Golden Core is a Star, and You Call This Cultivation?

“So, you’re telling me I now possess a faint trace of Destiny?”

“But being loved by the world is not necessarily a good thing—it could bring disaster.”

“At its peak, even Divine Descent fell... it seems I am still far from strong enough.”

On the ship, Qi Yuan lounged under the sun, continuing to give lectures to the sea fish beneath him.

After achieving Unity with the Heavens, he felt a stronger connection to the world around him, and the power of heaven and earth that he could harness had significantly increased.

Now, he could truly claim to be invincible under the Divine-tier.

As he preached to the fish, he would occasionally reflect on his own state or ponder over matters of artifact crafting.

His roleplay as the “Blind Artifact Master” was only a few months away.

He had to quickly improve his artifact-crafting abilities, or it would be extremely difficult to make progress once he lost his sight.

In this world, losing one’s vision meant being unable to project one’s spiritual sense outward. The world would become nothing but darkness.

Under such conditions, advancing one’s artifact-crafting skills would be almost impossible.

Even so, the Blind Artifact Master had still managed to become a Heaven-tier Artifact Master.

This alone demonstrated just how extraordinary the character’s talent must have been!

“It seems that every bit of my blood that has entered this game is doing quite well.”

“Except for Qi Yuan, the useless Son-in-law.”

“No, wait—he’s the only one with a wife, isn’t he?”

“According to some people, having a wife is also a skill.”

After all, some people liked to insult others by saying, “You’ll never get married. No one will want you.”

At this moment, a sweet, soft voice interrupted him.

“Mister, are you an Artifact Master?”

A young girl with twin pigtails, her big, sparkling eyes full of curiosity, was looking at Qi Yuan.

The girl was petite—less than 1.6 meters tall—with a baby face and a youthful appearance that made her look as if she hadn’t yet reached her teenage years.

“Hey, judging by age, I’m probably only a year older than you. How am I already a ‘mister’ to you?” Qi Yuan retorted, unable to help himself.

He was still in his prime! How could he be mistaken for a middle-aged man?

Liu Chudong chuckled mischievously, her voice soft and sweet. “I’m only twelve years old.”

Her face was still chubby with baby fat, making her look even younger, exuding the unique freshness of a young girl.

“You’re clearly seventeen,” Qi Yuan said casually.

Liu Chudong’s face showed a brief flash of surprise. “You know me?”

“Quit pretending to be young, you old lady!” Qi Yuan said bluntly.

After all, if she was going to call him ‘mister,’ then calling her an ‘old lady’ was fair game, right?

“Hey, what’s wrong with being an old lady? Is there a problem with pretending to be young?” Liu Chudong asked, dissatisfied.

Qi Yuan paused. He suddenly felt like he was dealing with a certain stubborn older sister from his past life.

“You’re right. Everyone is equal, and I shouldn’t stigmatize older women,” Qi Yuan reflected seriously, his tone sincere.

Liu Chudong blinked, startled by how quickly Qi Yuan had backed down. A moment later, her eyes showed a glimmer of admiration. “You’re an interesting person.”

She could tell that Qi Yuan’s apology was genuine, coming straight from the heart.

“I’ve always been law-abiding and good-natured,” Qi Yuan said proudly. “When I see ants on the ground, I can’t bring myself to step on them. When I see fish, I can’t bear to kill them.”

“You…” Liu Chudong believed him.

Qi Yuan’s words were so sincere, his expression so earnest, that they couldn’t possibly be fake.

Beside him, Chen Kangbao remained silent.

He wanted to say, Young Master, you don’t step on ants, true, but how many mosquitoes and flies have you killed?

And as for not killing fish?

That’s because your meals are always prepared by me, your loyal servant.

Liu Chudong studied Qi Yuan carefully before speaking. “Kindness is a virtue, but being too kind isn’t always good.”

She felt that Qi Yuan’s personality needed some adjusting. Being too kind-hearted could lead to being taken advantage of.

“Don’t worry, I’m kind, but I’m not a saint,” Qi Yuan replied.

“What’s a saint?” Liu Chudong asked, confused.

Qi Yuan explained the concept of a “saint” as it was understood on Earth.

Liu Chudong raised an eyebrow. “Saints deserve to be criticized, but why use the terms ‘saint’ and ‘mother’? Doesn’t that unfairly stigmatize those words?”

Qi Yuan froze for a moment before muttering, “To be fair… I didn’t invent that term.”

If only this world allowed complete freedom of expression.

“Still, it’s not your fault. You seem like an upright person. A good person, even. But sometimes, being too good in this world will only lead to being bullied,” Liu Chudong chattered on.

She saw Qi Yuan as someone worth cultivating—a kindred spirit, a person with potential.

This kind of person was rare. With a bit of guidance, he could become a like-minded comrade.

As the ship sailed across the vast ocean, Liu Chudong and Qi Yuan talked about everything under the sun.

There was an undeniable sense of camaraderie between them.

After an hour of conversation, Liu Chudong still seemed reluctant to part ways.

“Brother Qi Yuan, you’re a really good person, but sometimes you need to be more ruthless. Otherwise, kind people get bullied, and good horses get ridden into the ground!” Liu Chudong said with a sigh.

