Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?

The young girl, just in her early youth, felt a sudden pang in her heart. Looking at the handsome man, a sense of fear arose within her.

Among the diners, some scholars who initially wanted to speak out in righteousness now swallowed their prepared words back down.

If the man were a legendary hero, they might dare to reason with him, hoping to subdue him with logic.

But since the man seemed to enjoy killing, they thought better of it and decided to just placate him.

"Waiter, bring me a chicken," Qi Yuan said after killing someone. Feeling a bit hungry, he ordered some chicken.

The waiter, who was initially stunned, quickly snapped out of it and said, "Just a moment, sir! It’ll be ready right away!"

Qi Yuan casually found an empty seat and sat down with Huo Mushi.

"This spot is right under the wind, a great location. If anyone speaks ill of me, the wind will carry their words straight to my ears," Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

The diners present forced awkward smiles.

The wealthy merchant had just died, and his blood was still warm. Who would dare speak ill of Qi Yuan now? Yet, because of the murderous aura Qi Yuan had just displayed, none of the diners dared to approach him or interact with the legendary “Demon Butcher of the Red Staff,” at least for the time being. They seemed to be waiting for someone bold enough to take the initiative.

At this moment, hurried footsteps could be heard, and a young girl in a green palace dress, looking quite lovely and charming, descended the stairs.

"I am Lu Zhu, Princess of the County, here to meet the great Demon Butcher of the Red Staff!"

The girl walked gracefully to Qi Yuan's seat and bowed.

The diners stirred.

She was actually a princess! Lu Zhu, the Princess of the County, was the daughter of the Little Empress of the Zhou Dynasty, the most beautiful woman in the entire Fengyuan Kingdom.

The diners who had previously gossiped about the Little Empress and the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff began to tremble with fear.

Qi Yuan glanced at the girl indifferently and asked, "Why are you looking for me?"

"Your lordship fought across three thousand miles in the North, exterminated eleven demon lairs, and saved countless lives from suffering. On behalf of the common people, I, Lu Zhu, thank you for your great deeds!" The young girl bowed with a somewhat mature demeanor.

"Oh, is there anything else?" Qi Yuan asked casually, picking up a peanut with his chopsticks and putting it in his mouth.

Princess Lu Zhu looked at Qi Yuan, her beautiful eyes flashing with determination: "I am willing to offer ten thousand taels of gold as a tribute to become your disciple!"

"Can ten thousand taels of gold buy the world?" Qi Yuan asked nonchalantly.

He was short of money and eager to buy Gongxing.

As soon as he said this, everyone present felt a subtle shift in their expressions.

The implication of his words…

Could it be that this Demon Butcher of the Red Staff was planning to overthrow the current regime? "Of course not!" Princess Lu Zhu seemed to catch the "hidden meaning" in Qi Yuan's words and bit her lip before answering.

She had come to meet the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff with a mission from the royal family.

Her father didn’t dare to meet him directly, so he sent her instead.

"If that's the case, I don’t need the gold," Qi Yuan declined.

Ten thousand taels of gold was quite a lot, but it would take up space in his "Blood Martial Space."

His Blood Martial Space was small, and it couldn't hold that much gold.

As for silver and gold notes, would they still be useful once he left this world? Apparently not.

Upon hearing Qi Yuan's refusal, Princess Lu Zhu's face turned pale, but she lowered her head and continued, "I am willing to be your servant, to serve by your side, as long as you accept me as your disciple, teach me martial arts, and help protect Fengyuan!"

She was prepared to sacrifice herself.

Among the royal princesses, she was the most beautiful and of the highest status.

"Your words sound familiar, just like my little junior sister said," Qi Yuan recalled how Jiang Lingsu spoke when she first joined, "However, after she joined, she became a wealthy woman instead. Although she helped me a lot, she never really became a servant."

Princess Lu Zhu’s mind raced with thoughts.

Then she heard Qi Yuan say:

"In half a day, I will leave this place. Naturally, I won't take any disciples.

However, I am about to go and destroy the demons of Ejiang.

Watch carefully, and whatever you learn will be your own gain."

The mention of his junior sister Jiang Lingsu made Qi Yuan a bit more generous.

Princess Lu Zhu was both surprised and delighted by this news.

Surprised because the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff was planning to leave, but where to? Delighted because this meant he was accepting her in some way?

At this moment, a loud and continuous sound of music could be heard, and a heavenly voice came from outside.

"The Fish Woman of Ejiang, along with twenty thousand aquatic beings, invites His Majesty, the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff, to the Water Palace of Ejiang!

The soldiers of Ejiang are all loyal to His Majesty.

If His Majesty wishes to conquer the world, the soldiers of Ejiang are ready to march to the South!"

At this voice, all the diners present had their expressions change slightly.

Princess Lu Zhu's heart skipped a beat.

