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

Chapter 88: Continue the Music, Continue the Killing

Deep in the Land of the Sunken Coffin, the purple-robed old man's face showed anger.

"Qi Yuan, huh? Hmph, Ruan Yixi, you really care. You actually gave a Nascent Soul treasure to your disciple. Could it be true, as rumored, that Qi Yuan is either your lover or your son?"

"With his mana exhausted, he can't drive the treasure..."

"Liang Ye, you died this time, but I will definitely avenge you and won't let you die in vain!"

Liang Ye was his most valued death warrior.

With the help of a powerful figure, he raised three hundred death warriors.

The weakest of these death warriors were late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Through demonic cultivation methods, these cultivators' strength increased rapidly, but their lifespan was extremely short.

Most had less than ten days to live.

This was also a method of that senior great cultivator.

Liang Ye was different. Liang Ye cultivated the orthodox royal family method.

"Liang Chong!" the purple-robed old man called out again.

Immediately, another man in soft armor appeared.

His aura was even stronger than Liang Ye's.

"I'm at a critical moment of refining. I'll leave the main Soul Thought Flower to you. A man named Qi Yuan has entered the Land of the Sunken Coffin with a treasure..."

The purple-robed old man conveyed all the information to Liang Chong and then said, "Kill Qi Yuan and bring the treasure back to me! You will command the three hundred death warriors for now! Do not let anyone enter the Land of the Sunken Coffin. Understand?"

"Understood, with Liang Chong here, no one can disrupt your plans!" Liang Chong's face was filled with determination.

He was a death warrior, willing to die for his master.

......

"How many people does this mastermind have left? There can't be no one left, right?" Qi Yuan waited for half a day without seeing anyone.

If the mastermind had only a few people, wouldn't it be a loss?

A few Soul Thought Flowers wouldn't even be enough to fill his teeth.

At that moment, an arrow shot from a distance.

The arrow emitted a powerful aura, like a shot from a Golden Core cultivator.

"How dangerous!" Qi Yuan dodged the arrow with a swift roll.

He quickly opened the jade slip playing some music.

Then he stood up, his face pale, looking around. "Who dares to sneak attack me?"

In the distance, two death warriors in light armor showed puzzled expressions.

"Why did he open a jade slip to play music?"

"Is he trying to scare us off?"

"Don't be afraid. His mana is still not fully recovered. Let's kill him!"

The two medium-built Golden Core death warriors charged at Qi Yuan without holding back.

Powerful spiritual energy filled the entire meadow.

Qi Yuan, like a kite with a broken string, fell to the ground.

"So... strong!"

He struggled to get up, wiping the blood from his mouth.

"But no matter how strong you are, I'll never surrender!"

Qi Yuan's body emitted a spirit of fearlessness.

The two death warriors were moved but only slightly.

"Kill!"

The two attacked together, aiming to kill Qi Yuan.

"Two old geezers ganging up on a young man like me!"

Qi Yuan wielded his cleaver, struggling to hold on.

After a short while, he was spitting blood.

Knocked down multiple times, he stood up each time, scaring them with his cleaver. He persisted like an unyielding swordsman.

This made the two death warriors even more moved.

"After you die, we will give you a proper burial!"

They began to respect Qi Yuan.

"After you die, I'll bury you well and even put up a monument!" Qi Yuan, always one to reciprocate kindness, said.

The two Golden Core death warriors' faces turned cold upon hearing this.

"Finish him quickly. We still have to guard the stronghold," one said.

They changed tactics, no longer holding back because of Qi Yuan's cleaver.

Seeing this, Qi Yuan smiled.

"Want to kill me? No way!"

"I have a treasure given by my master!"

He spat more blood, his face showing a tragic determination.

"Using a secret technique, my lifespan has been reduced by twenty years.

But it's enough to drive the treasure!
To kill you, I've sacrificed too much!"

With Qi Yuan's loud declaration, he swung his cleaver and instantly killed the two Golden Core death warriors.

His face turned as pale as snow, but he smiled. "I won!"

Blood dripped from his mouth, and his hair gained a streak of white.

......

Outside Rongcheng, in the palace.

"He's gone?"

Sect Leader Kumu looked at the empty bed, his expression changing unpredictably.

The Empress's face was equally grim. "I underestimated that old fool."

True Lord Taiguang squinted. "The old Emperor's move must be to truly control the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm. I'm curious, how does he plan to control it?"

"With the Red Sword Sect." Suddenly, a voice sharp as a sword resounded.

An old man in a dark blue robe appeared in the hall, carrying a sword case with seventeen flying swords.

This old man was the sect master of the Floating Mountain, True Lord Mad Sword.

