Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?
Chapter 72: Clearing Tianjue, Meeting Jin Li

Blood-red armor covered his entire body, and Qi Yuan's height had soared to 137 meters.

On his shoulders, blood-red spikes glistened, appearing transparent and sinister under the sunlight, as if they were about to drip blood.

He wielded a massive sword, striding forward like a demon emerging from hell.

Qi Yuan held his sword, his voice hoarse and deep.

"Kill!"

At this moment, there was only one word: kill!

Kill! Kill! Kill!

Three thousand peaks flew towards Qi Yuan, with peak-level Divine Realm experts attacking from all directions.

Qi Yuan opened his blood-red eyes, seeing countless afterimages and innumerable martial techniques.

"Kill!"

He raised the giant sword with one hand and jumped fiercely.

The immense impact cracked the ground beneath his feet.

The giant blood-red armor leaped up.

At this moment, all techniques seemed useless.

The massive body, standing 137 meters tall, falling with such force was enough to terrify anyone.

Not to mention, this behemoth wielded an extremely powerful sword strike.

"Die, all of you!"

Everything he saw, he killed!

Qi Yuan didn't know how many he had slain.

But in the game world, on the Ascension Platform, anyone he saw was slain by him!

Seen and killed!

A single sword strike shattered the enormous peaks.

Rocks and soil flew, breaking into countless pieces.

The peak's owner was directly smashed to death by a single strike.

"Ah!"

Qi Yuan was like a killing god, no, a killing demon!

Wielding the giant blood-red sword, he slaughtered with every strike.

Three thousand peak Divine Realm experts joined forces, attacking him continuously.

Dozens to hundreds of martial techniques bombarded Qi Yuan.

It was like trying to entangle a giant beast with a spider's web.

Qi Yuan wielded his sword, sweeping horizontally with brute force, breaking through all techniques.

One sword strike, no matter what martial technique, secret art, or forbidden spell, was like a spider web being cut apart, dissolving into nothingness.

Peaks shattered.

Rivers flowed backward!

Blood stained the Divine Realm.

Facing three thousand peak Divine Realm experts, Qi Yuan was like a wolf among sheep!

A mighty beast, standing on the ground, its head looking down from the clouds, wielding a giant sword, slaughtering all beings.

His combat skills, his will, had been honed to perfection in these 129,600 battles.

His battles with the peak Divine Realm were filled with the beauty of violence, brute force, and dominance; yet also with supreme skill, natural, and artistic.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

"Kill, kill, kill!"

Slaughter until the heavens and earth were turned upside down, until the sun and moon lost their light, until the world was in chaos!

Brothers in arms.

Qi Yuan and Xiaojia slaughtered the three thousand Divine Realms together!

……

In the Forbidden Land of Five Elements.

Long Pan's eyes showed a trace of worry: "Do you feel that the restrictions of the Forbidden Land of Five Elements are slowly fading away? I'm afraid that in a thousand years, it will become an ordinary forbidden land, even Supreme Emperors will be able to tread."

"Do you suspect it's the extraterrestrial demons?" Yu spoke, "In a thousand years, the demon-slaying assembly would have long ended.

If he is slowly unlocking the restrictions of the Forbidden Land of Five Elements now, what's the use of it taking a thousand years?"

"You have a point." Long Pan ceased the topic, "What do you think of the current training of the Chief of the Department of Clothes in the human world, how much of our Divine Shadow has he digested?"

"He has only been out for a month? You think too much. There's still three hundred years left, hopefully, he can reach the peak of the Divine Realm, so we can have a bit more confidence facing the extraterrestrial demons." Yu sighed.

Long Pan thought of something, his expression becoming solemn: "After the Celestial God went to resist the extraterrestrial demons, he sent you a message. Besides what you told us, is there really nothing else, like the strength of the extraterrestrial demons, and their exact numbers?"

Yu was silent for a moment: "No, what the Celestial God said, I've already told you all."

"Why hide it?" Long Pan sighed upon hearing this.

"No."

……

"Die!"

The giant sword descended from the sky, shattering the last peak.

The sword tip also ground down the last peak Divine Realm expert in the three thousand Divine Realms.

