In the following period, Li An appeared quite disheartened, often sighing with a heavy heart.

He no longer sought out Luo Yong, and apart from going out to procure array materials and sell them, he rarely ventured outside.

He even sold the incomplete Second Grade alchemy inheritance in his possession, clearly feeling dejected.

Initially, Luo Yong kept an eye on Li An, seemingly wanting to monitor if he had any other unusual movements.

But half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and Li An seemed to have accepted his fate with no anomalies; he even sold his alchemy inheritance, and Luo Yong gradually lost interest.

During this half year, aside from his usual cultivation and array crafting, Li An also paid attention to the happenings around White Tiger Mountain, trying to gather all sorts of information.

Through Manman, he received a small rumor:

The White Tiger Master of White Tiger Mountain might be preparing to transform their Core Formation method!

The movement in White Tiger Mountain was huge; over ten disciples were gathering soul nourishing secret medicines and other materials, so it couldn't be concealed. This rumor spread in a small circle, creating quite the buzz.

Li An, initially shocked upon hearing the news.

According to outside rumors, the White Tiger Master, an eminent loose cultivator, had the cultivation of a "True Core."

In Core Formation, typically three types can be formed: Golden Core, True Core, and Fake Pill.

Undoubtedly, the Golden Core is the strongest, almost considered as a precursor to the Nascent Soul, and such a person has immeasurable potential!

Only those with a strong spirit root and solid foundation, the geniuses, have the possibility of forming a Golden Core.

The True Core is the next best, with the hope of advancing to Nascent Soul. True Core cultivators can also be called masters — Li An was a True Core cultivator in his past life.

As for the Fake Pill, it can be considered inferior, possessing only forty percent of a True Core cultivator's power, and never able to reach Nascent Soul in this life.

Similarly, in the Core Formation realm, there is no further potential for development for a Fake Pill, while a True Core has the chance to evolve into a Golden Core.

Li An knew of quite a few such methods.

For instance, suffering from a celestial tribulation — if aided by a grand Tribulation Crossing Stage power, one could bring forth a heavenly lightning to refine the True Core, giving a slight chance of transforming it into a Golden Core.

Another method could involve the aid of Earth Qi, invoking the energy of the great earth to nurture the True Core, allowing it to "develop" and "grow" anew, ultimately metamorphosing into a Golden Core.

Yet another method is the pill snatching technique, directly seizing another's Golden Core and integrating it into one's own body.

...

However, these methods share one common factor:

Extremely high risk, with very low success rates!

Moreover, failure demands a great price.

Thus, few True Core cultivators dare to attempt it. After all, these methods of transformation all require extremely rare resources; heavenly lightning, Earth Qi, and others' Golden Cores are beyond the reach of ordinary True Core cultivators.

"Such audacity..."

Li An couldn't help but marvel that the White Tiger Master, despite being a mere woman, dared to take such risks.

Yet, he could understand that transforming the Core Formation is akin to rebirth and metamorphosis; Golden Core cultivators not only have a greater potential to form a Nascent Soul, but their potential post-Nascent Soul also increases.

The White Tiger Master is betting on a future!

"Numerous soul nourishing materials — a precaution for failure!"

If the transformation of the Core Formation fails, the physical body will be destroyed, and the soul will suffer severe damage.

Thus, various soul nourishing materials must be prepared for consumption after failure.

"Which method did she choose?"

Li An pondered, ultimately thinking that the White Tiger Master most likely chose the method of "nurturing with Earth Qi."

The method involving heavenly lightning demands the assistance of a grand Tribulation Crossing Stage power — within the entire Great Li, no such person has been heard of.

— The strongest cultivation force in Great Li, the imperial family, is merely at the Nascent Soul level. If the White Tiger Master had such a support as a grand Tribulation Crossing Stage power, she wouldn't need to remain in White Tiger City. With just a word, she could become the unrivaled empress of Great Li.

Among all notable Golden Core cultivators, no one has been reported killed for many years, and given the White Tiger Master's cultivation, it's impossible to oppose a Golden Core powerhouse directly.

"Does White Tiger Mountain have an outlet that connects to Earth Qi?"

This is the most likely scenario.

"If indeed utilizing the Earth Qi nurturing method, White Tiger Mountain would certainly array and gather energy to prevent leakage."

In the period that followed, after Luo Yong lost interest in Li An, he ventured out slightly more frequently, often wandering to other areas.

On one hand, he sensed the situation surrounding White Tiger Mountain through the changes in White Tiger City's energy veins. On the other hand, he gathered various information.

"Seventeen disciples guarding a total of eight directions, forming an Eight Trigrams Locking Array."

Through three months of observation, Li An roughly figured out their method of energy gathering.

Yet, this was about as much as he could learn, as the Eight Trigrams Locking Array completely encapsulated White Tiger Mountain, leaving its internal situation unknown to anyone.

"If only I had reached Foundation Establishment, using the 'Qi Observation Skill' would allow me the chance to sense array operations..."

The Qi Observation Skill is a secret technique that Li An has mastered, categorized as a Profound Rank Middle Grade cultivation technique, and only array masters can cultivate it.

As the name implies, array masters can use this skill to explore the movements of Earth's energy veins.

Regarding this matter, Li An hopes the White Tiger Master succeeds.

Should the White Tiger Master form a Golden Core, White Tiger City will rise with the tide. If she then forms a Nascent Soul in the future...

That would make it a towering figure.

However, there is no rush in this matter; preparing to transform the Core Formation method takes at least ten years, if not decades, which is quite normal.

"Wang Dazhu and Chen Qingling are indeed still alive..."

Meanwhile, Li An also discovered news regarding these two.

The two have gotten married, and over the past five years, Wang Dazhu has been diligent in his efforts, with Chen Qingling having given birth to two children consecutively.

Moreover, according to the information Li An received, Chen Qingling is quite virtuous. Aside from the time she accompanied Wang Dazhu to the Treasure Pavilion auction, she also personally visited White Tiger City to buy three "spiritual maidens" for Wang Dazhu as concubines.

There is a strong tendency for expansion and propagation.

"Is he aiming to establish a cultivation clan?"

Such a concept is not unfamiliar to Li An. For a man wanting to build a cultivation clan, women must abound. In his past life, Li An had more than seventy wives and concubines.

His offspring numbered over a hundred!

Li An's heart remained calm, no matter how well the other party developed, it wouldn't affect his mood.

It's just a matter of waiting patiently until both are old and feeble, to take revenge with the full strength of youth — wouldn't that be simple?

"Zhao Xian's Story, Chen Qingling, Wang Dazhu, Xu Qiuhui, Luo Yong..."

He kept all these names in mind.

Just like how he remembered the names Fan Jie and Chen Cheng back then!

...

Although Luo Yong no longer paid attention to Li An, Li An still waited for three more years!

In the fourth year, Li An turned eighty-five years old.

"My cultivation is becoming more stable, it might be time to act..."

That evening, Li An finally sneaked out of his residence, changed his appearance, blended into the streets, and walked towards the Songxi Spirit Pill Store!

He entered the Spirit Pill Store, where Gu Hong sat behind the counter, casually reading an alchemy book. She wore a plain dress, her skin fair, her posture elegant, and under the setting sun, she resembled a serene oil painting.

Since Li An's last visit several years ago, she dismissed the apprentice assistants and took care of the shop herself, waiting there every day.

"I want two Spirit Awakening Pills and a Beauty Pill."

Li An lightly tapped the table, speaking calmly.

Gu Hong lifted her eyes slightly, and in her eyes that were as clear as autumn water, a hint of sunrise-like delight was reflected.

...

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