Though the benefits are many, this stage is extremely difficult. Many cultivators linger at peak Foundation‑Building, afraid to attempt the breakthrough—terrified that if they fail to form their core, they'll be stuck at Foundation‑Building forever, unable to advance.
The so-called 'core' is formed in the dantian and becomes the source of all a cultivator's power. If the membrane in the dantian during Foundation‑Building is like thin paper, then the surface of the core is as strong as steel—tough, powerful, and even capable of self‑destruction. That's what cultivators mean by perishing together with their enemies; the resulting explosion is unimaginable.
So, if you attempt the breakthrough from peak Foundation‑Building and fail, the best outcome is staying at Foundation‑Building. The worst is becoming half‑crippled—your dantian destroyed, unable to gather spiritual energy ever again.
This makes many timid cultivators unwilling to move forward. They remain at Foundation‑Building until their lifespan ends. Some bold and lucky ones fail but still linger at Foundation‑Building, while others suffer tragedy—losing their cultivation and becoming mere mortals with a cultivator's body but no power.
Thinking about all this, Evan Yang doesn't hesitate. This is the only path forward for him—if he gives up today, he'll never dare again. No matter what, he has to try. Especially since his dantian holds those three strange leaves formed by the Heaven‑Cold Seed, making him unsure how to form his core.
So before attempting core formation, he carefully studies the structure of his dantian, wondering whether to fuse the three leaves into the core or keep them separate. After thinking it over for a long time, he finally decides—even if he fails, at least the three leaves will remain. He leaves the leaves alone and begins gathering all his spiritual power, charging straight into his dantian.
Spiritual power surges, slowly gathering in Evan Yang's dantian. The membrane‑like wall thickens bit by bit. Just as a small sphere is about to form, the three leaves suddenly move—and even the motionless Colorless Flame darts toward the newly formed sphere.
"Stop!" Evan Yang can't imagine what would happen if the three leaves fused with the core, or if the Colorless Flame mixed in as well—he fears disaster.
Just as he shouts, Evan feels a sudden surge of power inside him that knocks him out cold.
Evan Yang lies dazed on the ground. "Did I fail?" he mutters. The rush just now makes him suspect his dantian might be ruined. Even Jade Rabbit, who ran out, stares at him curiously as he lies there.
He wants to try flying again, but seeing the strange domain overhead, he has no choice but to wait until he leaves this place.
Though he doesn't understand why his core turned out so strange, considering the odd seed and Colorless Flame in his body, he decides to just let things develop naturally.
He happily leaves the Death Crystal Field's periphery with Jade Rabbit. As for the deadly core area, he doesn't want to risk dying there yet. He's already spent half a month inside and just wants to go out, maybe check out the Hundred-Year Pact and those famous formation clans, preparing for his future journey to Central Province.
"Old Clam, disguise my cultivation as peak Foundation‑Building." Evan Yang says. Old Clam easily simulates this level. If anyone were here, they'd find it strange—someone who just flew now seems only Foundation‑Building.
Evan Yang does this to add another layer of protection, hiding his true strength.
Soon, Evan Yang cheerfully passes through the gorge and arrives at Tiger Village, only to find it silent.
Seeing Tiger Village deserted, Evan Yang feels a sense of foreboding. He rushes in and finds graves in front of every house.
"What happened here?" Evan Yang is shocked to see graves with names in front of each house. The more he sees, the more anxious he becomes, heading for Tiger's house, which he finds empty—unlike the other houses, there is no grave.
"What's going on?" Except for Tiger and Wei Ting's house, every other house has a grave in front. It's very strange.
"They're all dead!" As Evan Yang searches for survivors, a familiar voice sounds behind him.
Evan Yang turns and sees a small, thin figure watching him. The frail figure walks over and says, "When I arrived, they were already like this."
"Why are you here?" It's none other than Jax Jia, who parted ways with Evan Yang half a year ago, surprising him.
Jax Jia says calmly, "Let's leave here first. I'll explain the details later."
Evan Yang looks around at all the graves but finds no survivors, so he leaves Tiger Village with Jax Jia.
While walking, Jax Jia breaks the silence: "Do you want to know how they died?" Of course Evan Yang wants to know—especially since only Tiger and Wei Ting's house lacks a grave, which might mean they're still alive. That's what he hopes most.
Jax Jia, walking beside Evan Yang, gradually explains what happened here.
Someone saw Evan Yang kill some loose cultivators in Tiger Village, so Jax Jia rushed over after hearing the news. According to his investigation, it’s highly likely that those loose cultivators’ friends came for revenge and wiped out the village. As for the exact truth, Jax Jia isn’t completely sure.
