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

Chapter 93: The Hundred-Nation Blood Battle and Qi Yuan’s Helplessness

In the marketplace.

Qi Yuan wandered purposefully.

With a new wife at home, it couldn't remain empty and devoid of furnishings.

For several days, Qi Yuan had been coming to the marketplace to shop.

When he stopped by the clothing shop, Qi Yuan paused.

"Should I buy a bra for my junior sister?"

He recalled last time when he had spoken with high emotional intelligence, yet it hadn't pleased his junior sister.

He realized it was because he was a giant in words but a dwarf in actions.

Every action of his would warm his junior sister's heart for an entire day.

But then he hesitated. "I'm not that close with my junior sister."

He decided to drop the idea.

Remembering something, he left the marketplace.

In the marketplace, Luo Jing's eyes flashed with a fierce glint.

He immediately followed.

Trailing behind Qi Yuan, he sought a suitable place to strike.

When he saw Qi Yuan land in a secluded forest, he felt a surge of joy.

This was the perfect place to make his move!

As long as he captured Qi Yuan and interrogated him about the events in the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, he could report back to Breaking Wolf's master.

He quickly followed and landed.

But in the next moment, he froze.

"Where is he?" He discovered that Qi Yuan had disappeared from the secluded forest.

Alarmed, he sensed an ambush.

Instantly, he was on high alert.

But then he felt a chill on his neck as if a blade had brushed against it.

His eyes widened as he saw a hand reaching into his dantian, grabbing his golden core.

And his head was lifted by another hand.

Yes, as soon as Luo Jing landed, his head and body were separated by a single stroke.

Qi Yuan held Luo Jing's head in one hand and his golden core in the other.

"Are you from the Radiant Palace?" Qi Yuan brought the head closer and glanced at it.

Before killing this man, Qi Yuan had already seen his identity and knew he harbored ill intentions towards him.

At this moment, Luo Jing's heart was in turmoil. "Who... who are you?"

A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator easily subdued a mid-Core Formation stage cultivator.

This was too much!

Even the top 100 geniuses on the Eastern Soil Heaven's Proud List couldn't do this.

Even if they could, it wouldn't be so effortless. This was a complete one-hit kill.

Was he facing not a Foundation Establishment cultivator but a Nascent Soul monster?

"I am the Qi Yuan you so desperately want to capture, the weakest one," Qi Yuan said, looking at Luo Jing.

He was glad he had hidden his strength.

Otherwise, if a late Nascent Soul stage cultivator from the Radiant Palace came after him, he might not be able to handle it.

In the Celestial Dragon Secret Realm, he had already tested his incomplete Heaven-Path Foundation Establishment. He could kill early Nascent Soul stage cultivators and might be able to go toe-to-toe with mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivators. But against late Nascent Soul stage cultivators, he would need to reach mid-Foundation Establishment to contend.

Cultivating the "Qi Yuan Sutra" to reach mid-Foundation Establishment would take years.

So now, Qi Yuan was eager to enter the game and quickly level up.

He had many hidden enemies now.

The Black Chicken Old Demon, who was always in closed-door cultivation; Breaking Wolf's master, True Lord Wind Fury; and whoever was behind the old emperor.

Even though these enemies might not know Qi Yuan was their enemy, Qi Yuan knew.

He was constantly uneasy.

He needed to quickly improve his strength to be prepared for any eventuality.

"You can't be Qi Yuan. A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator can't be this powerful," Luo Jing said, incredulous, then pleaded, "Spare me, senior. I'm willing to be your servant."

Qi Yuan coldly replied, "I don't need servants."

He prepared to crush Luo Jing's golden core.

Luo Jing hastily begged, "Spare me, senior. I'm very useful. I know a lot. The Radiant Palace's plot against the hundred nations is not simple. It's for the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle, to elevate a treasure to the Yin God level!"

Hearing this, Qi Yuan's heart tightened.

"I know many secret arts..." Luo Jing frantically tried to demonstrate his value.

But Qi Yuan didn't listen to his nonsense any longer. He crushed Luo Jing's golden core.

Luo Jing's aura dissipated in that instant.

"So poor? Only a mid-level technique?"

