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

Chapter 112: Threat from the Grand Supreme

Night had fallen, and Ning Tao’s delicate body curled up, her overly pale hands tightly gripping the chain. "Husband..."

Suddenly, she opened her eyes, cold sweat on her forehead.

She looked at the blood sphere not far away, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.

He had left.

Suddenly, a ripple appeared in the space.

A blood-red figure materialized, forming into a man: "Ning Tao, why are you mingling with the blood demon?"

The man’s head was also covered by a black hood, hiding his face.

He, like Ning Tao, was one of the Thirteen Demons of North Magic, named He Wu.

"He is not a blood demon," Ning Tao said seriously.

"All the supreme beings of the North have declared him to be a blood demon, so he is a blood demon!" He Wu said.

As members of the Thirteen Demons, they were different from other supreme beings and didn't care about the great affairs of the blood demon.

After all, the blood demon's havoc on the world was something far in the future.

Their immediate crisis was much closer at hand.

He Wu looked at Ning Tao: "In your current state, you might fall before a century is up.

The Gate of Myriad Variations reappears; how will you withstand it? If you cannot maintain your peak strength and fight for a hundred days, you will surely die."

Ning Tao fell silent for a moment and then changed the topic: "Have you found out who is spreading the rumors about the blood demon in Tianxin Palace? Which of my enemies is it?"

The news of the blood demon in Tianxin Palace spread throughout the North, leading to Ning Tao being besieged. There had to be a mastermind behind it.

"Suspected to be the Purple Taoist," He Wu replied.

"Him?" Ning Tao sneered, her eyes flashing with killing intent. "I have no enmity with him, why frame me?"

"We Thirteen Demons, do we need to have enmity with anyone? Aren’t we all hated by the heavens and men?" He Wu smiled self-deprecatingly.

From birth, they, with the "demon" character carved on their faces, were hated by all.

Did anyone need a reason to frame them?

It was original sin.

...

In Wugui City, Qi Yuan returned from slaying demons, a fierce look in his eyes.

"Rather than saying the blood sphere is the blood demon, it’s more accurate to say I am the blood demon," Qi Yuan introspected.

In his soul, the source of evil had grown from a grain of rice to the size of a fist.

If Qi Yuan didn't control it fully, he would undoubtedly become a terrifying demon.

"I'm a player, not some damn blood demon." Qi Yuan shook off his previous thoughts.

"Big brother, you’re back?" At this moment, a frivolous voice called out.

Chen Huan, dressed in white robes, jumped down from the city wall with a bright smile on his face.

Looking at Chen Huan, Qi Yuan said helplessly, "I don't take sworn brothers, I'm not that childish."

The white-robed man in front of him had come to Wugui City five years ago.

Chen Huan's status was quite special, being one of the three thousand disciples of the White Emperor.

After hearing of Qi Yuan's deeds from Yuan Qi and seeing him in action a few times, Chen Huan insisted on becoming sworn brothers with Qi Yuan.

How could a noble player like him take an NPC as a sworn brother? It would be a laughingstock.

"Big brother, look, I’m at the peak of the land’s mythology. Maybe one day, I’ll break through to the supreme realm.

Having a supreme little brother would give you quite a reputation, wouldn’t it?" Chen Huan, carefree and self-assured, laughed.

"I... don't need reputation." Qi Yuan, not wanting to bother with Chen Huan, flashed to the city wall.

Chen Huan followed him up, gazing at the vast desert: "Big brother, you’ve guarded Wugui City alone for seventy years; I truly admire you.

But if I break through to the supreme realm, and you ask to be sworn brothers, do you think I’d still care about you?"

"You've said this for five years, why haven't you broken through to the supreme realm yet?" Qi Yuan looked at Chen Huan with disdain, "Is it possible for someone to be stuck at the peak of land mythology for a hundred years?"

Chen Huan had been at the peak of land mythology a hundred years ago.

Chen Huan wasn’t in a hurry: "Big brother, becoming a supreme being is not easy.

