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

Ice Moon gave Qi Yuan a strange look.

“Can an offensive Supreme Treasure even get insulted like that?”

Qi Yuan paused for a moment, realizing the flaw in his logic. He quickly added, “Second rule—no other beings are allowed to insult each other either!”

Amusement flickered in Ice Moon’s frosty gaze. She shifted her focus from Qi Yuan to the vast sky, her smile fading.

“You’ve overturned Taihuang Palace and disrupted the Lynia Transformation plan. However, the Lynia Transformation will continue regardless. You must be cautious of the Sole Hall. If the situation becomes untenable, you can retreat into the Gate of Myriad Principles, where you may find a slim chance of survival.”

“Don’t worry. I haven’t broken any laws, so I’m not afraid of the Sole Hall!” Qi Yuan declared confidently.

The Lynia Transformation and the Sole Hall were indeed pressing issues.

The will of the immortal Dao, driven by the Sole Hall, would ignite endless slaughter across the immortal realm.

Sometimes, stopping wasn’t an option—even if you wanted to.

When the murderous aura descended upon cultivators, there was no freedom, no escape from its grip. Even Yang God Sovereigns, who pursued boundless freedom, were shackled and compelled to kill.

“You may not fear them, but what about the people around you? Your family? Your fellow disciples?” Ice Moon’s frosty tone carried an edge of helplessness and melancholy.

Qi Yuan’s gaze became clear and resolute.

“Then I’ll become a god,” he said simply.

<hr>

A three-story villa stood gleaming in the sunlight, its exterior tiled with white porcelain and its roof adorned with jade-like glazed tiles that shimmered brightly.

The courtyard boasted clear spiritual waters and mist that clung to exotic flowers and plants, enhancing their vibrant hues.

Still, the scenery paled in comparison to the woman in a crimson dress standing amidst it all—Jin Li.

“This is my place on the Seven-Colored Peak. What do you think? Not bad, right?”

“It’s 220 square meters officially, but over 700 in actual area. There’s a basement, a 50-square-meter balcony, and a 130-square-meter garden.

“It’s right next to the Shenguang Sect and just a few tens of thousands of miles from the Great Shang Kingdom. You could nap and still get there in no time.

“Top-tier location, top-tier transportation, and top-tier décor!”

After dealing with the Sixth Heaven’s matters, Qi Yuan had brought Jin Li to his villa at the Shenguang Sect.

The house had been built long ago.

It was a cozy three-story villa, and Qi Yuan was very pleased with it.

Now, with Jin Li in his arms and his house before him, he felt like a winner in life.

The only regret? It wasn’t in a school district.

“It’s quite elegant,” Jin Li said, stepping inside the villa with a curious expression.

Although she had seen many magnificent and luxurious buildings before, she approached Qi Yuan’s home with genuine interest and patience.

She touched the walls, the railings, and the bed, as if wanting to leave her own mark on this space.

“Senior Brother, you’re back!”

A lively voice rang out from outside.

Jiang Lingsu, clad in a yellow dress with a golden sash around her waist, stood cheerfully below the villa.

The outfit accentuated her ample figure, her curves particularly striking as her dress clung to her.

Perhaps because she had just woken up or spent time alone in the mountains, she had dressed casually. The deep cleavage visible beneath her collarbone and the smooth, snowy expanse of her skin were particularly eye-catching. ɽаＮòＢĘs̈

“Yes, I’m back,” Qi Yuan said, opening the window to look down at Jiang Lingsu.

From his elevated view, he could see… everything.

His heart stirred with a mix of emotions.

Indeed, trust still existed among people on the Seven-Colored Peak.

His junior sister hadn’t taped…

But as a gentleman, Qi Yuan quickly averted his gaze. If his junior sister trusted him, he would naturally trust her in return.

“This is Jin Li, a Maiden of the Moon God Palace, and the in-game partner I mentioned before,” Qi Yuan introduced Jin Li.

Jiang Lingsu’s gaze shifted to Jin Li, and her eyes flashed with amazement, followed by a brief moment of surprise.

For some reason, she felt a strange, inexplicable bitterness in her heart, like the feeling of someone snatching away her childhood toy.

