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

The rain poured relentlessly.

The torrential downpour transformed the landscape, creating veils of water cascading from slanted eaves, like rivers tumbling from the peaks of mountains.

In the vast city of Linhai, the wide streets were nearly deserted, the rain so heavy that few dared venture outside.

Tatatatata.

Through the rain, a thin, aged horse trudged forward, soaked to the bone. Rainwater streamed into its eyes, yet they remained bright and determined.

Liu Sheng, leading the horse by the reins, stepped into the puddles, splashing water with each step. He gazed out at the curtain of rain, his voice carrying a trace of nostalgia.

“A hundred years ago, even amidst a torrential downpour like this, people still believed in the rules, despite the prevalence of unspoken ones.

“But now, a hundred years later… not only have those unspoken rules overshadowed the real ones, but even the rules themselves have become a joke,” Liu Sheng said, his voice old and weary.

He truly had been born a stable hand.

In this world, the son of an official would be an official, the son of a merchant would be a merchant, and the son of a stable hand… would remain a stable hand.

Generations of his family had been stable hands, and if nothing had changed, his descendants would likely follow the same path.

But fortune smiled on him when he encountered the Divine Descent.

In the Divine Descent’s world, no occupation was beneath another.

If you chose to accept your fate and lay down, so be it. But as long as you worked hard and pursued progress, you could achieve something greater.

Through diligence, Liu Sheng became the “model stable hand,” akin to Wang Cong’s grandfather, a paragon of laborers.

With that, he gained “rights” and “a voice,” and even earned the rare opportunity to begin training as a Weapon Master.

In the past, how could a mere stable hand dream of cultivating such skills?

Training to become a Weapon Master was a privilege reserved for the wealthy and the elite.

“At first, this old man thought… surely all this talk about the Divine Descent being selfless was nothing but fantasy,” Liu Sheng said with a self-deprecating laugh.

It was understandable for common folk to worship the Divine Descent blindly.

But as a Weapon Master, he knew better than to believe in divine altruism. The so-called “gods” were merely immensely powerful beings.

Even the Divine Descent, as selfless as He seemed, must have harbored personal desires.

After all, even if the Divine Descent was an artifact, the one who created it—the fabled Song Maiden—must have had motives of her own.

“Master Qi, do you truly believe that this world could ever become as fair and equal as the Divine Descent once hoped?” Liu Sheng turned his head to look at the young man inside the carriage, alongside the ever-munching Chen Kangbao. ȓäƝȎᛒĘ𝓢

Qi Yuan extended his hand to catch some raindrops, his tone nonchalant.

“In reality… that might be tough. But this is a game. In a game, anything is possible.”

Liu Sheng froze briefly before forcing a bitter smile.

The original Divine Descent had long since shattered.

Now, it was wielded by a Weapon Master.

What path would this young man take? What ideals did he hold? Liu Sheng could not say.

“In the Rosha Kingdom, there are seven Divine-tier Weapon Masters, myself included. The others are Prince Zhenyuan, Prince Shanhua, Prince Zuifang… and the Rosha Emperor himself, Diwu Bufan.

“The strongest among them is undoubtedly Diwu Bufan. For the past century, he has remained secluded, rarely showing himself.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“Some say he has grown so powerful that he is approaching the peak strength of the Divine Descent in its prime,” Liu Sheng said, worry flickering in his gaze.

He had no idea how powerful the current Divine Descent, now in Qi Yuan’s hands, truly was.

“To me, there’s no difference between him and you. You’re both just people,” Qi Yuan replied calmly.

Liu Sheng’s body trembled slightly at those words.

Guiding the reins, he continued through the rain.

The downpour only grew heavier, but it did not slow their progress.

Seated on the front of the carriage, Liu Sheng cracked his whip, urging the horse onward. The carriage moved steadily through the sheets of rain.

Not even a torrential storm could stop its journey.

<hr>

Ten days later, travelers along the roads of Dingbo Province witnessed an unusual sight. A lone carriage traveled from the south to the north, crossing the formidable Hengduan Mountains.

When monstrous entities plagued the route, the old driver raised a single finger, transforming it into a sword that effortlessly cut them down. Onlookers watched in awe.

Two weeks later, the same carriage crossed the Wuding River, entering Xianle Province.

The howling winds carried sandstorms, the region’s defining trait.

Xianle Province, in the southeastern reaches of the Rosha Kingdom, was characterized by its arid deserts. It bordered the Da Feng Empire.

It was here, in Xianle Province’s Fallen Phoenix City, that the Divine Descent had met its demise long ago.

Years of conflict between Rosha and Da Feng had followed, with Rosha suffering more losses than victories, ultimately ceding seven cities in the region.

Now, these seven cities were part of Da Feng’s territory.

<hr>

On the main road, dust clouds rose in spirals.

Li Wan, dressed in men’s attire and her face smudged with dirt to enhance her disguise, rode a horse alongside her companions.

