Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?

The white-robed man sighed in exasperation. “Who would have thought that Senior Sister Shen’s husband is nothing more than a madman? What a pity, what a shame.”

The Heavenly Sect and the Ancient Thunder Sect might have been rivals, but they were also twin pillars of stability in the Ning Kingdom. The disciples of each sect held a grudging admiration for the other.

But seeing Shen Lingxuan’s husband behave so eccentrically, the white-robed man couldn’t help but lament.

“Let’s leave, Brother Tu. Speaking with such lunatics is a waste of time,” the white-robed man said as he turned toward Young Master Tu, intending to walk away.

To his surprise, Young Master Tu hesitated, his face lit with a strange mix of reverence and excitement.

“Brother Mu, mind your words. Lord Qi is not a lunatic. He is a man of grace, like an orchid in a valley—elegant and untouchable!”

Zhan Wenyu, standing beside Young Master Tu, quickly added, “Lord Qi is a recluse, a transcendent master who roams the mortal world. Only the ignorant would fail to recognize a true dragon among men.”

Zhan Wenyu’s tone dripped with superiority as he cast a disdainful glance at the white-robed man.

The white-robed man froze, utterly bewildered.

It felt like being part of a group gossiping about someone behind their back, only for two of the group to suddenly praise the subject as a divine being when he appeared. Now he was the fool—the clown.

His mind spun with questions. Why? How?

But what burned brightest was anger—anger at Young Master Tu and Zhan Wenyu for their sudden shift in attitude.

“Hmph!” The white-robed man snorted coldly before walking off.

His snort seemed to say, Fine, I’m done playing with you!

Zhan Wenyu, seeing the white-robed man leave, turned to Qi Yuan and bowed deeply. “Lord Qi, I was blind and ignorant before. Please forgive my insolence. I wouldn’t dare to offend you now.”

Young Master Tu also stepped forward cautiously. “Senior, I brought several tens of thousands of silver taels with me, hoping to purchase another light sword.”

“I don’t lack silver for the moment, and my artifacts are sold only to those fated to have them,” Qi Yuan replied without hesitation. “You already have one light sword. Leave the opportunity for others.”

Young Master Tu’s face showed disappointment, but he also felt confirmed in his suspicions. This man—this strange, enigmatic figure—was undoubtedly the vendor who had sold him the light sword.

“How did you recognize me?” Qi Yuan asked, his tone calm but curious.

“Well...” Young Master Tu hesitated before pulling out a particular artifact. “Senior, after you slew some members of Bloodthorn, their residual energy became tied to this artifact. Whenever it comes within three meters of their killer, it glows.”

“Oh? Is that so?” Qi Yuan’s gaze flickered with understanding.

He realized that this artifact was a Bloodthorn relic.

“Enough. Leave me to my fishing.” Qi Yuan waved his hand dismissively and resumed his reclined posture.

Seeing this, both Zhan Wenyu and Young Master Tu bowed respectfully before retreating.

As they left, they exchanged a look and a knowing smile.

<hr>

Qi Yuan pulled out his Divine Wood Token and typed into the chat group.

“Hey, I’ve killed some members of Bloodthorn. Now their artifacts glow when they’re near me. How do I fix this?”

Qi Yuan hated the idea of being tracked, as it violated his sense of privacy.

A response came from Ji Wuyun: “That’s a tough one. You’d need a Heaven-tier Weapon Master who can purge the mark with special techniques. It’s painful and damages the soul.”

Another reply followed from a Bloodthorn operative in the group: “No need for all that. Brother Cleaver, next time you’re at Divine Wood Abyss, I’ll give you a bottle of Thornwash Elixir. One sip, and the mark is gone.”

“Can you give it to me now?” Qi Yuan asked.

“If you come to Divine Wood Abyss, I’ll hand it over.”

“I can’t leave right now. Maybe I’ll send a Debt Collection Gate drone—how about Yan Shuangying—to pick it up?”

The Bloodthorn member responded flatly, “Brother Cleaver, you’re not very sincere.”

“Not sincere? I’m the one holding back from discussing with others how to annihilate Bloodthorn. If you think I’m insincere, I might as well start now.

Tell me—how many elites does Bloodthorn have, and where’s the headquarters? Once I’m done here, I’ll personally visit and destroy it!” Qi Yuan declared boldly in the chat.

Ji Wuyun sighed inwardly.

“This new Divine Wood Token wielder is... not normal.”

The Bloodthorn member replied dryly, “There’s nothing fun at our headquarters. Why not come to Divine Wood Abyss? I’ll even line up our members for you to kill.”

