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

Chapter 519: The Spirit Body Gu and the Divine Artifact Embryo of the Ten Thousand Mountains

After sending off Young Master Tu and Zhan Wenyu, Qi Yuan took out the Divine Wood Token, a complex expression flickering in his eyes.

"The aftereffects of last time have finally been completely resolved. It's time to go out and stretch my legs."

He had to meet Shen Lingxuan.

The final step to completing the Son-in-Law roleplay revolved around her.

Moreover, achieving Unity with the Heavens would require encountering more high-quality "White Moonlights."

“Hey, how many Heaven-tier Weapon Masters, Divine-tier Weapon Masters, or specters does your Bloodthorn have?” Qi Yuan asked directly.

At that moment, Ji Wuyun, who was taking a bath far away, felt once again that this was going to be another tiring day.

How could these two have such casual conversations when they were supposed to be mortal enemies?

“Not many, not many,” the Bloodthorn member replied. “We only have… five Divine-tier Weapon Masters.”

As he said this, far away in Bloodthorn's headquarters, the member's face lit up with pride. Surely, this would shock the kid into silence.

"Ah, Bloodthorn isn't doing too well, huh? Only five Divine-tier Weapon Masters? You should have them reflect on their progress—after so many years, has their cultivation improved at all? Have they even been training seriously?" Qi Yuan said with complete sincerity.

“…”

The Bloodthorn member's smug smile froze.

“You can pass on a message for me. Tell them not to eat too much tonight, skip sleeping, and focus on cultivating. Work hard to improve their strength!” Qi Yuan sounded dead serious.

The Bloodthorn members weren’t working hard enough. How could they become high-quality "White Moonlights" at this rate?

Ordinary White Moonlights no longer interested Qi Yuan. Only Heaven-tier Weapon Masters who had achieved Unity with the Heavens could stir his heart these days.

And so, when Qi Yuan looked at Bloodthorn now, he couldn't help but feel like they were wasted potential.

“Do you need me to help you create a training schedule? No one in this world understands planning better than I do.

If you train according to my plan, I guarantee that within three months, you’ll have several new Divine-tier Weapon Masters!”

Qi Yuan spoke with utter sincerity.

Ji Wuyun spat out a mouthful of bathwater in shock.

The Bloodthorn member, too, felt a mix of emotions.

“Knife Brother, I’m growing increasingly eager to meet you at Shenmu Abyss. I want to see what kind of person you really are.

What virtue does the Blue Mountain Realm possess to produce someone as remarkable as you?”

“Seems like you still don’t want to work hard,” Qi Yuan sighed.

No wonder every ruler seemed to despise the term “slacking off.”

He wasn’t even a ruler, yet here he was, worrying about Bloodthorn’s lack of effort.

“Knife Brother, if trying harder won’t change the inevitable outcome, what’s the point of trying?” The Bloodthorn member’s words carried a hint of emotion.

“How could that be true? That just means you haven’t made a proper plan.

I’ve played many games over the years, and whenever I set my mind to something, I almost always succeed,” Qi Yuan replied, casually borrowing a motivational speech from a prominent figure on Blue Star.

However, as he said this, a thought crossed his mind: plagiarizing might damage his reputation. Should he… destroy Blue Star or buy it outright?

That way, he could copy whatever he wanted without guilt.

“Knife Brother, you’re overly confident. Do you think you can change the fate of the Blue Mountain Realm?”

Far away, the Bloodthorn member’s eyes gleamed with a triumphant glint. He pushed open his window, letting the fresh air flow into the room.

As he leaned against the windowsill, the lush green scenery stretched before him.

“Indeed, hidden among the wild mountains are extraordinary figures, ordinary people whose greatness goes unnoticed. If you meet them up close, you might discover their brilliance.

I’ve read through The Green Mountain Codex but never found any trace of him. He must be some nameless nobody,” he muttered to himself.

The Green Mountain Codex was something he had exchanged for at the Void Paradise.

The book came from the Radiant Society.

He had spent a great deal of merit to obtain it.

It was his trump card for completing this mission.

---

The carriage ambled leisurely down the road, occasionally passed by galloping horses.

Chen Kangbao, who was driving the carriage, looked completely relaxed.

"Young Master, we're only a hundred miles from the Heavenly Sect. We should arrive by nightfall."

After leaving the Shen family’s base, Qi Yuan had set his sights on the Heavenly Sect.

