Core formation.

It was the unchallenged peak of power in the Ning Empire. Most people would find themself stuck at second or third. but there were those that flew right past that into the 4th realm.. were they hit the hard bottleneck to core-formation. Those that reached this stage usually had stayed many years on the 4th realm and were already past middle-aged when entering. The number of experts that reached this level in their youth could be counted on one hand.

And today someone new would be counted among them.

Xiu Jyuhong glanced this grand-daughter of his. She had progressed miraculously ever since she had returned from the sect. Very quickly she was able to reach the late stage of the 4th realm. And had remained there until now, not wasting any breath on anything else but cultivation. It was good that she had a falling out with that Ning Prince. Giving such a talent to them would've been a big loss for the Xiu-clan.

The girl was currently sitting crosslegged in an array made to protect her and at the same time gather Qi densely around her. The Core-formation elders of the family were called out as Dharma-protectors. Even those old foggy's that nobody knew of anymore came out of their holes. The impressive power of 13 Core-Formation elders were gathered here, and it would've been 15 if not for the two that were currently at the gathering the Ning had called for.

Xiu Shihong was barely 17 at this point. Most of them had barely reached the 3rd level at that age, but she was about to enter core-formation! She was indeed the new foundation on which the Xiu-clan could build their next generation!

The elders were positioned in a very profound pattern around the array... why? It was very simple...entering core-formation would summon heavenly tribulation. The better your talent the worse it got, one could forge a better core in the tribulation but the risk was too high...

However when Xiu Shihong opened her eyes light flooded the area around her and she glared at all the elders... "I will call out for help if I need it, until then I will do it on my own!" She declared... quite quickly the murmur of the elders became complaints and one of the past Xiu-clan Patriarchs landed near her. "Young one.. don't throw your life away, there are chances to become stronger later on. Even a yellow core is still a core that elevates you above anyone else...

"We do it my way or we don't do it at all! I know what you are all scheming and planning. I will be my own person not just a puppet to give birth to heirs! Get the greatest child of the Xiu-clan with me or don't get one at all!" Xiu Shihong was not stupid... it was clear by the people that were currently here. Every single one of them was male. As a girl, it was proper to give birth to strong sons even if her talent was great. Elevating her into Core-formation would mean she could pick whatever spouse she wanted and the children would carry her talent with them, as well as the fathers who would also be in Core-formation. The number of Core-formation females was dreadfully low. There were some in the big sects but that was it.

Xiu Shihong was the best bet the Xiu-clan had to overcome the Ning-clan in the future, and her sudden outburst frustrated some of the elders, they were used to Woman bowing and nodding along with what they did, not to complain and be haughty like that!

However... they had invested too much into Shihong. Too many resources had flown into her cultivation, and while she was willful at times she always listened to the elders, after all before her immense talent was fully understood she did not complain about being married off to the Ning...

The elders fell silent... and exchanged glances, this girl barely an adult had them ... to say it figuratively... by the balls. And she would not let this go. What a waste...what a waste. They shook their heads and one after one they landed. "Good.." Xiu Shihong nodded.

She did not desire for mediocrity that was the whole problem with the Xiu-clan! They always played it safe! To safe!

Once the elders had retreated from their position Xiu Shihong sat down, she had prepared for this enough already!

Qi flooded her body as she took in everything around her. She felt how her Qi passageways were overflowing and all of it shot towards her Center. The Qi that had been until now seemed like an endless Sea was rapidly shrinking together, her inner world was filled with multicolored light as the Qi she had just taken in and the Qi she already had inside of her merged together.

This was the first step of core-formation! Forming the Core! A core would be the center of your body, the true foundation on which to build on. Many foolish people believed it to be the pinnacle, a stage just few reached after a lifetime of work. But they are all fools! Forming your core was the beginning! The true first step into becoming an immortal! And just like a house would crumble on a weak foundation so would your cultivation!

The hot desert sky above them was quickly covered by towering clouds, the world itself did not approve! Cultivation, after all, was against the law of heaven and earth, multicolored lightning bolts were forming in the sky, the weaker ones did not even make it to Xiu Shihong who had deployed her spiritual pressure around her shielding her from the impacts while her eyes were firmly closed.

Her mind was calm. She would succeed and rise above anyone!

Suddenly her eyes snapped open gushing the place in light and her gaze fell north, she felt that her own tribulation was coming but she also felt an equal ... no more powerful tribulation far to the north, just for this moment in which she was connected to heaven.

And then it began.

....

Li Zhi rubbed the back of her head and let out a sigh.

Those few years had worked wonders for her. She had lost that nerdy wallflower apparel she had before and bloomed into a lotus, well ... at least that was what the guy in front of her was currently blabbering... It was in fact Fu Tengfang. The blabbering fool would seek her out every now and then. There had been proposals and presents, but she had turned all of it down.

