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

“Young Master, but now I’ve got… four legs!”

The tiger clung to Chen Kangbao’s shoulders, scaring him out of his wits and making him run even faster, as if he had a rocket booster strapped to his back.

“Oh.”

Qi Yuan flicked his finger, and the roaring tiger immediately changed its position. Its forelegs stopped clinging to Chen Kangbao’s shoulders and instead bit down on his belt.

In an instant, the carriage now seemed powered by six legs.

The carriage sped off, heading toward the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss.

Along the way, they attracted a great deal of attention, though most onlookers simply looked on with curiosity or amusement.

<hr>

Nightfall.

Inside a mountain inn, the place was brightly lit.

The wooden railings, aged and rotting, were coated with a thick layer of lacquer to conceal the bloodstains of the past. On closer inspection, one could even find knife marks on some of the railings.

The inn, situated in a remote area, was notorious for its dark dealings and seldom saw visitors. But now, business was booming, as many had traveled from outside Ning Kingdom.

The once-arrogant innkeeper, seeing so many Weapon Masters in attendance, stooped low and, for the first time, conducted legitimate business.

“Ladies and gentlemen, with the Divine Artifact Embryo appearing, does anyone have useful information to share? Let’s pool our knowledge to explore the ruins together. Otherwise, if more Heaven-tier Weapon Masters arrive, we won’t even get a sip of soup,” said an elderly man with a goat-like beard. His face was thin, his eyes sharp and bright, and a gourd hung from his waist.

“Since Wine Grandmaster has spoken, let’s not keep secrets. Share what you know so we can explore the ruins together. The longer we wait, the more Heaven-tier Weapon Masters will arrive, and we’ll lose any chance of claiming anything,” said another man with a genial demeanor.

This man was an elder of the Ancient Thunder Sect, and his artifact was the Thousand Silk Golden Feather Cloak, renowned for its defensive capabilities and unparalleled resilience.

“Indeed, these ruins are extremely strange. Not only are they difficult to enter, but even once inside, bizarre and horrifying events occur. It’s enough to make your scalp tingle.”

“There are many specters inside. They bear some resemblance to the breeding grounds of Bloodthorn’s Spirit Nurturing Zones!”

“Just yesterday, Grandmaster Wu Gen entered the ruins. Being a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master, he thought nothing in the ruins could harm him, so he charged in recklessly. But who would’ve thought? A clay doll suddenly appeared and stabbed him to death with one strike.”

At the mention of the clay doll, a chill swept through the room. Fear flickered in the eyes of everyone present.

To be called a Grandmaster meant one was a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master, with the potential to reach the Heaven-tier if they worked diligently as per Qi Yuan’s philosophy.

Yet, such a powerful figure was killed by a mere clay doll in one blow. How could anyone not be terrified?

“These ruins are too dangerous. Even Earth-tier Weapon Masters might not be able to protect themselves. Only Heaven-tier Weapon Masters might be able to sweep through them,” said an elderly man with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

As peak Earth-tier Weapon Masters, these individuals were overlords in their own right, able to summon wind and rain in their territories.

But here, they couldn’t even guarantee their safety.

“This is the most treacherous ruin I’ve ever encountered in my life.”

“Indeed. Most perilous locations are guarded by one powerful specter, at most with a hundred similar specters.

But these ruins are different. We’ve already encountered hundreds of distinct types of specters. It’s beyond strange!”

The Weapon Masters present were all experienced, having faced countless perils. Yet the peculiarities of these ruins were unlike anything they’d ever seen or heard of.

Some frowned, deep in thought, while others closed their eyes, contemplating.

“I have some thoughts about these ruins,” rasped the Old Hag of Fox Mountain, drawing the attention of everyone present.

“Do any of you recall the records in The Origin Secrets? It stated:

‘On that day, night fell, and specters descended upon the world.’”

The fewer the words, the greater the significance.

Upon hearing this, the Weapon Masters’ faces changed drastically.

“Could it be… a Forbidden Specter Zone?”

“This world still has Forbidden Specter Zones?!”

Several Earth-tier Weapon Masters began reconsidering their involvement.

In the Blue Mountain Realm, specters didn’t always exist.

One day, the night came early, and specters descended upon the earth, turning numerous regions into Forbidden Specter Zones.

