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

Chapter 481: The Great Sun Has Disappeared? Root Demon Tribulation!

Countless cultivators and Yang God Venerables felt their hearts stirred, their gazes instinctively turning to the Great Sun within the Astral World, as well as the Ten Suns suspended in the heavens. What was unfolding within the Gate of Myriad Principles was a mystery to all.

Only by relying on astral projections could they glean the outcome of the battle.

True Origin Venerable stood in the void, surrounded by a host of Yang Gods, his gaze sweeping across the crowd as he spoke coldly, “This Ten Sun Venerable is far too arrogant, completely ignorant of the terror of a Supreme. This time… the greatest artifact in the Immortal World shall belong to Taihuang Palace!”

The surrounding powerhouses reacted differently to his words; some were filled with worry, while others appeared contemplative.

Within the Council of Supreme Truth:

“If we had known he possessed the Gate of Myriad Principles, we would have offered assistance. Now… the Great Sun will simply gain it.”

“With the Great Sun’s power, bolstered by the Gate of Myriad Principles, these Six Heavens… ah, this Ten Sun Venerable’s lack of wisdom is astounding. Attempting to outwit such power is futile, for no scheme holds sway before a Supreme.”

Being Supremes themselves, they understood the strength and terror of such power. A Supreme was beyond the comprehension of even the strongest Great Supreme Truth cultivators.

The two Supremes fell into thought, contemplating what might come once the Great Sun returned.

In the Sky of Azure Blades:

An old man dressed in a rain cloak looked every bit like a tiny elder. “It seems that… victory belongs to the one and only Hall”

In White Dragon Abyss:

White Dragon Abyss Lord’s expression was complex. “No wonder he didn’t wish to bear my child. So… he had the Gate of Myriad Principles.”

She gazed up toward the stars in the Astral World, a glimmer of expectation in her eyes.

Many Yang God Venerables assumed that a great battle must be unfolding within the Gate of Myriad Principles. The victor would undoubtedly be the Great Sun.

But, in truth, they were gravely mistaken.

Inside the Gate of Myriad Principles, silence reigned, devoid of any battle. Or, one might say… a king cannot meet another king.

The vast expanse of space was breathtakingly beautiful. Stars glimmered like pearls, strung upon threads of color, appearing like a reversed Milky Way.

It was magnificent and boundless.

Qi Yuan stood within the cosmic vastness, his expression complicated. He shouted into the vast universe, “Great Sun, your father’s calling you home for dinner!”

Even in the vacuum, Qi Yuan’s voice carried for millions of miles.

No echo returned; within the expanse, it didn’t even stir a ripple.

Qi Yuan shrugged. “As expected, this universe is too vast. Who knows where the Great Sun got transported?”

Qi Yuan was well aware of the power disparity between him and the Great Sun.

In a straight fight, he’d likely lose.

So he’d chosen to use his sharp mind instead.

Rather than engaging in a head-on clash, Qi Yuan devised a ruse. Appearing as though he’d reached his breaking point under Taihuang Palace’s oppression, he produced the Gate of Myriad Principles to force the Great Sun into a one-on-one exchange.

But once the Great Sun entered the Gate of Myriad Principles, Qi Yuan immediately sent the Gate into a universe where his Stellar Golden Core resided.

Then, he swiftly withdrew the gate.

So, when the Great Sun stepped through, it wasn’t the Gate of Myriad Principles he encountered but rather a vast universe.

The universe was so immense, even greater than the Six Heavens.

Now, the Great Sun was stranded within it, cut off from the Six Heavens.

“Powerful beings of the Six Heavens perish instantly if they step into other universes,” Qi Yuan muttered to himself.

This was knowledge he had gained in the Six Heavens.

Living beings from the Six Heavens could not survive passing into other universes through mystical lands; they would perish immediately. Similarly, beings from other universes could not return to their original realms after entering the Six Heavens; they, too, would perish.

“But… I have a faint feeling that the Great Sun won’t be so easily killed.”

According to arrangements he’d left in the Six Heavens, a Nascent Soul from the Buddha Realm informed him that the Great Sun’s astral projection still remained.

“Could this be a fake universe? Or… is there another reason?”

“Or maybe… this universe has no ruling will?”

Qi Yuan pondered.

Perhaps, lacking a ruling will, the Great Sun Supreme had not perished upon entry.

