The Golden Core’s Predicament

Within the small courtyard.

Yu Qingxuan meticulously set up a formation, for this matter truly brooked no carelessness.

Qin Yan stood nearby, cradling Xiao Li, ever ready to act as a protector for the two women.

Xiao Miao wore a solemn expression as she watched Yu Qingxuan sit cross-legged before her.

Taking her place behind Yu Qingxuan, Xiao Miao began to circulate her cultivation art, summoning forth her Heavenly Dew Water.

“Shizun, let us begin.”

“Very well.”

The white-robed woman swiftly possessed Xiao Miao, and in that instant, the girl’s demeanor underwent a profound transformation.

The possessed Xiao Miao then enveloped Yu Qingxuan’s entire body with the Heavenly Dew Water.

As she manipulated the water with her spiritual energy, she discerned the precise condition of Yu Qingxuan’s Golden Core.

Within Yu Qingxuan’s Qi Sea, the Golden Core, which coiled there, was riddled with fine cracks, and intertwined around these fissures was a black dragon.

Witnessing this, Xiao Miao’s Shizun could not help but sigh in admiration, acknowledging the remarkable skill of the cultivator who had employed such a method.

It was akin to stitching together a gaping wound with needle and thread.

Yet, it was not a wound that had been mended, but a Golden Core, and what had been used for the ‘stitching’ was not needlework, but the demonic dragon’s inner core.

Such a feat was beyond even her current capabilities.

Perhaps at her peak, she might have considered it.

Upon reflection, in this Northern Lands, only Yu Qingxuan’s and Qin Yan’s Shizun possessed both the ability and the willingness to accomplish such a thing.

To thoroughly heal Yu Qingxuan’s injuries, two methods presented themselves.

The first involved using the Heavenly Dew Water to directly stimulate Yu Qingxuan’s Golden Core into self-recovery.

However, what then of the demonic dragon’s inner core power?

If the two clashed, it would inevitably lead to qi deviation.

The second method proposed was to allow them to merge, directly fusing the inner core’s power with Yu Qingxuan’s Golden Core.

However, the potential side effects and the precise role Yu Qingxuan would play in this process remained unclear.

Pondering these complexities, Xiao Miao’s Shizun found the situation thorny and withdrew her spiritual energy.

Sensing this, Yu Qingxuan opened her eyes and spoke with a self-deprecating laugh,

“I told you so.

How could a mere Foundation Establishment girl like you possibly find a solution for my condition?”

“A solution is indeed possible, but this matter is of great import.

I believe it would be best to report it to your Shizun for a final decision.”

Xiao Miao rose to her feet.

“I have two methods: one is to forcefully excise the black dragon’s inner core power, though it carries risks; the other is to forcefully fuse them, but the side effects are unknown.”

These two stark choices plunged Yu Qingxuan into silence.

Qin Yan, too, furrowed his brow slightly as he gazed at his Senior Sister.

Indeed, the events of that day had proven far from simple.

After all, she had been prepared to detonate her Golden Core.

If recovery were so easily achieved, then every cultivator could undertake such a desperate act without consequence.

“My Shizun restored my injuries, offering me two options: either to become a mortal from that day forward, or to fuse with the demonic dragon’s inner core power, albeit with unknown consequences.”

Yu Qingxuan spoke, rising to her feet as well, her gaze settling upon Qin Yan.

‘She had vowed to protect her Junior Brother well.

If she were to become a mortal, what talk of protection could there be?

A mere century later, she would be nothing but a handful of dust.’

Thus, she had naturally chosen the latter without hesitation.

“Senior Sister…”

Qin Yan called out, his gaze fraught with complexity.

How was he to resolve this matter?

If there truly was a way to save his Senior Sister, even if the cost were immense, he would willingly bear it.

“I wish to know, is it worth it?

Is it truly worth it?”

Yu Qingxuan shook her head, then raised a hand to stop Qin Yan.

“Do not concern yourself with this matter.

