Instead of liquid Slaughter Essence, Origin Core realm martial artists drew their Essence energy from a small and compact cumulation of their Slaughter Essence, commonly known as an origin core.

This meant that Origin Core realm martial artists' inner worlds were effectively reduced to a single point within their body, centred upon this small origin core.

The reason why it had been named as the origin core was because from then on, it would become the origin of a martial artist's strength.

It was only natural then that the purer the origin core was, the smoother the path would be for the martial artist in the future.

For this reason, martial artists had been trying to find the best method to increase the purity of the resultant origin core since ages past. Even if it was already too late for those who had long formed their own origin core, they pursued this knowledge nonetheless.

There were different motives for this.

Some wanted to help out the generations to come, others wanted to sell the method to leaders of powerful influences.

There were also people with various other reasons such simply as wanting to take reference from this knowledge to reinforce their other theories.

But one thing remained the same.

No matter who it was, everyone yearned for every bit of knowledge that could potentially aid in the arduous road of cultivation.

Xihuang Yuanfeng was no exception. He, too, once pursued the pinnacle of martial arts before he was trapped in this rock chamber.

In fact, throughout his life, Xihuang Yuanfeng had witnessed lots of different methods being put to use by others as well. Even if there would only be the slightest bit of increase in purity for the resultant origin core, it would be worth it for the sake of their talented juniors.

However, all of these exquisite methods that he had seen required heavy investments of resources, both in terms of research and execution.

Only powerful influences could afford the resources to help out their descendants in such a manner, and this was just one of the examples why a martial artist's fortune was so important.

Fortune and talent, these were the main attributes that could impact a martial artist's growth.

No matter how talented a martial artist was, without sufficient fortune, it would still be impossible to compete against those who enjoyed the luxury of a completely different starting line.

That was what Xihuang Yuanfeng had always believed in as well.. until now.

Right before his eyes, Lu Tianzi had suddenly entered a special state of cultivation, one that Xihuang Yuanfeng had never witnessed before in his life.

World Origin Energy gathered around Lu Tianzi, but Lu Tianzi did not absorb everything hungrily like how most people would when they were cultivating.

Instead, the rate of absorption was unnaturally slow.

It was as if the densely packed World Origin Energy around him was being funnelled through an invisible filter before being allowed into his body. Through this process, impurities were sieved out, allowing only pure energy to enter.

In fact, not only the newly absorbed World Origin Energy was being funnelled through this filter.

Bit by bit, the existing liquid Slaughter Essence in his inner world was also being run through this invisible filter, every bit of liquid Slaughter Essence that passed through the filter would reemerge with the impurities fully refined.

There was a slight difference, but the thing happening to Lu Tianzi was definitely something similar to the special methods used by powerful influences to boost the refinement rate of their juniors who were at the Peak Essence Condensation realm.

What's more important was that Lu Tianzi did not receive any help whatsoever, not even from Xihuang Yuanfeng himself.

And yet he was able to imitate these methods?

Was this the power of an overwhelming martial talent, such that he could completely disregard the concept of fortune?

No, in the first place, Lu Tianzi should not even know of these profound methods, so how was it even possible for him to imitate them?

This made no sense!

Xihuang Yuanfeng was completely baffled. Still, he could not help but to watch on eagerly, wanting to see for himself just what would happen next.

The invisible filter initially existed on two different levels, one lining over his physical while the other lining over his inner world. But as time passed, the first layer resceded ever so slowly, sinking deeper and deeper into his body, until it finally joined with the lining over his inner world.

The existence of this invisible filter was also what resulted in Lu Tianzi's slower rate of absorption of energy, but he was not too worried about that.

After all, what he was most concerned about right now was the elimination of impurities.

What was the point of absorbing World Origin Energy at a mind boggling rate, only to have to slowly refine all the impurities that came with it later?

Forming the origin core was a process in which liquid Slaughter Essence would be drawn away from all around the body, coming together at a single point. If a martial artist wanted to execute this process to perfection, he naturally had to first understand it.

In Lu Tianzi's eyes, this was a concept similar to returning to origin.

And with his comprehensions into the Law of Origin, Lu Tianzi held the absolute advantage in this matter.

To fully comprehend the Law of Origin was to see through the grand cycle of all existences.

While the current Lu Tianzi was still a ways off from such a level, he was at least able to understand the liquid Slaughter Essence within his own inner world.

And this understanding was what enabled him to set up this invisible filter with his Essence energy, designed to trap and remove all impurities that did not belong to the grand cycle of existence of his Slaughter Essence.

It was a slow process, but it was certainly working extremely well.

In fact, it was working so well that Xihuang Yuanfeng started to feel his heart beating faster and faster in excitement as he continued to watch on.

Not only was Lu Tianzi slowly refining the impurities in his inner world, he was also able to completely eliminate the introduction of new impurities. The latter was something that Xihuang Yuanfeng had never seen before in his life!

At this rate, Lu Tianzi might just be able to completely cleanse his inner world of all impurities, thereby forming the true origin core, an origin core that was absolute and pure.

True origin core.. that was something that even Xihuang Yuanfeng had only heard of in legends!

A true origin core would allow a martial artist to bring out one hundred percent of his true potential, allowing him to leave his peers in the dust.

This did not only refer to the martial artist's current strength, but also his future path. With a true origin core, a martial artist's progression along the martial path would truly be limitless!

However, the chances of obtaining a true origin core were far too slim.

Just the fact that a martial artist had to first obtain a perfect transition to the Essence Condensation realm was already a huge hurdle, enough to eliminate the majority of martial artists.

Yet even that was actually nothing in comparison to the second requirement of a complete refinement of impurities at the Peak Essence Condensation realm, a feat that bordered along the lines of impossibility!

