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

Chapter 102: Visitors from Galan, How Can One Man Guard a City?

"Trying to run?"

Qi Yuan saw that Caixia was attempting to escape and his face turned cold.

He chased after Caixia.

"Stop him!" Caixia shouted, and all the demons became even more frenzied, charging at Qi Yuan with reckless abandon.

Seeing that the demons had temporarily trapped Qi Yuan, Caixia's confidence grew.

"I never expected a state guardian to come to Wu Gui City!
You are strong, and I'm no match for you, but so what if you’re a state guardian?

There are many state guardians in Galan City, but they’re still beaten and cowering inside, afraid to come out?

The South is destined to fall, why fight for it?

Life is short, we should enjoy it while we can, why care about the so-called world?

Doing these things is just for your own moral satisfaction."

Caixia looked at Qi Yuan, eyes filled with a smug expression.

"I’m leaving. The next time I return, Wu Gui City will definitely be overturned."

With that, she turned and left without looking back.

Qi Yuan grew anxious: "Dare to overthrow the city I guard? You’re seeking death!"

Sky-Splitting Sword Technique!
Qi Yuan used his strongest sword technique.

With one stroke, the hundreds of demons surrounding him were forcibly cut open, creating a gap.

Caixia saw this and her face showed shock.

Killing over ten overlord-level demons with one sword was not something an ordinary state guardian could do.

A gust of wind blew, and Caixia heard Qi Yuan shout.

"Villain, don’t run, stay... as a dog!"

The powerful wind struck her waist, and she fell from the air like a kite with a broken string.

Just a residual wave had taken away all her combat power.

She struggled to turn around and saw the handsome man with a broken sword approaching her.

She was terrified.

She didn't want to die here.

"I... I am willing to be a dog!" Lying on the scorching sand, Caixia's heart felt a strange ripple. She looked at Qi Yuan with a pleasing expression, even sticking out her tongue like a real dog.

"Begging dog has no house!" Qi Yuan felt disgusted and slashed Caixia with his sword.

Caixia's body fell limply, not understanding why, even after becoming a dog, she wasn't spared.

Did they have such deep-seated hatred?

Aren't the cultivators from the North and South often surrendering to each other?

But she had no time to ponder because she was dead.

After killing Caixia, Qi Yuan turned back to the demon army.

He lifted his sword and charged again.

Half an hour later.

Qi Yuan returned to the walls of Wu Gui City.

Now, he most wanted to understand what exactly this so-called demon essence was.

He introspected and carefully sensed his body.

After some time, Qi Yuan opened his eyes.

In his spirit, he observed a speck of gas the size of a grain of rice.

This gas was multicolored, possessing countless hues.

"Is this the demon essence?"

【Demon Essence, the evil of living beings: Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Lust.】

"The seven deadly sins?"

"This doesn’t seem like a good thing."

His spirit touched the rice-sized demon essence and immediately his mind was flooded with countless visions.

He saw himself cutting through the Palace of Light.

He devoured mountains of delicious food.

He tore his junior sister Jiang Lingsu's dress and put stockings on her legs.

"Six."

Qi Yuan thought he just wanted to play along.

"Suddenly, I feel the mutation ability is not a good thing."

Qi Yuan realized he might have fallen into a trap.

However, after pondering for a while, he dismissed this thought.

"There's a saying: There are no evil martial arts, only evil people."

"Demon essence is another side of human nature.

If I kill all the demons in this world, how much demon essence would I have?

If I refine it into my golden core, it might be powerful."

A golden core might evoke enemies’ seven emotions and six desires, breeding inner demons.

Qi Yuan thought this through.

If that were the case, his golden core would control similar emotions and desires?

Qi Yuan reassured himself.

His mood improved significantly.

...

Two years passed in a flash.

In the vast desert, Yuan Qi walked alone, his face cracked, and he looked in bad shape.

On the way to Wu Gui City, he encountered many wandering demons.

