My Golden Core is a Star, do you call this cultivating?

The burly man was named Feng Tie, an Earth-tier peak Weapon Master.

He was acquainted with the flower thief, Hengshan Grandmaster. The two had once ventured into a secret realm together.

The secret realm was fraught with dangers, and several Earth-tier Weapon Masters had perished within it.

Only he and Hengshan Grandmaster had managed to escape.

It was then that Feng Tie learned Hengshan Grandmaster’s deepest secret.

Hengshan Grandmaster had obtained the legacy of a visitor from beyond the heavens. Following the example of Thorned Blood, he modified malevolent spirits and ultimately merged himself with one, acquiring a strange ability.

Illusions!

Hengshan Grandmaster had risen to infamy as a feared and elusive flower thief, renowned for his never-failing exploits. The primary reason for his success lay in his mastery of illusionary techniques.

Every time, he could walk away unscathed and unnoticed.

Thus, unlike other Earth-tier Weapon Masters who merely kept a casual eye on Shen’s family estate, Feng Tie scrutinized every movement, even if a mere cat left the premises.

When Chen Kangbao, disguised as a chameleon, emerged, the other Earth-tier Weapon Masters failed to notice.

But Feng Tie was different.

He stared at the chameleon, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“Hengshan Grandmaster, are you afraid I’ll take a share of the spoils?”

Chen Kangbao, carrying the cleaver, hesitated, standing frozen in place.

He didn’t move an inch.

The presence of the burly man ahead of him exerted immense pressure.

Feng Tie noticed the chameleon’s inaction and grinned wider. “Could it be that Hengshan Grandmaster wants to claim the Profound Yin Physique all for himself?”

The greatest reason Hengshan Grandmaster had achieved his notoriety as a grandmaster was his uncanny illusions.

But once his secret was exposed, his combat strength would drop considerably.

If Hengshan truly considered Feng Tie an opponent, how could he allow someone who knew his greatest secret to live?

“You’ve mistaken me; I am not Hengshan Grandmaster.” At this moment, Chen Kangbao decided not to hide and shifted into his elder form, his raspy voice revealing itself.

Had he remained silent, Feng Tie’s disposition likely wouldn’t have allowed the chameleon to live.

“Who are you… to also know illusions?” Feng Tie’s expression changed slightly, suspicion flickering across his face.

If the person before him truly were Hengshan Grandmaster, they would have boldly admitted it rather than deny it so firmly.

“There’s no one like you in Ning Kingdom… nor in Moshang Kingdom…”

“I’m just passing through. Might I be allowed to leave?” Chen Kangbao tentatively suggested.

“Leave the object behind.” Feng Tie’s gaze locked onto the cleaver, his tone cold.

This old man had used illusions to sneak into the Shen family estate and smuggle out a cleaver.

This cleaver had to be extraordinary.

Having seen it now, Feng Tie had to examine its secrets.

“Fine.”

To Feng Tie’s surprise, Chen Kangbao showed no hesitation, tossing the cleaver in his direction.

After throwing the cleaver, Chen Kangbao quickly made his escape.

Feng Tie was taken aback.

Just like that, the cleaver was handed over?

Could it be this simple? Was there no trap?

Even so, he reached out and caught the cleaver without delay.

He examined it closely, his sharp gaze appraising its craftsmanship. “What a sharp cleaver. Its edge could rival that of an Earth-tier artifact!”

Feng Tie assumed the elder had stolen something precious and, when caught, had to part with it to save himself.

“Wait, why does this cleaver have a notch along the edge?”

He inspected the cleaver further, puzzled by what he saw.

The notch in question was the opening for a zipper, part of the protective casing Qi Yuan had forged for the cleaver.

In their haste to leave, neither Qi Yuan nor Chen Kangbao had paid attention to such details.

“An artifact within an artifact?” Feng Tie’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

The outer shell alone was comparable to an Earth-tier artifact. What treasures could lie within?

Elated, he began prying at the notch to extract what lay inside.

At that moment, a voice, tinged with exasperation, rang out.

“Prying open a cleaver? You really are a pervert.”

As the words fell, a flash of light suddenly struck.

Feng Tie instinctively clutched his throat, disbelief in his eyes as blood gushed forth.

His massive frame toppled to the ground with a resounding crash. He never could have imagined that the cleaver would not only be so sharp but also possess a will of its own. ʀ

A sentient artifact—those were the stuff of legends!

Yet how could Ning Kingdom possibly possess such a legendary item?

With a single, unforeseen strike, Feng Tie was slain on the spot before he had a chance to react.

Qi Yuan reverted to his original form, stepping out of the shadows. “Who would’ve thought that cleaver-killing could raise my proficiency, even if just a little.”

His gaze fell on Feng Tie’s corpse, his expression calm.

In a head-on confrontation, even with his current level of recovery, Qi Yuan would have had to expend considerable effort to take Feng Tie down.

But by disguising himself as a cleaver, he had caught his foe entirely off guard.

Too close, no defenses—the result was a clean kill.

