Chapter 3: Core Formation Period

Chapter 3 Overview

Chapter 3 spans the Foundation Establishment through Core Formation (金丹) period — the mid-game backbone of the Luocha Island arc. After achieving Heavenly Foundation (or another Foundation type), you enter Jianghuai City (江槐城), Liuyun City (流云城), and surrounding secret realms. This chapter takes 8–12 hours and determines whether you enter the late game over-leveled or struggling. Power spikes from stolen techniques, set equipment, and high-tier cultivation arts acquired here define your Core Formation breakthrough quality.

Jianghuai City: Stealth Required

Travel to Jianghuai City (江槐城) to trigger the initial storyline event. Do not return until you have a concealment method — entering without stealth triggers hostile encounters you are not ready for. Prioritize obtaining hiding techniques before any repeat visits.

Liuyun City Arc

Danxiang Pavilion & Lingxi Pavilion

Enter Liuyun City (流云城) and visit both pavilions in order:

1. Danxiang Pavilion (丹香阁) — trigger alchemy-related storyline events
2. Lingxi Pavilion (灵息阁) — receive concealment method clues
3. Black Market (黑市) — purchase concealment tokens (or rob the vendor, triggering a Foundation cultivator fight as penalty)
4. Buy regional maps for Liuyun area and Liuyun Secret Realm; clear fog of war

Key Side Quests

• Qiaoban Town (板桥镇): Bring at least 200 spirit stones. Obtain Flowing Cloud Sword Art (流云剑法) — strong AoE technique even post-balance nerf.
• Thousand Illusion Tomb (千幻墓): Defeat the Dragon Turtle boss (manageable with Heavenly Foundation stats). Receive the Thousand Illusion Mask (千幻面具) and promise to avenge a fallen cultivator.
• Jiang Peipei encounter: With 300+ spirit stones, trigger her storyline for the Juntian accessory set (钧天套). Her worn armor set is worth stealing for Earth builds.
• Qian Duoduo event: Trigger on the world map with 100+ spirit stones; choose Li Siyou option.

Liuyun City Lord Manor

After obtaining Flowing Cloud Sword Art, the Thousand Illusion Mask, and triggering Qian Duoduo's event, return to Liuyun City Lord Manor (流云城主府). Through dialogue choices (persuasion, deception, or combat), acquire:

• Supreme Foundation Blueprint (太乙筑基图) — crafting recipe for advanced Foundation items
• Flowing Cloud Sword Technique (流云剑诀) — sword art complementing Flowing Cloud Sword Art

This marks the former demo endpoint, but EA continues significantly beyond this point toward Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation.

Technique & Equipment Farming

Chapter 3 is your primary technique farming window:

• Deacon Hall (执事堂) quests: Accept Foundation-early quests; save before accepting since spawned enemies vary in difficulty. With preparation, you can beat 2–3 Foundation-early cultivator groups within five save-scum attempts.
• Soul Search / Divine Thief: Steal Yellow-grade upper and Profound-grade techniques from quest enemies and story NPCs.
• Blood Debt quests: Complete full equipment set rewards from Deacon Hall "blood debt" missions.
• Graduation weapons: Qian Kun Sword (钱坤剑) for spirit-stone-powered burst damage on boss fights.

Core Formation Breakthrough

Core Formation (金丹) requires accumulated cultivation progress, appropriate pills, and meeting age or material prerequisites similar to Foundation breakthroughs. The N-key breakthrough screen displays available paths and requirements. Key preparation steps:

• Upgrade to highest-tier cultivation art and combat spells for your element
• Complete Dantian layout optimization with resonance bonuses
• Stock breakthrough pills via alchemy (Shennong Cauldron) or market purchase
• Clear remaining Deacon Hall quests for equipment sets before breaking through

Core Formation unlocks late-game Luocha Island content, higher-tier enemies, and the narrative branches leading to multiple endings.

Route-Specific Notes

Shanyin County players arrive at Chapter 3 with Heavenly Foundation stats and Liuyun Secret Realm loot already secured. Focus on technique collection and Juntian set acquisition.

Wuyin Sea players enter from Blood Luo City with different companion and quest history. Technique availability differs; prioritize Deacon Hall farming and stolen techniques to close any gear gap.

Both routes converge toward Luocha Island's demon cultivation climax. See the arc overview for how mid-game choices ripple into ending availability.