Golden Core Breakthrough

**Golden Core Breakthrough** is a special kind of Breakthrough, used in Xiandao Cultivation, where the Cultivator forms a Golden Core. For the duration of the Breakthrough, Qi is refined into their Golden Core, based on internal and external factors. The golden core has a fixed tier, and influences the base Max Qi of the cultivator and breakthrough chances after it is formed.

## Golden core quality

The Quality of a Golden Core is determined during its formation. Unlike other Breakthroughs, it is impossible to fail in forming a Golden Core, but a low-tier one won't be nearly as useful as a high-tier one. The Golden core quality is permanently fixed and cannot be improved once the Golden Core has been formed without rebirth.

### Golden core score

The Golden Core score gets transferred to Max Qi, every point of GC Score provides 0.015 points of base Max Qi (`BAddV`). It is uncapped.

### Golden core tier

The golden core tier is the roman numeral number attached to the golden core, going from IX to I. Achieving a golden core score above 300,000, also known as a Tier 0, illuminates its panel in the game goal tab but this is not linked to the achievement system, and the tier is still treated as Tier I in all functional purposes. The golden core tier influences breakthrough chances.

## Factors and Formula

### Factors

The following is a list of factors that influence the amount of Golden Core Quality gained per tick. Max Qi is not listed, as while it is important, it influences the Breakthrough Duration, not the Quality gained per tick. Those factors will be detailed below.

* Law Match
* Luck
* Mental State
* Qi on Tile
* Element composition on Tile
* Yin Yang
* Season
* Weather

### Base Formula

The number of points earned per second itself is:

* until 145,000 GC score (T1):

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{\displaystyle AdditionalScore Per Second = (30 + \frac{TileQi}{50}) \* LawMatchF \* LuckF \* MentalStateF \* YinYangF \* WeatherF \* SeasonF \* TileElementF}
* after 145,000 GC score:

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# 1
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{\displaystyle AdditionalScorePerSecondPostGC1 = AdditionalScorePerSecond \* \frac{100000}{currentGCScore}}

#### Duration

The cultivator undergoing the breakthrough loses 30 Qi per second and has their natural Qi Recovery (Qi "regeneration") disabled. This makes the breakthrough last for

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{\displaystyle \frac{MaxQi}{30}}

 seconds (for reference, an in-game day is 600s). The only way to increase this duration is to increase Max Qi before the breakthrough, or by an Epiphany that directly refills Max Qi. All other sources of Qi Recovery are disabled during the Breakthrough.

The Breakthrough ends when the Cultivator runs out of Qi (reaches 0), or when it's interrupted by events in the Player Sect, such as the player cancelling the breakthrough or being attacked by Monsters / Invaders.

### Law of Nimbus Conquest formula

The formula for Law of Nimbus ConquestDLC cultivators is different due to its two cores. For them, the Yang Core is treated as a Fire (Element) one, and the Yin core as a Water (Element). Moreover, instead of the flat 30 in the formula, it is replaced by the following:

* Yang core:

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{\displaystyle ReplacedBase30Yang = 30 \* \frac{MapLight\*0.01 - 0.1}{0.9}}
* Yin core:

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{\displaystyle ReplacedBase30Yin = 30 \* (1 - \frac{MapLight\*0.01}{0.9})}

## Improving Max Qi

*See: Experienced players might be interested in these Pre-GC Sun Pilling guides*

### Inherent Law bonus

All laws get +250% Max Qi (`AddP`) when reaching Core Shaping, except  Six Paths Reincarnation Law which gets varying bonuses who sum to +300% Max Qi (`AddP`) total before the GC breakthrough. Due to the way Six Paths Reincarnation Law works, you can have a Qi overflow before the breakthrough. However, this bonus does not result in a better GC score as the qi is set to the current max at the start of the breakthrough.

