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

In an unknown space, Qi Yuan sat cross-legged on a grand reclining chair, looking exceptionally carefree. In an instant, the ninety-nine Specter Gods revived once more. Unlike three years ago, these Specter Gods were now numb. From their initial uproar to their current silence, it was clear that they had... died enough.

During the initial battle, after countless self-destructions, Qi Huang finally noticed something unusual. Qi Yuan had locked his health! That was the only explanation! But Qi Huang wasn't afraid. He had plenty of uncles and an abundance of Specter Essence. He was reckless with his wealth. So, he continued to self-destruct. And then... things took a turn for the worse. They no longer dared to self-destruct.

But who could have known that the human before them would display strength far surpassing that of an ordinary peak myth? Instant kills. One after another.

Even more terrifying was the fact that, at some point, this human had broken through to the Yang God realm. This was unimaginable, incomprehensible. A withered myth suddenly breaking through to the Yang God realm in the midst of battle was like an ordinary person on Earth eating a watermelon, defecating in the wild, and having a melon sprout grow into a heavenly vine!

After Qi Yuan became a Yang God, the battle became utterly one-sided. Qi Huang began to threaten, beg, and bribe, even using his Realm Master uncle to intimidate Qi Yuan. Unfortunately, it was useless. Qi Yuan didn't even bother to listen, simply... killing them instantly. The instant kills after becoming a Yang God were far faster than when he was a myth. Almost as soon as they were revived by the Specter Essence, they were instantly slain.

Qi Huang, who had once boasted arrogantly, was now numb. Over these three years, they had revived and died countless times. How many times had they died? Probably hundreds of millions. Even a god couldn't endure this kind of pain. Now, if these numb Specter Gods were still capable of thought, they were likely thinking... Lord Qi Huang, do you really have that much Specter Essence? At this point, true death would be a release. This endless cycle of revival was pure torture.

Qi Huang felt the same. For the first time, he felt pain from having too much Specter Essence. They were numb, and Qi Yuan was also somewhat numb.

"What's the difference between me now and a factory worker working 996 shifts? Well, I'm not as tired as them, but I work longer hours, with no days off, and most importantly... I don't get paid?"

Who stole his salary? Watching the ninety-nine Specter Gods revive once more, Qi Yuan followed the routine and blew a breath. Instantly, the ninety-nine Specter Gods perished again. A trickle of experience flowed in, something Qi Yuan was now used to.

This was Qi Yuan's current mindset. Could you believe it? He had been killing Specter Gods by simply blowing air every day, and now... his combat power was comparable to the peak of the Sixth Heaven of the Immortal Realm. Perhaps even stronger. As for his game level, it had solidified into a realm. If Qi Yuan had a status panel, it would show that he was at the third layer of the Yang God realm, the Rule realm.

However, his Rule realm was different from other third-layer Yang Gods. In the Zhou Universe, a Realm Master needed to fuse with the universe's rules to become a true Realm Master. The Divine Wood Universe was different. The universe's rules were scattered among the chosen ones. Only by killing all the chosen ones and offering them to the universe's true spirit could someone fuse with the universe's rules and step into the Realm Master realm.

"This is strange."

Qi Yuan casually slaughtered these Specter Gods, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes. The cultivation gained from killing enemies and earning experience was naturally more stable than that gained through step-by-step cultivation. When he had enough experience and stepped into the third layer of the Yang God realm at the peak of the second layer, Qi Yuan inexplicably gained a wealth of information. This was normal. When stepping into the Yin God realm, an Yin God would also learn about future paths.

The path to the third layer of the Yang God realm required fusion with the universe's rules to truly advance, transforming supreme principles into universe rules, where words became law.

"Strange... I don't seem to have fused with the universe's rules, so why... have my supreme principles condensed into... rules? They count as rules, right?"

Qi Yuan was puzzled. Generally, the supreme principles Qi Yuan had condensed—Do As You Please and Absolute Adaptation—could only unleash their full power in the Immortal Realm. In other universes or systems, their power would diminish. But this time, not only did they not diminish, they were even evolving. Normally, for supreme principles to evolve into universe rules, one needed to actively fuse with the universe's rules. But Qi Yuan...

He hadn't fused with the universe's rules, yet he had somehow formed universe rules. This was very, very strange.

"Moreover, I haven't fused with the Divine Wood Universe's rules, yet it doesn't reject me?"

Generally, other Realm Masters who ventured into foreign universes would be targeted by the universe's will. This wasn't the only strange thing.