After looting Luo Jing's body, Qi Yuan left the mark of the Divine Flower Society on him.

The Divine Flower Society and the Radiant Palace were mortal enemies.

Wasn't it normal for a Divine Flower Society cultivator to kill Luo Jing?

What did it have to do with him, a village-level Foundation Establishment cultivator?

However, after killing Luo Jing, Qi Yuan still felt uneasy.

He quickly entered the Divine Flower Society chat.

"Do you know about the Radiant Palace's plot for the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle?"

"Not clear." Rogue Immortal was always online. "I only know the Radiant Palace has been targeting the hundred nations recently."

Great Sun Flame Emperor added, "It's not a good thing."

At this point, Ice Mountain Overlord said, "The hundred nations area is unique.

Nowhere in the Eastern Soil Thirteen States has so many cultivating nations.

In the Radiant Palace, there's a broken treasure called the Royal Extreme Fright Dragon Crown.

The Radiant Palace covets the hundred nations to start the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle, using the bloodshed between nations to generate blood energy to nourish the Royal Extreme Fright Dragon Crown, hoping to elevate it to a Yin God artifact."

This revelation shocked the other three emperors, including Qi Yuan.

The Radiant Palace had grand designs!

How ruthless!

Starting the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle, causing countless deaths, just to create a Yin God artifact?

At first, Qi Yuan thought the Radiant Palace's plot was just for the Great Shang.

Now it seemed it was for the hundred nations.

All to create a Yin God artifact.

This showed the Radiant Palace's great determination.

This failed attempt in the Great Shang wouldn't make them give up.

"The Radiant Palace claims to be righteous yet commits such heinous acts!" Rogue Immortal's words were full of indignation.

"The hundred nations area doesn't belong to the Eastern Soil. The Radiant Palace's actions will at most be criticized by some." Great Sun Flame Emperor also sighed.

"Unfortunately, the Divine Flower Society's influence in the Emerald Cloud State is too small. Otherwise, we would surely stop the Radiant Palace." Ice Mountain Overlord said.

The Divine Flower Society was very powerful, even surpassing the Radiant Palace.

But its influence was also very scattered, and its headquarters wasn't in the Eastern Soil.

In the Emerald Cloud State, the Divine Flower Society's power couldn't compare to the Radiant Palace.

Moreover, some Radiant Palace members were secretly part of the Divine Flower Society.

"The hundred nations area doesn't have even one Purple Mansion cultivator. They can't possibly stop the Radiant Palace.

And the upper echelons of the hundred nations will likely turn a blind eye.

After all, it's the lower-level cultivators and soldiers who die.

They might even receive some rewards from the Radiant Palace, hoping more lower-level cultivators die." Ice Mountain Overlord said.

The lower-level cultivators die, the upper echelons benefit.

Ice Mountain Overlord was in the Eastern Soil, not in the Emerald Cloud State.

She was powerless to stop the Radiant Palace's plot.

Great Sun Flame Emperor then said, "Origin Heaven Sovereign, you are a cultivator of the hundred nations, right?

Why not come to the Emerald Cloud State for a few decades? I can show you around the famous mountains and ancient sites."

Great Sun Flame Emperor wanted to pull Origin Heaven Sovereign out of the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle.

The Hundred-Nation Blood Battle wasn't something a young prodigy could change.

"Thank you, Great Sun Flame Emperor, but I'll stay here," Qi Yuan declined, then asked Ice Mountain Overlord, "If I become a Heaven-Path Foundation Establishment and form a Celestial Golden Core, can I stop the Radiant Palace?"

Heaven-Path Foundation Establishment could kill Core Formation, fight Nascent Soul.

With a Celestial Golden Core, he could probably fight a Purple Mansion cultivator.

Could he stop the Radiant Palace?

"No, not even close.

Purple Mansion cultivators have seen through the essence of spiritual power.

No matter how strong a Golden Core cultivator is, they can't match a Purple Mansion cultivator.

Moreover, the Radiant Palace has more than one Purple Mansion cultivator.

Even more terrifying is the Royal Extreme Fright Dragon Crown. It was once a Yin God artifact.