Though not certain, Evan Yang is convinced his mistake led to Tiger Village’s destruction. He’s anxious—were Tiger and Wei Ting kidnapped or did they escape?
Seeing Evan Yang’s worried face, Jax Jia says, "I heard a boy and a girl escaped."
"Are you sure?" Evan Yang snaps back to attention, excited, grabbing Jax Jia’s arms.
"I just heard about it. As for what really happened, I don't know." Jax Jia says, annoyed at Evan Yang for grabbing his arm so hard.
At least this news calms Evan Yang a lot. When he comes to his senses, he realizes he used too much force, so he quickly lets go and smiles, "Sorry about that."
"I didn’t expect you to get so close to those villagers," Jax Jia says with a sidelong glance.
"Not really, but without them, I might never have gotten out." Evan Yang relied on the chief’s map for many locations—without it, he wouldn’t have dared stay nearly half a month.
"You made me search everywhere for you!" Jax Jia suddenly blurts out after Evan Yang’s problem is resolved.
Seeing Jax Jia back to his usual self, Evan Yang asks helplessly, "Why were you looking for me?"
"Evan, you really are something—gone for over half a year, I thought you were dead!" Jax Jia says angrily.
"You too! If White Slope City’s lord hadn’t seen you leave with Miss Chu, I’d have thought something happened to you," Evan Yang says, shivering.
"After I came out, I searched everywhere for you but couldn’t find you, so I went to cultivate. Only recently did I hear news about you, so I came looking—and I have some bad news." Jax Jia looks at Evan Yang strangely.
"Bad news? What do you mean?" Evan Yang’s eyes widen as soon as Jax Jia mentions bad news.
Jax Jia thinks for a moment, then says, "Recently, the Chu family reported that Miss Chu has contracted an illness. It’s been months and she hasn’t recovered."
"Why is that?" Evan Yang asks, suddenly serious. He has feelings for this girl he can’t quite express.
"I don’t know. It happened suddenly. I know you’re good friends, so I wanted to tell you. If you have time, you should go see her—maybe it’ll be your last chance." Jax Jia says calmly.
"Where is the Chu family?" Evan Yang asks urgently, thinking she’s gravely ill.
"Look at you, all worried. She’s not dying right away." Jax Jia says, rolling his eyes.
"It’s all because of what you said. Hurry up and lead the way." Evan Yang says helplessly.
Jax Jia leads Evan Yang toward the Chu family. To avoid attention, Evan Yang keeps his cultivation at Foundation‑Building. Only Jax Jia, walking with him, notices Evan’s peak Foundation‑Building and is surprised, but Evan explains and Jax Jia lets it go, not asking further.
They rush along without stopping. Evan Yang keeps thinking about the events in the Foundation‑Building space—a year ago, but still vividly clear, as if it happened yesterday.
"What’s wrong? Are you worried?" Jax Jia asks, seeing Evan’s strange expression.
"She’s my friend—how could I not worry?" Evan Yang forces a weak smile.
"If I ever get sick or seriously injured, would you be this worried about me?" Jax Jia mutters beside Evan Yang, acting like a little girl.
"Of course! Why are you asking such silly questions today? Hurry up!" Evan Yang says, feeling Jax Jia’s words are unlucky at this moment.
"I don’t know. It happened suddenly. I know you’re good friends, so I wanted to tell you. If you have time, you should go see her—maybe it’ll be your last chance." Jax Jia says calmly.
"Where is the Chu family?" Evan Yang asks urgently, thinking she’s gravely ill.
"Look at you, all worried. She’s not dying right away." Jax Jia says, rolling his eyes.
"It’s all because of what you said. Hurry up and lead the way." Evan Yang says helplessly.
Jax Jia leads Evan Yang toward the Chu family. To avoid attention, Evan Yang keeps his cultivation at Foundation-Building. Only Jax Jia, walking with him, notices Evan’s peak Foundation-Building and is surprised, but Evan explains and Jax Jia lets it go, not asking further.
They rush along without stopping. Evan Yang keeps thinking about the events in the Foundation-Building space—a year ago, but still vividly clear, as if it happened yesterday.
"What’s wrong? Are you worried?" Jax Jia asks, seeing Evan’s strange expression.
"She’s my friend—how could I not worry?" Evan Yang forces a weak smile.
"If I ever get sick or seriously injured, would you be this worried about me?" Jax Jia mutters beside Evan Yang, acting like a little girl.
"Of course! Why are you asking such silly questions today? Hurry up!" Evan Yang says, feeling Jax Jia’s words are unlucky at this moment.