The final step of the Son-in-Law roleplay likely involved Shen Lingxuan.

This step required careful thought and planning.

Qi Yuan looked ahead, where endless mountains stretched as far as the eye could see.

The Heavenly Sect’s headquarters was nestled within this mountain range.

The range also bordered the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss and the neighboring Mo Shan Kingdom.

Back then, when Mo Shan Kingdom's army advanced with unstoppable momentum, Ning Kingdom could not resist their assault.

Ultimately, it was the current Dao Leader of the Heavenly Sect who used the Patriarch’s artifact to halt the Mo Shan army’s advance.

Afterward, the Mo Shan forces pulled back, and peace negotiations began. However, Ning Kingdom still lost several of its provinces.

The Heavenly Sect’s Dao Leader was gravely injured during the confrontation and passed away six months later.

“The mountains to the south must be the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss. What a coincidence—we just narrowly missed this side quest,” Qi Yuan remarked as he glanced at Chen Kangbao.

Chen Kangbao seemed to have some connection to the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss.

Qi Yuan had received this clue when he killed Feng Tie.

“Should we visit the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss sometime? There might be treasures waiting to be found,” Qi Yuan mused aloud.

Both Hengshan Master and Feng Tie, two peak Earth-tier Weapon Masters, had explored the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss in search of something.

“Whatever you decide, Young Master!” Chen Kangbao replied enthusiastically. But as he gazed at the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss, his stomach growled, and he quickly stuffed another bun into his mouth. Though his belly was already round, he still seemed hungry.

"Young man, if it wouldn’t trouble you, may I hitch a ride?"

A hoarse voice interrupted them. A burly old man with cropped hair and rugged clothes appeared. He exuded the air of a bandit, though his tone was surprisingly refined.

"Sure," Qi Yuan replied after glancing at him.

It was Tu Sihai, a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master.

Tu Sihai dismounted from his horse with ease, leaping into Qi Yuan’s carriage.

His horse followed the carriage obediently.

“You’re not afraid I might be a robber?” Tu Sihai asked with a hearty laugh.

“Not at all. I enjoy punishing evil and promoting good,” Qi Yuan replied, adhering to his personal code of lawful good.

He never harmed innocents. If anyone suffered, it would only be his "White Moonlights."

“What’s your purpose here? Just say it outright,” Qi Yuan asked. For a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master—one of Ning Kingdom's top thirty fighters—to seek him out, it was unlikely to be mere coincidence.

“Young man, you are blessed with great fortune, but… misfortune is upon you,” Tu Sihai said seriously.

“You’re a fortune-teller? I dabble in that too,” Qi Yuan remarked.

He had read people’s fortunes many times in the past, and his predictions were always accurate. If he said someone would meet a bloody end, they inevitably would.

Tu Sihai shook his head. “I’m not joking. Young man, take a look.”

With a flip of his hand, Tu Sihai revealed a bronze mirror.

The mirror’s surface was uneven, pockmarked with tiny dents. The handle was rusted, giving it an ancient appearance.

[Disaster-Suppressing Bronze Mirror, Heaven-tier artifact. Contains several flaws. With modifications, its power can increase by 90%.]

“Take a look.”

Tu Sihai held the Disaster-Suppressing Bronze Mirror up for Qi Yuan to see.

Tu Sihai’s face held a trace of smugness.

Surely, this would shock the young man.

But when Qi Yuan gazed into the mirror, his expression remained eerily calm.

“So, there was a specter following me all this time? And it even avoided my detection? How strange.”

His tone was steady.

He looked into the mirror and saw a colorful insect the size of a football perched on his shoulder.

Its patterned body was vibrantly sinister, exuding an unsettling aura. However, it appeared lifeless.

“This is a Spirit Body Gu—a special kind of specter.

It has no physical body. It’s a manifestation of the world’s laws.

It’s invisible to the naked eye, and only Heaven-tier Weapon Masters who’ve achieved Unity with the Heavens can detect it,” Tu Sihai explained. “Without this Disaster-Suppressing Bronze Mirror, even I wouldn’t have noticed it.”

Chen Kangbao turned to look at the Gu in the mirror, his face pale with fear. “Young Master, this thing’s been dead and still sticking around—it’s creepy!”

Chen Kangbao shuddered, clearly frightened.

Tu Sihai’s gaze grew complicated as he looked at Qi Yuan. “This Spirit Body Gu was likely placed on you by a powerful individual to protect you.

