Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?
Chapter 194: A Chance to Break Through to True Godhood (Yin God), The Monkey

At the North Sea Dragon Clan, five old dragons had gathered, their conversation filled with anger.

"Have you found out his identity yet?" asked the leader, dressed in a golden robe, his gaze fierce.

"No," another old dragon replied, his voice filled with helplessness.

"Taking the name ‘Dragon Subduer,’ how arrogant!"

"Sigh, our North Sea Dragon Clan has suffered a great loss. It’s truly infuriating!"

The deaths of Jin Jiao and the six other dragons represented a significant blow to the North Sea Dragon Clan, as they were among the clan’s most promising and powerful members. Aside from the present Dragon Sovereign, who was at the Third Step of Heavenly Ascension, the rest of the old dragons were only at the First Step and lacked further potential.

Dressed in gold, the Dragon Sovereign’s gaze was filled with fury. "Breaking the backbone of our clan, even if his father is a Grand Venerable, we cannot let this go!"

"Indeed, this cannot be left unresolved," came a calm voice. The space around them rippled, and a group of ancient gods appeared in the palace. Qi Yuan, smiling, looked at the five old dragons. "You haven’t compensated me yet."

The Dragon Sovereign’s pupils shrank suddenly. "You... Qionghua Venerable, how are you awake!"

He immediately realized that Qionghua Venerable had brought this group into his palace. His heart trembled; he hadn’t expected Qionghua Venerable to awaken.

"Whether she’s awake or not is none of your concern. I’m here to demand compensation. That Jin Jiao offended me, and unless you bring out some treasures, my anger won’t be appeased," Qi Yuan said lazily, like an entitled second-generation aristocrat.

"How dare you speak while I’m addressing Qionghua Venerable?" the Dragon Sovereign couldn’t help but retort.

"Speaking rudely to the Heavenly Venerable is punishable by death," Qionghua Venerable immediately acted. Her divine domain spread out, and within it, the Dragon Sovereign, despite being at the Third Step of Heavenly Ascension, was reduced to the state of a mere mortal. With a simple push of her hand, the divine power struck the Dragon Sovereign’s body.

There was no sound, but the Dragon Sovereign spat out blood, and one of his divine apertures shattered.

"Destroying one of your divine apertures is a warning," Qionghua Venerable said, withdrawing her divine domain. She stood quietly beside Qi Yuan, like a loyal servant.

Qi Yuan looked at Qionghua Venerable approvingly, then glanced at the Dragon Sovereign. "You really lack insight. Didn’t you notice the other four old dragons beside you were too scared to speak?"

The Dragon Sovereign, weakened and defeated, looked at Qi Yuan but dared not say another word. He was utterly baffled. Why was Qionghua Venerable treating Qi Yuan with such deference? Could Qi Yuan be her son? But the respect she showed Qi Yuan didn’t align with that explanation.

Qi Yuan turned to the five old dragons. "You’ve offended me. Now, open up your treasury. I’ll choose some items, and this matter will be settled."

The Dragon Sovereign lay on the ground, not daring to speak. The five old dragons communicated rapidly in secret, trying to replace a way out of this situation.

After a few moments, an old dragon stepped forward, his posture extremely low. "Heavenly Venerable, Jin Jiao deserved his fate for angering you. His death was justified."

Understanding that discretion was the better part of valor, these old dragons no longer mentioned revenge.

"Lead the way to the treasury," Qi Yuan said, uninterested in their grievances. His focus was on acquiring treasures. "If the treasures don’t satisfy me... well..."

Qi Yuan chuckled ominously, making the five old dragons tense up, feeling the threat of death.

The old dragon in a green robe hunched over, abandoning the Dragon Clan’s usual arrogance. "Please, follow me, Heavenly Venerable."

As they moved, Qi Yuan glanced at the Dragon Sovereign lying on the ground like a dead fish. "Actually, I preferred you when you were more defiant."

Hearing this, the Dragon Sovereign felt a surge of anger, spitting out blood and seemingly fainting from rage.

"Let’s go to the treasury," Qi Yuan ordered, waving his hand.

The group followed the green-robed old dragon to the treasury. Qi Yuan was slightly surprised by what he saw. "A treasury built inside a prison, quite creative. Aren’t you worried the prisoners might escape with your wealth?"

The North Sea Dragon Clan’s treasury wasn’t in a separate palace but deep within a prison.

The green-robed old dragon quickly explained, "We heard that the Heavenly Venerable particularly values treasures that can help one break through to the True God realm. Such treasures are all stored in the Dragon Prison, where a spring occasionally produces them."

This spring was similar to the North Sea God’s Eye, where treasures occasionally emerged. Most of the treasures in Qionghua Palace were obtained in this way.

