Chapter 47: Ye Changsheng!

“Of course it’s a treasure! An incredible treasure!” Ye Tian finally could no longer suppress his excitement, his voice cracking as he shouted. Then, he began to explain the origin of the so-called ‘Golden Core.’

In Daoist tradition, there is the theory of external and internal alchemy. Setting aside external alchemy for now, the practice of internal alchemy requires the cultivator to use their own body as the furnace, their essence and energy as materials, assisted by the power of the mind to refine and temper them. Ultimately, after countless cycles, essence, energy, and spirit are condensed into a single core housed within the dantian.

This internal core is also known as the ‘Sacred Embryo,’ or the Golden Core.

The ancients said: Whoever attains the Sacred Embryo can achieve immortality and ascend to the realm of the immortals!

It is said that the cultivation of the Golden Core is extremely difficult. Countless cultivators devote their lifetimes to it, yet fail even to glimpse its shadow.

Ye Tian, for instance, after years of practicing internal alchemy, had only managed to condense a formless cluster of energy in his dantian, not yet solid enough to take shape. Even masters deeply versed in alchemy could only form this energy into a pellet, never achieving a true entity.

Yet even so, the Golden Core remains the ultimate goal of all internal alchemists.

But now.

At this very moment, a pure Golden Core, coveted by countless cultivators, lay quietly in Ye Tian’s hand!

“So mysterious!” After hearing Ye Tian’s explanation, Gu Qingcheng was full of amazement. She quickly asked, “But how can you be sure that this is the Golden Core?”

“Because its nature is exactly the same as the one I’m trying to form in my dantian,” Ye Tian replied.

Every practitioner of internal alchemy, even if they have never seen it, can recognize the Golden Core at a glance. For it shares the same origin as their own dantian, their blood and energy entwined.

“If I’m not mistaken, this Golden Core must have belonged to that immortal.”

“And this is the true treasure left for future generations!” Ye Tian exclaimed fervently.

Once he swallowed this Golden Core, he would acquire the immortal’s lifetime of cultivation memories. Though it wouldn’t instantly raise his power, from then on, his progress in internal alchemy would be free of bottlenecks!

Ascending to the level of a terrestrial immortal would only be a matter of time!

“So powerful.”

Gu Qingcheng admitted she didn’t quite understand, but was deeply moved. Because she had never cultivated internal alchemy, she couldn’t fully grasp Ye Tian’s excitement. Compared to this, even a thousand-year-old ginseng seemed more attractive to her.

“Senior Sister, please guard me. I’m going to absorb the Golden Core now.” After careful consideration, Ye Tian decided it was best to consume it immediately.

“All right, I’ll do as you say.” Gu Qingcheng nodded.

Ye Tian sat cross-legged, and without hesitation, tossed the Golden Core into his mouth. The golden bead, about the size of a thumb, dissolved instantly into a warm current, flowing down his throat and settling into his lower dantian.

Bathed in waves of warmth, Ye Tian couldn’t help but close his eyes and drift into deep sleep.

One dream followed another!

Countless dreams surged like tides, shaking Ye Tian’s will.

One year, five years, ten years, a hundred years.

Unknowingly, more than three hundred years passed.

In these long dreams, Ye Tian experienced the immortal’s life firsthand.

The immortal was named Ye Changsheng, born during the Qing dynasty, and began cultivating in the mountain sect from a young age. Because of his exceptional talent, he mastered internal alchemy and surpassed all his peers. No one in the sect could guide him further, so Ye Changsheng descended the mountain, wandering the mortal world.

Years later, he arrived just as Emperor Kangxi sought to revive scholarship, gathering elites from across the land to compile new works. Ye Changsheng answered the call, contributing vital knowledge to books such as ‘Essence of Mathematical Principles’ and ‘Imperial Atlas,’ earning favor and recognition for a period.

The Great Qing was then at its height, with tributaries from all nations.

Riding the tide of history, Ye Changsheng rose through the bureaucracy, married, had children, and enjoyed a happy family.

Yet mortals are bound by life’s limits. With the death of his beloved wife, Ye Changsheng’s heart grew desolate. He ultimately abandoned his descendants, returning to the mountains for a life of solitary wandering.

From then on, High Official Ye Changsheng vanished, replaced by an old hermit in the wilds who called himself ‘Hermit Bao Mountain,’ staff in hand.

Time passed swiftly, like a fleeting horse.

Another century of cultivation followed. After witnessing countless changes in the world, Ye Changsheng, one morning, greeted the purple dawn and achieved enlightenment. His Golden Core was finally formed!

Hermit Bao Mountain believed that with the Golden Core, he would ascend to immortality, soaring to the eternal realm. Yet reality dashed his hopes coldly.

The Golden Core granted him long life, but also endless loneliness.

Ultimately, unable to bear the weight of solitude, the immortal came to this place, naming it the Hidden Dragon Range (Qianlong) in memory of days past.

After building his own tomb, Hermit Bao Mountain endured great pain, cut out the Golden Core from his abdomen, and hid it away.

Then, he cast himself into the mountain stream, burying himself between heaven and earth...

Three hundred years, like Zhuangzi dreaming of butterflies, a story full of bittersweet sighs.

…

After a long time, Ye Tian awoke from the dream, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Now, he not only inherited most of Ye Changsheng’s memories but also his vast reservoir of knowledge.

Mathematics, Daoist arts, geomancy, divination—

He was accomplished in all.

“Qingcheng, let’s go outside,” Ye Tian said, rising calmly.

“Call me Senior Sister, you’re so disrespectful.” Gu Qingcheng, who had sat bored for an hour, pouted in protest as Ye Tian addressed her.

But when she saw Ye Tian’s deep, unfathomable eyes, she was stunned.

At this moment, Ye Tian seemed like an entirely different person.

He was more profound, reserved, and hard to read.

Three years are enough to change a person—what about three hundred?

They soon retraced their steps. With Hermit Bao Mountain’s memories, Ye Tian easily operated the mechanisms and sent them back to their original location.

Before long, they emerged from the cave.

“Junior Brother, you really seem changed—so old-fashioned in speech and manner,” Gu Qingcheng complained.

Ye Tian had always seemed mature, but now his words and demeanor were even more cultured, shrouded in mystery.

Annoying!

“Don’t worry, I’ve just absorbed a lot of the immortal’s memories, but my original personality hasn’t changed,” Ye Tian assured her.

The Golden Core only left Ye Changsheng’s memories; Ye Tian had simply witnessed them as if living through them again. The immortal’s personality had long faded with his passing.

He was certain that he was still the same Ye Tian.

He still liked his beautiful senior sister, and he still couldn’t help himself around attractive women.

“That’s good, I was just worried you’d be taken over by that old man,” Gu Qingcheng replied.

“I don’t want to sleep with an old guy—disgusting.”

Ye Tian: ...

So you’re not worried about my well-being at all, huh.