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

The one-armed bandit scanned Qi Yuan and the others with a fierce glare.

Several of the bandits leapt forward, surrounding Qi Yuan, Liu Chudong, and the rest of their group.

Qi Yuan, however, showed no sign of fear. Instead, he appeared calm and even a little amused.

“If I had some sort of mental issue, I might question why you’d only kill the men and spare the women,” he said casually.

“Ridiculous!” the one-armed bandit bellowed angrily.

The surrounding bandits, each armed with large sabers, slashed ferociously at Qi Yuan and the others’ horses.

These bandits were all Xuan-tier Weapon Masters, considered elite fighters, akin to small squad leaders within the Blood Cloud Bandits.

When dealing with ordinary merchants on the road, they were more than enough to ensure an easy victory.

Liu Chudong’s face showed open disdain.

With her signal, the two black-cloaked Judicators standing behind her made their move.

A flash of sword light cut through the air, and the four bandits charging toward them were instantly decapitated, their heads rolling to the ground.

There was an insurmountable gap between Earth-tier Weapon Masters and Xuan-tier Weapon Masters.

Qi Yuan watched this scene unfold, and a hint of regret flickered in his eyes.

He hadn’t killed them himself—what a waste.

Even though they were weak, experience points were still experience points, no matter how small.

Liu Chudong, who had been keeping an eye on Qi Yuan, noticed the regret in his expression. Mistaking it for sorrow, her gaze softened.

“Brother Qi, your heart is too kind. These people deserve their deaths. There’s no need for you to feel sad over them,” she said reassuringly.

On the other side, the one-armed bandit’s expression changed drastically.

“Two Earth-tier Weapon Masters?”

His thoughts began racing.

“Gentlemen, how about we call it quits here?” the one-armed bandit said, speaking with feigned confidence.

The identity of the Blood Cloud Bandits was no secret.

Whenever they encountered Weapon Masters on the road, most people, even powerful ones, would hesitate to provoke them and give them some leeway.

Now that he realized it would be difficult to kill the two Earth-tier Weapon Masters, retreating seemed like the better option.

This sort of thing happened frequently.

While the Blood Cloud Bandits were infamous for their ruthless behavior, even they knew that avoiding injury or death when possible was a pragmatic choice.

Miss Zhao, hearing this, grew visibly panicked. Her eyes filled with tears, and like a pear blossom in the rain, she looked helpless and pitiful. Her teary, delicate face evoked strong protective instincts in most people. Of course, for certain vile men, it might provoke an entirely different reaction.

“Please save us! They’re the Blood Cloud Bandits! They’re working for Commander Liu!” she cried out, her voice trembling with desperation.

Liu Chudong’s expression softened with pity as she glanced at Miss Zhao. She turned to Qi Yuan with an air of seniority and said, “See? Helpless victims like this are the ones who deserve our sympathy. These bandits, on the other hand, deserve nothing but death.”

After “educating” Qi Yuan, Liu Chudong looked quite pleased with herself.

Her gaze then fell coldly on the one-armed bandit.

“All the Blood Cloud Bandits deserve to die!”

At her words, the two Judicators beside her dismounted, swords in hand, and charged into the group of bandits.

Sword lights swept across the field as blood sprayed in all directions.

The two Judicators moved through the bandits as if they were walking through an empty field, giving no quarter.

One slash cleaved a bandit and his saber in two, while another decapitated a second bandit in a single stroke.

In mere seconds, the bandits fell like weeds being cut down.

Realizing the situation was hopeless, the one-armed bandit swung his massive saber in a wide arc to force an opening and quickly fled.

The two Judicators were momentarily tied up by the remaining bandits. Coupled with the fact that the one-armed bandit was an Earth-tier Weapon Master, it was difficult to pursue him.

In the end, all the bandits were slain, except for the one-armed bandit who managed to escape.

Old Master Zhao and Miss Zhao, both visibly shaken, looked like survivors of a great calamity.