She quickly suppressed the feeling and smiled brightly.

“Jiang Lingsu greets Sister Jin Li. You’re truly a beauty that could topple nations.”

Although Jiang Lingsu was very confident in her own appearance, seeing Jin Li still made her feel a bit inadequate.

“Sister, you too have a beauty that can ruin cities,” Jin Li responded, observing Jiang Lingsu with a smile.

“Not as much as you. To have captivated my senior brother to such a degree, your charms are truly unmatched,” Jiang Lingsu said reflexively.

After saying it, she regretted it—it sounded like she was being passive-aggressive.

But upon reflection, she didn’t mind. If it was passive-aggressive, so be it. She could live with that.

Jin Li’s gaze lingered on Jiang Lingsu, her smile alluring. She and Jiang Lingsu exchanged polite words, but her hand rested lightly on Qi Yuan’s arm, her fingers tracing it as if silently conveying her emotions.

“If you wanted to, I’m sure you’d do even better than me,” Jin Li replied.

At this moment, there was none of the Moon God Maiden’s usual aloofness. Instead, she exuded a worldly charm.

“Hey, why does it feel like there’s so much tension between the two of you? Have you met before, or is it a case of one mountain not being able to house two tigers?” Qi Yuan asked, sensing the subtle clash in their words.

“No,” Jin Li answered calmly.

Jiang Lingsu remained silent, and the two women seemed to let the matter drop.

<hr>

“Junior Sister, join us for dinner later. I’ll take Jin Li to see the peak first,” Qi Yuan invited Jiang Lingsu.

If there was friction between the two, the best way to ease it was to spend more time together.

“Sure!” Jiang Lingsu agreed with a bright smile, though ripples of emotion stirred faintly in her heart.

Qi Yuan held Jin Li’s delicate hand as they walked to the summit of the Seven-Colored Peak.

At the top, amidst the mists, stood elegant pavilions and terraces.

Clouds swirled around the structures, creating an ethereal atmosphere, while a grand celestial palace lay hidden within the misty expanse.

“This is… an ancient Qichun tree!” Jin Li paused beneath the tree, her eyes brimming with nostalgia and longing.

Memories of the past surged through her heart like a tide.

“This was transplanted here by my master. It’s much smaller than the one on the Moonwatch Continent,” Qi Yuan said as he stood beside her, his tone steady but laced with a trace of wistfulness.

Even his thoughts turned melancholy.

Every game, he realized, was like a small life, a unique journey filled with victories and regrets.

No matter how perfectly the game was completed, there were always lingering bittersweet emotions.

Fortunately, his journey in the Moonwatch Continent had ended on a high note—he had found her, and now her hand was in his.

But what about the other games?

And what about the journey ahead?

<hr>

Jin Li turned to look at Qi Yuan. Her once-cool eyes now flickered with a flame of desire, as intense and vibrant as her red dress.

“Beloved… take me…”

It was as if the physical closeness and raw intimacy were the only way to temporarily soothe the longing that filled her heart.

Under the ancient Qichun tree, the storm of emotions calmed, and time seemed to stand still.

<hr>

Chaos in the Starry Domain: Qingshan Realm, Ninghe County

A dimly lit room flickered with the small orange flame of a candle, barely illuminating a corner of the space. Black smoke curled from the wick, staining the lamp cover with soot.

Huang Yanshou sat with furrowed brows, his gaze fixed on the short, strange-looking old man across from him.

“Are you sure there’s no problem?” Huang Yanshou asked.

The old man, five feet tall and wearing a felt hat, looked absurdly comical.

“Relax, Young Master Huang. Once someone enters my Madness Asylum, there’s no chance for that brat Qi Xiao to survive!”

This eccentric was Zhou Xiao, the director of the Madness Asylum in Ninghe County.

<hr>

Ninghe County was a small settlement under Jinan Prefecture in Jiangzhou, with a modest population of about 300,000.

The Madness Asylum, despite its name, functioned similarly to an old-fashioned mental institution on Earth.

Jiangzhou was plagued by strange and supernatural entities, and many townspeople, after encountering these eerie beings, lost their sanity, wandering madly and harming others.

