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

Chapter 542: Battle with Feng Ti, Monumental Breakthrough, A Glimpse of the Path to the Third Stage of the Yang God Realm

“Danger outside?”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan grew anxious.

“In that case… all the more reason for me to go out.”

If Shen Lingxuan was in danger, Qi Yuan naturally couldn’t stand idly by.

After finally finding her, there was no way he would let her disappear again.

What was he supposed to do? Follow the trope of some “Dragon King’s live-in son-in-law” and wait until his wife was captured and humiliated, only to explode with rage and save her at the last moment?

Such a narrative didn’t fit Qi Yuan’s style.

“Don’t… come out!” Shen Lingxuan’s usually cold, moon-like expression was tinged with urgency. The fierce air currents whipped her black dress against her lithe figure, outlining her smooth, jade-like thighs. She looked like a disheveled black swan caught in the wind.

Her tall, elegant frame naturally drew attention, especially her long, slender legs.

The air current from Feng Ti’s sword strike, which shattered the Divine Wood Chasm’s protective barrier, was ferocious. Even the residual shockwaves left Shen Lingxuan, a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, struggling to maintain her footing. It seemed as if she might be swept away at any moment.

Such terrifying power was completely beyond her level.

If Qi Yuan stepped out, he would be courting death.

She didn’t want him to die for her.

“‘Husband and wife are like birds in the same forest, but fly separately in the face of disaster.’

Unfortunately, I’m no bird. I’m a live-in husband,” Qi Yuan quipped. “I’m your husband—how could I abandon you?”

Qi Yuan quickly immersed himself in his role.

Of course, part of what he said came from his genuine feelings.

“I…” Shen Lingxuan felt a pang of emotion. She hadn’t expected Qi Yuan to leave the safety of the Divine Wood Abyss for her.

At this moment, the world seemed to crack apart as Feng Ti hovered in the void, his long sword stretching across the horizon and radiating an aura that shook the heavens.

Feng Ti’s gaze swept over Shen Lingxuan, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

Without moving, his overwhelming aura swept outward.

Shen Lingxuan immediately felt the powerful shockwaves strike her. As a Heaven-tier Weapon Master, she suddenly felt like a fragile butterfly with broken wings, flung backward by the sheer force of Feng Ti’s leaked energy.

Blood seeped from the corner of her lips as her body hurtled toward the distant mountains.

Just then, an arm wrapped around her slender waist, catching her mid-air. A gentle voice spoke, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”

“Qi… Qi Yuan?” Shen Lingxuan’s cold, snow-like face held a mix of emotions: surprise, joy, and worry, making her seem like a dark rose in bloom.

“So much for TV dramas—I thought a move like this would involve spinning in the air and accidentally kissing her,” Qi Yuan mused calmly, sharing his thoughts.

Hearing his words while being held, Shen Lingxuan’s moist lips pressed together, a strange feeling welling up in her heart. But she quickly said, “Be careful—it’s someone from the Radiant Society.”

Meanwhile, Feng Ti, high above in the sky, chuckled.

“I never expected to find two chosen ones gathered here. It seems I’ve saved myself some time.”

He looked like a god, seated loftily in the heavens.

The sword in his hand hummed ominously, ready to strike at any moment and tear the sky apart.

Holding Shen Lingxuan, Qi Yuan looked up at the sky.

What he saw was blurry and indistinct.

According to the unspoken rules of being a live-in husband, should he now say something dramatic?
Something like, “If you dare break her wings, I’ll destroy your heavens!”
Or, “A dragon’s reverse scale—touch it and die!”

No… too cheesy.

“You’re strong,” Qi Yuan said simply.

Indeed, Feng Ti was stronger than most Great Venerables.

In fact, of all the ordinary Great Venerables Qi Yuan had encountered in the Sixth Heaven of the Immortal Realm, none had given him such an oppressive sense of power.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“But as long as I’m here, I won’t let you act recklessly or break the law!”

Placing Shen Lingxuan gently on the ground, Qi Yuan stood protectively in front of her.

Looking at his tall figure, Shen Lingxuan’s complex feelings and past memories transformed into something deeper.

She recalled the time he had wielded his Rain Sword to annihilate her enemies with a single stroke.

Back then, she had thought he was dangerous. Now, she found him valiant.

“A blind man dares to judge me?” Feng Ti sneered. “You’re not qualified!”

An ant had no right to judge an eagle.

Shen Lingxuan’s heart suddenly ached. “Your eyes?”

