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

Liu Xi looked at Stone Pan in surprise, then recalled, “Before entering the Wind Cave, I caught sight of a fellow Daoist in black robes and advised him to enter.”

Liu Xi added, “But before I entered, he hadn’t moved. Perhaps… he went to another cave?”

Stone Pan’s face paled instantly. “There’s only one Wind Cave nearby… all others are far away.”

Realization dawned on him, followed by deep regret. He should have reminded that elder before leaving for the Wind Cave!

In the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land, many new cultivators, confident in their abilities, disregarded the Spectral Souls entirely or even found them interesting, choosing to stay outside on Spectral Soul nights. Now, that elder didn’t make it into this Wind Cave.

As the nearby cultivator had said, he had yet to act when Liu Xi entered. Reaching another Wind Cave in time would have been impossible.

Outside, the occasional, sinister howls of the Spectral Soul army echoed, casting a shiver through Stone Pan as he began to grasp what might happen.

Liu Xi’s tone was calm. “Seems this friend is new here… it’s unfortunate.”

He had witnessed countless similar cases.

Once, a mighty figure, the son of a Yang God, ventured into the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land in search of treasure, relying on a Yang God artifact left by his mother. He’d dismissed the Spectral Souls, certain of his strength.

And he ended up… dead.

It was a common occurrence for Liu Xi, who had grown indifferent over time.

“Dawn is still hours away. Worrying won’t help you,” Liu Xi, ever the kind-hearted, consoled Stone Pan. “When daylight comes, you can retrieve his body. If his bones are sturdy, there might even be a few remains left.”

Stone Pan: “…”

From inside the Wind Cave, the howls of the Spectral Souls sounded continuously.

Stone Pan, anxious and on edge, kept craning his neck toward the mouth of the cave, too afraid to step outside but worrying deeply about Qi Yuan.

Liu Xi, however, was unfazed. He found a spot, settled in, and closed his eyes to rest.

...

Meanwhile, outside in the forest, darkness clung to the mountains, shadowed and restless. Glimpses of eerie green eyes could be seen glimmering through the blackness like the flickering gaze of a thousand specters.

An army of thousands of Spectral Souls stood in lines, heads bowed, seemingly attending a declaration ceremony.

Hovering above them, Qi Yuan was surrounded by these Spectral Souls, using the Great Forgetfulness Sutra to lecture and indoctrinate them.

The previous night had been no ordinary night.

With the Spectral Soul army leading, Qi Yuan had traversed countless miles, wiping out all Spectral Soul controllers in the surrounding area.

Seizing the opportunity, he consolidated the Spectral Soul army under his command, with their numbers now reaching astounding proportions.

Hovering above them, Qi Yuan addressed his new army, their faces fervent with excitement and zeal, their cheers crashing like tidal waves, more intense than any concert on Blue Star. РἈΝóʙÊＳ

“To protect my land, we must forge a strong army, a disciplined and honorable force.”

He paused. “What does it mean to have honor? Well… it’s the middle of the night, so let’s keep the noise down and avoid disturbing others.”

Honor and discipline? Qi Yuan himself wasn’t known for having impeccable decorum and was no stranger to reacting to Bull Horn Sister’s provocations.

As for what constituted a disciplined army, he wasn’t entirely sure.

But… not disturbing others seemed a fair starting point.

Maybe... a sense of unity?

Sure enough, at his command, the entire army fell into silence, as if marked by an invisible stamp of control, with not one sound slipping from them.

“Discipline aside, we need strength. Now, let’s start with the Thirty-Sixth Calisthenics Regiment for physical training.”

Qi Yuan was feeling quite clever.

In the past, he’d watched martial heroes on television conquer different realms with just one set of moves.

This calisthenics regimen? Not one bit inferior.

After imparting the regimen to the Spectral Soul army, he continued calmly, “Next, physical training, building a barracks, and setting up a Weapons Treasury.”

Qi Yuan directed, watching the Spectral Souls, some still bound by remnants of the Holy Light Clan’s constraints.

He could see these Spectral Souls weren’t naturally inclined to kill, nor would they need to patrol and slaughter.

But the Holy Light Clan had polluted them with strange creations, apparently to fulfill an unspeakable purpose.

Passing along the Thirty-Sixth Regiment moves, Qi Yuan began grinding down the curse mark on the control bell, lifting the seal that bound the Spectral Souls.

“Very good! Once these Spectral Souls return to normal, they can work day shifts in the Netherworld and join my Human Sovereign Banner for battle when the time comes.”

