"Failed!"
Zhang Fan stopped practicing the True Intent of the Lightning Sword. The Dao pattern engraving, which had lasted for half a year, was becoming unbearable even for Zhang Fan's boundless divine sense. However, the Lightning Sword Golden Core Dao pattern was still a very long way from being fully formed.
Moreover, the engraving speed of the Golden Core Dao pattern slowed down as it reached the later stages. In the last month, Zhang Fan could clearly feel that the Lightning Sword Golden Core Dao pattern had not advanced an inch, and all his efforts were in vain.
"Could it be that these nine Golden Core Dao patterns are truly the limit that Golden Cores in this world can achieve, and there's no way to break through?"
For the first time, Zhang Fan felt doubt.
In the past, Golden Core realm cultivators could at most engrave nine Golden Core Dao patterns. Zhang Fan had always thought it was due to their insufficient strength and opportunities.
But Zhang Fan felt he was different.
In terms of internal conditions, his Primordial Core was more powerful than that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Even after engraving nine Golden Core Dao patterns, he still felt his Primordial Core to be incredibly stable, capable of withstanding more Golden Core Dao patterns.
Simultaneously, he had cultivated a minor divine body in the Condensing Core realm, and his physical strength could rival the top Golden Core realm experts. He could withstand the impact of extremely powerful Dao forces.
His divine sense power also far surpassed cultivators of the same level, comparable to the top Golden Core realm cultivators.
In terms of external conditions, with the aid of the Yuan-level immortal fruit, the Zi Wu Yuan Guo, and the superior cultivation environment of the Golden Light Immortal Mansion, he still couldn't break through the limit and engrave the tenth Golden Core Dao pattern. This dealt a significant blow to Zhang Fan's spirit.
"Forget it!"
As Zhang Fan stopped engraving the Lightning Sword Golden Core Dao pattern, the unformed Golden Core Dao pattern, still flashing with lightning, slowly dissipated on top of his Primordial Core. In less than half a day, the Golden Core Dao pattern that he had painstakingly engraved for half a year completely vanished from his Primordial Core.
"Hmph!"
Even with Zhang Fan's state of mind, he couldn't help but feel angry. His Primordial Core trembled slightly, and the solidified clear stream that enveloped it instantly shattered.
Zhang Fan prepared to end his cultivation and go out for a walk to calm his unconvinced heart.
"En?"
Just as Zhang Fan was about to get up, he suddenly noticed that the clear stream he had shattered was re-converging. It then began to rotate continuously, forming an eye-shaped orb next to his Primordial Core, identical in appearance.
"What is this?"
This sudden turn of events stunned Zhang Fan, and then he reacted, his eyes bursting with an incredibly joyous light.
"Could this be a second Primordial Core?"
Zhang Fan was filled with doubt. After all, every life form, regardless of its species, could only condense one Primordial Core. He had never heard of a cultivator condensing two Primordial Cores in his past or present life.
"Whether it's a Primordial Core or not, let's try and see."
Zhang Fan walked out of the Golden Light Immortal Mansion and then soared into the sky, reaching an altitude of several thousand meters. White clouds floated here, and the wind howled, causing Zhang Fan's robes to flutter noisily.
With a casual wave, the bronze ancient sword appeared in his hand. Zhang Fan attempted to mobilize the power of both Primordial Cores and unleashed a powerful sword strike!
Boom!
A deafening explosion reverberated through the sky. A long rainbow tore through the void, leaving a sword mark several kilometers long in the sky at an altitude of several thousand meters. The sharp sword intent lingered.
"So strong!"
Zhang Fan's eyes were filled with surprise. The power of this strike was a level higher than the full might of a cultivator like Dao Venerable, who had condensed a second-grade upper-tier Golden Core. It was comparable to some weaker first-grade Golden Cores.
It's important to note that although he had engraved nine Golden Core Dao patterns, they were still merely on his Primordial Core, not yet condensed into a Golden Core. Previously, relying solely on the Primordial Core's spiritual power, he was only on the same level as Dao Venerable. It was only by relying on his physical strength that he could crush him.
Now, with the Primordial Core condensed by the Zi Wu Yuan Guo, his strength had directly increased by a level.
Zhang Fan sheathed the bronze ancient sword and practiced the moves of the Thirty-Six Forms of the War Emperor. He didn't use any of his physical strength, relying entirely on his spiritual power. Each move and stance unleashed incredibly powerful might.
No matter how Zhang Fan exerted himself, the Primordial Core condensed by the Zi Wu Yuan Guo remained as stable as a rock, showing no signs of collapse, and continuously emitting spiritual power...
"Haha, exhilarating!"
Zhang Fan stood in the void, letting out a sky-shattering roar!
"I didn't break through the limit of nine Golden Core Dao patterns, but I unexpectedly managed to condense a second Primordial Core."
After confirming that the Primordial Core could withstand his body's strength, Zhang Fan dove down and returned to the Golden Light Immortal Mansion. This time, he would go into seclusion again to engrave a second Primordial Core containing nine Golden Core Dao patterns.
After careful consideration, Zhang Fan decided to engrave the Lightning Dao Golden Core Dao pattern on the second Primordial Core.
In the Condensing Core realm, when cultivators initially form a Primordial Core and step into the door of the Golden Core Dao, their comprehension of Dao True Intent is extremely shallow. Some cultivators, by chance, break through to the Heavenly Human realm and condense a Primordial Core, but because they cannot comprehend the Dao True Intent, they are unable to break through to the Golden Core realm for their entire lives.
Most cultivators in the Condensing Core realm can only comprehend one or two Dao True Intents, ultimately only condensing a third-grade Golden Core.
Being able to comprehend four or more Dao True Intents in the Condensing Core realm and condense a second-grade Golden Core would be considered an outstanding individual among Golden Core realm cultivators.
As for those who comprehend seven or more Dao True Intents and condense a first-grade Golden Core, they are monstrous existences within the Golden Core realm. This can be seen from the number of first-grade Golden Core experts in the Wu Shan Star Domain; they are incredibly rare.
In every era, the number of first-grade Golden Core cultivators in the Wu Shan Star Domain does not exceed a handful.
As for cultivators who simultaneously study two Daos in the Condensing Core realm, it is almost unheard of.
Comprehending Dao True Intent is already extremely difficult. Achieving something on one Dao is already a monumental feat. No cultivator would waste time trying to comprehend the True Intent of other Daos.
Take Xue Jing, for example. In the Condensing Core realm, he cultivated the Blood Sea Dao and comprehended six Dao True Intents of the Blood Sea Dao. With his talent, comprehending six Dao True Intents of the Blood Sea Dao was his limit. If he were to study other Daos at this point, it would be affected by the Blood Sea Dao, and the difficulty of comprehension would be a thousand times, even ten thousand times greater.
Therefore, in the Condensing Core realm, every cultivator focuses solely on comprehending one Dao.
Even if they manage to condense a second Primordial Core due to various chances and coincidences, they can only give up because they cannot engrave Golden Core Dao patterns on the second Primordial Core.
But Zhang Fan is different...
...