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

Chapter 368: The Rise of Meow-Meow, and the Return of Dragon King Xinsu!

As Qi Yuan and Black Deer Martial Lord were conversing, nearly 400 peak Martial Kings gathered beneath the towering Sky Pillar.

These peak Martial Kings came from various strongholds, standing silently in groups according to their factions.

Due to the gravity of the Blood of Ancestors Battle, none dared to speak loudly or act out of line.

Though they appeared calm on the surface, inside they were brimming with excitement, each filled with ambition.

At that moment, a snake-like creature spoke in a mechanical voice: "The examiners have arrived, bow to the examiners!"

As it spoke, thirty-six thick beams of light descended from the top of the tower. Each beam represented one of the powerful Martial Lords seated above.

These Martial Lords, seated high atop the tower, released only a sliver of their aura through the beams of light.

The nearly 400 peak Martial Kings below quickly bowed their heads in respectful salutation.

"Greetings, Examiners!"

They didn’t dare look up at the examiners, keeping their heads lowered, cautious and obedient.

Even if some were bold enough to look up, they wouldn't have been able to see anything; they could only sense the aura released by the Martial Lords.

The beams of light appeared for just a breath before vanishing, like gods high above the clouds.

The snake-like creature spoke again: "Bow to the Ancestor!"

All the officials immediately turned to face south, their expressions reverent as they performed a solemn salute.

After the salute, the snake-like creature declared: "The Blood of Ancestors Battle begins!"

Instantly, an iron gate beneath the tower began to slowly open.

The peak Martial Kings on the field grew visibly more excited.

"This time, I’m definitely getting into the top ten!"

"The top thirty will definitely have my name!"

"I will ascend the throne and become the supreme Martial Lord!"

Some recalled the Martial Lords seated atop the tower and felt a surge of aspiration.

"Mu Yan, this time in the Blood of Ancestors Battle, I’ll surpass you for sure!" said a black-clad man standing in front of Mu Yan, his eyes filled with confidence and arrogance.

Mu Yan looked at him and smiled lightly, saying, "Surpassing you has never been my goal."

The black-clad man’s eyes flickered as he remembered something. "You’re a bit like that Qi Yuan. Back in the Mountains and Seas Scroll, he said the same thing to me. Back then, he was high and mighty, didn’t care about anyone, and went about his tasks as he pleased, taking the mission target with him. But now? After entering the Origin Land without a Martial Lord’s mark, he has no choice but to hide, unable to show himself."

The black-clad man knew Qi Yuan.

In a previous mission, he had encountered Qi Yuan. He had already heard of Qi Yuan’s reputation.

While other bloodline inheritors chose to leisurely wait for Qi Yuan to slay the monsters and complete the mission, the black-clad man was dissatisfied and wanted to challenge Qi Yuan.

He told Qi Yuan that he would complete the mission and that Qi Yuan would never surpass him.

The result was disastrous. Qi Yuan had said the same thing Mu Yan just did, then easily defeated him.

"If you had the Ancestor’s blood, you wouldn’t even be worthy of carrying Brother Qi’s shoes," Mu Yan said with a cold smile, though inwardly he felt some regret for Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan was the most talented warrior he had ever seen. On the ship, even dozens of Martial Kings combined wouldn’t be a match for Qi Yuan.

The only thing Qi Yuan lacked was the Ancestor’s blood.

"After everything you’ve been through in the Mountains and Seas Scroll, don’t you understand that birthright is also a form of power?" the black-clad man said arrogantly.

Having a Martial Lord’s mark meant the Ancestor was still alive.

Mu Yan didn’t respond, falling into silent contemplation.

At that moment, screens appeared atop the tower, displaying the images and conversations of all the peak Martial Kings below.

Black Deer Martial Lord smiled and asked, "Do any of you have a favored candidate?"

