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

Chapter 388: Do I… Look Like a Supreme Treasure?

"Wine Immortal was certain the Blood-Robed Sword God wouldn’t kill him, nor could he, because he believed that to meet the Jade Maiden, one would need his introduction," the Painter said, painting a look of helplessness on her face.

Qi Yuan looked at the Painter with curiosity. If Xiao Jia had this skill, it would be amazing. Then he could know more about her emotions.

"The Great Calamity is unstoppable," the Painter continued, now drawing an expression of despair. "The Jade Maiden once said that there are three thousand worlds like Canglan Realm. Some of these worlds are ten, even a hundred times more powerful and expansive than Canglan Realm. Yet, in all these years, not a single world has successfully resisted the Great Calamity.

"In Canglan Realm, our greatest hope was a single Yang God. In another world, three Yang Gods gathered, but they, too, failed to defeat the Great Calamity."

The Painter painted despair on her face once more. "That’s why, whenever I hear someone wants to challenge the Great Calamity, I can’t help but feel sorrow. Your fate won’t be any better than that of the Yang Gods."

"You’re just a painter; what do you know about the Great Calamity?" Qi Yuan couldn’t help but say. "No one knows more about the Great Calamity than I do! I’ve already crafted a detailed and foolproof plan, ‘Qi Yuan Defeats the Calamity.’ Within half a year, the Calamity will be gone!"

Back when he was at the Nascent Soul stage, he might not have been completely confident in facing the Great Calamity.

But now, having reached the Purple Mansion stage, he was certain of success—well, almost certain.

His only concern was the mark of the Calamity.

If he destroyed the Calamity, the one in Taihuang Palace could, with just a thought, wipe out all the cultivators in Canglan Realm. That would include his junior sister, Jiang Lingsu.

Not even he would be able to protect them.

The Painter didn’t draw anything this time. "Perhaps you don’t know this, but every cultivator in Canglan Realm has been branded with a mark. If the one behind the Great Calamity wills it, all living beings will die in an instant. That includes your junior sister, your family, and your friends."

Her tone was filled with despair.

"Sometimes, living in ignorant bliss, without thinking about what looms above, is a blessing."

"You know about the mark?" Qi Yuan asked, looking at the Painter. "Did the Jade Maiden tell you about it?"

This mark couldn’t be detected unless one had reached the Yang God stage. There was no way the Painter could have discovered it on her own.

So it had to be the Jade Maiden who told her.

"The Jade Maiden is mysterious; she’s suspected to be from a higher realm," the Painter explained.

"Oh? Does she know more about this mark?" Qi Yuan was quite interested in this. He examined the marks on all the cultivators every day, hoping to find a way to break them.

So far, he hadn’t found a legitimate solution, though he had come across some rather... unorthodox ideas.

The Painter’s body trembled slightly. "It’s related to a supreme treasure. The Jade Maiden once said that even Yang God powerhouses in the upper realms crave such treasures. In fact, if a Yang God from the lower three heavens were to obtain a supreme treasure, they could elevate their entire sect to the middle three heavens.

"If Canglan Realm had such a treasure, perhaps we could truly break free from the Great Calamity!"

The Painter’s voice was filled with suppressed excitement, but the fervor and hope in her tone were evident.

This was the only solution she had found in all her years of "giving up," the only hope for escaping the Calamity.

Qi Yuan frowned in thought and then looked at the Painter seriously. "Do I... look like a supreme treasure?"

The Painter was speechless.

"Your expression is making it hard for me to keep a straight face. Are you going to paint yourself a watermelon head next and make a video saying, ‘Fellow cultivators, today I encountered something completely absurd...’?"

Qi Yuan speculated maliciously.

This Painter might have no face, but her expressions were all too clear.

"I don’t really understand what you mean, but strong cultivators often have quirks," the Painter replied.

"Speaking of the mark and the supreme treasure, does that mean... if I had another supreme treasure, I could solve the issue of the mark?" Qi Yuan pondered.

The Painter shook her head. "I don’t know. Even a supreme treasure can bring death to a Yang God. How could someone like me, just a small fish, know such things? But supreme treasures possess unfathomable abilities. Perhaps they could really neutralize the mark.

"However, the true power of a supreme treasure goes far beyond merely neutralizing a mark..."

The Painter didn’t know much about supreme treasures, not even their exact names, but the Jade Maiden had mentioned that Canglan Realm and the other three thousand realms faced their current predicament because of a supreme treasure.

"Alright, we’ve got the game lore; now let’s get on with the quest." Qi Yuan said, then added, "Sorry, played too many games; it’s stuck in my head. This isn’t a game, and what you said isn’t game lore.

"I came to you for help. I need you to paint something for me."

The Painter glanced at Qi Yuan. "I rarely paint for others, and even when I do, I have certain standards. I won’t paint something unless it’s truly challenging."

"Perfect! What I want is quite difficult to paint," Qi Yuan said cheerfully. "Don’t worry, I won’t let you go unrewarded. If you paint it well... hmm, I’ll give you a whole... one square meter of land in the painting!"

