Investment Returns: Starting with funding the enemy, that's my master's wife.

Chapter 3 Reshaping the Golden Core - It's All About You

Upon hearing Liu Yishui's words, Liu Xinyue frowned, trembled all over, and tears almost welled up in her bright, peach-blossom eyes.

Li Chang'an stepped forward, cupped his hands to Liu Yishui, and said in a rather calm tone.

"Sect Master Liu, please wait. Although our Cangyun Sect is currently not very strong, we can still leave behind a Golden Core Peak cultivator with a century of accumulated experience."

"Moreover, the Grand Elder is not far from here. If you are willing to take a gamble, I, the sect master, would not mind taking Sect Master Liu down with me before the Cangyun Sect is destroyed."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a dangerous undertone.

The atmosphere in the reception hall was tense, much like the calm before a storm.

Immediately, Li Chang'an handed the storage ring that Liu Yishui had just given him to Liu Xinyue.

"Xinyue, accept this pill."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xinyue was somewhat surprised. She did this not because she had feelings for Li Chang'an, but because she was unwilling to marry Wang Meng and had no other choice but to resort to this tactic.

Immediately, Liu Xinyue refused.

"What...do you mean by this? This pill is a betrothal gift that our Qinglan Sect is returning."

"Besides..."

Li Chang'an interrupted.

"So, do you want to marry someone else? If you don't want to marry that scoundrel Wang Meng, then accept him; I can help you."

After all, it was a third-tier Spirit Gathering Pill, and Liu Xinyue also understood Li Chang'an's implied meaning, so her face turned red.

Although she didn't know what Li Chang'an's intentions were, she still accepted the storage ring and murmured to herself.

"Thanks."

Seeing this, the Second Elder and the Third Elder were dumbfounded, and they angrily cursed Li Chang'an for being wasteful.

The sect leader of Qinglan Sect, Liu Yishui, snorted coldly, but couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

"Nephew Li, you are utterly foolish. I fear the Cangyun Sect is doomed."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Yishui used his spiritual power to grab Liu Xinyue and left with the two elders who had reached the Golden Core stage.

"Congratulations, host, for investing a Tier 3 Spirit Gathering Pill in the Lady of Destiny, Liu Xinyue, triggering a 100x critical hit. You are rewarded with a Tier 4 Great Wilderness Treasure Pill (which can improve the quality of your Golden Core or reshape it)."

Upon hearing the system's reward, Li Chang'an's eyes lit up, his excitement overflowing. He had been truly resentful about his worthless first-grade golden core, and now that everything had taken a turn for the better, how could he not be happy?

At that moment, Liu Yishui and the others had already left. The Second Elder and the Third Elder were so angry that they stomped their feet in frustration at seeing Li Chang'an's delighted expression.

Second Elder Zhang He originally planned to capture Li Chang'an and seize the third-tier Spirit Gathering Pill after Liu Yishui left. He believed that if he obtained this pill, he could reach the Great Perfection of the Golden Core stage in just two years.

When Zhang He, having achieved the Golden Core stage, was about to succeed Li Chang'an as the sect leader of the Cangyun Sect without any worries, his thoughts were completely extinguished by Li Chang'an's actions.

Instantly, Zhang He's aura as a minor master of the Golden Core realm erupted, and he immediately questioned her.

"Li Chang'an! Do you know the enormity of your crime? Are you trying to destroy the Cangyun Sect?"

"That's a huge hat being put on my head, I can't handle it!"

The two men looked imposing and ready to fight at the slightest provocation.

If the two elders were to take drastic measures against him at this moment because he had given the third-tier Spirit Gathering Pill to Liu Xinyue, he would actually be unable to withstand it.

However, Li Chang'an had come prepared, and he appeared calm and composed.

He had already summoned five early-stage Golden Core cultivators to the outside of the main hall.

Li Chang'an clapped his hands, and five assassins entered the main hall. At this moment, his eyes were arrogant, his arms were crossed, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, showing a smug attitude.

"Elders, we're not in a life-or-death situation!"

"Given the current situation, if no one in my Cangyun Sect betrays us and everyone is united in our efforts, we will only become stronger."

Li Chang'an emphasized the words "traitor" and "powerful" with a bit too much emphasis, and everyone could hear the sarcasm in his voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhang He was filled with rage. He pointed his index finger at Li Chang'an and his aura became even stronger.

"Li Chang'an, don't be so arrogant. We can appoint you as a puppet sect leader, but we can also depose you at any time!"

But Li Chang'an only let out a disdainful laugh, and his cultivation of the minor completion of the Golden Core stage erupted completely at this moment.

Five early-stage Golden Core cultivators, who were also guards, arrived one after another outside the gate and lined up in a row.

"Elder Zhang, given the current situation, can you cripple me?"

"Come on, you take one down, let me see."

The two were greatly shocked to see that Li Chang'an had broken through to the minor completion of the Golden Core stage.

The Third Elder Feng Yun was particularly shocked. He could hardly believe it, but he also didn't think that Li Chang'an was a meticulous strategist who had been plotting for many years.

