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

Chapter 380: The Gentle Eastern Lord and the Furious Qi Yuan

Clad in a tight-fitting black dress, her delicate and petite figure exuded cold elegance. Her shoulders were slender as if sculpted, her waist as slim as a silk ribbon, and her golden sash was intricately embroidered with complex designs.

She stood in the void, resembling a goddess who had emerged from the dark skies.

Ning Tao’s cold eyes glanced at Green Pearl. Now that she wasn’t by Qi Yuan’s side, she had reverted to the frosty and aloof demeanor typical of one of the Northern Demon Sect’s Thirteen Demons.

Cold on the outside, seductive on the inside.

“Senior, you are...” Green Pearl respectfully bowed her head, her mind filled with many thoughts.

Not only was this mysterious woman who stood before her beyond her reach, but so was the terrifying enemy they had just encountered.

“You already have a guess in your heart, don’t you?” Ning Tao spoke, her voice contrasting with her icy appearance, like a sweet whisper wrapped in coldness. “Qi Yuan... he is my husband.”

Her voice carried a hint of possessiveness.

When addressing Xiao Jia, Ning Tao was willing to call her “little sister,” and when addressing the Canary, she referred to her as “Sister Xiao Jia.” However, not everyone earned such endearments.

Of course, things would be different if her husband requested it.

“Greetings, Master’s wife!” Green Pearl quickly bowed, her heart filled with a mix of resignation and envy.

Only a goddess-like woman such as this could be worthy of her master.

Whether it was her beauty or her cultivation level, she was unquestionably one of the finest in the world.

Hearing this, Ning Tao’s gaze softened slightly toward Green Pearl. “The world is about to converge. Make sure you’re prepared and avoid causing any unnecessary bloodshed.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” Princess Green Pearl quickly replied. She then looked at Ning Tao and softly said, “Master’s wife, your beauty is unrivaled. Surely all men in the world are captivated by you. Master is truly fortunate to have married you.”

Ning Tao smiled sweetly. “My appearance frightens most people, but he... he never cared about that at all.”

In the past, as the Canary, she had ventured into the Gate of Ten Thousand Demons, cursed by the heavens, despised by humanity.

Everyone hated her, loathed her, and couldn’t bear to look at her face.

Only her husband had dared to gaze at her with clear eyes, speaking to her with warmth and sincerity.

Back then, the seed had already been planted in the heart of the girl by the lake.

“Huh?” Green Pearl was confused, her mind filled with doubt.

Recalling the past, Ning Tao smiled warmly. “There are still many pests outside that might disturb society and ruin my husband’s mood as he plays his game. I’ll go handle them.”

Her eyes flashed with killing intent.

Sometimes, she was carefree, a bit vain, following Qi Yuan like a little bird. But now, she was Ning Tao, the one who followed her husband’s lead, solving his problems—the version of herself the Canary always aspired to be.

With that, her figure vanished.

Only Green Pearl and Wang Yuanyu remained in the Mountain and Sea Scroll, their expressions complicated.

At that moment, Wang Yuanyu softly said, “The goddess just now... was she wearing stockings on her legs?”

On Ning Tao’s legs, a thin layer of stockings had been wrapped tightly around them.

Her current attire was the same as when she first met Qi Yuan.

“Most likely,” Green Pearl nodded.

“Is this what Qi Yuan wanted to give me?” Wang Yuanyu murmured, covering her mouth as she spoke, “I wonder if wearing this will scare him.”

...

At that moment, within the Black Sea, a petite girl was sweating profusely.

She was darting back and forth in the sky, constantly casting spells.

With each spell, an elderly man or woman fell from the sky.

“Witch!”

“Damn you, how dare you stop us? You are a criminal against the world!”

“She’s also in the Martial Lord realm. If we work together, we can kill her!”

Black Deer Martial Lord said in a low voice.

Nearly ten thousand Martial Lords cast a wide net, surrounding the girl.

Earlier, as they roamed the Black Sea searching for the entrance to the Mountain and Sea Scroll, this girl had appeared and relentlessly attacked them.

Her strength was incredible, even the titled Martial Lords were no match for her.

However, there were many Martial Lords.

