Mortal Alchemy

Zuo Yinghong left. Chen Ping bid farewell to an old friend of many years, unsure if he would ever have the chance to see her again in this lifetime.

But how could someone so devoted to the Dao be sentimental?

Thus, the responsibility of managing the Floating Light Market fell upon Meng Huang'er.

Chen Ping then summoned Fang Xing and Luo Chongzhi.

"Senior Brother Chen!"

"Senior Brother!"

Chen Ping nodded slightly: "You're here. Please, sit."

They sat down and drank tea.

Chen Ping began, "Fellow Daoist Zuo has left. From now on, Huang'er will be in charge of the Floating Light Market. You all know her, so there's no need for lengthy introductions."

"Junior Brother Fang, how has the Shattered Star Market been these past few years?"

Fang Xing replied with a smile, "Very well."

"The Shattered Star Market is remote, and we have been cautious in our dealings. Over the years, we haven't let any information leak out."

"Senior Brother, we couldn't contact you these past few years, so we took the liberty of converting your share entirely into Violet Qi Essence."

Fang Xing produced four bottles of Violet Qi Essence, causing Chen Ping's eyes to light up: "Excellent. This saves me a lot of time."

Chen Ping had little use for ordinary resources, but he still needed Enlightenment Pills.

He was eagerly anticipating mastering Sword Steel Solidification, and this time he might have the chance to fully comprehend it, allowing his combat power to rise to another level. Even Bai Jianjia, a Golden Core True Person, had not yet comprehended Sword Steel Solidification.

After entering the Golden Core realm, comprehending the Sword Dao seemed even more difficult.

After chatting for a while, the others dispersed, and Chen Ping announced to the public that he would continue his seclusion.

In reality, he went to the Heavenly Venerate Sect's inheritance site within Mount Dongyue.

"Swish, swish!"

Standing outside the steps before the massive ancient tree, Chen Ping's eyes were firm: "Last time, my strength improvement wasn't significant enough. This time, I am already a Third-Order Body Refiner. Can I go even further?"

Before heading to Zhang Dingfeng's island, Chen Ping was definitely going to come to the Heavenly Venerate Sect to fleece it.

What if he received an epiphany of Sword Dao experience? That would save him several bottles of Enlightenment Pills, allowing Chen Ping to continue comprehending more Sword Dao techniques and increase his combat power.

Chen Ping adjusted his condition.

Holding the Aurora Sword in his hand.

Then, he stepped onto the assessment steps.

He easily crossed the first, second, and third steps.

This was without a doubt.

Bearing multiple layers of pressure, Chen Ping suddenly stepped onto the fourth step.

"Rumble!"

The moment he stabilized himself, golden lightning, akin to heavenly tribulation lightning, pounced towards Chen Ping.

Chen Ping's expression turned solemn, and he immediately used Sword Qi Embodiment to parry and resist.

"Bang, bang, bang—"

One after another, bolts of lightning erupted from the branches of the ancient tree, striking Chen Ping's body.

Even with the protection of Sword Qi scales, the remaining lightning force still left Chen Ping numb and in extreme pain.

"What kind of lightning is this? It's even more torturous than the lightning from a Body Refiner's heavenly tribulation!"

The lightning nearly caused Chen Ping to lose control over his physical body and spiritual power.

"Whoosh—"

Chen Ping finally couldn't hold on and flew backward.

Chen Ping looked regretful: "I wanted to go further and step onto the fifth step."

In the past, Chen Ping had always advanced one step at a time. This time, having advanced to a Third-Order Body Refiner, he wanted to cross two steps at once. Perhaps the reward would be better?

The Artifact Spirit's indifferent and emotionless voice sounded:

"Superior aptitude, qualified to be a True Disciple..."

"Reward..."

Chen Ping didn't pay attention to what the Artifact Spirit was saying, because he saw a golden leaf actively fall from a branch and fly towards him.

Chen Ping's body trembled, and his heart filled with joy:

"It dropped!!!"

After so many years, he had farmed it several times, and he finally received the 'Leaf of Sword Dao Comprehension' reward!

