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

Chapter 74: Restless Shadows

"It's getting dark."

"There should be a lot of mosquitoes by the lake. I wonder if Jinli is still waiting for me."

"Damn it, where exactly is July Lake!"

Although the map was fully marked, it wasn't detailed. It couldn't be as precise as on Blue Star, down to each building, and it couldn't even pinpoint some small hills accurately.

Now, Qiyuan had reached the vicinity, but he still didn't know the exact location of July Lake.

At this moment, a few voices came.

Qiyuan's eyes lit up: "There are people. Can I go ask them?"

At this time, around the lakeside, moonlight was falling.

The air was filled with the smell of blood.

Two groups of strong men were holding weapons, poised for battle.

"Is this how the Yuehuang Clan treats guests? We traveled thousands of miles from Black Cloud City to see your priest, and we can't even do that?" said a one-eyed man with an eye patch, looking particularly fierce.

"When evil guests arrive, we naturally have reasons not to see them!" said a man with pure green hair from the other side.

"It seems your Yuehuang Clan doesn't realize the price of offending us!" The one-eyed man brandished a large knife, looking ferocious.

"The Yuehuang Clan fears no threats." The green-haired man spoke.

Both sides were on the verge of fighting, arguing fiercely, as if they could start fighting at any moment.

At this moment, a voice came: "Everyone, please stop for a moment. Do you know where July Lake or July Town is?"

Qiyuan appeared beside these people, wearing a mask and speaking sincerely.

After he spoke, both sides who were still arguing looked at him strangely.

"We are currently at the shore of July Lake." The one-eyed man spoke in a rough voice.

Qiyuan was stunned: "This is July Lake?"

Behind the two groups was a "lake" about the size of a pond.

Isn't this lake too small?

Where is Jinli?
He looked around but didn't see Jinli.
Could he have come to the wrong place?

"Thank you for the information." Qiyuan was a bit disappointed and thanked the one-eyed man.

Where is Jinli?
Where is July Town?

He was about to leave and circle around the ancient Qichun Tree.

At this moment, the one-eyed man stopped him.

"Young man, don't leave just yet. Help us judge who is right and who is wrong!" The one-eyed man showed a ferocious smile.

He suddenly wanted some fun.

"Sorry, I'm in a hurry. I still have to go to July Town to see an old friend." Qiyuan's mood was low.

"I know where July Town is. If you judge who is right and who is wrong, I'll tell you." The one-eyed man said.

"You're right!" Qiyuan didn't hesitate.

The one-eyed man shook his head: "That's no fun."

Qiyuan had no choice but to calm himself down and wait there, acting as a proper judge.

Seeing this, the green-haired man said to Qiyuan: "Sir, you'd better leave quickly. The Hundred City Alliance is hunting down some rogue warriors. You might get implicated if you stay here."

The one-eyed man sneered: "Why do you Yuehuang Clan people like to slander so much? Do you have evidence that I'm hunting this friend?"

"Does the evil reputation of the Hundred City Alliance need to be mentioned?"

"In the Hundred City Alliance, fathers are kind, sons are filial, and the elderly are cared for. Where is the evil reputation? It's you Yuehuang Clan people who lack basic manners. We came to see your priest and were turned away? Do you want to imitate the Da Luo Kingdom?"

Qiyuan stood aside, confused.

He didn't know who was right or wrong.

It seemed both had a point.

"Hmph, our Yuehuang Clan will never bow down. If your Hundred City Alliance dares to come, I'll kill one if one comes, kill a hundred if a hundred come!" The green-haired man said angrily.

Oh dear!

Kill a hundred?

Qiyuan knew who was right and who was wrong.

At this moment, the one-eyed man laughed coldly: "The three thousand members of the Da Luo Kingdom's royal family were all slaughtered by us!"

Qiyuan was completely shocked. There was an even more formidable person here.

He was anxious, fearing more changes: "I know, they're right, you're wrong!"

He pointed to the people of the Hundred City Alliance, saying they were wrong.

After speaking, he added: "Now can you tell me where July Town is?"