To achieve it, one must comprehend the essence of human-demon power; then, within that power, find one’s own path and awaken the origin divine ability.

Both steps are as difficult as climbing to the heavens!"

In the Canglan Realm, to become a Purple Mansion, one must comprehend the essence of spiritual energy.

In the Liufeng Realm, it was the human-demon power.

"Is it that hard?" Qi Yuan felt Chen Huan wasn’t as talented as the Four Emperors of Shenhui.

Not to mention the Ice Mountain Overlord and the Sun Emperor, even the Rogue Immortal Sovereign probably had more talent than Chen Huan.

After all, comparing oneself to an Immortal Sovereign was a mark of a great talent.

Unfortunately, the Rogue Immortal Sovereign couldn't enter the game world; otherwise, Qi Yuan would have had him demonstrate true talent to Chen Huan.

"Yes, it is difficult." Chen Huan's face turned serious.

Both steps were hard.

Especially the first, comprehending the essence of human-demon power.

Once comprehended, a cultivator without high aspirations, not seeking a powerful origin divine ability, could easily become a supreme being.

Chen Huan was precisely the unaspiring type.

Yet, he had wasted a hundred years without success.

"I think human-demon power is simple; the difficult part is the origin divine ability." Qi Yuan pondered.

Watching the Gate of Myriad Variations, his path in the human-demon way had reached a terrifying level.

What was the essence of human-demon power? Qi Yuan felt he understood it better than the White Emperor and the Supreme Sovereign.

As for the origin divine ability, it was more complex.

In Dique, facing nearly three thousand old men, Qi Yuan had seen various origin divine abilities.

Each origin divine ability, based on its essence, followed its own path.

Some origin divine abilities were weak, while others were strong.

Qi Yuan naturally didn’t want his origin divine ability at level 120 to be weak.

He would carefully consider his path to the origin divine ability.

Returning from the game world, only part of his cultivation returned to his true body.

However, the skills remained.

Like the Heaven-Splitting Sword Technique, Death Radiance, Dominant Power—these skills were actually divine abilities only Nascent Soul cultivators could use.

Qi Yuan, in the Foundation Establishment stage, could use them to quickly kill Nascent Soul cultivators, thanks to this reason.

In the game world, if he surpassed level 120 and gained his origin divine ability.

Then, in the Foundation Establishment stage, he could have an origin divine ability equivalent to the Purple Mansion realm.

Without an origin divine ability, Qi Yuan could only be passively beaten by Purple Mansion realm cultivators in the Light Palace.

Because only origin divine abilities could harm Purple Mansion realm cultivators protected by such abilities.

So, a strong origin divine ability was necessary.

Even though he could avoid the attacks of supreme beings, he couldn't harm them.

Ning Tao’s dangers could only be addressed verbally by him.

He had yet to see his future path and awaken his origin divine ability.

The essence of human-demon power was the simplest for Qi Yuan.

"Big brother, you sure can brag. Human-demon power simple? If it were that simple, there would be supreme beings everywhere." Chen Huan looked at Qi Yuan incredulously.

Qi Yuan ignored Chen Huan, squinting at the horizon.

Chen Huan also noticed something, the smile vanishing from his face as he looked in the same direction as Qi Yuan.

A stream of light flashed across the sky, exuding a terrifying aura, pressing down on the heavens.

The stream of light stopped eight miles from Wugui City, and as the light faded, a woman in a water-blue long dress appeared.

With sword-like brows and eyes, she exuded a sharp sword intent.

Standing in the yellow sand, she looked like an unsheathed sword to Qi Yuan.

[Huang Mengling, Level 119.]

"Warden of Wugui City, hear my command!" Huang Mengling extended her hand, revealing a golden decree.

Qi Yuan blinked.

For him? But... I’m a player, why should I obey? Obey whom?

He didn’t move.

The air was tense, Chen Huan shouted: "Senior Sister, why are you in Yuzhou? What’s happening?"