Chen Ping took a deep breath:

"My luck is really turning around!"

Chen Ping placed the golden leaf against his brow.

"Rumble!!!"

Experiences related to the Sword Dao intent suddenly poured into Chen Ping's spiritual platform and soul like a surging river.

The Sword Steel Solidification intent that had plagued him for many years was finally successfully comprehended at this moment!

Chen Ping sat cross-legged, carefully comprehending the details of Sword Steel Solidification.

"So that's how it is. This Sword Steel Solidification is actually so complex."

The Sword Qi that Chen Ping had used before was simply half-baked.

The true Sword Steel Solidification was much more powerful than the Sword Qi he had used.

To put it simply, if Luo Daoliu appeared again, Chen Ping's Sword Steel Solidification Sword Qi would be enough to burn him to ashes.

This Sword Steel Solidification ultimately belonged to the power of the Third Order.

The two extreme states of Sword Qi that he had comprehended before were only at the entry level.

The power of Sword Steel Solidification lay in the cooperation of Sword Qi, spiritual power, and divine soul.

Chen Ping had cleverly and barely comprehended the method of using Sword Qi fused with his body and Sword Manifestation to unleash Sword Energy.

Sword Qi crystallization, spiritual power crystallization, a point of divine soul, submerged into the spiritual power Sword Crystal.

Then, using his divine soul within the Sword Crystal to divide the Sword Qi into two, transforming it into two extreme Sword Qis, and finally into Undying Sword Energy!

Thus, Sword Steel Solidification could be released from his hand. As long as Chen Ping's mind did not dissipate, the Sword Energy would not dissipate!

Chen Ping continued to comprehend and feel, while using the Aurora Sword to condense a Sword Crystal within the sword's body.

Chen Ping was not yet a Golden Core cultivator and could not create true crystallization.

However, the Aurora Sword had a Sword Spirit, so Chen Ping could take a shortcut, condensing a Sword Crystal, allowing him to fully master Sword Steel Solidification and exert the corresponding combat power.

Chen Ping submerged a point of his divine soul into the Sword Crystal, carefully experiencing the power of Sword Steel Solidification. Because of the epiphany, he had not yet mastered this power proficiently.

Ten and a half days later, Chen Ping was already able to proficiently and freely use Sword Steel Solidification.

With a slash of his sword, Sword Energy, like ink-killing heavenly fire, surged out, and the contained violent power was shocking.

"Sword Steel Solidification allows me to fight a few moves against Golden Core True Persons."

This belonged to the power of the Third Order, which meant that Chen Ping could master the corresponding power in advance through Sword Dao intent.

This kind of power far exceeded the power of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Chen Ping was in a great mood.

In this way, Chen Ping could save several bottles of Enlightenment Pills.

"Divine Soul Leaving Spirit, I must not forget this when I advance to Golden Core."

Chen Ping left seclusion, gave Meng Huang'er some instructions, and then drove the White Jade Flying Boat alone towards Haoyu Sea.

Now that Chen Ping had several spirit pets, he didn't have to personally control the White Jade Flying Boat.

"I need to plan for the future, leaving Little White and Little Tiger in Haoyu Sea. They can gather demon beasts for me and put them to my use."

"When the time comes to subdue the major Golden Core forces in Haoyu Sea, my assistance will be even stronger."

Chen Ping had obtained almost all the resources for his Foundation Establishment path. He needed to consider and plan for the future, and think about how to obtain Golden Core resources.

The four major sects in the Eastern Region's cultivation world were relatively barren, and the few Third-Order resources within the sects were strictly controlled.

In the future, after entering the Golden Core realm, even if he knew about the spiritual vein planting spiritual herbs, Chen Ping would have to first obtain some Third-Order spiritual plants.

Planning ahead would prevent him from facing the embarrassing situation of having no resources available in the future.

Arriving at Zhang Dingfeng's island, the Golden Eagle was here, which meant that Chen Ping had three Second-Order spirit pets and one Third-Order spirit pet.

Coming to the underground medicine garden, Chen Ping's eyes flashed with brilliance:

"It's time to start seclusion..."