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

But before making his move, Qi Yuan needed to declare his arrival with a thunderous proclamation to ensure that the entire capital—its citizens, officials, and nobles—knew he was there.

“Divine Descent has arrived! Diwu Bufan, prepare to die!”

The voice, amplified by divine power, roared through the air and spread across the entire capital at a speed surpassing that of sound.

In an instant, countless citizens of the capital looked up at the sky, their faces reflecting a variety of emotions.

Some elders were overjoyed, some young people bewildered, others stunned.

Even some Heaven-tier Weapon Masters were invigorated.

“I never thought we’d get to witness a battle between Divine-tier masters!”

“No matter the outcome, this will go down in history!”

“Divine Arbiter… has he truly returned? I feel indignant! When I was weak, Divine Descent fell, and I was trampled upon. I struggled for a hundred years to rise to the top, and now, just when I’m about to enjoy my power, Divine Descent returns?”

The reactions to Divine Descent’s reappearance varied across the capital.

One of those reacting was the middle-aged man in the gray robe. Drawing his sword, he pointed it at Qi Yuan.

“Everyone may fear Divine Descent, but I do not!”

This man, a descendant of a founding duke, had lived a life of privilege. His ancestors had borne all the hardships, leaving him a life meant for leisure.

Unlike his ambitious elder brother or his pleasure-seeking younger brother, he pursued thrill-seeking madness.

Eventually, he broke the law, and as the son of a duke, he was judged and punished by Divine Descent, leaving him a eunuch.

For this, he bore an intense hatred toward Divine Descent.

When the late Emperor Diwu Bufan led the campaign to destroy Divine Descent, this man viewed him as a father figure, a cause for which he would die.

“An unfilial traitor and a defiant subject, die!”

Drawing his sword, he charged forward without fear of death. He wanted to show this cold and indifferent force of judgment that even villains could face death unflinchingly.

However, the young figure in the sky didn’t even glance at him.

Instead, Qi Yuan soared into the heavens.

Ignored!

The middle-aged man was blatantly ignored.

Furious, he roared and swung his sword toward the carriage.

But his strike was met by the blade of Huan Sha, the elderly woman.

Even in death, the man never received a single glance from the young figure.

To Divine Descent, he was insignificant—a mere ant unworthy of attention.

This dismissal stung more than death, leaving him seething but helpless.

In the eyes of Divine Descent, he was nothing.

<hr>

“Descent of the Divine! Be as I, Divine Descent. Together as one!”

Flying into the sky, Qi Yuan silently chanted the incantation.

Standing against the "gods" of the Rosha Kingdom, Qi Yuan had no intention of hiding. He would execute the emperor—the "sun" of the Rosha Kingdom—in full view of the people.

In an instant, a blood-red light cast its shadow on the ground.

A towering figure, nearly a hundred meters tall, appeared in the heavens.

Clad in crimson crystalline armor, its chest bore intricate patterns, its edges sharp and angular, and engraved upon it was the image of a heavenly scale.

The pauldrons, deep red with faint golden accents, shimmered with threads of light, as though divine beasts roamed upon them.

This fusion of Divine Descent and Together as One made Qi Yuan appear boundless and mighty.

He was sanctity, fury, and enigma combined.

A singular entity, yet a triad of forms.

• He was the saintly one who grieved for the world.
• He was the demonic tide that raged against the abyss.
• He was the enigmatic force that defied comprehension.

In an instant, the entire capital was bathed in crimson light mingled with sacred radiance.

The heavens and earth were enveloped by a blend of blood-red hues and holiness.

Where the two overlapped, shadows of darkness lingered.

Everyone—whether ordinary citizens or Weapon Masters—looked up at the colossal figure in awe.

At that moment, an inexplicable fear, reverence, and sense of invincibility filled their hearts.

Knees trembled, and hearts raced, driven by instinct or primal fear of immense beings.

Yet no one knelt, for the sacred light held them upright.

“Is this Divine Descent?”

“The Arbiter God?”

Some muttered through chattering teeth, others were paralyzed with terror.

<hr>

Within the Imperial Palace.

The six Divine-tier Weapon Masters gathered.

Prince Zhenyuan squinted, his expression complex. “Divine Descent… why is it different from before?”

In the past, Divine Descent was merely a divine artifact that could transform into a humanoid form during battle.

That humanoid form had been a faceless, saintly figure.