He barely escaped several times, nearly dying, but he pulled through.

Now, he was extremely weak.

Yet, he never discarded the wooden box on his back.

"The path from Great Xia to Wu Gui City is filled with demons.

How did my brother and his men reach Wu Gui City, or... is my brother not in Wu Gui City?"

Yuan Qi was filled with doubt, determined to find out the situation in Wu Gui City.

At this moment, a voice came from behind him.

"Brother, are you also a cultivator from the South?"

Yuan Qi turned sharply and saw a man and a woman, both looking at him warily.

"Yes, and you are?" Yuan Qi asked, thoughts racing.

He heard that many cultivators from the ten thousand and eight thousand cities defected to the North each year.

The pair had no marks of demon controllers, but he remained cautious.

"We are cultivators from Galan City, heading to Wu Gui City," the tall man said. "Judging by your direction, are you also going to Wu Gui City? Are you from Great Xia?"

Yuan Qi pondered and decided not to hide it: "Indeed."

"I see," the tall man smiled.

The woman beside him quickly asked: "Since you are from Great Xia, do you know the guardian of Wu Gui City?"

Wu Gui City's guardian?
Yuan Qi shook his head.

He didn't know.

"I only know that a few years ago, my brother led troops to support Wu Gui City and never returned."

"Wu Gui City has been isolated for too long. We don’t have much information either.

But we heard that the guardian of Wu Gui City is a state guardian.

He has defended the city alone for nearly three years!" The tall man’s eyes showed admiration. "My sister and I are going to visit this guardian and discuss important matters!"

Yuan Qi was puzzled.

A state guardian?
Great Xia has no state guardian.

Who is the guardian of Wu Gui City?

Guarding alone?
How... sad.

Thinking this, Yuan Qi felt a pang of sorrow.

"Since we’re all headed to Wu Gui City, let’s travel together."

After five days, Yuan Qi learned the siblings’ general information and purpose for going to Wu Gui City.

The siblings were named Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei.

They were going to persuade the guardian of Wu Gui City to come to Galan City.

They sought Yuan Qi's company, thinking he might know the guardian and could help persuade him.

Yuan Qi was initially resistant.

Why should Great Xia's guardian leave Wu Gui City for Galan City?
But Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei convinced him.

Wu Gui City indeed didn't need guarding.

The guardian, defending the city alone, while Great Xia couldn’t provide any help, would only lead to death.

Yuan Qi felt unwilling, guilty, and deeply self-reproachful.

Half a day later, the three finally saw the towering Wu Gui City.

Liu Wentai looked at the grand city with admiration: "Guarding a city alone, how magnificent."

Beside him, Liu Wenmei gathered her strength and shouted at the grand city: "Envoys from Galan City seek an audience with the guardian of Wu Gui City!"

The loud voice echoed in the city.

But ten seconds passed with no response.

Liu Wentai felt a sense of foreboding: "No, something might have happened in Wu Gui City!"

The three hurried towards the city.

As they neared the wall, they hit an invisible barrier.

"What is this?"

The three fell, looking puzzled at the front.

"Step aside," a lazy voice came.

Sand flew as a young man holding a broken sword appeared, seemingly climbing out of the ground.

His face still looked sleepy.

Yuan Qi stared at him, surprised.

So young?

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei had the same thought.

If not for hearing that he had guarded Wu Gui City alone for three years, they wouldn't believe he was a state guardian.

"Are you the guardian of Wu Gui City?" Liu Wentai asked.

"Yes." The man from the ground was Qi Yuan. "What are you doing at Wu Gui City so early, disturbing my sleep."

"I am Liu Wentai, this is my sister Liu Wenmei. We are from Galan City, here to visit the guardian on important matters!"

"Speak." Qi Yuan’s words were concise.

"We admire your solitary defense of Wu Gui City. Even our guardian in Galan City speaks highly of you," Liu Wentai began with praise.

"Get to the point." Qi Yuan grew impatient.