Only now did she notice something wrong with Qi Yuan’s eyes. Out of shyness, she had earlier avoided looking directly at him, but now she saw…

He was blind.

Shen Lingxuan stood up, her snow-white face growing resolute. “I’ll face him with you.”

Qi Yuan shrugged. “Dealing with him… won’t require your help.”

He thought he was being rather tactful.

It wasn’t about male chauvinism; it was simply that Shen Lingxuan’s current strength wasn’t enough for this kind of battle.

He couldn’t just say, “You’re too weak.”

“Foolish arrogance,” Feng Ti scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain.

Without moving a muscle, his flying sword shot forward from where it hovered in mid-air.

Extreme Light Sword!

The sword’s speed was unmatched, leaving only a flash of light in its wake.

This sword strike was the embodiment of the Heart of the Rule of Extremity that Feng Ti had comprehended.

The Rule of Extremity was a first-tier rule of the universe.

It represented condensing all things into a singular point, the pinnacle of destructive power.

In this singularity, space ceased to exist. All defenses became meaningless.

This sword could pierce through the void and even penetrate the dark void beyond.

Such a Rule of Extremity was terrifying.

If Feng Ti ascended to the third stage of the Yang God Realm in the future, he could combine nine first-tier rules into nine cosmic rules, creating a universe of his own atop this singularity.

This demonstrated the potential of the Rule of Extremity, granting Feng Ti the qualifications to pursue the Yang God Realm’s third stage.

Of course, that potential belonged to Feng Ti’s original form, not this clone.

As the sword struck, Qi Yuan sensed a hint of embryonic universal truth in the attack.

He was somewhat surprised.

This opponent was indeed formidable.

The powerful sword came with blistering speed, aiming straight for Qi Yuan’s temple, condensed into a singular, unstoppable force.

There was no way to dodge it.

Or rather, no ordinary Great Venerable could withstand it.

However…

“So even divine-tier cultivators can comprehend the embryonic form of universal truth?”

Qi Yuan pondered aloud.

“No… back when I was in the Purple Mansion realm, I could comprehend supreme universal truths. Why should I, now at the divine-tier, be unable to comprehend them in this game?”

Feng Ti’s strike opened a new pathway of thought for Qi Yuan.

If Feng Ti could do it, so could he.

In that instant, Qi Yuan had an epiphany.

“Absolute Adaptation!”

A torrent of thoughts surged, and Qi Yuan’s form began to shift.

As the formidable Extreme Light Sword struck, Qi Yuan transformed into nothingness.

“What’s going on?” Feng Ti’s eyes widened in shock.

Few in this world could take his sword strike head-on.

It should be noted that the Radiant Universe was home to Dao Masters.

Their cultivation systems were nearly perfect.

Great Venerables could refine their divine domains and condense hearts of rules.

In many ordinary universes, such feats were only possible at the second stage of the Yang God Realm.

Yet his sword had been countered.

For the first time, Feng Ti took his opponent seriously.

Without hesitation, he gripped his sword’s hilt, his body flickering before reappearing in the Divine Wood Chasm.

His blade slashed toward the void once more.

Clang!

A blood-red gauntlet reached out, catching the blade.

A towering, armored figure appeared, wielding a demonic, blood-red sword.

Feng Ti’s expression shifted, the strange markings on his forehead glowing ominously.

“You’re quite unusual—to comprehend a heart of rules before reaching the third step. What tier is your rule’s heart? Why have I never heard of it?”

Their clash was pure, raw strength with no room for subtlety.

Feng Ti was slightly impressed.

His opponent had seemed incapable of comprehending a heart of rules mere moments ago. Yet, after witnessing the Extreme Light Sword, he had seemingly grasped one.

If true, this was terrifying and enough to shake even Feng Ti’s composure.

Qi Yuan said nothing, focusing entirely on the battle.

Feng Ti was incredibly strong. The gap between Great Venerables and Venerables was vast.

In the Sixth Heaven of the Immortal Realm, Qi Yuan might have already lost.

But this was the Divine Wood Universe’s nascent form. The gap between Great Venerables and Venerables wasn’t as insurmountable.

On the ground, Cai Die stared at the battle in the sky, her face pale. “They’re too fast. Ordinary Great Venerables can’t even intervene in this kind of fight!”

She knew Feng Ti was strong but hadn’t expected Shen Lingxuan’s husband to hold his own against him.