Huang Mengling’s expression remained cold.

"The situation in the north-south decision has changed, the five grand supreme beings have ordered all wardens of Yuzhou to abandon their cities and head to the Great Sadness City!" Huang Mengling’s voice rang out, "Within a hundred days, you must reach the Great Sadness City to defend against the North’s Demon Controllers."

Chen Huan’s expression tightened.

The situation in Yuzhou was that tense?

The supreme beings had issued orders to abandon the cities and retreat to the Great Sadness City.

"Senior Sister, any insider news?" Chen Huan shamelessly asked.

Huang Mengling’s expression didn’t change: "In the Thousand Cities battlefield, three new supreme beings have arrived from the North, one of them a Grand Supreme."

"What?" Chen Huan's face changed, "A Grand Supreme?"

A Grand Supreme was a peak supreme being. Aside from the White Emperor and the Supreme Sovereign, a Grand Supreme was the pinnacle of power in Liufeng Realm.

"Why would a Grand Supreme suddenly come to the Thousand Cities?" Chen Huan was amazed.

The Thousand Cities battlefield was unremarkable among the 108,000 cities; having a few supreme beings was already significant.

Yet now, a Grand Supreme was here, truly strange.

"I don’t know." Huang Mengling said coldly, "Leave Wugui City immediately and head to the Great Sadness City!"

Chen Huan looked anxiously at Qi Yuan: "Big brother, let’s go. If a supreme being descends, our small arms and legs can’t resist."

Qi Yuan remained indifferent: "I’m not leaving."

He had guarded Wugui City for years and wouldn't abandon it.

Chen Huan hurriedly urged: "You know the situation is urgent, with a Grand Supreme arriving. If the Thousand Cities retreat, staying here alone will make you conspicuous."

"You can't persuade me, don’t bother." Qi Yuan refused.

Chen Huan made sense; anyone sane would leave Wugui City and concentrate their strength at the Great Sadness City.

Unfortunately, Qi Yuan was sane, but he was playing a game and wouldn't leave.

Chen Huan was anxious.

In the distance, Huang Mengling’s eyes showed surprise but she continued: "Junior Brother, if he doesn’t go, let him be.

I have to notify other cities, come with me."

Chen Huan looked conflicted.

"Go ahead," Qi Yuan said.

Chen Huan was talkative, always babbling in his ear, disturbing his peace.

"No." Chen Huan decided, shouting to Huang Mengling, "Senior Sister, you go first, I’ll wait a bit longer."

Huang Mengling continued: "If the Thousand Cities retreat to the Great Sadness City, you will be isolated without support.

Even if you both break through to the supreme realm, you will surely die."

Her words were for Qi Yuan.

She couldn't gauge his strength but guessed it was similar to Chen Huan’s.

Land mythology peak cultivators often took risks to break through.

She guessed Qi Yuan stayed in Wugui City to build momentum, awaken an origin divine ability, and become a supreme being.

But the success rate was almost zero.

Moreover, with a Grand Supreme arriving, even becoming a supreme being meant death.

Huang Mengling finished, turned into a stream of light, and vanished into the desert.

Qi Yuan watched the light, asking: "Is she also a disciple of the White Emperor?"

"Yes, she’s my senior sister!" Chen Huan admired Huang Mengling, "She’s different from me. I’ve been in the White Emperor’s palace for a thousand years without seeing the master.

Senior Sister is different; she has seen the master.

Her understanding of the origin is profound, she will soon become a supreme being."

"Really?" Qi Yuan pondered, asking, "Since your senior sister understands the origin, why not ask her to tell you what it is, so you can become a supreme being?"

Chen Huan looked at Qi Yuan like he was an idiot: "Even if she wanted to tell me, the origin can’t be transferred; it must be understood.

Sometimes I doubt your sanity, not knowing such basic things."

"Can’t be transferred?" Qi Yuan was surprised, "Isn’t it useful?"

In Jiupan Mountain, he had explained some origin principles.

