If a tiny Core Formation Stage exploded, it could easily pulverize an entire high-rise building—this is the terrifying power of a martial artist's Core Formation. Unfortunately, the Core Formation of a martial artist isn't the same as a cultivator's Golden Core. Its destructive force is immense, but its lifespan is only a hundred and fifty years, unlike cultivators who, after forming a Golden Core and surviving the heavenly tribulation, gain five hundred years of life.
But in terms of combat power, cultivators can't compare to the martial artists of this world.
With a thought, the tiny Yuan Dan rose from his dantian, swiftly coursed through his body, and released waves of increasingly scorching energy, tempering him inside and out.
This power seemed scorching, but Ian Song felt an unexpected warmth.
Another month passed inside the Divine Temple, and Ian Song's cultivation had fully stabilized. It was time to leave seclusion.
With a thought, Ian Song stepped out and put away the formation in the room.
"You finished your closed-door cultivation?"
Seeing Ian Song walk out of the room, the veiled Myriad Flower Valley girl looked astonished.
More than two months had passed inside the Divine Temple, but in the real world, it had only been about half an hour.
"Hey, I'm a genius—can't expect me to be like everyone else!" Ian Song grinned.
"Tch!"
The veiled girl looked disdainful, but somehow felt Ian Song had changed. Instinctively, she released her spiritual sense, then her mouth dropped open in shock as she stared at Ian: "You... you broke through to the Core Formation Stage?"
"Is that so strange?" Ian Song retorted.
"How is that possible? Just half an hour—there's no way you could break through!" The veiled girl's spiritual sense confirmed Ian Song had reached Core Formation, but she still couldn't believe it.
"Same thing—geniuses and ordinary people just aren't the same!" Ian Song looked even more smug. Then, he activated his Clairvoyant Vision and glanced outside the auction house. His face instantly turned cold—he'd spotted nearly a dozen Core Formation Stage martial artists lurking nearby, and even one Sigilforge Realm expert among them.
"Perfect, I'll use you trash as sacrifices for my fists!" Ian Song snorted to himself.
……
"Young Master Chu, why not stay a few more days? There's no need to rush off!"
Hearing Ian Song was leaving, Sherry Summers advised him with meaningful intent—clearly, she knew someone was waiting outside to deal with him.
"It's fine, just a bunch of nobodies—not worth worrying about!" Ian Song waved dismissively, looking utterly unconcerned.
The veiled Myriad Flower Valley girl—her name was Xia Qian—paused in surprise, giving Ian Song a curious look. She distinctly remembered that he was only at the Divine Sea Stage before, so how had he suddenly reached Core Formation? But she quickly reasoned that Ian must have deliberately concealed his true cultivation earlier using some special method.
Still, there were Sigilforge experts lurking outside, so she added, "Young Master Chu, you'd better be careful out there!"
"Miss Xia, I appreciate your concern. We'll be heading out now—take care!"
Ian didn't take her warning to heart at all.
"Alright then, Young Master Chu. Take care," Xia Qian said coolly. She'd tried her best to warn him, but since he didn't appreciate it, she couldn't be bothered to intervene further. If he ended up in danger, she'd just step in to save him at the last moment—let him owe the auction house a big favor.
As Ian, Chloe, and the veiled girl stepped out of the auction house, dozens of eyes around them lit up, filled with restless anticipation.
"Quick, go tell Young Master Ray—let him know that kid just came out!"
Inside a nearby restaurant, a burly man barked at his companions, then leapt down with two others to surround Ian and his group.
Ian glanced calmly at the three men and said, "So you guys are Ray Bolton's goons? What are you trying to pull by blocking my way?"
Hearing Ian call them goons, the three men bristled—even if that was exactly what they were. One of them snapped, "Kid, you've got a real mouth on you for someone about to die. When we're done with you, I'm gonna rip that mouth off and toss it in the toilet!"
Ian just smirked, his tone light and breezy. "You guys aren't even worth my time. If you don't want to die, you'd better scram now."
"Hahaha!"
The three men burst out laughing in unison. "Still don't get it, do you? Guess we’ll have to teach you a lesson!"
As soon as he finished speaking, one of them lunged forward, swinging a punch.
His fist gleamed with divine light, crashing down like thunder, the air splitting with a deafening boom as he aimed straight for Ian.
Seeing this, Ian narrowed his eyes and stepped forward, throwing out a punch of his own.
Bang!
Their fists collided in midair. Divine light shattered, and Ray's lackey screamed as he was blasted back like a cannonball.
Ian chased after him, fist cocked. The other two goons rushed in from both sides, trying to flank him.
"Out of my way!"