Now, the blend of sanctity and blood-red hues instilled a sense of dread.

“It… has grown even more powerful.” An elder’s voice quivered with unease.

A century ago, Divine Descent had been like a sword hanging over their heads.

Even after ascending to Divine-tier Weapon Masters, they had lived in trepidation.

Now, that feeling of dread had returned.

“It was destroyed a century ago, and it shall die again today.

“Even if revived, it cannot last. This must be its strongest form.”

“Yes, I see it too. This state is all appearance and no substance—it likely won’t last more than a hundred breaths.”

“If we can hold out, it will surely fall.”

Despite their fear, the experienced Divine-tier Weapon Masters relied on their discernment.

Though the massive figure’s aura was terrifying, they could sense it was unsustainable.

<hr>

“Now, it’s stronger than ever before,” Diwu Bufan finally spoke, his tone somber. His cold gaze fixed on the approaching colossus.

“If I had not prepared, in a mere hundred breaths, it could kill at least three of you.

“Remember this favor. Today, it is I who saves you!”

The five Divine-tier Weapon Masters immediately expressed their gratitude.

Prince Zhenyuan, ever shameless, bowed deeply despite his status: “Your Majesty is like a second father to me!”

Diwu Bufan nodded, his eyes burning with battle lust.

His gaze locked onto the colossal figure approaching the palace.

An imposing and majestic voice rang out, echoing across the heavens.

“Mere artifact! A creation of an Artifact Master, how dare you act so insolently!”

Diwu Bufan’s aura surged, instilling fear in all who felt it.

The might of the emperor—the sovereign of the Rosha Kingdom—was overwhelming.

For the past century, Diwu Bufan had abandoned state affairs and devoted himself to cultivation.

The treasures of the kingdom were hoarded to fuel his strength.

Now, he stood at the peak of the Third Step, approaching the power of Divine Descent from a century ago.

With that strength, and his hidden cards, he had the confidence to face Divine Descent.

<hr>

The towering figure of Qi Yuan grew closer, silent, its gaze fixed on the old emperor.

“You stand before the emperor. Why do you not kneel?” Diwu Bufan shouted triumphantly.

For a moment, he wasn’t the cowardly ruler who had dared not even spectate the battle a century ago.

Now, he was the ruler of the Rosha Kingdom, the “Sun” of his people, radiant and untouchable.

But the colossal figure remained silent.

Its actions spoke louder than words.

Boom!

A fist, vast and unstoppable, hurtled toward Diwu Bufan, shaking the heavens and earth.

Diwu Bufan’s pupils contracted.

For the first time in years, an unfamiliar emotion—fear—flooded his heart.

Diwu Bufan’s face twisted with rage, his voice growing even louder as he tried to suppress his rising terror.

“All lands touched by the sun and moon belong to the sovereign. All within the sovereign’s domain, be they artifacts or living beings, are my subjects!

How dare you defy me! I will personally cut you down and show the world that the legacy of Diwu will last for millennia! My people will have the honor of being my subjects, protected by my might!”

Diwu Bufan’s words brimmed with bravado, yet his body betrayed him.

When the massive fist descended, he moved to dodge, unwilling to face it directly.

<hr>

Far away.

In another part of the world, the Insect Lady Caidie fluttered her delicate wings, gazing toward the southern horizon. Her face showed a trace of regret.

“Judging by the timing, the divine battle in the Rosha Kingdom’s capital should be happening now. What a pity we can’t witness it ourselves.”

Beside her stood Shen Lingxuan, draped in a black gown, her aura cold and distant. Though a veil concealed her stunning face, her beauty could be glimpsed through the faintest hints—a celestial beauty beyond mortal comprehension.

Her dress, embroidered with plum blossoms, reached her ankles, hiding her porcelain-smooth legs beneath. Despite its conservative design, her figure remained striking, with a slender waist, long legs, and a full bust that naturally drew attention.

“By the way, the one controlling Divine Descent… his name is very similar to your husband’s—both are called Qi Yuan,” Caidie remarked casually.

At the mention of this name, Shen Lingxuan’s delicate eyebrows twitched slightly, and the teardrop-shaped mole beneath her eye quivered faintly. “It’s probably just the same name.”

“Definitely just a coincidence,” Caidie sighed. “Divine Descent was once the number one divine artifact in the world. Even in its shattered state, not just anyone can wield it. At the very least, the wielder must be a Heaven-tier Weapon Master. Your husband… well, he’s only eighteen.”