Qi Yuan was a compassionate man who couldn’t stand to see so many souls homeless and jobless like vagrants.

So, he gave them a fresh start by offering them a fair job, all in the name of reducing unemployment.

On Blue Star, such work would earn him a well-deserved “living Bodhisattva” title.

Guided by Qi Yuan, the Spectral Souls quickly dispersed, efficiently taking up their assignments. Some started practicing calisthenics, some chopped wood, while others constructed the barracks and treasury hall.

Yet, they kept it quiet, remaining orderly and disciplined.

Slowly, dawn began to break.

Inside the Wind Cave, Stone Pan sat with dark circles under his eyes, having stayed up all night. His mind was weary.

Outside, the howling of the Spectral Soul army had died down long ago, replaced by an eerie silence punctuated by the occasional strange sound.

Desperate to see what had happened outside, he longed to check on the elder who had kept them safe through the night.

“Daylight’s here, the Spectral Souls are gone, thank goodness.” Liu Xi said, stretching as he rose and headed for the cave’s exit.

Stone Pan and the other refugees followed suit, stepping out behind him.

Stone Pan, especially, was overcome with worry. Standing near the cave entrance, he finally rushed out, heading toward where Qi Yuan was last seen.

“Aahh!”

About ten breaths later, Stone Pan suddenly let out a terrified scream.

His legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground, overwhelmed with fear.

“What’s wrong?” His mother called anxiously from the Wind Cave, rushing out to his side.

“There… there are Spectral Souls… so many of them!” Stone Pan stammered, visibly shaken.

Ahead of him, the mountains stretched out, filled with terrifying figures.

These souls appeared translucent, eyes glowing an unnatural green, like wisps of smoke.

The terrifying figures moved about with purpose: some were chopping trees, some carrying logs, while others seemed to be doing a strange, almost comical dance in unison.

Stone Pan had never seen Spectral Souls before, but his instinct immediately identified these creatures as such.

“Child, it’s broad daylight! How could there be Spectral Souls out now? You’ve frightened yourself,” Liu Xi chuckled as he adjusted his robes, slowly exiting the cave.

Clearly, he thought Stone Pan had let his imagination run wild.

However, when he stepped out and caught sight of the scene, his expression froze in shock.

The other refugees inside the cave saw Liu Xi go ghostly pale as he hastily retreated back into the cave.

“Spectral Souls… in broad daylight?” Liu Xi’s voice trembled with bewilderment.

He’d been in the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land for a hundred years, yet had never encountered such a phenomenon.

Not only was it daytime, but a mere glance showed that there were thousands of them.

It was terrifying.

“Damn, that kid Stone Pan is still out there…” Liu Xi’s heart skipped a beat.

After talking at length with Stone Pan last night, he’d developed a liking for the boy.

But now, with the Spectral Souls right outside, Stone Pan was as good as dead.

Oddly, though… he wasn’t.

The others in the cave were similarly stunned, their expressions a mix of shock and horror.

“How are there Spectral Souls in broad daylight?”

“I’m done for. The Spectral Souls have seen me. I’m going to meet my ancestors!”

Fear struck them to the core, as the foreboding specters surrounded them like a dark cloud.

Liu Xi took another cautious look outside and noted, “Why is Stone Pan still alive? The Spectral Souls are powerful enough to sense us, yet they haven’t attacked… What… are they doing?”

He watched the Spectral Souls, his expression one of deep suspicion.

Something unusual was definitely going on.

Just then, a thunderous voice roared from the heavens.

“Who dares steal my Spectral Souls?”

A purple-robed cultivator shouted, his voice shaking the earth.

Last night, while leading the Spectral Soul army, he had wandered into a deserted ravine and impulsively decided to have a “friendly duel” with his concubine in an abandoned Wind Cave.

But after his rendezvous, he’d discovered that his Spectral Soul squad had vanished.

It was a serious matter.

Following the mark on his bell, he hurried toward the missing Spectral Souls.

But as soon as he reached the valley, he froze, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of countless Spectral Souls filling the mountainside.

“Uh… I was just passing by, passing by. My mistake!” He quickly amended.

Had it only been his own Spectral Souls, he might have dared to rely on his Holy Light Clan backing.

But here, there were… so many, far too many to count.

Instantly, he took off in the opposite direction.

Then, a lazy voice drifted out, cutting through the silence.

“Waking people up this early, how inconsiderate.”

At that, the Spectral Souls—some doing calisthenics, others working on construction—halted and shouted in unison at the retreating Spectral Soul controller.

“Show some… manners!”