That Yin God was killed, and the artifact was shattered.

To stop the Radiant Palace, one would have to face the Royal Extreme Fright Dragon Crown.

Several Purple Mansion cultivators could even summon a wisp of the Yin God's projection.

A wisp of a Yin God's projection can obliterate a nation.

Such power can't be resisted by mortals.

Unless a Yin God intervenes, the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle can't be stopped.

But the Radiant Palace has tacit approval from some significant figures for this Hundred-Nation Blood Battle.

So, even a Yin God might not interfere in the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle unless directly involved.

This involves a secret even I don't know." Ice Mountain Overlord's words were filled with helplessness.

Not being a Yin God, even a Purple Mansion cultivator could be considered a mortal.

The Radiant Palace's actions might go against the heavenly order, but they had the tacit approval of some significant figures.

The hundred nations could only be sacrifices.

Qi Yuan felt a heavy heart hearing this.

Even in the ultimate land, he had slain three thousand extraterrestrial demons.

Even defeating the Great Sun's true form.

But he couldn't obliterate a country in one stroke.

The power of a Yin God was far beyond his reach.

"How long until the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle starts?" Qi Yuan asked.

"In about two or three years, the Radiant Palace will have the hundred nations in their grasp.

Then, the hundred nations will be divided into two factions to fight.

The blood battle will last about three hundred years. The Royal Extreme Fright Dragon Crown will absorb enough blood energy and fortune to restore itself as a true Yin God artifact."

"Two or three years?" Qi Yuan felt immense pressure.

In the Hundred-Nation Blood Battle, many high-level Radiant Palace cultivators would come.

Qi Yuan had killed Zhu Lianhua, Breaking Wolf, and now Luo Jing.

This had thoroughly offended the Radiant Palace.

They were now enemies.

Facing the Radiant Palace's threat, Qi Yuan needed to quickly improve his strength.

Otherwise, if the Radiant Palace decided to unleash a wisp of Yin God's aura to erase the Great Shang.

No matter how talented Qi Yuan was, he couldn't cope.

"Two or three years, ordinary cultivation can't reach Core Formation.

With the game's help, I might form a Golden Core.

But even with a Celestial Golden Core, I can't defeat the Radiant Palace!"

Qi Yuan felt immense pressure.

He could already challenge higher levels, which was terrifying.

Foundation Establishment could kill Nascent Soul.

Even the top 100 of the Eastern Soil Heaven's Proud List couldn't do this.

But even if he reached Core Formation, he could only fight Purple Mansion.

Nascent Soul might contend with Yin God.

"What kind of Golden Core do I need to contend with a Yin God?"

Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

...

"Little Wife, tonight we won't watch the stars. I need to study techniques!"

Lately, Qi Yuan had been cultivating daily, occasionally watching the stars with Xiao Jia at night.

Now, feeling the Radiant Palace's pressure, Qi Yuan knew he needed to work harder.

Even low-level techniques, he needed to study and integrate into his knowledge system.

This way, his eyes could see more, and the "Qi Yuan Sutra" could advance faster.

Xiao Jia obediently sat aside.

At night, Qi Yuan studied techniques seriously.

Firefly-like insects in the lamp flickered, casting a dim light in the wooden house.

Little Wife sat beside, her sleeve supporting her collar, always watching Qi Yuan.

Through the night, Qi Yuan finally digested the mid-level technique from Luo Jing.

The "Qi Yuan Sutra" advanced another small step.

Qi Yuan saw Little Wife's sleeve drooping on the table, as if she was asleep, like a sleeping beauty.

Looking outside, he saw dawn approaching.

He cast a soundproofing technique in the house.

Then, he threw a small dried fish into the wooden cat puppet's mouth.

Early morning on the Seven-Colored Peak was slightly cool.

He gently covered Little Wife with a robe.

Looking at her, his eyes were complex. "Following me... you must be suffering."

Seeing Little Wife, he knew her identity wasn't simple.

He quickly discarded this sentiment.

Now wasn't the time for sentimentality. Strengthening himself was crucial, perfecting his cultivation technique was vital.

"My most precious technique is the Great Sun's 'White Day Fantasy Technique,' but it doesn't align with my system.