Her eyes lingered curiously on the carriage traveling ahead of them.

Their group of seven was on their way to Xianglong County, traveling the same road.

The road was fraught with danger, so seeing a lone carriage moving fearlessly piqued Li Wan’s curiosity.

Who would dare travel alone on such perilous paths?

She speculated that the carriage’s owner must be exceptionally skilled.

Li Wan, confident in her own abilities, decided to approach the carriage and inquire if they could travel together for safety.

The carriage’s owner did not refuse her request.

What surprised her, however, was the owner himself—a young man who seemed no older than twenty.

“Could it be the old man eating buns is the real master?” Li Wan wondered.

As they traveled, she began chatting casually.

“Once upon a time, Xianle Province was the most prosperous region in Rosha. This very road would be bustling with merchant caravans every single day,” Li Wan said.

Her family had been merchants for generations.

Back then, trade caravans departed from Xianle Province, heading to Da Feng and beyond, creating immense wealth in the region.

“But now,” she added with a wry smile, “you won’t even see a single rogue specter, let alone a merchant caravan.”

“Isn’t that a good thing? No specters, no danger,” a burly man beside her remarked, his large blade resting on his belt. The heat had him baring his chest, sweat gleaming on his muscles.

“Don’t jinx it,” Qi Yuan said lazily from inside the carriage.

Li Wan laughed. “Even if we encounter trouble, isn’t Uncle Li here to protect us?”

Uncle Li, a seasoned Earth-tier Weapon Master, grinned confidently at the praise.

His gaze shifted toward the carriage, and after a moment of thought, he asked tentatively, “Master Qi, are you heading to Xianglong County to visit family?”

“To kill someone,” Qi Yuan replied flatly.

Uncle Li froze, exchanging a glance with Li Wan before shaking his head.

So much for building a connection, he thought.

While Qi Yuan seemed extraordinary, openly declaring such an intent suggested a life fraught with trouble.

Li Wan felt a twinge of disappointment at the response.

“And you? What brings you to Xianglong County?” Qi Yuan asked casually.

“Breaking off an engagement,” Li Wan replied after a pause.

“You?” Qi Yuan smirked. “Let me guess. The other party’s name isn’t Xiao, is it?”

Li Wan shook her head, puzzled. “No, it’s Shi.”

Before Qi Yuan could respond, Uncle Li’s face darkened.

“Not good. There are Da Feng cavalry ahead!” he warned, pulling his reins tight.

From his elevated position, Uncle Li scanned the horizon.

His expression turned grim.

“Three thousand Da Feng cavalry… rounding up Rosha citizens!”

Uncle Li’s voice was laced with anger as he relayed the scene ahead.

Through the swirling dust, three thousand cavalrymen clad in Da Feng's armor surrounded a group of Rosha citizens.

The prisoners—men, women, and children—were herded like livestock. Bound and huddled together, their faces were filled with despair.

The cavalry rode in circles around them, cracking whips and laughing maniacally.

Those who faltered or fell were lashed mercilessly, their screams muffled by the choking dust and the jeers of their captors. Some lay motionless on the ground, their lives snuffed out by the blows.

Li Wan clenched her fists tightly. “This… this is intolerable!”

Uncle Li’s face was grave. “This isn’t uncommon. The Da Feng cavalry often raid Xianle Province, but this… this level of brazenness is rare. Capturing civilians to sell as slaves… despicable!”

One of the burly men in their group growled in frustration. “Let’s teach them a lesson!”

“No!” Uncle Li snapped. “They outnumber us by far. Their cavalry is well-trained and ruthless. If we act rashly, we’ll end up dead—or worse, enslaved ourselves.”

The group fell silent, their expressions a mix of anger and helplessness.

At that moment, the carriage began to move.

Chen Kangbao, seated at the front, snapped the reins and urged the horse forward. The wheels rolled steadily toward the scene of the atrocity.

“Wait! What are you doing?!” Li Wan called out, panic lacing her voice.

She rode on the horse and wanted to chase after him, but she was extremely entangled.

Uncle Li was also stunned and didn't know what to do.

Chase after him?

They didn't dare.

Is the owner of this carriage... looking for death?

Or is he from Da Feng?

At this time, a calm voice came from the carriage.

"I'll go save them."

"But..."

"No buts, because the Divine is here."

"The Divine is here?" Li Wan's brain turned wildly, "Are you from the Arbiter Society?"

Only in this way can it be explained.

But, even if they were from the Arbiter Society, how could they resist three thousand cavalrymen?

Among the three thousand cavalrymen, there might be a Heaven-tier Weapon Master in charge.

“Returning justice,” came a calm voice from within the carriage.

Uncle Li’s heart sank. “This young master is courting death! Does he not know what he’s walking into?”

He hesitated. Despite his words of caution, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon the carriage.

Li Wan, however, was more conflicted. “Could he… could he actually intend to fight them? Is he that strong? Or is he…”

The doubts gnawed at her, but she could only follow as the carriage advanced.