"It's the Fish Woman of Ejiang!"

"The ruler of Ejiang!"

"The most powerful demon clan in the world, and she’s willing to bow to the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff!"

"If the demon soldiers are all at the disposal of the Demon Butcher, wouldn’t conquering Fengyuan be a piece of cake for him!"

The diners were shocked, filled with both worry and indignation.

If they were in the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff's position, they were sure they wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation of the ruler of Ejiang.

Princess Lu Zhu also looked worried, but strangely, she remained silent.

At this moment, Qi Yuan's eyes showed a smile: "This is the first time I've met such an eager 'white moonlight.'"

In the past, whenever he met a supposed “white moonlight,” they would curse him out without exception.

Even Princess Jasmine only tried to use her beauty to seduce him with ill intentions.

But the Fish Woman of Ejiang seemed genuine when she spoke, as his nose did not twitch at the scent of deceit.

"If His Majesty agrees, I could be a general during the day, riding to battle; at night, I could be a concubine, at His Majesty's pleasure."

The Fish Woman of Ejiang's voice was like a heavenly melody, filled with a bewitching allure.

The inn's door opened, and a woman in a wedding dress appeared outside.

Snowflakes drifted down, mixing red and white.

Looking up from below, the first thing that caught the eye was a pair of small, white, bare feet.

Unshod, she wore azure and crystal-clear anklets, standing in the snowy field.

Further up were her long jade-like legs, hidden beneath the slit of her red bridal dress, shapely and fair.

Higher still was her slender waist, accentuating her curvy hips and ample bosom.

Even just her figure was incredibly enticing.

Above that was a red veil covering her head.

But then, a gust of wind blew, lifting the veil of the Fish Woman of Ejiang, revealing…a fish head to everyone’s astonished eyes.

Yes, that’s right, not a face—a fish head.

Two bulging fish eyes and seemingly tough gills that suggested she was the type that loved being caught.

Seeing this face, many thoughts flashed through Qi Yuan's mind, prompting him to ask, "Can you have a human face on top and a fish body below?"

A classic dilemma came to Qi Yuan's mind.

Stranded on a deserted island, accompanied only by a mermaid, would you prefer her to have a beautiful human face but a fishtail from the waist down (note: no sharp teeth in her mouth), or a fabulous body with a fish head?

Qi Yuan had never faced this choice before.

Now, seeing the Fish Woman of Ejiang, he couldn’t help but think about it.

"If His Majesty prefers it, why not?" The Fish Woman of Ejiang's fish eyes seemed to glimmer with a smile.

Her form began to change at that moment.

Her lower body turned into a fish tail, while her fish head transformed into a beautiful woman’s face, no less attractive than Princess Lu Zhu.

The previously terrified diners now showed expressions of both greed and infatuation.

They seemed to find even this fish quite charming.

Qi Yuan glanced at her and said, "Have you ever heard…"

"Is His Majesty about to say that humans and demons are incompatible, or that those not of our race must have different hearts?" The Fish Woman of Ejiang interrupted Qi Yuan, continuing, "In this world, the right to speak has always been in the hands of the strong!

Rules and authority belong only to those like His Majesty!

If His Majesty is strong, we will be his most loyal and sharpest sword!"

"You are wrong," Qi Yuan said after she finished speaking, finally getting a chance to speak.

"My lady's thoughts might be extreme, but…"

"Let me finish speaking. Interrupting you feels odd," Qi Yuan interrupted her again, pulling the conversation back on track, "What I wanted to say is, the power of 'white moonlight' lies in her living in one’s memory. Even if she herself were to appear, she couldn’t surpass her own memory.

And once 'white moonlight' becomes proactive, starts simping…well, that's where it all falls apart."

“……???” Princess Lu Zhu looked utterly confused.

The diners present were equally baffled.

Why did every word the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff say make sense individually, but together, they couldn’t understand what he was trying to express?

The Fish Woman of Ejiang was also stunned.

Then they heard Qi Yuan continue: "Once the 'white moonlight' takes the initiative, you’ve lost.

So… you’d better just die and become a part of me!"

As Qi Yuan spoke, a deadly aura filled the air.

Seeing this, Huo Mushi deftly took out a suona horn and began to play it, fully immersed in his performance for Qi Yuan.

At that moment, Qi Yuan glanced at Princess Lu Zhu and said, "From now on, how much you learn will depend entirely on your comprehension."

Without further ado, Qi Yuan struck.

This sudden action left everyone present bewildered.

Princess Lu Zhu hadn’t expected things to develop this way.

Clearly, the Fish Woman of Ejiang was trying to seduce the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff. Then the Demon Butcher said some inexplicable things, and without any negotiation, a fight broke out.

By this time, the bewilderment in the Fish Woman of Ejiang's eyes had vanished, replaced by a cold expression: "It seems His Majesty does not wish to be our lord but instead wants to rebel!"

