later.」

A massive Spiritual Energy Vortex quietly formed in the sky above the Cave Mansion Hall, its diameter exceeding a mile.

And as time went on, the Spiritual Energy Vortex continued to expand.

Such a massive disturbance immediately drew the attention of many in the surrounding area.

"...Is someone from the Ling Family attempting to reach the Core Formation Realm again?"

"That must be it. Look how stable the Spiritual Energy Vortex is. Their Dao Foundation must be incredibly solid, and their accumulated power is immense!"

"Then they should at least be able to reach the Middle grade True Pill Realm, right? It seems the power of the Ling Family of Changqing Continent is about to grow once more!"

"The Ling Family’s fortune in recent years has been truly extraordinary. If this person succeeds, they will have three Core Formation Cultivators in their ranks!"

From near and far, especially from within the Marketplace, countless gazes filled with envy, jealousy, worry, or outright hostility turned in this direction.

Above the Cave Mansion Hall, the Spiritual Energy Vortex continued to expand, faintly shimmering with a five-colored radiance as auspicious energy billowed forth.

Ling Qiyue had already placed the family headquarters on high alert and activated the Protective Array to prevent any mishaps.

After all, stories of cultivators being maliciously sabotaged by opportunistic enemies at the critical moment of a breakthrough were all too common.

「Several days later.」

The radiant, five-colored Spiritual Energy Vortex had gradually expanded to a diameter of over three miles, yet it showed no signs of instability.

"...Unbelievable. This is the sign of an Immortal Golden Core. What kind of talent does this person possess to actually be forging a Golden Core Dao Fruit?"

"According to our intel, it’s most likely Elder Tang Qiu Yao, right? I heard she’s been at the Foundation Establishment Peak Realm for several years."

"*Sigh*... If she succeeds, won’t the Ling Family have three Golden Core Masters?"

"It’s not that big of a deal. The Cangyu Islands have a full thirteen Core Formation Cultivators, and more than half of them are Golden Core Powerhouses. There’s no need to be wary of the Lings..."

"True. That bit of strength is nothing special. At most, it just gives them the power to protect themselves..."

Ever since the unification of the Feiyu Sea Region, the Marketplace had, to varying degrees, been infiltrated by spies and informants from external powers.

They weren’t necessarily there to cause trouble; their primary mission was to secretly monitor the movements of the Ling Family’s leadership, procure special local resources as needed, and pass information back to their respective factions.

...

Of course, the fervent discussions of the outside world had no effect on those inside the Cave Mansion Hall.

Ling Changqing, along with Ling Yuzhu, Qin Yun, Ling Bingyun, and Ling Yulu, had all gathered outside the Cultivation Chamber, waiting patiently.

After several days and nights, a faint, ethereal resonance of the Great Dao began to echo on the level of their Divine Souls. The hazy glow within the Spiritual Energy Vortex grew brilliant, becoming dazzlingly beautiful.

"She did it!"

Ling Qiyue, who had been watching with a tense expression, let out a soft breath of relief and murmured.

As someone who had experienced this herself, she knew that Tang Qiu Yao had passed the most dangerous part of the ordeal. She had achieved the Golden Core Dao Fruit, a feat that countless lesser Cultivators could only dream of.