Outside Sunset Cliff, Xianling Yingjun squinted. “Qi Yuan is actually holding off Feng Ti!”

This completely defied his expectations.

Feng Ti’s original form, if it had entered the Zhou Universe, could have become a nominal disciple of a Void Realm Master.

Ji Wuyun’s eyes widened. “I can’t see a thing.”

Chen Kangbao lazily munched on his bun. “No need to watch. Young Master will definitely win this fight.”

He had blind faith in Qi Yuan.

Xianling Yingjun’s gaze turned worried. “Even if Qi Yuan surpasses expectations and suppresses Feng Ti, it’s still unlikely he’ll win because…”

He knew the terrifying truth about Feng Ti.

People of the Radiant Society weren’t entirely human.

Before he could finish speaking, Feng Ti smiled in the Divine Wood Chasm.

“You are a worthy opponent—worth trading my life for yours!”

Although Qi Yuan’s strength was far inferior, his rule’s heart was so bizarre that it made him feel like he was fighting an unkillable cockroach.

At that moment, Feng Ti decided to go all out.

Eternal with the Heavens!

This was his most powerful strike. His body ignited like a blazing sun, prepared to exchange his life for Qi Yuan’s.

Such a terrifying attack could even injure a seventh-step Myth.

In the distance, Xianling Yingjun’s expression grew complex. “The Radiant Society’s clones have more than one life. Life for life—it’s nearly impossible to counter at the same level.”

Boom!

A deafening explosion erupted. The heatwave blasted Cai Die backward, while Shen Lingxuan coughed up blood, her snow-white face filled with worry.

Even the residual shockwaves left her injured. What kind of pressure must Qi Yuan be enduring at the heart of the battle?

“The Radiant Society’s people have many lives. Trading life for life… how can he win?” Cai Die said worriedly.

Shen Lingxuan looked toward the battlefield.

As the explosion subsided, another Feng Ti formed, his body intact.

Standing in the void, he gazed at the battlefield with cold, sharp eyes.

In the explosion’s center, the blood-red armor had vanished, revealing Qi Yuan’s battered form.

His robes were soaked in blood, but his crimson sword glowed with an eerie brilliance.

“You fought me to a standstill. One life couldn’t claim yours. But now that you’re gravely injured, how will you face me at full strength?” Feng Ti sneered.

Sword in hand, he disappeared, reappearing behind Qi Yuan. The blade struck toward a single point.

Clang!

Qi Yuan blocked the strike again.

Blood seeped from his arm, pooling on the ground.

Yet Qi Yuan’s expression remained calm.

“As long as I’m alive, I am invincible,” he said confidently.

He hadn’t anticipated the miraculous synergy between Death Radiance and Absolute Adaptation.

The latter, a supreme universal truth, had fused with the former, an ability he’d mastered in his early cultivation days.

Absolute Adaptation allowed him to maintain a near-death state, while Death Radiance maximized his combat power as his health diminished.

The weaker he seemed, the stronger he became.

Shing!

Blood flowed freely from Qi Yuan’s wounds, but he refused to die.

With a casual strike, empowered by Death Radiance, he tore open a massive gash in Feng Ti’s chest. Blood gushed out.

Feng Ti’s expression turned incredulous. “This… is just the last gasp of a dying man!”

In the void, he split into thousands of copies, all attacking Qi Yuan simultaneously.

Although he could revive after death, each life was precious and came at great cost. His lives weren’t truly infinite.

The battle raged on.

Feng Ti’s expression shifted from calm confidence to frustration and panic.

“I was so close—just one more step!”

Qi Yuan seemed like a flickering candle in the wind, his life force on the verge of extinguishing.

Yet that final step eluded Feng Ti.

It was like fighting a game boss whose health bar was invisible and impossible to deplete.

“Wrong. You’re not just one step away. You’re miles behind!” Qi Yuan taunted, borrowing Ryoma Echizen’s iconic line.

Wielding his blood-red sword, he fought like a bloodied war god, thriving in near-death combat.

Death Radiance and Absolute Adaptation shone brilliantly in his hands.

Another of Feng Ti’s lives was extinguished.

In a flash, Feng Ti reappeared, whole again but visibly angry. “Let’s see how long you can last!”

Changing tactics, he switched from offense to defense, intending to outlast Qi Yuan.

Surely the battered man couldn’t maintain his composure indefinitely.

The battle pressed on.

Qi Yuan’s blood-soaked robes clung to his frame, his injuries multiplying.

But he never fell.

