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

Chapter 191: The Dragon Clan Causes Trouble

Ye Liuyun stepped forward, drawing the attention of many.

The ancient gods attending the Hundred Flowers Festival were from nearby regions and were somewhat familiar with each other. Qi Yuan and Ye Liuyun, however, were strangers to them. They were curious about Ye Liuyun’s attempt to awaken the flowers.

Ye Liuyun approached a budding flower. The flower was a Ningxiang Jade, with emerald green buds emitting a unique fragrance. Long ago, when Qionghua Grand Venerable achieved enlightenment, she favored keeping a Ningxiang Jade flower by her bedside.

Ye Liuyun closed his eyes and began to visualize.

Around him, murmurs started to spread.

"How dare he try to awaken Ningxiang Jade? That's a bold move."

"Venerable Wu Qian, if I remember correctly, didn’t you also attempt to awaken Ningxiang Jade at the last Hundred Flowers Festival and failed?"

"It’s very difficult. Attempting Ningxiang Jade right away is quite audacious for an unknown true god."

"If he fails, it will be quite embarrassing."

Most true gods usually started with simpler tasks. If your first attempt fails, it’s quite awkward and can be seen as disrespectful to the North Sea Water Tribe.

Standing aside, Qi Yuan watched with interest. "If I try to awaken a flower, will I be questioned like this too?"

Qi Qi smiled, "Who would dare question godfather?"

Qi Yuan chuckled. This time, he was just a spectator, and it was interesting to see Ye Liuyun being questioned. Whether on Earth in his previous life or in various worlds, scenes like this were quite common. Whenever a controversial post was made online, it would attract all sorts of comments, much like the murmuring true gods around him.

"Today, let’s just watch the show," Qi Yuan said. "We can be the questioning or shocked spectators."

After all, he didn’t know this so-called Qionghua Grand Venerable, so he naturally couldn’t visualize a god related to her to awaken the flowers.

At that moment, Ye Liuyun suddenly opened his eyes.

"Visualization complete!" he declared.

All eyes were on him.

"Will it work?"

"If Ningxiang Jade blooms, the rewards will be enviable."

Ye Liuyun reached out and touched the petals of the Ningxiang Jade flower. Immediately, a phantom appeared from the visualization method.

"Who is this?"

"I’ve never seen this true god before."

The phantom was that of a middle-aged man, looking quite ordinary.

"This true god is called Venerable Hengyuan. Before the Battle of Hongtang, he took pleasure in flowers. The Ningxiang Jade was actually something he found in the Sky Sea and presented to Qionghua Grand Venerable," Ye Liuyun explained, a hint of melancholy in his eyes. "Unfortunately, Venerable Hengyuan’s affection for her was unrequited."

In simpler terms, Qi Yuan interpreted this as a somewhat clichéd love story.

The others, upon hearing this, were moved. "I didn’t expect such a story."

"It’s normal for someone as stunning as Qionghua Grand Venerable to have suitors."

The crowd murmured, reflecting on the past. Without Ye Liuyun’s visualization of Venerable Hengyuan, this story might have been lost to history.

The phantom of Venerable Hengyuan extended his hand, touching the Ningxiang Jade. The flower, previously just a bud, blossomed with seven green petals, releasing a rich fragrance that filled the air.

Two beams of white light flashed, landing in Ye Liuyun’s hands.

The other true gods looked at the beams of light with envy or jealousy.

Qi Yuan also looked envious. "Now I know how those side characters in TV shows feel when they watch the main character showing off—two treasures! I’m so jealous!"

Two treasures that could create two true gods—how could Qi Yuan not be envious? This was exactly what he needed the most right now. His imagined army of ten thousand heavenly soldiers and generals was still starving for resources.

Ye Liuyun’s success spurred the other true gods into action. They eagerly began to visualize, trying to see if their visualized gods could awaken the flowers, whether or not they had any connection to Qionghua Grand Venerable.

Unfortunately, the results were poor. After half an hour, only three or four flowers had bloomed, and they were all ordinary, with mediocre rewards.

In the depths of the Hundred Flowers Palace, a beautiful woman in luxurious attire watched with disappointment. "The Hundred Flowers Festival gets worse every year."

This woman, the organizer of the festival and the owner of the North Sea Divine Eye, was the Qionghua Palace Lord. Qionghua Grand Venerable was her master. Over the years, she had tirelessly hosted the Hundred Flowers Festival, inviting guests from far and wide, all with the goal of awakening her master. Sadly, the results were diminishing.

