**Chapter 244: Dual Alchemy Refining**

A sense of cruelty and madness emanated from the pitch-black giant hand, reminiscent of the previously suppressed Heavenly Scourge Sword.

However, before this ominous giant hand could make a move, a vast amount of blue light suddenly lit up behind the Taiyi Hall, deep within the Cloud-Water Heavenly Palace.

It appeared as if an endless ocean was hanging upside down in the sky.

Under the enveloping and reflection of the blue light, it seemed to be constantly washed by an endless sea.

The darkness on the giant hand slowly faded away under this blue light, returning to its original color.

The blue light suddenly retracted, and the Cloud-Water Heavenly Palace returned to silence.

Many cultivators who witnessed this change believed that some extraordinary treasure had appeared there. Summoning their courage, they approached, only to discover a dozen headless corpses lying on the ground.

Their expressions changed drastically.

Thinking about the giant sword emitting an ominous black aura they had seen before, the onlookers dared not take any unnecessary actions and hastily retreated.

News of the unusual and dangerous situation deep within the Cloud-Water Heavenly Palace quickly spread through the Misty Cloud Sea as cultivators communicated with each other.

"It seems that the next time I want to deceive someone to trigger the manifestation of the Heavenly Scourge Sword, it won't be so easy."

"However, with the [Divine Transformation Art One] technique, there is no practical difference between observing once and observing multiple times for me."

Having achieved his goal for this trip, Li Fan quietly returned to the Wanxian Island.

In the Tianxuan Mirror, he repeatedly replayed the scene of the Heavenly Scourge Sword being unsheathed, causing the death of over ten cultivators with just a slight trembling of the sword's sound.

From the perspective of the heavens and the earth, Li Fan saw that the spiritual energy around the cultivators, which was originally peaceful, became chaotic in an instant when the sound arrived.

It was as if it had transformed into sharp yet gentle strings, detonating the heads of the cultivators in constant vibration.

"Sha..."

Repeatedly comprehending this scene hundreds of times, Li Fan slowly gained some understanding.

The scene shifted, and Li Fan focused his attention on what happened afterward.

Countless blue lights surged into the sky, resembling an inverted ocean.

Majestic and spectacular.

Li Fan carefully pondered.

"The feeling of this blue energy is very familiar to me."

"It seems to be extremely similar to the Misty Cloud Sea."

"But for some reason, the ocean represented by this blue light seems to be even broader than the Misty Cloud Sea..."

"Han Hai..."

Originally, Li Fan intended to use the Heavenly Scourge and Ink Slaughter methods to condense the golden core first.

However, after unexpectedly witnessing the blue light of Han Hai, Li Fan hesitated again.

This blue light of Han Hai seemed to be closely related to the Misty Cloud Sea.

Since Li Fan was very familiar with the Misty Cloud Sea and had personally used the Cang Hai Pearl to build his foundation, he pondered the situation.

**Chapter 244: Dual Alchemy Refining**

Condensing the golden core with the method of Han Hai was evidently more advantageous.

"As seen from the scene where the Heavenly Scourge could contaminate and transform the blue light, perhaps the sole method of the Heavenly Scourge might have some impact on one's will, making it difficult to suppress the violent intent."

"While the blue light of Han Hai serves as a perfect buffer."

"Furthermore, combining it with the Ink Slaughter method, if there is any inadequacy in the Han Hai method, it can be supplemented with the Blue Flame method..."

"To condense a Four Symbols Golden Core in one go."

With the initial tone set, Li Fan temporarily set aside other matters and immersed himself in seclusion and cultivation.

The duration of the process of condensing the golden core varied based on individual aptitude and the different cultivation methods practiced.

Previously, under the influence of the will in the Misty Cloud Sea, Zhang Haobo, using the Water-Wind method, had condensed a false core in just over a month.

However, for Li Fan, it might not be so easy.

The extraordinary item for building the foundation quietly transformed into the Cang Hai Pearl.

Threads of blue light, representing the power of water attribute laws, surged out from the Cang Hai Pearl.

Like silk, it wove around the foundation item as its core.

Li Fan contemplated the scene of Han Hai making a move.

Blending his own understanding of the laws into it.

The blue light emanating from the Cang Hai Pearl seemed to undergo a change in an instant.

Becoming even more profound and ancient.

Due to the many similarities between the foundation item Cang Hai Pearl and the Han Hai method, this process was much faster than Li Fan had anticipated.

Gradually, a deep blue halo enveloped the surroundings of the Cang Hai Pearl.

A rudimentary "golden core" took shape.

"If it continues like this, a golden core purely formed by the Han Hai method might be condensed immediately."

"However, that is not my goal."

"Next, I will add the Heavenly Scourge method."

In the sea of consciousness, moments of the unsheathing of the Heavenly Scourge Sword constantly flashed.

Strands of darkness suddenly surged out from the core of the extraordinary item, resembling ink as it spread within the blue light.

However, what slightly furrowed Li Fan's brow was that the black color representing the Heavenly Scourge method couldn't persist for long.

It only endured for a moment within the encirclement of the blue light before dissipating completely.

Li Fan, who had read the experiences of many cultivators in forming their golden cores, immediately understood the reason.

This was because the Heavenly Scourge method had no foundation within Li Fan's body.

Like water without a source and a tree without roots, it could only appear momentarily but couldn't last.

The Han Hai method, with the foundation of the Cang Hai Pearl, naturally had an endless source.

This was also the reason why cultivators often couldn't balance multiple cultivation methods when forming their golden cores.

**Chapter 244: Dual Alchemy Refining**

Without a foundation like his own Dao Foundation, it was not easy to gather multiple methods into a pill.

Li Fan attempted for a long time, but the speed of condensing the Heavenly Scourge method could never catch up with its diffusion.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Fan temporarily gave up the attempt.

Instead, he reflected on the scene when Zhang Haobo formed his golden core.

The black sword intent shadow was magnified countless times, standing between heaven and earth.

Green winds blew into the sword body from the sword tip above, and blue water flowed into the sword body from the sword hilt below.

The three colors of green, blue, and black mixed together, and the sword body slowly condensed.

...

Li Fan's eyes brightened, pondering deeply.

"Zhang Haobo used the Water-Wind method, which naturally exists in the world, and combined it with his own Heavenly Scourge Sword intent to form the core."

"The natural methods of the world are endless. There's no need to worry about diffusion issues."

"This might be why many cultivators, when forming their golden cores, travel far and wide to personally experience and absorb the natural methods of the world."

"However, I can't do that."

"The Heavenly Scourge method, Han Hai method, and Ink Slaughter method are each more dangerous than the last."

"If I personally go to observe, I'm afraid I won't form my golden core, but instead sacrifice my own life."

"Fortunately, I have 'Return to Truth.'"

With a thought, the extraordinary item transformed into the essence of the Heavenly Scourge Sword intent in the blink of an eye.

The originally gathered blue Han Hai method lost its foundation and began to dissipate. However, it had already developed its own momentum, and the rate of dissipation slowed considerably.

During this time, Li Fan had enough to condense the Heavenly Scourge method.

The black color gradually intensified.

It seemed like layers of black chains were being added to a blue water ball.

As time passed, after establishing the rudimentary form of the Heavenly Scourge method, Li Fan immediately switched the extraordinary item back to the Cang Hai Pearl.

He once again maintained the blue Han Hai method.

Repeatedly, Li Fan gradually, in his dantian, saw the golden core shadow centered around 'Return to Truth.'

(End of this chapter)