The fierce wind roared, stirring up waves of shock.
The black clouds gathering in the sky became even denser. In the mountain-like layers of clouds, flashes of lightning would occasionally illuminate, showcasing its destructive power.
This massive storm, however, in the hands of Zhang Haobo, seemed like a wild horse restrained by reins, obediently moving in the predetermined direction.
"To peer into the laws of heaven and earth to refine the Golden Core..."
Zhang Haobo, surrounded by the raging storm, contemplated slowly.
"With my current strength, attempting a breakthrough is still a bit forced."
"But without the Golden Core, I can only be trapped at the Foundation Establishment stage, unable to make any progress."
"Time is pressing, and I don't have the luxury to slowly accumulate contribution points to exchange for Golden Core techniques."
"The only option now is..."
"A false Golden Core."
A hint of determination flashed in Zhang Haobo's eyes.
The method of creating a false Golden Core involves infusing one's body with the power of heaven and earth after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, forcefully breaking through and forming an illusory Golden Core constructed by the power of laws within the dantian.
This temporarily elevates one's cultivation to the Golden Core realm.
However, the false Golden Core method is not sustainable and can only last for a little over thirty days. The side effects are also terrifying. Even if one successfully condenses a real Golden Core later on, irreversible injuries will be left behind, putting an end to the cultivation path.
But Zhang Haobo has no other choice!
Going against the natural order is no easy task.
Zhang Haobo subtly looked up again, a trace of cold laughter crossing his heart.
Ever since his rebirth, he occasionally felt a sense of being spied on.
A prickling sensation on his back made him uneasy.
Originally, he thought it was just a kind of illusion, but after entering the Foundation Establishment stage, this feeling became even clearer.
Zhang Haobo understood that it was probably his various abnormal actions since his rebirth that caught the attention of someone above.
The killing intent from the heavens, the fate of the countless beings in the Cong Yun Sea, should have been predetermined.
Wanting to reverse fate will certainly face strong resistance.
On this point, Zhang Haobo had long been mentally prepared.
Predictably, as his strength continues to grow, this obstructive force will become stronger.
However, he is not without assistance.
Zhang Haobo subconsciously touched his chest, where a faint blue transparent bead was faintly visible.
He was not a Water Spirit Body.
In the Cong Yun Sea, where he could use spiritual energy freely without worrying about consumption, it was all thanks to the existence of this treasure.
What the name of this treasure is and how it came about, he has no idea.
It was only on the day he broke through to the Qi Condensation stage that he discovered this blue bead in his chest.
After some experimentation, he slowly learned the uses of this water bead.
It can help him rapidly recover spiritual energy at a terrifying speed.
It also makes it easier for him to comprehend the power of the laws between heaven and earth, especially those related to water and wind.
From time to time, images would appear in his mind, revealing some secrets in the Cong Yun Sea.
Previously, he was able to detect the peculiar space where the green wind and the sword hilt clashed and enter it without being noticed thanks to the assistance of this blue water bead.
Otherwise, even with his current cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage, it would have been impossible!
This mysterious treasure should be the benefit he gained as a reborn person.
It is also his reliance on reversing fate in this life!
Zhang Haobo's thoughts surged, gradually calming down.
His left hand stretched out, catching a strand of wind from afar, sensing the upcoming wind disaster.
Constantly adjusting the speed and direction of the small storm he was manipulating.
In his mind, he calculated and simulated the possible outcome after two storms collided.
"The day when the storms meet will be the time I condense the false Golden Core."
A glint of determination flashed in Zhang Haobo's eyes, and then, hidden in the wind and rain, his figure slowly disappeared into the storm.
...
Although Li Fan could monitor Zhang Haobo's every move, he couldn't see into his inner thoughts.
So, naturally, he was unaware of what had happened to Zhang Haobo.
And now, he didn't have the time to care.
Since starting to learn the art of arrays with Zhang Zhiliang, he had no free time at all.
Zhang Zhiliang would leave for a while after teaching for some time to attend to other matters, but before leaving, he would leave corresponding array problems for Li Fan to study.
Often, before Li Fan could complete these problems, Zhang Zhiliang would return.
After correcting and explaining the problems, Zhang Zhiliang would start teaching again.
This cycle continued endlessly, not leaving any time for rest.
When Zhang Zhiliang felt Li Fan's mental fatigue had reached a certain level, he would ignite a silver-colored incense.
The fragrance was faint, and after Li Fan smelled it, the mental fatigue immediately vanished.
Then, under Zhang Zhiliang's gaze, he continued to focus on studying.
This process seemed endless.
It even made Li Fan feel like time was passing very slowly.
Every second of studying arrays felt like torture.
He couldn't wait for it to end soon.
If it weren't for his firm determination and the three mental trials he underwent at Qin Tang's trial earlier, his endurance might not have been enough.
After who knows how long, Zhang Zhiliang brought back another person.
Their progress differed, so they weren't taught together.
Instead, in this dark starry sky, identical phantoms appeared, separating to lecture the other person.
Li Fan only then realized that the person who had been teaching him might not be a real person.
The so-called leaving for other matters was just an excuse.
It was probably just to test his diligence when unsupervised.
Li Fan shook his head, not bothering with the other apprentice.
After setting a two-year deadline reminder, he no longer cared about anything else.
He immersed himself single-mindedly in the study of array techniques.
So, time passed, and he lost track of the years.
One day, while Li Fan was frowning in thought, his face suddenly changed drastically.
It was as if his brain had been fiercely struck by some giant object, and the world spun around him, stars twinkling.
Blood flowed from his nose and eye sockets, giving him a terrifying appearance.
Zhang Zhiliang's figure suddenly appeared.
He looked at Li Fan strangely but didn't ask much.
Instead, he ignited the silver incense again.
This time, the fragrance was even more intense than before.
The mental trauma caused just now rapidly improved after inhaling this fragrance.
In just half a day, Li Fan felt his injuries were gone, completely recovered.
At this moment, Li Fan finally had the chance to check the last image transmitted to his mind.
"Zhang Haobo broke through to the Golden Core realm?"
He turned his head slightly, gazing into the distance, a strange expression on his face.