At that moment, space shimmered.

A figure in a black dress, Ning Tao, appeared with Canary, dressed in a flowing orange-yellow skirt, small, exquisite, and brimming with charm.

Without hesitation, one of the figures threw herself into Qi Yuan’s embrace, clinging to him like a koala.

Showers of kisses fell upon him as the young woman’s soft lips claimed him, unrestrained.

“I missed you so much!”

Canary’s eyes sparkled with a deep, longing affection, boldly expressing her emotions.

Qi Yuan supported her thighs with one hand, holding her by the hips, his eyes softening.

In contrast to Canary’s boldness, Ning Tao appeared colder and more reserved. The black dress accentuated her fair skin, giving her a pallor as pale as jade. Standing there, slender, with an air of detachment, a hint of a smile graced her face.

“The Stellar Golden Core has shown no sign of the Great Sun’s presence. He’s likely in another region.”

“Seems he was transported into a different void,” Qi Yuan mused.

The universe was so vast that even a Yang God Venerable might never explore it fully in their lifetime.

“If only he got tossed into a black hole. I wonder if a black hole could kill him!” Qi Yuan thought aloud.

With that, he stretched out a hand to grasp Ning Tao’s cold, small hand.

Ning Tao didn’t pull away, though a serious look appeared on her face. “Husband, after you return, a single day there could mean a hundred years here. He might gain strength quickly. Without the will of the Immortal Path limiting him, he could thrive.”

Qi Yuan seemed unfazed. “Strength doesn’t grow that easily. This universe… it’s not suitable for Six Heavens cultivators, either.”

In his grand plan, he had considered unexpected occurrences.

This universe was strange and almost devoid of immortal spiritual energy.

In fact, it was even less rich than the lower realms of the Six Heavens.

If the Great Sun could merely maintain his current cultivation here, he’d be fortunate; gaining strength would be incredibly difficult.

If the Great Sun were to stumble upon some miraculous treasure that boosted his power in this universe… well, that’d be quite the lucky coincidence.

In that case, he might as well assume the Great Sun would find some miracle within the Six Heavens that would transform him into a reincarnated Dao Ancestor.

“Still, you both need to be cautious. Even if the chances of encountering the Great Sun are one in a billion, be prepared to return to the Six Heavens immediately if you see him,” Qi Yuan warned.

“Humph, husband, you underestimate me,” Ning Tao replied coolly. “I’ve been working hard to grow stronger, too.”

With a wave of her slender hand, a terrifying force swept outward.

The stars around them quivered momentarily.

Qi Yuan felt time and space around them freeze for an instant.

“A Great Supreme Truth?” Qi Yuan blinked, surprised.

Ning Tao’s power in that moment, while perhaps not yet that of a Great Supreme Truth, was certainly close.

She looked pleased with herself. “With every Stellar Golden Core I refine, my power grows considerably. If that Great Sun dares to appear here, just lend me a Stellar Golden Core, and he’ll have no way back!”

For every Stellar Golden Core Qi Yuan refined, his strength grew noticeably, and Ning Tao, as the alchemist, also grew stronger alongside him.

Moreover, in this universe, his Golden Cores were actual stars, rather than the astral projections used in the Six Heavens.

The power of his Stellar Golden Cores was now truly fearsome.

Ning Tao, exuding her confidence, hugged Qi Yuan tightly, while Canary nestled close, clinging to him every moment.

Then, Ning Tao’s brow furrowed slightly. “Husband, you have another woman’s scent on you.”

Canary stopped, sniffing delicately from where she was curled up. “It’s quite fragrant.”

“It’s Jinli,” Qi Yuan admitted openly.

Back on the Constellation, Ning Tao and Canary had already been made aware of Jinli’s existence.

“Oh, Jinli is a younger sister then.”

“Oh, so she’s the elder sister Jinli.”

The two spoke at the same time, with differing titles for her.

Ning Tao, gripping her clothes, cast a glance toward the distant stars. Despite a trace of reluctance in her eyes, she said firmly, “Husband, you should hurry back. Even though the Great Sun is out of sight, Taihuang Palace remains a threat.”

Qi Yuan nodded, picking Ning Tao up in his other arm.

Ning Tao’s expression quickly shifted to one of slight panic.

After all, her usual persona had a slightly aloof quality, like that of a refined woman.

What kind of refined woman lets herself be held like a doll?

