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

The man with the slanted eyes frowned and said sternly, "Junior Brother, you’re not a child anymore. You should prioritize the sect’s interests.

The sect’s current situation isn’t great.

We need to form good relations. The Bright Palace is the overlord of Cuiyun Continent and is incredibly powerful. We should befriend prodigies like Huang Tu. Who knows? They might become an asset to our sect someday."

Rogue Immortal Lord felt helpless after hearing this but could only say, "Understood, Senior Brother."

……

Yunzhong City, located in the southwestern region of Cuiyun Continent.

This city was once remote and didn’t belong to any major power.

Within the city, the most famous places were a courtyard and a pavilion—Yunzhong Courtyard and Ling Tian Pavilion.

One dealt in high-end entertainment, while the other collected information from across the world.

The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle was being held in Yunzhong City.

The city had become a gathering place for all the prodigies from the Eastern Lands.

More prodigies were still arriving.

This once-remote city had suddenly become the most prosperous place in Cuiyun Continent.

Following behind Jiang Ya, Qi Yuan casually glanced around and spotted a Nascent Soul cultivator.

In the Hundred Nations, Nascent Soul cultivators were rare.

In some small cities, even Foundation Establishment cultivators could dominate.

But in Yunzhong City, not to mention Foundation Establishment, even some Golden Core cultivators might be serving as greeters in certain elixir pavilions.

"If Yunzhong Courtyard is famous for anything, it’s the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance.

Three hundred charming Golden Core female cultivators, dressed in sheer veils, dance gracefully in a misty pavilion.

At night, they don’t need lamps. They simply summon their three hundred Golden Cores.

That scene… sigh, it’s a pity I won’t get to see it," Kang Fulu spoke in Qi Yuan’s ear, eyes gleaming as he vividly described the scene.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan wasn’t particularly moved.

During his time in Wugui City, after his last lecture, the Supreme Lord Yang Hun had specially arranged a grand feast with music and dance.

At that time, 1,600 stunning female Supremes, dressed in red skirts, performed a mesmerizing dance.

The scene was magnificent, though slightly less impressive than a 3,000-member suona orchestra.

Later, 300 alluring female Supremes performed a private dance, the content of which even Yang Hun didn’t know, as the dance was choreographed by the women themselves.

Their movements were more seductive and bold.

The only audience members were Qi Yuan and Xiao Jia, with Xiao Jia thoroughly enjoying the show.

After watching, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but marvel at how ancient emperors on Blue Star were so easily swayed by sycophants.

Which leader, which high official, could resist such temptation?

Compared to Golden Cores, Qi Yuan found watching Supremes dance far more interesting.

Just then, a loud sound like a dragon's roar echoed through the air.

Many in Yunzhong City looked up at the sky.

There, a Rabbit Carriage appeared, flying over the city.

This immortal chariot was drawn by eighteen cloud rabbits with ancient dragon bloodlines.

Its momentum was like a tidal wave.

Looking closer, there were 54 heads and 144 feet.

Wherever it passed, immortal light spread, and divine sounds descended.

It was a symbol of immense prestige.

"That’s Huang Tu’s carriage!"

"It’s actually Huang Tu! He’s ranked twenty-seventh on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List."

"He’s the strongest prodigy of our Cuiyun Continent’s younger generation. This time, he might make it into the top twenty!"

"The leading rabbit is a Nascent Soul demon beast! That’s terrifying!"

Many cultivators below exclaimed in awe and envy.

Meanwhile, in the rabbit carriage, Xu Tongchen's eyes suddenly narrowed, as if he noticed something.

"Tongchen, what’s wrong?" Huang Tu opened his eyes and looked at Xu Tongchen. Although his gaze was somewhat restrained, his overbearing aura couldn’t be hidden.

"N-nothing," Xu Tongchen quickly replied.

Huang Tu glanced at him and said, "Focus on your cultivation. The Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle will require your help."

Huang Tu spoke more directly than his master.

While his master, Qian Yuan, pressured Xu Yeli with soft words, Huang Tu didn’t bother with pleasantries.

After all, he came from a noble background and possessed immense talent.

To him, it was only natural for the peers of Cuiyun Continent to serve him.

With Xu Tongchen, he was straightforward.

He even felt that inviting Xu Tongchen to ride in the same carriage was a great favor.

As expected, Xu Tongchen felt a heavy weight in his heart upon hearing Huang Tu’s words, though his expression didn’t change. "Alright."

He had long harbored resentment toward Huang Tu.

But for the sake of his master and the Seven Words Sect, he had no choice but to endure it.

At that moment, however, he recalled the strange feeling he had earlier.

As the rabbit carriage passed, the Solar True Fire within him suddenly flared up.