“Fine. Once I’m free, I’ll come,” Qi Yuan replied confidently.

Ji Wuyun rubbed his temples, feeling a headache brewing.

The exchange between these two lacked any gravitas. The Bloodthorn operative sounded less like an evil mastermind and more like a disinterested bureaucrat. Qi Yuan’s boasts came off more like a villain’s monologue than a hero’s declaration.

“This world... is beyond saving,” Ji Wuyun muttered.

<hr>

The massive ship continued to cut through the Weishui River, heading toward Lake Yeshan.

Suddenly, the ship came to a halt.

Several Weapon Masters flew off the deck, diving into the river to retrieve corpses.

It turned out that a few days prior, the Heavenly Sect had clashed with the Lake Yeshan Water Lord.

The conflict had resulted in over a thousand innocent fishermen losing their lives, their bodies swept away by the floodwaters.

Now, the ship had stopped to recover their remains.

“Their bodies deserve a proper resting place.”

“They were loyal citizens of the Ning Kingdom… alas...”

“The Water Lord is despicable. I swear to repair the Weilong XuanYuan Sword and bring it to justice!”

“Ninety-eight bodies have been recovered so far... what a tragedy.”

The ship was filled with sighs and somber murmurs.

Eventually, the sad episode passed, and by the afternoon of the next day, the ship arrived at the docks of Lake Yeshan.

<hr>

Lake Yeshan stretched for thousands of miles, vast and endless.

Passengers disembarked, and Qi Yuan, along with Chen Kangbao, followed the Shen family’s entourage to their base.

A woman with a frosty demeanor approached, her gaze landing on Qi Yuan with an odd mix of curiosity and disdain.

“Who would’ve thought that our dear son-in-law could come to Lake Yeshan?” she remarked icily.

The Shen family had only brought two types of people: powerful Weapon Masters or highly talented artifact masters.

To her, Qi Yuan was nothing but dead weight.

“Where’s your young lady?” Qi Yuan asked, his eyes alight. “I want to ride her.”

Frost spread across the woman’s expression. “Son-in-law, stop speaking such nonsense!”

If anyone else had said such words, she would’ve drawn her sword and cleaved them in two.

Still, she answered, “The Water Lord has been causing disturbances. The young lady is assisting the Heavenly Sect elders in patrolling Lake Yeshan and won’t return anytime soon.”

Qi Yuan sighed in disappointment. “Ah, a missed opportunity for a steed.”

“You!” The frosty woman’s expression darkened as she stomped her foot, glancing warily at Chen Kangbao.

Had it not been for Chen Kangbao’s presence, she might have taken action against Qi Yuan despite his son-in-law status.

Still, a lingering unease gnawed at her—a memory of waking up sore and disoriented after a suspected ambush, unsure of what had transpired.

She was still a maiden, so nothing extreme could have happened. But… did he touch her all over?

The thought made her cheeks flush with a mix of shame and anger.

<hr>

Deep within Lake Yeshan, an elder woman in Daoist robes wielded a sword, splitting massive waves asunder. Her eyes blazed with fury.

“Water Lord, don’t think you can hide in the depths of Lake Yeshan forever.

If you cause more trouble, I’ll bring out a Heaven-tier artifact to suppress you!”

The Water Lord, a Grandmaster at the peak of Earth-Tier, was slightly stronger than the elder.

However, the lake was its domain, granting it immense power through its mastery of water.

As a specter fused with Lake Yeshan itself, it could summon catastrophic floods to drown entire regions.

Despite the elder’s threats, the Water Lord remained silent, its form concealed in the lake’s depths.

“Humph!” The elder huffed in frustration before retreating to a small boat where a veiled woman in blue sat silently.

Her cold and ethereal aura was like an unearthly flower blooming in solitude. Even with her face hidden, her figure alone hinted at unparalleled beauty.

“Lingxuan, your husband has likely arrived at Lake Yeshan. You needn’t remain here—go see your family,” the elder urged.

“I must stand guard,” Shen Lingxuan replied calmly.

The elder, Wang Qingyi, sighed. “Very well. Be cautious. If you encounter the Water Lord, send word immediately.”

“Yes, Master,” Shen Lingxuan replied, her demeanor as tranquil as an orchid.

Wang Qingyi gazed at her disciple, her heart heavy with regret.

“If only I were a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, I wouldn’t let my disciple suffer like this—marrying some mere mortal.”

Wang Qingyi's thoughts churned with frustration as she recalled Shen Lingxuan’s unique constitution—a rare Profound Yin Physique coveted by countless elders and sect leaders.