The one-eyed man was stunned, then laughed: "You say we're wrong again?"

The seven warriors behind him also looked at Qiyuan with a mocking expression and a murderous intent.

Qiyuan asked: "Where is July Town?"

The one-eyed man laughed: "I've never heard of any July Town! There is no such place as July Town here!"

The people behind him were all laughing.

Seeing this, the green-haired man reminded again: "Sir, leave quickly. The Hundred City Alliance are not good people."

Qiyuan ignored him, standing quietly in place, his eyes fixed on the one-eyed man: "Are you sure you lied to me?"

"No need to confirm, I did. So what? You ungrateful thing. A rogue warrior like you dare to show your face, you're seeking death." The one-eyed man said contemptuously.

Qiyuan drew his sword, his face turning extremely grim for the first time: "I hate being lied to, especially about something so important!"

If he was given a wrong address, he might be even later in seeing Jinli.

He already didn't have much time.

How could he not be angry!
He held his sword, and under the shocked eyes of everyone present, attacked with lightning speed.

"Lying to me deserves death!"

He was so fast that no one could react, not even seeing an afterimage. There was a neat cut on the necks of the eight people behind the one-eyed man.

When Qiyuan's sword tip pressed against the one-eyed man's throat, blood spurted from the necks of the eight people behind him, spectacularly, followed by the thudding sound of bodies falling.

"Do you really not know where July Town is?" Qiyuan pushed his sword tip forward, pressing the one-eyed man's Adam's apple inward, and blood flowed.

The one-eyed man dared not speak.

"Die!"

With a sword through his Adam's apple, Qiyuan exuded a murderous aura.

His clothes, for some reason, seemed to slowly turn red at this moment, as if stained with blood.

Killing eight people with one sword, Qiyuan seemed to have just killed insects.

Seeing this, the green-haired man was shocked and deeply cautious.

"Sir, are you looking for someone?" He asked tentatively.

"Yes, I want to go to the Yuehuang Kingdom, July Town. A friend of mine said she was waiting for me there." Qiyuan's tone was somewhat lost and frustrated.

This formed a stark contrast to the swift killing of eight people just now.

"But I can't find the Yuehuang Kingdom, nor July Town. Clearly... it should be beside the ancient Qichun Tree, right under the ancient Qichun Tree."

Qiyuan held his sword, his gaze cold, wanting to split the ancient Qichun Tree with one stroke.

The green-haired man pondered: "Among all the countries and cities beside the ancient Qichun Tree, it seems only our Yuehuang Clan matches what you said. I don't know if your friend misspoke or if there was some other misunderstanding. Or perhaps, it's actually July Lake. By July Lake, we also have branches of the Yuehuang Clan, similar to small towns. Sir, why don't you stay with our Yuehuang Clan, tell us the information about the person you're looking for, and we'll help you find them."

Qiyuan coldly glanced at these people: "You're not lying to me, are you?"

He lifted his hand, wiped the blood off his sword with his fingers.

The blood from the one-eyed man's throat still stained the sword.

The green-haired man inexplicably shuddered.

"Of course, we won't deceive you. However, the Yuehuang Clan cannot guarantee that we will definitely help you find that friend!" The green-haired man said.

The reason he did this was because he saw Qiyuan's strength.

Now, with the Hundred City Alliance besieging, the Moon Emperor Clan was struggling. Having one more ally meant having one more ally.

"Alright." Qiyuan said, having no better option.

Here with the Yuehuang Clan, he might get more useful information.

At this moment, the green-haired man said: "Our Yuehuang Clan is currently under siege by the Hundred City Alliance. If you stay here, you might get implicated."

"It doesn't matter." Qiyuan said.

He didn't care about any of this, as long as he could see Jinli.

"Could you tell us the information and appearance of the person you're looking for?" The green-haired man's attitude was very humble.

"Her name is Jinli, she is the Empress of Nanqian. As for her appearance... I don't know, but she should be very beautiful. She's not very old. Probably when the snow covers the ancient Qichun Tree, it will be her coming-of-age ceremony at eighteen."

Note: In Wangyue Continent, girls reach adulthood at eighteen.

