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

Bright Palace.

A flash of killing intent appeared in the depths of the red-bearded elder’s eyes: "Good, good, good. A Purple Palace has emerged from the Hundred Nations; this is truly an excellent development."

Within the jade-like palace, the eyes of three Purple Palace masters and dozens of Nascent Souls also flickered with killing intent.

"A mere region like the Hundred Nations managed to produce a Purple Palace and now they don’t know their place, declaring war on our Bright Palace. What a colossal joke!" Black Rope, a Purple Palace master known for his volatile temper, exclaimed.

This time, the three of them were presiding over the Hundred Nations Blood War.

Now, being provoked by a small nation cultivator who had barely broken through to the Purple Palace, how could they not be enraged?

The Bright Palace boasted dozens of powerful Purple Palace cultivators and even possessed the damaged Yin God artifact, the Imperial Extreme Dragon Crown.

It could be said that as long as the Yin God didn’t appear, no one could rival them.

And now, a mere Purple Palace dares to challenge the Bright Palace.

They were courting death!

"This Blood-Clad Sword God is truly arrogant. His clan should be in the Chen Kingdom. Should we send someone to capture them and force him to reveal himself?" suggested a Nascent Soul cultivator, offering a strategy.

"This is unwise. After all, our Bright Palace is the leader of the righteous path in Cuiyun Continent; how could we stoop to such actions and lose face?

More importantly, the relatives of that Earth Sword Marquis are long gone," another Nascent Soul cultivator replied.

The Nascent Souls present fell silent.

They had already torn the veil off and initiated the Hundred Nations Blood War; who cares about face?

"A mere Purple Palace isn’t worth making a fuss over. If he dares to come, he won’t return alive," said Qian Yuan, a mid-stage Purple Palace master, who held considerable status in the Bright Palace.

Moreover, his disciple was extremely talented, ranking among the top prodigies of the Eastern Lands, with a high likelihood of entering the Purple Palace realm.

This time, he was overseeing the Hundred Nations Blood War to enhance his reputation.

In the future, if the Bright Palace added another Palace Lord, his name would surely be on the list.

Once he spoke, the others did not continue the discussion.

The Blood-Clad Sword God was a significant threat to these Nascent Souls.

For the ordinary Purple Palace masters, he needed to be taken seriously.

But for someone like Qian Yuan, he wasn’t worth mentioning.

"I have a guest to meet. Everyone, attend to your duties," Qian Yuan waved his hand, and the Purple Palaces and Nascent Souls present left the hall.

Outside the grand hall, an elderly man in a purple robe looked worried, his eyes filled with concern.

The old man, named Xu Yeli, was the Supreme Elder of the Qiyan Sect and the only Purple Palace master in the sect.

To outsiders, a Purple Palace master might seem high and mighty, overlooking the world.

But Xu Yeli felt particularly oppressed.

Because... of the Bright Palace.

"Senior Xu, Elder Qian Yuan is waiting for you in the hall," a Nascent Soul cultivator came out from the hall at that moment.

Xu Yeli’s expression changed, but he quickly forced a smile.

"I will meet Brother Qian Yuan right away."

Xu Yeli said as he walked towards the palace.

In a few breaths, Xu Yeli entered the hall. Looking at the imposing man seated above, he spoke with a hint of respect: "May I ask why Brother Qian Yuan has summoned me?"

Qian Yuan, seated on a white jade chair, looked handsome, his eyes as deep as the stars: "It’s been some time since we last met, and I thought we should catch up."

When Qian Yuan said "catch up," it was merely a decree that forced Xu Yeli out of his secluded cultivation and to travel thousands of miles to the Bright Palace.

Is this what you call "catching up"?

Xu Yeli felt discontent but dared not show it: "It has indeed been some time."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Qian Yuan got to the point.

"Do you know that the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle has been moved up?"

"I’ve heard a little about it," Xu Yeli replied, a sense of foreboding growing inside him.

The Qiyan Sect was small, with only one Purple Palace.

However, the sect’s Holy Son, Xu Yeli’s disciple Xu Tongchen, was ranked in the top thirty of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List.

Xu Tongchen had exceptional talent. When he formed his Golden Core, he awakened the True Solar Fire!

When he summoned his Golden Core, the True Solar Fire burned everything in its path, and no one could withstand it.

Even the divine abilities of Nascent Souls couldn’t resist the True Solar Fire.