"Liyao, when will that person you invited, the one with some connection to the Phoenix Clan, start visualizing? If I remember correctly, the Third Miss of the Phoenix Clan had some connection with my master. Maybe she can make a flower bloom."

In the past, the Qionghua Palace Lord wouldn’t have concerned herself with such minor details. But now, with the festival's declining results, she was grasping at every possible hope.

Liyao lowered her head apologetically. "Palace Lord, she is not the ancient god. The ancient god is the man beside her."

"Oh, I see," the Qionghua Palace Lord glanced at Qi Yuan, understanding that Liyao was using this as an opportunity to repay the Phoenix Clan. She didn’t dwell on it but felt even more drained of hope.

The festival continued, with more and more ancient gods attempting to awaken the flowers. A few more treasures appeared, much to the envy of the participants. However, to the Qionghua Palace Lord, these were merely drops in the ocean.

Suddenly, Liyao hurried over. "Palace Lord, bad news! The Dragon Clan is causing trouble again!"

The Qionghua Palace Lord’s face darkened. "Those foolish jiaos are truly detestable."

The North Sea Dragon Clan and the Water Tribe of Qionghua Palace coexisted under the North Sea Divine Eye, often clashing. Unlike the Water Tribe, who chose to remain hidden and avoid worldly affairs, the North Sea Dragon Clan frequently ventured out to stir up trouble, earning a bad reputation.

"Block them! Don’t let them disrupt the festival!" the Qionghua Palace Lord ordered urgently.

But just then, a loud, arrogant voice rang out.

"We of the Dragon Clan have come with good intentions, to awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable. If they can attend the festival, why can’t we?"

A man in gold clothing appeared, radiating the aura of a true god. He was accompanied by six other dragons, all true gods at the peak of the first step, with eleven god apertures each.

Among the true gods attending the festival, only a few top-tier ones could rival these six dragons, not to mention the gold-clad man who was a Second Step true god. The arrival of these seven dragons drew everyone’s attention.

The Qionghua Palace Lord quickly stepped forward, her face stern. "You are trespassing in my Qionghua Palace. This is too much."

The gold-clad man leered at the Qionghua Palace Lord’s voluptuous figure, his gaze heated. "Compared to awakening Qionghua Grand Venerable, this is nothing."

The Qionghua Palace Lord frowned. "Jin Jiao, why have you come to the Hundred Flowers Festival?"

"Naturally, to awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable," Jin Jiao replied casually. In truth, they were here more for entertainment than anything else.

"These are all guests of the festival, Jin Jiao. Behave yourself," the Qionghua Palace Lord warned, her voice icy.

Qionghua Palace was stronger than the North Sea Dragon Clan, thanks to Qionghua Grand Venerable. However, with Qionghua Grand Venerable still in slumber, the Dragon Clan had gained the upper hand. The Qionghua Palace Lord had no choice but to try to contain the situation.

"Don’t worry, I’m here for the treasures. I wouldn’t dream of causing trouble," Jin Jiao said as he casually walked into the festival.

He eyed the various buds with amusement. "If all these flowers bloomed, that would be quite a sight."

The six dragons with him added, "Unfortunately, there are so many unbloomed flowers. This festival probably won’t see them all bloom."

"The Hundred Flowers Festival is declining. At this rate, it’ll take ten more festivals for all the flowers to bloom."

The dragons were blunt in their criticism. The Qionghua Palace Lord was displeased but had to admit there was truth to their words. The chances of Qionghua Grand Venerable awakening were slim to none. Even so, the Qionghua Palace Lord continued to allocate the treasures from the North Sea Divine Eye to the festival in hopes of awakening her master.

At that moment, Jin Jiao turned to the Qionghua Palace Lord. "Palace Lord, if you can’t awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable, why not consider our North Sea Dragon Clan’s proposal? Marry me, and we can use our Dragon Clan’s God Summoning Seal. It might just awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable!"

"This matter is not up for discussion!" The Qionghua Palace Lord’s expression turned even grimmer. She knew exactly what the Dragon Clan wanted. While the God Summoning Seal could indeed awaken Qionghua Grand Venerable, it would awaken the spirit of a dragon, not her master. The Dragon Clan’s Grand Venerable had been slain by the Third Miss of the Phoenix Clan long ago. Without a Grand Venerable of their own, the Dragon Clan sought to use Qionghua Grand Venerable’s body as a vessel for their own.

