After much thought, Wu Tao couldn't help but feel regret.
Not to mention what would happen later, but in the current situation, if he had accumulated a little more, wouldn't he have been able to condense his fourth divine ability directly?
Indeed, man's greed knows no bounds. Ordinary cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage would be extremely cautious when breaking through to the Core Formation stage.
Let alone condensing three divine abilities during the process of forming a core, even condensing one divine ability was extremely rare.
Meanwhile, the inner core within Wu Tao's body had been fully nurtured, and everything was proceeding as it should. He only needed to break through that final critical point to successfully enter the Core Formation stage.
The difference between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, apart from the fundamental difference in life essence and the sublimation of spells into divine abilities, had one more crucial point.
True Core Formation involved condensing essence, energy, and spirit, along with cultivation, all into one inner core, thus truly taking the first step towards eternal life.
Cultivators who reached the Core Formation stage possessed an inner core within their bodies, with yin and yang in harmony, the Hundred Meridan Passages connected, the embryonic breath nourishing the white breath, and the universe unified within them.
At the same time, the Chu Xi sword erupted with five-colored sword light in an instant, and an aura of utmost strength and purity surged forth wildly.
The blade of the Chu Xi sword, at this moment, flowed like water, exhibiting mysterious undulations. This was the "unity of man and sword." As the sword master advanced, the immortal sword would also progress further with its master.
The Chu Xi sword trembled more and more intensely, its five-colored sword light growing stronger and more mysterious, as if possessing some magical power that could deeply draw in one's gaze.
After a long while, the Chu Xi sword finally solidified again, flashing a sword beam that pierced the heavens and earth.
In the secret chamber, Wu Tao sat cross-legged on a cushion, his hand reaching out, and the resplendent and colorful "Chu Xi Sword" floated motionlessly above his head.
Vaguely, a profound radiance could be seen moving within the sword's body, constantly enhancing the Chu Xi sword's essence.
The slender sword body, combined with the five-colored sword light, presented a powerful visual appeal. Especially the aura of the king of swords, as if it were a divine weapon or immortal artifact that had descended from the immortal realm to the mortal world.
...
Time flowed, and years passed like a shuttle. After four and a half years, one day, dark clouds suddenly gathered above Wu Tao's cave dwelling, and lightning snakes danced. The sky suddenly changed dramatically.
Simultaneously, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a radius of a hundred li furiously converged towards Wu Tao's cave dwelling, forming a visible vortex of spiritual energy in the sky.
This scene astonished all the cultivators in the vicinity, whether they were passing by or living nearby. They all stopped in their tracks, or emerged from their cave dwellings, gazing towards the direction of the anomaly.
"Core Formation! Someone is finally about to form a core!"
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators stared blankly at the scene, muttering to themselves, their faces filled with extreme surprise and a multitude of emotions!
Among them were envy, confusion, and more than anything, envious and jealous gazes...
Even within Tongguan City, Core Formation cultivators were considered upper-middle class. The emergence of a new Core Formation cultivator often signified many things.
...
At the same time, many cultivators at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages in Tongguan City also witnessed this celestial phenomenon. Especially after obtaining the identity of the cave dwelling, their faces revealed a playful expression.
...
Inside the cave dwelling.
Wu Tao opened his eyes, which blazed with a fiery light!
Around him, there were terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations, emanating the aura of a Core Formation cultivator!
It took him a full month to barely become familiar with the spiritual energy after forming his core and completely stabilize his realm.
He suddenly stood up.
"Core Formation... I've finally formed my core... It took me fifty-six years from Qi Refining to Core Formation. This is the lifespan of an ordinary person..."
...
In the small regions of the Nine Provinces' immortal cultivation world, a cultivation at the early Core Formation stage could even establish a kingdom and found a sect.
However, in Tongguan City? It was just so-so. One more person wouldn't make a difference, and one less wouldn't be noticed.
In the secret chamber, Wu Tao's expression was calm, devoid of joy or sorrow, as he began to consider more practical matters.
After successfully forming his core, the spiritual medicines and elixirs suitable for cultivators suddenly decreased significantly. He could no longer acquire vast resources by hunting cultivators of the same level as he could during the Foundation Establishment stage. He could only rely on slow and arduous cultivation over time to increase his spiritual power.
It was common for cultivators to be trapped at the early or middle Core Formation stage for hundreds or even thousands of years.
"If a man does not think of the distant future, he will soon be plagued by present worries. I need to think about my cultivation after forming my core..."
In terms of cultivation techniques, Wu Tao's main cultivation technique could be cultivated to the Purple Mansion stage, so there was no need to worry about it for now.
