Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?

Eighty-seven female specters had been slain.

The figure clad in blood-red armor sat loftily in midair, his expression cold and unyielding.

With a spear in his hand, he looked every bit like a god descended to earth.

The horrifying, chilling specters had stood no chance against him.

The villagers and laborers witnessing this scene were all prostrate on the ground, crying out in reverence:

“Divine being!”

“This is truly a god!”

The woman dressed as a Taoist priestess stood in stunned silence, her mind shaken by the display.

What kind of technique was this, to make such an impossible feat seem effortless?

Their combined soul attacks, capable of instilling fear in even a top-ranked Di-tier Weapon Master, would have easily overwhelmed a Xuan-tier powerhouse. Even the most skilled dominators of a region would have met their demise under such an onslaught.

Yet, against this blood-red armored figure, their soul attacks had no effect at all.

Could he truly be a god?

What’s more, his combat techniques were flawless, executed with an elegance as fluid as flowing water.

Although his strength and speed seemed inferior to the specters’, he effortlessly outmaneuvered and overwhelmed all eighty-seven of them.

The perfection of his technique was almost surreal.

The priestess, who had once witnessed the combat prowess of a Tian-tier Weapon Master, couldn’t recall having seen anything as impeccable as this.

A Di-tier Weapon Master might be capable of fending off 3,000 heavily armored soldiers, relying on their unparalleled physique and the sharpness of their weapon.

But this man—this blood-armored figure—seemed as though he alone could slaughter 3,000 soldiers armed to the teeth with just his technique, emerging completely unscathed.

“Who... who are you?” the priestess asked, her voice trembling. Her teeth clashed faintly as her words stammered out.

“I am... Divine Descent,” came the cold and authoritative reply, resounding from the heavens as if the voice of a god.

“Divine Descent?”

The priestess was momentarily dumbfounded as she looked at Qi Yuan.

Was this the Divine Descent she was familiar with?

Wasn’t Divine Descent a legendary weapon—a so-called divine armament?

Chen Kangbao, with a look of fervent adoration, gazed at the blood-armored figure and began chanting:

“Divine Descent, Divine Descent, revered by all realms.

The Celestial Maiden serves at his side,

Five Thunder Gods heed his call.

Six Ding and Six Jia guard his form,

The Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces form his divine array.

...

Golden rays shoot from his eyes, dispelling evil and injustice,

The light in his hands banishes the darkness.

...

Where Divine Descent treads, eternal light follows,

All living things bask in divine grace.”

Hearing his chant, the kneeling villagers immediately echoed in unison:

“In a world without light, Divine Descent is our beacon!”

“In a world without light, Divine Descent is our beacon!”

The voices rolled like thunder, carrying fervor and reverence, a tidal wave of devotion sweeping the crowd.

Even the priestess, caught in the intensity of the moment, felt herself almost drawn into the chant.

When she finally snapped out of it, she realized that the "divine figure" had vanished without a trace.

A few miles away, a loud thud resounded as a figure fell from the sky.

Qi Yuan hit the ground with a graceless crash, his face pale and his composure entirely gone.

Gone was the imposing divine aura.

“Thank goodness I escaped in time. Those mosquito-grade drones are garbage!”

Had he stayed longer, his disguise would surely have fallen apart, leaving him humiliated in front of the crowd.

Though he hadn’t been injured in his battle with the specters, the strain on his stamina and spirit had been enormous.

Not to mention, the improvised drones—made from transformed mosquitoes—were falling apart, unable to sustain his weight any longer.

Any further delay, and he’d have been forced to perform a godly belly-flop for the entire crowd to witness.

“Master, how did I do with that chant earlier?” Chen Kangbao asked eagerly, his tone brimming with pride.

“Not bad,” Qi Yuan praised. “From now on, you’re not just my strategist—you’re also my loudspeaker!”

The chant Chen Kangbao had recited earlier was, in fact, cobbled together from phrases Qi Yuan had invented on the spot.

The good news? It was entirely original. The bad news? It was stitched together like a patchwork quilt.

For Qi Yuan, playing the role of Divine Descent wasn’t just about putting on a show—he needed catchy slogans to bolster the act.

Not only did it add grandeur, but it also made it easier for his legend to spread far and wide.

“The only downside,” Qi Yuan muttered, “is the quality of these drones. I need to get my hands on better ones next time.”

At present, Qi Yuan still lacked the ability to fly on his own.

A god who couldn’t fly? That wouldn’t do—it lacked the grandeur expected of a deity.

Thus, the need for drones.

He was even considering incorporating lightning effects for a more divine aesthetic.

“And maybe a projector,” he mused. “If I can’t manifest a celestial projection, I’ll just create one with technology. That’ll blow them away!”

As always, Qi Yuan took time to reflect on his performance.

“Eighty-seven Yellow-tier specters slain. I’m finally level 57 now—jumped up over twenty levels!”

Based on his current calculations, this put him at the high stage of the Yellow-tier as a Weapon Master.

He was just one step away from reaching the Xuan-tier.

Reaching the Xuan-tier in this world would qualify him to act as a county captain, overseeing an entire region’s defenses.