Once her husband was gone, Canary was certain to tease her about this.

Qi Yuan kissed both Ning Tao and Canary on the cheek, wasting no words. “I’ll head back first.”

At that moment, his form vanished.

In the empty cosmos, only Ning Tao and Canary’s small figures remained.

“Hah, with all your modesty, you lost out. Today, I kissed him thirteen thousand times more than you did!” Canary boasted, as though she were showing off.

“Humph, if you refined Golden Cores as quickly as you kiss, husband would already be invincible!”

“Jealous, are we? Your possessiveness could ruin your health! You’re so icy, yet on the bed, you—”

“You…!”

...

Within the Six Heavens:

Countless eyes remained fixated outside the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

Jinli felt her heart tighten, a glint of worry flickering in her eyes.

Fortunately, however, the lunar mark did not indicate that Qi Yuan had been seriously injured, which was a relief.

True Origin Venerable closed his eyes, hiding his lack of confidence beneath a stoic expression.

Though the Great Sun’s astral projection still lingered, so did that of the Ten Sun Venerable, implying that the Great Sun had yet to slay the Ten Sun Venerable.

This realization stirred doubt in his mind.

Other Supremes and Yang God Venerables had similar thoughts.

At that moment, a faint spatial ripple appeared, and a lazy voice broke the silence.

“Oh dear, where did the Great Sun Venerable go? How did he end up losing track of me?”

Qi Yuan’s figure appeared, standing in the void, hands spread in feigned innocence.

“If the Great Sun has gone missing, that’s not on me. I’m not involved in kidnapping!”

For a moment, Yang God Venerables across the Six Heavens blinked in disbelief.

“You… you actually made it out!” True Origin Venerable's eyes widened, unable to believe what he was seeing.

The Great Sun Venerable and the Ten Sun Venerable had both vanished, yet it was the Ten Sun Venerable who reappeared.

How could this be anything other than astounding?

A sense of absurdity washed over them, mixed with a growing unease.

“This…” White Dragon Abyss Lord’s expression grew ever more complex. Over these recent days, her emotions had experienced more upheaval than they had in her entire life up until now.

First, Blood Robe was revealed to be the Ten Suns Venerable, someone who had comprehended not one but two Supreme Truths, then wielded the Gate of Myriad Principles, and had now seemingly even outmaneuvered the Great Sun.

Any one of these events was enough to shake the heavens. Yet, all of them had centered on one person within an incredibly short span of time.

White Dragon Abyss seemed to grow warmer as she absorbed this revelation, almost as if she’d taken in all the air herself.

Within the Council of Supreme Truth, the two Supremes felt their spirits tremble.

The Great Sun Venerable, renowned for his immense strength and possibly the foremost being in the Six Heavens, had entered the Gate of Myriad Principles only to vanish.

As they looked upon Qi Yuan, their previous sense of pity transformed into one of wariness.

This time, they truly began to regard Qi Yuan not as a mere junior but as a threat in his own right.

“Where have you hidden the Great Sun?” True Origin Venerable’s voice trembled, laced with fear and anger.

“I don’t know. Maybe he has a case of dementia and wandered off. Don’t pin that on me; I’m not taking the blame!” Qi Yuan shrugged off the responsibility, blatantly deflecting.

“You…” True Origin Venerable’s face grew rigid with unease.

Now, Qi Yuan’s gaze turned ice-cold. “Weren’t you the one suggesting I go to Taihuang Palace and beg forgiveness? Well, Taihuang Palace, here I come. But it won’t be to beg for forgiveness—I’m coming to demand it!”

True Origin Venerable paled, the words sending a chill through him. The Yin Gods and Yang Gods standing behind him suddenly realized the gravity of the situation.

Without the Great Sun, Taihuang Palace… truly seemed on the edge of peril.

For a brief moment, True Origin Venerable felt a cold sweat, but he quickly regained his composure. His expression hardened as he steadied himself.

“Taihuang Palace is not a place you can just waltz into.”

Though he put on a tough front, a flicker of apprehension danced behind his eyes.

At that moment, Qi Yuan’s expression shifted, as if he sensed something.

He cast a glance at True Origin Venerable, his gaze sharpening. “In one day, I’ll bring Taihuang Palace to its knees!”

With that declaration, Qi Yuan’s figure disappeared.

And that threat left every Yang God in shock.

