Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?
Chapter 33: Just This?

Qi Yuan was seriously reading a book.

The worry on his brow gradually relaxed.

"The Black Mountain Sect is just this?"

Originally, the Black Mountain Sect was quite notorious in the Great Shang Kingdom.

Qi Yuan had thought that the Black Mountain Sect's strength was absolutely formidable.

However, now it seemed that the main strength of the Black Mountain Sect actually only belonged to the third tier in the Great Shang Kingdom.

The first tier was the three major immortal sects.

The second tier had at least one Nascent Soul combat strength, or methods capable of resisting a Nascent Soul expert's attacks.

But the Black Mountain Sect had neither. Within the Black Mountain Sect, there were only seven Golden Core cultivators.

Among the seven Golden Core cultivators, the strongest was the sect master, who was only at the mid-Golden Core stage.

The others were merely at the early-Golden Core stage.

This level of strength only placed them in the third tier in the Great Shang Kingdom.

"In other words, without the Black Chicken Demon, the Black Mountain Sect is just this?"

The more Qi Yuan thought, the more reassured he felt.

His knife had already awakened its intelligence. If there were a late-stage Golden Core with fully developed protective light, he would be somewhat apprehensive.

But just a mid-Golden Core, and several early-Golden Cores with low-grade golden cores at that.

His eyes lit up, and he sneered, "With such strength, they still dare to trouble me? They are courting death!"

"Strike first to gain the upper hand, delay and you'll be at a disadvantage!"

"They certainly wouldn't have expected that I would cross time and space to kill them in advance, nipping this cause and effect in the bud."

Qi Yuan began planning.

The Black Chicken Demon was not in the Black Mountain Sect, so if he moved quickly enough, he could take revenge and then run away.

"It's a pity that I'm still too weak, otherwise I wouldn't need to avoid the Black Chicken Demon. I could just chop off his head with one strike!"

"Black Chicken Demon, I'll remember you!"

"If only I could really travel through time, I would definitely kill him when he was still a chick and make chicken soup. Or I could dance on his grave after he dies of old age."

Qi Yuan couldn't help but think of a female prodigy in the Go world on Blue Star.

That female prodigy was a strong person who understood the rules of time.

She had won against the best female Go player of the past in the present; she had won against the best female Go player of the present in the past.

She was respectfully referred to as "Punching the Old Folks' Home in the South" and "Kicking the Kindergarten in the North."

"Senior Brother Qi Yuan, what are you doing here?" At this moment, a familiar voice rang out.

It was Zheng Jianghe, staring at Qi Yuan with a strange expression.

Upon arriving at the third floor of the library, Zheng Jianghe had noticed Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan's attire was strange, and his behavior was sneaky, not like a good person.

Hiding in the corner, it was hard not to attract attention.

Zheng Jianghe had watched for a while before confirming that this was indeed the eldest disciple of the Seven-Color Peak, Senior Brother Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan was startled upon seeing Zheng Jianghe.

It was as if a couple doing something guilty in the library had been discovered.

However, he quickly calmed down.

"Yes, I'm here to look up some information."

"Senior Brother, are you also looking up information on the Black Mountain Sect? If you could, please let me have the materials once you're done. I need to take them out of the library and give them to several elders," Zheng Jianghe said seriously.

"No problem." Qi Yuan put down the books, then suddenly asked, "What’s written here should be true, right? The Black Chicken Demon is not in the Black Mountain Sect?"

Zheng Jianghe found Qi Yuan's question strange but answered truthfully, "The Black Chicken Demon's dojo is in the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge, a thousand miles away from the Black Mountain Sect. It is said that the Black Chicken Demon is currently seeking to break through to the late Nascent Soul stage and should be in seclusion for a while."

"That's good." Qi Yuan felt reassured.

Zheng Jianghe looked puzzled. "May I ask why Senior Brother is investigating the Black Mountain Sect?"

Qi Yuan looked at Zheng Jianghe, then took out a kitchen knife. "Do you know what this is?"

"Senior Brother's... pet." This knife was well-known to Zheng Jianghe.

He often saw Qi Yuan walking the knife.

"I heard that the Black Mountain Sect's Chu Tianxiong and Bai Ji Laozu were killed by a mysterious expert's knife. And I also use a knife, so I'm afraid the Black Mountain Sect might misunderstand and think I am that mysterious expert. So, I need to prepare in advance and see what strong individuals are in the Black Mountain Sect," Qi Yuan said seriously.

Zheng Jianghe: "..."

He coughed and finally said, "Senior Brother is really... cautious."

How could the people of the Black Mountain Sect suspect you?

Zheng Jianghe found it absurd.

But thinking about Senior Brother Qi Yuan's usual thought process, he could understand.

After all, in the entire Shenguanzong, no, in the entire Great Shang, Qi Yuan was the only one who dared to call the master of the Seven-Color Peak his wife.

Zheng Jianghe left with the books.

Qi Yuan, tilting his head, pondered, "Looks like I need to replace an excuse to leave the sect."

The Black Mountain Sect was quite far from Shenguanzong, not like Rong City, which could be reached within a few hours.

Leaving required a report, as he was the eldest disciple of a peak, not an ordinary disciple.

...

Dong Xian was holding a pile of bamboo slips, walking quickly within Shenguanzong.

Before coming to Shenguanzong, he had lost all his cultivation and had voluntarily broken off his engagement with his fiancée.

It was precisely because of these actions that he avoided the power struggle and came to Shenguanzong.

Just a few days ago, the remnant soul within him began to awaken.

The remnant soul was of a powerful artifact refiner, harmed by treacherous people, leaving only a wisp of remnant soul that entered Dong Xian's body.

Recently, the remnant soul had been guiding his cultivation and teaching him the secrets of artifact refining.

Yesterday, under the guidance of the remnant soul, he had even found several precious artifact refining materials at a market.

"Old Artifact, if the Black Chicken Demon reaches the late Nascent Soul stage, will the entire Great Shang fall into chaos?" Dong Xian asked the remnant soul within him.

Old Artifact chuckled, "Why are you, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator, worrying about such things? Are you still thinking about your power and influence?"

Dong Xian was silent for a long time before replying, "If I could, it would also help you recover your strength, Old Artifact."

"If you can seize power, that's naturally the best. But your foundation is too weak, and your mother's family is not strong. It's better to focus on cultivation and follow the proper steps. With my artifact refining techniques, barring any accidents, you could reach the Nascent Soul stage within a few hundred years. Strength is the fundamental thing," Old Artifact advised earnestly.

Dong Xian's identity was special. He was actually an unappreciated prince of the Great Shang Kingdom.

Now, the emperor of Great Shang was old and foolish, with not much life left.

The various princes were ambitious, vying for power and coveting the throne.

Among the many princes, Dong Xian had the weakest background and foundation.

So, recently, he had voluntarily broken off his engagement and retreated to Shenguanzong to avoid the strife.

"Hmm." Suddenly, Old Artifact exclaimed, "Who is that?"

Dong Xian looked over quickly and saw a strangely dressed man walking on the main road.

But he still recognized him.

"The eldest disciple of the Seven-Color Peak, Qi Yuan." Dong Xian didn't know why Old Artifact was interested in him.

"Did you see the kitchen knife at his waist? It must be something special. It's a pity I can't extend my divine sense; otherwise, I would definitely replace out what's special about that kitchen knife. Quickly, buy that kitchen knife!" Old Artifact urged urgently.

Dong Xian was stunned.

If it were just an ordinary kitchen knife and Qi Yuan an ordinary Shenguanzong disciple, he might be able to buy it.

But... that's not the case.

Following Old Artifact's command, he approached, steeling himself.