At first, people thought it was just a small anomaly.

But in these Forbidden Zones, horrifying creatures—specters—were born.

This disaster spread like wildfire, with endless specters spilling out of the Forbidden Zones, slaughtering countless innocents.

The world turned into hell.

In just ten years, the population of the Blue Mountain Realm was reduced by two-thirds.

The death toll numbered in the billions.

Eventually, an extraterrestrial coalition arrived, aiding the Blue Mountain Realm in suppressing the specters.

All ten of the original Forbidden Specter Zones were destroyed, and the specter tides were eradicated.

But some Forbidden Zones, fragmented or minor, remained.

“If this is truly a Forbidden Zone… only Divine-tier Weapon Masters could cleanse it.”

The Earth-tier Weapon Masters were horrified.

“Relax. Even if this is a Forbidden Zone, it’s a broken one. Otherwise, we’d all be dead already!”

“Exactly. If it were a complete Forbidden Zone, both Ning Kingdom and Mo Shan Kingdom would have been annihilated by now.”

“Still, if it’s a Forbidden Zone… the treasures inside must be unimaginably valuable!”

“Many divine weapon materials originated from Forbidden Zones!”

The Weapon Masters weighed the risks and rewards.

The Divine Artifact Embryo might be out of reach, but securing other valuable materials would still make the venture worthwhile.

“If this is a Forbidden Zone, it’ll be even more dangerous than we imagined. I suggest we form teams.

That way, even if we encounter a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, we’ll stand a chance of fighting back.”

“Yes, let’s team up.”

The Earth-tier Weapon Masters quickly began forming groups.

Tu Sihai was among them, teaming up with some old acquaintances.

“Sigh. The five of us are strong, but it’s a pity we don’t have a top-tier Grandmaster,” lamented a seductive woman, her demeanor oozing charm.

“There are only a handful of top-tier Grandmasters, and we’re not familiar with any of them. Why would they team up with us?” said a one-eyed elder with a sinister tone.

“As long as we don’t encounter a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, we should be fine if we’re cautious.”

The other two in their group were twin brothers, both newly advanced to peak Earth-tier Weapon Masters. Their coordination made them a formidable duo.

“With the Blackshade Brothers, our group isn’t weak. We should manage,” Tu Sihai said, though he still felt disappointed. The top-tier Grandmasters they knew hadn’t come, and it was too risky to team up with strangers.

Nearly a hundred Earth-tier Weapon Masters gathered at the inn, forming teams.

Suddenly, the sound of galloping hooves echoed in the distance.

Everyone turned to see an old man running frantically, pulling a horse behind him, sweat streaming down his face.

Behind him, a tiger was gripping his belt with its teeth.

The scene was both comical and bizarre, drawing the attention of many Weapon Masters.

At that moment, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a strikingly handsome young man.

The moment he waved his hand, the tiger transformed into a small bird and disappeared into his sleeve.

The Earth-tier Weapon Masters were stunned by the scene.

“What a dashing young man!”

“That’s… illusionary arts. Impressive.”

Tu Sihai’s eyes widened in surprise. “Qi… Brother Qi?”

“You know him?” The seductive woman licked her lips. “What a young, energetic body.”

“He’s… not ordinary,” Tu Sihai replied, recalling the moment Qi Yuan swallowed the Spirit Body Gu. A trace of fear lingered in his heart.

But why had Qi Yuan come? Hadn’t he said he wasn’t interested?

The carriage came to a stop, and the young man stepped out.

He scanned the crowd of Weapon Masters and spoke in a clear voice:

“Which one of you is Mo Sankong? Get out here and prepare to die. How dare you bully my wife? I may be a mere son-in-law, but I’m not someone you can trample on.”

A son-in-law might endure insults—but only from his in-laws.

Outsiders bullying him?

No way. It was time to flip the script.

His voice echoed across the crowd.

With so many people present, Qi Yuan didn’t bother searching for Mo Sankong individually.

As for Shen Lingxuan, he could tell with a glance that she wasn’t among the crowd.

The Earth-tier Weapon Masters exchanged glances, some amused, others frowning at Qi Yuan’s audacity.

“Grandpa Mo Sankong is here!”