It seemed, then, that the Great Sun Venerable had indeed been trapped somewhere by the Ten Sun Venerable and was unable to free himself, at least for now.

Yet, even so, Taihuang Palace’s heritage and strength were still terrifying. How dare this Ten Sun Venerable challenge it?

Could it be that he held more hidden cards?

Yet, before absolute power, how useful could they really be?

Surely the odds didn’t favor him, did they?

All eyes in the Six Heavens watched in stunned silence.

Stunned and incredulous… to the point of numbness.

Meanwhile, chaos had erupted in the Purple Fate Sky.

Initially, while Purple Fate Ancestor and Saint Wuming clashed, he had been at a disadvantage but not in imminent danger.

However, moments ago, Saint Wuming had unexpectedly unleashed a drop of Root Demon Blood, instantly triggering Purple Fate Ancestor’s Root Demon Tribulation.

The Root Demon Tribulation was dreaded among cultivators of this world, especially among the Supreme Truth Yang Gods.

The Supreme Truth realm was one of great longevity, yet nearly two-thirds of fallen Supreme Truth Yang Gods had perished under the Root Demon Tribulation.

For this reason, many Yang Gods, while courageous in their pursuit of power, chose to halt their progress out of a deep-seated fear of the Root Demon Tribulation.

Purple Fate Ancestor, for instance, had deliberately held his cultivation back for countless years to delay the inevitable arrival of his tribulation.

After all, he knew the Root Demon Tribulation would spell his end.

It was common knowledge that aside from those Yang Gods who had comprehended Supreme Truths, other Great Supreme Truths, including White Dragon Abyss Lord, who belonged to the second echelon of Great Supreme Truths, all feared the Root Demon Tribulation as they would a poisonous viper.

The Root Demon Tribulation was akin to a blade hanging over their heads, keeping these Great Supreme Truths from advancing further.

Were it possible to survive the Root Demon Tribulation unscathed, these Great Supreme Truths could continue to grow in strength, perhaps even nearing the level of a Supreme.

Currently, however, Purple Fate Ancestor was trapped within his Root Demon Tribulation.

Upon realizing that the Ten Sun Venerable had emerged from the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land, Saint Wuming had not hesitated to flee.

In the heart of Purple Fate Sky, Purple Fate Tandu paced anxiously, his expression tense. “The Ancestor… he’s trapped within the Root Demon Tribulation…”

As one of the few Supreme Truth cultivators within Purple Fate Heaven, he understood that the Ancestor stood no chance of surviving the tribulation.

If the Ancestor fell, Purple Fate Heaven would lose its position within the Six Heavens, potentially facing ruin.

Many of the Yang Gods, including Purple Fate Daxue, wore expressions of deep worry.

The Ancestor was their anchor and their most powerful protector.

Now, within the void, Purple Fate Ancestor’s body appeared half-withered, half-vital, straddling the line between life and death.

The Root Demon Tribulation continued to devour his physical form and soul.

Occasionally, his eyes would briefly regain clarity amidst a fog of confusion.

“Sigh, this is my tribulation. There is no need to grieve for me,” Purple Fate Ancestor said, his voice tinged with sorrow.

He could feel the end drawing near.

There wasn’t much time left for him.

“At least… I was fortunate enough to see Blood Robe emerge from the Gate of Myriad Principles before the end,” he murmured, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Seeing that before my death… is enough.”

Yet, he sighed again. That Blood Robe rascal was bound to mock him if he saw his sorry state.

The Yang Gods and prodigies of Purple Fate Heaven looked on, eyes filled with grief.

Just then, a calm voice cut through the solemn silence.

“Why all the sadness? I almost thought you were all preparing for a banquet.”

Everyone turned to see the figure of Qi Yuan, and a flash of shock swept across their faces.

“Blood Robe!”

The Ancestor’s gaze also turned toward Blood Robe, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “Even at the end, you still won’t give me a moment’s peace.”

“End? What end?” Qi Yuan replied, feigning confusion as he looked at the Ancestor. “You’re not dying on my watch. As long as I’m here, there’s no way you’re dying!”

The Ancestor blinked in surprise.

Then, with a sigh, he admitted, “I doubt I’ll last through the Root Demon Tribulation.”

The Root Demon Tribulation and the Lynia Transformation were the two great hurdles for cultivators in this realm.

