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

Chapter 512: Yang God’s Third Layer, Void Overlord

Inside the Celestial Cloud Temple, Hengshan Grandmaster stood silently with a pig mask covering his face, concealing his features.

Around him were several men cloaked in hoods.

“This rain is so irritating,” said a skinny, monkey-like man, his sleeves hiding deadly darts.

He was a master of hidden weapons, carrying a large arsenal of them.

“Because of the Water Sovereign, Yeshan Lake is likely to stay rainy for a while. As for Shen Lingxuan… she’s always near Heavenly Sect’s grandmasters, making her difficult to catch,” Hengshan Grandmaster said, his hoarse voice carrying through the room.

“Then let’s grab her useless husband first,” suggested the sleeve dart man.

Shen Lingxuan might be hard to capture, but to them, her powerless husband, Qi Yuan, was no more than a toy they could easily crush.

“That would alert her and ruin the plan. Not ideal,” Hengshan Grandmaster replied, his gaze tinged with confusion. He wondered why Feng Tie still hadn’t shown up.

Was something holding him back?

Listening to the constant drizzle of rain, Hengshan felt an inexplicable unease rising in his heart.

Suddenly, the card in his pocket began to glow.

Hengshan’s expression changed dramatically.

“Not good!”

The mysterious card had been obtained from an ancient ruin.

It possessed unique abilities and was the source of his illusion techniques.

Beyond that, the card also served as a warning system.

Thanks to the card, Hengshan had survived countless dangers. Even after abducting the princess of the Mo Shan Kingdom and being hunted by Heaven-tier Weapon Masters, he had emerged unscathed.

But now, the glow from the card was even stronger than when a Heaven-tier Weapon Master had chased him before.

How could Hengshan not panic?

Without hesitation, he shot into the air like a cannonball, fleeing the Celestial Cloud Pavilion.

The cloaked men around him were left bewildered, having no idea what was happening.

Then, without warning, a piercing sword intent descended like icy death.

The three men stared in terror as the rain froze, and a crystalline water sword broke through the downpour, heading directly for them.

It was devastatingly fast, sharp, and swift, like thunder. They didn’t even have time to react.

The sword aura sliced through their throats, severing them cleanly.

The water sword didn’t stop. It streaked toward Hengshan Grandmaster as he fled.

Despite the card’s early warning, Hengshan could not escape the sword.

The blade pierced his throat, blood spraying everywhere. Disbelief filled his face.

“How is this possible?”

His body collapsed to the ground, his eyes clouded with doubt and regret.

Having received the card’s inheritance, Hengshan believed he had a bright future ahead. His ambitions weren’t supposed to be limited to the Mo Shan Kingdom. Yet, he died inexplicably, without even knowing who killed him or why.

Elsewhere, Shen Lingxuan’s pupils contracted slightly.

“That sword…”

In terms of raw power, this strike didn’t match her peak from her past life.

After all, in her previous life, she had used a sword to repel armies, founded the Heavenly Sect, and become its first Dao Sovereign.

But in terms of precision, this sword was far superior to hers.

She looked at Qi Yuan, her heart rippling with emotion. “A single sword to kill four Earth-tier Weapon Masters… who are you?”

Curiosity and a hint of apprehension filled her thoughts.

Although the precision of Qi Yuan’s sword was extraordinary, its aura revealed that he hadn’t yet reached the realm of unity with the heavens.

If he harbored any intention toward her Profound Yin Physique, she would have no way to resist.

Qi Yuan smiled. “If you agree to be my steed, I…”

Before he could finish, his smile froze.

Shen Lingxuan’s figure disappeared.

She… ran away!

Yes, she fled immediately.

Qi Yuan was speechless, staring at her slender figure vanishing into the rain. He muttered to himself, “Do I really look that much like a villain?”

“When mortals behold a god, fear is natural,” Chen Kangbao sighed.

“I’m her husband. All I wanted was to ride her for a bit—what’s the big deal?”

“She’s… Shen Lingxuan?” Chen Kangbao froze for a moment.