"Wait, I'm a shareholder of the Divine Wood Universe. The universe's rules... aren't they my money? Why would I need to fuse with them?"

Suddenly, everything made sense to Qi Yuan. The Divine Wood Universe was like a company, and he was a shareholder. So why bother fusing? It was already his. Would it reject him? Not a chance.

"Sigh... you guys revive too slowly."

In an instant, Qi Yuan killed these Specter Gods countless more times. He could now easily leave this world, but even a mosquito's worth of meat was still meat.

"It seems I need to comprehend a time rule to make them revive faster and die quicker."

After some thought, Qi Yuan casually waved his hand, shattering the world. He and the ninety-nine Specter Gods appeared above Yunxue City. Now, he sat high in the sky, his form invisible, continuously killing these Specter Gods. Since their revival and death occurred faster than the eye could see, even cultivators wouldn't notice the Specter Gods reviving and being instantly slain.

Time flowed, and three months passed. Qi Yuan picked up a communication device and spoke to Xianling Yingjun.

"Sigh, cultivation is so hard..."

Xianling Yingjun, in another world, saw this and couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. "Cultivation is indeed difficult. It's been three years, and I've only just stepped into the Great Venerable realm."

He was showing off a little. After all, he had always been overshadowed by Qi Yuan.

"Brother Qi Yuan, what problem are you facing this time?" Xianling Yingjun asked. He was used to Qi Yuan coming to him with questions. A mature NPC would proactively ask the player what they needed.

"Yes, I've recently found that killing is too slow, so I decided to comprehend a time rule. But after three months... I've made no progress."

Qi Yuan was also surprised. For some reason, he could quickly grasp other rules, but the time rule, which wasn't even the most difficult among the first-grade universe rules, eluded him.

"Killing is slow... Wait, time rule? You're a Yin God, why are you trying to comprehend a universe rule? Aren't you just making trouble for yourself?" Xianling Yingjun replied, exasperated.

Even prodigies like Feng Ti only managed to grasp the embryonic form of rules. Comprehending universe rules was something only Realm Masters should attempt.

"Sigh, after three years of bitter cultivation, I finally broke through to the Realm Master realm. I thought I'd try comprehending a time rule for fun, but..." Qi Yuan sighed, his hair almost turning white from worry. "I thought I was a genius, that three months would be enough to comprehend the time rule, but... I've gained nothing."

In another world, Xianling Yingjun's heart skipped a beat, and he began to doubt his eyes.

"Is my communication device broken? Why does it say you've become a Realm Master?" Xianling Yingjun couldn't help but ask.

"It's not broken. I have become a Realm Master."

"Brother... don't mess with me. You know I'll believe anything you say!" Xianling Yingjun, even as a Yin God, felt his heart racing, pounding like a drum. What Qi Yuan said was simply too shocking. Or rather, incomprehensible. Had he fallen into a time rift and spent an entire era there?

"Why would I lie? I'm a Realm Master now. Do you have any beginner methods for comprehending the time rule?" Qi Yuan asked.

"Wait!" Xianling Yingjun had a sudden realization. "You're not a Realm Master!"

"Huh?" Qi Yuan was also stunned. He wasn't a Realm Master?

"All Realm Masters automatically comprehend the time rule when they step into the Realm Master realm. They don't need to actively comprehend it," Xianling Yingjun explained, feeling a sense of relief. He had almost been fooled. Qi Yuan was starting to deceive people!

"Why is that? Don't rules need to be comprehended?" Qi Yuan was curious and surprised.

"When one becomes a Yang God, they sever their past self, shape their present self, and welcome their future self... Past, present, and future are all within them. When one reaches the third layer of the Yang God realm, they automatically comprehend the time rule," Xianling Yingjun explained.

This wasn't some secret. Anyone with a prominent ancestor would know this. It was like how someone who had never seen an emperor would still know that imperial robes were usually yellow.

"Well... I don't seem to have a past self or a future self," Qi Yuan felt somewhat awkward.

"That's normal. It means you're not a Yang God. You're still a Great Venerable!" Xianling Yingjun grew more excited as he spoke. It was a relief that Qi Yuan was still a Great Venerable. If he were really a Realm Master...

Well, you don't want your brother to suffer, but you also don't want him to drive a luxury car.

"What you're saying makes sense. In the game, I'm a Realm Master, but in reality, I'm just a small Purple Mansion cultivator, not even a Yin God," Qi Yuan sighed and stopped speaking. He was feeling a bit depressed.