The green-haired man silently noted down this information.

He said: "Is this woman waiting for you in July Town?"

"Yes." Qiyuan said.

"May I know your name?" The green-haired man looked at Qi Yuan. "We can spread this information around. If she knows you're looking for her, she may come here too."

"Qi Yuan," Qi Yuan said.

"Good!" The green-haired man remembered this information. "Why don't you come back to our Moon Emperor clan with us?"

Qi Yuan glanced at July Lake, then looked at the Ancient Qichu Tree: "No thanks, I'll wait here. If there's no news after half a month, I'll leave."

After saying this, Qi Yuan slowly walked towards the lakeside.

He found a blue stone and sat down on it. He stared blankly at the emerald lake water, lost in thought.

The green-haired man and the Moon Emperor clan members exchanged glances, silently disposing of the corpses of the Hundred Cities Alliance warriors on the ground.

They quietly retreated.

Qi Yuan sat alone by the lake, holding his precious sword. Moonlight fell on his shoulders as he gazed at the lake water, deep in thought about something unknown.

---

"A single sword killed nine warriors, including one emperor-level and eight king-level. He should be a supreme emperor, right?"

The young girl was dressed in green; she was Leng Yue, the apprentice of the priestess from the Yuehuang Clan, July branch.

The priestess had gone to meet an old acquaintance, leaving Leng Yue in charge.

Standing on the balcony, looking towards July Lake, she saw the man quietly sitting by the lake.

"He's looking for someone. Order our people to help him find that person.

A supreme emperor is worth recruiting," Leng Yue instructed.

"Yes, ma'am," the green-haired man replied and then retreated.

Leng Yue stood alone on the balcony, sighing as she looked at the man's back.

"If I remember correctly, wasn't the original Bridal Gown Princess also waiting for the Heavenly God here?"

"What a pity."

"The Bridal Gown Princess didn't meet the Heavenly God and now rests eternally here, leaving behind a new Bridal Gown Princess while the world plunged into its darkest times!

The Hundred Cities Alliance, the lackeys of demons, deserve to be exterminated!" A trace of killing intent appeared on Leng Yue's delicate face.

As the morning sunlight fell into July Lake, the resting birds suddenly flew off Qi Yuan's shoulder in fright.

The green-haired man hurriedly approached.

"Any news?" Qi Yuan's voice was somewhat urgent.

"No," the green-haired man replied. "We've informed the other branches of the Yuehuang Clan about the person you're looking for. If there’s any news, you’ll be the first to know!"

"Thank you." Qi Yuan was a bit disappointed.

He was somewhat dissatisfied.

Why did his game interface disappear after leaving Tianjue?

He couldn't contact Jinli either.

Now, Jinli couldn’t reach him or see him. Would she be worried?

Would she think he broke his promise?

Qi Yuan really disliked being late unless there were special circumstances.

He sat by the lake while the green-haired man stood for a while before leaving.

As the sun slowly rose, the lakeside became lively.

Several young girls brought bamboo baskets to the lake to wash clothes.

They looked at Qi Yuan secretly, feeling both shy and fearful.

On the open space by the lake, some children were playing, making the place very lively.

Qi Yuan sat there like a wooden stake, motionless.

Not far away, a little boy was watching Qi Yuan, his face showing a hesitant expression.

Finally, he walked up boldly and said, "Faceless man, can I call you that?"

"Sure," Qi Yuan replied without turning his head, holding his sword.

The little boy patted his chest, seemingly easing his nervousness. "You weren't moving at all, I thought you were dead."

Qi Yuan remained silent.

The little boy continued, "What are you doing here?"

The little boy seemed very curious about everything and quite brave.

"I'm waiting for someone," Qi Yuan said.

The little boy felt sad upon hearing this, "When I was little, I used to wait here every day for my dad to come home. Sometimes, I would draw on the ground with a stick. When it got late, I would catch some fireflies..."

"You were little?" Qi Yuan's focus was peculiar.

"I'm eight years old now."

"Such small memories, you still remember?"

"It’s only been two or three years, I still remember what my dad looked like.

