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Chu Xuan then settled himself down within the formation. He had acquired three thunder python demon cores from Black Chess, and it was an opportune moment to condense his own Golden Core, advancing his cultivation from the Qi Refinement to the Golden Core stage.

Swallowing the three thunder python demon cores, Chu Xuan immediately began compressing the Spiritual Qi within his body.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators search high and low for thunder python demon cores, yet I easily obtained them from Golden Core cultivators at a Hidden Mountain Gathering. Indeed, the circles one moves in can make a significant difference in what one acquires." Chu Xuan smiled lightly.

He then calmed his mind and began compressing his Spiritual Qi according to the "Thunder Python Core Condensation Technique."

Each demon core had its intricacies, and the method of condensing a core varied with different types of demonic beasts. There were no shortcuts in the process of compressing Spiritual Qi; it was a slow and steady effort.

After eight months of repeatedly emptying and refilling his Spiritual Qi, Chu Xuan felt an expanding sensation within the demon core, signaling that it was almost time to condense the Golden Core. Another eight months passed.

Chu Xuan\'s aura surged wildly as the demon core continued to rotate, collapse, and harden.

At a certain moment, the thunder python demon core finally collapsed into a smooth, round Golden Core, surrounded by crackling thunder, with the pattern of a coiled python etched on its surface. This was the mark of a Beast Golden Core.

The moment the Golden Core was formed, Chu Xuan opened his eyes, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"With a Golden Core swallowed, from now on, my fate is in my own hands!" He chuckled to himself, feeling that such old sayings were somewhat pretentious. After all, he could now easily burst a mere Golden Core with a single punch.

Chu Xuan stood up, looking towards the center of the formation where Hu was enveloped in a large, dark purple cocoon. There were no signs of the cocoon breaking open.

Just as Chu Xuan was about to leave, he heard a faint crackling sound from the surface of the cocoon. His expression brightened, "It seems we\'re also nearing the final stage."

Chu Xuan decided to sit down beside the formation, studying the "Venom Scripture" while waiting. He discovered that although his talent in the path of alchemy was mediocre, he excelled in the art of poison.

His storage bag now contained six types of poisons capable of killing Golden Core cultivators—three with color, two with smell, and the strongest being colorless and odorless, a truly formidable poison.

However, Chu Xuan suddenly had a new inspiration. He thought of designing a poison that could latch onto an opponent\'s Spiritual Qi during combat. Once the enemy retracted their Spiritual Qi, the poison would enter directly into their Golden Core, attacking it from within!

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Several days passed, and the cracks on the surface of the dark purple cocoon multiplied, spreading like a spider web.

Finally, on the tenth day, under Chu Xuan\'s expectant gaze, the cocoon shattered piece by piece.

A figure, far more robust and imposing than before, emerged from the remains of the cocoon. Hu now stood nearly five meters tall, his body covered in dense bone armor that could expand and contract at will.

His arms and legs were muscular, bulging like rocks, and Chu Xuan had no doubt about the immense strength flowing through them—enough to crush a Golden Core on the spot!

"Master!" Hu called out excitedly.

Chu Xuan laughed heartily, "Come on, hit me with a few punches! Let\'s see whether my thirty layers of body refining are stronger, or your new rank as a first-level Corpse Commander!"

Hu immediately slid to his knees, "Hu dares not attack the master, but without a doubt, the master\'s strength is greater."

Chu Xuan cocked his head, "You won\'t hit me? Then I\'ll hit you."

At that, Hu charged forward with a punch, "Master, here I come!"

Pound, pound, pound!

The sound of fists hitting flesh echoed throughout the formation, like thunder. Laughter followed soon after.

A man and a corpse, they fought vigorously, reveling in the combat. The wandering souls around them dared not approach, fearing they might be caught up in the fray.

...

Several days later, at Black Dragon Mountain.

"An inter-sect disciple competition? No, I won\'t go," Chu Xuan said, shaking his head upon hearing the reports from Song Junjie and Qian Tang.

The Hundred Refinements Sect had thirty-five Golden Core cultivators. Aside from two who were in closed-door cultivation and did not accept disciples, the other thirty-three had established their own sub-sects.

The inter-sect disciple competition was intended to rank the Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples among these thirty-three sub-sects. A victory for his disciples would reflect well on him as their master, but Chu Xuan was indifferent to such recognition.

Back when he was part of the Heavenly Seal Sect, there had been similar competitions, and Chu Xuan had never participated. Now, even though he was considered a peer of Wan Wuying, his feelings hadn\'t changed.

Qian Tang, looking deferential, added, "Master... the top ten disciples in both Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining not only receive personal rewards, their masters also receive substantial contributions rewards..."

Chu Xuan, appearing benevolent, responded, "Then go ahead. You\'ve all been practicing diligently; it\'s a good opportunity to test your skills."

"Don\'t disgrace me," he added offhandedly.

The contributions were inconsequential to him. His primary interest was in seeing the disciples of Black Dragon Mountain perform well and make a name for themselves. Hmm, that\'s it.

"Master, will you be attending?" Qian Tang asked quietly.

Chu Xuan shook his head. "I won\'t go; it would only add pressure on you."

Song Junjie and Qian Tang muttered under their breaths, acknowledging that even Chu Xuan was aware of the pressure his presence could cause. They nodded vigorously, "We understand!"

...

The competition lasted for ten days. The other thirty-two sub-sects were left somewhat shocked by the performance of the Black Dragon Mountain disciples.

In the Foundation Establishment category, Black Dragon Mountain secured four of the top ten spots. In the Qi Refining category, they claimed three.

This inter-sect competition saw the long-established sub-sects overshadowed, with only Black Dragon Mountain shining bright like a dark, polished stallion—so dazzling that it left others unable to open their eyes.

Chu Xuan watched as his elder token\'s contributions surged, grinning from ear to ear.

The cultivators from Black Dragon Mountain had been training hard under his encouragement, rapidly advancing their realms and earning him a lot of contributions.

Now, with such outstanding results, he felt even more gratified. Indeed, he was a good master.

...

Original Dao Peak.

This was where the Hundred Refinements Sect\'s scripture pavilion was located. After the competition ended, Chu Xuan made his way there immediately.

Having achieved Golden Core status, he needed to continue his practice with Golden Core stage techniques. His late master had only had time to impart the core condensation technique and not any Golden Core stage methods, so now he had to exchange for them himself.

The scripture pavilion was a nine-story pagoda. In front of it was a vast square, bustling with disciples coming and going.

Chu Xuan flew down to the square using his Imperial Sky Mirror. His elder token, hanging at his waist, clearly identified his status. As he passed, disciples bowed in respect. However, once he was far enough away, they began to whisper among themselves.