Especially Miss Zhao, whose tear-streaked face, resembling a freshly plucked snow pear, was still damp. Her watery, helpless gaze could stir a strong sense of protection in onlookers—or, in the case of depraved individuals, a darker form of desire.

“Thank you, brave warriors, for saving us. I’ve prepared a small token of gratitude. Please accept it,” Old Master Zhao said humbly, bowing deeply.

He offered a reward of three thousand silver taels.

It wasn’t a massive sum, but it wasn’t insignificant either.

“To uphold justice without seeking rewards is our principle,” Liu Chudong said, refusing outright.

She didn’t lack money.

And as an organization, Judgment wasn’t short on funds either.

So, she declined without hesitation.

She most admired the Divine Descent of a hundred years ago for their integrity and selflessness.

Old Master Zhao was briefly stunned by her refusal, but his smile grew even wider.

“Miss, your noble character and disdain for material wealth are truly admirable. Zhao deeply respects you!”

Since she didn’t care for money, perhaps she appreciated kind words instead.

Liu Chudong nodded slightly, then looked toward the direction where the one-armed bandit had fled.

“It’s a shame… one of them got away. Brother Qi, now that the mission is complete, we should take our leave.”

Hearing this, Old Master Zhao and Miss Zhao both breathed sighs of relief.

However, Qi Yuan suddenly spoke.

“This matter isn’t over yet.”

“Hm?” Liu Chudong was momentarily stunned.

“There are still evil people who haven’t been dealt with,” Qi Yuan said calmly.

“You mean the one-armed bandit who escaped? He’s an Earth-tier Weapon Master and runs fast. We can’t catch up to him,” Liu Chudong said, sounding a bit disappointed.

“No. I’m referring to these two,” Qi Yuan said, his gaze landing on Old Master Zhao and Miss Zhao.

Liu Chudong froze in place.

Miss Zhao’s face instantly turned deathly pale, and tears began welling up in her eyes again.

At this moment, one of the Judicators, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

“Before we arrived, they screamed for help and deliberately pointed out the connection between the bandits and the Blood Hands. It’s as if they were afraid the bandits might spare us.”

The other Judicator chimed in, “When we were fighting the bandits, they prepared to flee. Only when they saw we were gaining the upper hand did they decide to stay.”

“No! You’ve misunderstood! I was just scared and panicked!” Miss Zhao cried, her voice trembling.

Old Master Zhao immediately chimed in, “Please forgive us! My daughter was overcome with fear and lost her senses! We meant no harm!”

They hurriedly apologized, bowing deeply in submission.

Liu Chudong squinted her eyes, thinking seriously.

“Fear-induced panic leading to irrational actions can be understandable,” she said after some thought.

“Chudong, if we were ordinary people, we would be the ones dead right now,” Qi Yuan said flatly.

One of the Judicators added, “When we arrived, we didn’t reveal our strength, appearing no different from regular travelers. Yet, they still acted the way they did. Do you really think their intentions were innocent?”

Old Master Zhao and Miss Zhao’s faces turned ashen as they cried out in protest.

Liu Chudong hesitated, conflicted.

“If the Divine Descent were still here, it would be clear what their true intentions were,” she muttered, clearly distressed.

All of this reasoning was ultimately subjective judgment.

Even though she trusted Qi Yuan and the Judicators, the lack of solid evidence made her uneasy.

However, just as she finished speaking, a flash of light streaked through the air.

Old Master Zhao and Miss Zhao’s heads were severed, their lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground.

Their faces, frozen in terror and disbelief, stared blankly into the void.

Liu Chudong’s gaze snapped to Qi Yuan, her eyes wide with shock.

“You killed them?”

She was stunned. Wasn’t Qi Yuan the one who couldn’t bear to harm even an ant?

And now he had just killed two people?

“I’m gentle with kind ants,” Qi Yuan said firmly. “But when it comes to evildoers, I show no mercy.”

His tone was righteous, his demeanor unyielding, exuding the kind of attitude often seen in those who claimed animals were family but thought nothing of punishing humans.

Liu Chudong stared at him deeply, her mind swirling with unease. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Brother Qi, you were too impulsive. You should’ve ensured they were guilty before killing them.”

