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

Chapter 317: Fight the Older One, Then the Even Older One

“Immortal cultivation realms.” Qi Yuan had learned about the Greater Truth Realm within the Yang God level from Great Wisdom True Monarch. He didn't hold back this knowledge.

An Qiao snorted, “Even if you’re a newbie, don’t take me for a fool just because I’m older. I know a few Regressors. In the realms of immortal cultivation, there is no Yang God level. I’ve only heard that the Purple Mansion is the pinnacle of power. Beyond the Purple Mansion are gods who have already ascended to... an unknowable realm.”

An Qiao was somewhat knowledgeable about immortal cultivators. She was also somewhat familiar with their realms, so she didn't believe Qi Yuan's words.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. “You know quite a lot. Can I ask you a question?”

Qi Yuan began his usual practice of being a freeloader, trying to get information for free.

“I know more than just this. Go ahead and ask.” An Qiao was generous and quite accommodating to newcomers.

After all, who could resist a handsome newbie? It was a delight to look at him. If she could turn him into a young male servant, it would be even more fun. Of course, An Qiao was only thinking about it.

“When immortal cultivators come here, will their realms also decrease?”

“They probably... will.” An Qiao replied uncertainly.

The man in black combat attire beside her added, “It’s not a probably; it’s definite.” He didn't elaborate on why.

“So, doesn't that mean immortal techniques are on the same level as Old Martial Arts?” Qi Yuan pondered.

According to An Qiao, the natives here all practice Old Martial Arts. They can maintain their power while fighting on their home ground, but if they go to other parallel worlds in the game, they will be downgraded by one level.

New Martial Arts don’t have this issue. In all parallel worlds within the game, one’s strength remains consistent.

Qi Yuan continued, “If one goes to other worlds, or even... other universes, can New Martial Arts still maintain their power?”

This was what Qi Yuan was most concerned about. If they could, then New Martial Arts would be terrifying.

The Greater Truth Realm of the Yang God only allowed one to retain complete power when traveling to other worlds. However, the concept of a universe was entirely different.

“Other universes...” An Qiao was stunned.

Being not particularly ancient, she had some understanding of the concept of other universes. Scientists had hypothesized the existence of other universes, but it was just a guess and hadn't been proven.

“If you can take me to another universe, I’ll prove it to you.” An Qiao replied.

Qi Yuan didn’t get the answer he wanted, but he didn’t mind. He looked at the two of them and said eagerly, “If martial techniques can’t be traded, can cultivation methods? My White Moonlight... no, substitute White Moonlight, is with the demons. I want to improve my strength to see them one last time.”

These demons could provide vital essence blood; aren’t they just like White Moonlight?

However, these demons still didn’t meet Qi Yuan’s standards for White Moonlight certification, so they were only substitutes.

“Your White Moonlight was captured by demons?” An Qiao misunderstood. Hearing Qi Yuan say his White Moonlight was with demons, she assumed she had been captured.

The man in black combat attire beside her gave Qi Yuan a playful look. “You’ve only been here for less than a day, and you already have a White Moonlight? Have you perhaps immersed yourself too deeply into this identity and become infatuated with the woman your predecessor liked? That’s not good. My suggestion is to forget about her. Treat it like watching a TV show.”

“Impossible, absolutely impossible!” Qi Yuan refused loudly, “My desire to see her is as clear as the sun and moon, as endless as the seas, as overwhelming as a bursting bladder—White Moonlight cannot be unseen!”

Qi Yuan's sincerity and earnestness moved An Qiao.

“I have a martial arts cultivation method here, though it’s somewhat incomplete. It will only sustain you to the peak of the Blood Energy Realm. Do you want it?” An Qiao finally decided to act as Qi Yuan’s benefactor.

“Yes, you’re truly a kind person. My White Moonlight Clan will surely be very grateful,” Qi Yuan said happily.

The man in black combat attire remained silent.

An Qiao pulled out a tattered sheepskin scroll from her Blood Energy Space.

The sheepskin scroll was yellowed and somewhat incomplete, indicating it was quite old.

“This cultivation method is called Heaven-shaking Art. The name sounds mighty, but it’s quite ordinary. It barely qualifies as a cultivation method. Remember to cultivate properly once you have it. Don’t rush to find your White Moonlight. This task is quite unusual; the demons involved are at least of the Blood Energy Realm. You are no match for them now. For the time being, just focus on cultivation and follow our instructions for the investigation. The task will be easily completed, and it should take no more than one or two months.”

“One or two months... that long?” Qi Yuan was surprised. “What’s the time difference between this place and the real world?”

If one second here equaled ten thousand years outside, that would be problematic. His one billion Qin Yuan, no, ten trillion—he wasn’t sure if the bank would still let him withdraw it.

