Having passed the Minor Heavenly Tribulation, Huangfu Bing'er had not fully recovered; her body felt somewhat weak, and she leaned against Ye Qin. However, having successfully formed her Golden Core and endured the tribulation, a distinct joy radiated from her expression.

Ye Qin gently wiped the fine sweat from her forehead, drew her slender, waist-clutching form close, inhaled the faint, orchid-like fragrance, and they sat side-by-side on the highest rock of the small island.

"Junior Brother Ye, if only we could remain like this forever!"

Huangfu Bing'er rested her delicate head against Ye Qin’s broad chest, gazing at the lingering glow of the sunset, and spoke softly, her vermillion lips parting slightly. The path of cultivation was fraught with endless strife; how much more time would she have to enjoy such moments of tranquility with Junior Brother Ye under the setting sun?

"Foundation Establishment cultivators have about two hundred years of lifespan, Golden Core cultivators about five hundred, and Nascent Soul cultivators a thousand. We still have a great deal of time to spend together like this. Oh, right, about the time I turned into a stone chrysalis."

Ye Qin recalled the earlier event and wanted to tell her about that bizarre incident. He had kept silent before, fearing it might affect Bing'er's core formation. Now that she had formed her core, he intended to conceal nothing further.

"Junior Brother Ye! That stone chrysalis was indeed quite strange. But on the path of cultivation, unexpected surprises aren't a bad thing. Back when you suddenly entered a state of suspended animation in the Ten Thousand Withered Ridges, I worried for several years. Later, when I heard you had successfully established your Foundation, I was so overjoyed I almost left the sect gates to find you. If not for that, how would I have known I cared so deeply? You don't need to tell me the details now; as long as you are safe and sound in the end, that is all that matters."

Huangfu Bing'er's bright eyes shifted, she shook her head, and broke into a radiant smile.

Ye Qin paused, deciding that since Bing'er did not wish to know, he would not press the matter. As husband and wife, they were one entity; he needed to shoulder the greater burdens in the days to come.

"Bing'er, look at what I have here!" Ye Qin flipped his wrist, conjuring a pair of fiery-red, top-tier Fire-element Dharma artifacts. These were a pair of butterfly-shaped Fire-element artifacts; when spread, their wings spanned over two zhang, revealing transparent, fiery-red membranes covered in minute, crimson scales.

"This is the Rock Fire Butterfly Wings!? Junior Brother Ye, you managed to refine them?"

Huangfu Bing'er's eyes instantly lit up with surprise and delight.

"Indeed. The Rock Fire Butterfly Wings, a Fire-element wing-type osseous artifact refined from seventh-tier raw materials. It took considerable effort to forge. Try testing its power."

Huangfu Bing'er took the artifact and tapped the Fire Butterfly. Behind her back materialized a pair of incredibly dazzling, fiery-red butterfly wings.

With a casual flap of her wings, she lightly lifted from the island rock and began to flutter gracefully in the air.

These Rock Fire Butterfly Wings were clearly not artifacts designed purely for speed, but their agility was exceptional. Within a small area of the sky, she could maneuver with incredible flexibility. The small scales covering the Rock Fire Butterfly Wings possessed a potent ability to amplify the power of Fire-element spells. She channeled only a modest amount of Fire-element magic power, and as she moved her wings, tiny blossoms of Samadhi True Fire erupted from the scales, scattering everywhere. The surrounding area, spanning dozens of zhang, was enveloped by these delicate flames.

For a Golden Core cultivator, such a top-tier artifact was still quite respectable.

Huangfu Bing'er's demeanor was usually somewhat cold and detached, like an Ice Fairy. Yet, illuminated by the fiery Rock Fire Butterfly Wings and the dancing flames, she appeared unusually lovely and vibrant.

Next, she released her Ice Soul Cold Light Swords.

As the sixteen Ice Soul Cold Light Swords emerged, the might of the flames immediately diminished significantly.

