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

In the unknown realms of Black Abyss Heaven, the rules of the Great Dao flowed.

Eight Grand Supreme Truth cultivators sat upon the clouds, their forms indistinct. Black flames crackled, filling the air with a sharp snapping sound. Amidst the distant echoes, the sound of a thunder tribulation could faintly be heard.

At this moment, six of the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators had gathered together to refine a special pill, the Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill. This pill could greatly accelerate Black Sword's cultivation, shortening his time to reach his full potential.

Under the orders of the highest elder of Black Abyss, the Third Elder took the lead, and the six available Grand Supreme Truth cultivators expended their vital energies to refine the pill.

"Steady!" the Third Elder commanded.

The black flames leapt, causing the surrounding space to collapse, only to immediately restore itself.

The other five elders, their forms concealed, threw their celestial energy into the flames. For a brief moment, their pale faces flashed before returning to normal.

Even for beings of such power, refining the Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill came at a cost to their vital energy.

The flames roared, and the space within began to gather iridescent liquid, which under the immense celestial power, began to condense into a pill.

After about half an hour, the Grand Supreme Truth cultivators retracted their celestial energy.

The Third Elder took a deep breath and bowed toward the other hidden Grand Supreme Truth cultivators. "Thank you for your efforts!"

The Grand Supreme Truth cultivators nodded slightly before their forms slowly dissipated.

Just as the Third Elder was about to leave, a voice called out to him.

"Third Elder, where is my share?"

Purple Fate Ancestor stretched out his hand, smiling serenely, clearly in a good mood.

If he could give this Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill to Blood Robe, it would further enhance his already exceptional talent, and accelerate his cultivation of the Ancestor Blood Art. In no more than a hundred years, Blood Robe could surpass Black Sword.

Thinking of this, Purple Fate Ancestor felt a surge of pride for his insight.

The Third Elder’s face, however, showed a hint of hesitation. "Sixth Brother, I can’t give you the Blood Shaping Enlightenment Pill."

Purple Fate Ancestor’s expression hardened, his gaze sharpening as the space around them began to tremble, as if it could shatter at any moment.

"Why not?" he asked, his tone heavy and clearly displeased.

"Did you ruin the pill?"

"No." The Third Elder shook his head bitterly. "It’s the Ancestor… He issued a decree."

The Third Elder sighed and explained, "The Ancestor understands your temperament well, and he predicted that you would come asking for this pill. So, he preemptively issued a decree."

Purple Fate Ancestor's face darkened considerably.

"Sixth Brother, the Ancestor himself gave the order. I have no say in the matter. He also mentioned that with Lynia's Transformation approaching, more resources should be focused on Black Sword. Black Abyss is a small faction and cannot afford to support two Grand Supreme Truth cultivators who can master the highest-level Dao."

The Third Elder shook his head, his tone resigned.

The Ancestor’s words made sense. With the turbulent times ahead in the Sixth Heaven, Lynia's Transformation could happen at any moment. When it did, all of the Sixth Heaven would be thrown into chaos, and Black Abyss couldn’t stay out of it.

They needed to accelerate Black Sword’s growth so that he could ascend to the Grand Supreme Truth realm, mastering the highest Dao. Only then would Black Abyss have the opportunity to become a key player in the upcoming struggle, gaining a voice in the major events.

Black Abyss’s resources were limited, and if spread too thin, it would only slow Black Sword’s progress toward the Grand Supreme Truth.

"I contributed to the refinement of this pill!" Purple Fate Ancestor snarled, clearly frustrated.

"The Ancestor’s decree cannot be disobeyed," the Third Elder sighed.

His meaning was clear: if Purple Fate Ancestor had an issue, he would need to take it up with the Ancestor himself.

Purple Fate Ancestor let out a cold snort.

Take it up with the Ancestor? That was something he wouldn’t do. His personality being what it was, a meeting between the two would undoubtedly lead to a fight. That would only bring disaster to Purple Fate Heaven.

