My Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?

Chapter 142: Stealing Xiao Jia’s Snacks, Courting Death!

The supreme divine lightning descended into the harem, annihilating all the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Bright Palace.

Qi Yuan recorded the scene using a memory stone.

"Unfortunately, the Divine Flower Gathering's forum doesn’t allow images or videos. If the scene of the Bright Palace being struck by divine retribution were leaked, I could stand on the highest moral ground.

If even divine lightning can't help but strike you, is the Bright Palace still any good?"

Though he couldn’t post the video, Qi Yuan decided to record it anyway. Perhaps someday, it might come in handy.

After finishing the recording, Qi Yuan prepared to leave the Wei Kingdom. After all, he still had many places to visit.

There were many aliases he hadn’t yet revealed.

Although in some places he simply threw a blood-colored sword to serve as an alias, it still wasn’t enough.

He needed to create chaos everywhere to make it seem like there were many people involved, right?

As he held the memory stone and stood amidst the divine lightning, ready to leave, he noticed many cultivators in the grand palace below, looking up at him with solemn respect.

There were elders, strong young men, and even children.

"Thank you, Senior, for saving the Wei Kingdom!"

"We will never forget the kindness of the Senior!"

During the Hundred Nations Blood War, some countries wished to negotiate peace, while others resisted. However, in the face of the powerful Bright Palace, they had no ability to resist and could only become pawns.

The more they resisted the Bright Palace, the more they would fall into the demonic camp and be completely consumed.

Sensing the goodwill of many cultivators, Qi Yuan said aloud, "For those of us cultivators, those who commit many injustices will surely face divine retribution! From now on, do more good deeds!"

After spreading a bit of positive energy, Qi Yuan’s figure disappeared.

He left behind a group of excited yet bewildered cultivators.

……

Bloodless City.

The blood crystal mine stretched for dozens of miles, painting the landscape in a deep crimson hue.

At that moment, Qi Yuan’s gaze softened as he looked at the figure ahead.

Xiao Jia was busy in the blood crystal mine, picking up countless blood crystals and stashing them away somewhere unknown.

Qi Yuan smiled like an aunt watching her beloved niece.

Feeding Xiao Jia always brought him joy.

After about an hour, Xiao Jia emerged from the blood crystal mine and flew to Qi Yuan's side.

She clung tightly to Qi Yuan’s sleeve, and a small wooden plaque, showing her happiness, slipped from her cuff.

"Feel free to eat. This mine is now my personal property," Qi Yuan said generously.

The blood crystal mine of Bloodless City had already been secured by Withered Wood True Monarch on his behalf.

Every day, numerous blood crystals were sent to Seven-Colored Peak.

This time, Qi Yuan had sought the sect master’s permission to come to Bloodless City and collect blood crystals.

In reality, he wasn’t spending most of his time in the mine.

Instead, he was out causing havoc under various aliases, wreaking havoc everywhere.

Of course, others believed he was in the mine.

"Come, Xiao Jia, let's go home," Qi Yuan said, holding Xiao Jia's hand as they left the blood crystal mine.

Outside the blood crystal mine, Liu Guan looked anxious, while his granddaughter Duan Qianrou stood beside him, her mind filled with thoughts.

Recently, Liu Guan had participated in the siege against the Old Black Chicken Demon, teaming up with a mysterious prodigy. In the end, his soul was injured, and he fell unconscious, only to be sent home by the mysterious prodigy.

He had been curious about the prodigy’s identity ever since.

After all, that prodigy had slain a late-stage Golden Core cultivator while still in the Foundation Establishment stage!

"Grandfather, is he really that person? And if he isn’t?" Duan Qianrou also recalled the young man her mother had encountered on the flying boat.

Later, when she rode the Cloud Rabbit Carriage, she encountered that young man again.

At the time, she hadn’t thought much of it, but now it seemed likely that he was the one who destroyed the Black Mountain Sect.

Liu Guan looked resigned. "Let’s hope he is…"

Duan Qianrou's expression was complicated.

This blood crystal mine was under her control.

Previously, a true disciple of the Demon Desire Sect had tried to exert pressure, demanding that the Duan family send a portion of their blood crystals to the Demon Desire Sect regularly.

Duan Qianrou had no choice but to comply.

But later, the Divine Light Sect took over all the blood crystal mines in Bloodless City.

Their blood crystals had to be given to the Divine Light Sect.

As for the true disciple of the Demon Desire Sect, they had to stop.

But recently, that disciple had come looking for her again.

Duan Qianrou had explained everything clearly, but the disciple didn’t care, giving her a deadline to comply.

They even threatened that if she didn’t hand over the crystals, they would take them by force.

Duan Qianrou had reported the matter to the Divine Light Sect, but unfortunately, the sect was far away, and the person handling the situation hadn’t arrived yet.