However, that person has likely passed away, and this Gu has also died for some unknown reason.

A dead Spirit Body Gu lingering around you is not a good thing.

Its body emits faint traces of misfortune and disaster. If it remains with you, you’ll inevitably die.”

Tu Sihai raised an eyebrow, his tone a bit smug. “Kid, aren’t you going to thank me? If I hadn’t pointed this out, you’d be a goner in a few years.”

“Thank you for letting me know!” Qi Yuan said earnestly.

Although the Spirit Body Gu posed no threat to him—and in time, when he achieved Unity with the Heavens, he could see it himself—he appreciated Tu Sihai bringing it to his attention.

“Old man, if you run into trouble in the future, come find Qi Yuan. I’ll guarantee your safety,” Qi Yuan said generously.

“You’re a cheeky one… no manners at all,” Tu Sihai muttered, though he didn’t seem angry. Clearly, he had a good temperament.

“I’m a peak Earth-tier Weapon Master. Do you think I need you to protect me? There aren’t many stronger than me in Ning Kingdom,” Tu Sihai said. “Now, be a good boy and ask me nicely. I’ll help you deal with this Spirit Body Gu.”

He had his own reasons for wanting the Gu’s corpse—it would be a valuable object for research.

“No need to trouble yourself. I’ll handle it myself,” Qi Yuan said casually.

“You’re just a kid! Don’t brag. This Spirit Body Gu, when alive, was on par with a Heaven-tier Weapon Master. Even I would struggle to deal with it. You couldn’t even see it before—how will you handle it?”

Tu Sihai naturally assumed Qi Yuan was bluffing.

He looked no older than twenty. No matter how talented he was, he couldn’t be more than an Earth-tier Weapon Master.

“Watch and learn,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

He turned to face the Spirit Body Gu and opened his mouth wide.

Before Tu Sihai could react, Qi Yuan snapped his mouth shut.

The football-sized Spirit Body Gu was swallowed whole, vanishing into Qi Yuan’s stomach.

Tu Sihai’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Qi Yuan like he was a monster. “Did you just… eat it?”

That was a Spirit Body Gu!

A special Heaven-tier specter!

And he just ate it?!

This went completely beyond Tu Sihai’s understanding of reality.

How could a human eat a specter?

Chen Kangbao swallowed hard. “Young Master… does it taste good? If it gets stuck between your teeth, can I try some?”

Tu Sihai felt increasingly unsettled. The more he interacted with these two, the more abnormal they seemed.

His legs trembled slightly.

“Tasty. I’d like more,” Qi Yuan said, patting his stomach.

The Spirit Body Gu felt like eating air, but it contained the essence of Unity with the Heavens.

The barrier preventing him from reaching Level 120 was Unity with the Heavens.

The Spirit Body Gu filled part of that gap. Though the amount was small and not enough for him to break through, it had significantly increased his combat strength.

“Monster,” Tu Sihai muttered, swallowing nervously. “How… how did you do that?”

“Just felt like eating it,” Qi Yuan replied lazily.

Tu Sihai took a deep breath. “What’s your name? I am Tu Sihai of Huangshan Sword Sect.”

“Qi Yuan.”

Tu Sihai committed the name to memory, searching his thoughts for any notable figures with the surname Qi but finding nothing.

“Huangshan Sect is based in Yunhai Kingdom. Why are you here?” Qi Yuan asked casually.

Though Tu Sihai had helped him, Qi Yuan still wanted to know more.

Tu Sihai hesitated for a moment, wary of Qi Yuan, but eventually said, “There’s a rumor that a treasure has appeared in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss. Many experts are heading there.”

“What treasure?” Qi Yuan asked, surprised.

The Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss again.

It seemed this side quest was destined to cross paths with him.

Tu Sihai squinted, lowering his voice. “A Divine Artifact Embryo.”

Above Heaven-tier artifacts were Divine Artifacts.

In the surrounding small nations, there were no Divine Artifacts to be found. Even Heaven-tier artifacts were rare.

A Divine Artifact Embryo, however, was a half-finished Divine Artifact.

Its value far exceeded that of even 20 peak Heaven-tier artifacts.

“That’s it?” Qi Yuan asked, unimpressed.

He himself was the pinnacle of Divine Artifacts, so this didn’t excite him.

Tu Sihai was surprised but still clasped his hands. “Brother Qi, if you’re interested, why not accompany me?”