After so many years of bitter cultivation, he was only at the Purple Mansion realm. If he had fans, they would surely tear up and say, "Brother has worked so hard, yet he's only at the Purple Mansion realm. It's so unfair!"

On the other side, Xianling Yingjun looked at the dim display and suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Ah, I forgot to remind Brother Qi Yuan! Wu Dong is coming to cause him trouble!"

"Where is he hiding?"

In the Quijin Realm, the blue-robed man had searched for months but found no trace of Qi Yuan. Due to the presence of the Specter Gods and the fact that this was a occupied zone, he couldn't be too conspicuous. However, after months of searching, his patience had run out.

"I need to finish this quickly. After killing him... I'll return to the Radiant Universe!"

With this thought, Wu Dong no longer hesitated. A special artifact appeared, and he flew into the sky, his body radiating a blazing golden light, like a scorching sun rising.

"I have heard of a man named Qi Yuan in this realm, who comprehended rules and reached the peak of the Yin God realm. I admire him. Tonight, under the clear moon, I have crossed realms to take his head!"

With the artifact's power, Wu Dong was like an eternal sun, hanging high in the sky. Every living being in the Quijin Realm could see him and hear his voice. He hovered in the heavens, his blue robes bathed in golden light. The brilliance was awe-inspiring, like a mortal witnessing a god. Invincible, unmatched!

Wu Dong fully unleashed his aura, displaying his immense power. In the Quijin Realm, countless beings looked up at Wu Dong, their eyes filled with fear.

"This man is so strong... even ordinary Specter Gods wouldn't be a match for him!"

"Who is Qi Yuan? How could he provoke someone to cross realms to challenge him?"

Some were confused and fearful, worried they might be caught in the crossfire.

Meanwhile, near Yunxue City, Wu Xiang's eyes filled with shock. "He's here to challenge... Master Qi. But Master Qi..."

He was worried. With the Specter Gods out in force, Master Qi's whereabouts were unknown. Was he safe?

Just as this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly heard a familiar, lazy voice.

"You keep blocking my path to transcendence. Do you think I'm made of clay?"

The voice was calm, like a breeze over a still, dead sea. But then the wind grew fierce.

"Pah!"

It was as if someone had spat, a sound as common as any on the roadside. The eternal sun that was Wu Dong was extinguished. All his radiance vanished in an instant, as if it had never existed. Wu Dong's true spirit was also annihilated in that moment. He hadn't even had time to react. He hadn't even had a chance to fight back... before he was utterly destroyed.

All the beings in the Quijin Realm were stunned, their faces filled with confusion. The eternal sun in the sky had disappeared, as if it had never been there. Everyone was puzzled and bewildered. Had it all been an illusion?

Radiant Universe

The Three Wood Realm Master opened his eyes, a look of shock in them. "Wu Dong is dead?"

After a moment of thought, he remembered that Wu Dong had gone to the Divine Wood Universe to challenge the native who had defeated Feng Ti.

"Even the Creation Treasure was destroyed?"

The Three Wood Realm Master was stunned. He had given his disciple a low-grade Creation Treasure, but even the lowest-grade Creation Treasure was still a Creation Treasure. Only a Realm Master could destroy such an artifact. And it was common knowledge that the Divine Wood Universe had no Realm Masters.

"It seems I'll have to trouble the Realm Master of Time to retrieve Wu Dong's true spirit from the River of the Universe and find out what happened."

The Three Wood Realm Master had a vague feeling that something significant had occurred in the Divine Wood Universe.

After about ten thousand breaths, the Three Wood Realm Master stood respectfully in a grand hall. The master of the hall was the Realm Master of Time, a being at the All Things Realm. It was said that this Realm Master had undergone three eras of mortal transcendence and had reached perfection in the All Things Realm. One more step, and he would reach the legendary Creation Realm.

The Three Wood Realm Master had once aided the Realm Master of Time during his mortal incarnation, which was why they had this connection. Otherwise, even though both were Realm Masters, with only a small realm separating them, the Three Wood Realm Master would never have had the opportunity or qualification to interact with the Realm Master of Time.

"Three Wood, Wu Dong's true spirit is not in the River of the Universe."

At that moment, an ancient voice echoed, like an old tree creaking.

The Three Wood Realm Master's face showed astonishment. "His true spirit isn't in the River of the Universe? How is that possible?"

"Perhaps... he was devoured by the Black Heaven," the Realm Master of Time said indifferently.

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