Chapter Ninety-Six: The Formidable False Core

No mortal had a clearer understanding of the old monk’s power than he did. The earlier burst of black radiance had struck him with such profound shock that he had remained silent even when the mountain seal upon the old monk was lifted. That was the reason.

And yet, despite such formidable strength, the old monk had actually called himself worthless.

Zhou Yi wanted very much not to believe it, but somewhere deep in his heart, he had already begun to do so.

From the moment the old monk appeared, everything he had done, the deep sorrow woven through his tone, had in truth already revealed the answer.

Moreover, Zhou Yi had another suspicion.

Perhaps the matter was even worse than he had imagined, because of the old monk’s attitude, because of the old monk’s words.

To be honest, after discovering the old monk’s strength, Zhou Yi had immediately calculated in his mind that even if he and Song Hai joined forces, they would not be able to withstand a single strike from him.

If the old monk wished, he could very easily subdue the two of them. And yet, after emerging, what had he done?

Asked whether he felt relieved?

If the roles were reversed, if someone had reduced his home to this state, Zhou Yi guaranteed he would have gone at them without another word.

But the old monk had not. Why was that?

One could imagine the answer: there must be a far greater scheme at play.

But what about the two of them was worth such plotting? After much thought, Zhou Yi could only think of one thing: talent. After all, as for anything else, honestly, he did not believe that the old monk’s level of strength would even deign to notice it.

Talent? What could talent do?

Quite a lot, in fact. The old monk had said that his own strength was nothing but trash on Island of the Peerless, and looking at his age, there was not much room left for improvement.

Then the truth was plain enough: the old monk prized their talent, believing they might reach a realm he himself had never attained and shed the shameful title of trash.

What was more, from the old monk’s earlier desolate tone, Zhou Yi felt there was a strong possibility that on Island of the Peerless, the strength of one’s cultivation could affect the entire world.

But how could that be?

Zhou Yi was startled by his own speculation.

No matter how powerful Island of the Peerless might be, it surely could not be said to influence the whole world.

"After the false core stage, what comes next?" After pondering for a long while, Zhou Yi looked at the old monk and asked, "Also, when you said earlier that my strength had reached the first pool of the false core stage, what does the first pool of the false core stage mean?"

At Zhou Yi’s question, the old monk suddenly smiled with evident satisfaction. "It seems you are not completely stupid. You have some intelligence."

What sort of talk was that? What did he mean, some intelligence?

Zhou Yi’s face darkened.

"After the false core stage comes the golden core stage!" the old monk answered very plainly.

"Golden core?" Hearing this familiar term, a glimmer of understanding flashed through Zhou Yi’s mind. So it was indeed as he had thought? Golden core, nascent soul, spirit division, joined body, tribulation crossing, great vehicle.

Was this the realm structure of this world?

"Do you think you can possibly reach the golden core stage?" Seeing that Zhou Yi’s expression had changed after hearing his answer, and noticing the confidence on his face, the old monk was suddenly stunned. Why did that feel so wrong?

"Why not?" Zhou Yi shot back.

"Ha!" The old monk could not help laughing aloud, his laughter growing louder and louder.

"Hahaha!"

"Ha ha ha!"

He laughed and laughed, until it seemed he could barely stop, as though he had just heard the greatest joke in the world.

The old monk’s reaction instantly displeased Zhou Yi. What was so funny? Why was he laughing? Was there something absurdly amusing about what he had said?

Zhou Yi’s irritation spread to Song Hai as well. He had always trusted Zhou Yi completely. Back in the days when he was still a beggar, Zhou Yi had said he would make sure he ate his fill, and when they entered the Mountain-Sheltered Saber Sect, he had fulfilled that promise.

Now Zhou Yi said he could reach the golden core stage, and then he certainly could.

"Truly, newborn calves fear neither tiger nor wolf," the old monk said after laughing for a long while. He shook his head at Zhou Yi as though looking at an ignorant child.

"Still, you cannot be blamed for it. With your talent, having such thoughts is not strange at all."

As he spoke, the old monk’s expression gradually grew serious. "However, that is not a reason for you to act so foolish."

You are the fool.

Zhou Yi’s expression had never been good. Hearing the old monk’s words, he nearly snapped back, but after thinking it over, he swallowed the words again.

"Now listen carefully."

The old monk’s solemn face showed just how important his next words would be. "The golden core realm is an unreachable level. Even with your talent, attaining it would be harder than ascending to heaven."

"If, after hearing what I am about to say, you still dare claim you can reach the golden core stage, then I will truly admire you."

The atmosphere around them suddenly grew heavy. Both men unconsciously grew serious. Zhou Yi and Song Hai exchanged a look and fell silent.

"Only upon reaching the false core stage does one truly find the threshold of cultivation."

"The false core stage already involves vital energy."

"What is vital energy? When essence, qi, and spirit become one, that is vital energy!"

"To put it simply, it is internal power, the power of heaven and earth, and spiritual power, fused into one. That is vital energy!"

"Compared with internal power, vital energy is not only stronger in might and greater in application; more importantly, it already belongs to an entirely different level of existence."

"If internal power is something of mortals, then without question, vital energy is something possessed solely by immortals."

"Ordinarily, the gap between mortals and immortals is so vast they cannot be mentioned in the same breath."

"In normal circumstances, no matter how much strength a mortal possesses, he can never be the match of an immortal."

At this point, the old monk suddenly paused and looked toward the two of them, dazed for a moment. "Of course, the two of you are exceptions. The fact that you crossed this barrier purely by virtue of your talent is nothing short of a miracle."

You know we have talent, yet you still say we can never reach the golden core stage. Are you toying with us?

Zhou Yi looked at the old monk with displeasure.

The old monk ignored him. After speaking, he lowered his head again and continued.

"Heavenly beings cultivate the apertures: three hundred and sixty-five apertures!"

"By infusing vital energy into the three hundred and sixty-five apertures, when each is filled, one reaches the peak of the false core stage!"

"But this matter of filling apertures is not as simple as it sounds. There are rules to it, and this is precisely why the false core stage is divided into such vast differences of strength!"

"The apertures are divided into six levels: aperture, pool, cave, hall, palace, and heaven!"

"The six levels are distinguished by how much vital energy each can contain!"

"An aperture can hold a hundred years of vital energy!"

"A pool can contain a thousand years of vital energy!"

"A cave can house ten thousand years of vital energy!"

"A hall can dwell in one hundred thousand years of vital energy!"

"A palace can achieve one million years of vital energy!"

"And a heaven can contain one hundred million years of vital energy!"

"After the false core stage, one cultivates vital energy first and apertures second. Apertures are the foundation, while vital energy is the continuation!"

"The six levels of the false core stage are six worlds in themselves. The difference in strength between them cannot be measured by reason or common sense!"