The local government had established the asylum to confine such individuals and prevent them from causing harm.

However, the asylum didn’t just hold the insane—it sometimes imprisoned those who were perfectly sane.

Today, Huang Yanshou had brought someone to Zhou Xiao—a target to be locked away in the asylum.

“That Qi Xiao brat has no parents or guardians, and no one cares if he lives or dies. But… he married into the Shen family last year. What if the Shen family starts asking questions?” Huang Yanshou hesitated.

The Shen family was one of Jinan Prefecture’s most prominent aristocratic clans, and their eldest daughter was a famous beauty on the Hundred Fragrance List.

To everyone’s shock, a month ago, the Shen family’s eldest daughter had gotten married.

Her new husband? None other than a destitute nobody from Ninghe County.

He had entered the Shen family as a live-in son-in-law.

<hr>

Following orders from a certain powerful figure, Huang Yanshou had arranged for this son-in-law to meet his end while visiting his hometown.

The method was crude but effective.

First, they falsely accused the man of lusting after a widow and framed him for her death when an eerie being struck.

Though the son-in-law survived the incident, he was left in a dazed, mad state and was promptly sent to the Madness Asylum.

The son-in-law’s reputation had always been poor—he was seen as weak, incompetent, and lecherous. Even the allegations of impropriety against him were easy to believe.

<hr>

“Don’t worry. Within a month, the Madness Asylum will experience an outbreak of eerie beings. He’ll surely die. Even if the Shen family investigates, they’ll find only a corpse,” Zhou Xiao said, knocking on the table in thought.

“A month? That’s too long,” Huang Yanshou said impatiently, pulling out a silver banknote and slipping it into Zhou Xiao’s hands.

Zhou Xiao’s beady eyes lit up as he grinned greedily.

“Consider it done. Three days—he won’t survive past three days!”

Huang Yanshou finally relaxed, though a flicker of disdain for Zhou Xiao crossed his mind.

Zhou Xiao was nothing more than a corrupt old man with a penchant for greed and depravity.

Rumor had it that some of the women imprisoned in the asylum had suffered abuse at Zhou Xiao’s hands, their misfortune hidden from the world.

“By the way,” Zhou Xiao said, his tone suddenly shifting. “I seem to recall that brat’s parents were artifact craftsmen. Did his family leave behind any manuals or rare treasures?”

Greed gleamed in his eyes.

Artifact craftsmen held a prestigious status in this world.

They possessed extraordinary skills to forge powerful artifacts capable of suppressing supernatural beings.

The tools of a talented craftsman were priceless, desired by all.

The only reason Qi Xiao had managed to marry into the Shen family was because of his family’s lineage.

Without it, a man as pathetic as he wouldn’t even qualify as a son-in-law.

“His parents have long been dead. They left behind nothing of value,” Huang Yanshou replied quickly, though the truth was that any relics had already been handed over to a certain noble.

That noble had reasons of their own for wanting the son-in-law eliminated—perhaps it was out of envy for his marriage or because of past grudges between their families.

<hr>

“Just a useless pauper, then,” Zhou Xiao muttered under his breath before his lips curled into a sleazy smile.

“Speaking of, we recently admitted a woman in her thirties. She’s still nursing a child—plump and quite charming. Young Master Huang, are you interested? There’s a certain allure in…”

Huang Yanshou shuddered.

Though he enjoyed indulging in pleasures, he wasn’t nearly as depraved as Zhou Xiao, who stooped to the level of preying on those deemed insane.

“No, thank you,” Huang Yanshou replied curtly before hastily leaving.

Lake Yeshan—A Vast Expanse of Azure Waters

Lake Yeshan, the largest lake in Jiangzhou, stretched endlessly, its rippling waters shimmering under the sun.

Tens of thousands of fishing households relied on the lake for their livelihood.

However, the waters were eerily quiet, with scarcely a fishing boat in sight.

At a dock, a luxurious painted boat stood out among the humble fishing vessels. With its ornate design, it clearly belonged to a wealthy noble or official out for leisure.