From afar, Liu Xi was left dazed by the spectacle, questioning his grip on reality.

Had he overslept? Or had the entire cultivation world gone mad?

As the army of Spectral Souls shouted, the Spectral Soul controller’s body disintegrated, dissolving into a mist of blood.

A calm voice remarked, “That’s what you get for lacking courtesy.”

The tone was nonchalant, laced with a touch of indifference.

Hearing this, Stone Pan’s face lit up with joy. “That’s… the elder’s voice!”

“What? The black-robed cultivator from last night?” Liu Xi was visibly shaken.

This Spectral Soul army alone was enough to easily crush a Yang god.

And there were tens of thousands of them here!

For that Daoist to control so many Spectral Souls, he had to be… a Supreme truth!

A Yang God was trivial in comparison!

The realization filled Liu Xi with excitement.

After a moment’s hesitation, he turned to Stone Pan and asked, “Stone Pan, could you take me to meet this revered elder?”

Stone Pan looked both stunned and delighted. Finally, he nodded. “Alright.”

After about a hundred breaths, with great caution, Liu Xi followed Stone Pan through the ranks of the Spectral Soul army until they reached the black-robed cultivator.

Immediately, Liu Xi bowed deeply. “Liu Xi, a mere wandering cultivator, greets the Honorable Sage!”

Stone Pan, eyes alight, exclaimed, “Elder, how did you subdue all these Spectral Souls?”

Liu Xi, too, was deeply curious.

Spectral Souls were known to be enigmatic entities that even Yang Gods found daunting to confront.

He’d once heard of Supreme Truth cultivator who became intrigued with the Spectral Souls here. Too fearful to enter himself, he paid a fortune for a single Spectral Soul to take back and study, only to conclude that Spectral Souls harbored a deep, mysterious danger.

Qi Yuan replied, “I’m soft-hearted; I can’t bear to see them wandering around aimlessly at night like homeless ghosts. So I took them in.”

Sure enough, there were still kind people in the world.

Some wealthy lords might drive away vagrants, while others rename and resettle them. Qi Yuan had gone so far as to provide them work.

This favor would be impossible to repay.

Liu Xi barely resisted the urge to scoff.

Calling these wandering souls mere “vagrants” was absurd. And giving them “work”… what did that even mean?

He couldn’t begin to understand Qi Yuan’s reasoning.

“These Spectral Souls were originally benevolent, but… evildoers polluted them and used this bell to control them, forcing them to patrol the heavens and slaughter the living,” Qi Yuan said, holding up a bell.

Stone Pan’s eyes lit up. “Grandfather Niu was right! The Spectral Souls used to protect us. But then evildoers arrived and took control of them.”

Qi Yuan gazed at Stone Pan thoughtfully, lost in his own musings.

In life, these Spectral Souls had defended the borders.

But they were defeated; their world shattered, and their people nearly annihilated, with only a few managing to escape to the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land.

Even as Spectral Souls, they had continued to protect their people, clearing obstacles for their descendants.

Then the Holy Light Clan came and took control of them.

Now narrowing his eyes, Liu Xi leaned in and whispered, “Anyone who can control the Spectral Soul army here is definitely from the Holy Light Clan. Elder, you may have antagonized the Holy Light Clan, so please proceed with caution.”

Liu Xi had heard rumors about the Spectral Souls.

Behind the Holy Light Clan stood a formidable Holy Light lineage.

They were a force to be reckoned with.

“It’s fine. I’m quite familiar with the Holy Light lineage,” Qi Yuan replied with a smile.

After all, he’d hunted down an Eastern Lord before.

Liu Xi felt a surge of awe, finding this elder increasingly mysterious.

At that moment, Qi Yuan seemed to think of something. “Daoist, would you mind helping me with a task?”

Liu Xi felt both honored and flattered.

This sage was referring to him as a “Daoist” companion, which surprised him greatly.

“I’m looking to gather some rare treasures—not necessarily high quality, just ample quantity.”

“I thought about having these Spectral Souls gather them for me, but… unfortunately, people always misunderstand. It’s not their fault. I worry others might be frightened if they saw Spectral Souls collecting things.”

He paused. “You, however, are just one person. Could you lead a few of the Spectral Souls to collect treasures for me?”

“Spiritual jade, treasure—anything you need, I’ll provide.”

As he spoke, Qi Yuan tossed a storage pouch to Liu Xi.

Money wasn’t an issue for him.

He’d already killed enough Yang Gods to make the wealth of the Molo Clan his own.

Liu Xi hesitated, his expression uneasy.