Even if Qi Yuan had begun cultivating in the womb, it was impossible to reach Heaven-tier at eighteen.

Shen Lingxuan nodded in agreement.

As someone who had reached the Heaven-tier in her previous life, she fully understood the difficulty of reaching that level.

Even with her memories of a past life, extraordinary talent, and Caidie’s assistance, she had only just barely reached the Heaven-tier herself.

But then she recalled Caidie’s words in the Ten Thousand Mountains Absolute Domain: “Your husband is searching for you.”

Shen Lingxuan quickly dismissed the thought.

After obtaining the source of corruption in the Strange Domain, she had spent much of her time refining it, immersed in slumber. She had no idea what had transpired within the Strange Domain after her departure.

If she had known, she might have realized that the Qi Yuan now wielding Divine Descent could indeed be her husband.

“What a pity. We’re too weak and can’t even protect ourselves. Otherwise, we could have gone to help Divine Descent in this battle,” Caidie said wistfully. “The creator of Divine Descent, Sheng Nu, was also a fated one like us.”

“Will he win?” Shen Lingxuan asked softly, her gaze fixed on the distant Rosha Kingdom’s capital.

“He won’t. Even if he does, his arrogance will still lead to death,” Caidie replied. “Divine Descent itself carries the weight of fate.”

A hint of sorrow crossed Shen Lingxuan’s face.

Fated ones, while favored by heaven and earth, were perpetually hunted and forced to remain on the run.

“Come, let’s go to the Divine Wood Abyss. Once you’ve fully refined the source of corruption, and with my help, we can hide there for centuries.

By then, you’ll have the strength of a Divine-tier Weapon Master, and I’ll take you beyond the heavens,” Caidie declared with determination.

Beyond this world lay a refuge for fated ones, a place of safety.

But for Shen Lingxuan to survive there, she would need the power of a Divine-tier Weapon Master.

<hr>

Elsewhere in the world, countless eyes watched the battle unfolding in the Rosha Kingdom’s capital.

On a Divine Wood Token, a message appeared:

“If Brother Qi survives this tribulation, I’ll personally introduce him to the Void Paradise and help him escape this prison.”

“Brother Qi? Who’s that? Never heard of him,” Ji Wuyun muttered, puzzled.

Almost immediately, she regretted saying anything and wanted to retract her message.

The Thorned Blood operative had clearly sent it to the wrong place. If she kept eavesdropping, perhaps she could uncover more juicy secrets.

The Thorned Blood operative sighed helplessly.

This person really was adorably dense.

“Of course, it’s our dear Cleaver.”

“Huh?” Ji Wuyun’s curiosity spiked, but then she realized something. “Wait… how do you know Cleaver’s surname is Qi?”

The operative chuckled faintly. “In the past few months, there’s been a young man named Qi Yuan, wielding Divine Descent, who has traveled across the twelve prefectures of the Rosha Kingdom, defeating the Blade Demon. Have you heard of him?”

“I have,” Ji Wuyun replied quickly.

“He is Brother Cleaver.”

“You… how did you figure that out… Wait! If Brother Cleaver is currently surrounded by "gods", could he really survive?” Ji Wuyun’s voice was tinged with worry.

“This trial will be extremely difficult—almost impossible.

In the Blue Mountain Realm Chronicles, there’s only a brief mention of this event.

‘The artifact is destroyed, but the Rosha Kingdom endures.’”

“Wait, the artifact is destroyed… what about the wielder?” Ji Wuyun’s sharp mind caught the omission.

“The Chronicles make no mention of him. Perhaps… he wasn’t deemed worthy of recording.”

“Could it be… he triumphs?” Ji Wuyun asked, holding onto hope.

“The chances are slim. If he loses, perhaps he’ll still have a chance to escape,” the Thorned Blood operative mused.

The Chronicles’ predictions might allow for minor variations, but the overarching outcomes remained immutable.

Just like how Thorned Blood’s grand plans would never fail.

The Divine Wood Token would become a source of corruption, and the Blue Mountain Realm would turn into a domain of darkness.

His task from the Void Paradise was to hasten this process.

“I wonder… how it will all end,” he murmured with a sigh.