It felt like he had seen the real sun.

Was it an illusion? Remembering that man’s face, Xu Tongchen was filled with suspicion and doubt.

He couldn’t understand why he had felt that way.

Meanwhile, Qi Yuan watched the rabbit carriage fly away and couldn’t help but sigh, "No wonder people from big cities travel in such style.

Sigh, I may be stronger than him in the game, but in real life, he completely outshines me."

Jiang Ya, standing beside him, remained as calm as ever.

The rabbit carriage in the sky meant nothing to her.

Kang Fulu, on the other hand, patted Qi Yuan’s shoulder and said, "Junior Brother, what’s so special about a rabbit carriage? It’s nothing compared to the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance!"

Mentioning this, Kang Fulu’s eyes lit up with excitement.

Qi Yuan initially wanted to use his Daoist powers to project the dance of the 3,000 female Supremes for Kang Fulu to see, to show him what true taste and class were.

But he thought better of it, realizing that someone like Kang Fulu wouldn’t appreciate it, so he gave up.

Just then, a man with a small mustache approached them. "Are you folks new to Yunzhong City?"

"Yes," Kang Fulu replied cautiously, eyeing the man with suspicion.

"I just overheard you two talking about the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance, heh."

The mustached man chuckled lewdly.

"Why don’t you add me on your messaging jade slip?

I’ve got more than just the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance. I’ve got all kinds of private collections, passionate recordings, saintess exclusives, forbidden techniques, beast girls, fox girls, master-disciple fantasies, and even some featuring promising young talents.

The prices are fair, no scams, and there’s a discount for bulk purchases."

Kang Fulu was momentarily stunned, his eyes lighting up, but he quickly looked at Qi Yuan and Jiang Ya and then suppressed his excitement.

"I’m not interested."

Qi Yuan, on the other hand, appeared thoughtful.

Is this a black market dealer? "Is it real?" Qi Yuan couldn’t help but ask.

"Absolutely!" The mustached man, seeing potential business, became even more enthusiastic. "If you’re interested, we can talk in an alley. It’s not appropriate to discuss this in public…"

"Alright." Qi Yuan agreed, then glanced at Kang Fulu and Jiang Ya. "I’m going to discuss some business. I’ll be back shortly."

With that, Qi Yuan followed the mustached man away.

Kang Fulu gave an awkward smile. "We still have righteous gentlemen in our Divine Light Sect."

Jiang Ya, however, glanced at Qi Yuan’s departing figure with a calm expression, as if nothing had happened.

Qi Yuan followed the mustached man into an alley.

The man lifted his clothes to reveal an array of jade slips densely packed together.

Various texts floated above the jade slips, along with images that seemed to be hidden in the clouds.

The scene immediately became quite lewd and chaotic.

No wonder the transaction had to be done in an alley. If these images were displayed on the street, some righteous warrior might step in and destroy them.

"Brother, which ones do you want?" The mustached man proudly patted his storage bag.

There was even more stock inside.

"Hmm, do you also do consignment sales?" Qi Yuan wasn’t interested in the products; he had a different purpose.

"Consignment?" The man’s enthusiasm waned. "You didn’t secretly record something spicy and want me to sell it, did you? We don’t accept just any material."

"It’s definitely spicy." Qi Yuan pulled out the memory stone he had prepared earlier. "I’ve already titled it…

‘Shocking: Seventeen Nascent Souls from the Bright Palace Caught in an Orgy, Struck Down by Divine Retribution, Exclusive Footage Leaked!’"

"The Bright Palace?" The mustached man was taken aback. He took the memory stone from Qi Yuan and watched it carefully. Afterward, he swallowed hard. "Divine lightning? Damn, the divine lightning actually struck the Nascent Souls of the Bright Palace!"

"The Bright Palace has committed countless atrocities. Isn’t it normal for them to be struck by divine retribution? This is undeniable evidence of the Bright Palace’s evil deeds!" Qi Yuan said solemnly.

He had edited the video carefully.

Anyone who watched it would believe that the Bright Palace’s cultivators had committed heinous acts, leading to divine punishment.

As for himself, the instigator, he was completely in the clear.

Releasing this video would undoubtedly provide strong justification for the Blood-Clad Sword God’s campaign to destroy the Bright Palace.

As the saying goes, a just cause attracts support.

The slogan must be loud and clear!

"What, are you scared?" Qi Yuan asked casually when the mustached man remained silent.

"Hmph, since when has Ling Tian Pavilion been afraid of anything? I’ll take the deal, but as for the profit split…"

"I don’t want a cut. All the income is yours."

The mustached man’s eyes lit up. "How could I accept that?"

This deal was risky, but the potential profit was enormous.

