I Have an Omen System

Chapter 380: Chapter 243: The Venerable’s Order

’The location is negotiable, but the reward...’

Qin Xuan couldn’t help but frown.

He was only a Purple Mansion Cultivator. Where would he find the precious resources needed to hire a Golden Core True Monarch?!

Gao Fengliang, on the other end, was clearly aware of Qin Xuan’s predicament.

A moment later, another message arrived.

"I can help the Demon Prince escape the Du Family. As for the reward, it won’t be too late for Your Highness to repay me after you reach the Golden Core realm. Just consider it a favor you owe me. —Gao Fengliang, Holy Sect."

Qin Xuan was startled when he read this.

He never expected that the one who responded would be Master Gao himself!

"Well, Master Demon Child? Did any of the Golden Core Department Masters respond?" Du Hongshan asked.

Qin Xuan nodded.

"Who was it?"

Qin Xuan replied, "Gao Fengliang of the Reincarnation Department."

Du Hongshan clicked his tongue in surprise. "The Reincarnation Department from the Blood Loan Money Shop?"

"The very same. Elder Du, is something wrong?"

Du Hongshan gave an awkward smile and couldn’t help but wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead.

He had his own selfish motives. Having been away from the Holy Sect for so long—hundreds of years—he no longer understood the current power dynamics and grudges within it.

He had wanted to use this opportunity to gauge the connections this new Demon Child, Qin Xuan, had within the Sect.

But he never expected that, in the end, only the Reincarnation Department of the Blood Loan Money Shop would be willing to rescue the new Demon Child!

"Demon Prince, I advise you not to get too entangled with the Blood Loan Money Shop."

Du Hongshan might not have known Gao Fengliang, but he certainly knew about the Blood Loan Money Shop!

When it came to judging the potential of prodigies, if the Blood Loan Money Shop claimed to be second best in the Holy Sect, no one would dare claim to be first.

’This boy is currently trapped in Daqian, yet the Blood Loan Money Shop is still willing to intervene. This means the karmic entanglements behind him are immense—so immense that even ordinary Golden Core True Monarchs are unwilling to touch them... It might even involve a Venerable!’

In just a few breaths, Du Hongshan reached his conclusion.

Hundreds of years ago, Du Hongshan had also been a prodigy who competed for the title of the Holy Sect’s Demon Child. He knew all too well the intricacies involved.

And because of this, Du Hongshan’s estimation of Qin Xuan grew even higher.

Qin Xuan asked, "Why shouldn’t I accept Master Gao’s offer?"

Du Hongshan, of course, wouldn’t tell the truth. He only said, "The Venerable Lord behind the Blood Loan Money Shop is inextricably linked to the Holy Sect’s long-standing loan system."

"If you get too deeply involved, it won’t end well."

Qin Xuan fell into deep thought.

Qin Xuan didn’t need Du Hongshan to tell him that; he already knew.

Knowing the Blood Loan Money Shop’s predatory nature, if he agreed, there was no telling how badly Gao Fengliang would screw him over.

For all he knew, the man had a Holy Sect contract ready and was just waiting for him to agree and walk right into his trap.

"Actually... if the Demon Prince wishes to leave, I can help," Du Hongshan said.

Heh...

Qin Xuan glanced at Du Hongshan, sneering inwardly.

’As if I’d believe you!’

’You wily old fox.’

’Gao Fengliang is shady, but are you so innocent yourself?’

’I’m currently burdened by the karma of the Golden-Breaking Blood Talisman, and it remains to be seen whether Du Hongshan is even considered part of the ’Du Family’ as defined by the Blood Talisman.’

’If I don’t take this chance to deal with the trouble that is the Profound Cliff Du Family...’

’I’m afraid the next time the Blood Talisman’s backlash strikes, it’ll be the end of me!’

But Du Hongshan spoke with great sincerity, "Demon Prince, I have no ulterior motives. I simply wish to use this opportunity to return to the Holy Sect."

"The backlash from the ’Breaking Gold’ Blood Talisman on you holds no hostility toward me. Your Highness can rest assured."

Qin Xuan didn’t believe a single word of it.

"Demon Prince, if you are still worried, I can teach you the method of forming a Golden Core."

"It won’t be too late for you to leave after you’ve formed your Golden Core here at the Profound Cliff Du Family."

Qin Xuan was taken aback, his face lighting up with unconcealed joy.

’Here it is, the Top-Top Lottery!’

Qin Xuan said solemnly, "Then I ask for Elder Du’s guidance."

...

Atop a green peak, a sea of clouds churned.

Inside a rustic stone pavilion, Du Hongshan was brewing a pot of Cloud Mist Spirit Tea.

"The Golden Core is the first great heavenly chasm on our path as Cultivators."

Du Hongshan said solemnly, "The quality of a Golden Core can be divided into Upper, Middle, and Lower Grades... It directly determines whether one can shatter their Pill to form a Nascent Soul in the future, or even glimpse the Longevity Secret Realm."

"Succeed in forming a Pill, and you will shed your mortal coil, solidify your Dao Foundation, and thenceforth gain a thousand-year lifespan, free to roam the world."

"However, if you fail..."

Du Hongshan lifted the teapot, which was overflowing with Spiritual Qi, and pushed a cup of jade-green tea in front of Qin Xuan.

"Then only the path of the Fake Pill remains."

SPLASH!

Tea splashed everywhere.

"Upper, Middle, and Lower Grades..." Qin Xuan’s expression was strange. "Elder, could you elaborate?"

"Of course. But before that, I would like to talk about the Fake Pill."

Du Hongshan pondered for a moment before saying, "I can see that the Demon Prince already possesses a Fake Pill, seemingly of the Five Poisonous Creatures’ attribute. It might allow you to be unrivaled in the Purple Mansion Realm, but it is a tree without roots, water without a source."

"This path is mostly taken by Foundation Establishment Cultivators with limited talent and no hope of advancing, or by certain Heterodox Cultivators."

"Their foundations are insufficient, making them unable to generate a Pill Core on their own within their Dantian. In the end, they can only seek out a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Object to act as a Pill Seed, then forcibly infuse and compress all their Magical Power into it to form a Fake Pill."

"Demon Beast Cores are the most common choice, but they come with the risk of Demon Power backlash and bloodline contamination."

"Thousand-Year Spirit Pearls, like the Gui Water Spirit Pearl, or other materials like the Earth Essence, are relatively gentle, but their effects are slightly inferior."

"Beyond these, there are some heretical methods, such as using a Heritage Pill or the Refinement of another’s Golden Core... These methods burden one with karma and create deep-seated Heart Demons. Even we Holy Sect Cultivators would disdain such acts."

"Demon Prince, your Spiritual Pressure is contained, and your Purple Mansion Divine Light has already reached Eighth Layer Perfection, yet your aura seems slightly unstable."

"You must understand that Core Formation is a process that requires time and patience; it cannot be rushed. The path of the Fake Pill is fine to use in the Purple Mansion Realm, but you must not rely on it as a crutch!"

Du Hongshan said earnestly.

"Of course," Qin Xuan said solemnly. "If there were a true method for Solidifying the Pill, who would rely on the path of the Fake Pill?"