<hr>

Back in the Rosha Kingdom’s capital, the towering figure of Divine Descent loomed like an ivory pillar holding up the heavens, a golden beam bridging the sky and sea.

Its cold, imposing gaze made it seem like a god detached from mortal affairs.

Diwu Bufan spat blood, a look of disbelief crossing his face.

“I didn’t expect the gap between us to be this vast. I’ve done everything to evade you, yet I’m still wounded.”

Despite summoning his courage to dodge and fight back, he had still been struck. His injuries were not light.

“Very well, no more hiding… you won’t leave here alive!” Diwu Bufan’s voice dripped with menace.

Though his bluster carried the air of someone revealing hidden strength, it was clear to everyone present that this was all he had left.

His so-called hidden card was none other than the Dark Radiance.

Before him, a drop of azure liquid materialized, radiating an eerie glow.

“This… do you know what it is?” Diwu Bufan’s expression was smug.

Qi Yuan’s calm gaze betrayed no surprise.

He immediately recognized it—the liquid was the infamous Dark Radiance, a weapon specifically designed to corrupt divine-tier artifacts.

“With this, you’re doomed,” Diwu Bufan declared.

Diwu Bufan’s triumphant voice echoed through the capital.

“With the Dark Radiance, your fate is sealed!”

As he spoke, the drop of azure liquid began to expand, spreading out in all directions.

In the blink of an eye, the sky turned blue as if a storm had descended.

Rain began to fall—an eerie, glowing rain that radiated danger.

The entire capital was blanketed by this rain, leaving no place to hide.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“Let’s see how you escape!” Diwu Bufan sneered.

“Against other Divine-tier Weapon Masters, they might barely use their divine power to resist or shield themselves. But you… you’re a divine artifact. The more your divine power touches this rain, the faster you’ll corrode!”

The rain fell rapidly, cascading down like an unstoppable flood. It was as though the entire city would soon be submerged.

The toxic rain of Dark Radiance was not limited to Divine-tier artifacts; it could even corrode ordinary mortals.

Buildings began to melt as though drenched in acid. The mighty structures of the capital crumbled as the blue rain ate away at stone and wood alike.

For the people, the rain was pure death. If it fell unchecked, countless lives would be lost.

<hr>

Qi Yuan stood amidst the downpour, his massive Divine Descent form towering over the city.

He lowered his gaze, surveying the ground below. To him, the mortals were as fragile as ants, yet they lived their lives with determination and resilience.

In this moment, Qi Yuan had a choice to make:

Would he focus on himself, evading the rain to preserve his strength?

Or would he save the people, even at the cost of his own power?

As someone playing the role of Divine Descent, as someone embodying a god, the choice was clear.

“Absorb it all!”

Qi Yuan opened his massive mouth, and with a deafening roar, unleashed an incredible force of suction.

The rain—the entire toxic storm—began to flow toward him.

The azure droplets that had been descending upon the capital now surged upward, spiraling into Qi Yuan’s enormous form.

<hr>

The citizens looked on in shock and awe.

This colossus, this god-like figure, was swallowing the very poison meant to destroy it.

From the distance, Liu Sheng observed the scene, his voice hoarse as he spoke to Liu Chudong.

“He’s just like you… a foolish child. To spare the innocent from harm, he’s chosen to drink this poison himself.”

Though Liu Sheng didn’t understand the exact nature of the rain, it was clear to him that it was designed to destroy Divine Descent.

Instead of evading it, Qi Yuan had chosen to take the brunt of it.

Liu Chudong’s face was filled with guilt and worry.

“I misjudged him. I thought he might lose himself to power, but he is sacrificing himself for the people.

This… this is the god I admire. Foolish, selfless, and just.”

<hr>

High above, the red crystalline armor of Divine Descent began to corrode.

The white glow of holiness dimmed, the golden threads unraveled, and the once-mighty figure began to shrink.

Blue smoke rose from its body, hissing as the poison burned away its power.

The colossal form of Divine Descent seemed to melt, its imposing image rapidly fading.

<hr>

In the streets below, the citizens watched with growing realization.

They began to understand that Divine Descent was bearing the rain to protect them.

One by one, they knelt.

“Divine Descent!”

“Divine Arbiter!”

Their cries grew louder, swelling into a chorus of voices across the city.

Though a century had passed since Divine Descent had last walked among them, the people’s longing for justice had never faded.

<hr>

Diwu Bufan smirked coldly as he watched Qi Yuan’s deteriorating form.