There was a saying that had spread throughout Cuiyun Continent:

The Qiyan Sect was holding Xu Tongchen back.

If Xu Tongchen had been born in the Bright Palace, he would have been ranked in the top ten of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List, not just the top thirty!

Once, a Bright Palace Palace Lord personally visited the Qiyan Sect, intending to take Xu Tongchen as a disciple.

But Xu Tongchen, out of gratitude for his master, refused the offer.

As a result, the Qiyan Sect and the Bright Palace became enemies.

"Xu Tongchen’s talent is truly enviable," Qian Yuan couldn’t help but sigh.

Xu Yeli’s heart tightened, and he quickly said, "Huang Tu is ranked twenty-seventh, while Tongchen is ranked twenty-ninth, still slightly behind your disciple."

He feared that Qian Yuan was once again setting his sights on his disciple.

Huang Tu was Qian Yuan’s disciple and the highest-ranked prodigy from Cuiyun Continent on the Eastern Lands Prodigy List.

"He’s only ranked twenty-seventh, which doesn’t compare to your disciple’s terrifying talent," Qian Yuan said, his voice lowering, "You should know that the advancement of the Eastern Lands Prodigy List this time offers a great opportunity for those in the top twenty."

Xu Yeli’s sense of foreboding grew stronger.

Qian Yuan continued, "The Qiyan Sect and the Bright Palace both hail from Cuiyun Continent, and we should support each other.

This time, we must ensure that the Bright Palace has a representative in the top twenty.

I must trouble you to tell your disciple, Xu Tongchen, to remember our shared roots in Cuiyun Continent and to support Huang Tu during the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle."

At this moment, Qian Yuan’s true intentions were revealed.

Xu Yeli’s expression darkened.

Support?

That was just a polite term.

Qian Yuan’s meaning was clear.

When the Eastern Lands Prodigy Battle began, his disciple shouldn’t compete for a spot but should instead assist Huang Tu in making it into the top twenty.

Not assist?

That would be considered a betrayal of their shared roots.

"Brother Xu, I know this is a bit unreasonable.

But I, Qian Yuan, am not an unreasonable man. After we complete the Hundred Nations Blood War, I will grant the Hundred Nations region to your Qiyan Sect. What do you think?

Don’t look down on the Hundred Nations region; it’s vast, and there might be a hidden abode left by some ancient master.

Recently, the Blood-Clad Sword God, who has reached the Purple Palace realm, emerged from the Hundred Nations.

The Hundred Nations region is not so bad," Qian Yuan said, casually offering the Hundred Nations region to Xu Yeli as a reward.

Xu Yeli’s face turned solemn, and he finally nodded in resignation, "I will do as you say."

Qian Yuan’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction: "Young people can sometimes be hot-headed and act on impulse. I hope you can advise your disciple well."

"Very well," Xu Yeli suppressed his inner fury, bid farewell to Qian Yuan, and left.

……

Meanwhile, on Seven-Colored Peak.

Jiang Lingsu finally sneaked out of her wooden cabin and knocked on the door of Qi Yuan’s brick house.

She looked guilty, as if she were sneaking around for an affair.

"Junior Sister, why have you come to see me?" Qi Yuan was busy perfecting his plan to destroy the Bright Palace.

The Blood-Clad Sword God had already made an appearance.

It was time for the Mad Taoist, the Seven Desires Demon Lord, and his other personas to take action.

Qi Yuan was playing the roles of several people, all while planning his strategy.

"Senior Brother, is the Blood-Clad Sword God... one of your aliases?" Jiang Lingsu whispered, lowering her voice.

From what Sister Yaya had told her, she already knew that the Blood-Clad Sword God had used his original divine power to slaughter a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Bright Palace.

She had also seen the post made by the Blood-Clad Sword God.

The writing style and aura were identical to her Senior Brother’s.

Last time, her Senior Brother had even borrowed one of her aliases.

"No," Qi Yuan shook his head.

This alias couldn’t be exposed.

"I’m just a small Golden Core cultivator; how could I be a Purple Palace master?" Qi Yuan replied.

Jiang Lingsu looked at Qi Yuan with a strange expression.

The thought that had crossed her mind had scared her.

How could Senior Brother possibly be a Purple Palace master?

Even if Senior Brother was the reincarnation of a Yin God, he couldn’t have returned to the Purple Palace so quickly.