Yes, not stabbed to death, because his body couldn't accommodate such a large hole, he was ground flat.

Qi Yuan stood still, his body covered in thick blood that seemed to be solidifying.

Half a day in the outside world, a year in the Ascension Platform.

Qi Yuan fought tirelessly, continuously battling.

Finally, he completely killed the three thousand Divine Realms.

The blood on his blood-red armor had dried, leaving some black spots.

He inserted his sword into the mountain, sitting down, panting heavily.

The air exhaled from his nostrils and mouth blew away the nearby rocks and soil.

He scooped up water from the lake with his hand, splashing it on his face repeatedly, the lake's water level dropped significantly, revealing the mud.

Qi Yuan finally felt much cooler.

Having defeated the three thousand Divine Realms, he had now climbed 129,600 steps.

Going further up, he would reach the true Ascension Platform.

Defeating the golden armored god would mean he completely controlled Tianjue.

Each of the final steps had three thousand Divine Realms.

How terrifying must that final golden armored god be?

Qi Yuan couldn't imagine.

"Battle!"

Qi Yuan had no fear.

He was now at his weakest yet strongest.

If he retreated, his martial spirit would dissipate.

He could only move forward, invincible.

He pulled the sword from the mountain's crevice, shattering the peak.

Holding his sword, he ascended the final Ascension Platform.

His body quickly shrunk, reducing to twelve meters.

At this moment, a majestic voice came: "You have arrived."

Qi Yuan looked over, seeing a one-armed golden armored god.

He stood on the Ascension Platform, his expression mechanical and cold, holding a pitch-black spear in his right hand.

The spear was stained with blood, emitting a cold light.

He was different from the golden armored god Qi Yuan first saw.

"So many years have passed, I never thought anyone could ascend the Ascension Platform." The golden armored god spoke, his mechanical voice tinged with melancholy.

Qi Yuan asked, "Where can one go by ascending the Ascension Platform?"

For the first time, a strange smile appeared on the golden armored god's emotionless face: "I heard it's the stars, but..."

He stopped speaking.

Qi Yuan asked, "But what?"

"But in reality, it's to become my master's disciple, and finally enter my master's stomach." The golden armored god held the black spear, aiming at Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan felt a chill down his spine upon hearing this.

Who is the master of Tianjue?

Who created the coliseum?

He didn't know.

However, the current master of Dihue was an extraterrestrial demon.

"In today's chaotic world, with the sun and moon reversed, only in such times could someone as weak as you ascend the true Ascension Platform and qualify to stand before me." The golden armored god spoke, his voice mechanical and cold, "Make your move, end this boring battle."

The spear's sharpness emitted a chilling light.

The one-armed golden armored god stood alone, his pressure spreading invisibly, surpassing ten thousand troops.

Qi Yuan squinted, and information appeared.

[Fragmented Golden Armored God's Residual Soul, Level 119.]

Level 119?!!

It was the first time he had seen such a powerful expert in this world.

No one he had encountered had broken through level 100.

Even he couldn't break through level 100.

Now, he was facing a level 119 expert.

An unknown, mysterious, and powerful expert.

Qi Yuan's hair stood on end, his body trembling, tensing up completely.

All his concentration, all his mind was focused on the golden armored god.

He held his sword, vigilant, attacking.

All his killing intent, all his battle will, peaked at this moment.

"Kill!"

He knew this battle was almost certain death.

So, Qi Yuan unleashed his strongest attack from the start.

"Ah!"

The giant sword, enhanced by numerous martial techniques and skills, unleashed the strongest strike in this world.

One sword pierced the golden armored god's body.

"Ah?!"

The golden armored god shattered into fragments.

"Where is he!"

After the strike, Qi Yuan saw the surprised look in the golden armored god's eyes, saw him shatter into fragments.

But it was impossible for a level 119 expert to be killed by a single strike.

He naturally knew it was just a trick!

"Come out!"

"Come out for me!"

"I see you!"

Qi Yuan wielded the giant sword, performing his signature sword technique again.

Summer Eight Slash.

This sword technique, randomly swinging, full of flaws, yet giving him the strongest sense of security.

As if anyone approaching would be injured by his Summer Eight Slash.