Now, they were pinning their hopes on Qi Yuan.

The gate of the blood crystal mine opened, and Qi Yuan emerged, wearing a white robe that made him look exceptionally handsome.

Xiao Jia, dressed in a bright red outfit, obediently followed behind him.

To be honest, the scene was a bit unsettling for Duan Qianrou.

But she steeled herself and said, "Greetings, Young Master Qi Yuan!"

Qi Yuan glanced at the two of them. "Why are you waiting for me? What’s the matter?"

"Young Master, it’s about Ji Ruxue of the Demon Desire Sect..." Duan Qianrou explained the situation truthfully while observing Qi Yuan’s reaction.

After all, high-ranking disciples of sects like these were often arrogant. Instead of helping, they might even blame her for causing trouble.

After hearing this, Qi Yuan looked at Duan Qianrou. "Is what you say true?"

"Absolutely true. I wouldn’t dare deceive you, Young Master!" At this point, Duan Qianrou was as humble as could be, a stark contrast to her previously proud demeanor towards Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan scanned her, and hidden information appeared, confirming she wasn’t lying. He coldly said, "I never expected someone to have the audacity to steal Xiao Jia’s snacks. They must have a death wish."

Ever since Qi Yuan regarded the Bright Palace as his enemy, he rarely encountered low-level opponents.

Now, a small fry was trying to steal Xiao Jia’s snacks, so of course, he would deal with it personally.

Occasionally dealing with small fries was a nice change of pace.

After all, constantly fighting Nascent Souls and Purple Palaces could become monotonous.

Even Old Biden became weary after too many battles.

It's still better to mingle with the younger crowd to feel young again.

Otherwise, why did the rich old men in his past life always fancy schoolgirls?

"Let’s go. Let’s see just how bold this Ji Ruxue from the Demon Desire Sect really is."

Hearing this, Duan Qianrou felt relieved and even a little pleased.

As long as Qi Yuan was willing to take action, the problem could be solved.

……

In Bloodless City, there was a remote yet grand manor.

Ji Ruxue, with snow-white hair, was even more captivating than her sister, Ji Boxu.

At the moment, she was twirling a lock of her white hair between her fingers, smiling. "I never expected to come here and encounter someone personally targeted by Fengnu True Monarch."

The Demon Desire Sect was divided into two factions, one with the surname Ji and the other with the surname Shen.

The Shen faction was low-key, almost invisible.

Nowadays, the Ji faction held power in the Demon Desire Sect.

Recently, the Demon Desire Sect had colluded with the Bright Palace.

Her sister, Ji Boxu, had even been sent to accompany Six-String True Monarch, that old man.

At this moment, two Nascent Soul cultivators beside Ji Ruxue were smiling.

Ji Mingqiu grinned widely. "Qi Yuan is truly audacious, daring to venture out alone.

This time, we’ll definitely capture him and present him to Withered Wood True Monarch!"

"Unfortunately, Kang Fulu has become overly cautious and refuses to leave the sect. We can only capture… this Qi Yuan.

Sigh, his value is still too low.

Even if we offer him to Fengnu True Monarch and get his approval to relocate the Demon Desire Sect away from the Hundred Nations, he won’t think much of us!" True Monarch Ji Chu said, a hint of regret in his eyes.

"Better to have something to capture than nothing at all! Don't be so picky!" Ji Mingqiu responded.

"The spies we sent out have already reported back. He’s on his way here, saving us the trouble of going to him," Ji Ruxue said smugly.

The three in the room were confident of their victory.

After all, with two Nascent Souls and one Foundation Establishment, how could Qi Yuan stand a chance? Even if Kang Fulu himself were here, it wouldn’t make a difference.

This kind of power was more than enough to deal with Qi Yuan.

About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense passed.

Outside the manor, Qi Yuan, Xiao Jia, Liu Guan, and Duan Qianrou arrived.

Duan Qianrou was about to knock on the door.

Qi Yuan stopped her with a glance, took a step forward, and lazily said, "Those inside, come out. You’ve been surrounded by me."

Duan Qianrou and Liu Guan exchanged bewildered looks but said nothing.

At that moment, a soft laugh came from the courtyard, and a woman with snow-white hair opened the door. Her eyes were filled with a relaxed smile. "Senior Brother Qi Yuan, have you come to discuss something important?"

Seeing Ji Ruxue’s relaxed demeanor, Duan Qianrou’s heart skipped a beat.

She didn’t know why, but she felt a sense of foreboding.

Liu Guan frowned as well.

Although Ji Ruxue was Ji Boxu’s younger sister, she was an illegitimate child with poor talent. In the Demon Desire Sect, she was just an ordinary true disciple, nowhere near Qi Yuan’s status as the top disciple of a peak.

So where did she get such confidence?