An Qiao chuckled, “You’re already dead. You should have cut ties with the past. The time here is in sync with the real world, one-to-one. By the way, we’re staying at the county yamen. Do you want to stay with us?”

An Qiao extended an invitation.

“No, I’m used to being on my own. I like being... a lone wolf.” Qi Yuan paused slightly at the word “lone wolf.” He wasn’t really a lone wolf; Xiaojia had always been with him.

“If that’s the case, come to the county yamen if you need us. We need to report our findings to the captain as soon as possible.”

“Alright, goodbye, everyone.” Qi Yuan waved at them and then disappeared.

In the desolate and ruined courtyard, only An Qiao, the man in black combat attire, and a big black dog remained.

“This newbie... seems a bit unreliable, but my intuition tells me he’s quite special and has some secrets,” the man in black combat attire murmured.

An Qiao grinned mischievously, “Maybe he has encountered an immortal cultivator and mastered a spell.”

The man in black combat attire thought back to their earlier conversation and nodded in agreement.

“Unfortunately, in this place, martial arts are the king. Mastering a little bit of fairy magic is insignificant.” The man in black combat attire replied seriously.

The cultivation of immortal techniques took much longer than martial arts. Moreover, when entering the Yellow Springs Great World, one’s cultivation level would decrease by a whole level. Thus, it wasn’t worth mentioning.

“Who doesn’t have some secrets? You have yours, I have mine, and the captain has his,” An Qiao smiled, leading the big black dog. “Fat dog, let’s go.”

At this moment, the fat dog mumbled, “I actually have a secret too.”

But no one paid attention to what it said.

---

At the Inn

Qi Yuan sipped tea and examined the sheepskin scroll.

[This is a martial arts cultivation method, incomplete, with 124 flaws. It can be improved...]

Qi Yuan's eyes could see hidden information.

To him, this martial arts cultivation method had no major secrets.

“Too bad, I don’t have enough cultivation methods to complete it.”

Currently, he could only improve the method slightly but couldn’t fully develop it.

But for Qi Yuan, it was enough.

“I’m too weak right now, having just entered the Blood Energy Realm. If I were to see my White Moonlight now, I’d lack confidence. No, I must strengthen myself first.”

With this thought in mind, Qi Yuan began practicing Heaven-shaking Art.

About fifteen minutes later, Qi Yuan opened his eyes. “This is too slow. At this rate, it will take at least three months to reach the mid-Blood Energy Realm.”

To advance from the initial stage to the mid-stage in three months—if An Qiao knew this, she would likely find it astonishing and say, “This person cannot be allowed to live.”

But for Qi Yuan, this speed was still too slow.

“Seems like I need to use my deep blue points.”

Around Qi Yuan, three drops of demon blood essence floated.

He swallowed one drop, then began to run the cultivation method.

“You have swallowed a drop of demon blood essence. Your martial arts cultivation has increased by ten days. Two drops of demon blood essence remain.”

Qi Yuan didn’t use the deep blue points but instead provided his own narration.

If outsiders saw this, they might think he was crazy, but Qi Yuan enjoyed it.

“You have swallowed two more drops of demon blood essence. Your cultivation speed has increased. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration strikes, revealing that Heaven-shaking Art centers around the concept of ‘shock.’”

“Thunder is shocking, a startled horse is shocking, the awakening of insects is shocking. Your cultivation rapidly advances, equivalent to two months of diligent practice!”

After several breaths, a flash of blood passed through Qi Yuan’s eyes.

The three drops of demon blood essence significantly increased his cultivation, reducing his training time by over two months.

“I’m becoming more versatile. Back in Moonwatch Continent, I could provide voiceovers for silent monsters. Now, I can voice the system itself.”

“If I ever leave this job and have no work, I can become a system narrator.”

Qi Yuan was proud of his narration abilities, confident he’d never be unemployed.

“Sigh, I’ve worked so hard, but why hasn't Elder Huang, that substitute White Moonlight, come to find me?” Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

He had just killed Elder Huang, and by now, Elder Huang should have received the news.

If Elder Huang was a diligent person, he should already be here seeking revenge.

But Elder Huang didn’t come.

“Usually, after fighting the older ones, an even older one shows up. But since the even older one isn't coming, I’ll just fight the older one and then the even older one.”

Qi Yuan decided to take the initiative and find trouble with Elder Huang instead of waiting passively.

Qi Yuan was unaware that since the people from the Demon Subjugation Division had arrived, all the demons in the area were ordered not to roam freely.

These demons were now lying low in different locations.

Qi Yuan left the inn, his martial arts cultivation having improved significantly.

