Chapter Eighty-One: Advancing to the Golden Core

Seeing Tang Wei looking so befuddled, Lord Ziyang teased, “Little girl, we are gods, you know. Surely we can maintain any appearance we desire!”

“Gods, huh! In my mind, a powerful god should look like a white-bearded old sage. You, on the other hand, don’t appear dignified at all!” Tang Wei wrinkled her nose in distaste.

Ziyang was at a loss for words upon hearing this, rubbing his forehead as if troubled. “Ah! What sort of daughter-in-law have I found for Xuan’er? She’s really giving me a headache. But seeing how gentle and caring Xuan’er was just now, his time in the human realm must have been quite happy. Well, this girl makes me worry, but perhaps Xuan’er feels the same way! Everyone has their own preferences—as long as Xuan’er is happy, all I’ve done for him is worthwhile!”

Zi Xuan, seeing Ziyang momentarily silenced by Tang Wei’s words, thought he was angry, not realizing he was actually feeling comforted by his son’s happiness. He hurried to reassure him, “Senior, please don’t be angry. Weiwei just speaks bluntly; she means no harm.”

“Senior? Xuan’er, you should call me father—have you forgotten? Ah, I’m the muddled one. Now that Xuan’er has awakened, he must have forgotten all his past. That’s good! My Xuan’er can finally live happily!” Hearing Zi Xuan call him ‘senior,’ Ziyang felt a pang of sadness, murmuring these words to console himself.

Having thought it through, Ziyang walked up to Zi Xuan, gently touching his head and said softly, “Xuan’er, remember, I am your father—though you may have forgotten now, one day you will recall. From now on, you must live happily, free of burdens. Whatever you wish to do, just do it; I will always support you!”

Zi Xuan knew he ought to call this man ‘father,’ but there wasn’t a single trace of memory of him in his mind; the word simply wouldn’t come out. Yet, seeing Ziyang’s expression and hearing his sorrowful words, Zi Xuan felt a pang in his heart and involuntarily called out, “Father!”

Ziyang smiled in satisfaction and nodded, “My Xuan’er has finally opened his heart! That’s good, very good! Seeing you like this, your father is truly at ease.”

Tang Wei watched the heartfelt interaction between father and son from the side, feeling tears threaten to fall. If neither of them shed tears at their reunion, but she did from watching, wouldn’t that be embarrassing? She quickly forced herself to think of something else, wondering how this old man Ziyang had managed to come here. She walked over and quietly asked Xiaoling, “Xiaoling, didn’t you say our world can’t withstand a god’s power? How did he get here?”

“This probably isn’t the true body of the old master. I’m not sure either! The old master never told me about it!” Xiaoling was equally baffled. The old master had suddenly appeared in the space to save them—could he have foreseen it? But the fate of cultivators is so difficult to predict!

Even while conversing with Zi Xuan, Ziyang kept a close eye on Tang Wei’s every move. After all, she was the bride he’d chosen for Xuan’er, so he took this opportunity to observe her carefully; he couldn’t let Xuan’er be wronged.

In just a few minutes, Ziyang felt he had seen right through her. The girl was simple, pure-hearted, perhaps a bit slow-witted, but once she fell in love, she would cherish Xuan’er dearly. Her temperament matched Xuan’er’s well, most importantly, Xuan’er liked her.

Ziyang nodded in approval—while he wasn’t entirely satisfied with this daughter-in-law, he gave her a solid seven out of ten. Once they returned, he would tell Xuan’er’s mother, so she could rest easy too.

Seeing Tang Wei secretly conversing with Xiaoling, Ziyang chuckled and explained, “Little girl, stop guessing. My true form cannot come here; what you see now is merely a wisp of my divine sense. When its power is exhausted, it will disperse.”

“How did Father’s divine sense remain in the Purple Pearl Space?” Zi Xuan, now comfortable calling him ‘father,’ asked again.

“Stop being so suspicious. I forged this space myself; setting up a few things inside and keeping it hidden from Xiaoling is child’s play!” Ziyang laughed, feigning a scolding tone. Seeing Zi Xuan call him ‘father’ so naturally, Ziyang felt genuine joy and would never truly scold him.

“Master Ziyang, what did you set up inside?” Tang Wei, unconcerned about their father-son moment, was driven by curiosity and couldn’t help but ask.

“You still know to call me Master Ziyang! Well then, since you’re so spirited, I’ll tell you. After the Purple Pearl Space was bound to your souls, it became attuned to your hearts—part of your bodies, really. As long as you’re in the same world, no matter how far apart, you can enter the Purple Pearl Space together. With Xiaoling as the artifact spirit, you three are now linked by fate. Haven’t you noticed the space sometimes feels unstable?” Ziyang was in high spirits, speaking at length. If this were the divine realm, these two would be terrified—the famed Lord Ziyang joking with mortals!