"The Rock Fire Butterfly Wings belong to the Fire element, while the Ice Soul Cold Light Swords belong to Ice. Using both artifacts simultaneously risks their powers canceling each other out. However, if they could be skillfully coordinated to avoid mutual interference, their combined power might actually double. A pure Ice Storm Sword Array is easily broken. If the Rock Fire Butterfly Wings could merge with the Ice Storm Sword Array to form an Ice-Fire Sword Array, with two distinct offensive methods operating within the array, the formation's power would greatly increase, and its difficulty to break would rise immensely."

After briefly utilizing both artifacts together, Huangfu Bing'er pondered for a moment and exclaimed happily.

"Bing'er, you possess dual Ice and Fire spirit roots, giving you exceptional control over both Fire and Ice element artifacts. When I refined the Rock Fire Butterfly Wings, I immediately thought that if the top-tier Rock Fire Butterfly Wings could be combined with the Primordial Spirit artifact, the Ice Soul Cold Light Swords, to form an Ice-Fire Sword Array, the result would surely be extraordinary."

Ye Qin nodded with a smile.

Huangfu Bing'er danced in the air for a while, then gazed out toward the surroundings of the small island, suddenly wrinkling her delicate, tender nose. "This small island is so ugly, completely barren, with not a trace of spiritual energy. Junior Brother Ye, why don't we find a spirit island rich in energy in the Northern Archipelago to reside and cultivate?" Seeing Huangfu Bing'er display such rare, girlish petulance before him, Ye Qin was nearly mesmerized.

It took him a moment to regain his senses. He chuckled, rising happily. "Whatever Bing'er desires, I will make it happen for you. Come, let's go find a spirit island!"

Ye Qin took Huangfu Bing'er's jade hand, summoned the Dark Cloud Barrier artifact, and sped like lightning toward the largest island in the Northern Archipelago region.

The Northern Archipelago Region.

The largest island here was White Float Island, spanning hundreds of thousands of li, a critical jurisdiction under the Heavenly Dao Alliance, personally overseen by the five great Sect Masters of the Alliance. The island terrain was generally flat, featuring many plains and mountains.

A major immortal cultivation city, "White Float City," was constructed upon the island. Although this city couldn't match the immense scale and influence of "Immortal Palace City," the foremost city of the Eastern Sea Islands, the Heavenly Dao Alliance had operated here for tens of thousands of years, making it as firm as a rock and increasingly prosperous day by day.

A large contingent of Heavenly Dao Alliance cultivators gathered here, alongside numerous cultivators not affiliated with the Alliance, engaging in cultivation, commerce, and other activities.

Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er arrived at the largest central city of the Northern Archipelago, which was indeed White Float City.

Most significant activities within the Northern Archipelago region were conducted in this main city.

All islands within the Northern Archipelago belonged to the Heavenly Dao Alliance. As Golden Core cultivators, this was the best place to select an island to serve as their Grotto-Heaven residence. Information on all islands in the Northern Archipelago was available here.

Ye Qin intended to purchase an immortal island to serve as his and Bing'er's cultivation dwelling.

The figures of the two Golden Core cultivators, enclosed within a mass of dark clouds, pierced the sea air, flying swiftly toward White Float City.

Ye Qin retracted the artifact. He and Huangfu Bing'er descended into White Float City. At the bustling city gate, he approached a squad leader—a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator of the late stage—to inquire where the section managing island sales was located within White Float City.

"Two esteemed seniors, the place that manages island allocation is the Sub-Hall of the White Float Hall, overseen by the Deputy Hall Master, True Man Hanyu." The squad leader, following protocol, used his Divine Sense to examine Ye Qin and Huangfu Bing'er's cultivation levels. Discovering they were Golden Core cultivators, his tone immediately became utterly respectful.

Nascent Soul cultivators rarely appeared in White Float City, so Golden Core cultivators held a high status. Such high cultivation made any matter extremely convenient. In the Eastern Sea, the vast majority consisted of mid-level Foundation Establishment cultivators and low-level Qi Refining practitioners; the number of Golden Core cultivators was not excessively high.

