As soon as she heard Song Shuhang’s words, Soft Feather’s expression froze. She squatted down aggrievedly and poked her finger into the floor of the room, poking one hole at a time. 

　　“Thuck, thuck, thuck~” In the blink of an eye, there were over a dozen holes of different depths in the floor—Song Shuhang lived on the second floor, and the floor here was wooden.

　　At this time, the semi-retired old tribal chief of the Dragon Blood Tribe, who had been idle all day, just so happened to enter the house. Seeing this scene, his heart felt very stifled—the attic where Mr. Shuhang was currently residing had just been completed, but it looked like the floor needed to be changed already.

　　Seeing the aggrieved Soft Feather, Song Shuhang was slightly taken aback.

　　To be honest, it was the first time he had seen Soft Feather look so defeated.

　　Soft Feather’s personality was generally cheerful. Although she did occasionally become perturbed, such as when she got lost, these minor problems never caused her to look defeated.

　　Ever since he met Soft Feather, Song Shuhang had never seen her look so disappointed and aggrieved.

　　Song Shuhang couldn’t help but stretch out his hand and… bring out his phone to take several photos of Soft Feather. Seeing Soft Feather this aggrieved was extremely rare, and perhaps he would never get the chance to see it again for the rest of his life.

　　“Senior Song.” Soft Feather raised her head, and stared daggers at Song Shuhang. “It’s okay if you don’t comfort me, but you’re actually taking photos of me?”

　　“In fact, dragon patterns are not that important; they don’t mean everything.” Song Shuhang got out of bed, came to Soft Feather’s side, and then comforted her. “Even if you didn’t get seven or eight dragon patterns, there’s no need to be this disappointed.”

　　Soft Feather looked at Song Shuhang, then turned her back to him, and began poking the floor even harder.

　　“Thuck, thuck, thuck~” The new floor continued to get filled with small holes.

　　At the side, Doudou opened his mouth and said nothing.

　　The old tribal chief rubbed his old face—it didn’t matter anymore. Whether there were one or two holes, the floor had to be replaced anyway.

　　Song Shuhang looked at Doudou, and then at Soft Feather, who looked like she was even more aggrieved.

　　Could it be that Soft Feather not only did not get seven or eight dragon patterns, but she didn’t even get six dragon patterns?

　　Song Shuhang tried comforting her again. “It doesn’t matter, Soft Feather. Even if you only have four or five dragon patterns, your future is still bright. In fact, when I condensed my life-bound golden core, it only had three dragon patterns.”

　　Still, with Soft Feather’s talent, how could the number of dragon patterns she got be so few?

　　Could it be that the ghost spirit possessed by the ‘Heavenly Emperor’ forcibly dragged her into the Fifth Stage Tribulation, and Soft Feather’s foundations weren’t laid well enough at the time, so the number of dragon patterns she got was below the normal level?

　　Soft Feather turned her head and looked at Song Shuhang, looking even more aggrieved than before. She jumped a few steps while squatting, jumping into the corner of the room, and began to poke holes in the corner.

　　Song Shuhang looked at Doudou, and said, “Could it be that Soft Feather doesn’t even have three patterns?”

　　Doudou nodded slightly.

　　“…” Song Shuhang.

　　He frowned. That shouldn’t be possible. With Soft Feather’s talent, even if her foundation wasn’t that good in the Fourth Stage, it would be absolutely impossible for her to only have one or two dragon patterns.

　　Song Shuhang asked, “Soft Feather, can I see your golden core?”

　　Perhaps Soft Feather’s ‘core patterns’ were transparent, or maybe they were invisible and only appeared when stimulated?

　　Or perhaps Soft Feather’s golden core patterns were all twisted together, and it looked like one, but there were actually eight or nine patterns?

　　Soft Feather pulled back her right hand, and reached out to Song Shuhang.

　　Song Shuhang stretched out his hand to hold Soft Feather’s hand, and his mental energy went into her dantian.

　　Soft Feather opened her original dantian to Song Shuhang.

　　Her dantian was larger than that of a normal Fifth Stage cultivator. Inside her dantian, a round golden core was floating, exuding a soft light. Likewise, her golden core was also a few times larger than normal cultivators’.

　　Song Shuhang’s mental energy circled around Soft Feather’s golden core.

　　“Where are the dragon patterns?”

　　He didn’t see any dragon patterns.

　　[Yes, Senior Song, now you know.] Soft Feather felt extremely wronged. [I don’t have a single dragon pattern.]

　　Sure enough, books were deceptive at times.

　　It was said that as long as a cultivator ascended to the Fifth Stage, no matter how bad they were, they would still at least have one dragon pattern. But Soft Feather’s golden core didn’t have a single dragon pattern.

　　“So that’s the case.” Song Shuhang’s mental energy materialized into a humanoid form, floating in front of Soft Feather’s golden core. “Soft Feather, your golden core is amazing. This is a patternless golden core!”

　　“???” Soft Feather.

　　Song Shuhang said seriously, “Your golden core is very powerful, and I am afraid that it isn’t inferior to nine-dragon-pattern golden cores.”

　　Soft Feather replied thoughtfully, “Thank you for comforting me, Senior Song… But next time, can you not exaggerate so much? Otherwise, it doesn’t feel like you’re comforting me at all.”

　　“…” Song Shuhang.

　　Soft Feather said, “Without any golden core dragon patterns, I can’t even make a ‘Golden Core Composition’, and I can’t add the finishing touch, so I can’t ascend to the Sixth Stage. I’m going to be stuck in the Fifth Stage for the rest of my life.”