### Qi sense

* Earthmother -  Sunflower Refining Law: +5
* Purified Energies -  Myriad Artifact Law: +2
	+ Purified Energies II -  Myriad Artifact Law exclusive, learn from the Inspiration Tree: +5
* A Comprehensive History of Serica - Otherworld Rift: +5
* Spell of Impurity -  Law of Nimbus ConquestDLC: +3
* Kunlun Competition: +1 by choosing debate with a qi or core shaping Cultivator.
* Cultivation branch: +1 Qi Sense Skill Level per 10 Effectiveness score of the Branch leader.

### Manuals

*See: You're a beginner and don't understand where to read or obtain those manuals ? Read this: Manual Pavilion and Law transcriptions*

The elements that feed and are fed by the Cultivator's element should be learned first and the counteracting element manual(s) last (or not at all) to minimize Inspiration cost.

**Pre-GC Total (Without DLC or law exclusives)**

```
+20% Base Max Qi (%), +215 Base Max Qi (flat), +540% Max Qi (%), +1000 Max Qi (flat)

```

### Max Qi Medicine

Medicine has Medicine Resistance, which means they get less effective every consumption. Once you get access to Specter Refinement or Tao Refinement you'll be able to raise the tier of medicines to tier 12, making them more potent (penalties included). The order of consumption does not matter and the total Qi will be the same for the same items consumed.

This list doesn't include Pre-GC Sun Pill optimizations, for which you should consult the Max Qi page. For the source(s), only the most accessible ones are mentioned, refer to the item page for a full list.

From a disciple's "Health" screen (heart icon) you can fold out the "Medicine Resistance" tab (right arrow) to see what the disciple has already eaten and how much future eating of the same thing will be reduced in effectiveness.

## Attributes

Attributes have several roles during a GC breakthrough:

* **Luck** directly multiplies the golden score gain per second as a separate factor.
* **Law Match** %, based on your Law desired Attributes, is a factor for golden core score, treated as a fraction (so 103% law match = 1.03) and multiplying the Qi score separately.
* Constitution, Intelligence, and Perception are the Attributes improving Max Qi. However, only full points provide a bonus so going from 4.6 intelligence to 4.8 doesn't result in an improvement in Max Qi (but can still be an improvement in Law Match if they're attributes required by your law).

In case they're not in your Law desired attributes, tefer to the table below to check how much of a bonus you need for Constitution, Intelligence and Perception to have an effect on your Max Qi.

 8
 7
 6
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 1

### Permanent boosts to all attributes

The full list is available on the Five Attributes page. Hereafter are listed the ones available (and without important detrimental downsides) pre-GC, although most aren't practical or available early on.

* Eternity Pill: +10-17.28% (T12) All (`AddP`), +500-864 (T12) Lifespan. Camping: 1 in The Demon Emperor's Tomb (unlocked at the start of the game) (see page for other sources).
* Bane Pill: +10-17.28% (T12) All (`AddP`), -60-103.68 (T12) Lifespan
* Immortal's Mortal Body Remold (Primordial Alchemy Law): +0-40% All (`AddP`)
* Remolding Miracles: +20-90% All (`AddP`), permanent. Luck doesn't have a Remolding Miracle. Those remoldings have to be done as a mortal.
* Fortune Dew: +20% All (`AddP`), knocks the user out for 81 days
* Blessed spirit root ripened fruit event: +10% All (`AddP`), not stackable. Each spirit root gives +10% (`AddP`) in its related stat, and the bonus has to be gotten separately from each spirit root type.

### Other bonuses

Randomly generated manuals obtained from the Social Minigame or Invaders can also boost your attributes.