The fact that Qi Yuan had swallowed the Spirit Body Gu placed him on equal footing in Tu Sihai’s eyes.

“No, I have to go see my wife. I’ll check out that side quest some other time.”

A Divine Artifact Embryo didn’t interest him.

You couldn’t eat a Divine Artifact Embryo, after all.

Tu Sihai had his own assumptions about Qi Yuan’s reaction. He guessed Qi Yuan’s strength was average but his methods were strange. Qi Yuan likely didn’t want to risk entering the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss.

After all, the weakest individuals heading there were peak Earth-tier Weapon Masters. There was even a chance that Heaven-tier Weapon Masters might show up.

So it made sense for someone of Qi Yuan’s presumed level to avoid the danger.

“Brother Qi, since the Spirit Body Gu has been dealt with, I won’t impose further. Farewell, and may we meet again!” Tu Sihai was straightforward, wasting no time on pleasantries.

He still found Qi Yuan and his servant far too strange and decided it was best to keep his distance.

“If you’re ever in trouble, come find me at the Heavenly Sect. I’ll protect you,” Qi Yuan said generously.

“Thank you, Brother Qi!” Tu Sihai replied seriously, taking note of the Heavenly Sect.

Though the Heavenly Sect was one of Ning Kingdom’s top two sects and had some formidable strength, Tu Sihai was only mildly cautious. After all, Huangshan Sect far surpassed the Heavenly Sect in power.

Tu Sihai leapt back onto his horse and rode off.

“Let’s go. Pick up the pace to the Heavenly Sect,” Qi Yuan said casually.

He had his own speculations about the Spirit Body Gu.

It was likely left behind by the original Qi Yuan’s father to protect him.

Even the likes of Elder Black Crow of Bloodthorn and Fang Shisan of the Radiant Society might have refrained from acting against Qi Yuan out of fear of the Spirit Body Gu.

“The Spirit Body Gu may have been protecting more than just me—it might also have been safeguarding the Divine Wood Token!” Qi Yuan mused.

“It seems the original Qi Yuan’s father wasn’t ordinary either.”

“I’ll have to factor him into the roleplay to make it more authentic.”

Lost in thought, Qi Yuan enjoyed the scenery as the carriage wound through the mountains. By sunset, they reached the Heavenly Sect.

“Shen Lingxuan’s husband, Qi Yuan, requests an audience,” he announced softly at the base of the sect’s mountain.

Without prior notice, visitors were required to declare their purpose at the lower hall.

A moment later, a pretty young woman approached. Upon seeing Qi Yuan, her eyes flashed with astonishment.

“So it’s Senior Brother Qi Yuan! I’ll inform the elders right away. Please wait here!”

Though Qi Yuan was a son-in-law, he was still Shen Lingxuan’s husband, making him someone ordinary disciples couldn’t afford to offend.

After about half an hour, Wang Qingyi appeared, dressed in her Taoist robes. Her expression was filled with surprise. “What are you doing here?”

Her hair was casually held in place with a wooden hairpin, and fatigue was evident in her eyes.

“I haven’t seen Lingxuan in a while, so I came to visit her. Is she here?” Qi Yuan asked.

Wang Qingyi frowned, her worry deepening. “Lingxuan isn’t in the sect right now.”

She glanced at Qi Yuan and Chen Kangbao. “There have been many troubles near the Heavenly Sect recently. You should return to Fengshan County immediately. I’ll let Lingxuan know you came.”

Wang Qingyi paused, then added, “It’s not safe for the two of you to travel alone. I’ll have some Heavenly Sect disciples escort you back.”

“Predecessor Wang, where did Lingxuan go?” Qi Yuan asked.

After a brief moment of thought, he addressed her as “predecessor.”

“That’s not something you need to know,” Wang Qingyi replied curtly.

To her, Shen Lingxuan’s husband was just an ordinary person.

Telling him would only make things worse.

It was better to send him back to Fengshan County immediately. Staying here would only complicate matters, especially if the Heaven-tier Weapon Master from Rosha Kingdom learned of his presence.

Recently, that Heaven-tier Weapon Master had arrived with a show of force, pressuring the sect to present Shen Lingxuan as a servant for Fifth Wei.

The Heavenly Sect naturally refused. In response, the Heaven-tier Weapon Master attacked directly.

Though the Heavenly Sect was an old and powerful institution with deep resources, their Dao Leader had to use the Patriarch’s sword to repel the invader.