Unfortunately, no matter how he roared, no one responded.

At this moment, a prompt appeared in Qi Yuan's mind.

[You have slain the Fragmented Golden Armored God's Residual Soul, gaining the opportunity to step into level 100. Would you like to advance?]

Qi Yuan was stunned.

"I killed him?"

"Instantly?"

"No!"

His face showed even more fear.

"This is what a level 119 expert is, even knowing my thoughts, realizing he's an NPC in the game!"

"Simulating the GM to deceive me, how cunning!"

"The moment I let my guard down, you'll surely strike me down with thunderous force!"

Qi Yuan sneered coldly at the sky.

Unfortunately, no one responded.

He stood there for who knows how long.

He showed a puzzled expression: "Could I have overthought it?"

He thought for a moment and then bent down to search for something on the ground.

About an hour later, Qi Yuan looked at the shattered remains of the golden armor on the ground.

Or rather, not remains, but fragments.

He looked shocked: "Really dead? Just like that!"

He couldn't understand.

"I must have been silly, worrying for nothing. Luckily, there are no spectators in the arena; otherwise, I, the Young Emperor, would have lost face today, scaring myself."

Only then did Qi Yuan focus on the prompt he had received earlier.

Slaying the Golden Armored God General, gaining the chance to step into level 100?

He was stunned.

He relied on Xiao Jia to reach level 104.

But that wasn't his own power.

Inside his body, there was a lot of experience, all filled up.

Once he stepped into level 100, he would level up madly, reaching a realm even he couldn't imagine.

However, for some unknown reason, he was inexplicably afraid to level up.

Especially the words the Golden Armored God General had spoken before.

He always felt that reaching level 100 would bring terrifying consequences.

After all, in this world, he hadn't seen anyone truly reach level 100 yet.

"Not leveling up for now." Qi Yuan decided to keep the opportunity to level up.

He would only upgrade when he was forced to.

Anyway, it wasn't necessary now.

Another prompt appeared.

"Tianjue instance cleared, rewards obtained."

*"Reward 1: Heavenly Dao Fragments 30."

"Reward 2: Opportunity to enter level 100 (can be used anytime)."

"Sixty fragments now? According to my guess, with the thirty fragments from Dijue (the place where there will be the demon slaying conference 300 years later) and ten from the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land, I will have all the Heavenly Dao fragments, thus completing the Heavenly Dao Foundation."

Qi Yuan was in a good mood.

At this time, the game's prompt came.

"Step onto the Ascension Platform, after an hour, the restrictions of Tianjue will disappear, and you can leave for the mortal world.

"After one month of enlightenment in the mortal world, you will be teleported to Dijue."

"Mortal world?" Qi Yuan's eyes lit up, "I can meet Jinli in person!"

"But only one month, then I have to go to Dijue to fight bosses?"

"Doesn't matter, meeting her first!"

Qi Yuan thought and quickly informed Jinli about this.

"Jinli, I have cleared Tianjue, I can leave the forbidden land and spend a month in the mortal world!"

"Let's meet at the Ancient Tree!"

"By the way, you left the Southern Qian Kingdom and headed to the Ancient Tree a few days ago. Have you arrived?"

At this moment, in a small town under the ancient tree of Gu Qi Chuanmu, Jinli was sitting by a lake.

Not far away, some children were playing and making a racket. One child was playing in the water and was pulled out by his mother, receiving a couple of smacks on his buttocks, clearly from a loving mother.

A large bird flew down from the Ancient Tree, diving into the water with a splash, seemingly catching a small fish.

By the lake, many young couples were meeting.

"Are you really coming to see me?" Jinli's heart tightened.

"Yes, I have a month. Where shall we meet? Give me the coordinates."

"I am in Qiyue Town, in the Yuehuang Dynasty under the Ancient Tree. It's easy to replace. After leaving Tianjue, head southeast, and you will reach here. I will wait for you at Banyue Lake." Jinli's body trembled with excitement.

"Okay, I got it." Qi Yuan said, then asked, "How is it outside? Is stuff expensive? Is the food good? Is the scenery beautiful?"

"The scenery here is beautiful. The Ancient Tree is really huge.