A bird suddenly descended onto the painted boat before vanishing into its cabin.

Moments later, the sound of footsteps echoed inside.

A pair of long, shapely legs stepped into view, tightly clad and exuding strength.

The woman they belonged to carried an aura as cold as ice. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide with fury as she stormed forward.

“Miss, your husband… he’s been accused of defiling a widow, encountered an eerie being, and has now been sent to the Madness Asylum!”

The woman standing at the cabin’s center paused slightly. Her brows furrowed as she digested the words.

“Is his character truly this deplorable?” she asked.

Though she had married this man, they had never met—not even on their wedding day.

All she knew of him were the rumors: a man of poor character, weak and useless.

But now, to hear he had the audacity to commit such a crime?

Disappointment flickered across her face.

“Miss, he’s nothing but a hypocrite! Apart from a pleasing appearance, he has no redeeming qualities!” the long-legged maid complained bitterly.

“When we were at the estate, I followed him in secret. Despite his title as the young master-in-law, he cowered at the steward’s scolding, trembling like a leaf. Outside the estate, he kicked a starving seven-year-old girl out of his way! Such a vile man, bullying the weak and fearing the strong!”

Her words came in hurried bursts, each sentence filled with indignation.

The young woman listened, her disappointment deepening.

“So this is the legacy of Master Qi—a descendant so disgraceful. If he could see this from beyond, his spirit would…”

She trailed off, shaking her head.

Master Qi had been a revered artifact craftsman, a figure of extraordinary skill and integrity.

He had vanished under mysterious circumstances, later confirmed dead—a loss that still stirred admiration in the hearts of many, including this young woman.

But to see his legacy tarnished by such an unworthy descendant...

<hr>

“Go to Ninghe County and bring him back. I want to get to the bottom of this. The widow deserves justice,” she ordered coldly, her voice carrying the chill of frost.

“Yes, Miss!” the maid replied quickly.

However, hesitation flashed across her face as she glanced out at the vast lake.

“This Lake Yeshan…”

“Do not worry,” the young woman reassured her, her tone still icy but tinged with veiled fury. “I will not act recklessly without absolute preparation.”

Her expression darkened.

“And investigate whether he was framed. If this is an attack against him due to his connection to me, then I bear responsibility.

“As for the widow’s family, ensure they are taken care of properly.”

The maid nodded. “Understood, Miss!”

<hr>

Ninghe County—Madness Asylum

The night sky was a deep black, dotted with faint and scattered stars.

In a dimly lit room, Qi Yuan opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.

The darkness pressed in around him, broken only by the flickering glow of a distant candle.

A shadowy figure moved near the candle, its faint outline eerie and unsettling.

<hr>

The game’s notification chimed in his mind.

[Main Quest: Play as the Multitude, Understand the Multitude, Create the Multitude—That Is the Path to Divinity.]

[Activating the Roleplay System.]

[Assigned Roles for This Instance:]

• Role 1: Qi Yuan, son-in-law of the Shen family
• Role 2: Shen Lin, identity unknown
• Role 3: A Cleaver
• Role 4: Locked

<hr>

A flood of information surged into Qi Yuan’s mind, and in an instant, he gained a deeper understanding of this new game and its mechanics.

“This role system… is it based on the blood I dripped into the game?” he wondered.

He suspected that the beings he was assigned to roleplay had originated from his own blood when it merged with this game world.

The game’s mission was perfectly aligned with his goal of godhood.

The path to divinity lay in creation.

But how could one create without first understanding?

This game was designed to let him step into the lives of various beings, experience their struggles, and learn their truths.

<hr>

However, the thought of roleplaying his own blood left Qi Yuan with mixed feelings.

And one question stood out.

“How could my blood produce such a useless guy like this Qi Yuan?!”

After absorbing the memories of this version of Qi Yuan, he couldn’t help but feel exasperated.

This iteration of him was a complete waste.

“Once again, it proves that everything I’ve achieved is through hard work!”

The first role he had to play was Qi Yuan, the son-in-law—a pathetic, despicable man.

“Acting as a scumbag? That’s going to be tough,” Qi Yuan muttered.

