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

Chapter 244: Yin God

“It's a Crimson Flame Fish!”

“That fish is worth ten spirit stones!”

“Whose disciple is this little girl?”

The fishermen around the lake started breathing heavily.

A single fish worth ten spirit stones was enough to excite all the Qi Refining cultivators present. Most of these Qi Refining cultivators were rogue cultivators who couldn’t even earn ten spirit stones in a year.

Moreover, the bucket next to the little girl wasn't just filled with the Crimson Flame Fish but also other spirit fish.

Altogether, the contents of her bucket were worth several hundred spirit stones—enough to tempt even Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Qi Jianjun seemed oblivious to the chatter around her as she continued casting her fishing rod, calmly waiting for the next bite.

At that moment, an old Qi Refining cultivator sitting nearby couldn’t stay silent any longer. He spoke earnestly, “Little girl, there's an old saying that wealth shouldn't be flaunted. You’re in danger here with so many eyes on you. Who are your elders? You should call them to take you back home.”

Qi Jianjun continued to focus on the calm lake, her voice tinged with a bit of sadness as she replied, “My mother has gone to the heavens, and my father is so obsessed with his games that he’s lost track of time, not even knowing if he's dead or alive.”

The old man sighed, understanding what she meant. The girl's mother had probably passed away, and her father was drowning his sorrows in games.

“Poor child,” the old man said, subtly prying, “To have such a lovely and talented child like you, your parents must have come from a distinguished background. Which sect do you belong to?”

“We’re from out of town. We just arrived in the Great Shang not too long ago,” Qi Jianjun replied nonchalantly.

Just then, her fishing rod twitched, and a smile of delight spread across her face.

“She’s caught another one!”

The nearby fishermen couldn’t help but cheer.

A young man standing a bit further away watched the scene with a helpless expression.

“That girl is in trouble. She’s been targeted.”

He recognized the old man sitting next to Qi Jianjun. The old man appeared kind-hearted and harmless, but in reality, he was a scout for bandits, gathering information on potential targets.

If the old man could extract some useful information from Qi Jianjun, the bandits would assess whether to make a move on her.

The world of cultivation was never as peaceful as it seemed. Perhaps the disciples of major sects were well-protected, but for rogue cultivators and even some minor sect disciples, the ugly side of this world was ever-present.

The young man wearing a bamboo hat glanced at the girl with a look of pity. But knowing the bandits the old man was connected to, he sighed, understanding that he didn’t dare intervene.

At that moment, a Foundation Establishment cultivator and two Qi Refining cultivators began walking toward the lakeside, discussing something as they approached.

“If they’re from out of town, they’re probably fat sheep fleeing from disaster!” The Foundation Establishment bandit had a greedy look on his face.

With a haul worth several hundred spirit stones and no apparent risk, this was a business opportunity too good to pass up.

“I’ve already investigated. None of the nearby sects claim this girl. She seems to come from a lowly background,” reported a Qi Refining bandit at the seventh level.

As long as she wasn’t a sect disciple, they had nothing to fear. They were only wary of the top three major sects, but any other sect? They weren’t afraid at all.

“She must have some good fortune to catch so many fish. How about we burn her face, mute her, and make her fish for us here forever?” suggested another Qi Refining bandit.

These bandits often did such things. Even in mortal countries, beggar gangs would disfigure people to make them more pitiable while begging.

“Let’s go,” the Foundation Establishment bandit said, his face twisted with greed.

The three bandits emerged, their faces covered with masks. The fishermen around the lake began trembling, with some grabbing their buckets and sneaking away.

The young man from earlier sighed deeply, unwilling to look in the direction of the little girl.

Many of the fishermen were also casting sympathetic glances at the girl, knowing that she was about to meet a cruel fate.

Her father was truly irresponsible!

Meanwhile, not far away, two figures stood under a tree, observing the unfolding situation at the lakeside.

A woman’s eyes flashed with murderous intent. “These bandits are despicable, even attacking a little girl. And those men... they’re all cowards, not one of them is willing to help. My lord, should I step in...”

The woman looked at the man beside her, dressed in coarse clothing, with deep reverence in her eyes.

The woman’s name was Shen Zhifeng, and she was the only Nascent Soul cultivator of the Shen family in the Demon Desire Sect, and the leading figure of the Shen family.

Even though she was a Nascent Soul True Lord, she acted like a servant in the presence of the coarse-clothed man next to her.