"Red Sword Sect?" Hearing this name, the expressions of those present changed.

They were all too familiar with the Red Sword Sect.

Hundreds of years ago, when the Demonic Desire Sect sought to unify the Great Shang, the Red Sword Sect was behind them.

But due to the Seven Colors Peak master, the Red Sword Sect failed.

"The old Emperor colluded with the Red Sword Sect?" Sect Leader Kumu felt a pang of regret.

Had he known, he would have killed the old Emperor without hesitation.

The Empress looked guilty. "It's my fault. I didn't keep an eye on the old Emperor."

True Lord Mad Sword said, "Now is not the time to talk about this. What about our disciples in the secret realm?"

"The Red Sword Sect has the Red Demon Seeds, which can quickly create powerful cultivators at a cost. The old Emperor's plot for the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm must involve many Red Demon death warriors," Withered Wood True Lord said, worried. "Qi Yuan is also in the secret realm..."

He glanced towards Seven Colors Peak, his expression complex.

The old Emperor hated the major sects and wouldn't spare anyone.

Bringing in strong cultivators meant no mercy.

"The old Emperor must have entered this Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm through the first one," True Lord Mad Sword said. "Kumu, quickly send all cultivators under a hundred years old into the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm. Three days have passed. We can't decide how many disciples are still alive. The most important thing now is to thwart the old Emperor's plan. If he truly controls the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm, we are doomed!"

"Alright!" Sect Leader Kumu gritted his teeth.

The Divine Light Sect had few Golden Core cultivators under a hundred.

But there was no time to hesitate.

Any hope of salvaging the situation was worth pursuing.

He had already resigned himself to the idea that his son-in-law Kang Fulou and Qi Yuan from Seven Colors Peak might be dead.

Dozens or hundreds of Red Demon Golden Core cultivators couldn't be handled by a group of Foundation Establishment disciples.
......

"Boring, being an actor is boring."

In the Land of the Sunken Coffin, Qi Yuan killed a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, taking his Soul Thought Flower.

He now had forty Soul Thought Flowers.

At first, he acted, tricking many cultivators to come.

But then, no more came.

Qi Yuan knew his plan had failed.

But he wasn't discouraged.

He had learned much from the many who came.

He knew these death warriors were guarding some strongholds, helping their leader plot in the Celestial Dragon Immortal Realm.

Guarding strongholds meant they couldn't leave.

So, when he got an address of a stronghold, he started hunting, killing constantly.

"Active attack is better. Fishing is boring."

"These Golden Core cultivators are so weak, like half-finished products. It feels like it takes four or five of them to match a normal Golden Core."
Qi Yuan found it easy to kill these Golden Core cultivators. Their fighting skills were weak.

He even thought that the one who used deceit to harm him before, Yu Linglong, could kill six or seven of these Golden Core cultivators alone.

These Golden Core cultivators seemed like fast-track products.

Qi Yuan wiped out this stronghold and headed to the next.

Meanwhile, in the nearest stronghold to Qi Yuan, a dozen cultivators were trembling.

"Sir, that man is coming towards us!" a death warrior reported through a Soul Thought Flower.

Liang Chong's face was grim as he sat in the first stronghold.

He knew Qi Yuan had already wiped out two strongholds.

One of them had seven Golden Core cultivators, like a small sect.

Yet Qi Yuan had wiped it out.

Wielding a cleaver, Qi Yuan slaughtered Golden Core cultivators like dogs.

Liang Chong knew even he wasn't a match for Qi Yuan.

"What kind of monster is he!" Liang Chong felt fear.

Such a genius was unimaginable.

Wasn't the Seven Colors Peak disciple just newly established at Foundation Establishment?
Why did he feel more oppressive than a late-stage Golden Core?

He even suspected Qi Yuan was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator in disguise.

Liang Chong said sternly, "All men, gather at Stronghold One!"

Liang Chong felt Qi Yuan couldn't be allowed to continue killing.

Gathering all men at Stronghold One might not be as effective as spreading out, but it would be the strongest defense, preventing Qi Yuan from breaking through one by one.

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

In the Land of the Sunken Coffin, all death warriors quickly headed to Stronghold One.

Liang Chong stood in Stronghold One, feeling safer as more warriors arrived.

"Nearly three hundred death warriors. Let's see how he breaks through!

As long as we hold the stronghold until the Emperor's plan succeeds, Qi Yuan will die!"

Liang Chong didn't consider attacking Qi Yuan. That could lead to unexpected complications.

Guarding Stronghold One was the priority, with no room for error.

With so many warriors guarding, Qi Yuan would surely avoid them.

Attacking them would be suicidal.

However, Liang Chong underestimated Qi Yuan's strength and courage.