The nearly ten thousand Martial Lords banded together, determined to kill the girl.

Facing such a vast number of Martial Lords, the girl began to panic.

“Ning Tao, get over here and save me!” the girl shouted toward the sky.

This girl was none other than the past form of Ning Tao after becoming a Yang God, also known as the Canary.

Now, she was only at the peak of the Mythical Realm in terms of strength.

Ning Tao, on the other hand, had become a Yang God.

Over the years, she had been meditating in the Black Sea, absorbing the power of time and space, and had finally reached perfection, stepping into the Yang God realm.

“No one here can save you!”

“Humph, Qi Yuan, the Heavenly Sovereign, has gone to meet the Eastern Lord. He will become our ally. He won’t care about your death.”

“Bullshit!” The Canary was furious, hands on her hips. “Ning Tao, get over here and beat him into a pulp! Tear off his mouth and bury it in a cesspool for ten thousand years!”

The Canary was truly enraged.

How dare they say that Qi Yuan didn’t care about her?

She was, after all, the number one beauty of Jiupan Mountain, as certified by Qi Yuan himself.

Without a doubt, she was the person Qi Yuan cherished the most.

Claiming that Qi Yuan didn’t care about her was the second biggest lie in the world.

“Humph, it will be you who dies,” the titled Martial Lord said, his face full of caution as he gazed at the Canary.

At that moment, a seductive voice echoed in everyone’s hearts. “While my husband deals with the big boss, I’ll handle these small fry.”

Endless killing intent surged through the Black Sea.

Ning Tao, clad in a black dress, appeared, standing in the void, her black hair cascading like a waterfall.

The Canary’s eyes lit up with joy. “You finally arrived.”

The Martial Lords, seeing Ning Tao, had their expressions change dramatically.

“Heavenly Sovereign...”

“Could it be the Heavenly Sovereign?”

They couldn’t comprehend how there could be a Heavenly Sovereign in the Black Sea.

“Heavenly Sovereign, Qi Yuan is meeting with the Eastern Lord. If there is anything urgent, could you wait until Qi Yuan emerges?” Black Deer Martial Lord said anxiously.

“Oh, why didn’t you wait until my husband came out before acting?” Ning Tao’s eyes flashed with killing intent.

Black Deer Martial Lord hurriedly said, “This concerns the life and death of the world. We had no other choice!”

The other Martial Lords also spoke with righteous fervor. “Our actions may defy the heavens, but for the survival of the world, we are willing to be the villains!”

“Yes, once Qi Yuan emerges and sees that we’ve saved the world, he will surely forgive us!”

The Martial Lords spoke passionately, their emotions high, as if they were ready to die for the world.

Ning Tao stood above the Black Sea, the waters flowing at her feet, time swirling around her. Her body seemed somewhat ethereal, as though she didn’t fully exist in the present moment.

She smiled, her expression bright.

“What does the world have to do with me? My husband is all that matters.”

As one of the Northern Demon Sect’s Thirteen Demons, she had suffered the cruel realities of human nature.

The world, to her, was no different than the pebbles and grass by the roadside.

The world had despised her, so why should she repay it with kindness?

Only her husband mattered.

She looked at the group of “righteous” Martial Lords, her expression frosty.

“I am not my husband. I am not as reasonable as he is.”

“If saving the world is so important to you, then... die for it!”

Ning Tao wasted no more words.

Or rather, she didn’t care to argue with these people.

Her husband was all that mattered to her.

Being a hopeless romantic... so what?

“Kill!”

She struck with her palm, straightforward and without any embellishment.

Though she had just entered the Yang God realm and wasn’t fully accustomed to her power, the force of her palm was something these Martial Lords could never hope to withstand.

The Black Sea overturned, and the power of time surged over them.

“No!”

“This can’t be happening!”

“The world!”

Nearly ten thousand Martial Lords screamed in agony.

As the sea splashed against their bodies, time swept over them.

Some aged and withered, while others shrank, becoming powerless.

Their voices finally fell silent.

“Weren’t you fond of hopeless romantics? I am one too!”

Without even glancing at them, Ning Tao struck out once more.

In an instant, nearly ten thousand Martial Lords were obliterated.