Clearly, he hadn’t recognized her earlier.

“Let’s go do something noble and handle their ‘inheritance,’” Qi Yuan said, stepping into the muddy temple.

The three Earth-tier Weapon Masters didn’t leave much behind. Qi Yuan only found about 100,000 taels of silver notes in total.

He felt disappointed, his mood akin to that of a bandit finding a widow he wanted to woo was plain and unattractive.

Qi Yuan turned his attention to Hengshan Grandmaster’s body.

“Let’s hope you give me something interesting.”

Opening Hengshan’s storage artifact, a strong scent of rouge wafted out. Inside were piles of women’s undergarments in various colors.

“What a twisted fetish,” Qi Yuan said flatly.

Digging further, he found 620,000 taels of silver notes.

His eyes gleamed with delight.

“I’m officially a millionaire now.”

Then, his gaze fell on a card tucked into Hengshan’s sleeve.

“This material… doesn’t fit the aesthetic of this game at all.”

The card was gray with intricate patterns and seemed to be made of plastic.

[Illusion Card: Originating from Void Paradise. Features include recording, warning, inheritance, and more. There are 375 optimization configurations available.]

Qi Yuan’s eyes instantly detected hidden information.

“Void Paradise? What’s that?”

“I’ve never heard of it,” Chen Kangbao said, shaking his head.

“This card records data. Maybe if I use the password, I can uncover something useful,” Qi Yuan speculated.

Unlike Hengshan, who had only scratched the surface of the card’s capabilities, Qi Yuan could access its core.

In moments, vast amounts of information poured into his mind.

“Zhao Bailong, a Void Walker?”

The original owner of the card was named Zhao Bailong, a being from another universe chosen by Void Paradise to become a Void Walker.

The revelations astonished Qi Yuan, as Void Paradise resembled the “main god spaces” he knew.

Zhao Bailong’s home universe was called Zhou Universe.

It was a realm teeming with powerful beings, with Void Paradise’s creator, the Void Overlord, reigning as its strongest entity.

“The Void Overlord, a Yang God in the Third Layer, in the Open Heaven realm?”

The information detailed the Yang God’s Third Layer as comprising Rule, Omniscience, and Creation stages.

Rule cultivators condensed ultimate truths into universal laws, achieving the Third Layer.

Omniscience required mastery of at least nine universal rules, while Creation represented the pinnacle—opening heavens and creating worlds.

“A being who can create worlds… now that’s a real god. The Void Overlord is impressive,” Qi Yuan mused.

Though Qi Yuan’s strength rivaled a Grand Supreme Truth practitioner, the thought of creating worlds was far beyond him.

Destroying a star? That was within his reach.

The Void Overlord had discovered the “nascent universe” that included Qingshan Realm billions of years ago.

Repeated attempts to assimilate this universe had failed, but the Overlord continued sending Void Walkers to deepen the karmic connection and pave the way for eventual domination.

“So, by holding this card, I’m now tied to the Void Overlord karmically?” Qi Yuan muttered.

This revelation clarified many mysteries but also left Qi Yuan feeling both vulnerable and bemused.

“First, let me become the ultimate knife. The Void Overlord can wait.”

“Old man, find me a chef. Today, I’m going to be a hardworking knife and level up fast!”

“Got it!” Chen Kangbao replied eagerly.

...

The bustling market buzzed with activity.

Chen Kangbao stood tall, loudly hawking his wares.
“The ultimate divine chef’s knife! Yours for only 999 taels!

Slice through vegetables like air! Chop wood with ease! Come and see for yourself—buy it now, no regrets!”

“Hey, old man, a knife for 999 taels? Isn’t that a scam?”

“A knife that expensive could buy you a weapon used by Weapon Masters!”

“You fools don’t understand! This is no ordinary knife—it can create culinary masterpieces unmatched by mortal hands!” Chen Kangbao argued, his spittle flying in earnest.

“Scammer!”

Most of the crowd sneered and dismissed him.

After all, who in their right mind would spend 1,000 taels of silver on a plain kitchen knife?

