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

Chapter 104: No More Pretending, I Am Invincible. Do As You Please

Wu Gui City.

"It's been ten years. Only a day should have passed in Canglan Realm."

A light drizzle fell on the city wall, leaving tiny spots that quickly evaporated. The ground was scorching hot, like a furnace, making the air stifling.

Over the past few years, Qi Yuan had been guarding Wu Gui City, ensuring no demons entered. Occasionally, he would sneak out to "hunt" and kill demons. His level had reached a terrifying height.

"Soon, I should ensure no demons enter Wu Gui City and log off."

Qi Yuan had almost never logged off. After all, one day in the real world equated to ten years in the game world.

If he went out for a meal, Wu Gui City could become a den of demons, undoing all his previous efforts.

Of course, while this game’s anti-addiction measures weren't as strict as those in Wangyue Continent, one couldn't live entirely in the game, right?

"Senior."

At this moment, a voice came.

Qi Yuan looked over and saw two familiar figures approaching.

It was Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei, who he had met once before.

The two arrived at Wu Gui City, panting, their clothes thick with dust.

They seemed to have rushed over in a hurry.

"It's you two. Still alive, I see." Qi Yuan said.

Liu Wentai was momentarily speechless but still said, "Senior, something terrible has happened. A few years ago, we drove Misan away, and Yuzhou enjoyed a brief peace.

Now, Misan has left, and Wutu has arrived.

Wutu is a more terrifying demon controller than Misan, a peak state guardian. The demons he controls far surpass Misan's!"

Qi Yuan's eyes lit up: "After eating grass for so many years, finally, some meat!"

Seeing Qi Yuan's lack of reaction, Liu Wentai hurriedly said, "We've received word that Wutu plans to start with Wu Gui City. Once he takes Wu Gui City, he'll move on to other cities!"

"Thank you for traveling so far to bring me this good news." Qi Yuan said. If it had been a few years ago, he wouldn't have wanted the enemy to be too strong.

But now, he feared the enemy would be too weak.

"Senior, we're not joking!" Liu Wenmei said anxiously, seeing Qi Yuan's calm demeanor as if he were joking.

Liu Wentai added, "Wutu comes with a great force. Please, senior, move to Galan City and join us in resisting the enemy!"

Liu Wentai truly admired Qi Yuan.

Even Galan City's guardian, Dong Long, praised Qi Yuan more than once.

After all, they all thought Qi Yuan couldn't hold Wu Gui City alone for long.

Yet Qi Yuan had held out and was doing well.

Of course, that might have something to do with Galan City defeating Misan, reducing the pressure on Yuzhou.

But now, with Wutu coming, Yuzhou's situation was about to change dramatically.

Wu Gui City would be the first target, to be made an example of by Wutu.

Qi Yuan looked at the two and sighed: "NPCs are NPCs, repeating the same lines after so many years."

Last time these two NPCs came, they tried to persuade him to leave.

This time, they used the same tactics again, truly dedicated.

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei were completely stunned. They didn't fully understand Qi Yuan's words.

"Senior..." Liu Wenmei tried to persuade again.

Qi Yuan waved his hand: "Even if this world is destroyed, I won't die, because... I am a player! You should go back..."

Qi Yuan paused.

"Looks like you won't be going back."

His gaze pierced through the desert, showing excitement.

A powerful demon army was heading his way.

"You've always wondered how I dare to guard a city alone? Today, I'll show you.

A little shock for you NPCs from a player!"

"Tired of being underestimated."

"Go back and tell your guardian, if I wish.

I can wipe out all demons within thousands of miles!"

Hearing Qi Yuan's words, Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei's minds briefly froze.

They didn't understand what Qi Yuan was about to do.

Or what he meant by those words.

They watched as Qi Yuan leaped from the city wall.

His clear voice rang out.

"I... don't need teammates."

"Xiao Jia... is enough."

Together as One!

At this moment, Qi Yuan no longer hid his strength.

In the vast desert, blood-red fireflies covered Qi Yuan's body.

The flowing red covered Qi Yuan, his body growing to ten feet tall.