A thunderous voice boomed as a burly man wielding a purple-gold hammer emerged. His open shirt revealed a bulging belly, and his body radiated an oppressive aura.

“This young man has guts, challenging Mo Sankong. Mo Sankong is an old Grandmaster, just a step below the top tier.”

Qi Yuan glanced at the burly man and shook his head. “You’re Mo Sankong? I’m looking for Mo Sankong, not you. Mo Sankong is a eunuch.”

“You’re calling me a eunuch?!” The burly man’s eyes bulged in fury. “You brat, take my hammer!”

The hammer whistled through the air, leaving afterimages as it hurtled toward Qi Yuan.

The sheer force of the strike was enough to split mountains and shatter stone.

Even a regular Earth-tier Weapon Master would be gravely injured if struck.

Qi Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as he watched.

“This hammer is useless.”

He stretched out a pale hand and lightly tapped the hammer.

Boom!

A surge of indescribable force traveled through the hammer, slamming into Mo Sankong’s arm.

Pain and numbness rippled through him as his massive body flew backward, landing seven meters away.

The Weapon Masters were stunned.

“He blocked Mo Sankong’s hammer with his hand? Is his hand made of iron?”

“He defeated Mo Sankong in one move? He hasn’t even reached Unity with the Heavens. How is he this strong?”

Tu Sihai took a sharp breath, his expression shifting. “Brother Qi is this powerful?!”

Though he’d seen Qi Yuan swallow the Spirit Body Gu, he hadn’t thought much of Qi Yuan’s strength.

He was too young, likely a newly advanced Earth-tier Weapon Master.

But that display just now was stronger than many top-tier Grandmasters.

If not for his lack of Unity with the Heavens, everyone might have mistaken him for a Heaven-tier Weapon Master.

Qi Yuan stepped forward, gazing down at the fallen Mo Sankong. His voice was calm. “Are you ready to talk properly now?”

Mo Sankong wiped the blood from his mouth, his previous ferocity gone.

“This… this is a misunderstanding. With my strength, I’m not qualified to be your enemy.”

The once-aggressive Mo Sankong was now surprisingly agreeable.

“I thought you’d be more stubborn, boldly claiming it was your doing,” Qi Yuan remarked casually.

When falsely accused, Qi Yuan rarely bothered to defend himself. He’d just kill the accuser and say, “Yeah, I did it. What now?”

But this was a different situation. It was clearly a misunderstanding.

“Let’s drop this matter,” Qi Yuan said dismissively. He scanned the crowd. “If anyone has information on the eunuch Mo Sankong, let me know. I’ll reward you handsomely.”

As for Shen Lingxuan?

She’d come here to escape trouble, likely in disguise. Finding her wouldn’t be easy.

It was unlikely these people would know anything.

The crowd exchanged glances. No one had seen a eunuch resembling Mo Sankong.

Mo Sankong himself looked embarrassed, realizing he wasn’t even the target.

After a few moments of silence, a timid voice spoke up:

“Senior, are you perhaps referring to an old man with a hoarse voice and no beard?”

The speaker was a man named Wang Dao, who had just reached Earth-tier. He had come here hoping to seize an opportunity.

However, his weak strength meant no one was willing to team up with him. Venturing into the ruins alone would be suicidal.

Still, he couldn’t leave. He had a hidden illness that would kill him if he didn’t find a way to cure it here.

Summoning his courage, he spoke.

“That’s probably him,” Qi Yuan replied.

In this region, eunuchs weren’t common, so the hoarse-voiced man was likely Mo Sankong.

“Where is he?” Qi Yuan asked.

He was eager to find the unwashed “White Moonlight” and kill him.

Killing Mo Sankong would give him a massive amount of experience and allow him to absorb Mo Sankong’s Unity with the Heavens.

Wang Dao recalled the figure, fear flickering in his eyes.

The man had hidden his aura, but even so, the faint traces he emitted were terrifying—at least a top-tier Grandmaster.

If not for his desperate situation, Wang Dao wouldn’t have dared get involved in the affairs of such powerful figures.

“Senior, that man entered the ruins through the seventeenth black gate in the northeastern section,” Wang Dao said honestly.

“What do you want in return?” Qi Yuan asked, convinced Wang Dao wasn’t lying.