Seeing the skeptical look on Jiang Lingsu’s face, Qi Yuan smiled and said, "Your wooden cabin is small and dilapidated, and it only has one room.

Coincidentally, my brick house is finished, and I even have a few extra rooms.

Your sister doesn’t have a place to stay at night, so why not move into my brick house?

Although it’s small and lacks decorations, I have a few benches.

If she needs to sleep, we can just tie a few ropes together."

After becoming a Golden Core, Qi Yuan found that his thoughts had become more agile.

On the surface, he seemed to be offering help.

In reality, he was showing off his brick house to his junior sister.

"No, thank you," Jiang Lingsu’s suspicions were completely dispelled.

According to Sister Yaya, the high-ranking senior was a true demonic cultivator, who had slaughtered hundreds of thousands.

How could her Senior Brother possibly be the Blood-Clad Sword God?

Could it be that the Mad Taoist was really one of her Senior Brother’s aliases?

"It’s a shame about my newly built house," Qi Yuan sighed. Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind, and he asked, "Is Jiang Ya really your sister?"

"Of course," Jiang Lingsu was puzzled by her Senior Brother’s question.

"Then why are you so different? One of you is skinny, while the other is so... well-rounded?

She looks malnourished, and you seem to have an excess of nutrition." Qi Yuan voiced his confusion, glancing at the fullness hidden beneath Jiang Lingsu’s loose robe.

"…!" Jiang Lingsu glared at Qi Yuan, struggling to comprehend his thoughts. "Are you calling me fat?"

Qi Yuan looked at the girl in front of him and seriously replied, "No."

His junior sister’s figure was just perfect.

Where there should be flesh, there was; where there shouldn’t be, there wasn’t.

If it weren’t for her loose robe, she could certainly attract a crowd in a hula-hoop competition.

"Is your sister very poor?"

Jiang Lingsu glared at Qi Yuan again: "Poor? She’s much richer than me.

Her master is none other than Wutian Elder, the master of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion!"

"Does she have a lot of spirit stones?"

"Spirit stones… what are those?" Jiang Lingsu boasted, "The Ascending Heaven Pavilion collects all the world’s techniques. In the Eastern Lands' thirteen continents, any technique worth mentioning has been collected by the Ascending Heaven Pavilion.

Even our Divine Light Sect’s ‘Seven-Colored Fire Refinement Art’ has been collected by the Ascending Heaven Pavilion.

You should know about the Ling Tian Pavilion; it’s closely related to the Ascending Heaven Pavilion and has been helping them gather techniques from across the world."

Qi Yuan’s breathing quickened upon hearing this, his eyes shining with excitement: "That rich?"

"Yes," Jiang Lingsu replied, finding this familiar demeanor of her Senior Brother comforting.

"If I were to marry into her family, would they let me read those techniques?"

"… Senior Brother, what are you thinking?" Jiang Lingsu turned away, "If you need techniques, you can ask me; I have some."

Qi Yuan, hearing this, calmed down.

He already had a brick house, and although he still lacked a car, it wasn’t worth marrying into someone’s family, right?

"Thank you, Junior Sister. But receiving help without giving anything in return doesn’t sit well with me…"

"Here are some techniques; take them and study them," Jiang Lingsu waved her hand, and a few jade slips landed in Qi Yuan’s hand. "I just got these from Sister Yaya, so keep it quiet."

After saying this, Jiang Lingsu returned to her wooden cabin without looking back.

Holding the jade slips, Qi Yuan felt deeply moved.

He returned to his room and logged into one of his aliases.

Recalling his junior sister’s questions today, Qi Yuan sighed with relief.

"The Blood-Clad Sword God alias suits my cold demeanor too well, and my junior sister almost suspected me.

The Mad Taoist, however, is a better fit since she won’t connect it to me."

He looked up at the two suns in the sky.

"Now, it’s time for the Mad Taoist and the Seven Desires Demon Lord to take the stage!"

In the Hundred Nations, there were still many Bright Palace strongholds.

He needed to eliminate them one by one.

"Even if it’s just a past infatuation, I’ll send them to reunite with their ancestors."

……

Outside Yunzhi Mountain, Fengnu True Monarch and Qianghong True Monarch arrived together.

They looked at the formation within the mountain, and Fengnu True Monarch’s eyes blazed with anger: "This Six-String True Monarch is really enjoying himself, closing himself off to cultivate here?