The ten-foot-tall giant was covered in blood-red armor, his head fully protected, revealing only a pair of cold, emotionless eyes.

Blood-red crystalline spikes adorned his shoulders, both bewitching and mysterious.

The towering blood-red armor giant held a massive blood-red broken sword, each step causing the ground to shake.

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei stared wide-eyed at Qi Yuan.

Their eyes were filled with shock.

What was this? A terrifying giant, exuding explosive power, stood before them.

They had a premonition that this terrifying blood-red armored giant could topple the majestic city of Wu Gui with a gentle push.

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei couldn't understand what they were seeing.

But they could feel that the man before them was unbeatable.

Boom, boom, boom! In the desert, dust flew.

The demon army finally revealed its fangs.

Before the army arrived, a sharp voice pierced the air.

"I am Iron Chain, a general under General Wutu. Guardian of Wu Gui City, surrender now, and you will be spared!"

In the demon army, Iron Chain lay lazily on a cloud chariot, his voice sharp.

Using a sound transmission technique, his voice reached Wu Gui City before the demon army.

By now, the guardian of Wu Gui City must be trembling on the city wall, he thought.

He got up and looked towards Wu Gui City.

Instantly, he met a pair of extremely cold eyes.

Those eyes were entirely blood-red, filled with endless slaughter.

Arrogance, greed, lust...

Iron Chain was momentarily stunned. Seeing the owner of those eyes, he wasn't just stunned, he was completely paralyzed.

A ten-foot-tall blood-red armored giant held a massive broken sword.

Covered in blood-red armor, he didn't look human at all.

Iron Chain's eyes widened, his lips trembling: "A demon?"

The giant demon army he controlled, each member huge, looked like newly hatched chicks compared to the blood-red armored giant.

The blood-red armored giant's gaze fell on the demon army, his eyes filled with greed.

An icy voice reached him.

"I am invincible!"

"Watch closely, this is why I can guard Wu Gui City alone!"

Overbearing Power!

Death’s Radiance! Sky-Splitting Sword Technique! The giant blood-red armored figure suddenly leaped.

The desert ground groaned heavily.

A massive broken sword descended from the sky.

Sword Qi swept thirty miles! Boom, boom, boom! Thousands of demons were struck by the sword.

Rip!

Boom.

The ground shook, sand flying everywhere.

Thousands of demons were shredded in an instant. Over ten state guardian-level demons didn't even roar, instantly annihilated by the sword.

Thousands of demons perished in one strike.

For several seconds, the sand still swirled.

On the city wall, Liu Wenmei and Liu Wentai were blinded by the sand but still sensed the terror and power of the strike.

How could there be such a powerful sword in the world? One strike, thousands of demons annihilated! Among them, over ten were state guardian-level demons.

Such terrifying power...

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei were immensely shocked and ashamed.

They had worried for Qi Yuan, like fireflies worrying the sun would be burned by a candle flame.

On the battlefield of Yuzhou, the guardian of Wu Gui City was truly invincible.

One strike, thousands of demons slain.

He could probably sweep through Galan City alone.

Qi Yuan finally reached level ninety.

In terms of strength, he was roughly in the mid-stage of the Divine Infant realm.

A prompt sounded in Qi Yuan's ear.

【You have reached level 90 and gained an opportunity to comprehend the essence. Do you want to use it?】

He had finally gained another chance to comprehend the essence.

Now was not the time to use it.

He flew over the battlefield shattered by his strike.

He saw the broken treasure cloud chariot and was surprised.

Withstanding his strike, it was a good item.

Nearby, Iron Chain was severely injured and unable to move. He looked at the terrifying creature before him with fear and regret: "Kill the demons... but spare me, I am a state guardian, I surrender!"

In response, Qi Yuan's broken sword flashed.

Thus, thousands of demons, Wutu's vanguard, were all annihilated by Qi Yuan.

The blood-red armor turned into red fireflies and disappeared, revealing Qi Yuan's handsome appearance.

He walked out of the yellow sand, standing beside Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei with a helpless smile: "Now do you understand why I didn't go to Galan City?"

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei were silent, looking at Qi Yuan with mixed emotions of excitement and a trace of fear.