“Still, leveling up isn’t the biggest takeaway,” Qi Yuan muttered to himself. “The most significant gain is... my Divine Descent roleplay meter.”

It had risen to 12%.

And with it, a new boon unlocked:

[As Divine Descent: Manifest the avatar of divinity, answering the summons of believers to purify all evil.]

A flood of information surged into Qi Yuan’s mind.

“As Divine Descent” was a skill—or perhaps more accurately, a divine ability.

When believers knelt in prayer or offered devout petitions, Qi Yuan could sense their call and send forth an avatar to perform miracles.

This avatar would possess a fraction of the powers of the Divine Descent artifact.

However, the ability had its limitations—the farther the distance, the weaker the manifestation’s power.

More importantly, the skill required someone else to summon him; he couldn’t activate it independently.

“This is too passive,” Qi Yuan thought with mild frustration.

Turning to Chen Kangbao, he asked, “Old man, are you one of my believers?”

“Of course!” Chen Kangbao replied enthusiastically, nodding like a devoted disciple.

“Good. Summon me right now—I want to test something.”

Chen Kangbao obediently closed his eyes, adopting a pious expression.

“Divine being, open your eyes and look upon your humble servant!” he prayed fervently.

The prayer echoed both in the air and within Qi Yuan’s mind.

Qi Yuan saw three options appear before him:

1. Answer the call as Divine Descent.
2. Engage in dialogue using his psychic ability.
3. Ignore or block the prayer.

“Perfect—I can summon myself,” Qi Yuan thought with satisfaction.

Instead of choosing the first option, Qi Yuan selected the second. He was too tired to manifest anything and opted for a simpler approach.

“Very well, I will grant your wish,” Qi Yuan said, using his psychic voice.

After reaching the Purple Mansion stage, Qi Yuan had gained the ability to hear and respond to certain thoughts.

This power, as it turned out, was perfect for his role as Divine Descent.

Moments later, Chen Kangbao opened his eyes, astonishment written all over his face.

A tantalizing aroma wafted through the air. Before him lay a peculiar container, steaming hot.

“A divine miracle!” Chen Kangbao exclaimed in awe.

The object before him was a cylindrical container. Unfamiliar with such materials, he guessed it might be made of paper.

Lifting the lid, he discovered steaming food inside.

“It’s... noodles?” he murmured, his tone both curious and delighted.

“Instant noodles,” Qi Yuan corrected.

Indeed, what Chen Kangbao had received was a cup of instant noodles from Earth.

“Wait, no seasoning packets?” Qi Yuan muttered in mild disbelief. “What’s the point of noodles without the flavoring?”

---

Aches. Her entire body ached!

It felt as though every inch of her body had been thoroughly battered.

Zhi Shuang slowly opened her eyes, her face showing a deep weariness.

Her jet-black hair was loosely secured with an ebony hairpin, her eyebrows furrowed, carrying an unmelting frost. Her long, slender legs were pressed tightly together like icy pillars.

Cold. She exuded an icy chill.

Anyone who looked at her would feel as though they were staring into the depths of an eternal glacier.

As her memories surfaced, Zhi Shuang's face turned pale with shock. Trembling, she began inspecting her body, slipping her hands inside her clothing to confirm something horrifying.

After a few moments, she clenched her teeth, her expression freezing over.

She was still a virgin.

Could it be… the young master was impotent?

He’d clearly spent so much time "handling" her, but in the end, he hadn’t followed through.

Her clothes were intact, with no sign they’d even been removed.

She raised her head and immediately spotted the familiar figure slumped inside the carriage, asleep.

Her gaze lingered on Qi Yuan’s face, complex emotions flashing across her eyes.

“What… did you do to me?” Zhi Shuang asked coldly, her voice tinged with frost.

“Huh? Turned on the air conditioning? Why is it so cold?” Qi Yuan stretched lazily, meeting her icy gaze. “What did I do? Nothing much. You were too noisy, so I knocked you out and turned you into a spear that I wrapped around my waist.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Zhi Shuang was briefly stunned.

She was a high-ranking Yellow-tier Weapon Master! How could this weak, powerless young master have knocked her unconscious?

And what was this about turning her into a spear? Pure absurdity!

Had he… been possessed by a specter? Was that why he was rambling incoherently?

She frowned deeply, even more confused about how she had ended up unconscious in the first place.

At that moment, a triumphant voice rang out from outside the carriage.

“Young master, I’ve completed your task. The events at Hongyun Village have been compiled into a story…”

Since returning from Hongyun Village, Qi Yuan had been pondering how to solidify his Divine Descent persona.

If he wanted to increase the roleplay progress, he first needed to enhance the reputation of Divine Descent.

Thus, he had turned the events of Hongyun Village into a story. He instructed Chen Kangbao to spread the tale by distributing it to storytellers in taverns, even paying them to ensure it was told far and wide.

On Earth, this would’ve been equivalent to self-publishing a novel at his own expense.

Zhi Shuang’s sharp gaze landed on Chen Kangbao as he approached, her expression growing vigilant.

“You… who are you?”