“I… I’d like Senior to take me along when exploring the ruins. If it’s not too much trouble, please protect me,” Wang Dao said through gritted teeth.

He had no choice but to gamble.

“That’s all?” Qi Yuan’s expression grew thoughtful. “Fine, no problem.”

Then, his gaze shifted to Tu Sihai in the distance.

“Old Tu, want to team up with me? I still owe you a favor. Let me repay it now,” Qi Yuan said.

He disliked leaving debts unpaid.

Tu Sihai’s eyes lit up and he was about to agree.

But the blind old man in his group interjected, “Old Tu, Mo Sankong might not be easy to deal with. If we get involved…”

Clearly, the blind elder was wary, suspecting Qi Yuan might be using them to handle Mo Sankong.

Having lived for so long, the blind elder trusted few people.

“Don’t worry. That eunuch Mo Sankong is nothing. Once I find him, I’ll subdue him with a flick of my hand,” Qi Yuan said confidently.

The seductive woman flashed a sweet smile. “If you’re joining us, we couldn’t be more honored.”

“No objections,” said the Blackshade Brothers in unison.

The blind elder fell silent.

Tu Sihai cupped his hands toward Qi Yuan, his smile tinged with complexity. “Brother Qi, I’ll be counting on you to keep us safe.”

“Don’t worry. With me around, you’ll be fine in these ruins.”

Qi Yuan’s confidence was unshakable.

After speaking, he suddenly addressed all the Earth-tier Weapon Masters present.

“Everyone, I have a favor to ask.”

With a flick of his hand, dozens of silver banknotes flew out.

Each note was worth ten thousand taels.

The sight made everyone gasp.

This man was rich!

Even top-tier Grandmasters wouldn’t have such wealth readily available.

Yet this young man had casually thrown it around, suggesting he had much more to spare.

Even the seductive woman’s gaze grew brighter as she looked at Qi Yuan.

Some women even began flirting with him subtly, their eyes brimming with admiration.

If Qi Yuan wasn’t here for serious business, he might have filed a sexual harassment complaint against them on the spot.

“Speak your request,” one of the Weapon Masters said respectfully.

Having witnessed Qi Yuan’s strength, none dared to show him anything but deference.

“When you enter the ruins, if you encounter anyone, regardless of whether they’re a man or a woman, tell them this: ‘Shen Lingxuan, your husband is here to find you. Don’t be afraid.’”

Qi Yuan let the power of money do the talking. “If you do this for me, the ten thousand taels are yours.”

For an Earth-tier Weapon Master, ten thousand taels was a considerable sum.

And all they had to do was relay a message? It was an incredibly easy payday.

This man was truly… a wealthy fool.

Many Weapon Masters couldn’t help but feel baffled by Qi Yuan’s generosity.

Tu Sihai, however, wasn’t surprised. Based on his previous interactions with Qi Yuan, he had already concluded that Qi Yuan’s behavior was anything but ordinary.

“Agreed.”

Many Weapon Masters responded eagerly, accepting the task.

The banknotes floated into their hands.

Only three Weapon Masters abstained, unwilling to get involved despite the money.

“If you’ve taken the money, you’d better do the job. Otherwise…” Qi Yuan’s voice remained calm, but he moved his hand slightly.

A faint sound pierced the air, and suddenly a figure fell from the sky, crashing to the ground.

It was a scrawny old man, his face frozen in disbelief. A deep wound ran from his forehead to his chest, and his aura rapidly faded until he was dead.

“Stealing is a crime. Stealing from me is three times as bad.

And to think you not only tried to steal from me but also plotted to ambush me? Death.”

Qi Yuan’s tone was as calm as ever.

The Weapon Masters present were filled with unease.

They realized Qi Yuan’s display wasn’t just strength—it was a warning.

And it was effective.

“That’s Leisurely Cloud Elder! And he was killed in a single strike!”

“He was a top-tier Grandmaster!”

“He specialized in speed and concealment. None of us even noticed him!”

“With strength like this… even a Heaven-tier Weapon Master would struggle without using Unity with the Heavens!”

“How does he train?!”

The crowd was awestruck.

Tu Sihai’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Brother Qi was far stronger than he had anticipated.