Qi Yuan seemed unaware of these details and bluntly said, "I’m here to tell you that for stealing Xiao Jia’s snacks, you’ll be going to hell to join your Ji ancestors!"

Qi Yuan’s casual talk of killing left Ji Ruxue stunned.

She knew Qi Yuan was here to cause trouble.

But how had things escalated to killing so quickly? Fortunately...

Ji Ruxue’s face turned cold. "You want to kill me? Better think about how to save your own life first!"

As Ji Ruxue spoke, two immensely powerful auras suddenly filled the courtyard.

Ji Mingqiu and Ji Chu, two Nascent Soul cultivators, appeared abruptly, their strong auras surging, causing the spiritual energy in the air to tremble.

Ji Chu smiled. "Nephew, long time no see."

"Nascent Souls?"

The sudden appearance of two Nascent Souls instantly drained the color from Duan Qianrou’s face.

Liu Guan was even more terrified, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Were they caught in a major conflict?

This was the end; they were all going to die here.

Facing the two Nascent Souls, Qi Yuan remained calm. "Sigh, I just wanted to deal with some small fry, but now some bigger ones are eager to die?"

Ji Chu and Ji Mingqiu were taken aback.

Ji Mingqiu sneered, "As expected from the rumors, completely insane."

As he spoke, he struck out.

The powerful mana of a Nascent Soul cultivator surged.

This was not something a Golden Core could compare to.

Liu Guan’s back turned cold, his heart filled with both anxiety and despair.

Not long ago, a mysterious figure had slain a late-stage Golden Core with one blow; if that person was indeed Qi Yuan, he was already an exceptional prodigy.

But these were two Nascent Souls, one even in the mid-stage, on par with the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect.

When such a powerful being makes a move, it’s bound to be with overwhelming force, leaving no survivors.

But at this moment, Qi Yuan yawned. "As expected, the Nascent Souls from a small place still can’t compare to those from a big place."

He could clearly feel the difference between these Nascent Souls and the ones from the Bright Palace that he had slain at Lingfeng Crossing.

The difference was significant, but they were equally weak.

Qi Yuan lightly tapped his finger, and a broken sword formed in the void.

As Ji Mingqiu’s attack approached, the broken sword lazily thrust forward.

"To kill you, who needs divine powers?"

As soon as these words fell, the broken sword sliced through Ji Mingqiu’s attack like it was nothing, breaking through his protective aura and stabbing directly into his Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul shattered instantly, even more fragile than a balloon.

Ji Mingqiu’s eyes widened. He hadn’t even had time to react before he... died.

A mid-stage Nascent Soul, one of the strongest in the Great Shang.

Just like that... dead?

Ji Chu’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You’re not Qi Yuan!"

The scene before him was too terrifying, too exaggerated.

Without hesitation, he used a divine power to flee.

However, his escape was like a snail’s pace to Qi Yuan.

"Die," Qi Yuan said, and it was as if his words alone made it happen.

Ji Chu, a proud Nascent Soul, suddenly exploded, dying instantly.

The two Nascent Souls were both dead within a single breath.

Ji Ruxue’s face was full of terror as she backed away. Suddenly, her neck twisted, and she too died on the spot.

The three enemies were all dealt with in an instant.

Everything had happened so quickly, so abruptly.

It was as if the ones who died weren’t Nascent Soul True Monarchs, but... Foundation Establishment cultivators! Behind him, Liu Guan’s eyes were wide, unable to believe what he had just witnessed.

Wasn’t Qi Yuan a disciple of Seven-Colored Peak?

How had he suddenly... killed two Nascent Souls? Even the Sect Master of the Divine Light Sect couldn’t do that, could he?

His body trembled, unable to comprehend what he had just seen.

As for Duan Qianrou, she was lying on the ground, seemingly knocked unconscious by the shockwaves of the battle.

"Alright, the enemies are dead. Let’s go. Stop pretending to be unconscious," Qi Yuan said, glancing at Duan Qianrou.

Her acting skills were terrible, after all. Only then did Duan Qianrou get up.

She looked at Qi Yuan, her eyes filled with fear.

Yes, fear.

"Senior…" Duan Qianrou’s voice trembled.

"Don’t call me Senior. Do I look that old? Call me… Young Master Qi Yuan," Qi Yuan said calmly.

Hearing this, Duan Qianrou’s gums trembled as she wondered what fate awaited her.

After all, they had witnessed something terrifying, and it was very likely they’d be silenced.

Qi Yuan glanced at Liu Guan. "You’re a decent person."

Back when they were hunting the Old Black Chicken Demon, no one wanted to team up with a Qi-refining cultivator, except for Liu Guan.

Hearing this, Liu Guan’s heart filled with joy.

Could it really be him? "You don’t need to worry. I’m not someone who kills for no reason," Qi Yuan said casually. "You only need to swear on your inner demons that today’s events will not be revealed in any way, and this matter will be over."