Her instincts told her that this seemingly frail old man was anything but ordinary.

The calloused state of his hands and the way he carried himself betrayed a martial background.

“I’m the strategist the young master hired from the madhouse!” Chen Kangbao declared with pride.

Zhi Shuang’s expression shifted from confusion to astonishment, and then understanding.

Her gaze turned to Qi Yuan, a teasing glint in her eyes. “So, young master, your skills have improved! You’ve managed to fool someone from the madhouse into becoming your servant—and even had him knock me unconscious!”

Naturally, she assumed that Chen Kangbao had been the one to knock her out.

After all, Qi Yuan had always been a frail scholar, incapable of such feats.

Faced with her accusations, Qi Yuan didn’t flinch.

“Foolishness! He’s my believer,” he said lazily.

“I’m the most loyal servant of the young master!” Chen Kangbao eagerly added.

Zhi Shuang studied the pair with growing suspicion.

Could it be that her young master had truly gone mad?

His demeanor and behavior were a complete departure from the weak, cowering man she once knew.

Despite her doubts, Zhi Shuang softened her tone slightly as she addressed him.

“Young master, return to the county seat without fear. Regarding the matters in Ninghe County, my lady will personally question Old Zhong.”

Her words carried dual meaning.

If Qi Yuan were guilty, her lady would exact punishment.

If he were innocent, she would ensure his name was cleared.

If the young master had truly been wronged and had even lost his sanity in the process… Zhi Shuang felt a twinge of pity for him.

Still, she preferred a harmless, half-mad Qi Yuan over the troublemaker he’d once been.

At least this version wouldn’t cause unnecessary trouble for her lady.

“That Old Zhong… I’ll have words with him myself,” Qi Yuan grumbled, assuming his troubled som-in-law persona. “Trying to frame me—he must have a death wish!”

Zhi Shuang took in his indignant act, her pity turning into certainty.

The young master was undoubtedly insane.

He’d always been meek and submissive back in the household, never daring to raise his voice.

Thinking back to how she’d woken up, Zhi Shuang hesitated before asking:

“Young master, what exactly did you do to me? Why does my whole body ache?”

Her body felt as though it had been through an endless battle.

“You really don’t remember?” Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly. “I already told you.”

Zhi Shuang fell silent.

Clearly, he was insane.

Moments later, Qi Yuan looked at Zhi Shuang, his expression suddenly turning serious.

“I’ve got a question for you,” he said.

“Please, speak,” Zhi Shuang replied, her tone icy but polite.

“I’ve heard that my wife is a Xuan-tier Weapon Master. How strong is she? How fast? What are her standout skills?”

At these words, a chill emanated from Zhi Shuang, her icy aura intensifying.

“Who told you to ask such questions?” she demanded frostily.

Her lady wasn’t just a renowned beauty listed on the Hundred Fragrance Rankings, but also a direct disciple of the Heavenly Sect.

In Ning Kingdom, sects and noble clans wielded enormous power—even the royal family deferred to them.

The Heavenly Sect and the Ancient Thunder Sect were the two most powerful sects in Ning Kingdom.

These two titans had been locked in conflict for years, vying for dominance and the title of state religion.

In a few months, the two sects would face off in a grand competition between their disciples.

Zhi Shuang naturally assumed someone was using Qi Yuan to probe her lady’s abilities.

“No one told me to ask,” Qi Yuan replied earnestly, fixing her with his most sincere look.

“Consider this: Lü Bu is unmatched on horseback, Dian Wei reigns supreme on foot, and Ma Chao excels in riding skills.

Now imagine Lü Bu riding Ma Chao, with Ma Chao riding Dian Wei. Wouldn’t that be unstoppable?”

Qi Yuan clapped his hands together, his expression glowing with excitement.

“I’m missing a mount. My plan is to follow the example of the ancients—during combat, I’ll ride your lady!”

He sounded completely serious.

Using mosquitoes or birds transformed into drones was far from ideal.

Qi Yuan had come up with a new idea: instead of relying on transformed creatures, why not use a powerful Weapon Master?

For instance, his wife—renowned as a Xuan-tier Weapon Master—might not be able to fly, but her speed and strength far exceeded that of any insect.

With his Endless Transformation, he could modify her appearance into that of a drone, concealing her legs to create the illusion of hovering.

Once she advanced to Di-tier, she could even take him soaring through the skies!

Qi Yuan marveled at his own brilliance.

“So,” he said, “how strong is your lady?”

“You… are serious?” Zhi Shuang’s face darkened, her tone seething with cold anger.

“Absolutely,” Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

“You’re despicable!” Zhi Shuang hissed, her icy demeanor cracking with fury.

She resolved to write to her lady immediately. Not only had the young master lost his mind, but he’d also become shameless!

Wanting to "ride" her lady?!

Even someone as inexperienced as Zhi Shuang understood the implications of “riding.” Was he planning to jump on and spout nonsense about galloping?

“Ah, I see—you care about your lady and don’t want me to ride her,” Qi Yuan mused, stroking his chin. “Shame. If your strength and speed were better, I’d just ride you instead.”

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!