　　Song Shuhang responded, “No, you don’t have to worry.”

　　“Rest assured, Senior Song. I won’t be defeated so easily,” Soft Feather said seriously. “I’ve already thought about it. I will study the practice method of the Black Dragon World very carefully. If cultivation really isn’t it, then I’ll change my profession. Maybe I can become an archmage in the Black Dragon World!”

　　“Wait, Soft Feather, you really don’t have to worry,” Song Shuhang said. “Your patternless golden core is truly amazing. What I said just now about it not being any worse than a ‘nine-dragon-pattern’ golden core didn’t come out of nowhere.”

　　Song Shuhang’s mental energy withdrew from Soft Feather’s dantian. He squatted in front of Soft Feather, stared at her, and said, “In fact, Senior White also had a golden core without any dragon patterns.”

　　“Although I don’t know how many dragon patterns Senior White had, it’s impossible for him to have had a ‘patternless’ golden core.” Soft Feather looked back at Song Shuhang. “When I was chatting in a group, I once saw Senior White mention the matter regarding his ‘Golden Core Composition’.”

　　“The Senior White I am talking about is Senior White Two, the one from yesterday,” Song Shuhang calmly said. “I heard him personally tell me about him having a golden core without any dragon patterns. Moreover, the way by which a golden core without any dragon patterns raises its level is different from ordinary golden cores.”

　　“Alright, I’m starting to believe Senior Song’s words a little bit.” Soft Feather blinked.

　　“According to Senior White Two, a golden core without dragon patterns does not need a Golden Core Composition, and it doesn’t even need a finishing touch. For the golden core without any dragon patterns, those are all meaningless. You only need to practice and then practice again, day and night. Once you’ve reached the limit, the patternless golden core will spew out water to form a Spirit Lake. You don’t have to be afraid of not being able to reach the Nascent Soul Realm. You merely need to continue what you were already doing, and practice diligently day and night. Every time you practice for a period of time, the patternles golden core will spew out some more water, and the lake will become bigger and bigger. In the end, the golden core will sink to the bottom of the lake, bloom and bear fruit, giving birth to the Nascent Soul!” Song Shuhang quickly relayed the knowledge he had of the patternless golden core to Soft Feather.

　　Soft Feather raised her head. “Really?”

　　“It’s so true that it couldn’t be any truer,” Song Shuhang assured her. “Trust me, and believe in Senior White Two. He said this personally, so the source of the information is absolutely reliable.”

　　Doudou couldn’t help but say, “In that case, isn’t it better to have a golden core without any dragon patterns? There’s no need to worry about the number of dragon patterns, no need to worry about how to draw the ‘Golden Core Composition’, and no need to worry yourself to death about your finishing touch?”

　　This wasn’t simply ‘better’, it was amazing! There were no bottlenecks, and they only needed to practice day and night to become a Seventh Stage cultivator.

　　“That’s why I said that the patternless golden core wasn’t any worse than a nine-dragon-pattern golden core.” Song Shuhang stretched out his hand, straightened himself up a bit, and then patted Soft Feather’s head lightly—in the same squatting posture, Soft Feather was slightly taller than him.

　　Soft Feather said softly, “Thank you, Senior Song. I feel better now.”

　　Senior Song was an outspoken man with a straight face. She had been quietly paying attention to his facial expressions just now, reading the information from his face. She saw that he was very confident in his words, and that he wasn’t just making an excuse to comfort her.

　　Who knew, perhaps a golden core without dragon patterns really was powerful?

　　Song Shuhang added, “Furthermore, Senior White Two was able to step into the peak of the world of cultivation with a patternless golden core. Therefore, your future is also unlimited. At least, you won’t get stuck in a certain realm because of your golden core.”

　　While saying that, he couldn’t help but reach out and stroke Soft Feather’s head.

　　[Slow-Witted Song liked stroking Pavilion Master Chu’s head. It turns out that it’s actually pretty addictive,] he silently said in his mind.

　　Song Shuhang added, “As such, you don’t need to think too much about it. Just continue practicing. The Sixth Stage Spirit Lake and the Seventh Stage Nascent Soul are just around the corner! I remember that Senior White Two said that after he went into a seclusion, he ascended to the Sixth Stage as soon as he came out. Perhaps if you close up for a while, you’ll be able to leave at the Sixth Stage as well.”

　　Soft Feather’s eyes lit up, and the defeated look on her little face disappeared completely. “I will catch up with Senior Song as soon as possible. This time it’s my turn to catch up to Senior Song!”

　　“You got this.” A smile appeared on Song Shuhang’s face. “I will wait for you to catch up to me and surpass me in the Sixth Stage Realm.”

　　He felt that he finally got to feel what it was to be a ‘senior’.

　　Soft Feather curiously asked, “But Senior Song, why do you call the other Senior White ‘Senior White Rabbit’?”

　　“Because white rabbits are cute,” Song Shuhang joked.

　　In the next moment, a magical treasure suddenly fell from the sky, crossing through space to get there.

　　It was a huge running wheel, the kind used by hamsters. It was made of an unknown metal, and it was very sturdy at first glance.

　　The running wheel sucked Song Shuhang into it.

　　“?” Song Shuhang.

　　Unlike a running wheel that required the hamster to run for it to start moving, this running wheel was automatic, and spun extremely fast.

　　“Aaaaah~” Song Shuhang used his hands and feet together, and quickly started sprinting in the large hamster wheel.

　　Doudou took out a book of poems and turned it over to a certain page. “Ah, I’ve found it, it’s this line—Ah~ You see, a man running in the sunset has quite the charm~”