Still, the deed was done, and she decided not to dwell on it further.

Yet, doubt crept into her mind. Had her method of teaching Qi Yuan caused him to change from a kind-hearted soul into someone overly extreme?

At the Judgment Base.

Chi Changle’s face was filled with anger. “I’d wager that one-third of the suffering in Dingbo Prefecture today is caused by these Blood Cloud Bandits.”

Wang Cong nodded in agreement. “In Dingbo Prefecture, who doesn’t know that the Blood Cloud Bandits are backed by the Blood Hands, and ultimately by Prince Zhenyuan himself?”

Originally, Dingbo Prefecture wasn’t a paradise where people could leave their doors unlocked at night or enjoy meat every day.

But bandits and thieves certainly didn’t dare to act as openly and brazenly as they do now.

Prince Zhenyuan’s so-called efforts to ‘exterminate bandits’ were clearly targeting the Liu family, not the Blood Cloud Bandits.

“If I were the head of the Liu family, I’d immediately mobilize troops to wipe out the Blood Cloud Bandits!” Liu Chudong couldn’t hold back her indignation.

Chi Changle shook his head at her words. “The royal court sent Prince Zhenyuan here under the pretext of suppressing the bandits. Who else but Prince Zhenyuan himself would dare take action against them?

Killing the bandits? That would be tantamount to opposing the royal court!”

Hearing this, Wang Cong’s expression grew dark. “Government officials colluding with bandits… Yet every so often, the Blood Cloud Bandits provide severed heads as trophies to be counted as military achievements.”

Liu Chudong clenched her teeth in frustration. She had already heard about this.

The Blood Cloud Bandits committed atrocities—burning, looting, and slaughtering entire villages. They collected the heads of the villagers and merchants they killed, handing them over to Prince Zhenyuan’s generals as ‘bandit trophies.’

“Enough of this. There’s no point in dwelling on these things; it’ll only scare Brother Qi,” Chi Changle interjected.

In truth, it wasn’t so much about scaring Qi Yuan as it was about the futility of bringing up these matters. All it did was leave them with a sense of anger and helplessness, without any way to resolve the situation.

After all, could Judgment’s current strength change the status quo?

It couldn’t.

“If the Divine Descent were still here, both the Blood Cloud Bandits and Prince Zhenyuan would have faced judgment for their crimes. In the era of the Divine Descent, there’s no way such evil would have gone unpunished!” Liu Chudong said indignantly.

Qi Yuan responded casually, “Even without the Divine Descent, there’s still Judgment. As long as everyone puts in the effort, there’s hope for better days.”

Meanwhile, in the Blood Cloud Bandits’ Hideout

The one-armed bandit knelt on the ground, his face pale with terror, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans rolled down his forehead.

“You didn’t capture the targets?”

A young man with long hair asked coldly. He stood still, quietly toying with a finely-crafted bone dagger in his hands.

The bone dagger was made from the bones of a beautiful woman, and it was one of the young man’s most prized creations.

“Master… they were rescued by a group of people. Among them were two Earth-tier Weapon Masters. I wasn’t their match,” the one-armed bandit said as he prostrated himself on the ground.

The young man before him was none other than Liu Wen, the godson of Commander Liu.

Even the leader of the Blood Cloud Bandits had to show Liu Wen respect.

For a low-ranking squad leader like the one-armed bandit, Liu Wen could decide his fate on a whim.

“Were they General Li’s men? Or someone else?” Liu Wen asked.

“I’m not sure,” the one-armed bandit answered, shaking his head.

A dangerous gleam flashed in Liu Wen’s eyes. “If you’re unsure, what use do I have for you?”

With a flick of his hand, the bone dagger flew through the air.

The one-armed bandit clutched his throat as blood poured out from the wound. His breath grew weaker and weaker until he finally collapsed, lifeless.

The other Weapon Masters nearby remained calm, unfazed by the scene.

Liu Wen walked forward and retrieved his bone dagger. He calmly wiped the blood off the blade before turning to a burly man standing nearby.