Some strong cultivators had then understood some origin.

Mostly, Qi Yuan taught the Trapped Demon Art; if he fully explained the human-demon power origin, many would have comprehended it then.

"If origin could be transferred, everyone would be supreme beings." Chen Huan replied.

Qi Yuan fell silent, staring at Chen Huan, pondering.

...

Twenty days later, Chen Huan hurriedly approached Qi Yuan.

"The cities in Yuzhou have all evacuated, you’re still not leaving?" Chen Huan was anxious.

Qi Yuan, like a turtle, stayed in Wugui City: "No rush. By the way, do you know which Grand Supreme came to the Thousand Cities?"

Qi Yuan recalled Wu Tong.

When Wu Tong attacked, he carried a supreme being’s origin divine ability strike.

That incident was peculiar.

Not knowing if it related to the Grand Supreme now.

"The Purple Taoist." Chen Huan was serious, "He is top-tier among Grand Supremes."

"Really?" Qi Yuan recalled the purple droplet.

Was it the one plotting against him? Possibly.

No matter, an enemy!

Qi Yuan took out a notebook.

"What are you doing?" Chen Huan was puzzled.

"Writing him in my notebook."

Enemies must be remembered.

Sometimes his memory failed, but enemies couldn't be forgotten.

"Haha." Chen Huan laughed, "Planning to pass this notebook to your descendants to trouble the Purple Taoist?"

He doubted Qi Yuan could kill the Purple Taoist in this life.

"When I reach level 120, killing him will be like slaughtering a dog!" Qi Yuan said confidently.

With his power now, using Little Marry could exceed level 120.

But without an origin divine ability, he couldn't defeat a supreme being.

"That’s a Grand Supreme; even after thousands of years, you won’t match him!" Chen Huan said.

Qi Yuan thought for a moment: "You’re right, I can't kill the Purple Taoist yet."

"You really dare to dream. Let’s run, when we become supreme beings, we can get revenge." Chen Huan urged.

Becoming a supreme being within a thousand years seemed impossible.

Even after the north-south decision, he wouldn't be a supreme being.

In the grand scheme, he was just a grain of sand.

Even as a supreme being, a bigger grain of sand.

"Run? No! Now I need a detailed plan to hunt the Purple Taoist!" Qi Yuan said seriously.

"...You really dare to dream, that’s a Grand Supreme! The gap between land mythology and supreme beings is vast.

As long as their origin remains, we can't harm them!" Chen Huan sighed.

"Listen to my plan, you'll be impressed by my wisdom." Qi Yuan needed Chen Huan for his plan.

"Tell me." Chen Huan smiled.

"A detailed plan requires deep thought. If I tell you directly, there may be flaws; I'll write it down." Qi Yuan preferred writing important things.

He wrote quickly, seriously.

Chen Huan watched, seeing Qi Yuan so earnest for the first time.

Could it be a super plan?

Involving multiple supreme beings, with counter-plots, killing a supreme being.

"Finished!" Qi Yuan, holding the notebook, was proud.

On Blue Star, writing such a plan would sweat him out.

Now a cultivator, he didn't sweat, but he faked a bead of sweat for effect.

"Let me see." Chen Huan eagerly took the notebook.

He read Qi Yuan’s grand plan.

After several moments, he was speechless.

"Is this it?" Chen Huan was exasperated, "This is nonsense, impossible to execute, even my great-great-great-granddaughter could plan better!"

[Days 1-10: Teach Chen Huan origin, help him break through to supreme;

Days 11-20: Seek lone supreme beings, have Chen Huan kill with origin divine ability, I'll assist and take the final blow.

Days 21-100: Continue killing supreme beings, gaining experience, understanding origin, breaking through to supreme, and killing the Purple Taoist.]

Qi Yuan, reflecting on the critique, realized: "I get it, I didn’t mark the difficulty; I’ll do that now!"

"...Your plan is too unrealistic. Step one, teaching me origin, is it possible?"