The Bright Palace’s Nascent Souls and the rare divine lightning—either one would attract a lot of attention.

Moreover, this was genuine footage.

Among his inventory, this would definitely stand out and attract many buyers.

Of course, some might feel deceived by the title, but that wasn’t his concern.

As long as the title was accurate, that was all that mattered.

Regardless, this would be a huge moneymaker. "I’m just a good person who likes to help others. If you feel bad about it, just take a look at the little sun in the sky."

"The little sun?" The mustached man was puzzled but looked up anyway.

When he looked back down, his eyes were blank.

The alley was empty, with only him standing there.

"Huh? Who was I just talking to?"

"Oh, right, selling… Bright Palace!"

His face lit up with excitement.

……

"Junior Brother, sigh."

When Qi Yuan returned, Kang Fulu sighed deeply.

Jiang Ya, however, remained calm. "Alright, let’s head to the inn."

It was as if nothing had happened.

The four of them arrived at the inn Jiang Ya had booked in advance.

The inn was actually a celestial mountain, with numerous pavilions and palaces, as well as immortal caves.

Jiang Ya, Kang Fulu, and Qi Yuan’s caves were adjacent to each other.

After bidding farewell to the others, Jiang Ya and the elderly woman headed to their quarters.

Kang Fulu looked at Qi Yuan and couldn’t help but say, "Junior Brother, what you did earlier really tarnished our Divine Light Sect’s image.

For things like that… you should secretly transmit sound and add him to your jade slip contacts first."

Kang Fulu rambled on, seeming disappointed in Qi Yuan.

Finally, he changed the subject. "Oh, by the way… did you buy the Dragon and Fish Golden Core Dance?

Senior Brother has just reached the Golden Core stage and wants to observe how powerful the Golden Core cultivators of Cuiyun Continent really are."

"The price was too high, so I didn’t buy it," Qi Yuan replied seriously.

Hearing this, Kang Fulu looked disappointed.

But then Qi Yuan extended his hand, and a jade slip fell into Kang Fulu’s hand. "I managed to sneak one out while he wasn’t looking."

Of course, Qi Yuan had actually paid for it.

Kang Fulu’s eyes lit up as he stared at the jade slip. "Junior Brother, if I perfect my Golden Core, I’ll have you to thank!"

Qi Yuan smiled and returned to his cave.

Once inside, Qi Yuan took a casual glance around. "Sigh, there’s no place like the city."

The cave was lavishly decorated.

It had everything, from jade pillows and gold-thread quilts to osmanthus incense.

Qi Yuan opened the Divine Flower Gathering’s jade slip to contact Rogue Immortal Lord.

But then he paused.

Someone with the ID "Lingnu" had sent him some messages.

It was his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu.

"Senior Brother, as cultivators, we should focus on cultivating and achieving great things, not getting lost in desires!"

"Especially those jade slip images. Many of them are illusions and fake.

Watching too much of that stuff isn’t good for your health."

Qi Yuan was momentarily stunned.

Did Jiang Ya tell his junior sister?

His junior sister sure knew a lot.

What was she trying to say? Was she implying that many of the things that mustached guy sold were fake? Was she warning him? His junior sister was really kind.

"Junior Sister, why don’t you show me something real?"

Meanwhile, on Seven-Colored Peak, Jiang Lingsu’s jade slip flashed briefly at her waist.

She quickly took it out.

When she saw the message, her face flushed, and she gritted her teeth. "Qi Yuan!"

Qi Yuan, of course, had no idea about Jiang Lingsu’s reaction.

He said in the group chat, "Rogue Immortal Lord, I’ve arrived in Yunzhong City.

No wonder it’s such a big city; it’s bustling and lively."

At that moment, Rogue Immortal Lord saw Qi Yuan’s message and felt anxious and hesitant. "Origin Heavenly Lord, I won’t arrive for a few more days."

"No problem, we’ll meet then." Qi Yuan was enthusiastic.

"Um… Origin Heavenly Lord, would you like to join me at a banquet when you arrive?" Rogue Immortal Lord asked cautiously.

He was aware of the sect’s predicament and remembered his Senior Brother’s warning.

But since Origin Heavenly Lord was his friend, he couldn’t just abandon him.

"A banquet? What kind of banquet?" Qi Yuan asked.

"It’s… Huang Tu’s banquet. He’s inviting some prodigies.

Origin Heavenly Lord, don’t get the wrong idea. When you attend, you can just eat some spiritual fruits and ignore everyone else." Rogue Immortal Lord was conflicted.

"Wow, it’s him? I know him—he’s the top prodigy of Cuiyun Continent.

Today, he was driving that rabbit carriage, looking so majestic.