Soon, they arrived at the spring.

Qi Yuan looked over.

【North Sea Spring: Occasionally produces treasures.】

"There are only seven? That’s not many." Qi Yuan took the seven treasures, his expression indifferent. Having already received twenty-five treasures earlier, these seven didn’t excite him.

Noticing Qi Yuan’s apparent dissatisfaction, the green-robed old dragon began to sweat.

"Aren’t there other treasuries?" Qi Yuan asked.

"There are!" the green-robed old dragon quickly replied, afraid of displeasing Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan looked at the Eighteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings. "Go check out their treasury. See if there’s anything useful."

"At your command!"

The Four Heavenly Kings and the Eighteen Arhats followed the green-robed old dragon to the treasury.

Qi Yuan examined the treasures in his hand, trying something but then showing a disappointed expression. "Still not enough."

Indeed, even with thirty treasures, he couldn’t break through the barrier to the True God realm.

"Qionghua Dazun, do you know any way to break through to the True God realm without using these treasures?" Qi Yuan asked.

Qionghua Dazun was surprised. She understood that the Heavenly Venerable’s talent was too extraordinary, far surpassing even the Unfed Holy Mother, and this was likely why he couldn’t break through.

Without hesitation, she replied, "After the Heavenly Pillar broke, in the Fanxin World, only treasures can break the barrier. To reach the True God realm, there are only two paths. One is to leave the Fanxin World, and the other is to repair the Heavenly Pillar. But both paths are extremely difficult. I’ve heard that outside the barrier of the Fanxin World, a being... beyond True Godhood is waiting."

"Beyond True Godhood?" Qi Yuan was startled. He looked up at the sky full of stars, his gaze falling on a blood-red star. "If I’m not mistaken, there’s also a being beyond True Godhood inside the Heavenly Pillar? Is the Fanxin World some sort of prized possession, with so many Yang Gods watching it?"

"This matter is shrouded in mystery. Perhaps only beings as powerful as the Holy Mother know the truth," Qionghua Venerable said, her eyes filled with a sense of unease as if she were worried about the future of the Fanxin World.

"Sigh, why can’t I get a game summary?" Qi Yuan sighed. "Does this mean I can’t break through to the True God realm?"

At this moment, Qionghua Venerable seemed to recall something and said thoughtfully, "I’ve heard of a few secrets that might be useful to the Heavenly Venerable."

"Go on."

"There’s a clan known as the Ancient Clan. This clan has existed since before the Battle of Hongtang. Within this clan lies an ancestral land. Once, a peerless genius accidentally entered this ancestral land. This genius’s talent surpassed even the Holy Mother’s and couldn’t break through using treasures. But when he emerged from the Ancient Clan’s ancestral land, he had already reached the True God realm. Later, this person was captured by an evil god and became their minion. Now, the ancestral land of the Ancient Clan is under his control. This person is known as the Arrogant Grand Venerable." Mentioning this person filled Qionghua Venerable with anger. After all, this genius had betrayed the Fanxin World and joined the evil gods.

"How did he break through?" Qi Yuan asked curiously.

"No one knows," Qionghua Venerable shook her head. "Not even the Arrogant Grand Venerable himself knows. That’s why he has surrounded the Ancient Clan’s ancestral land, constantly experimenting on ancient gods to replace the answer."

"It seems I’ll have to visit the Ancient Clan’s ancestral land someday," Qi Yuan said. However, he wouldn’t go just yet. He wasn’t fully prepared.

As Qi Yuan and Qionghua Venerable walked and talked, Qi Yuan suddenly stopped. He looked toward a distant cage, his eyes filled with curiosity.

"A monkey? What a coincidence?"

In the North Sea Dragon Clan’s prison, Qi Yuan saw several monkeys, which surprised him. Two of the monkeys were ordinary, sitting and sleeping. The third one was covered in chains, with shackles on its feet and head. Whenever it moved, the chains clanked loudly.

Qi Yuan curiously observed the chained monkey. The monkey in the cage bared its teeth at him.

A dragon quickly stepped forward. "Heavenly Venerable, this monkey belongs to the ancient ape clan. It’s naturally unruly and once attacked our dragon clan, so we captured it and imprisoned it here."

"Let it out," Qi Yuan said casually.

If he had encountered a monkey elsewhere, it wouldn’t have been a big deal. But seeing a monkey in the North Sea Dragon Clan’s prison made him curious.

The dragon immediately opened the cage, and the three monkeys walked out. Two of them looked at Qi Yuan with trepidation, while the one covered in chains brazenly stared at him.

The dragon explained, "Heavenly Venerable, this monkey is highly talented, the most gifted of the ancient ape clan’s younger generation. Although it’s only at the Late Purple Mansion realm, it has the potential to become a Grand Venerable."