Let me make my own choice.”

Having said this, she turned to Xiao Miao, her eyes filled with resolute determination.

“Senior, I choose the second option.”

‘I want to live.

I want to live for a very, very long time, for I have yet to see my Junior Brother mature.’

Yu Qingxuan took a deep, forceful breath.

This matter still required reporting to her Shizun, but she was no child.

‘Xiao Miao, if you can accomplish it, then let the demonic dragon’s power merge with my inner core.

After all, as you said, while these appear to be two choices, in reality, is there not only one?’

Yu Qingxuan, for her part, viewed the situation with clear-sightedness.

The first option, with both Golden Core and inner core residing within her body, would be tantamount to an internal war.

What cultivator could possibly endure such a conflict?

Even a slight headache or fever could prove fatal to a mortal, let alone the Golden Core within a cultivator’s Qi Sea.

“Since you have made your decision, so be it.”

Xiao Miao nodded.

Indeed, Yu Qingxuan was no longer a child, and some decisions were hers to make.

Yet, in the eyes of these elder cultivators, these juniors still seemed far too young.

“Then there remains another question: since this involves the fusion of your Golden Core with the demonic dragon’s inner core, what if, during this process, the inner core’s power takes precedence?

Can you truly maintain your own mind?”

Xiao Miao continued, her voice steady.

As a cultivator in the Soul Transformation stage, she was naturally privy to certain esoteric knowledge.

Ordinary cultivators, having never experienced such a predicament, would be entirely unaware of such implications.

To put it plainly, if the inner core were to dominate during the fusion, would Yu Qingxuan still truly be herself?

Would it not be tantamount to being possessed by the demonic dragon?

“I…”

Yu Qingxuan gazed at Xiao Miao, who appeared utterly composed, and a strange feeling washed over her.

She felt, inexplicably, like a raw recruit standing before this young woman.

‘She had never experienced such a thing herself; how could she know if she could maintain dominance?

However, since Yu Qingxuan had already made her decision and showed no intention of retreating, Xiao Miao would no longer try to dissuade her, for in this matter, Yu Qingxuan held far more agency than she did.’

Gazing at the familiar small courtyard around her, and at the familiar figure of Qin Yan before her, she ultimately nodded.

“I can do it.”

“Very well then… that is good.”

Xiao Miao spoke, feeling an inexplicable sense that this entire situation was a confluence of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

The chance encounter between Xiao Miao and Qin Yan was Heaven’s harmony; the gathering of these individuals in Yu Qingxuan’s former residence was Earth’s harmony; and her perception of Yu Qingxuan’s deep feelings for Qin Yan represented Man’s harmony.

With Heaven, Earth, and Man all aligning in their favor, what possible reason could there be to refuse?

“Xiao Miao, what degree of certainty do you have in this matter?”

Qin Yan, hearing these words, inquired with a touch of unease.

“Ten-tenths!”

Xiao Miao declared, looking at Qin Yan, before shaking her head once more.

“Or perhaps one-tenth, for this matter does not rest with me, but with your Senior Sister before us.”

In essence, Yu Qingxuan must maintain her core self.

These words evoked a deep sense of helplessness.

Yu Qingxuan, perceiving Qin Yan’s apprehension, knew that since she had made her decision, she would not waver.

Nevertheless, to be absolutely certain…

She summoned her longsword and extended it towards Qin Yan.

“Junior Brother, you need not worry excessively.

Should I fail to maintain my core self, you may well use this sword to sever my head.”

“Senior Sister, you can’t be serious…”

Qin Yan was startled by her action, a wry smile touching his lips.

It was hardly that kind of concern that plagued him.

Yu Qingxuan observed Qin Yan’s expression, then winked playfully, clearly teasing him.

She then retracted her longsword, sat cross-legged, and addressed Xiao Miao behind her,

“Stop being so wishy-washy, it makes you seem less decisive than a young Junior Brother.

Xiao Miao, proceed as I’ve instructed.”