He felt dealing with demons was better than humans; humans talked too much.

Demons only roared like dragons.

Liu Wentai looked embarrassed: "Guarding Wu Gui City alone is a great feat.

By our guardian's order, we invite you to Galan City.

We have dozens of state guardians, hundreds of overlords, and strong forces.

Since the start of the Southern and Northern Wars, we have never lost a city.

Now, we plan to counterattack the demon army, defeat the demon controller leader Misan, and secure ten years of peace.

However, Galan City lacks manpower, and you, a state guardian, would be a great help in our counterattack!"

Liu Wentai grew excited.

After all, a counterattack against the demons was unprecedented.

Success would boost the morale of the Dazui Kingdom.

And they would be remembered in history.

Qi Yuan shook his head: "Sorry, I’m not interested."

He refused outright.

Liu Wenmei and Liu Wentai were surprised.

Liu Wentai quickly added: "Won’t you reconsider?

If you join us, Galan City will provide ten great medicines annually, and access to powerful techniques to enhance your strength."

Liu Wentai offered incentives.

Great medicine?

Techniques?

Qi Yuan didn’t need them.

With his death glow, demons were the best medicine.

In the game, he only needed to kill demons to grow stronger.

"I am the guardian of Wu Gui City. I won’t leave for another place." Qi Yuan shook his head firmly.

Liu Wenmei stepped forward: "Your defense of Wu Gui City is admirable.

But you are alone, guarding for three years, repelling waves of demons. The demons will only grow stronger.

How long can you hold out?"

Liu Wentai continued: "Wu Gui City is backed by Great Xia.

Great Xia now has no overlord, not even a thousand leaders.

You have no backup. One day, Wu Gui City will fall, and you will die.

Please, think of the greater good, not just a small country. Consider the human race!"

Offering benefits, then speaking of dangers, finally appealing to duty, most people would agree.

Yuan Qi remained silent.

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei made sense.

The unknown guardian couldn’t hold Wu Gui City alone.

No matter how strong, how could he fight all the northern demons?
Guarding alone, only death awaited.

Qi Yuan smiled: "Don’t use NPC thinking to understand a player.

I won’t leave Wu Gui City.

My mind is made up. Please leave."

Guarding Wu Gui City’s rewards might be as valuable as fragments of the Dao. He couldn’t leave.

Moreover, he might not be in the same faction as Galan City, possibly competitors.

They would compete for demons.

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei looked grave.

Qi Yuan’s words were partly unclear, but his meaning was evident. They didn’t expect his resolve.

Liu Wenmei, defiant, asked: "What would it take for you to leave Wu Gui City for Galan City?

Any condition, I will agree!"

Her gaze was firm, she meant it.

Qi Yuan laughed: "I want to be the lord of this world, can you?"

Liu Wenmei knew he couldn’t be persuaded.

The siblings looked at Qi Yuan, eyes complex: "Since that’s the case, take care. Goodbye!"

They left decisively.

"Wait." Qi Yuan spoke.

Liu Wenmei’s face lit up: "Have you changed your mind?"

Qi Yuan shook his head: "No, I wanted to say, if you can’t kill all demons, send them to me. I’m itching for a fight."

Recently, demons attacked every few days.

Qi Yuan enjoyed the kills.

But one could never have enough experience.

Liu Wenmei was puzzled by Qi Yuan’s request but nodded: "I’ll report this to the guardian."

She assumed Qi Yuan wanted to contribute to Galan City’s plan.

The siblings bid farewell and left.

Qi Yuan looked at Yuan Qi: "Why didn’t you leave with them?"

Yuan Qi, emotionally charged, said: "Great Xia can’t support your defense of Wu Gui City. I, Yuan Qi, am willing to lay down my life for you!"

He left unsaid: Great Xia’s people stand with you.

If possible, thousands from Great Xia would rush to Wu Gui City, ready to die.

But... most would die on the way.