“It’s a small issue; I know medicine. I’ll fix you up.” Qi Yuan said with a lazy smile. He seemed calm, unperturbed by the tense atmosphere surrounding him. “All it is… is a little kidney deficiency causing your Root Demon Tribulation.”

For a moment, the grief of those gathered around eased, faint traces of amusement breaking through their sadness.

The Ancestor glared at Qi Yuan, “You insufferable brat, not even at my death will you spare me any dignity. I’ve got the kidneys of a thousand men!”

“Elders must accept their age. If your kidneys are failing, just admit it.” Qi Yuan stifled a yawn.

Of course, he knew nothing of medicine.

But he figured simply blaming it on kidney deficiency was enough.

“Come, let me enter your Root Demon Tribulation and help you fix your kidneys.”

With that, Qi Yuan moved toward the Ancestor’s tribulation.

The Ancestor was surprised, feeling a strange warmth. “Kid, there’s no one who can help with the Root Demon Tribulation. But I appreciate the thought.”

Then, with a solemn tone, he added, “Do not go to Taihuang Palace without first condensing your Great Supreme Truth Mark. Though you may have thrown the Great Sun somewhere, his astral body still remains in the Astral World, capable of unleashing terrifying power.”

“Root Demon Tribulation, bah. It’s nothing. I’ve seen the Root Demon Sea itself. Old man, watch closely as I sort this out for you!”

Without further words, Qi Yuan plunged into the Root Demon Tribulation amidst the shock and horror of the Yang Gods and prodigies.

“Blood Robe!”

“He’s gone into the Root Demon Tribulation!”

“Is he seeking death?”

The Ancestor, too, was stunned. He never expected Qi Yuan to enter the Root Demon Tribulation without a moment's hesitation.

“Kid, get out of there! The Root Demon Tribulation is no joke. It involves…”

The Ancestor’s voice faded, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Within the tribulation, the dark and twisted world surged with colors and lines.

The entire scene resembled a mass of tangled threads, its outstretched strands writhing like tentacles. Dark and sinister, each strand represented an evil essence, dripping with greed and bloodlust. They clung to the Ancestor, gnawing away at his body and soul.

But Qi Yuan’s entry had transformed the tribulation entirely. The once-ferocious Root Demons now behaved more like obedient threads of yarn, harmlessly yielding as he strode through them.

For the Ancestor, this sight was beyond comprehension.

“Kid, what… how is this even possible? Are the Root Demons your relatives?”

He could make no sense of it.

Blood Robe’s lineage was rooted in Black Demon Abyss, a bloodline unrelated to Root Demons.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have had to suffer the agony of this Root Demon Tribulation.

“They’re not my relatives… though I suppose they resemble my original divine power,” Qi Yuan remarked, summoning the Void Dominator’s Heart Demon Guidance.

At once, a strange aura of demonic power began to emanate from Qi Yuan.

It was the force of greed, lust, gluttony… all manner of vices bound to mortal nature.

The scent was eerily similar to that of the Human Sovereign Hall Envoy from their encounter outside the Heaven and Earth Mystical Land.

Yet the Ancestor realized, to his shock, that this aura was also closely related to the Root Demons.

“This… is your original divine power?” The Ancestor looked incredulous.

Original divine powers were a rarity, exclusive to high-ranking Purple Mansion cultivators.

“Swallow them whole!”

The crimson sword extended as Qi Yuan brandished it.

His ability, granted by the Foodless Saint Mother, flared to life.

Instantly, a gaping maw opened on the blood-red blade, dark and foreboding.

With terrifying ease, the yawning mouth devoured the once-menacing Root Demons as though they were as harmless as rice noodles.

It left the Ancestor speechless.

The Root Demons’ disappearance was no illusion; their dark presence truly vanished, and his energy stabilized, his vitality returning.

Watching Qi Yuan, the Ancestor felt a newfound reverence and awe. “At this point, if you told me you were the Heavenly Will’s father, I’d believe you!”

Nothing about Blood Robe was ever ordinary.

Despite his countless years as a Great Supreme Truth, despite witnessing every kind of wonder, this… was new.

The Root Demon tribulation now cleansed, Qi Yuan reabsorbed his blood-red sword, which now bore new lines resembling the Root Demons themselves.

“See? Top-notch medical skills. You’re cured!” Qi Yuan smirked as the crimson blade merged back into his form.