Chapter 5: The Golden Core Formed

[A: Untouched by all laws, comprehend purity and non-action. The Untouched by All Laws path automatically generates Xuanhuang Dao Qi to protect oneself; until the Xuanhuang Dao Qi is exhausted, all attacks are negated. Note: After choosing this option, all quest rewards in money are converted to Xuanhuang Dao Qi.]

[B: Ninefold Elixir, comprehend the art of alchemy and condensing the Dao. The Ninefold Elixir path automatically learns the Dao of Pills and alchemy techniques, ultimately able to refine the Ninefold Golden Elixir, which grants immediate immortality beneath a single pill. Note: After choosing this option, you can no longer learn any secondary skills and must follow the alchemy path.]

[C: Severing Causality, comprehend the art of severing causality, follow the Only Me path, automatically master the severing of causal lines, acts and killings carry no karmic consequence, ultimately achieving uniqueness. Note: After choosing this option, you can no longer accept faction quests.]

[D: Three Thousand Purple Qi, comprehend Three Thousand Purple Qi, follow the path of grand momentum, automatically understand the way of momentum, embodying the demeanor of a sage in all actions; luck concentrates and treasures are drawn to you. Note: After choosing this option, you can no longer hide your identity and are prone to being targeted by enemies.]

Staring at these four choices, Wang Liang was momentarily stunned. He had not expected that merely advancing to the Golden Elixir stage would bring about so many complications.

Moreover, the effects of the Golden Elixir seemed almost too advantageous, and why were there penalties attached? Wang Liang had never heard of such things before.

In fact, Wang Liang did not know that for ordinary people, even if their main cultivation method reached expert level, such choices would not appear. The only reason he was presented with these options was because his "Supreme Mystery Sutra" had inadvertently reached master level, triggering these effects.

Wang Liang quickly began to weigh the four options.

Each seemed appealing; he wanted them all, but could not choose more than one.

Thus, Wang Liang resorted to the process of elimination, discarding those with penalties that would hinder his progress.

First to be eliminated was the Ninefold Elixir. Wang Liang did not doubt his talent for alchemy, but to restrict himself solely to pill refinement was impossible. Choosing this would mean he could never learn other secondary skills; he still wished to forge, craft weapons, and set up arrays.

The second to be eliminated was Severing Causality. Wang Liang was well aware that the ultimate goal of "Calamity and Investiture of the Gods" seemed to revolve around the conflict between the two major sects. Where there is opposition, there are factions.

Wang Liang was no fool. He understood that before the real war began, both factions would try to recruit every possible talent, and if he could not accept faction quests, he would lose many opportunities compared to others.

Most importantly, not joining a faction meant being on the fence, pleasing neither side.

With these two eliminated, only Untouched by All Laws and Three Thousand Purple Qi remained.

Both had their merits: Untouched by All Laws would allow Wang Liang to ignore most attacks, while Three Thousand Purple Qi would make him appear as a master.

For most, Untouched by All Laws might seem the obvious choice, but Wang Liang’s attention was caught by the words "demeanor of a sage" in Three Thousand Purple Qi.

His heart stirred, and at last he made his choice.

"I choose Three Thousand Purple Qi."

He silently recited the words. Instantly, his vision brightened, and a strand of purple qi slowly formed above his head.

At the same time, it felt as if he were severed from the world; all his power concentrated at the crown of his head, where an invisible purple golden elixir was gradually taking shape.

At first, the elixir was but a purple point of light, but as Wang Liang’s understanding of the Supreme Mystery Sutra deepened, layer upon layer enveloped it, until it became a sphere the size of a fist.

The sphere was flawless, without blemish from any angle.

A purple aura radiated outward from the sphere, eventually enveloping Wang Liang entirely.

He now looked as if he were standing amidst a purple mist.

This transformation took place in an instant.

In that moment, the Dong family members who had invited Wang Liang into their ancestral shrine all felt a distinct change in his presence.

At first, Wang Liang seemed merely an ordinary traveler; now, he appeared as a true master.

Wang Liang regained his composure and thanked the Dong family.

They waved their hands hastily. "You honor us; we dare not accept your thanks."

The elder who had introduced Wang Liang added, "This is our family’s legacy. We have gained immense fortune and cannot take undue advantage."

These words left Wang Liang momentarily lost in thought. He smiled and replied, "Indeed, having gained such great fortune, one should not take undue advantage. I was not as clear-sighted as your family in the past."

After speaking, Wang Liang bid the elder farewell, who did not try to detain him, merely escorting him out of the ancestral shrine.

As they considered finding someone to guide Wang Liang out of the village, he smiled, mounted his azure steed, and dashed off, vanishing before their eyes.

Of course, Wang Liang did not act so for appearances; after forming his Golden Elixir, the system had notified him of his change in level. He needed to find a safe place to review his status.

The azure steed, having witnessed Wang Liang’s discussions with Lü Weng, possessed a strength perhaps even surpassing Wang Liang’s, though it could not enter the game.

Sensing Wang Liang’s intent, the steed sped forward, much as it had once carried him from his hometown to the vicinity of Bianzhou in Jianyi County.

Back at his own residence, Wang Liang entered the main building’s cellar.

By now, the front courtyards were lively, but all rooms in the main building remained unassigned.

Especially the nine rooms underground, each relatively important—now all empty.

Entering the safest and most central room, Wang Liang stood before the residence’s sand table and spoke.

"Enter game!"

In the next instant, Wang Liang’s residence vanished from Bianzhou in Jiangnan.

This was not the ascension of the residence, but Wang Liang’s method of entering the game. Since Lü Weng had taken away the pillow that allowed him to enter and exit the game in his sleep, the residence became his only link to the game.

Once he felt the residence had connected to the game, Wang Liang opened his attribute panel and studied it carefully.

[Name: Wang Liang (Versatile Wang Ji Long)]
[Gender: Male]
[Class: None]
[Level: 21 (47%)]
[Identity: None]
[Attributes (Unarmed): Strength: 10, Agility: 4, Constitution: 10, Spirit: 6, Status: Good, Free Attribute Points: 11]
[Talents: Dream Realm Celestial 1st level (Activated), Three Thousand Purple Qi (Golden Elixir special effect, Activated)]
[Skills: Supreme Mystery Sutra Master 4th level, Classic of Changes Proficient 3rd level, Mo Dao Proficient 1st level, Riding Mastery 1st level, Archery Mastery 1st level, Sacrificial Slash Mastery 1st level, Innate Qian Kun Technique Entry 1st level, Water Avoidance Spell Entry 1st level]
[Secondary Professions: Cooking Entry 1st level, Archaeology Entry 1st level]