Since he was an enemy, the Fish Woman of Ejiang showed no courtesy.

The aquatic beings of Ejiang were the most powerful demon force on this land.

In fact, even the combined forces of the other eleven demon factions could not match them.

"It would have been better if you stayed as my ‘white moonlight.’ But now you want to be my bride and ruin your image as my ‘white moonlight’ in my heart?"

Qi Yuan sneered.

A powerful aura filled the air, and the blood-red staff in his hand grew larger, resembling a colossal sea-calming divine rod.

The entire land seemed to tremble under the terrifying aura emanating from him.

The Fish Woman of Ejiang's expression changed slightly: "So, you have indeed entered the Martial Spirit Realm!"

The diners were shocked at her words.

"The Demon Butcher of the Red Staff has reached the legendary Martial Spirit Realm!"

"A Martial Spirit, who can command the clouds and turn the rains with a flip of the hand!"

The Martial Spirit Realm was a realm of legend.

A single person could rival an entire nation! Mountains and rivers, in the hands of a Martial Spirit, were nothing more than toys.

"However, even if you are a Martial Spirit, so what?" The Fish Woman of Ejiang shouted, "Twenty thousand aquatic beings, march with me and slay this fiend!"

With her shout, the formerly calm river surface began to crack with snapping sounds.

Countless thick sheets of ice shattered, and roars and shouts of soldiers came from the river.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Those who offend us shall be slain!"

An army of twenty thousand, clad in armor and wielding long spears and halberds, appeared. The entire river, several miles wide, was filled with the shadows of demons.

The Fish Woman of Ejiang, now standing on the river's surface, had a cold smile on her face.

An overwhelming power beyond a demon spirit emanated from her.

She was a demon spirit herself! Comparable to a divine infant in celestial terms, an absolute mighty demon! In any world, she would not be considered weak! "If His Majesty repents now, there might still be a way out!" The Fish Woman of Ejiang’s voice was cold.

With twenty thousand demon soldiers standing behind her, a dark and formidable presence, she was more confident than ever.

Qi Yuan’s gaze remained calm: "Princess Lu Zhu, watch carefully. This next strike of mine… is going to be brutal."

A domineering force.

Heaven-Cutting Sword Technique.

Death's Radiance.

Together as One!

At that moment, the world seemed to darken.

Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky.

It wasn’t that the sky had darkened but because the body of the Demon Butcher of the Red Staff had blocked out the light of the heavens.

A terrifying blood-red figure, of unknown height and size.

The fearsome and menacing reaper from hell, holding a towering wooden staff, leaped high into the air.

Cutting the heavens, drawing the sword! Kill!

One strike.

No, one staff strike.

One moment, the world was a frozen expanse of ice and snow.

The next moment, all the snowflakes and ice blocks in the world lifted from the ground, suspended in the air.

When the terrifying staff fell into the midst of the twenty thousand demon soldiers.

Only then did all the snowflakes and ice blocks return to their original places.

The world remained the same world.

Yet… it had changed entirely! In that instant, twenty thousand demon soldiers scattered.

The Ejiang River was cut off.

The river water evaporated.

The earth shook.

The power of one staff strike was terrifying beyond measure! "Ugh!" The Fish Woman of Ejiang spat out a mouthful of blood, a look of disbelief in her eyes.

This strike not only wiped out a third of the twenty thousand demon soldiers directly.

But she, too, bore the brunt and was severely injured.

"Impossible! I am a demon spirit… A Martial Spirit can't be this powerful!" The Fish Woman of Ejiang's face was pale, her screams filled with fear.

At this moment, she was already terrified out of her wits.

"You can’t even withstand one of my strikes, and you still think of marrying me? Fishhead girl, you’re overthinking it. You’re more suited for some shrimp-headed man!"

"Take another strike!"

In the sky, that terrifying and majestic figure swung the staff down again.

Boom!

Of the original Ejiang, another seven thousand demon soldiers perished.

The Fish Woman of Ejiang, with the strength of a demon spirit, was shattered; even the gills of her fish head were beaten out.

Her face was filled with disbelief, all her pride vanished.

"The last strike, this should end it!"

Heaven-Cutting Sword Technique! Qi Yuan leaped again, the powerful staff striking the river.

The scattered demon soldiers were already trembling with fear, fleeing in all directions.

But from the moment Qi Yuan appeared in this world, their fate was already sealed.

In an instant, all twenty thousand demon soldiers were dead, turned into a bloody pulp.

From appearance to destruction, it had only been a matter of seconds, and the twenty thousand demon soldiers were gone.

Who wouldn't be moved by this? Who wouldn't be shocked by this? Princess Lu Zhu trembled, looking at the mighty figure. For some reason, all the dread she previously felt had completely disappeared, replaced by a faint sense of loss.

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