I even carved his likeness so that I’ll remember him for life," the boy said, happily pulling out a wood carving of a man. "My father was a sculptor, and I will become a great sculptor too!"

Hope shone in the boy's eyes.

At that moment, a dirty child ran over, "Ah Qiao, do you want some candied haws?"

The dirty child opened his hand to reveal three dusty candied haws.

"Xiao Ping, where did you get these?" Ah Qiao took one.

"I found them." The dirty child noticed Qi Yuan. "Mister, do you want one?"

He held out his hand, curiously looking at Qi Yuan.

Ah Qiao, seeing this, laughed, "He’s an adult, he won’t eat your dirty candied haws!"

At that moment, a voice called out, "Ah Qiao, Xiao Ping, come back, it's time to eat!"

"Mister, we’re leaving!"

The two boys ran off quickly.

The lakeside returned to silence, with only Qi Yuan sitting there, staring blankly.

The next day, the boy named Ah Qiao came again, chatted with Qi Yuan for a while, and then left.

Ah Qiao said he would carve a sculpture for Qi Yuan in the future, using the best materials.

Because Qi Yuan had taught him some carving techniques.

On the third day, Qi Yuan noticed that the lakeside was much quieter. The women from the Yuehuang Clan didn’t come to wash clothes, and the children didn’t come to play.

The green-haired man met Qi Yuan and said the Hundred Cities Alliance might attack soon.

They were still searching for Jinli.

At night, Qi Yuan sat alone by the lake.

Suddenly, he stood up, "I can't wait any longer."

He decided to fly around the ancient Ji Gong tree.

What if he encountered her?

But he knew the probability was low.

Because this required the unity of time, space, and person.

Missing any one of these, and he might not see her.

He flew towards the ancient Ji Gong tree.

The thick trunk was like a mountain.

After flying two-thirds of the way, Qi Yuan stopped.

He saw a horrifying scene.

Ahead, the giant ancient Qi Chuan tree, with its sky-reaching trunk and hanging branches, looked like fishing lines dropping from the sky.

However... the branches were densely covered with human corpses.

Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands?

Hundreds of thousands? Millions?

Dense and uncountable, looking as far as the eye could see.

Under the green branches of the ancient Ji Gong tree hung countless corpses.

White bones, wrapped in tattered clothes; dry corpses, emitting the stench of rotting snakes; fresh corpses, with peaceful smiles in their eyes...

Qi Yuan was silent.

It was the first time in his life seeing so many corpses.

He flew forward, not knowing how long he had been flying.

When he looked up, he saw those dense feet, countless skeletons.

How many people were there?
What did these people do wrong?
Why were they hung here?

Qi Yuan was silent. He flew around the main trunk of the ancient Ji Gong tree, searching with his powerful martial spirit.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t sense anyone like Jinli.

What he saw were countless corpses hanging under the ancient Ji Gong tree!

This was a human purgatory!

The world wasn’t as beautiful as Jinli had described!

"Why can’t I find her!"

Qi Yuan was irritable.

He had almost flown around the main trunk of the ancient Qi Chuan tree but still couldn’t find her.

He was very afraid, afraid of really not seeing Jinli.

Suddenly, Qi Yuan stopped again.

His pupils shrank as he saw two familiar corpses.

One was the woman he saw outside Kunwu City, holding a baby.

She was hanging under the ancient Ji Gong tree, her expression as numb and indifferent as when Qi Yuan first saw her.

The other was the child she had once tightly held in her arms.

Someone he had met not long ago, now hanging under the dense branches of the ancient Ji Gong tree.

For some reason, a nameless rage rose in Qi Yuan's heart.

He drew his sword, wanting to cut down the ancient Ji Gong tree with one slash.

At that moment, a pleasant female voice called out, "Qi Yuan..."

Qi Yuan turned around abruptly. Under the soft moonlight, there stood a girl in a flowing long dress.

A look of disappointment flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes, "Who are you?"

He hadn't seen Jinli, but he knew at a glance that she wasn’t Jinli.

"Yuehuang Clan, one of the twelve priestesses, July."