The difference between a Yang God and an ordinary Martial Lord was enormous.

Not to mention, Ning Tao wielded the power of time and space.

“Hehe, I never thought I could be this strong!” The Canary flew to Ning Tao’s side, looking at her beautiful face with pride. “I’m so pretty. No wonder Qi Yuan loves me so much!”

Ning Tao looked at her past self, feeling a bit helpless. “Don’t be so narcissistic. Besides... I’m not strong enough yet.”

“You’re not strong enough?”

“I still can’t keep my husband locked by my side forever.”

“...Hey, don’t be so possessive!”

“Don’t you want me to lock our husband up so the three of us can live together?” Ning Tao’s voice was sweet and seductive.

“That...” The Canary put a finger to her lips, stars twinkling in her eyes. “That sounds exciting.”

...

“The immortal wind blows through the clouds, refreshing the cave; divine light reflects off the moon, illuminating the jade tower.”

In the land of the great calamity, Qi Yuan looked at the words carved into the stone wall before him, his eyes lighting up with a smile.

“This place and I are fated!”

“Godfather, what does that have to do with you?” Qi Qi asked curiously from beside him.

Old Man Shenlei stroked his beard. “Anything he likes is fated to him. It’s that simple.”

“Hey, how can you falsely accuse me of such things? I’m not like Kong Yiji, boasting about how I can write the character ‘hui’ with three hundred and twenty-seven strokes.”

Qi Yuan grew irritated, pointing at the stone wall. “Do you see those two characters, ‘Divine Light’? I’m from Shenguang Sect, and soon, I’ll be the first Purple Mansion cultivator in its history.

Isn’t it normal that this place is fated to me?”

Old Man Shenlei was left speechless.

Qi Qi tilted her head and said, “Godfather’s reasoning makes sense.”

At that moment, a gentle, refined voice rang out.

“You... have finally come.”

The voice was like the sound of jade striking a plate, resonating in their ears like heavenly music.

Everyone immediately felt as if they were bathed in the warmth of spring, their hearts rippling.

They all looked up and saw, amidst the swirling colors ahead, a man dressed in tattered white robes walking toward them.

Though his body was covered in wounds, his eyes shone as brightly as the sun.

He looked at Qi Yuan with deep affection in his gaze. “Ah Qiao, you’ve finally come to see me. Do you remember me? I am your husband, Sheng Kongming.”

As his voice echoed, an overwhelming flood of memories poured into Qi Yuan’s mind.

The insights of the Ten Thousand Dao Martial God surged within him.

Qi Yuan seemed to see himself as the woman from the mural, walking hand in hand with Sheng Kongming beneath the starry sky.

Meanwhile, behind him, the Nascent Souls and Yang Gods were all staring at Qi Yuan with expressions of shock, as if they had uncovered some scandalous secret.

“Is our lord actually the Eastern Lord’s partner?”

“They’re... a couple?!”

“Could it be that the one Sheng Kongming has been waiting for all this time is our lord?”

“How touching!”

“To save his beloved, he ventured into a foreign realm alone, suppressing his enemies for millions of years, unwilling to leave, waiting in the mortal world for her return!”

“He watched over an entire realm. How moving.”

Qi Qi’s eyes were practically sparkling, her fists clenched, almost on the verge of tears.

Seeing this, Sheng Kongming’s expression remained calm.

The Holy Light Race was incredibly rare and rarely seen.

But for the Holy Light Race, numbers were meaningless.

Before him were thousands of Yang Gods—truthfully, even those in the Supreme Truth realm would tremble in fear at their sight.

But... he was of the Holy Light Race.

As long as they weren’t a realm higher than him, they were mere playthings in his hands.

So, even in the face of thousands of Yang Gods, he remained calm.

Most of these Yang Gods were in the Lesser Heaven stage of the Yang God realm.

Only a few were in the Greater Heaven stage.

And he... was at the Greater Heaven stage, just one step away from the realm of Supreme Truth.

Below the realm of Supreme Truth, he was invincible, toying with them at will.

Even against someone at the Supreme Truth realm, with a bit of effort and planning, he could still win.

He looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes filled with tenderness. “Even though you’ve become a man, my love for you has never waned!”

Qi Qi couldn’t help but blurt out, “See, I told you love can transcend gender!”

Jiang He from the Eastern River Sect widened his eyes. “True love!”

Zhu Zhuangshi frowned. “Hey, don’t try to steal from old Zhu...!”

Ever since Sheng Kongming appeared, the tone of the scene had shifted drastically.

Qi Yuan pressed down on his ever-growing nose, sighing in exasperation.

“Can you stop being so disgusting already?!”

This game’s design was absurd.

The Eastern Lord had started off as a mysterious, formidable final boss.

Using the Mountains and Rivers Society Brush, he painted the Mountain and Sea Scroll, rebooting the world time and again, waging a solitary battle against the Root Demon for millions of years.

So majestic and dignified.

And now, he was acting like someone from a bar.

“Stay away from me!” Qi Yuan growled.

At the same time, with a wave of his hand, he absorbed all the Nascent Souls present into his body.

He might not fall for the Eastern Lord’s tricks, but his Nascent Souls weren’t him—they could be deceived.

And right now, their gawking expressions were starting to disgust him.

Qi Yuan’s reaction didn’t surprise Sheng Kongming.

“I know you can’t accept it right now, but I’ll be by your side, waiting for you to break free from worldly prejudice.” As he spoke, Sheng Kongming extended his hand toward Qi Yuan, his gaze filled with anticipation.

It was as if he was encouraging Qi Yuan to take the step forward.

“There are a hundred steps between us. I will walk ninety-nine of them. Can you take the last step?” Sheng Kongming’s voice was gentle, like a warm breeze, like a loving partner.

Qi Yuan felt utterly exasperated. “This damn game! I want to quit!”

By now, Sheng Kongming had already walked ninety-nine steps, extending his left hand toward Qi Yuan, his eyes filled with hope.

“Ah Qiao, can you take this final step for me?”

Sheng Kongming was confident, his eyes brimming with self-assurance.

He knew the Heavenly Sovereign standing before him had not yet reached the realm of Supreme Truth.

Moreover, Qi Yuan had received the gift of the Ten Thousand Dao Martial God.

That gift had been left as a second layer of protection for his “partner.”

Whoever received the memories of the Ten Thousand Dao Martial God would become the partner he had envisioned.

Naturally, Qi Yuan was no exception.

Now, Qi Yuan’s initial disgust and refusal were merely short-term reactions.

Once Qi Yuan reached out, Sheng Kongming was certain that his warm, magnetic voice would soothe Qi Yuan and win him over.

“If you’re uncomfortable with both of us being men, I can even become a woman if that’s what you want, Ah Qiao.”

Sheng Kongming’s voice was soft and sincere.

The kind of voice that could easily sway the heroine of any television drama.

“I’ll hold your hand? Over my dead body!”

“I’ll chop off that filthy paw of yours!”

“You make me sick!”

In Sheng Kongming’s shocked gaze, a blood-red sword light flashed.

An overwhelming, boundless force surged through the air.

In an instant, Sheng Kongming’s left arm was severed.

Qi Yuan was furious. “Try being shameless again! I dare you!”

The more Qi Yuan thought about it, the more he realized that mystery was, indeed, the most alluring quality.

Seeing the Eastern Lord in person had completely ruined any charm he once had.

He was nothing more than a devious, sleazy man.

“I’m out of here!” Qi Yuan shouted in disgust.

Meanwhile, Sheng Kongming, who had taken ninety-nine steps and extended his left hand, was still looking at Qi Yuan with hopeful eyes.

“Ah Qiao, can you take this last step for me?”

But in the blink of an eye, a crimson sword light flashed, and Sheng Kongming’s extended arm was sliced clean off.

In disbelief, Sheng Kongming stared at Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan smirked, waving his sword. “Take another step, and you’ll lose more than just an arm.”

It was at that moment Sheng Kongming realized Qi Yuan wasn’t falling for his tricks.

The romantic façade had crumbled, and Qi Yuan was done playing along.

As Sheng Kongming’s severed arm hit the ground, he finally understood that winning Qi Yuan over wouldn’t be as easy as he had thought.