I bet he’s not cultivating but rather frolicking with some female cultivators from the Great Shang Kingdom!"

He was displeased.

His disciple, the Broken Wolf, had possibly died at the hands of the Divine Light Sect.

Yet the Six-String True Monarch wasn’t suppressing the Divine Light Sect but was instead secluded in cultivation here.

Naturally, Fengnu True Monarch was not happy.

"Perhaps Six-String True Monarch has reached a critical stage in his cultivation," Qianghong True Monarch tried to mediate.

Suppressing his anger, Fengnu True Monarch shouted at the formation in front of him: "Six-String True Monarch, come out and meet me!"

He was in the late Nascent Soul stage, and his father was a powerful Purple Palace master, giving him the right to be arrogant.

But after shouting, the place remained eerily silent, with no response.

The two exchanged puzzled glances.

Could something have happened?

However, at that moment, a burst of mad laughter echoed from the sky.

"The world laughs at me for being too crazy, but I laugh at the world for seeing too clearly."

A middle-aged man with a crazed expression, wearing a tattered robe, appeared before Fengnu True Monarch and Qianghong True Monarch.

"Who are you?" Fengnu True Monarch warily eyed the man in front of him.

The man held a kitchen knife in his hand and looked at Fengnu True Monarch: "I am… the Mad Taoist."

"The Mad Taoist?" Fengnu True Monarch was stunned, and a sense of foreboding crept over him.

The Divine Flower Gathering, the Mad Taoist?

"Why are you here?" Qianghong True Monarch asked, baffled.

But at that moment, the Mad Taoist, holding his kitchen knife, grinned mischievously: "Why am I here? Shouldn’t you be asking yourselves that?

Instead of staying in your stronghold, you’re wandering around, wasting my time."

As he spoke, he charged at Fengnu True Monarch and Qianghong True Monarch like a madman wielding a kitchen knife.

The two late-stage Nascent Souls had no intention of fighting back.

The situation was too strange.

They wanted to leave and rethink their strategy.

But the Mad Taoist’s voice followed them: "You can leave, but your bodies must stay."

As his words fell, the kitchen knife slashed through the air, striking Fengnu True Monarch and Qianghong True Monarch.

The two Nascent Souls used their divine abilities to protect themselves.

But the kitchen knife seemed indestructible, cutting through their defenses effortlessly.

"You’ll die for opposing the Bright Palace!" Fengnu True Monarch roared.

His body couldn’t hold out any longer and was cut in half by the knife, his soul annihilated.

Qianghong True Monarch met the same fate. In front of Qi Yuan, the late-stage Nascent Souls were as fragile as chicks; he didn’t even need to use his original divine power.

After slaughtering the two Nascent Souls, Qi Yuan waved his hand, collecting their storage bags.

"This Fengnu at least barely counts as a past infatuation, but this Qianghong True Monarch is too poor, isn’t he?

And yet, he dares to come to the Great Shang?

If only there was the internet here, I’d hang him out to dry online for sure," Qi Yuan muttered as his figure disappeared.

His other aliases also needed to start acting.

In the Wei Kingdom’s imperial court, the harem had already become a garden for the Bright Palace.

Several Nascent Soul cultivators spent the night in the emperor’s bed, indulging in their pleasures.

Suddenly, a wretched voice echoed in the sky.

"Where’s my chicken?"

"Where did my chicken go?"

Above the palace, a man in black robes, with disheveled hair, appeared, exuding an extremely dangerous aura.

"Who are you?" One of the Nascent Soul cultivators in the harem flew up, "This is a Bright Palace stronghold; there’s no chicken here!"

"Chicken… so it was you who stole my chicken!" The disheveled man’s eyes filled with rage, his voice trembling, "You bastards, that was my kin, and you stole it and ate it!"

"Are you the Seven Desires Demon Lord?" The Nascent Soul cultivator instantly understood that the man before him was likely the Seven Desires Demon Lord of the Divine Flower Gathering.

"You heartless wretches, even eating a cute chicken will get you struck by lightning!" The disheveled man pointed at the Nascent Soul cultivator, as if accusing him.

The Nascent Soul cultivator smirked, "Mad and seeking death!"

He didn’t sense a strong aura from the man in front of him.

At that moment, outside the palace, some of the Wei Kingdom’s Nascent Souls looked at the figure in the sky, their eyes filled with helplessness.

"I hope this fellow Daoist can stay safe."