One Martial Lord replied, "Li Fan looks plain at first glance, but if you look closely, his talents stand out. He has the potential of a Grand Martial Lord—quite promising."

"I think Zhuge Yu is impressive. He looks very intelligent. On the martial path, besides talent and bloodline, wisdom is also important."

The Martial Lords casually discussed the candidates.

To them, the younger generation had no secrets. A glance was all it took to see everything.

As the other Martial Lords chatted, Black Deer Martial Lord turned to Qi Yuan and asked casually, "Brother Qi, do you have a favorite?"

"If I had to choose, I’d say that Mu Yan seems promising," Qi Yuan said offhandedly. "But don’t show him any favoritism just because I mentioned him. I’m only saying this because I know him."

Qi Yuan prided himself on being fair. Even though he had mentioned Mu Yan, he made sure to clarify that there shouldn’t be any favoritism.

He thought of himself as a meticulous and perfect person.

"Oh, is that so? He certainly has a good bearing," Black Deer Martial Lord said, glancing at Mu Yan and offering praise.

The other Martial Lords also glanced at Mu Yan. Among them, a burly Martial Lord’s eyes flickered with doubt. Mu Yan was one of his bloodline descendants, but how did Lord Qi Yuan know him? And they seemed familiar?

Suddenly, he remembered the request this bloodline descendant had made, and a realization struck him.

"No, no, no. In the Mountains and Seas Scroll, without the Ancestor’s blood, he couldn’t have broken through to Martial Lord. And besides, we Martial Lords cannot leave the Origin Land. It must be a coincidence that they share the same name. Or perhaps that Qi Yuan is connected to this Lord Qi Yuan in some way."

The Martial Lord mused to himself, deciding to increase his efforts in nurturing Mu Yan and strengthening his ties with Qi Yuan.

"If there’s someone you favor, there must also be someone you don’t. See that guy in the black robe? I don’t think he’ll do well. Look at how long his legs are. When he walks, his hips sway. Clearly, his hips are afraid of heights. And if his hips are afraid, he probably is too. The trial grounds are a tall tower, and the higher he goes, the more scared he’ll get. There’s no way he’ll perform well."

Qi Yuan analyzed the situation seriously, like a scholar, his reasoning meticulous and thorough.

"......"

Silence. The Martial Lords around him were speechless.

Afraid of heights? A peak Martial King afraid of heights?

What Qi Yuan said left them baffled.

But since he said it, there had to be some truth to it.

Black Deer Martial Lord chuckled softly. "Mr. Qi Yuan makes a good point."

Qi Yuan had just joined the Eastern Alliance, and being a powerful figure, they had to give him face. Even if his reasoning seemed bizarre, they had to take it seriously.

"Naturally, I’m a man of reason. I never speak without basis, and I always ground my actions in practical experience," Qi Yuan shrugged.

"Haha," Black Deer Martial Lord laughed politely.

The other Martial Lords remained silent. No one would mourn the black-robed man. Since Qi Yuan had named him, his fate would likely be grim.

At that moment, Qi Yuan asked another question.

"This Ancestor’s blood... is it related to the Myriad Demon Realm?"

The disappearance of the Ancestor demons from the Myriad Demon Realm likely meant they had come to this world.

At the mention of the Myriad Demon Realm, Black Deer Martial Lord’s expression changed slightly. He then replied, "It seems Brother Qi has lived for an exceptionally long time, to even know of the Ancestor demons. The Eastern Lord’s lover was an Ancestor demon. Or rather, the ruler of the Ancestor demons. But during the great calamity, all the Ancestor demons perished in battle. We, in a sense, are their descendants. Our bloodline originates from the Ancestor demons."

"I see," Qi Yuan said, falling silent.

The two stopped talking, and the other Martial Lords either continued watching the battles in the tower, made idle conversation, or closed their eyes to rest.

If not for Qi Yuan’s presence, the Martial Lords wouldn’t have come in person at all. They’d have sent an avatar to oversee the event.