Serving a sage was beneficial, but it came with risks.

After all, this sage had directly challenged the Holy Light Clan.

He feared the consequences.

After a brief struggle, Liu Xi declined, saying, “I apologize, Senior. I’m somewhat of a loner and rarely interact with others. I fear I might make a mess of things.”

Liu Xi gritted his teeth, opting to decline.

Given the choice between opportunity and safety, his life mattered more.

Stone Pan, however, couldn’t help but pipe up, “Elder, do you think I could manage it?”

He was nervous.

For one, he was young.

For another, he lacked cultivation.

Hearing Stone Pan’s audacious suggestion, Liu Xi stifled a laugh.

The boy was courageous, if a little reckless.

But Qi Yuan looked thoughtful. “Of course… you can.”

Even the small county of Peixian, where Liu Bang came from, had produced great people.

In Qi Yuan’s view, this world held no shortage of “capable individuals” besides those with top-tier talents.

For any person, the scarcest thing was opportunity.

If the individual wasn’t too unconventional, it was worth trying. Experience could refine them.

Besides, ability was never his main focus.

If it had been, why would he have allowed Bull Horn Sister onto his team?

Stone Pan’s face lit up with delight. “Thank you, Elder!”

“This talisman will protect you,” Qi Yuan said, casually tossing him a talisman. “I’ll assign a squad of Spectral Souls to accompany you. Handle all transactions, and do not disturb me unless necessary.”

Qi Yuan had no intention of micromanaging.

His primary goal was the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner.

Everything else was secondary.

“Yes, sir!” Stone Pan accepted the storage bag and talisman with joy.

“If you can’t open the storage pouch, have one of the Spectral Souls open it for you,” Qi Yuan added, tossing him a jade slip. “Practice with this as you please.”

The technique inside was something he had obtained from the Molo Clan.

To Qi Yuan, it was barely more than a trinket.

To other cultivators, however, the technique could provoke infighting among the lesser souls.

Liu Xi eyed Stone Pan enviously before ultimately shaking his head.

No reward was worth dying over.

...

At the Holy Light Clan.

Heaven Remnant Sage squinted his eyes, his stooped figure resembling a decrepit servant.

Before him, a mythic cultivator stood, sweating with anxiety.

The previous night, the Spectral Soul patrol had suffered an astonishing failure, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of souls.

It was no small matter.

The Heaven Remnant Sage’s eyes were cloudy as he spoke. “Someone who can command such a large force of Spectral Souls is beyond our control.”

This news had caught him off guard.

Years ago, in pursuit of his son, he had ventured into the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land and fallen into the thrall of the Holy Light lineage, forced into servitude.

Most Yang Gods in the Sixfold Heavens knew the Heavenly Earth Mystical Land was under the Holy Light lineage’s rule.

No one would dare venture there lightly.

If they did, they would surely avoid the Holy Light lineage.

But this person seemed to have no such concerns, going so far as to capture and command Spectral Souls.

Was this Yang God courting death?

“Senior, what should we do now?” The mythic cultivator asked with trepidation.

The Heaven Remnant Sage narrowed his gaze. “For now, avoid him on the next Spectral Soul patrol. We’ll wait until the master comes out of seclusion.”

Hearing this, the mythic cultivator finally exhaled in relief.

But unease still clouded his face.

If the master blamed him upon return, he would be doomed.

Spring turned to autumn.

Time passed.

Six years drifted by like sand through an hourglass.

Inside the barracks, Qi Yuan lay in an ungraceful sprawl.

“Sigh… these Spectral Soul controllers have grown clever. They’re patrolling underground now!”

Indeed, over the years, Qi Yuan had not only been observing the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner but also continued gathering Spectral Souls.

Providing decent work for these wandering souls.

The Holy Light Clan hadn’t shown the domineering presence he’d expected. Their patrols actively avoided him.

Initially, it had been enough to simply stay distant.

Qi Yuan had expended considerable effort rounding up these wayward Spectral Souls, only for the Holy Light Clan to patrol further and further, hiding their routes to avoid him.

Now they weren’t even patrolling the skies but had taken to patrolling underground!

Fortunately, Qi Yuan’s keen hearing had caught wind of them, allowing him to rescue his Spectral Soul companions from the depths of the earth.

“Elder, Stone Pan requests an audience!”

A voice echoed from afar, and soon a tall, spirited young man strode forward.

It was Stone Pan.

Matured from the boy he had been six years ago, he now stood tall, having become a cultivator.

“Come in,” Qi Yuan replied lazily.

It seemed he’d made some gains.

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