But at least he could relate somewhat to the son-in-law aspect, thanks to countless over-the-top dramas on Bluestar.

“Washing the in-laws’ feet and enduring slaps? Sure, that’s doable. But there’s no way I’m letting anyone slap me!”

<hr>

He then examined the other roles.

“Shen Lin… Who—or what—is that?”

While Qi Yuan had received clear memories of his first role, his second was a complete mystery. All he could recall were fragments: piles of corpses and endless heavenly lightning.

“Is Shen Lin a person? Or… something else?”

He couldn’t yet discern the nature of this role, but he knew the details would unlock as he progressed through the game.

<hr>

Finally, the third role left him utterly baffled.

“A cleaver?! What in the world…?”

Was he seriously supposed to roleplay as a kitchen knife?

“I already have a cleaver back at the Seven-Colored Peak to guard my home. Now I’m supposed to be one?”

<hr>

Shaking his head, Qi Yuan turned his attention to the new world he found himself in.

It wasn’t part of the Sixth Heaven.

There were no reflections of the heavens in the starry sky above, and the constellations were unlike anything he’d seen before.

“This place feels like an ancient version of Bluestar, but with supernatural elements,” he mused.

This world was plagued by sinister beings known as “Eerie Spirits,” which wreaked havoc and spread terror.

As a son-in-law, Qi Yuan had little direct experience with the extraordinary.

“This world has no spiritual energy, no cultivation,” Qi Yuan realized after attempting to channel his techniques.

“Well then… looks like I’ll have to rely on killing for experience.”

Qi Yuan quickly assessed his situation and surroundings.

Without the ability to cultivate or draw upon spiritual energy, he would need to find alternative methods to grow stronger. But this wasn’t Bluestar—this was a world where strange beings lurked, and battles for survival were fought with wit and power.

He glanced toward the flickering light in the distance, which seemed to grow closer with each moment.

The figure in the dim candlelight slowly came into focus—a short, pale-skinned old man with an unsettling grin stretched across his face.

The man’s complexion was unnaturally smooth, almost glossy, lacking the wrinkles of age. His entire appearance was ghastly, like a painted corpse brought to life.

“You’re wondering where the man in this bed went, aren’t you?” the pale-faced elder said, his voice an eerie whisper that crawled into Qi Yuan’s ears.

Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, realizing the old man was speaking of the "Qi Yuan" whose identity he had taken over.

“Where is he?” Qi Yuan asked, maintaining a calm demeanor despite the unease in the air.

The elder’s grin widened grotesquely.

“He’s gone. Completely devoured… by you,” the old man said, his tone dripping with malice.

The candlelight flickered violently, casting the old man’s shadow in strange, twisted shapes against the wall.

“I devoured him?” Qi Yuan echoed, arching a brow. He opened his mouth and tilted his head. “Hey, check my teeth. Any bits stuck in there?”

The pale elder leaned closer, seemingly serious about inspecting Qi Yuan’s mouth. His dark eyes glinted mischievously.

“No bits left. You’re a clean eater,” the elder muttered before grinning again. “But now… Grandpa’s belly is growling. Grandpa’s hungry too!”

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

What a lunatic, he thought.

The elder straightened up, his tone suddenly taking on an air of eerie solemnity.

“I know who you are,” he said, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper.

“Do you?” Qi Yuan replied, not entirely sure whether this was the ramblings of madness or something more sinister.

“You’re a god… a celestial being descended from the heavens to sprinkle blessings upon this wretched world! A benevolent deity who will deliver salvation!”

The elder’s expression contorted strangely, a mix of reverence and pain, as if something inside him was battling for control.

Qi Yuan’s sharp eyes caught black threads snaking beneath the man’s skin, coursing like veins of ink through his body.

Suddenly, the elder’s expression shifted again. He leaned in closer and whispered, “Let me follow you, oh great god! Together, we can tear down this cruel and bitter world!”

Qi Yuan blinked.

“Uh, what?”

The old man’s grin returned, manic and unsettling.

“Grandpa’s hungry. Grandpa wants to eat…”

“…White steamed buns?” Qi Yuan guessed dryly, cutting him off.

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