“How laughable. You would sacrifice yourself for these peasants.

These wretches—you cut one down, and another rises to take its place. Their lives mean nothing compared to mine!”

Diwu Bufan had not expected Qi Yuan to react this way.

His original plan had been to use the rain to trap and wear down Divine Descent over time.

But now, Qi Yuan had absorbed it all in one move, sparing the city and its people.

This only made it easier for Diwu Bufan to finish him off.

The poison had done its job. Divine Descent’s divine power was collapsing.

“A few more moments, and you’ll be nothing but a corpse.”

<hr>

As Diwu Bufan gloated, the shrinking figure of Divine Descent suddenly froze.

A calm, almost lazy voice echoed from the diminishing form.

“So many people calling out to Divine Descent. If I were some kind of armored hero or Ultraman, maybe I’d draw strength from their belief, ignite my cosmos, and obliterate you.”

“But sadly, I’m not that. I’m just me—a player in a game, roleplaying as Divine Descent.”

With those words, the towering figure of Divine Descent collapsed, disintegrating into nothingness.

Standing where it had once been was a young man—handsome beyond compare, yet mortal.

<hr>

Diwu Bufan’s eyes narrowed, shock flashing across his face.

“Divine Descent has fallen. Your greatest weapon is gone.

Who gave you the courage to spout nonsense in my presence?”

The emperor’s gaze was filled with both disdain and admiration.

In his eyes, Qi Yuan was an extraordinarily gifted youth.

To be so young and already at the threshold of the Heaven-tier, and to have wielded the legendary Divine Descent—Qi Yuan was indeed exceptional.

But without Divine Descent, Qi Yuan was nothing.

Any Divine-tier Weapon Master could easily crush him.

<hr>

Qi Yuan chuckled softly, his expression unbothered.

“Without Divine Descent, you think I can’t kill you?”

For the first time, Qi Yuan felt unburdened. Without the role of Divine Descent to maintain, the world suddenly seemed brighter.

But his role wasn’t over yet.

Before Diwu Bufan or the other Divine-tier Weapon Masters could react, Qi Yuan’s voice rang out once more.

“Your Divine Descent… has returned.

“I am the Arbiter God!

“Where there is injustice, call upon me, Divine Descent!

“Today, I will slay the gods!”

<hr>

A terrifying aura erupted from Qi Yuan’s body, surging toward the heavens.

The six Divine-tier Weapon Masters watching were stunned.

“He’s a Divine-tier Weapon Master!”

“Impossible!”

Diwu Bufan’s composure cracked as he took in this revelation.

Qi Yuan wasn’t just a prodigy; he had already reached the Divine-tier!

And he was terrifyingly young.

<hr>

Diwu Bufan’s lips curled into a grim smile.

“You’re a Divine-tier Weapon Master. Very well. Very well!

“So young, so powerful. If you had remained hidden for a century, you might have become invincible.

But today, I will end you before you have the chance to grow stronger!”

His voice was filled with confidence as he prepared to attack.

“Together! Leave no chance for his survival!”

At his command, the five other Divine-tier Weapon Masters joined the fray, surrounding Qi Yuan.

<hr>

Qi Yuan remained unfazed.

“Sigh… Pretending to be a god is exhausting.

“Let me show you what it means to be a skilled player. One who clears the game in a single life!”

With those words, Qi Yuan vanished.

In his place, thousands of blood-red phantoms filled the battlefield. Each phantom wielded a massive crimson sword.

“Death Radiance!

“Dominant Power!

“Heaven-Slaying Sword Art!”

Qi Yuan unleashed his full arsenal.

No longer constrained by his role, his mastery of combat techniques—whether against mortals, the extraordinary, or even gods—shone through.

Six gods against one?

No. It was one man hunting six gods.

“Die! Die, die, die!”

“Let the music play!”

<hr>

Above the battlefield, drones hovered in formation, transforming into drums, trumpets, and gongs.

A cacophony of triumphant music filled the air, as though celebrating a divine feast.

Diwu Bufan’s face twisted in confusion and fear.

“What are these things?!”

The other Divine-tier Weapon Masters were equally unsettled.

Because in this chaotic symphony of battle, they realized—

Qi Yuan was more terrifying than Divine Descent itself.

“This is my BGM,” Qi Yuan declared.

“And your funeral music!”