"Sigh, these battles are going too slowly. When will the Wall of the Eastern Lord appear? I’m curious to see what this legendary Eastern Lord looks like," Qi Yuan said lazily. He was only interested in the Eastern Lord and the Spirit Realm Martial Lord.

"If you’re bored, Brother Qi, you could always meditate. By the time you open your eyes, the battles will likely be over," Black Deer Martial Lord suggested casually.

For Martial Lords, meditating for thousands of years was common. But due to the presence of the Morning Song and the Eastern Lord’s instructions, they had been avoiding long meditations lately.

"Meditating? That’s not going to happen. I’ll just go online instead."

Qi Yuan closed his eyes after saying this.

Even though he was in the Origin Land without access to the internet, it didn’t stop him from "going online." He had his Nascent Souls.

His Nascent Souls could handle the internet for him.

Meanwhile, in the End Land, in the Qin Yuan Nation, Wu Qi, who had been preparing to explore some ruins, suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"Fellow Daoists, I’m sorry. Something urgent has come up, so I won’t be able to go on this expedition."

With that, Wu Qi’s figure vanished.

When she reappeared, she was in a hotel room.

Taking out her computer, she posted a message online.

"Help! How do you build an Underworld?"

...

In the Tianxuan Sect building.

Wang Zhiqi stared wide-eyed at the cat in front of her, shock evident in her gaze.

"Is she... the Senior?"

Xie Tang smiled, her eyes still filled with joy. "Yes, I didn’t expect it either. She’s reincarnated... as a cat."

Though she had always admired her senior sister, seeing her reborn as a... useless cat left her with mixed feelings.

The pressure from the sect hadn’t lessened, but seeing her senior sister alive again filled her with joy.

"I’ve petted the Senior before!" Wang Zhiqi muttered nervously. "She won’t blame me, will she?"

"No, this meow is generous and won’t hold it against you!" With Xie Tang’s help, Xie Xinsu could now speak.

Wang Zhiqi sighed in relief. "That’s good."

At that moment, Xie Xinsu suddenly shouted, "Meow, I won’t hold it against you, but meow meow, I’ve endured so much humiliation over the years. It’s time to take revenge and reclaim everything that was lost!"

Xie Xinsu stood up on her hind legs, crossing her front paws over her chest like a human, trying to look "imposing."

For years, not only had she been forced to shoot short videos, but she had also become addicted to watching them.

She particularly enjoyed those dramas about returning home to seek revenge.

When the time came, she imagined beating her enemies and watching their jaws drop in shock. It would be so satisfying.

See? You all mocked and underestimated me, but this meow is the true Senior Sister of Tianxuan Sect!

Xie Xinsu turned to Wang Zhiqi. "You followed my account, so you should know how much I’ve suffered.

At that house, I endured humiliation, forced to film videos every day with no cat rights.

Worst of all, I only had one day off a week. No double weekends!

One time, I secretly called the labor bureau, but they completely ignored me.

I’ve suffered greatly.

Junior Sister, you must stand up for your Senior Sister!

My days of suffering are finally over!"

Wang Zhiqi’s heart raced, and she quickly said, "Senior, in fairness, Brother Qi Yuan... took good care of you all these years, didn’t he?"

Hearing Qi Yuan’s name, Xie Xinsu’s expression changed. "Hmph, he let Zero-One bully me. That’s his crime too.

He’s in trouble now. I want him to feed me ten bags of cat food every day!"

Wang Zhiqi blinked, then laughed lightly. "Alright, alright!"

Xie Tang chuckled fondly.

Even though her senior sister seemed a bit foolish now, she was still her beloved senior.

"I can forgive Qi Yuan, but that robot Zero-One is unforgivable. I want her to be my slave, filming videos every day with no breaks!" Xie Xinsu said furiously.

Xie Tang smiled indulgently. "Alright, I’ll take you to get your revenge!"