“Ah, Young Master’s approach to waiting for a fated owner is too passive,” Chen Kangbao thought. “As his advisor, I must use my wisdom to help him find a true fated person.”

Chen Kangbao pondered deeply. To be the destined owner of the knife, the candidate needed two key qualities: wealth and gullibility.

“They should ideally be a sheltered, naïve noblewoman who’s snuck out to explore the world.”

“But… how many noble ladies would even know how to cook?”

Chen Kangbao frowned and tapped his chin, formulating a plan.

“I’ll need to repackage this knife to make it irresistible.”

Chen Kangbao’s mind raced, scheming and strategizing, even forgoing his beloved steamed buns as he scoured the marketplace for a suitable target.

After nearly two hours of searching, his eyes lit up.

“This girl looks gullible enough!”

“Even if she doesn’t know how to cook, that’s fine—I’ll teach her how to make steamed buns! Nobody knows buns better than I do!”

He spat into his palms, smoothed down his disheveled hair, and adjusted it to appear tidy and polished. Picking up the knife, he followed closely behind his chosen target.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yunxi wandered the market, her wide eyes sparkling with curiosity as she admired the vibrant stalls.

In one hand, she held a stick of candied hawthorn; in the other, she shook a small flower drum, resembling a child delighted by the sights and sounds of the market.

Just then, a hunched, elderly figure appeared before her.

“Young lady, this old man has traveled far and wide, vanquishing countless vile spirits. Passing by here, I saw the eastern skies glowing with auspicious purple light—clearly, I’ve encountered a fated person,” Chen Kangbao declared solemnly.

Jiang Yunxi blinked at him, her sparkling eyes narrowing suspiciously. “What do you want, old man?”

Though sheltered, she wasn’t entirely oblivious.

“This here is a divine knife, a treasure unlike any other,” Chen Kangbao said, holding out the knife reverently.

“It lacks only a destined wielder—and you, young lady, are that person,” he added with the gravitas of a sage.

“A knife?” Jiang Yunxi examined the blade skeptically. “If it’s fated, why don’t you just give it to me?”

Chen Kangbao’s heart leapt with excitement—she was showing interest! “Young lady, your gallant spirit is evident. Wielding this knife, you’ll create culinary marvels and vanquish countless evils!”

Jiang Yunxi’s expression turned incredulous. “I don’t care about cooking, but fighting monsters sounds fun. Fine, give me the knife.”

“It’s yours for only 999 taels,” Chen Kangbao said, extending the knife while holding out his hand expectantly.

Jiang Yunxi froze for a moment, then her face flushed with anger. “You’re taking me for a fool, aren’t you?

Earlier, another old man tried to sell me some ‘savior’s manual’ for ten taels. You’re asking for a thousand—are you kidding me?”

It wasn’t the first time Jiang Yunxi had encountered scammers targeting her.

She puffed her cheeks in frustration, feeling both exasperated and wronged. Was her face stamped with “easy target”? Why did all the charlatans flock to her?

“If you follow me again, I’ll report you to the authorities!” she huffed, glaring fiercely.

Chen Kangbao sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment.

Even now, he couldn’t fool a naïve girl. His skills were slipping.

But just as he was about to give up, Qi Yuan’s calm voice echoed in his ear.

Chen Kangbao’s face lit up with newfound confidence.

“Young lady, Jiang Yunxi, if you let this knife slip away, it will be the greatest regret of your life,” he intoned with mystic gravitas.

Jiang Yunxi froze, her expression stiffening. “How do you know my name?”

Chen Kangbao’s eyes gleamed. “Not only do I know your name, but I also know that you wet the bed until you were six. That Xuan-tier bracelet on your wrist? Your mother gave it to you as a sixth birthday gift—to stop you from wetting the bed!”

Jiang Yunxi’s face burned bright red, her mouth falling open in shock. “How… how do you know that?”

This childhood embarrassment was known only to her closest family. How could this strange old man possibly know?

“Because… I am a true immortal!” Chen Kangbao declared with conviction.