With him leading the way into the ruins, the journey might not be as perilous as they’d feared.

Wang Dao, meanwhile, was elated. The stronger Qi Yuan was, the safer Wang Dao would be.

“Let’s go. Time to find that eunuch, Mo Sankong,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

“Understood.”

The team of five wasted no time following him.

Wang Dao quickly fell in step behind Qi Yuan.

Tu Sihai, however, couldn’t suppress a lingering question. “Brother Qi, the Shen Lingxuan you mentioned—is she the Profound Yin Physique of the Heavenly Sect?”

“Yes,” Qi Yuan confirmed.

“She’s here? Brother Qi, your actions might draw danger to her.

After all, as a Profound Yin Physique, if she’s discovered…” Tu Sihai’s tone was heavy with concern.

“Relax. She’s my nominal wife, after all. Do you really think she’s that weak?” Qi Yuan chuckled, recalling the two times he had encountered Shen Lingxuan.

Shen Lingxuan was far stronger than she appeared.

Even Mo Sankong might struggle to defeat her.

She had likely entered the ruins with a plan of her own. Either that, or she was avoiding exposure, which might invite a siege from Heaven-tier Weapon Masters of the Rosha Kingdom.

“Brother Qi, you’re paying people to deliver your message. But even if they tell Shen Lingxuan, how will she find you?” the seductive woman asked, tilting her head.

Seeing that Qi Yuan was looking for his wife, she decided to put away her flirtatious demeanor and act more reserved.

“That’s… complicated to explain,” Qi Yuan said casually. “Let’s just say… I have technology.”

The silver notes—were they really just silver notes?

Qi Yuan’s abilities, from his shapeshifting drone to the technology aboard the Gongxing spaceship, made tampering with silver notes a trivial task.

As long as they encountered Shen Lingxuan, Qi Yuan would immediately know her location.

He could then rush to her side.

No matter how well Shen Lingxuan disguised herself, she might fool the Earth-tier Weapon Masters, but she couldn’t deceive Qi Yuan’s advanced technology.

The technology on the Gongxing spaceship even seemed to share origins with the ruins of the Ancient Clan.

And the Ancient Clan’s ruins were incredibly significant. Even Yang Gods weren’t much in comparison.

In Qi Yuan’s estimation, the Ancient Clan’s foundation likely surpassed even the Immortal Realms.

After all, Yin Gods were like malnourished infants in comparison.

“Technology… What is that?” The group was puzzled, having never heard the term before.

“Technology… is an alternative path to the Dao,” Qi Yuan replied, sharing his insights.

The stronger he became, the more profound his understanding of the Dao grew.

The immortal Dao, the martial Dao of the Ten Thousand Paths, and technology—each was a distinct path to the Dao.

And each, when taken to its ultimate conclusion, was terrifyingly powerful.

<hr>

Meanwhile, within the ruins.

In a sealed, narrow chamber, Shen Lingxuan stood. She was dressed in a flowing black dress, her aura cold and icy.

Her delicate brows furrowed as she examined the wooden chest before her.

Within it lay a diary.

She opened the diary and began reading, her expression neutral.

“Today, they came looking for me again.

I really wanted to refuse, but the reward they offered was irresistible. For the sake of my poor child, who has yet to be born, I must fight for them!”

“Today, Liu Mei learned a new dish. It was delicious.”

“I encountered a blind Weapon Master. He had the greatest talent I’d ever seen for crafting weapons.

I was ordered to invite him to join us, but he refused.”

“I don’t know if this is right or wrong, but I have no choice…

If the Chaotic Starfield is destroyed, the Blue Mountain Realm… will also fall into darkness.”

“Will this work? Will it?”

“The fragments of the Divine Bright Artifact… can it really be created?”

“Divine Light Awaken… Will the Divine truly protect us?”

“It has begun. There is no turning back.

Either I die… or the Divine Bright Artifact is created.

Or… I die, and the Divine never awakens.”

The diary was filled with cryptic entries.

Shen Lingxuan flipped through the pages, her expression unchanged.

After some time, she closed the diary and let out a deep sigh.

“So it’s true. Master Qi joined them to forge the fragments of the Divine Bright Artifact.

But is it worth it?”

She gazed into the ruins, her voice soft.

“Failure…”

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