Feng Yun saw Zhang He about to make a move, but he instantly stopped Zhang He. He stared sharply at Li Chang'an with his snake-like eyes, like a king cobra ready to hunt.

"It's unheard of for a first-grade Golden Core cultivator to break through to the minor completion stage of the Golden Core realm."

"It seems you must have encountered some extraordinary opportunity."

Feng Yun spoke with certainty, his voice not loud, but his gaze remained fixed on Li Chang'an, trying to discern something from Li Chang'an's face.

Li Chang'an spat and raised his head, crossing his arms as he replied.

"Ignorant!"

"If you old codgers at the second-grade Golden Core stage can break through to the minor completion stage of the Golden Core realm, why can't I, the sect master, do the same!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang He was furious and pointed at Li Chang'an menacingly.

"you!"

Li Chang'an simply used his palm to brush away Zhang He's finger that was pointing at him.

"What do you mean, 'you'? This sect master is very busy. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."

As Li Chang'an finished speaking, Feng Yun took the opportunity to wink at Zhang He and transmit his voice.

"Elder Zhang, this kid is hiding his true strength too well. The current situation is probably not favorable for either of us."

"If we make a move now, and the Grand Elder arrives, our combined century of cultivation will be completely wasted here."

Zhang He nodded slightly, grunted, his short white hair standing on end, flicked his hand, uttered a harsh remark, and left.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, remember your arrogant face today, kid."

Feng Yun also glared coldly at Li Chang'an, hesitated before speaking, snorted angrily, and followed Zhang He away into the air.

"Those two old geezers, are they scared now? Too late."

Li Chang'an watched the two leave with disdain. A gust of wind slammed the gate shut. He simply had five Golden Core stage early-stage assassins protect him, preparing to take the Great Wilderness Treasure Pill here.

Immediately, he opened the system, took out the pill, and swallowed it.

The moment the pill entered his abdomen, it melted into several streams of violent red spiritual energy that began to scatter in all directions. Instantly, the spiritual energy transformed into several swimming dragons that crashed into Li Chang'an's body.

The intense pain made Li Chang'an's eyes widen in agony. His entire body collapsed to the ground, too terrified to struggle, and he could only desperately endure the pain.

Suddenly, several streams of spiritual energy flowed into Li Chang'an's dantian, causing cracks to appear there, almost shattering him.

Fortunately, Li Chang'an persevered and pulled through.

The excruciating pain left Li Chang'an drenched in sweat, nearly causing him to faint.

An ordinary person would have fainted from the pain long before cracks appeared in their dantian.

But at that very moment, Li Chang'an unleashed a terrifying spiritual pressure, causing the entire Cangyun Sect to tremble.

"The oppressive aura is coming from the reception hall. Could it be Li Chang'an?"

Fengyun, who had already returned to his residence, narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of worry rising in his heart.

His brows furrowed, and he prepared to quickly begin working on the next plan.

Inside the reception hall, a large amount of spiritual energy began to surge into Li Chang'an's body like a flood.

Under the combined effects of the medicinal power of the Great Wilderness Treasure Pill and the infusion of spiritual energy, his golden core finally smoothed out the cracks and shone with brilliant light, growing from the size of a fingernail to the size of a palm.

Upon closer inspection, his golden core revealed several ancient-looking patterns, clearly indicating that it was a fifth-grade golden core, stronger than the four elders of the Cangyun Sect, and even surpassing the Grand Elder's third-grade golden core.

Gradually, calm returned to normal around Li Chang'an, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's actually a Grade 5 Golden Core! The system's products are indeed top-notch."

After Li Chang'an burst into laughter, he unleashed his aura, which was stronger than that of Feng Yun and Zhang He combined, and could even rival the strength of a Golden Core cultivator at the Great Perfection stage of the third-grade Golden Core realm.

Humph--

"Elder Zhang and Elder Feng, it's time for you to go on a mission as well."

After improving his strength, Li Chang'an opened the system interface again.

[Name: Li Chang'an]

[Realm Level: Minor Success in the Golden Core Stage]

[Talent: Two and a half stars (Fifth-grade Golden Core)]

[Fortune: Light Green (Ordinary)]

"Evaluation: Possesses a fifth-grade Golden Core, but struggles to move forward, and is surrounded by enemies at first glance."

Seeing the changes in his skill level and talent brought him peace of mind, but this evaluation made him feel somewhat uneasy.

"All enemies? It seems I must eliminate some obstacles."

Li Chang'an stopped thinking about it, a wicked smile appeared on his lips, and his figure disappeared from the spot.

Beneath the clouds, in a secluded and quiet courtyard, the Second Elder Zhang He was drinking spiritual tea with a gloomy expression.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river? I'll make sure you don't live past today."

Li Chang'an quietly approached Zhang He from behind, smiled, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Elder Zhang, what a refined taste you have!"

Feeling a sudden force on his shoulder, Zhang He quickly turned around.