"Bring Black Sword here. Have him suppress his cultivation to Blood Robe’s level, and let them duel. The winner will receive Black Abyss’s resources!" Purple Fate Ancestor declared loudly.

In his heart, Blood Robe was far superior to Black Sword.

Of course, the secrets involved couldn’t be revealed. If they were, Blood Robe wouldn’t survive even a day.

But if Blood Robe could defeat Black Sword openly and win the resources, Purple Fate Ancestor believed there was a chance.

The Third Elder hesitated. "Sixth Brother, Black Sword’s talent is the greatest in Black Abyss, and Blood Robe cannot defeat him. Even if Blood Robe won, would the Ancestor change his mind? Black Sword shares the same bloodline as the Black Abyss Ancestor. That fact alone means he is destined to be our sole leader."

The Third Elder truly didn’t believe Blood Robe could defeat Black Sword.

Even if Blood Robe’s talent ranked in the top ten across all of Sixth Heaven, Black Sword was not only the most gifted but also shared the bloodline of the Black Abyss Ancestor—an unimaginably noble bloodline.

The very fact that Black Sword combined both extraordinary talent and this supreme bloodline made him untouchable.

Hearing this, Purple Fate Ancestor’s expression changed several times before he finally snorted coldly and left in a huff.

There was nothing more he could do.

The Third Elder watched Purple Fate Ancestor’s departing figure and sighed softly. "I hope Black Sword can step into the Grand Supreme Truth realm soon. Otherwise… Black Abyss’s downfall is not far off."

...

In an unnoticed corner of the Sky Cliff.

Qi Yuan opened his eyes, a flash of golden light flickering within them.

"Nine layers."

After devouring the Black Abyss Ancestor Blood and accelerating his cultivation of the Ancestor Blood Art, he had finally reached the ninth layer.

The ninth layer of the Ancestor Blood Art was incredibly powerful, making his Myriad Dao Martial God cultivation comparable to the Lesser Truth realm.

"I’m stronger now… but I also look like I’m suffering from metal poisoning."

Qi Yuan glanced at himself. This time, more of his blood had turned gold, and even his pupils had a trace of gold, giving him a sinister, chilling appearance.

Without hesitation, he dyed his blood red again and his eyes black.

"Now I can barely protect myself. Time to sneak out and find out who’s been plotting against me!"

The power of the Truth realm gave Qi Yuan a small measure of confidence.

His figure blurred as he once again left Sky Cliff and returned to the Sixth Heaven.

In Sky Cliff City.

The golden-robed woman narrowed her eyes, her expression growing impatient.

"Still no sign of Blood Robe?"

She was becoming anxious. A mere Blood Robe wasn’t worth wasting so much time on.

She had planned to kill him, refine his soul into a spirit servant for her Ten Thousand Souls Banner, and then quickly flee.

Of course, fleeing was necessary.

If a mozi-level genius were killed, Purple Fate Heaven’s Yang Gods would undoubtedly be enraged and come after her.

She only needed to hide in Ghost Dominion Heaven. Surely no Yang God would risk their life to enter Ghost Dominion Heaven for someone like Blood Robe.

"Sister, we’ve set up a flawless trap, and formations are everywhere. If he shows up, we’ll definitely catch him!" the young man beside her said, keeping his head down, not daring to look her in the eyes.

"So, he’s hiding somewhere, too scared to show himself?" The golden-robed woman sneered.

Just then, a voice filled with killing intent rang out from nearby.

A figure in a crimson robe appeared, his form blurred, his face indistinct.

"Bring out the one behind this. I want to see who dared to plot against me!"

"You’re Blood Robe?" The golden-robed woman’s eyes widened in surprise, then gleamed with delight. "You managed to sneak past the formations? You’ve got some skill!"

She hadn’t expected Blood Robe to come to her so directly.