#### Equipment

* Heavensent Talisman,  Primordial Symbols Law: +3% base all (`AddP`), +24% all (perfect T6), +42% all (perfect T12).
* Gold Suncrown: +5% Intelligence (`AddP`)
* Yaoguai Bull's Horn: +5% Constitution (`AddP`)
* Bracelet: +2.4-9% Charisma (`AddP`) depending on Material
* Tiger King's Bone: +10% Charisma (`AddP`)
* Poems of Sadness: +1.5% Charisma (`AddP`)
* Rabbit Demon's Foot: +5% Luck(`AddP`) as it's always 0 quality
* Sacred Nimbus PlateDLC: +2.5% to +15% (`AddP`) depending on material. Camp: 2 in Southrock PalaceDLC

#### Temporary bonuses

* Forming Pill: +30% Perception, Intelligence, Constitution (`AddP`), 48 hours
* Blessed Pill: +30% Luck (`AddP`), 48 hours
* Heavenly Pill: +30% Perception (`AddP`), 48 hours
* Wisdom Pill: +30% Intelligence (`AddP`), 48 hours
* Earthly Pill: +30% Constitution (`AddP`), 48 hours
* Ether Pill: +30% Charisma (`AddP`), 48 hours

#### Circumstancial bonuses

* Cultivation Branch: +10% Intelligence (`AddP`) per 10 Effectiveness score of the Branch leader. In case Qi sense isn't needed, other branches give different stat bonuses.
* Mount Buzhou Stone: +5% all (`AddP`)
* Spirit Relic (Feng Shui): +10% base in any Attribute but luck (`AddP`), max +40%.
* Dragon Rod: +10% Constitution, +20% Charisma (`AddP`)
* Holy Grace: +10% Intelligence (`AddP`)
* Spirit Root cultivation buff: +20% in related attribute (`AddP`), several Spirit Root buffs can be cumulated depending on area coverages.

#### Cursed Spirit Roots orthodox manuals

Those manuals can only be learned by a cultivator of the same element as the spirit root, and can't be transcribed nor do they cost attainment. They're learned the first time a spirit root reaches 100% curse (if they didn't reach 100% bless before) by all eligible cultivators in range.

* Metal Spirit Root Sagacity Tree: +100% Perception (`AddP`)
* Wood Spirit Root Gnarled Vine: +100% Constitution (`AddP`)
* Water Spirit Root Prism Lotus: +100% Charisma (`AddP`)
* Fire Spirit Root Crimson Fruit Tree: +100% Intelligence (`AddP`)
* Earth Spirit Root Ocher Essence: +100% Luck (`AddP`)

### Luck

The luck factor is equal to

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{\displaystyle 0.8 + 0.075 \* Luck}

. It maxes out at 10 but is not rounded otherwise, so 4.5 Luck would improve GC score more than 4 Luck and less than 4.6.

Following are the pre-GC Manuals improving Luck.

## Season

Each element gets the maximal Season bonus at a different time of the year. Your season factor will vary linearly each day between the intervals detailed in the table. Refer to the Season for the detailed calculation and examples. The Season also applies restrictions on weathers and their related miracles. None Law cultivators (except Law of Nimbus ConquestDLC) ignore that factor (equal to 1). The season factor multiplies the GC Score gain per second as a separate factor.

## Weather

The Scripture of Heaven Prayer Manual (Golden Core difficulty) from the Primordial Symbols law teaches all the weather miracles in one go. You may have to cast several times to keep the duration up for the whole breakthrough. Miracles respect the seasons restrictions. The weather contribution of each current weather is added, then the weather factor is calculated with

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{\displaystyle 1 + 5\*SumWeathersContribution}

, with a maximum of 1.6. The resulting number multiplies the GC Score gain per second as a separate factor. Only the best weathers that can be triggered by the players at golden core and below are mentioned, see the Weather page for the full list.

**Air of Cultivation optimal usage**

Once you get access to Air of Cultivation, it becomes the best possible Weather breakthrough for elemental cultivators. However, while it clears previous non-boss weathers on cast, new weathers can still be cast on top of it (since as explained in the weather events, it has an unique type). So you can use Fireworks (Dragon) to trigger the Spring Festival Weather for additional Tile Qi, and another miracle to optimize Lighting conditions and thus the Yin-Yang multiplication factor during Breakthroughs. It is also possible to trigger a weather with +2% breakthrough chance or better as the weather factors maxes at 0.12 and Air of Cultivation only adds 0.1.