As Qi Yuan spoke, he began looting the body.

Among Feng Tie’s belongings, he found three Earth-tier artifacts.

A soft armor, a short sword, and a lamp.

Additionally, his storage artifact contained silver notes totaling one hundred and ten thousand liang.

“That should be his entire fortune.”

“There’s even correspondence with Hengshan, the flower thief?”

In the storage artifact, Qi Yuan uncovered several old letters.

The earlier ones, dated years ago, were invitations from Hengshan to Feng Tie, proposing a joint exploration of a secret realm.

“The Absolute Ten-Thousand Mountains?”

This secret realm, called the Absolute Ten-Thousand Mountains, was a remote and uninhabited area on the border of Ning Kingdom and Mo Shan Kingdom.

The area spanned a vast expanse of mountains, riddled with treacherous peaks, dense miasma, and countless malevolent spirits.

It was said that not even Heaven-tier Weapon Masters could traverse the Absolute Ten-Thousand Mountains.

“According to Hengshan’s account, he discovered a newly constructed underground palace within the mountains?”

A newly built underground palace—that was intriguing indeed.

“Why does the name Absolute Ten-Thousand Mountains sound familiar to me?” Chen Kangbao murmured from the side.

Qi Yuan’s expression remained stoic. “Perhaps it’s a trigger for your side quest.”

“Huh?” Chen Kangbao looked bewildered. What was this about his “side quest”?

“As is tradition, we’ll have to visit the Absolute Ten-Thousand Mountains someday.

“Hengshan and Feng Tie seemed very interested in that place.

“They even planned to abduct Shen Lingxuan, journey to the palace together, and, after dual cultivation to break into the Heaven-tier, return for another exploration.”

“Ha! Plotting to take my wife, the wife of Qi Yuan, a mere son-in-law? Hengshan must have a death wish!”

“They even scheduled a meeting at the Celestial Cloud Temple five days from now to finalize their plans for capturing Shen Lingxuan.”

“They certainly have lofty ambitions,” Qi Yuan remarked with a faint smile.

...

“Miss, the young master… he’s gone missing.”

Zhishuang, her face filled with anxiety, stood on the small boat and handed a letter to Shen Lingxuan.

Her frosty beauty, normally cold and radiant, was utterly overshadowed in the presence of her mistress. The chill radiating from Shen Lingxuan was bone-deep and pierced the soul.

“‘Pursuit of worldly delicacies’?” Shen Lingxuan read the letter, her expression unchanging.

“It seems that Chen Kangbao took the young master away. But… I can’t figure out how Chen Kangbao managed to get him out.” Zhishuang voiced her speculation.

“Investigate Chen Kangbao’s background. If… there’s no intent to harm Qi Yuan, we’ll leave this matter be,” Shen Lingxuan said calmly.

As long as Qi Yuan wasn’t in danger, she was unconcerned about his comings and goings.

“Understood.” Zhishuang nodded and left quickly.

Holding the letter, Shen Lingxuan’s mind stirred. “With… spiritual guardians around him, he should be safe.”

She was privy to many secrets, including some regarding Qi Yuan’s father.

Years ago, Qi Yuan’s father had mysteriously vanished, only to suddenly reappear. After passing something on to Qi Yuan, he perished.

According to what Shen Lingxuan knew, whatever Qi Yuan’s father had left behind should be capable of safeguarding his life.

“Destiny has shown that you and I are fated, yet this fate…” Shen Lingxuan’s thoughts became increasingly complex.

Her marriage to Qi Yuan wasn’t solely because of his father; it was also tied to the mysterious forces of destiny.

Destiny was ethereal and enigmatic, difficult to grasp.

Even in her previous life, Shen Lingxuan had failed to fully comprehend it.

At that moment, a small boat approached her position. Standing on the boat was a man clad in a green robe, his gaze admiring as he looked at her.

“Junior Sister, it has been some time. Your cultivation seems to have grown even more profound.”

The newcomer was named Xie Danran, one of the top-ranked true disciples of the Heavenly Sect. Barely thirty years old, he was already an Earth-tier Weapon Master.

His eyes brimmed with undisguised admiration and affection as he looked at Shen Lingxuan.

“I heard that Hengshan, the infamous flower thief from Mo Shan Kingdom, has come to the Artifact Conference, likely for your sake. Upon learning this, I became very worried.

“Hengshan is cunning and treacherous, while you are currently only at the Xuan-tier. If you were to encounter him unexpectedly, you might not even have time to react before being abducted.

“Coincidentally, I’m patrolling the area around Yeshan Lake. Sister, why don’t you accompany me?

“While my strength is not on par with Hengshan’s, I can hold him off for a while and call for reinforcements from the sect,” Xie Danran said, his tone refined yet filled with tender concern.

“Senior brother, I am already married. It is best for me to maintain proper distance from other men. I appreciate your concern, but I must decline,” Shen Lingxuan replied icily, her words laced with rejection.