Meanwhile, Feng Ti’s confidence and arrogance had long since evaporated.

Below, Shen Lingxuan watched the spectacle with mixed emotions—shock, admiration, and an overwhelming sense of worry.

How could any man endure such injuries and still stand tall, like an unyielding pillar holding up the heavens?

The wind howled. The mountains quaked. Blood rained down like a storm.

The sounds of clashing steel and fierce roars filled the air.

Qi Yuan had never fought so close to death.

Yet he entered a mysterious state.

Death Radiance and Absolute Adaptation were merging further.

As his life force diminished, his power only grew stronger.

When the fusion completed, Qi Yuan felt that something unexpected would occur.

“So… I’m still not wounded enough.”

With this realization, Qi Yuan acted decisively.

To everyone’s astonishment, he drove his sword into his own chest.

Feng Ti, mid-attack, froze in disbelief. “What are you doing?”

But he didn’t stop his assault.

Sensing that this was Qi Yuan’s weakest moment, Feng Ti launched a barrage of strikes.

Even if Qi Yuan had a plan, Feng Ti had five lives left—there was nothing to fear.

“Die.”

Qi Yuan’s weakened gaze suddenly brightened with unparalleled brilliance.

A dazzling sword strike erupted from his blade.

Feng Ti’s eyes filled with terror.

“How… is this possible?”

In that moment, he realized something.

This was no ordinary strike.

Such a terrifying attack couldn’t possibly come from a mere divine-tier cultivator.

It resembled a move his original form had once witnessed from a great third-stage Yang God—a fusion of universal rules.

With one swing, Feng Ti’s body shattered.

When he reformed, the same strike appeared again, killing him anew.

He revived, only to be slain again.

“No!” Feng Ti cried out in disbelief.

The sword strike transcended universal rules, targeting his very essence.

No matter how many lives he had, the sword would claim them all.

Boom!

Feng Ti’s final life crumbled, and his memories fragmented into nothingness.

…

In the Radiant Society’s outpost, a pool of light stirred, and a human form coalesced—Feng Ti’s new body.

“How could I die with nine lives? What happened?”

Before he could fully process his rebirth, his senses screamed of danger.

From the distant void, a terrifying sword strike emerged.

Feng Ti’s face turned pale with fear. The attack exuded an endless aura of death.

But before it struck, a flash of light from the pool intervened, dispersing the attack.

Still trembling, Feng Ti muttered, “Even the safeguard left by the Realm Lord was forced to activate… Could I have encountered a Realm Lord?

No… impossible. The Divine Wood Universe doesn’t have a Realm Lord!”

He was filled with confusion and dread.

With all nine lives lost, he had no idea what had truly transpired in the Divine Wood Chasm.

…

Back in the Divine Wood Chasm, Qi Yuan’s blood-soaked form stood tall as his energy surged before plummeting.

“I’ve glimpsed the path to the third stage of the Yang God Realm…”

He coughed violently, blood spilling from his lips. His injuries were severe, leaving him on the brink of death.

During the fight with Feng Ti, he had started as a mere Venerable.

Recklessly imitating Feng Ti’s embryonic universal truth and fusing it with Death Radiance had nearly drained him completely.

Even Feng Ti, a Great Venerable, couldn’t sustain the Extreme Light Sword indefinitely.

Fortunately, the reward from completing his "knife" role at 100%—the Knife Handle—filled him with boundless vitality, preventing his death from self-exhaustion.

“Though my injuries are grave, I’ve gained so much. Not only did I grasp the embryonic Absolute Adaptation, but I also fused it with Death Radiance.”

“So… this is the path to the third stage of the Yang God Realm?”

“Turns out, I’m the type of genius who breaks through during battle!”

This fight had pushed him to surpass himself, revealing new skills and insights.

It was reminiscent of the prodigies who found enlightenment through combat.

“The more I fight, the stronger I become!”

“From now on, I’ll fight regularly!”

“Tomorrow, I’ll challenge an ant to a duel!”

As this thought crossed his mind, an overwhelming wave of fatigue washed over him.

His body collapsed, and before he hit the ground, he passed out completely.

“Just a nap… half an hour… then I’ll duel the ant…”

Falling from the sky, Qi Yuan’s unconscious form was caught mid-air by a figure who tightly embraced him.

“Husband…” Shen Lingxuan whispered, holding him close.

Sadly, there was no dramatic fall leading to an accidental kiss.

Otherwise, Qi Yuan would have woken immediately.

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