Because the golden-haired monkey’s talent was so extraordinary, it had been spared despite offending the North Sea Dragon Clan. Instead of killing it, the dragons had imprisoned it, waiting for the ancient ape clan to ransom it. Due to its strong talent and naturally defiant nature, the golden-haired monkey remained fearless despite its circumstances.

The golden-haired monkey glanced at Qi Yuan, then casually asked, "Did the clan leader send you to rescue me?"

"No," Qi Yuan replied.

"Oh, I see," the golden-haired monkey lost interest and stopped talking. In its mind, Qi Yuan was trying to curry favor with the ancient ape clan by freeing them.

The other two monkeys stepped forward.

"I’ll remember this debt of gratitude!" said a skinny monkey.

"Thank you!" echoed the other monkey.

"It’s nothing, I just felt a connection," Qi Yuan said, acting on a whim.

The golden-haired monkey, growing impatient, barked, "Sixth, Seventh, stop wasting time and come here!"

To the golden-haired monkey, the other two were just followers.

Qi Yuan chuckled, "You really are unruly."

The accompanying dragon commented, "This monkey’s talent is extraordinary. Once, a Grand Venerable wanted to take it as a disciple, but it refused. Such a prodigy, if properly nurtured, will surely become a powerful True God. It’s only natural for someone like this to be a bit arrogant."

Qi Yuan smiled, unconcerned with these trivial matters.

As the group continued, the golden-haired monkey boldly addressed Qi Yuan, "I smell treasures on you. Give me a few?"

"I need them," Qi Yuan calmly refused.

The golden-haired monkey wanted to argue but hesitated when it saw the unfathomable Qionghua Venerable beside Qi Yuan.

"Heavenly Venerable," called a group approaching them.

It was the Eighteen Arhats and the Four Heavenly Kings, each holding treasures from the dragon palace, their faces beaming with joy.

The four female Heavenly Kings stood beside Qi Yuan like attendants, their auras concealed, making it impossible for anyone not at the True God level to detect their true strength.

The two ordinary monkeys’ eyes lit up at the sight of the treasures, while the golden-haired monkey fixated on the blood-red spear in Wang Wenqi’s hand.

"Hey, if you won’t give me any of your treasures, then I want that weapon your servant is holding!" the golden-haired monkey demanded, its eyes blazing with desire.

Qi Yuan was taken aback. "What did you say?"

"You’re trying to befriend the ancient ape clan, aren’t you? If you want to win us over, you have to please me. I’m the future king of the ancient ape clan. I want that spear!" the golden-haired monkey insisted.

Due to its extraordinary talent, the golden-haired monkey had grown increasingly arrogant and defiant, believing that no one would truly harm it, only imprison it until the ancient ape clan ransomed it.

"Don’t think I’ll be grateful just because you released me. I know what you’re up to. Even without your help, with my strong talent, the North Sea Dragon Clan wouldn’t dare do anything to me. Don’t think you can use this to manipulate me!" the golden-haired monkey continued.

Qi Yuan couldn’t help but remark, "A monkey choosing to emulate the worst habits of internet trolls, constantly jumping to conclusions. How strange—you don’t even have a keyboard, so why are you talking like this? I thought this kind of behavior didn’t exist in the real world?"

Qi Yuan hadn’t freed the monkey because he was impressed by its talent or wanted to ally with the ancient ape clan. He had simply found the coincidence of encountering a monkey in the dragon clan’s prison intriguing.

Did talent matter to him? The talents of his Arhats alone far surpassed those of the Unfed Holy Mother, the most powerful being in this world.

But this monkey, jumping around and being obnoxious, was irritating.

The golden-haired monkey was surprised by Qi Yuan’s response. "You can’t win over the ancient ape clan by doing this. I’ll personally—"

"I don’t want to ally with the ancient ape clan; I even want to offend them," Qi Yuan interrupted. "Why would a monkey want to emulate the chatterbox from ‘A Chinese Odyssey’? You don’t even look as good as Sun Wukong, yet you’re so full of yourself. I’m not your dad, so why should I put up with you?"

Before the golden-haired monkey could finish its sentence, Qi Yuan drew his blood-red sword and, in a flash, cut the monkey down.

Afterward, Qi Yuan felt a sense of relief. He pointed his sword at the corpse. "I’ve had enough of you. Just one more word, and see what happens."

Unfortunately, the golden-haired monkey was already dead and couldn’t respond. Its proud talent and defiance meant nothing in the face of Qi Yuan.

The nearby dragons, witnessing the scene, broke out in cold sweats.

They hadn’t even been in each other’s company for more than a few minutes, yet Qi Yuan claimed to have been annoyed with the monkey for a long time.