This world, perhaps due to the influence of Qi Yuan’s bloodline entering it, often seemed to produce phrases that were all too familiar to him. This didn’t surprise him anymore.

“You’re right. I’ve always been too kind-hearted, and that’s why I’ve been bullied everywhere I go.

Sigh, I’ve always obeyed the law, but all I’ve gotten in return… is endless oppression from my enemies!” Qi Yuan said with a mix of frustration and helplessness.

The Black Mountain Sect had pushed him too far!

The Taihuang Palace had no moral integrity!

The Bright Palace was utterly corrupt!

“Does this mean… I should stop obeying the law?” Qi Yuan lamented, sounding both bitter and wronged.

He truly felt as though the world owed him something.

“Obeying the law… is the right thing to do,” Liu Chudong said, her expression complicated. “But in this world, the law is determined by corrupt officials. Sometimes… it’s laughable to even speak of justice.” Liu Chudong gritted her teeth, her face filled with anger. “If only… if only…”

Through their conversation, Qi Yuan had come to understand that Liu Chudong was something of an idealist—a passionate young woman with a streak of righteous indignation.

Lowering her voice, Liu Chudong finally completed her sentence: “If only the Arbiter God were still alive, how could such injustice exist in this world?”

No fairness, no justice?

Qi Yuan silently added a sarcastic thought to himself.

As Liu Chudong spoke, she kept a close eye on Qi Yuan’s expression.

After all, the ship they were on was headed for the Rosha Kingdom.

In the Rosha Kingdom, the Arbiter God was a taboo topic.

Reporting someone for even mentioning it could lead to massive rewards.

Seeing that Qi Yuan remained calm and unfazed, Liu Chudong became convinced that she had judged him correctly.

“Brother Qi Yuan, do you also feel dissatisfied with the state of the world?”

Qi Yuan shook his head. “Not exactly dissatisfied. It’s just… the culture is terrible. Sigh, some people hold high positions despite being lazy and incompetent. It’s truly…”

He was, of course, referring to the so-called paragons who didn’t work hard to cultivate and provide him with experience points.

Liu Chudong’s eyes lit up.

What she heard was Qi Yuan criticizing the Rosha Kingdom, lamenting that the court was full of useless officials who only occupied their posts for appearances.

“Brother Qi Yuan, do you want to change this world?”

“I do. I want to make them work harder!” Qi Yuan said seriously.

He was ready to grab a whip and start urging the old men in Thorned Blood’s organization to cultivate more diligently.

Hearing this, Liu Chudong’s gaze grew determined. “Brother Qi Yuan, since you have this desire, it seems we are of the same mind. Would you like to join us in changing the world?

But let me warn you first—if you join us, you’ll face persecution, arrests, and even death at the hands of the corrupt court. This is a dangerous path.”

Liu Chudong did not want to miss the chance to recruit such a kindred spirit.

“And who are you exactly?” Qi Yuan asked.

“We follow the ideals of impartiality and justice taught by Divine Descent. Only Divine Descent can drive away the darkness and bring clarity to this world.

We originally wanted to call ourselves the Arbiters, but that name would draw too much attention from the court. So we call ourselves Judgment instead…”

Great.

The name “Judgment” seemed just as attention-grabbing as “Arbiters.”

Was this an organization formed by his fans?

“Hmph, the corrupt court has gone too far. Even though we call ourselves Judgment, they continue to hunt us down!” Liu Chudong fumed.

“Do you know about the Arbiter Society?” Qi Yuan asked.

As Divine Descent, Qi Yuan naturally knew that the Arbiter Society was his true fan club—the official one.

To properly roleplay Divine Descent, he would definitely have to connect with the Arbiter Society.

“I know…” Liu Chudong’s face showed longing. “Our Judgment organization hopes to become something like the Arbiter Society. But… the Arbiter Society is riddled with corruption. Many of its members have secretly sided with the royal family. So if you encounter someone from the Arbiter Society, don’t trust them.”

Liu Chudong warned him cautiously.

Qi Yuan took note of this, gaining more insight into the Arbiter Society.

But such matters didn’t concern him much.

“Do you kill specters?” Qi Yuan asked.

This Liu Chudong seemed idealistic but also naive. Yet she was still alive and well.

That suggested the Judgment organization must have considerable power—or perhaps Liu Chudong herself had powerful backing.

After all, she had only known him for a couple of hours, yet she was openly sharing information that could get her executed. Remaining unharmed under such conditions was no easy feat without a strong background or extraordinary luck.

“Yes, we specialize in killing evildoers and wicked specters!” Liu Chudong said seriously. “Don’t underestimate our small organization. Our members may not be the strongest, but… we’ve even taken down a Heaven-tier specter before!”

Pride flashed across Liu Chudong’s face as she mentioned this.

She glanced around to ensure no one was listening before lowering her voice and continuing, “I once saved an injured Divine-tier Weapon Master, helping him escape from his enemies. He’s been deeply grateful ever since and often helps me out.”

Ah, so that’s the reason.

It turned out she had the backing of a Divine-tier Weapon Master?