"Originally, the two most important aspects for a Core Formation cultivator are to refine a life-bound magical treasure that can be stored within the body for nurturing, and to condense one's own divine abilities..."
"After all, after forming a core, ordinary spells and formations are basically of little use. Victory in combat relies on life-bound magical treasures and decisive divine abilities!"
"However, Wu Tao has already perfected both these aspects. His life-bound immortal sword, Chu Xi Sword, and his three divine abilities are no worse than those of ordinary veteran Core Formation cultivators."
"And whether it's spirit stones, spirit elixirs, spiritual items, or divine abilities... all of them can be obtained from one place, which is... a sect, or... a major power!"
"Ordinary rogue cultivators, after successfully forming their core, are often recruited by various major powers..."
"Under normal circumstances, they will join some major powers to gain better development prospects."
"But Wu Tao already holds the identity of a member of the Thirty-Six Teams of Tongguan City's Grade A, and is a member of Tongguan City itself. There's no need to overthink things. He just needs to honestly do his duty as a grunt."
...
Outside.
The basic information of a newly promoted Core Formation cultivator was quickly obtained by various powers.
Although Wu Tao's origin was somewhat unclear, coming from an unknown place, his human identity was beyond doubt.
Moreover, his experiences were also somewhat legendary.
Upon arriving in Tongguan City, he had a conflict with the eldest daughter of Vice City Lord Lü, and was subsequently imprisoned.
After a few days in prison, he was released by Vice City Lord Lü's eldest daughter and became a silver guard under her command.
Later, while selecting a cave dwelling, he had a conflict with Hong Bai, the youngest son of Elder Hong Tongtian. He defeated the Core Formation stage Hong Bai with his Foundation Establishment cultivation, thus becoming famous.
After completing a mission, he entered a long period of closed-door cultivation, never appearing during that time. After four years of seclusion, he finally managed to form his core.
...
In a luxurious mansion.
A jade slip clearly recorded all of Wu Tao's experiences since arriving in Tongguan City, even backing up records of his purchases and sales.
"From the information, this newly formed Core Formation cultivator named Wu Tao has rather good potential. He's also a sword cultivator, which is good... very good..."
The speaker was a middle-aged male cultivator dressed in blue, who possessed the early Nascent Soul stage cultivation. He was one of the more than a dozen Grand Elders of Tongguan City, named Tuoba Yang, and was known as the "Blue-Robed Sword Immortal"!
"Old Tuo... don't entertain any thoughts of taking him as a disciple. He's already caught the eye of Old Lü's daughter, so he's already spoken for."
Sitting next to Tuoba Yang was a large,胖 fellow, who was devouring meat and shaking his head to discourage him: "You're looking at this person's future and thinking of taking him as a disciple. I think you're overthinking things..."
"Alas, good disciples are hard to come by... It would be worth competing with Old Lü for him. This young man named Wu Tao, his fearless spirit and character quite align with my path..."
Tuoba Yang sighed and replied.
On the other side.
Hong Tongtian frowned as he looked at the Core Formation phenomenon in the sky.
"He's formed his core, how could it be so fast? My hidden arrangements haven't even taken effect yet..."
He recalled the conflict between Wu Tao and his youngest son, and his previous thoughts.
His original plan was to find an opportunity to have the opponent eliminated after the storm had passed.
Seeing such an astonishing phenomenon, he instantly realized that the best time for him to act had passed.
Although cultivators at the late Foundation Establishment stage or early Core Formation stage were like ants in his eyes, the difference was merely in size.
However, after this Wu Tao successfully formed his core, for various reasons, Lü Liang would definitely protect him.
Consequently, within Tongguan City, he could no longer directly kill this young man named Wu Tao.
"Such a Core Formation phenomenon... suggests the possibility of a perfect Core Formation. If it is indeed a perfect Core Formation, he will undoubtedly have a place on the Human Race's Eighty-One Core Formation Rankings..."
"Such a person... after creating enmity with him, if he is not killed quickly, it will lead to endless trouble in the future!"
Faced with such a latent dragon, their Hong family had to make plans early. With such talent, he would definitely have the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage in the future, becoming someone capable of destroying their Hong family.
Thinking of this, Hong Tongtian remembered that the City Lord's eldest son, Xie Hu, seemed to have some affection for Lü Yuehua, who was subtly connected to this person.
Hong Tongtian thought of a poisonous scheme and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh, thinking to himself that perhaps he wouldn't have to act. This young man named Wu Tao was surely doomed.
As long as he incited things a little in the middle, there would be a good show to watch.
Whether it was the City Lord's eldest son Xie Hu being put in a difficult position, or this Wu Tao, who 'achieved Core Formation and shook the entire city,' suffering a setback, he would be perfectly happy to see it.