“Seventh Leader, how were the results of the recent operation?” he asked in an even tone.

The Seventh Leader hesitated briefly before responding with a troubled expression. “Young Master Liu, this time we only collected three hundred… human heads.”

In the language of the Blood Cloud Bandits and Prince Zhenyuan’s forces, “human heads” was a euphemism for the severed heads they used to claim military achievements.

“Three hundred? That’s far too few,” Liu Wen said, his gaze growing colder. “In half a month, take your men and slaughter the village of Xiaoliang.”

The Seventh Leader’s face stiffened, and cold sweat began to form on his forehead. “Young Master Liu, Xiaoliang Village is near General Li Zhao’s camp. If we massacre the village… it could embarrass General Li Zhao.”

“That’s exactly what I want,” Liu Wen replied with a chilling smile. His eyes burned with anger. “That bastard dared to compete with me for a woman!”

As if unable to contain his rage, Liu Wen kicked over a nearby table with explosive force.

But just as quickly as his anger flared, it vanished. A gentle smile returned to his face as he said, “Don’t worry, I’m not unreasonable. We’ll give all the severed heads from Xiaoliang Village to General Li Zhao as a gift of military merit.”

Hearing this, the Seventh Leader’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

These officials… they were truly ruthless.

“If I don’t knock him down a peg, he’ll start thinking this world belongs to his kind. Let me remind him—it was my ancestors who built this kingdom, not theirs!” Liu Wen declared passionately.

Five Days Later

Qi Yuan was feeling unusually relaxed.

He had deployed drones disguised as mosquitoes to scour the mountains, and so far, they had located two Blood Cloud Bandit hideouts.

However, their main base remained undiscovered.

Otherwise, Qi Yuan would have already launched an attack to exterminate them.

“Never mind. Let’s wait a bit longer,” Qi Yuan said, his tone casual.

His gaze fell on a string of copper coins lying on the table. A strange look crossed his face.

The coins reeked of sweat.

These were coins that Wang Cong had given him.

Earlier that day, Wang Cong had been unloading cargo at the docks when he accidentally bumped into the steward of a wealthy household.

The steward, who was used to throwing his weight around, had threatened to have Wang Cong thrown into the sea.

At that moment, Qi Yuan had secretly intervened, causing the steward to accidentally fall into the sea himself.

Wang Cong, realizing that Qi Yuan had helped him, had brought him his savings as a gesture of gratitude.

While this was a minor incident, what surprised Qi Yuan was that his faint destiny had increased slightly because of it.

“Hey, do you know what circumstances can cause one’s destiny to improve?” Qi Yuan asked through the Divine Wood Token, once again turning to the staff of Thorned Blood.

To Qi Yuan, the staff member was like an AI—ready to answer questions at any time.

“My name includes the word ‘thorn,’ not ‘hey,’” the staff member replied, as if attempting to mimic human conversational habits.

But after the quip, they got straight to the point.

“Well… there are generally three ways for destiny to improve:

1. By devouring the destiny of others who bear destiny.
2. By acquiring certain rare treasures.
3. By altering the original trajectory of specific individuals’ lives.

However, not every life you alter will elevate your destiny. Otherwise, every destiny-bearer would just run around changing others’ fates.

It only works for certain special people or specific events.”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan nodded in understanding.

These “special people” and “special events” likely referred to individuals and occurrences that were historically significant—things worthy of being recorded in textbooks or considered exam-worthy material.

Could it be that saving Wang Cong had altered his destiny?

“How special are we talking?” Qi Yuan asked.

“If the event is significant enough to be recorded in The Blue Mountain Chronicles, then it qualifies as special.”

“Wait, what does that mean?” another user, Ji Wuyun, suddenly chimed in with a question.

Her mind was filled with confusion.

If The Blue Mountain Chronicles recorded special events, and altering them could enhance destiny, did this mean these special events hadn’t yet occurred?

If they hadn’t, then how could The Blue Mountain Chronicles record them in the first place?

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