This man was none other than Shen Wushen!

It was Shen Wushen who had helped the Shen family regain control of the Demon Desire Sect. He single-handedly killed all the other Nascent Soul cultivators in the sect, as easily as slaughtering chickens.

Though Shen Zhifeng was a Nascent Soul cultivator, she knew she couldn’t last a single round against Shen Wushen.

Shen Wushen observed the girl by the lake, his eyes deep and thoughtful. “She... isn’t ordinary.”

“Hm?” Shen Zhifeng was surprised. Was this girl hiding her cultivation? But no matter how hard she tried to see through her, she couldn’t.

This meant the girl’s cultivation was either far superior or she had mastered techniques to conceal her aura, or possessed a treasure that did so.

“There’s no need to look. You won’t be able to discern her cultivation. I didn’t expect to encounter such a senior in a remote place like the Great Shang,” Shen Wushen said, a hint of respect in his eyes.

Shen Zhifeng was even more shocked. If Shen Wushen addressed her as "senior," just how powerful was she? Could she be... a Purple Mansion cultivator?

Shen Zhifeng’s breathing quickened, and she looked at the bandits with pity.

“The Canglan Realm is more fascinating than I imagined. I hope I can find an opponent worthy of my skills!” Shen Wushen's eyes gleamed with battle intent.

He was from the Upper Realm, from a major sect. His master was a mythical figure, one who illuminated the heavens.

Now, Shen Wushen was traveling through the realms to hone his skills, using a treasure from his sect to descend to various worlds.

The Canglan Realm's Demon Desire Sect was a world his Shen family had discovered, and they had left coordinates for future generations to explore. However, the Shen family had declined and couldn’t send anyone to the Lower Realm until Shen Wushen joined a major sect and obtained the sect's treasure, allowing him to descend and train.

He was a battle fanatic, constantly honing his skills through combat. Shen Wushen had been at the Nascent Soul stage for over a thousand years, focusing on solidifying his foundation.

For disciples from major sects like him, the time spent in cultivation before reaching the Yin God stage wasn’t as important as having a solid foundation.

After all, they could descend to worlds with different time flows. What might be a single day in the Upper Realm could be a thousand years in another world.

For major sect disciples, the foundation was paramount.

However, once they reached the Yin God stage, things changed. Yin Gods needed time to hone their skills, but even then, training in the Lower Realms wasn’t as beneficial as training in the Upper Realm, where the rules were more complete, making it easier to condense the divine apertures.

“You are unparalleled, even among the disciples of major sects in the Upper Realm. How could any Nascent Soul in the Canglan Realm be your match?” Shen Zhifeng said earnestly.

She even believed that if all the Nascent Souls of the Great Shang and the Hundred Kingdoms combined their efforts, they still might not be able to defeat her lord.

“Never underestimate anyone,” Shen Wushen replied, his battle intent surging. “I know of a major sect's true disciple who was at the Purple Mansion stage. He descended to the Myriad Demon Realm and was toyed with by a demoness, leading to his soul's annihilation.”

Shen Zhifeng inhaled sharply. A true disciple of a major sect in the Upper Realm, at the Purple Mansion stage, and yet killed by a demoness in a Lower Realm? It was almost unimaginable.

“I’ll go to the Nascent Soul ceremony tomorrow. I want to see if there’s anyone in the Great Shang Kingdom worth fighting. If not, I’ll have to look elsewhere,” Shen Wushen muttered.

As for the Canglan Realm, he didn’t dare delve too deeply. After all, the Canglan Realm had hidden depths, including a powerful Yang God.

That Yang God was far more powerful than even the sect Shen Wushen came from. If Shen Wushen were to die in the Canglan Realm, his sect wouldn’t risk offending that Yang God for his sake.

Thinking of this, he looked at the cultivators by the lake with pity. “What a shame... To be born in this land is to be doomed.”

In this world, even Yin Gods were doomed from the start, their fates sealed with no hope for a better outcome.

At that moment, a series of gasps echoed from the lakeside.

Qi Jianjun waved her small hand, and in an instant, the three bandits were dead.

All the cultivators were stunned.

This little girl... had cultivation?

“A Foundation Establishment cultivator killed just like that. Could she be... a disguised Foundation Establishment?”

“These bandits picked the wrong target!”

“A Foundation Establishment master disguised as a little girl...”

The fishermen whispered among themselves. The young man from earlier was also surprised, then regretful.