<hr>

Among the Da Feng cavalry, a soldier noticed the approaching carriage and smirked.

“Well, what do we have here? Someone with a death wish?”

A group of fifty cavalrymen broke off from the main force, spurring their horses forward to intercept the carriage.

“Looks like we caught another one!”

“Another slave for the market. Maybe two, if that old man up front is still useful!”

Their laughter rang out as they closed in, but their mirth quickly froze on their faces.

Suddenly, a voice boomed across the heavens.

It wasn’t just loud—it was overwhelming, suffused with an almost divine authority that made the air tremble.

“Where light is absent, call upon the Divine Descent!”

“I wield the light to drive away the darkness!”

“When injustice reigns, call upon me, the Divine Descent!”

The words reverberated through the air, silencing the chaos of the cavalry and the cries of the prisoners.

The horses, sensing an otherworldly presence, reared and whinnied in terror. Soldiers shouted in confusion, looking around for the source of the voice.

The prisoners, huddled together, froze in awe.

Among them, an elderly woman suddenly knelt, tears streaming down her face. “The Divine Descent… it’s Him! The Divine Descent has returned!”

Others began to stir, memories of old tales flashing through their minds.

“Divine Descent?” A young man, his face smudged with dirt and his spirit all but broken, whispered the name like a prayer. His grandmother had once told him of a being who punished the wicked and delivered justice.

He had long dismissed those stories as fairy tales. But now…

The voice seemed to pierce his very soul, rekindling something he thought he’d lost: hope.

He stood shakily, fists clenched. Then, with all the strength he could muster, he shouted:

“Divine Descent!”

His cry was a catalyst.

The prisoners, young and old, began to rise, their voices joining in unison.

“Divine Descent!”

“Divine Descent!”

The chant spread like wildfire, drowning out even the rain and the howling wind.

The Da Feng soldiers panicked, their formation starting to break.

“What’s going on?!”

“Who dares mess with the Da Feng army?!”

“Shut them up!”

But before they could act, a blinding crimson light descended from the heavens, splitting the stormy sky.

The ground trembled as an immense figure materialized.

A towering, blood-red giant, nearly two hundred meters tall, clad in armor that seemed forged from the essence of battle itself, stood amidst the storm. Its very presence exuded an overwhelming aura of authority and power.

This was no mere Weapon Master or artifact—it was a god among mortals.

The Divine Descent had arrived.

<hr>

The Da Feng cavalry stared in stunned silence, their bravado crumbling into terror.

“What… what is that?!”

“Is it a demon?!”

The prisoners, too, were awestruck, their chants fading as they gazed upon the colossal figure.

But the young man who had first called out stood tall.

With trembling hands and tears streaming down his face, he shouted once more:

“Divine Descent!”

The giant’s gaze turned toward him.

Then, it raised a massive, armored fist.

The heavens seemed to hold their breath.

The fist descended.

The world erupted.

A shockwave rippled outward as the Divine Descent’s punch struck the earth.

The Da Feng cavalry was obliterated in an instant. Horses and men alike were hurled into the air like leaves in a storm. Dust and debris filled the sky.

When the dust settled, nothing remained of the cavalry but silence and ruin.

The prisoners, their faces pale with shock, stared at the carnage.

Slowly, they began to kneel, their heads bowed in reverence.

But then, the Divine Descent’s voice rang out once more.

“Stand up.”

“There is no need to kneel before me.”

“The Divine Descent requires no worship.”

The words carried an undeniable power, compelling the prisoners to rise.

They stood, their fear replaced by awe and determination.

They looked up at the Divine Descent, who stood as a protector rather than a conqueror.

<hr>

Li Wan and Uncle Li watched from a distance, their bodies trembling.

“Uncle Li… is that truly the Divine Descent?”

The older man’s face was pale, sweat dripping down his forehead.

“I… I think it is,” he murmured.

Li Wan’s thoughts raced as she glanced back at the carriage still trundling forward.

“Could it be… that young man…”

Her voice trailed off as she struggled to process the realization.

"Uncle Li... Is he the God of Judgment?"

Uncle Li's burly belly was covered with sweat. He looked at the tall figure, and his calves were shaking.

"Should be... right."

"The God is back... " Li Wan's voice was complicated.

She looked at the carriage that was still moving slowly from a distance, with mixed emotions.

Is the Master Qi in the carriage... the one who just chatted with her... the God of Judgment?

Or does he hold the most powerful artifact in the world... the Divine Descent?

Uncle Li’s expression grew grave. “The skies over Rosha are changing.”

For better or worse, the Divine Descent had returned.

Sometimes, some people hope for change. Can it be worse than now?

Sometimes, some people don't like change. They think it's pretty good now.

"If there is injustice, call the Divine Descent!"

Uncle Li stood up straight and straightened his back.

When he was young, he also called for the "Divine's presence".

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