Rogue Immortal Lord, you really are a big shot to get me an invitation to such a high-level banquet!

Don’t worry, I’ll go to give you face. As long as he doesn’t provoke me, I won’t be too harsh. After all, I have no personal grudge against him, right?" Qi Yuan said casually, his gaze deepening.

Rogue Immortal Lord was moved.

Origin Heavenly Lord considered him a friend.

To the point of temporarily setting aside his grudge with Huang Tu.

"By the way, now that I’m in Yunzhong City, I should continue my hundred-day plan," Qi Yuan said in the city.

Rogue Immortal Lord was feeling more and more confused.

Origin Heavenly Lord’s words were really baffling him.

Is he a Foundation Establishment, a Golden Core, or a Purple Palace master?

"I’ve come up with a grand plan today. I’ll brew it for two days and then strike the Bright Palace again."

After saying this, Qi Yuan left the group chat.

The next morning, as dawn broke, he seemed to notice something and logged into the Blood-Clad Sword God’s account to post on the forum.

[Title: The Bright Palace Ravages the Hundred Nations, and Faces Divine Retribution. I, the Blood-Clad Sword God, Represent Justice in Destroying It!]

The title was simple, but the content was rich.

"The Bright Palace has committed countless atrocities. Upon arriving in Cuiyun Continent, I purchased some jade slips from Ling Tian Pavilion, which documented the evil deeds of the Bright Palace.

They ravaged the Hundred Nations, ultimately attracting divine retribution—divine lightning killed over a dozen Nascent Souls! This is karma, divine retribution for their evil deeds! The Bright Palace’s luck has run out; it must be destroyed!"

After posting, Qi Yuan logged out of the jade slip and continued refining the techniques his junior sister had sent him.

The path of the Golden Core, and continuing the "Qi Yuan Sutra," was becoming increasingly difficult.

After all, Qi Yuan’s ambitions were immense.

He wanted to refine the other stars in that universe into his Golden Core!

The day quickly passed.

As night fell, Qi Yuan felt drained. "It’s too difficult. The techniques for the Golden Core stage are on a completely different level than those for Foundation Establishment!"

He stopped refining techniques and instead entered the Divine Flower Gathering forum.

When he checked, he was pleasantly surprised to see nearly a thousand comments.

"It seems justice is on my side!"

Qi Yuan now felt he could stand on the moral high ground and sweep away the Bright Palace.

He began reading the comments seriously.

"Didn’t expect the Blood-Clad Sword God would… heh heh."

"Don’t get me started. My brother begged me to buy the latest jade slip early this morning. So I did, and after watching it… well, I’ll just say that it’s popular in our Imperial Sacred Continent."

"Fellow Daoist above, aren’t you from Cuiyun Continent? Give us a keyword!"

"Bright Palace Nascent Souls… Ling Tian Pavilion’s dark branch has it. Don’t go to their main branch."

"Dark branch? They sell… that!!"

The comments were frantic, with people begging for more.

Of course, there were also some serious comments.

"It’s really divine lightning!"

"What exactly did the Bright Palace’s Nascent Soul cultivators do to attract divine retribution?"

"Did anyone notice that something seemed to fall from the sky, and then they were struck by divine retribution?"

"I couldn’t see clearly. There was some kind of Daoist spell that made it blurry, but it looked big and round. Based on my years of experience, it’s probably… a Nai."

"??"

"Something like that falling from the sky and then the Bright Palace getting struck by divine retribution? How much evil did the Bright Palace do?"

"No wonder they added a Daoist spell to blur it out. It’s just too cruel and bloody!"

Qi Yuan was stunned by what he read.

He opened his backup video and watched it.

After watching, he was even more bewildered.

"A video that was supposed to be inspiring and satisfying—why did adding a mosaic suddenly make it feel so lewd?"

Qi Yuan was at a loss.

The scene clearly showed buns falling, followed by the Bright Palace’s Nascent Souls being struck by divine retribution.

He didn’t want to reveal the buns, so he added a mosaic.

But now… no matter how you looked at it, it resembled a Nai.

"Forget it. The point is, justice is on my side, and I should now attend the banquet and meet those Purple Palace masters from the Bright Palace!"

The Bright Palace had laid down the gauntlet, challenging him.

Qi Yuan wasn’t one to back down.

With justice on his side and a righteous cause, it was time to meet those old White Moonlight masters from the Bright Palace.

"No wonder young guys like rich women in their eighties or nineties."

"Once those old masters kick the bucket, their techniques will all be mine, won’t they?"

"That’s what makes for a proper White Moonlight!"

"A young pup like Young Master Wolf (the one who died in the Dragon Seizing Struggle) doesn’t count as White Moonlight. I’m revoking his White Moonlight status!"

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