This physique brought unparalleled potential but also invited endless trouble. The current Artifact Conference at Lake Yeshan had drawn not only experts but also ominous figures from other prefectures and even foreign nations. Their true target was not the Water Lord but Shen Lingxuan herself.

“Lingxuan, perhaps you should consummate your marriage with your husband sooner. Losing the Profound Yin Physique would cost you some cultivation, but it would deter most of these scoundrels.”

Wang Qingyi hesitated before continuing, “I’ve heard that the notorious Flower Thief of Mo Shan, a Grandmaster-level Earth-Tier Weapon Master known as Hengshan Grandmaster, has secretly entered the Ning Kingdom. It’s rumored he came here for you.”

At the mention of this name, even Wang Qingyi’s expression darkened with worry.

Hengshan Grandmaster was infamous not just for his strength but also for his ability to infiltrate and escape unscathed from seemingly impregnable defenses. His skills in illusion and disguise were unmatched.

However, Shen Lingxuan remained as poised as ever, standing at the bow of the boat with the serenity of moonlight on water.

“Master, please ensure the sect provides protection for Qi Yuan.”

Shen Lingxuan’s tone remained calm, but there was a subtle undertone of concern. She knew that those targeting her might use Qi Yuan as leverage.

“You have my word. I’ve already assigned Earth-Tier Weapon Masters to watch over your family and Qi Yuan,” Wang Qingyi reassured her.

<hr>

Meanwhile, at the Shen family’s compound near Lake Yeshan, Qi Yuan stretched lazily.

“How’s the search going?” he asked.

Chen Kangbao scratched his head awkwardly. “Finding a talented chef is hard, but finding... well... chefs of the other sort is quite easy.”

“No. I have standards.” Qi Yuan immediately rejected the idea.

Ever since they arrived at Lake Yeshan, Qi Yuan’s strength had gradually recovered. He had been contemplating his next move in the “cleaver” persona.

If he was to fully embody the role of a cleaver, it wouldn’t be enough to simply exist as one. He needed to help create a dish so exquisite it would leave a mark on the world. This was the essence of the cleaver: to serve as the instrument of culinary transcendence.

“I need a skilled chef to collaborate with, someone capable of crafting a masterpiece,” Qi Yuan mused.

Lake Yeshan, with its bountiful waters, offered the perfect ingredients for a legendary Hundred-Fish Feast.

“Master, should we go with Plan B? The street vendor idea?” Chen Kangbao suggested.

Qi Yuan sighed. “It seems I’ll have to leave it to fate to find the right chef.”

Plan B involved Chen Kangbao posing as a vendor to sell “cleavers” on the street.

Qi Yuan picked up a pen and paper, scribbling down a note:

<hr>

"To whom it may concern: The old glutton Chen Kangbao is yearning for earthly delicacies. I have decided to accompany him in his search. Do not worry, and do not look for us."

<hr>

With that, he placed the note on the table, securing it with a water cup.

“I’ll leave a trail. Let’s go.”

With a flash of Thousand Transformations, Qi Yuan transformed into a cleaver—this time adjusting his size to resemble a standard kitchen knife rather than the exaggerated, human-sized version he used previously.

He then dove into a specially crafted casing that was both hard on the outside and soft on the inside—an ideal “sheath” for travel.

“Transform!”

With another wave of energy, Chen Kangbao was morphed into a large, colorful chameleon.

“Carry me and let’s leave,” Qi Yuan ordered.

The disguise allowed them to slip out unnoticed. Qi Yuan had become acutely aware of the many prying eyes around the Shen family compound and wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“Understood!” Chen Kangbao replied eagerly, hoisting the cleaver and dashing off.

<hr>

Deep in the mountains outside Lake Yeshan, Chen Kangbao trudged onward, the cleaver strapped to his back.

“Master, are we safe now?” he asked.

Before Qi Yuan could answer, a large goose blocked their path, staring intently at them like a guardian of the wild.

“We’re mostly safe… except for this goose. Oh, and someone is following us,” Qi Yuan remarked casually.

Chen Kangbao froze. “Following us? Who would tail a chameleon carrying a cleaver?”

At that moment, a figure emerged from the shadows—a burly man with a menacing grin.

The man’s gaze locked onto Chen Kangbao with suspicion and disdain.

“Rumor has it that the infamous Hengshan Grandmaster, master of illusions and thief of countless flowers, is unmatched in his disguises. I never expected to encounter him here… in this form.”

His voice carried an edge of mockery, clearly mistaking the chameleon for the notorious flower thief.

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