After half a day, Liang Chong saw a lazy figure appear outside the stronghold.

Qi Yuan held a cleaver, raising it high, and shouted at the many warriors, "I, a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven, command you to surrender and die!"

Liang Chong was stunned.

Was there really such a bold person?

Facing nearly three hundred strong cultivators, he didn't flee but instead challenged them.

With nearly three hundred death warriors beside him, Liang Chong's courage surged. He flew into the sky, glaring at Qi Yuan. "I thought you might not be the Seven Colors Peak's Qi Yuan. But you're crazy enough to challenge us, indeed a madman!"

"You're crazy! Your whole family is crazy!
I scored full marks in moral character and got an S+ in mental health, and you call me mad!"

Qi Yuan grew angrier.

"Facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven, you dare not surrender and even insult me? You're asking for death!"

Qi Yuan charged into the stronghold with his cleaver.

Seeing Qi Yuan's boldness, Liang Chong sneered, "Kill!"

But soon, his smile froze.

Qi Yuan charged into the stronghold like a wolf among sheep.

Though the Red Demon Golden Core cultivators were weaker, they were still Golden Core.

How could they be killed in one slash, four or five at a time?

With one swing of his cleaver, the five closest Golden Core cultivators had their defenses shattered like paper, and were split in half before they could react.

How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator be this strong?

Was he a disguised Nascent Soul cultivator?
Was he truly a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven!
Even if he was, could he be this strong?
Liang Chong's confidence vanished.

The security of having three hundred warriors disappeared.

"Quick! Quick! He's out of mana, exhaust him!" Liang Chong felt fear but didn't retreat.

The royal family gave him everything.

He saw the Emperor as his father!
He would die for the Emperor.

Even in death, he would guard the stronghold.

"Indeed, fighting with background music adds style. It's like playing a game. The blood and flesh aren't as unsettling," Qi Yuan's jade slip played music as he slaughtered.

He was covered in blood, all of it his enemies'.

These Golden Core cultivators were like water to Qi Yuan.

Slaughtering them was effortless.

In less than a stick of incense time, a fifth of the stronghold's warriors lay dead.

Qi Yuan, now drenched in blood, looked like a carefree god of death, wielding his cleaver.

"Continue the music, continue the killing."

Qi Yuan charged into the crowd again, resuming his slaughter.

Though they provided no experience points.

But each one carried a Soul Thought Flower.

Very valuable.

To enemies, he was never merciful.

"Kill!" Liang Chong roared, commanding the death warriors.

The death warriors showed high spirits.

"Die for the Emperor!"

"Fight for the Great Shang!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

It was as if they were performing the most righteous act of their lives.

Qi Yuan, holding his cleaver, was unmoved. Brainwashed death warriors were no different from NPCs.
If their master ordered them to kill their parents, wives, and children, they would do so without hesitation.

In the cultivation world, brainwashing was even more terrifying.

Time flew, and night slowly fell.

Batch after batch of death warriors fell around Qi Yuan.

In the end, only a dozen remained, glaring at Qi Yuan with anger, not fear.

"Die for the Emperor!"

The remaining warriors charged at Qi Yuan, their Golden Cores exploding. They chose self-destruction.

But the Red Demon Golden Core cultivators were so weak that even self-destruction caused no major waves.

Qi Yuan brushed off the meat scraps on his body.

Holding his cleaver, like a big villain, he smiled evilly. "You're the last one."

Liang Chong's gaze was firm, holding a spear, like the most loyal warrior of the empire.

"Kill!"

The spear moved like a dragon, breaking through the formation.

But this powerful strike, enough to rival the Black Mountain Sect's master, was easily dodged by Qi Yuan.

He slashed Liang Chong's chest and abdomen with his cleaver.

Life drained from Liang Chong's body.

His eyes showed confusion. "Why?"

Why was he so strong?

"Because I... am a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Dao of Heaven."

Qi Yuan didn't add another sentence.

He could kill Golden Core cultivators even when he was still in Qi Refining.

He feared this man would get jealous, crawl out of his grave, and come for him at night.

"Is it over?" Qi Yuan, covered in blood, looked at the corpses.

He squatted down, collecting all the Soul Thought Flowers.

He glanced at the ground, feeling it didn't match the surroundings.

He stomped his foot.

The ground caved in, burying the corpses.

He stomped again, and the ground returned to normal.

If anyone came, they wouldn't know nearly three hundred powerful cultivators were buried here.

Qi Yuan, holding his cleaver, shouted, "I've wiped out your stronghold. Won't you come out?"

He sensed a strong presence nearby, plotting something.

As an enemy, he couldn't let them succeed.