## Yin Yang

The ambient Light (not tile light) determines this aspect, which roughly corresponds to the hour of the day, with some variations due to Season and Weathers (for those that affect Light). It is entirely unrelated to the lighting given off by nearby Lamps, which don't play a role. As a general rule:

* Wood and Fire laws prefer Light as high as possible,
* Metal and Water prefer Light as low as possible,
* Earth and None prefer twilights.

The table below chose a selection of date ranges that coincides with best seasonal factor (or in the case of Metal laws, the 2 seasons for their best weather). If your date is not within these ranges consult the detailed tables in the Light page or just take the closest row to your date. The Ying Yang factor multiplies the GC Score gain per second as a separate factor.

As some Weathers affect light, they also influence this aspect.

**Optimizing Earth and None Yin-Yang factor**

Regarding None (Element) (and Earth), it prefers neutral light, and due to lack of good weather bonus, weathers that prioritize yin yang are more important since the weather factor is at most 1.10 but yin yang can be raised to 1.4.

* You can use Chant of Cloud Dispelling during the night (where yin yang factor reaches 1.08) through to help yin yang slightly and Rainmaking during the day (where yin yang factor reaches 1).

* The best way to maintain a positive multiplier over long periods of time is by starting in the morning, using the Yin Yang Stela once the sun rises above 63 Light, then immediately after the Cloud Dispelling Miracle (or the Lushu one).

## Mental State

Mental State should be 95% and higher aka. Pristine. The Mental State factor multiplies the GC Score gain per second as a separate factor. Mental state under 100 doesn't lower during breakthrough (above 100 will lower to 99 gradually), so for early game, while it is a good idea to raise it to 100 - possibly helped with Talismans like the Talisman of Divinity Mind to speed up the gain, no particular effort has to be made. Players making extensive consumption of Wicked Flux however will want to maintain a Base Mental State at 95 or above, detailed below.

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**Maintaining mental state**

The Mental State page contains a full list of effects, and only the more basic ones will be mentioned here. Very few talismans help for the golden core breakthrough, namely Heavensent Talisman and possibly a talisman to help temperature if you have hot/cold Qi gathering items. As a consequence it is usually worthwile to use the one or two extra slots on the best Base Mental State talisman(s) you have. Here are the 3 best options.

* Talisman of Divinity Mind: +45 Base Mental State (see page for obtainment)
* Story Talisman: +4.5 base Base Mental State, +36 (perfect T6), +63 (perfect T12). Its disadvantages don't affect Golden Core breakthrough.
* Talisman of Divine Comprehension: +3.6 base Base Mental State, +28.8 (perfect T6), +50.4 (perfect T12).

You can also equip or other items helping Base Mental State:

* Scented Sachet: +5 Base Mental State
* Snake Demon's Scale: +2.5 Base Mental State as it's always 0 quality
* Sacred Nimbus PlateDLC: +3 to +18 Base Mental State depending on material

Unless you have no other option, temporary effects like the Purity Leaf (+4, 300s) and Purity Pill (+15, 600s) should be avoided as they remove their bonus mental state on expiration, and as mental state lowers to 99 this is a way to get below 95 mental state if the breakthrough is long enough.

## Cultivation Room

### Tile Qi

The Qi on the tile the breakthrough happens improves the base golden core score gain (before multipliers) by

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{\displaystyle \frac{TileQi}{50}}

, uncapped. It is thus sensible to use a Cultivation Room design making use of Gather Qi items. For players wishing to use more advanced mechanics, a Manual Qi burst and if necessary a Qi fountain can be deployed to improve that number further.

### Tile Element Composition

For a None (Element) Cultivator, this factor is always 1. Otherwise, the tile on which the breakthrough happens has to have high strength on the cultivator's element to maximize the Tile Element Composition factor. As most gather qi items are also Element emitters, a proper cultivation room may easily maximize the bonus. Moreover, weather also can affect the Tile element, and the best weather for each element (excluding Air of Cultivation) usually adds Tile Element that feeds them.