"The one behind this? No one. I’m the one… who’s going to kill you!"

The golden-robed woman stepped forward, her aura surging.

She had progressed deeply in the Mythic Realm, and her power far exceeded that of the average Mythic cultivator. Her strength was much greater than Bull Horn Sister’s.

As she advanced, a sinister Ten Thousand Souls Banner appeared in her hand. Instantly, the air was filled with the wails of countless souls, screaming in agony.

Dark energy spread across the sky, ghostly shadows flickering ominously.

With the Ten Thousand Souls Banner in hand, the golden-robed woman looked like a harbinger from the underworld.

"Blood Robe, remember, the one who kills you… is Mo Na!"

The banner fluttered, the wind howled.

Facing Blood Robe, Mo Na didn’t hold back, unleashing her most powerful attack.

Not far away, Qi Yuan watched Mo Na carefully, a hint of confusion on his face. "There really is no one backing you?"

"Hmph, no one!"

The banner filled with wailing souls surged, its powerful soul attack bearing down on Qi Yuan.

Thousands of tortured souls screamed in his ears, their cries echoing into his soul.

Qi Yuan was stunned. "No one? You’re just a mere Mythic cultivator, and you dare plot against me? Who gave you the nerve?"

Qi Yuan chuckled.

In Mo Na’s shocked gaze, Qi Yuan reached out and grabbed the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

With a loud snap, the powerful banner shattered.

Mo Na stared, dumbfounded.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner… shattered? This was a treasure she had refined over ten thousand years!

"You…" Mo Na paled, utterly confused.

Before she could move, a massive force hit her. A gaping wound appeared in her chest as Qi Yuan’s hand reached inside, clutching her heart.

"Quick, tell me who’s behind this!" Qi Yuan demanded coldly.

The speed. The power.

Mo Na was completely overwhelmed, her magic sealed. Blood Robe’s oppressive aura reminded her of Black Sword.

Her face turned ashen, her mind filled with fear. She couldn’t even speak.

"Tell me, don’t make me force you. I don’t usually hit women," Qi Yuan said sincerely.

He was rather old-fashioned in that regard.

But Mo Na was completely immobilized, unable to respond. However, upon hearing Qi Yuan’s words, a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes.

Could she… actually survive?

"Damn it, still not talking?"

Qi Yuan confirmed that Mo Na had acted alone; there was no one else behind this.

"You scared me for nothing. You’re courting death!"

With a burst of powerful energy, Qi Yuan shattered Mo Na’s soul.

Mo Na’s eyes filled with despair, and with her last breath, she whispered, "Didn’t you say… you don’t hit women?"

Qi Yuan looked at her disintegrating form, his expression serious. "When did I hit you? I killed you!"

Qi Yuan felt quite pleased with himself.

If she had said that killing wasn’t the same as hitting, Qi Yuan had another move up his sleeve: stripping her of her status as a woman altogether.

He had learned a lot from Blue Star’s ladies.

He knew, for example, that many men never took travel photos, choosing instead to steal scenic pictures from social media accounts of female travelers to post as their own.

In an instant, Mo Na was dead.

Inside the hall, the remaining Ghost Dominion Heaven cultivators trembled, their faces pale with terror.

"You…"

"What about me?" Qi Yuan asked calmly.

He struck with a powerful punch, and the hall’s space collapsed. The Ghost Dominion Heaven cultivators were wiped out in an instant.

Looking at Mo Na’s corpse, Qi Yuan grew cautious. "I’d better leave quickly before a Yang God comes after me."

Mo Na’s body carried the imprint of a Yang God. Now that she was dead, the Yang God would surely know and would likely come to kill him.

The best move now was to return to Purple Fate Heaven.

After all, who knew how powerful the Yang Gods from Ghost Dominion Heaven were?

Without hesitation, Qi Yuan stepped into the teleportation array and headed back to Purple Fate Heaven.

