To completely heal the injuries, one would not know how much time and precious Spirit Medicine it would cost.

Even more troublesome is that Gong Yang not only suffered severe damage to his foundation, but even his lifespan has been drastically reduced.

For cultivators, a stable foundation is essential for a long journey, but now Gong Yang's foundation is on the verge of collapse, like a tall building about to topple.

Even if he exhausts all his efforts to recuperate and heal, the remaining lifespan is likely very little.

The backlash from the failed breakthrough is truly devastating!

Half an hour passed quietly, and with Xu Ping's help in refining the Pill, Gong Yang's bloodless face gradually regained a hint of color.

He struggled to get up, his voice weak: "Th... thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu."

"It's nothing, Fellow Daoist Gong, you focus on healing!" Xu Ping shook his head.

Having said that, he exchanged a glance with Duan Shuang, and then they both left the cave dwelling together.

Outside the cave, Duan Shuang and Xu Ping looked at each other in silence, the atmosphere heavy.

Ultimately, it was Xu Ping who broke the silence; he sighed lightly, raising his head to gaze at the sky, where clouds drifted leisurely:

"The path of cultivation is indeed filled with hardships and risks. Fellow Daoist Gong tried his best in this breakthrough attempt, but... fate plays tricks on us."

Breaking through the Golden Core bottleneck is truly terrifying for any cultivator, except those with a Celestial Spirit Root!

...

...

Four months later.

After escorting Duan Shuang and Gong Yang back to Purple Bamboo Mountain, Xu Ping returned alone to Luoyun Immortal City.

The familiar Xu Ping easily rented a cave dwelling, enjoying the Third-rank Middle Grade Spirit Vein environment.

Since the cultivation of the water lake mouse still needed time to refine, Xu Ping directly rented the place for a year and a half.

Though the rent was over 14,000 Spirit Stones, for Xu Ping, it meant little!

Inside the cave dwelling.

"Master!"

The water lake mouse, with red and blue hues, darted out of the Spirit Pet Bag, eyes sparkling, its face fawning.

"Hmm."

Xu Ping nodded slightly, then seriously instructed, "Stay here and cultivate diligently, hone your cultivation, and I will fully support you in breaking through to the third stage!"

"Understood." The water lake mouse nodded obediently.

It naturally understood that breaking through to the third stage was no trivial matter, and it was necessary to thoroughly hone its cultivation, solidify its foundation, and maximize its success rate.

After a few more instructions to the water lake mouse, Xu Ping left the cave dwelling and headed to the commercial district of Luoyun Immortal City.

Originally, he thought he had prepared enough for the water lake mouse's breakthrough to the third stage.

But after witnessing Gong Yang's failed Golden Core breakthrough, he realized it was still lacking.

He must ensure everything is foolproof.

In the days that followed, Xu Ping devoted himself to preparing for the water lake mouse's third-stage breakthrough.

He gathered various Pills and auxiliary Spiritual Objects for the water lake mouse, striving to increase the success rate.

In the abundant resources of Luoyun Immortal City, Xu Ping smoothly gathered everything needed.

...

....

Half a year later.

In Xu Ping's rented cave dwelling, the atmosphere was tranquil yet tense.

Spirit Crystals emitting a soft glow were embedded in the surrounding walls, illuminating the entire cave dwelling.

The floor was paved with smooth bluestone, and the stone bed was firmly placed at the center of the cave.

"Let's begin!"

After everything was prepared, Xu Ping said calmly.

At that moment, Xu Ping was dressed in a light blue long robe, a black silk belt around his waist, his expression stern yet filled with concern.

For this breakthrough of the water lake mouse, he had expended countless efforts, collecting various rare Pills and auxiliary Spiritual Objects, meticulously preparing for a long time.

Upon hearing this, the water lake mouse, seated on the stone bed, glanced at its master and then closed its eyes in assurance, beginning to slowly channel the bloodline and Demonic Power within.

The water lake mouse knew the importance and danger of this breakthrough, thus exerted all its effort, not daring to relax in the slightest.

Xu Ping sat quietly several yards behind the water lake mouse, personally protecting it.

He held himself upright, hands naturally resting on his knees, his gaze fixed on the water lake mouse.

The surrounding Spiritual Qi seemed to feel the tense atmosphere, beginning to ripple slightly.

Half a day later, the water lake mouse gradually stabilized into its best state, its spirit, energy, and essence climbed to unprecedented peaks.

At that moment, its body seemed to transform into a massive vortex, continuously absorbing the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

Originally quiet, the Spiritual Qi inside the cave became turbulent, like stirred water, surging incessantly.

Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was drawn and started to converge in large quantities.

In the surrounding area, dark clouds loomed, and Evil Qi coalesced.

A strong demonic aura pervaded, quickly filling the entire cave and spreading to the surroundings, causing nearby cultivators to sense the anomaly.

"Someone's breaking through to the Golden Core again?"

Nearby cultivators once again halted, instinctively looking up to the sky, their eyes full of surprise and doubts.

"No, it's not a cultivator!"

An experienced old cultivator furrowed his brows, squinted slightly, carefully sensing the pervasive aura, then loudly declared.

Having weathered many trials in the Cultivation Realm, he possessed extraordinary sensitivity to distinguish between cultivators and Demon Beasts, able to discern differences from just a trace of aura.

"It's a Second-stage Demon Beast breaking through to the third stage!!"

Another young cultivator reacted swiftly, a look of extreme shock appearing on his face.

Within Luoyun Immortal City, while a cultivator breaking through to the Golden Core is not exceptionally rare, a Demon Beast breaking through to the third stage is extremely uncommon.

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