That terrifying blood-red giant was still deeply etched in their memories.

"I usually don't bother explaining myself, especially to NPCs. But you two kept babbling like canaries, without the pleasant voice. Annoying."

Of course, even if they hadn't come, Qi Yuan would have slain the demons with one strike.

"Thanks for your kindness, but you should leave now." Qi Yuan dismissed them.

Liu Wentai and Liu Wenmei exchanged a glance, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

They bowed solemnly to Qi Yuan and left quickly.

Then, Qi Yuan's voice reached them.

"Don't let the young ones believe it, while the old ones don't.

You're not demons, I don't like this fishing tactic."

Qi Yuan finished speaking and entered the city, finding a secluded spot.

"Comprehend the essence..."

He began to comprehend the essence again.

As Qi Yuan spoke.

His vision changed again.

The yellow sand disappeared, replaced by misty fog.

Qi Yuan sat on the peak of Nine-Pan Mountain and suddenly widened his eyes.

He found the Myriad Gates of Change right on Nine-Pan Mountain! Last time, when he came to Nine-Pan Mountain, the Myriad Gates of Change were high in the sky.

This time, it was only a few hundred feet away.

Very close.

But Qi Yuan couldn't touch it.

He glanced at the small nest of the golden canary, now empty.

Qi Yuan looked back at the Myriad Gates of Change.

【You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Mutation Ability +10.】

【You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Coughing Ability +10.】

【You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Clothes Tearing Ability +10.】

Being closer, Qi Yuan's comprehension was much stronger.

Previously, it was fragments of one point at a time. Now, it was ten points at once.

"Not good, it's too hot, too scorching."

Qi Yuan observed himself.

He was now blood-red, constantly boiling.

Every moment, he felt like his body was being dried out, constantly evaporating.

"Is it because I'm too close to the Myriad Gates of Change?" Qi Yuan rolled down the mountain.

At that moment, a huge fragment fell.

【You have comprehended the Myriad Gates of Change, Human-Demon Path +999.】

???

Qi Yuan was bewildered.

A single blow of 999?

What is this, Human-Demon Path?

Receiving this information, Qi Yuan's eyes showed shock.

"This is an entirely new system?"

"No, this is the cultivation system of the Flowing Wind Realm!"

"As a player, I learned the NPC's cultivation method?"

"A complete system summary, this is really..."

Qi Yuan was stunned.

By then, he had rolled to the mountainside.

The boiling, evaporating sensation, and merging with the Myriad Gates of Change feeling subsided.

He set aside his previous thoughts.

"I'll sit here."

Qi Yuan turned into a large blood drop, continuing to comprehend the Myriad Gates of Change.

Then, a cheerful voice called out.

"Blood drop?"

Qi Yuan looked over and saw a girl in a golden dress.

The girl’s eyes were wide, filled with surprise and joy, her delicate face like a peach blossom, her small lips slightly parted, innocent and charming.

Her golden dress shimmered, making her look like she had stepped out of a fairy tale.

"Are you... the golden canary?" Qi Yuan thought, remembering meeting a golden canary while comprehending.

This little beauty must be the golden canary.

"Hmph, I knew you’d show up when that damn gate appeared!" The golden canary stood a short distance away, looking at Qi Yuan without approaching.

"How long have I been gone?" Qi Yuan asked the golden canary.

He figured it had been a long time.

The golden canary used to weigh a pound. Now she must weigh ninety pounds?

"Forty-seven years and three months!" The golden canary said, hands on her hips, looking very angry.

"I’ve been gone that long." Qi Yuan realized.

His time away had nothing to do with the game but with the appearance of the Myriad Gates of Change.

"Hmph, you left without saying goodbye. I removed you from my friends list.

But I put on pretty makeup today and feel good, so I’ll reluctantly call you a friend again."

The golden canary turned her dress around proudly: "I transformed. Am I pretty?"

Even after all these years, the golden canary was still vain.

"Yes, a rare beauty." Qi Yuan said casually.

He wasn't good at compliments or insults.

"That’s insincere!" The golden canary pouted, then remembered something and said, "No way, no way, who on Nine-Pan Mountain still can't transform?"