About a hundred breaths later, a terrifying aura descended upon Sky Cliff City.

The entire city quaked under the pressure, and an enraged voice echoed through the sky.

"The audacity!"

Yang God Mo Chang appeared over Sky Cliff City, the entire city shaking as if it would collapse.

All the cultivators witnessing this were filled with terror, bowing their heads in fear and reverence, not daring to look up.

This was a Yang God.

When a Yang God was enraged, corpses would cover the land for miles.

Mo Chang gazed at Mo Na’s shattered corpse, her eyes blazing with fury.

In an instant, a flood of information entered her mind, and her anger deepened. "Black Abyss… Blood Robe… He killed my granddaughter, my most beloved Mo Na. This won’t end here!"

"Damn it, he even destroyed her soul so thoroughly there’s nothing left for the Ten Thousand Souls Banner. What a waste!"

Without hesitation, she stepped into the teleportation array.

She was going to Black Abyss to demand justice.

Of course, she knew the outcome wouldn’t be what she wanted, and she wouldn’t be able to kill Blood Robe.

But her granddaughter had been killed. If she didn’t exact some form of retribution, she wouldn’t be able to rest.

As for her reputation?

Did the Yang Gods of Black Abyss and Ghost Dominion Heaven still have any face left to care about?

The other cultivators in Sky Cliff City watched this unfold, their hearts filled with shock. They knew something major was about to happen.

Elsewhere, Qi Yuan exited the teleportation array and rushed toward Purple Fate Heaven.

"Having the backing of a powerful force really is the best."

Once inside Purple Fate Heaven, Qi Yuan finally relaxed.

In the past, the enemies he had faced were far too powerful, and his sects were unable to provide him any real protection.

But now, with the protection of Purple Fate Heaven, things were different.

Qi Yuan was beginning to appreciate the benefits of being backed by a large sect.

"Blood Robe Senior Brother, you’re back! Why are you in such a hurry?"

Just as he exited the teleportation array, Purple Fate Xiaolu appeared nearby, clutching the hem of her robe, curiosity written all over her face.

"Sigh, I got tangled up with some crazy woman, so I had no choice but to kill her. Then, after I killed the younger one, the older one showed up, so I ran back here."

Qi Yuan shrugged.

"Huh?" Purple Fate Xiaolu was confused.

Not far away, An Xunlu appeared, her expression cold. "Hmph, why didn’t you kill the older one too? If Big Brother Black Sword were here, he would have killed them both."

Qi Yuan’s eyes brightened. "Black Sword can really kill the older one? She might be following us!"

An Xunlu felt a sense of pride at first, but before she could respond, a thunderous voice suddenly roared from the sky, echoing across the heavens.

"How dare you kill my granddaughter Mo Na! Hand over Blood Robe!"

Yang God Mo Chang roared, her voice carrying for miles.

She stood at the edge of the heavens, demanding an explanation.

Or more accurately, she wanted compensation.

An Xunlu’s face changed at the sound of the voice.

Qi Yuan leaned in close and whispered, "The older one is here. Quick, go get Black Sword and see if he can kill her."

An Xunlu’s face flushed red with anger, and she gritted her teeth. "You’re dreaming!"

This was a Yang God!

Blood Robe had a lot of nerve to have killed Mo Na.

Mo Na was a renowned genius of Ghost Dominion Heaven.

Thousands of years ago, she had been defeated by Black Sword in just three strikes.

Even Ice Sword hadn’t been able to withstand three strikes from Black Sword.

For Blood Robe to have killed Mo Na, his strength… might even surpass that of Ice Sword!

Nearby, Purple Fate Xiaolu blinked in admiration. "Blood Robe Senior Brother is amazing!"

She beamed with pride.

Just then, Qi Yuan turned to An Xunlu and said, "Sigh, if Black Sword can’t kill her, then why do you always boast about him? Doesn’t he have hands?"