Currently, she felt very much like smacking him, so she did! But... not to hard.

After all Fu Tengfang hand changed after having a falling out with his father over this, his father very much did not approve and Fu Tengfang no longer was favored as he had been before, these few years had taught him a semblance of humbleness.

Li Zhi was currently in the early fourth realm! She had made a name for herself as an alchemist and beast-hunter! She was very much a rogue cultivator fulfilling quests for payment. It was quite lucrative... but also very dangerous after all she did not have the backing of a large group and acted on her own.

Fu Tengfang actually had joined her trade, and they actually had gone on a few quests together simply so she could use him as a meat-shield in case of emergency. He was in the late third realm now, so he was at-least useful for her.

"Tengfang, stop talking..." The monster was here! It was, in fact, a giant spider, much similar to those spiders Kou had caught all these years before! But far bigger and stronger. Fu Tengfang and Li Zhi had laid in hiding for about half a day to catch this elusive beast to rob it of its silk and venom, not kill it but just rob it. Obviously killing it would be far easier a task.

Tendrils of water shoot out from Li Zhi assaulting the Spider that had not noticed them until now....

.....................

He really needed a hair cut.. his long brown hair was almost going down to his knees and he had opted to bind it up. Well..No reason to cut it to be perfectly honest it did not get in the way, but he could see his big Sister or Mother fussing over it. A smile bloomed on his face. He had always been pretty... but after growing up he had developed into a handsome sage-like figure with flowing green robes and deep brown eyes.

Hei Tian had changed in many away, he had overcome his bottleneck and had entered the fourth realm. Actually he was already half-step into core-formation and had adopted an aloof and carefree lifestyle of drifting between the cities. After he had overcome his peril his family had urged him to return but he liked the outside world, and so to not hinder his cultivation his family sends some resources his way every now and again, enough to keep him afloat, until now .. at-least he had no reason to return..but that had changed...

The situation he was currently in was ... however probably not the best to reminisce about these things, he was in the middle of a battle after all! An older cultivator was swiping with his flying sword at him while yelling profanities at him.... the man was barely in the fourth realm and underestimated Hei Tian because of his appearance.. he barely had to think while he guided his flying sword with one finger to block all the attack coming his way.

"Ah...It's kind of time to end this." He grinned, that grin would've reminded anyone of the righteous and foolhardy youngling he had been before, he struck a sign with his free hands and wind howled - blades cutting towards his opponent, cutting him down, he feel with a curse, but he was not wounded in a deadly way and quickly retreated away.

Shrugging his shoulders he moved on. "It's not my fault your daughter would follow me around.. I never even talked to her..." This happened from time to time... sometimes woman would just swoon over him and well... He did not even talk to them but if they did why would he try to stop them, it was enjoyable. Afterall he always made very clear that he was a wanderer and would not settle down anywhere. There was only one Woman he had any romantic feelings for, and he had not seen her for years.

But that might just change soon, after all, he had been called back to the sect, he hoped he could avoid any further drama with girls or for that matter.. their brothers and fathers.... Another deep sigh left his lips. "Hopefully the sect is less crazy.."

.....

Hei Mei let out a sigh. She was slowly getting tired of this. She had changed so much in so little time. Her hair was silver like an elderly lady, her eyes had a shade of gray that seemed inhumane, and her skin had become so smooth, and no dirt seemed to stick to it. She had been confined to the most inner sanctum of the sect for a long time now. Cultivating on her own. She had long since reached Core-formation at a speed that was baffling. Ever since her body had suddenly started to change her speed at cultivation had increased so much.

"I wonder how Yun Kou is doing, she was so little when she came.. I hope she grew up well and strong.." She had never forgotten the small fragile child she had taken a fancy too. But she would get no information about the outside. The Core-formation Elders had kept her contained her with a formation once she reached Core formation herself. She did not feel like she truly was a member of this sect ..or a Human, in the eyes of her family or these people, just a research object.

The Spiritual energy where she was had been sucked dry, but she could still feel her cultivation growing. It would not be too long before she was able to break out of this place and go away from the Sect. She had no overly deep grudge towards anyone here. She just wanted to go and .. actually live.

A deep sigh left her lips. "No wonder nobody here ever reached the stage beyond Core-formation the people here are like little leeches .. sticking to everyone stronger to suck them dry to get themself an advantage, and the old generation rather stops the new one than to be eclipsed in power, such a dumb mindset...."

Hei Mei would not stay here forever, she would find a way out to be a free person, because.. as much as she did not hold any grudge, any feelings of sympathy or attachment towards the sect and most of her family was gone by now.

....