Qi Yuan declared generously, offering a full square meter of land.

"Oh? What is it that you want me to paint?" The Painter completely ignored the second half of his statement.

"I want you to paint... the Underworld," Qi Yuan said seriously.

The Painter’s face showed surprise. "The Underworld? But that’s just a myth. There’s nothing particularly worth painting about it."

In Canglan Realm, there were also legends of the Underworld, even tales of reincarnation.

But most cultivators didn’t take them seriously.

After all, when cultivators killed, they annihilated the soul as well. Where would an Underworld be? How could there be reincarnation?

"The Underworld I want you to paint is different from what you’re imagining. And I’ll even provide you with a special brush to use," Qi Yuan said calmly.

"I usually prefer to use my own brush for painting. Any brush you provide, no matter how special, is still too ordinary..."

However, before she could finish her sentence, her body froze.

Her eyes flashed with what seemed like lasers, burning holes in the paper covering her face.

She stared blankly at the brush in Qi Yuan’s hand, her breathing becoming rapid.

"This brush... this brush... How could such a brush exist in the world? What kind of brush is this? Is it a magic weapon? No, it’s a treasure! No... that’s not right either!"

The moment the Mountain and River State Brush appeared, her entire attention was drawn to it. Her eyes were filled with nothing but that brush.

She couldn’t comprehend how such a brush could exist in the world.

Qi Yuan held the brush and asked, "What was that about my brush being too ordinary?"

The Painter paused, her face flushing slightly as she awkwardly tried to retract her words. "Too ordinary... plain?"

She struggled for a while before finally settling on a word that vaguely related to "ordinary" but could still pass as a compliment.

"Plain?"

"You know, complimenting a brush like that is a bit disrespectful," Qi Yuan chuckled, not taking it to heart.

The Painter couldn’t take her eyes off the brush, her expression constantly shifting. "What is this? Could it be... a supreme treasure? No, that’s impossible. Supreme treasures are only myths, and even Yang Gods rarely obtain them. How could such a thing appear here?"

The Painter’s thoughts were in turmoil.

Compared to the Mountain and River State Brush, the brush she usually used was utterly pathetic.

"A supreme treasure?" Qi Yuan paused. "I don’t know about that, but it’s quite powerful."

The Eastern Lord had once used this very brush to turn illusions into reality, creating entire landscapes and seas from drawings.

According to its description, it could indeed be called a supreme treasure.

But Qi Yuan still didn’t fully understand the true level of the supreme treasures held by the Taihuang Palace or those behind the mark.

"The brush is ready. Now, you can explain the Underworld to me," Qi Yuan said, waving his hand. Seven presentations appeared in front of him.

Suddenly remembering something, his expression became solemn.

"Heavenly Emperor and Earth Mother, Ksitigarbha King, Ten Yama Kings, Five Ghost Emperors, manifest yourselves immediately!" Qi Yuan’s voice rang out like the decree of an emperor.

After all, how could he explain the structure of the Underworld without some expert guides?

Qi Yuan had long planned out the design of the Underworld, having consulted with many deities holding roles within the Underworld and formulating a detailed plan.

As Qi Yuan’s voice echoed, a chilling wind seemed to sweep through the entire painting studio.

Suddenly, a group of mysterious, imposing men and women appeared.

Each of them carried an aura of vastness and unfathomable mystery, exuding a presence that was both divine and fearsome.

The Painter’s expression changed.

The strongest person she had ever met was the Jade Maiden.

And the Jade Maiden was a mythical powerhouse who reflected upon the heavens.

Yet every single one of these mysterious individuals before her possessed an aura even more profound and inscrutable than the Jade Maiden’s.

If someone told her they were Yang Gods, she would have believed it.

What shocked her even more was what happened next.

These formidable figures all bowed their heads in deference to the Blood-Robed Sword God.

"Greetings, my lord!"

The Painter’s heart trembled. These people were addressing the Blood-Robed Sword God as their lord.

Could it be… Could it be that the Blood-Robed Sword God really was… a supreme treasure?

At that moment, Qi Qi’s gaze fell on Jiang Lingsu, and she smiled happily. "Daddy, is this Mommy? She’s so beautiful and a perfect match for you!"

Qi Qi had conjured the image of Houtu, one of the Six Royals, and she was the chief architect for the creation of the Underworld.

Jiang Lingsu’s face flushed red, and she stared at Qi Qi, feeling overwhelmed.

"Ahem… Don’t say such things randomly. She’s my junior sister," Qi Yuan cleared his throat.

Qi Qi smiled mischievously. "Such a beautiful junior sister. It would be such a waste if she married someone else."

"Hey, Qi Qi, don’t go making assumptions about women. Why does a girl have to get married?" Qi Yuan said. "Anyway, I have a task for you. Explain the Underworld to her, and when I find the right land, you’ll help her paint it for me!"

"Don’t worry, Daddy! I’ll take care of everything!" Qi Qi replied enthusiastically.