The squad leader pointed Ye Qin in the right direction, then hesitated before adding, "However, Senior, are you truly planning to purchase an immortal island? I believe it might not be cost-effective."

"Oh? Why is it not cost-effective?" Ye Qin asked, surprised.

"Usually, immortal islands in the Northern Archipelago are not sold but are directly allocated by the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Seniors can obtain a spirit island through the allocation system."

"Allocation? The distribution of these spirit islands is handled by the high-ranking officials of the Heavenly Dao Alliance—wouldn't that be quite unfair? What about cultivators who don't receive an island?"

"It is quite fair. Every ten years, White Float City hosts a dedicated Island Seizing Assembly, releasing a batch of high-quality islands. Any cultivator belonging to the Heavenly Dao Alliance is qualified to participate in the competition; strength is all that matters. Since you two seniors are currently members of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, with your strength, seizing a decent spirit island at the Assembly would be an easy matter."

All cultivators are only permitted to obtain one spirit island through the Island Seizing Assembly. If a cultivator no longer wishes to keep their island, they may put it up for sale, but the asking price is often extremely high.

Cultivators who fail to seize an island in the Assembly might consider paying to purchase one from another cultivator. Of course, the vast majority of cultivators cannot afford such an exorbitant price.

"An Island Seizing Assembly every ten years? When is the next one scheduled?" Ye Qin sounded quite surprised and asked after a moment's thought.

"Seniors have come at a fortunate time; the Island Seizing Assembly will take place in about a month. Moreover, the islands released this time are new—many even contain Spirit Stone veins that can be mined, unlike the old islands that have already been exploited by other cultivators. That's why I feel it's not worthwhile for Seniors to spend a fortune purchasing an island right now. It might be better to wait another month," the squad leader explained with a smile.

Ye Qin nodded, thanking the guard squad leader for the timely reminder. He gave the squad leader a small bag of Spirit Stones as thanks.

"Thank you, Senior!" The squad leader readily accepted the small bag of Spirit Stones, feeling inwardly delighted.

"Junior Brother Ye, since we aren't in a hurry, waiting another month is fine. We can use this time to visit the elders and fellow disciples of our Azure Pill Sect; most of them reside within White Float City. We can also familiarize ourselves with the city. You aren't officially a member of the Heavenly Dao Alliance yet, so this is a good time to join," Huangfu Bing'er said, linking her arm with Ye Qin's, laughing.

"Mm. I haven't seen the elders and fellow disciples in a long time; I miss them a bit," Ye Qin replied, nodding, and they stepped into White Float City together.

Now that they were Golden Core cultivators, their diligence in cultivation could not slacken in the slightest.

Bing'er needed a spirit island like this as a place for daily cultivation; the denser the spiritual energy, the greater the benefit to her progress.

He was no different.

He could only refine a specific amount of Spirit Pills each day.

Because circulating energy to refine Spirit Pills was time-consuming, often requiring two or three shichen (four to six hours). Using three high-grade Spirit Pills per day was already the upper limit for Golden Core cultivators absorbing pills daily; otherwise, the excessive spiritual energy flooding into the meridians could cause Qi deviation, leading to a regression in cultivation—haste makes waste.

Therefore, aside from consuming Spirit Pills, the rest of his time had to be spent meditating using the Dao of Quiet Contemplation Sutra to absorb ambient spiritual energy. This was directly related to the density of the spiritual energy in the surrounding environment. The denser the energy, the faster the absorption.

Thanks to the mysterious Purple Mansion, he did not suffer from a shortage of Spirit Stones or medicinal herbs.

However, he could only consume three Spirit Pills daily. This didn't necessarily give him a greater advantage over the Golden Core cultivators from the great cultivation clans in the Eastern Sea Islands, who possessed immense wealth. Even without a Purple Mansion, they could purchase high-grade Spirit Pills with money.

Acquiring a cultivation spirit island was essential.