And now, right before Xihuang Yuanfeng's eyes, Lu Tianzi actually had a shot at achieving this. It was a painfully slow process, but if Lu Tianzi managed to do it, the result would certainly be worth the time and effort!

Xihuang Yuanfeng focused, cautiously spreading his perception out in all directions.

Thankfully, this was a relatively safe environment.

But even if it was not, Xihuang Yuanfeng understood that he had to give his all to make sure that absolutely nothing untoward happened to Lu Tianzi in the meantime.

He had no idea how Lu Tianzi managed to get this far, but that no longer mattered at this point. What mattered was that Lu Tianzi had actually managed to do so.

Even if Lu Tianzi eventually failed to form a true origin core, Xihuang Yuanfeng would still accept it as fate. After all, he understood just how difficult it was to do so.

But if Lu Tianzi somehow failed to form a true origin core because of Xihuang Yuanfeng's negligence in safeguarding him, then Xihuang Yuanfeng would never forgive himself for the remainder of his life!

While Lu Tianzi continued to refine the impurities in his liquid Slaughter Essence, Nanlan Qianxue similarly started to get used to the cultivation technique that Xihuang Yuanfeng had given to her.

Time passed quickly while the two youngsters remained in deep meditation.

Isolated in the rock chamber, everything seemed to be calm and peaceful. However, the same could not be said for the outside world.

***

Bluenight City, Nine Suns Sect.

In the front hall, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive. An Inner Sect member cautiously stepped into the room, afraid that any wrong movement could incur the wrath of the people within.

Sect Master Nanhui sat on the grand seat at the end of the front hall. Various elders were present as well, all of them seated to his sides. All of them wore dark expressions on their faces, their brows knitted in gloom.

"How was it? What did they say?" Elder Diansheng was the first to address the young lady who just stepped in.

"Reporting to Elder Diansheng, everyone who signed up for the Beast Hunt gave statements that aligned with those of our Outer Sect members," she answered immediately. "About thirty minutes before the meeting time, a group of masked men approached them and told them to wait elsewhere. When they refused, the group of masked men actually attacked them, chasing them away by force. They were far too strong for our Outer Sect members to contend against. However, since the group of masked men did not strike too ruthlessly, our Outer Sect members initially wanted to just keep quiet about the matter so that they would not be punished for their incompetency. Before they could return to the Northern Gate after that to adhere to the meeting time, the incident has already happened."

"This group of masked men was strong enough to defeat them easily, and yet they only dished out light injuries. It is obvious that they had no intention to hurt others," Elder Mingxin pondered out loud. "As expected, their targets are Nanlu Tianzi and Nanlan Qianxue, or at least any one of the two."

"Just who could do something like this?" Elder Diansheng gritted his teeth in rage. "If I ever find out who they are, I will definitely not let them live!"

"Enough," Sect Master Nanhui cut him off before turning to the Inner Sect member standing before them. "Continue to gather information and report back to us when you get wind of something, do not let anything pass you by without letting us know, no matter how unimportant it might seem. That's all, you may go now."

Despite Sect Master Nanhui's calm tone, a cold light flashed across his eyes. It was obvious that he shared Elder Diansheng's thoughts.

To target the two greatest talents among the younger generation of their Nine Suns Sect, this was equivalent to declaring war upon them.

There was simply no way that they would ever let this matter slide just like that!

***

Scarlet Moon City, Flying Dragon Hall.

Hall Master Beisheng Jue sipped his tea as he looked out the window of his room, his gaze landing on the bare winter trees outside. Just a few moments ago, he had received a report through his communication ring.

It was the news of an attack on the top ranker of the Scarlet Moon Heroes Meet, Nanlu Tianzi.

Nobody knew who the assailants were.

All they knew was that the whereabouts of both Nanlu Tianzi and his female companion were currently unknown. They were not answering any messages sent to their communication ring either.

Thinking about this, Hall Master Beisheng Jue could not help but to let out a satisfied smile.

It seemed that Elder Beiqian Zuo has finally made his move.

Now that the deed has been done, Elder Beiqian Zuo would probably be returning anytime now.

Perhaps it is about time to start making preparations to reinstate Elder Beiqian Zuo and allow him to resume his previous responsibilities!

***

Bluenight City, Bluenight Palace.

City Lord Nanlan could not help but pace up and down in his room, too restless to remain in his seat.

The news had spread, and the Nine Suns Sect had already sent out their members in full force, trying to gather as much information about the attack as possible.

In response, Bluenight Palace had sent out their soldiers to gather information about the matter as well.

But it was not purely to put up a show.

Yes, City Lord Nanlan knew better than anyone else who the assailants were. After all, he was one of those who planned the operation.

It was a fact that Nanlu Tianzi had completely gone off the grid after the assault. When City Lord Nanlan first heard of the frenzied response of the Nine Suns Sect elders, City Lord Nanlan had to admit that it felt pretty damn good.

That was exactly the result that he had wanted.

How arrogant were they during the banquet? This would teach them to be a little more humble in the future.

It was a pity that Qianxue was gone as well, but it was a necessary sacrifice for the greater good. At least he still had Qianbing by his side.

However, things did not end there.

After all, even after waiting for a full day, Elder Beiqian Zuo and Deputy City Lord Nandian had still yet to return with Nanlu Tianzi's head!

This was also the reason why City Lord Nanlan still needed his soldiers out there to gather information.

Not appearing, not even sending a message, it was as though the two of them had vanished along with Nanlu Tianzi.

So was the operation a success or a failure?

Did they die in the process? Or were they playing him out somehow?

Right now, City Lord Nanlan desperately wanted to find out just what the hell had happened to everyone involved, and he definitely had to find out before the Nine Suns Sect does as well!