"Bring plenty of cat food. I traveled thousands of miles to find you. All this suffering must be repaid to Zero-One!" Xie Xinsu grumbled.

"Alright, I’ll make sure to teach them a lesson!" Xie Tang agreed.

Of course, since the other side had taken care of her senior sister for so long, she would remember their kindness and go easy on them.

But a little punishment was still necessary.

After all, her senior sister had suffered for so many years!

Half a day later.

In Jun’an Residential District, two women and a cat appeared.

Xie Xinsu was thrilled. "Hmph, hahaha, this meow has returned!

See that dog over there? The last time I escaped, that dog bullied me and even farted in my face!"

Seeing a pet dog, Xie Xinsu became agitated.

She had escaped when Zero-One wasn’t around, only to be bullied by that dog as soon as she left the neighborhood.

Xie Tang smiled helplessly. "Zhiqi, I’ll leave it to you."

"As you wish, Senior." Wang Zhiqi left, but before departing, she whispered, "Senior, Brother Qi Yuan is a good person. Don’t be too harsh."

"Hmm." Xie Tang nodded. "I’m reasonable."

She said this as she carried Xie Xinsu toward Qi Yuan’s house.

"Junior Sister, that robot is too wicked. After capturing her, don’t charge her battery for a few days. Let her starve, and when she’s on her knees begging this meow for mercy, I’ll show compassion," Xie Xinsu said excitedly.

"Alright, no problem." Xie Tang nodded.

Soon, they arrived at Qi Yuan’s house.

Xie Tang’s eyes flashed with surprise. "No one’s home?"

She couldn’t sense any living presence inside.

Meanwhile, Xie Xinsu was already gleefully shouting, "Open the door! Open the door! Your queen has returned!"

She was tapping her paw against the door.

Just then, the door opened.

A robot’s face appeared, staring at Xie Xinsu. A smile spread across its mechanical face, as if it were human. "Kitty, you’re finally home.

Hmm, there are still three hundred videos left to shoot. You’ll have to work hard for the next few days and film them all."

Hearing that familiar and "cruel" voice, Xie Xinsu was furious. "See, Junior Sister? This robot Zero-One has no conscience and still wants me to film videos.

Junior Sister, help me capture her! She should be the one filming from now on!"

"Junior Sister, why aren’t you saying anything?"

"Do something already!"

At that moment, Xie Tang’s eyes widened, and her body trembled. She stared at Zero-One, stunned. "You... Senior..."

She suddenly recalled the powerful figure from her last adventure.

At least at the level of a Yin God.

"Junior Sister, what’s wrong? Why are you calling this detestable robot 'Senior'?" Xie Xinsu asked, confused.

Xie Tang gritted her teeth, her starry eyes trembling. "Senior... it might be a servant of a deity."

"No way, impossible!" Xie Xinsu’s worldview shattered.

How could Zero-One be a servant of a deity?

Her owner... was a god?

"Come on, let’s start filming. Our channel hasn’t updated in a while, and if we don’t start making money soon, I’ll have to cut off your cat food," Zero-One said, grabbing Xie Xinsu.

Xie Tang didn’t dare resist.

In fact, she had a feeling that even if she tried, she wouldn’t be able to defeat this robot.

"S-Senior... this is my sister..." Xie Tang stammered.

"Don’t worry, Master is kind and won’t harm her. She just needs to film the videos.

Look, she’s so well-behaved on camera. That means she actually enjoys it."

"No, Junior Sister, meow! Save me!" Xie Xinsu wailed, struggling to break free.

Just then, a loud sound echoed in the distance.

Xie Tang instinctively looked up, while Zero-One also raised its head, its expression calm.

In the sky above, countless small fireworks seemed to explode at once.

"What’s going on?" Xie Tang felt a growing sense of unease.

"The Eye of the Sky... has been destroyed," Zero-One said calmly.