If he had known she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he would have spoken up, hoping to make a connection with her.

At that moment, Qi Jianjun looked at the old man beside her, her eyes carrying a mysterious glint. “You old man, picking on an orphan with an absent father... how despicable.”

With her words, the old man who had been communicating with the bandits died instantly.

The remaining fishermen exchanged glances, with some choosing to leave.

Many of the bandits had larger organizations behind them.

Killing the small fry would bring the big ones. The girl's fate didn’t look promising.

At that moment, a deep voice rang out. “Shen Wushen of the Demon Desire Sect greets the senior.”

Shen Wushen and Shen Zhifeng appeared, both wearing expressions of humility.

The nearby rogue cultivators were stunned.

The Demon Desire Sect was one of the three great sects of the Great Shang Kingdom, a true giant.

Yet, members of the Demon Desire Sect were addressing this little girl as "senior." Could she be... a Golden Core cultivator?

Moreover, one from a major sect?

Qi Jianjun glanced at Shen Wushen, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Are you from the Upper Realm?”

Shen Wushen’s heart trembled.

Even ordinary Yin Gods couldn’t discern his origins.

This senior...

Shen Zhifeng was also taken aback.

The rogue cultivators exchanged puzzled glances.

“Senior, I am indeed a disciple of Futuo Mountain,” Shen Wushen replied.

“Never heard of it,” Qi Jianjun shook her head. “My mother is also in the Upper Realm. I haven't seen her in a long time. If you return to the Upper Realm, could you pass on a message for me?”

Qi Jianjun’s words made Shen Wushen’s scalp tingle.

This senior’s mother is in the Upper Realm?

Wasn’t it said that in this world, no Yin God could ascend to the Upper Realm? What was going on?

“Please, tell me more,” Shen Wushen said, bowing.

Qi Jianjun smiled with delight. “You’re a good guy. My mother is from the Moon God Palace, a moon lady named Jin Li. Tell her that her daughter, Jianjun, misses her dearly... and that Jianjun has found her father!”

Qi Jianjun rattled off a long message.

“You’ve done me a great favor. If you encounter any trouble in the Canglan Realm, this young lady has your back!”

Despite looking like a seven or eight-year-old girl, Qi Jianjun spoke with the tone of an elder.

“Thank you, senior,” Shen Wushen hurriedly replied, still reeling from the shock.

The Moon God Palace was much stronger than Futuo Mountain. The moon ladies of the palace were candidates for the next Moon God, and even though Shen Wushen’s master was a mythological figure, some moon ladies had higher statuses despite possibly having lower cultivation levels.

To think that this senior was the daughter of a moon lady—Shen Wushen was stunned.

A moon lady had married and had such a large child?

“Alright, I’m off.” Qi Jianjun waved her hand, grabbed her bucket, and disappeared in an instant.

Shen Zhifeng’s eyes widened.

“A Yin God... she’s a Yin God!”

The aura that Qi Jianjun had inadvertently leaked was unmistakably that of a Yin God.

In the Great Shang Kingdom, she hadn’t even seen a Purple Mansion cultivator, let alone a Yin God.

The other fishermen, hearing Shen Zhifeng’s exclamation, also widened their eyes in disbelief.

“A Yin God?”

“A true god?”

“Blessed by the heavens, to have witnessed a true immortal!”

The fishermen fell to their knees, bowing repeatedly.

That was a Yin God!
Some recognized Shen Zhifeng as the newly appointed sect master of the Demon Desire Sect, a Nascent Soul True Lord. If she said the girl was a Yin God, there was no doubt about it.

The fishermen were overwhelmed with excitement, unable to believe they had witnessed such a legendary event.

The young man from earlier was filled with regret, his face a picture of sorrow.

If only he had known that the girl was a legendary immortal, he would have said something to earn her favor.

She was a true immortal!
In the Hundred Kingdoms, Nascent Souls could already wield immense power.

If he had aligned himself with a Yin God, he could have even dared to disrespect Nascent Soul True Lords.

But there was no turning back time.

Meanwhile, Shen Zhifeng’s face grew cold, causing all the rogue cultivators present to tremble with fear.

“What happened today, never happened. If even a single word leaks, you will face unimaginable consequences!”

The rogue cultivators turned pale, none daring to protest.

Shen Wushen murmured, “These bandits need to be cleaned up.”

“I will immediately send orders to wipe out these bandits completely!” Shen Zhifeng responded quickly.