Jin Jiao remained unperturbed. "The North is far from peaceful. Without a Grand Venerable to guard the North Sea Divine Eye, three allied Grand Venerable-level evil gods could break the Divine Eye’s defenses. The Water Tribe under the North Sea Divine Eye needs a Grand Venerable."

The Qionghua Palace Lord did not respond, though she knew he was right. Jin Jiao’s words were true, but she could never allow her master’s body to be taken over by an old dragon.

Their confrontation ended there, but Jin Jiao seemed to sense something and turned his gaze to Qi Qi, then to Qi Yuan.

The other six dragons also eyed Qi Qi with hostility.

Ye Liuyun noticed this and became concerned, sending a message to Qi Yuan. "Brother Qi, let’s not get involved with them. If something happens, we should leave immediately."

Ye Liuyun was also of the dragon race but belonged to a branch at odds with the North Sea Dragon Clan, now forced to live in a secluded ancient well.

Jin Jiao’s gaze lingered on Qi Yuan, and he, along with his six true gods, approached. "You look like a person of great stature, a true phoenix among men."

Qi Yuan seemed to ignore Jin Jiao, instead turning to Zhao Zun. "What’s wrong with you?"

Zhao Zun, staring at the seven dragons, felt an overwhelming surge of battle intent. Previously, he had felt something similar with Ye Liuyun, but this time, it was far stronger, his eyes nearly glowing red.

"Master, I’m... just a bit hungry," Zhao Zun muttered, swallowing.

Jin Jiao’s expression darkened, displeased by the response. But seeing the six true gods guarding Qi Yuan, even if they were weaker, Jin Jiao decided against picking a fight just yet.

He spoke in a measured tone, "Your maidservant carries the bloodline of the Phoenix Clan. My North Sea Dragon Clan has long been at odds with the Phoenix Clan. Could you do me, Jin Jiao, a favor and hand her over? Of course, I’m not one to take advantage—I’ll let you choose three of my new concubines in return."

Jin Jiao’s offer was generous. Among the sons of deities, it was not uncommon to exchange servants and concubines, a practice that was never considered a big deal. Seeing Qi Yuan’s apparent arrogance, Jin Jiao assumed he was another spoiled second-generation god like himself.

Qi Yuan raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think you deserve any favor from me?"

Jin Jiao was momentarily stunned.

The other gods were equally shocked. Jin Jiao had already lowered himself considerably, yet Qi Yuan refused to give him any face. Could Qi Yuan really be the son of a Grand Venerable?

Jin Jiao’s expression turned cold, though he remained wary. "You refuse to give me face, but must you insult my North Sea Dragon Clan as well?"

"You’ve already offended me by suggesting a trade for my goddaughter. Why should I give you any face?" Qi Yuan retorted. "You’re not even as good as a lowly ghost flame boy, truly pathetic."

"You..." Jin Jiao seethed, not fully understanding the reference but knowing he was being insulted. He wasn’t the type to act rashly, however, so he decided to withdraw for now and investigate Qi Yuan’s identity further.

"I’ll remember this insult, Qi Yuan!" Jin Jiao spat, turning to leave.

The other gods watched with interest, some thinking Qi Yuan had overplayed his hand. After all, this was the North Sea Divine Eye, the Dragon Clan’s territory. If they decided to retaliate, even a Grand Venerable’s son might not escape unscathed.

Many thought Qi Yuan was being reckless, putting his life in the hands of the enemy's patience.

But Qi Yuan suddenly called out to Jin Jiao. "You think you can just leave after offending me? You’re treating me like a joke, aren’t you?"

In reality, Qi Yuan didn’t care for caution in such situations. In a game, he would simply clear the board. Why should he hold back now?

"You seven little minnows can go, but leave your divine energy behind," Qi Yuan demanded, his tone full of menace.

The crowd was stunned. How could Qi Yuan dare to provoke Jin Jiao further? This was madness!

The strength of Jin Jiao’s group far exceeded that of Qi Yuan’s six true gods. Qi Yuan’s protectors were strong but clearly all early-stage true gods, without many god apertures opened.

"How dare you!" Jin Jiao roared, fury blazing in his eyes.

"Because I’m perfectly equipped to deal with you," Qi Yuan replied, a grin spreading across his face.