For now, the Bright Palace had not been destroyed.

Naturally, he had to keep his aliases hidden and not reveal his true strength.

"Senior, if I reveal any of today’s events, may I die a terrible death!" Liu Guan quickly swore.

Duan Qianrou followed suit and swore as well.

Both felt as though they had narrowly escaped death.

At the same time, their gazes towards Qi Yuan were filled with deep reverence.

What had happened today felt like a dream.

"Alright, the enemies are dead, so I’ll head back to the peak." Qi Yuan said, preparing to leave with Xiao Jia. Before leaving, he glanced at Liu Guan. "You’re not as frail as before. If you had fainted today, I would’ve had to carry you away."

After saying this, Qi Yuan and Xiao Jia’s figures disappeared.

Liu Guan and Duan Qianrou were left behind, their hearts unable to calm down for a long time.

Duan Qianrou looked at Liu Guan. "Grandfather, was it really him?"

"Yes... absolutely!" Liu Guan’s eyes shone with intense light.

Qi Yuan had slain a late-stage Golden Core while still in the Foundation Establishment stage, which was already astonishing.

But what he witnessed today went far beyond his imagination.

Could Qi Yuan actually be the reincarnation of some deity? That was the only explanation!

What a tremendous stroke of luck! Liu Guan’s heart was filled with awe.

It took a long time for him to calm down.

"Qianrou, don’t mention moving away again.

We must stand with the Great Shang, come what may! Gather more blood crystals, and next time, I’ll personally deliver them to the Divine Light Sect!"

How could he not hold on to such an incredible opportunity?

……

When Qi Yuan returned to Seven-Colored Peak, he received a summons from the Sect Master.

Now, standing in the sect’s grand hall, he looked at True Lord Kumu and slowly asked, "Sect Master, what do you need from me?"

As he spoke, Qi Yuan glanced at Kang Fulu, who was standing beside the Sect Master.

By now, Kang Fulu had entered the Golden Core stage.

This surprised Qi Yuan.

"Do you remember the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle I mentioned some time ago?" True Lord Kumu asked.

"Of course."

"The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle has suddenly been moved up and will begin in a month or two.

This time, you and Kang Fulu will participate together," True Lord Kumu said.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan was taken aback.

So soon? "How long does the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle usually last?" Qi Yuan asked.

He was in a hurry to destroy the Bright Palace and didn’t have time to participate in any prodigy battles.

"It could be as short as half a month or as long as several years. There’s no set time."

Qi Yuan’s face fell. "Can I not go?"

True Lord Kumu was stunned, looking at Qi Yuan in silence, but his expression was extremely dark.

Kang Fulu, however, spoke warmly. "Junior Brother Qi Yuan, if you’re facing some trouble, feel free to tell us. We can help you solve it."

"I’m planning to destroy the Bright Palace, so I don’t have time for the prodigy battle," Qi Yuan said casually.

After all, no one believed what he said anyway, so he might as well be honest.

As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, the warm smile on Kang Fulu’s face froze.

Your "trouble" is quite something. You really dare to say that!

True Lord Kumu looked at Qi Yuan and coldly said, "The location of this Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle is in Cuiyun Continent, not far from the Bright Palace, so it won’t interfere with your… destruction of the Bright Palace!"

With the last four words, the Sect Master emphasized his tone, expressing his inner emotions.

Qi Yuan’s face lit up with joy. "If that’s the case, don’t worry, Sect Master. While I’m destroying the Bright Palace, I’ll definitely participate in the prodigy battle and get a good result!"

If it’s on the way, it won’t interfere with his plans to destroy the Bright Palace! True Lord Kumu looked at Qi Yuan with helplessness.

"I didn’t expect the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle to be moved up either.

You’ve only just entered the Foundation Establishment stage, and your cultivation hasn’t advanced much.

You don’t need to achieve an outstanding result in the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle, just do your best."

Originally, the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle wasn’t scheduled so soon. Given Qi Yuan’s talent and the time he had to improve his cultivation, he would have been better prepared.

Now, with the sudden advancement of the battle, Qi Yuan’s strength hadn’t improved much, making it even less likely for him to reach the top hundred.

True Lord Kumu could only pin his hopes on his son-in-law, Kang Fulu.

"Don’t worry, Sect Master. The treasure you gave me last time was incredibly useful.

This time, I’m determined to bring back the treasure from your family!" Qi Yuan said confidently.

True Lord Kumu gave a helpless smile. "This time, as you head to the Eastern Lands, don’t reveal your identities. It seems there’s a Nascent Soul steward in the Bright Palace who’s hostile towards you."

Qi Yuan nodded.

The Sect Master was talking about Fengnu True Lord, right?

He’s already dead.

The news should spread in a few days.