“Really? I never noticed anything. Did you?” Tang Wei boldly denied it, exaggeratingly asking Zi Xuan and Xiaoling.

“This girl! After everything that happened today, you still didn’t notice? I truly admire you!” Ziyang shook his head in helplessness. Was she slow or just clueless? He hoped she didn’t make Xuan’er foolish as well!

“Father! What exactly happened today?” Zi Xuan quickly changed the subject, not wanting his father to trouble Tang Wei. His wife was his to protect.

“In fact, the Purple Pearl Space was originally crafted as a small medicinal garden. At the time, I knew Xuan’er’s resurrection would require the five elements’ spiritual energy, so I risked my life in the Chaos Realm to find five-element stones as the base. Perhaps because I used chaotic five-element stones, the space became its own world. But since it lacked a realm stone to support it, any major disturbance could cause it to collapse.” Ziyang didn’t mind Zi Xuan’s concerns; as long as his son was happy, he’d answer whatever was asked.

“The Purple Pearl Space could collapse at any time?” Zi Xuan repeated with a frown. From the moment he awoke, Tang Wei became the most important presence in his life. If the space was dangerous, he wouldn’t let Weiwei enter again.

Ziyang smiled and continued, “When I forged the Purple Pearl, I lost all my cultivation. Your mother and two uncles suffered injuries as well. The search for the realm stone was delayed. When you finally found this girl, the only suitable candidate, things couldn’t wait any longer. So, I set up a forbidden ritual in the space: first, to guard against accidents—if something happened, I could instantly appear to save you. Second, once the realm stone was found, I could come patch the flaw. Today, I sensed trouble from the divine realm and sent a wisp of divine sense carrying the realm stone, just in time to save you.”

Tang Wei, hearing that the space was now safe, ran over in delight and tugged at Ziyang’s sleeve to confirm, “Master Ziyang, does that mean nothing like today will ever happen again in this space?”

Seeing the girl so close, Ziyang fondly tapped her head, beaming, “Yes, you’re happy now, aren’t you? Not only is the space stable, but from now on, not even I can enter without your permission. The Purple Pearl Space has become inseparable from your bodies.”

“Wow! That’s wonderful—I can finally relax!” Tang Wei exclaimed in joy. Next time she entered, she wouldn’t have to worry about dying inside; that was her greatest fear, everything else was secondary.

Zi Xuan was not as quickly reassured and asked, “Father, didn’t you say the space could withstand a god’s full power? Why did such a drastic event happen just because our cultivation dropped a bit?”

“Silly Xuan’er, the Purple Pearl Space can indeed bear external attacks, but your cultivation forms its internal structure. When your cultivation suddenly drops so much, the space can’t adapt and collapses. But now, don’t worry! I’ve embedded the realm stone. From now on, this space is a true world—your world.”

Ziyang looked at Zi Xuan with comfort and went on, “All right, Xuan’er, enough questions. I don’t have much time; let me use the last of my power to help you both advance your cultivation. That way, I can be at ease in the divine realm. Now, both of you, sit cross-legged and begin to break through to the Golden Core, to achieve the chaotic body. Remember to relax completely!”

As he spoke, Ziyang began gathering spiritual energy, ready to forcibly channel it into them, instructing as he worked, “Listen carefully—after you attain the chaotic body, you can release chaotic spiritual energy inside the Purple Pearl Space. Outside, you must always transform it into any one or two types of spiritual roots. If anyone detects it, you’ll invite disaster.”

“The girl is safe, with the Five Spirits Treasure to conceal her; no one will discover it. But Xuan’er, you must be extra careful—did you hear me?”

As the last surge of spiritual energy filled their bodies, the purple figure grew fainter, so faint that a breeze could scatter him. Ziyang looked at Zi Xuan with reluctance, sighed, and said, “Children, I can help you no further. The rest of your journey is up to you.”

He glanced at Xiaoling, standing to the side, and said, “Xiaoling, you have faithfully served Xuan’er and his wife. Let my last bit of energy be your reward; prepare yourself!”

“Master!” Xiaoling cried out in panic. Seeing Ziyang ignore her and condense his fading form into a ball of light, which flew toward her, Xiaoling hurriedly sat cross-legged. The purple energy entered through the crown of her head, strengthening her spiritual body.

As the spiritual energy faded, Ziyang’s divine sense dissipated, unnoticed by the three seated on the floor. Xiaoling’s body flickered with purple light as she worked to absorb the energy, transforming it into her own power. Meanwhile, Zi Xuan and Tang Wei were enveloped in a five-colored sphere, immersed in a spiritual realm, spinning as they strove to achieve the chaotic spiritual body.