Xie Danran’s expression faltered, a flicker of anger flashing deep in his eyes. “Junior Sister, I was only away in seclusion for three months, and you’ve already married? Was it something I did before my retreat that upset you? Did you marry Qi Yuan on a whim just to spite me?”

“…” Shen Lingxuan’s shoulders trembled slightly. “Senior brother, you are being ridiculous. My marriage to my husband is decreed by fate and has nothing to do with you.”

Her tone was distant, brimming with detachment.

“Please leave, Senior Brother. I wouldn’t want my husband to misunderstand.”

“Aren’t you worried that Hengshan will abduct you?” Xie Danran, now agitated, asked heatedly. “Do you understand what might happen if you are taken? That useless husband of yours can’t possibly protect you!”

“Show him out!” Shen Lingxuan flicked her sleeve, and Xie Danran’s boat was abruptly propelled backward.

Standing on the retreating boat, Xie Danran clenched his fists tightly, fury igniting within him.

“A Profound Yin Physique—a treasure like that cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of that worthless fool!”

...

The Celestial Cloud Temple was situated on Dongnan Mountain, a crumbling and abandoned shrine.

Outside the temple stood a dilapidated pavilion constructed of marble.

At this moment, gentle rain cascaded down the mountainside. Shen Lingxuan, clad in a flowing blue gown, sat outside the pavilion, watching the rain with a pensive expression.

The falling rain seemed to conceal a sharp sword intent.

When the rain stopped, this sword intent would manifest in its most potent form, unleashing a single, decisive strike.

Sitting in the pavilion, Shen Lingxuan exuded an icy aura, her presence blending seamlessly with the surrounding world.

Anyone passing by wouldn’t even notice her existence.

At this moment, her cultivation no longer radiated the aura of a Xuan-tier Weapon Master—it was unmistakably at the Earth-tier.

From the rain emerged two figures, an elder and a young man. The younger held an oil-paper umbrella, his steps splashing water with each movement.

“It’s him?”

Seeing the young man, Shen Lingxuan’s eyes widened slightly.

This was the same man she had encountered near Kunling Ferry and again in the Ghost Market.

And now, he was walking toward her.

Her expression grew colder, like a frost-covered blade.

Given the current circumstances, wasn’t everyone heading toward the Celestial Cloud Temple in league with Hengshan Grandmaster, the notorious flower thief?

She was well aware of what these criminals were plotting.

To her surprise, this young man was also among them.

The young man paused, glancing at the pavilion. “What a coincidence, beautiful lady. We meet again. May I come in to take shelter from the rain?”

Shen Lingxuan’s cold eyes betrayed a flicker of astonishment.

He can see me?

By now, Shen Lingxuan had long achieved unity with nature.

Her combat strength might not yet rival a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, but her level of comprehension surpassed that of most Heaven-tier experts.

In this state of unity, sitting silently within the pavilion, no ordinary person should have been able to detect her presence.

Yet, this young man had found her. A faint sense of danger arose in her heart.

“This place isn’t mine to claim. If you wish to take shelter, please do,” Shen Lingxuan replied coolly.

Qi Yuan stepped into the pavilion, his gaze calm as it fell on her elegant figure. “Beautiful lady, have you reconsidered what I mentioned before—becoming my steed?”

“Ah… how cold!” Chen Kangbao muttered under his breath, shivering from an inexplicable chill.

“Are you with the people inside the Celestial Cloud Temple?” Shen Lingxuan asked, her tone as frosty as ever.

Her initial plan had been to bide her time, gathering enough power to unleash a decisive sword strike and incapacitate the villains hiding in the temple.

But now that she had been discovered, her plan was effectively ruined.

A heightened sense of caution arose within her.

She couldn’t see through this man.

Perhaps only by fully regaining her previous life’s power and achieving unity with the heavens could she discern his true nature.

“What if I help you deal with the people in the temple? Will you consider becoming my steed then?” Qi Yuan offered again, unwilling to give up on what had captured his interest.

Suspicion flickered in Shen Lingxuan’s icy gaze. “You’re not one of them?”

“With looks like mine, do you think I’d associate with people as ugly as that?” Qi Yuan retorted.

“But, young master, I’m ugly too!” Chen Kangbao interjected.

“Shut up!” Qi Yuan snapped, exasperated. Why did Chen Kangbao always have to chime in?

Shen Lingxuan shook her head. “Regardless, I refuse to become anyone’s steed.”

“What a pity.” Qi Yuan sighed, visibly disappointed. Then he said, “Your sword momentum is quite something. May I borrow it for a moment?”

Alarm surged in Shen Lingxuan’s heart.

This man could even perceive her sword intent?

If he wanted to kill her, she doubted she could escape in time.

“By all means,” she replied.

“Watch closely.”

With that, Qi Yuan extended a pale hand, grasping at the air.

The rain seemed to halt midair.

Droplets froze in place, linking together like strings of pearls.

From the rain, a sword materialized in his hand, cold and deadly.

Gripping the water-forged blade, Qi Yuan thrust it forward.

In an instant, the rain ceased entirely.

The ground shook, and the mountain quaked.

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