Qi Yuan then turned his attention to the Painter. "Help me paint the Underworld, and I’ll give you one square meter of land.

"Oh, and while you’re at it, if it’s not too much trouble, could you also compile all the information about the Jade Maiden, the Great Calamity, supreme treasures, and Taihuang Palace for me?

"The grand plan for Qi Yuan Defeats the Calamity needs to be perfect and flawless.

"Sigh, this will be the greatest plan in the history of Canglan Realm, one that will go down in the annals of history and even inspire future film adaptations!

"I just hope whoever plays me will be handsome enough to capture my essence."

The Painter was a bit bewildered.

She understood the first part of what Qi Yuan was saying.

But the rest of it… seemed completely nonsensical.

Still, she nodded seriously. "Very well, I will compile it all for you."

She had even started addressing him with honorifics.

Initially, when the Blood-Robed Sword God claimed he would destroy the Great Calamity, she had seen him as a courageous fool, knowing it was impossible but still choosing to fight.

But now, after seeing the Mountain and River State Brush and the mysterious figures around Qi Yuan...

For some reason, a flicker of hope had ignited in her long-dead heart.

Could he really succeed?

Her heart trembled at the thought, but she quickly pushed it aside.

She had already decided to write to the Wine Immortal’s hidden organization, urging them not to seek trouble with the Blood-Robed Sword God.

Otherwise… it would be suicide!

...

Raindrops pattered lightly as Qi Yuan sat in a pavilion, his expression calm.

Each day, he observed the cultivators of the world, not just those in Helan Continent.

But unfortunately, his findings had been minimal.

The Painter’s information on the mark had also been limited.

Just then, footsteps approached.

"Fellow Daoist Qi, long time no see! I heard you’ve broken through to the Purple Mansion. Congratulations!"

Qi Yuan looked up and saw an expression of delight cross his face.

"Wise True Lord, my good friend! You’ve finally arrived!"

Seeing the Wise True Lord brought Qi Yuan a sense of calm.

Every time he encountered a difficult problem, the Wise True Lord’s sharp mind always provided valuable insights.

"I came as soon as I received your message," the Wise True Lord said, "I’m exhausted and starving, though. Let me eat something first."

As he spoke, he pulled the bone hanging from his neck and began chewing on it, even licking it a few times.

Qi Yuan was stunned. "What kind of treasure is that?"

The Wise True Lord looked flustered and quickly pulled the bone back. "Ahem, do you remember last time, when someone tried to curse you with a sick bird, hoping to make you sick?

"The bird got overcooked, so I didn’t eat it because I have standards.

"You ate the bird meat, but you were going to give me the bones…"

"I remember. I threw the bones away because the bird was sick," Qi Yuan said, recalling the event clearly.

Back then, a destiny-crafting cultivator had tried to curse him with a sick bird. Later, Qi Yuan killed the person and obliterated Destiny Mountain with a curse.

"Ahem, but I noticed you didn’t seem to get sick, which means the bird wasn’t poisoned, right?

"I saw the bones weren’t burnt, so I picked them up to try a bite.

"It’s just... the bones are really tough, impossible to chew through," the Wise True Lord explained.

"I see," Qi Yuan nodded.

At that moment, the Wise True Lord spoke again. "I’ve been thinking about the mark you mentioned. I’ve come up with some ideas."

"Oh?" Qi Yuan’s eyes lit up.

As expected of the Wise True Lord, arriving with results right off the bat.

"Do you remember the book I once saw in a dream?" the Wise True Lord asked.

"Could it be you’ve found a way to break the mark in that book?" Qi Yuan’s eyes gleamed.

Much of his understanding of the Yang God realm had come from the book the Wise True Lord had seen in his dream.

The Wise True Lord replied, "Yes... and no."

"Wise True Lord, stop being cryptic. I know your tricks," Qi Yuan teased.

"Do you remember where that sick bird came from?" the Wise True Lord asked.

"This door!" Qi Yuan waved his hand, and a small wooden door appeared.

This door came from the destiny-crafting cultivator who had tried to curse him.

It resembled the Gate of All Principles that Qi Yuan had encountered in the Flowing Wind Realm.

"Exactly. This door resembles the legendary Gate of Principles!

"The Gate of Principles is said to be the supreme treasure, the greatest of all unique treasures!

"It’s said that every cultivator who breaks through to the Principle realm leaves a mark of their understanding on the Gate of Principles.

"This gate, protected by the laws of the Principles, can block all marks and causal ties!"

Qi Yuan paused.

He remembered that during his time in the Flowing Wind Realm, when he comprehended the original divine ability, the Great Forgetting Mind Scripture, he had left a mark on the Gate of Myriad Forms.

Am I a Principle?

How could I not know?

Looking at the Wise True Lord, Qi Yuan’s face was full of suspicion. "You know a lot. If this world were a game, you’d definitely be best friends with the developers."

Qi Yuan felt more and more that the Wise True Lord was shrouded in mystery, as if surrounded by a mist.

Perhaps this mist had a name: the Halo of Wisdom.