The Heaven-tier Weapon Master, deterred by the Patriarch’s sword, didn’t press further but remained stationed outside the sect.

The Heavenly Sect had been in a state of panic ever since.

Given Mo Sankong’s power, he could break through their defenses if given enough time. Shen Lingxuan would remain in danger as long as she stayed.

At the same time, rumors of a disturbance in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss had drawn many Earth-tier and Heaven-tier Weapon Masters to the area, plunging it into chaos.

Seizing this opportunity, Shen Lingxuan suggested leaving the Heavenly Sect.

Staying in the sect wasn’t safe anymore. Hiding in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss seemed like a better option.

Shen Lingxuan possessed an artifact capable of altering her appearance, making it an excellent disguise.

Wang Qingyi had opposed this plan, unwilling to let her disciple take such a risk.

But in the end, the Dao Leader approved Shen Lingxuan’s suggestion, and she was secretly sent out of the sect.

Of course, Wang Qingyi wasn’t about to tell Qi Yuan any of this.

“A Heaven-tier Weapon Master named Mo Sankong?” Qi Yuan murmured to himself.

What Wang Qingyi didn’t realize was that Qi Yuan had heard her inner thoughts.

Though his ability to hear thoughts wasn’t always reliable, it had worked perfectly just now.

“Alright, Predecessor Wang, I’ll head back immediately. No need for an escort. If I can come here, I can return on my own.” For once, Qi Yuan lied.

He had no interest in dragging out a back-and-forth with Wang Qingyi or staging some kind of dramatic confrontation. He’d just pretend to leave and move on.

Wang Qingyi was momentarily stunned by his quick agreement. She hadn’t expected him to yield so easily.

Her gaze grew colder as she looked at Qi Yuan.

In her eyes, this son-in-law was just a coward running away at the first sign of danger.

Clearly, her disciple had married the wrong person.

“Fine. Off you go,” she said, her tone frosty.

Qi Yuan didn’t argue.

“Old man, drive the carriage. We’re heading back.”

“Got it!” Chen Kangbao whipped the reins, and the carriage soon disappeared from Wang Qingyi’s sight.

Wang Qingyi sighed. “The world is in chaos. First, the Water Sovereign, and now this Divine Artifact Embryo. Lingxuan… sigh…”

The Heavenly Sect was like a barrel of gunpowder ready to explode, sitting at the center of multiple disasters.

Meanwhile, the carriage sped along the road.

Qi Yuan’s eyes glinted with amusement. “Didn’t expect to hear about my wife’s location. Who knows—I might even run into some White Moonlights!”

The Divine Artifact Embryo in the Ten Thousand Mountains Abyss was sure to attract several Heaven-tier Weapon Masters.

For Qi Yuan, this was excellent news.

“If I’d known this earlier, I’d have agreed to Tu Sihai’s invitation. Now I have to travel an extra few hundred miles.”

“Old man, pick up the pace!”

“Young Master, the horse is exhausted,” Chen Kangbao replied.

The horse pulling the carriage was indeed panting heavily, clearly worn out.

“In that case, I’ll bless you, and you can pull the carriage yourself,” Qi Yuan suggested.

This time, the blessing was real, not the fake kind he’d handed out before.

“Master, this…” Chen Kangbao hesitated.

“You’ve been eating too much. If you don’t exercise more, you won’t last another three years,” Qi Yuan said matter-of-factly.

Chen Kangbao’s health was a mess. He had suffered severe injuries in the past and was lucky to be alive at all.

“Alright!” Gritting his teeth, Chen Kangbao released the horse and took its place. With Qi Yuan’s blessing, he began pulling the carriage.

“Faster, faster!” Qi Yuan urged.

“Young Master, I only have two legs. I can’t run any faster!” Chen Kangbao complained as he jogged ahead.

“Let me bless you with four more legs, so you can run faster,” Qi Yuan said, a mischievous glint in his eye.

With a flick of his hand, a drone in Qi Yuan’s possession transformed, materializing into a ferocious tiger.

The tiger roared and charged after Chen Kangbao, placing its front paws on his shoulders and using its back legs to push off the ground.

“Aaaaahhh!” Chen Kangbao screamed, running even faster.

“Six legs really are better than two,” Qi Yuan remarked casually.

Once he reached Level 120, he planned to officially cure Chen Kangbao’s ailments.

If nothing else, his overeating habit needed to be addressed.