I can't integrate it into the 'Qi Yuan Sutra.'"

Qi Yuan sighed.

If he could integrate it, he felt his technique could directly reach Core Formation, even higher.

"My knowledge is still too limited. I can't find the commonality between Canglan Realm and Moonlit Continent to convert techniques."

Qi Yuan thought.

Perhaps at a higher level, all techniques from different worlds would unify.

"But the concepts of the 'White Day Fantasy Technique' can be borrowed."

Qi Yuan began to recall and analyze the "White Day Fantasy Technique."

"The later part of the White Day Fantasy Technique requires swallowing stars to achieve oneself, an unrealistic idea."

The stars in the sky weren't real stars.

Qi Yuan's eyes saw that the stars in all heavens were merely projections of gods.

"No wonder the Great Sun faced external enemies. His strength probably tempted... a god's star projection, leading to suppression.

But what happened after that is unknown."

Recalling the White Day Fantasy Technique, Qi Yuan's eyes brightened.

"The White Day Fantasy Technique is useless in this world, but what about on Blue Star?"

As the saying goes, there's no trash in the world, only misplaced treasures.

The White Day Fantasy Technique required devouring the star projections of gods, antagonizing gods.

This was impossible.

But what if he targeted the stars in Blue Star's universe?

Qi Yuan's eyes saw that the stars in Blue Star weren't projections but real stars.

Unclaimed stars.

"Swallowing stars means challenging gods, impossible without surpassing godly strength.

But if I target Blue Star's stars, can't I devour them if my appetite is big enough?"

The more Qi Yuan thought, the more excited he became.

It seemed feasible.

"But how do I leave this world and go to a universe like Blue Star?"

So far, the Moonlit Continent and Canglan Realm, based on their star projections, were in the same "universe."

To devour stars, he needed to reach a second universe.

"Blue Star, I miss you."

"Sun, Pluto, Big Dipper, I miss you." Qi Yuan felt a growing hunger.

"Too much thinking. I should focus on forming a powerful Golden Core first."

And the prerequisite for all this was entering the second game world to level up quickly.

Qi Yuan took out his last Soul-Splitting Pill and slowly swallowed it.

Lately, he had been consuming Soul-Splitting Pills, slowly absorbing their power.

After the last pill, Qi Yuan began absorbing its power.

His soul continued to grow.

After an unknown time, Qi Yuan woke up, finding himself covered with a robe, and some sweets on the table.

Little Wife lay on the table, seemingly asleep.

Looking outside, it was pitch black.

Stars dotted the sky, illuminating the heavens.

Moonlight seeped through the wooden house's gaps, falling on Little Wife.

"My soul strength finally reached mid-Foundation Establishment."

Heaven-Path Foundation Establishment's mid-stage.

He could try entering the second game world.

Qi Yuan took out the game jade slip, ready to enter the game.

His soul saw the familiar game icon.

Like before, he let his soul wander, approaching the game icon.

When the time seemed right, Qi Yuan suddenly increased his soul output.

"Let me in!"

He was very close to the game icon, suddenly entering, trying to sneak in while the game icon was off-guard.

This time, his soul had grown significantly, and it was a surprise attack.

The game icon's resistance was weaker than before.

But it still reacted strongly.

Just as he was about to touch the game icon, his soul faced a fierce counterattack.

Disappointed, Qi Yuan realized.

He needed at least late Foundation Establishment soul strength to truly sneak into the game.

But reaching late Foundation Establishment soul wasn't easy.

Even with the same amount of Soul-Splitting Pills, he couldn't reach late Foundation Establishment.

Soul improvement became harder with progress.

"Failed again?"

Qi Yuan felt disheartened.

Then, a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Husband, husband, your little wife is completely naked. Aren't you coming to see?"

Hearing this, Qi Yuan was furious.

Damn game!

It had just rejected him and now used an NPC's voice to entice him!

Was it mocking his inability?

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Qi Yuan roared, his soul resisting the game's barrier.

At this moment, in the Heavenly Heart Palace, Ning Tao, half-undressed, exposing a smooth shoulder, smiled.

"Husband, let's see where you run this time."