If he killed another Elder Huang and encountered another substitute White Moonlight, he would reach the mid-Blood Energy Realm.

This time, he planned to kill as many as possible.

---

As Night Fell

Qi Yuan stopped at a deserted courtyard.

Earlier today, he went to the Huang residence, but it was deserted.

Through his investigation, he discovered that all the demons in Yunyan County were now hiding in different bases, seemingly holding some Demon Promotion Conference.

Now, Qi Yuan stood in front of the courtyard, his expression relaxed. “In this base, the strongest is Elder Huang, a Blood Energy Realm demon, with about twenty others at the same level?”

Honestly, it was a tough target.

If Elder Huang could hold him back while the others attacked, he would have a hard time retreating unscathed.

“The system is useless. Why do I need demon blood essence to upgrade?”

Qi Yuan sighed, and after a moment, he realized, “Oops, sorry, I forgot. I don’t have a system.”

Qi Yuan’s current state was like someone who criticizes a girlfriend's flaws, only to realize he doesn’t even have a girlfriend.

“Hmph, you're from the yamen, what are you doing here? Don’t you know only demons are allowed into that courtyard?”

At this moment, a disdainful voice came from behind. Qi Yuan turned to see a demon with a thunderous beak and a rooster's face approaching, looking fierce and malicious.

With a grim appearance, it looked creepy and intimidating.

It stared at Qi Yuan, its eyes glinting, as if it would eat him if the opportunity arose.

“A rooster?” Qi Yuan immediately recognized it as a rooster demon.

It was his first time seeing a male rooster demon.

“I may not be a demon, but my wife is. Naturally, I have the right to enter. I’m a live-in son-in-law!” Qi Yuan said proudly, straightening his posture.

He had gone to great lengths to see his White Moonlight.

“Your wife is a demon?” The rooster demon was surprised. Then, its expression turned even more disdainful, “So, you’re a hairless pretty boy.”

As a demon, it always looked down on humans with sparse hair.

But some female demons liked them.

In the rooster demon's eyes, those female demons were an embarrassment. They plucked all their feathers clean and kept only a few demon traits. They looked hideous.

Really, little demon girls who idolized humans!

Qi Yuan grinned, “Can I go in now?”

The rooster demon gave Qi Yuan a cold glance, “You’ll have to ask the old Locust Tree Demon at the door. He’s ancient and can see through disguises.”

After speaking, the rooster demon strutted away, tail raised, toward the dilapidated courtyard.

Qi Yuan watched the rooster demon leave, a greedy glint in his eyes. “This is a rooster demon; I could use it to buy a house. If only I were a civil servant.”

Qi Yuan was thinking this when a gust of demonic wind blew ahead.

An elder resembling old, dried-up tree bark appeared.

The rooster demon, seeing the elder, became respectful, “Elder Locust.”

The dried-up elder gave the rooster demon a faint glance, “A rooster demon entering, proceed.”

The rooster demon bowed solemnly, then said, “There’s a human behind me, claiming to be some female demon’s pretty boy. I suspect he has ulterior motives, Elder Locust. You should inspect him carefully.”

The dried-up elder looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes turning deep and profound.

At this moment, Qi Yuan confidently walked forward, his smile bright as the morning dew, “Xiaojia... come out.”

As Qi Yuan spoke, space rippled, and a flash of blood-red appeared.

Next to Qi Yuan, a tall figure in a wedding dress materialized.

The blood-red wedding dress was styled in the traditional Chinese way, looking quite eerie in the dark of night.

However, the red wedding dress was clinging to Qi Yuan’s side like a little bird.

If it had a face, it would be a makeup-covered beauty with soft eyes and delicate brows.

“This is my wife, Xiaojia, whom I brought home in an eight-carriage sedan,” Qi Yuan proudly introduced, holding Xiaojia’s cold sleeve.

“This is...” The rooster demon’s eyes widened.

It had speculated about what kind of demon Qi Yuan’s wife might be, but it had never expected... this?

Was there really a demon formed from a wedding dress in this world?

That was a rare sight indeed.

Elder Locust’s calm expression shifted slightly. He looked at Xiaojia, and a demonic aura flowed out.

He seemed to be trying to determine if Xiaojia was a demon.

The rooster demon beside him was also nervous, wanting to know what was going on.

After about twelve breaths, Elder Locust finally spoke, though his voice was a bit hoarse, “Wedding dress demon, proceed.”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan was pleased.

He glanced at the rooster demon with a smug look, “I’m going in.”

The rooster demon couldn’t discern Xiaojia’s level, so it cautiously entered the courtyard as well.

Several breaths later, a melancholic voice filled the air.

“Looks like this old thing has to move again. Can’t see, can’t see, the water is too deep here.”