Qi Yuan’s gaze grew complicated.

Was it really just gratitude that motivated that person to help her?

“I’m willing to join you, but I want to kill specters and reduce the number of injustices and unfairness in the world,” Qi Yuan said seriously.

He needed to roleplay Divine Descent.

To increase his performance score, he needed to act as a righteous figure, fight injustice, and root out the forces behind the chaos.

Increasing his Divine Descent score would bring him significant benefits.

“Great!” Liu Chudong was thrilled. She had successfully recruited another capable ally for Judgment.

<hr>

That night, the sea was dark as Liu Chudong returned to her cabin.

Her room was small, and the faint sound of breathing, tinged with a metallic scent of blood, could be heard.

“Sister Qianran, I just met someone outside. He’s a really good person, and I’ve recruited him into Judgment!”

Liu Chudong’s face was full of excitement.

On the bed lay a woman dressed as a Daoist priestess.

However, her injuries were severe, leaving her unable to walk.

If Qi Yuan had been there, he would have recognized this Daoist priestess as someone he had encountered before at the Red Cloud Village.

Upon hearing Liu Chudong’s words, Qianran’s face showed a trace of helplessness. “You must remain cautious. I’m worried you’ll someday be tricked and taken advantage of.”

“Sister Qianran, don’t say such things. You can’t slander my friends!” Liu Chudong pouted in dissatisfaction. “Everyone in Judgment is my friend!”

Liu Chudong’s round eyes gleamed with indignation, like a child saying, Just wait till I grow up and get even with you.

Qianran didn’t argue further.

“This time, I’ll need you to help me get to the Liu family estate. My injuries are severe.”

After leaving the Red Cloud Village, Qianran had encountered a powerful specter. She had intended to use the encounter to sharpen her skills but quickly realized she was no match for the creature. Severely wounded, even her life-bound artifact had been damaged.

Now, to fully recover without leaving lasting injuries, she would need the intervention of a Divine-tier Weapon Master.

“Sister Qianran, don’t worry. I’ll ask Grandpa for help!” Liu Chudong said earnestly.

Although her relationship with her grandfather had been strained lately, she was willing to set aside her pride to save Qianran’s life.

Qianran’s face showed gratitude. Looking at her younger companion, she suddenly thought of the man they had met at the Red Cloud Village.

“Chudong, do you think… the Arbiter God could still be alive?” Qianran asked.

Liu Chudong’s eyes dimmed. “The Arbiter God’s divine body left no trace. Even the statues have been completely destroyed. How could… how could he still be alive?

If the Arbiter God were still here, how could the Rosha Kingdom have fallen into such chaos? How could it retreat and cede land when faced with the advancing forces of the Ascension Kingdom?”

Her voice was filled with frustration—not just disappointment, but anger toward the Rosha Kingdom’s royal family.

“What if… he is alive?” Qianran asked casually.

“The Rosha Kingdom would see the light once more,” Liu Chudong replied earnestly.

Qianran seemed lost in thought but said nothing further.

If the Arbiter God were to return, would he… still be the same Arbiter God?

Would he be the Arbiter God that Liu Chudong and so many others revered and believed in?

After all, the Arbiter God was not meant to have his own consciousness. He was supposed to represent absolute fairness and justice.

<hr>

Ten days passed.

During this time, Liu Chudong visited Qi Yuan daily, engaging in discussions about fairness, justice, kindness, and harmony.

The more she interacted with Qi Yuan, the more she admired him.

“Brother Qi Yuan, with you joining us, I believe Judgment has a bright future ahead!”

Liu Chudong gazed out at the vast ocean, her heart filled with hope for the future.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure those who don’t work hard are motivated to put in the effort!” Qi Yuan replied earnestly.

What he truly wanted was to push those lazy paragons to stop wasting their lives.

“If everyone were like you, Brother Qi Yuan, this world would be a beautiful place,” Liu Chudong said with admiration. “After all, you can’t even bring yourself to step on ants. And after catching a fish, you even apologize to it.”

In the time she had spent with Qi Yuan, she realized his kindness wasn’t just talk.

He genuinely avoided stepping on ants and would even go out of his way to avoid them.

When he caught fish, he would release them back into the water.

He never prepared or cooked fish because he couldn’t bear to witness their deaths.

Such a man was truly a saint!

Too kind!

“Tonight, we’ll likely reach the shore, Brother Qi Yuan. I have something urgent to attend to, so I won’t be able to accompany you to Judgment. Someone will guide you to our branch headquarters,” Liu Chudong said.

She had to take Qianran back to the Liu family estate to treat her injuries.

Otherwise, she would have personally led Qi Yuan to Judgment and joined him in fighting for justice and fairness.

“No problem. Take care of your own business,” Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

He planned to use Judgment’s resources to gather information on specters and better roleplay as Divine Descent.

“Alright,” Liu Chudong said with a firm nod.

She decided that once she returned to Judgment, she would make sure to expose Qi Yuan to some of the darker sides of the world.

After all, being too soft-hearted wasn’t good.

Being too kind could lead to being taken advantage of.

If he couldn’t kill evildoers, he should at least kill some rats!

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