It is the divine tree of Wangyue Continent. The Yuehuang Dynasty is next to it, unlike the Southern Qian Kingdom, there is no war here, and people live in peace.

There are many delicious things. I tried a crispy sweet duck today, and it tasted very good.

I'm trying to learn how to make it. When you come, I'll cook for you!"

"Okay, I hope it's not too bad. Otherwise, I'll have to pretend it's good and eat it all, which would be tough."

"......"

"Oh, this is my first time meeting an online friend. To be honest, I'm quite excited."

"Me too."

"What do you look like? Oh, that was abrupt."

"I should be... okay?"

"Don't worry, I'm very handsome, I won't dislike you.

I've asked you so many questions, don't you want to ask me something? Like my height, annual income, whether I have a car, a house, the bride price......"

"......"

"Saying so much, it feels like a matchmaking.

Online, it should be cpdd."

"What is that?"

"Looking for a partner, that's what it means. Anyway, I've used too much energy today, I need to log off and rest for a while. I should be out of Tianjue by tomorrow.

If I don't get lost, see you tomorrow.

If I do get lost, then see you in three or seven days!"

After finishing, Qi Yuan logged off.

Jinli, dressed in white, sat by the lake, thinking about something.

"Your Majesty, is that esteemed person coming to see you?" Aunt Qin appeared beside Jinli.

Jinli smiled: "Yes, also Aunt Qin, don't call me Your Majesty anymore, just call me Ali.

I am no longer the Empress of Southern Qian Kingdom, and I am not suited to be an Empress."

Aunt Qin, familiar with Jinli, smiled: "Seeing you looking so lost now, what are you worried about?"

"Nothing..."

Aunt Qin said: "Your Majesty has a noble body and a beautiful appearance, worthy of anyone."

Jinli was silent, not speaking.

Aunt Qin continued: "That esteemed person was willing to lend the terrifying Clothing Department Forbidden Army to Your Majesty, showing his great care for you. Your Majesty doesn't need to worry anymore. Being so distracted, you might be exhausted before you even meet."

Jinli heard this and stood up: "Alright, Aunt Qin, let's go back."

The two left the lakeside and walked towards the house they bought.

At this moment, a group of children wearing masks walked past Jinli.

The masks were varied, and the children, holding sticks and humming songs, were led by a private school teacher to a place.

"Aunt Qin, why are they wearing masks?" Jinli was curious.

"It seems they are going to worship a god statue." Aunt Qin knew a bit but not much.

"What god, why the masks?"

"It seems that god also wears a mask."

"Why do they all carry sticks?"

"I don't know."

"What is that god in charge of?"

"Not in charge of marriage, but three days later, there will be a temple fair in this town. If that esteemed person comes, you two can watch the temple fair together.

This town has many god statues and many popular temples.

That god with the mask seems to have few worshippers, only that private school teacher believes in that god."

"Well, a temple fair does sound interesting. We can go and see."

The next day.

In Tianjue.

Qi Yuan stretched.

He stood by the lake, looking at his reflection in the water.

"Still as handsome as ever."

He stood up, thinking of something.

"When meeting an online friend, should I bring a gift? Otherwise, it's impolite."

"Oh no, I have nothing on me."

He stood by the lakeside in Tianjue, pondering.

His figure dissipated, running all over Tianjue.

Soon, a wooden hairpin appeared in Qi Yuan's hand.

The hairpin was ordinary, but made from many precious plants.

"A handmade wooden hairpin should be okay, right?"

"Hope it doesn't get criticized online for being cheap and handmade."

"Jinli isn't that kind of person, it's fine."

He thought for a moment.

Sending a message to Jinli.

"I got you a meeting gift, a wooden hairpin, handmade, don't mind it being cheap."

After saying this, he left Tianjue, heading out.

After dozens of breaths, Qi Yuan finally walked out of Tianjue.

"A desert?"

He gazed at the sky.

Ancient poems flooded his mind.

"Lonely smoke straight in the vast desert, the setting sun round over the long river."

He looked out, seeing a vast golden desert.

"Huh? Where did my game interface go?"

Qi Yuan was stunned.

Upon stepping out of Tianjue, his game interface disappeared.