To check if you're maximizing the bonus, cultivate for a few seconds on the spot and verify that the "Element" bonus in the Efficiency Panel of the Cultivation tab of the cultivator has 5 "+".

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**Early game considerations**

As the early gathering qi items are relatively weak emitters, it is a factor to pay attention to in early game. If you don't have enough gather qi items to maximize tile Element Strength, or have very weak gathering qi items, use the unused spaces to place emitters Decorations of the proper element, or give up on some gathering qi items to add decorations instead. You can also try to improve the flooring quality by making it out of a better material, for example by using Jade offcut flooring instead of Brownstone.

Another commonly underestimated factor is the Huge Ginkgo Tree, often used for their 5 range Gather Qi effect. As they have an element emit of range 5 as well, they'd still emit at a strength of 9.72 at their maximum range (which is very high for early game). Due to their detrimental effect on the Tile composition, only Fire cultivation rooms should make use of those trees.

### Additional bonuses

* Spirit Pagoda adds 999 flat Max Qi (`AddV`) if charged up and placed in the room where the breakthrough will occur.

* The Divine Law Formation Ancient Formation adds 999 Max Qi (flat) if the skill is used above the breakthrough spot.
* Feng shui relics improving attributes (for law match%, Max Qi or Luck factor) will have a beneficial effect as well.

## Inner Cauldron

Once you are at a breakthrough and continue to cultivate, your cultivator's Inner Cauldron fills up with a slowly accumulating bonus to Max Qi. This takes **years** of gametime to fill at the default speed. Usually not worth bothering to fill unless you have +1000% Cultivation Speed or even more, although there might be a few months of sitting around cultivating while you wait for the right season and collect medicine.

## Guides and other Links

The following list contains of links that are either guides, or have any relevancy to the Golden Core Breakthrough.

* Golden Core Checklist - A basic guide on Golden Core Breakthrough, as a checklist
* Pre-GC Sun Pill + Spirit Seed - An advanced guide on Golden Core Breakthroughs, focused on consuming Spirit Seeds at Core Shaping.
* GCQ Calculator - A Desmos calculator, giving an estimate resulting Golden Core Quality value based on the inputs provided. Meant for longer breakthroughs due to using averaged values for cyclical factors, not as accurate for shorter breakthroughs.

### Mods

Golden Core Assistant - A more detailed GC Score estimation, shows current values for the factors. Not a guarantee of the end result, since it doesn't take into account changes in factors. [Translation link].

## References

1. ↑ Gong Kind `Gold`
2. ↑ `XiaWorld.NpcPractice.MakeGold()`
3. ↑ Based on `XiaWorld.NpcPractice.GoldEffectSpeed`
4. ↑ `XiaWord.hing.AddLing(),` when called, sets the Qi to a maximum of MaxQi, which means the Qi overflow results in an additional second of GC breakthrough and that's it.
5. ↑ `XiaWorld.NpcPractice.LuckEffectGold()`
6. ↑ `XiaWorld.NpcPractice.WeatherEffectGold()`
7. ↑ `XiaWorld.NpcPractice.WeatherEffectGold()`
8. ↑ Except Law of Nimbus Conquest (DLC)
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Rain dance, either from Fei or the Miracle, changes the weather either to Light Rain or Heavy Rain, with 50% chance for both (`XiaWorld.ToilAbsorbGong.OnStepToil() [case 20] & Settings/Esoterica/Esoterica_Magic.xml [Magic_PrayForRain_1]`
10. ↑ except Law of Nimbus Conquest (DLC)
11. ↑ `XiaWorld.NpcPractice.LightEffectGold()`
12. ↑ `XiaWorld.NpcPractice.MindStateEffectGold() & XiaWorld.GameDefine.MindState2GoldDan{}`