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

“Brother-in-law, teach me!”

Shen Lingfeng's eyes lit up with excitement. “I’ve been pursuing Miss Li, but she always treats me coldly!”

Qi Yuan coughed, putting on an air of mystique. “Before crafting a plan, you need to analyze both her strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own. Start by evaluating Miss Li and then yourself.”

“Miss Li is stunningly beautiful, with enchanting peach blossom eyes that are particularly captivating. She drapes a sheer veil over her shoulders, revealing just enough to be alluring.”

“As for me… I’m just a guy, and Miss Li thinks I’m too scrawny.”

“Got it.” Qi Yuan nodded, understanding the dynamic between the two. He paused to reflect, memories of his past relationship with Jin Li coming to mind.

“To crack this situation, what you need is… an online romance.”

“An online romance?” Shen Lingfeng blinked, the term unfamiliar but intriguing.

Of course, only his brother-in-law could come up with such profound terminology.

“When dating online, the other person can’t see you. Their perception of you depends entirely on their imagination."

“In this context, as long as you craft an image of yourself as someone emotionally intelligent, warm, and humorous, she’ll idealize you as tall, handsome, and charismatic. But seeing as you look like a clueless boy who doesn’t even own a Nokia phone, we’ll need to go old-school—letters.”

Qi Yuan spoke earnestly, drawing from his own experience.

Compared to face-to-face encounters, online dating had a much lower barrier to entry. In person, a bad first impression could ruin everything before it even began. Online, the other party’s impression of you was left entirely to their imagination.

When it came to imagination, no one could outdo the fantasies people built for themselves.

Even a real-life “ideal” often couldn’t measure up to the idealized version.

Shen Lingfeng’s eyes widened. “That makes sense! Throughout history, many romantic stories have begun through letters.”

However, a frown soon crept onto his face. “But… how do I shape myself into someone Miss Li would admire?”

“That’s easy. You just need to include some emotionally intelligent phrases and a few clever, romantic lines. That will surely win her over,” Qi Yuan replied confidently.

After all, hadn’t one of the world’s richest heirs built a reputation off smooth-talking pick-up lines?

“Here, let me teach you a few witty one-liners.”

“Darling, I went to get an IV today. Do you know what kind? A dose of missing you.”

“What does that mean?” Shen Lingfeng tilted his head, confused.

“Ah, right. IVs don’t exist in this world.”

“Let’s try another.”

“Do you know why I eat fish heads? Because I want to leave the rest of my life for you.”

“Your dimples may not hold wine, but they’ve intoxicated me like a dog in heat!”

“I bought a bag of salt today. Guess what kind? The kind that doesn’t need words to say, ‘I love you.’”

“Do you have a body odor problem? Because you’re as enchanting as a fox spirit!”

Qi Yuan delivered the lines one after another.

Of course, he filtered out the more crass ones, such as “I farted loudly today, but it wasn’t as loud as my thoughts of you.” Those were only for relationships that had long since moved past formalities.

“Brilliant!”

“Who would’ve thought words could be used like this?”

“Brother-in-law, you’re incredible! Why didn’t I think of this before?”

“The connection between dimples and wine—genius!”

Shen Lingfeng was elated, as if he’d just discovered the secret to the universe.

Even Chen Kangbao gave a thumbs up. “Master, your words are unparalleled!”

Qi Yuan basked in the praise, feeling a sense of triumph.

In movies, when a protagonist spouted poems from another world, they often earned the admiration of onlookers. Now, he too was enjoying such glory.

“But,” Qi Yuan continued, “writing letters is just the first step in an online romance. The second step is casting a wide net! That’s the true essence of online dating!”

“Please explain, brother-in-law!” Shen Lingfeng listened intently, as if hearing divine wisdom.

“Writing to a single woman is called unrequited love. Writing to two women is called double love. Writing to every eligible young woman in the city—that’s net love!

“So, do you want to stick to Miss Li or experience a net romance with all the city’s beauties?” Qi Yuan asked with a mischievous grin.

Shen Lingfeng’s expression twisted in hesitation, his inner conflict evident.

“Take your time. No rush,” Qi Yuan reassured him.

“Brother-in-law… could I just write to fewer people? My hand would fall off if I wrote to the whole city!” Shen Lingfeng said, his face pale at the thought of writing thousands of letters a day.

“That’s fine. Write to as many as you can. Did you memorize those lines I just taught you? Make sure to include them in your letters.”

“Understood! I’ll start writing right away!” Shen Lingfeng, full of determination, dashed off to begin.

“Sigh. I do good deeds every day without asking for anything in return. I’m so selfless. When his sister returns and sees the changes in her brother, she’ll surely be moved,” Qi Yuan said with a satisfied sigh.

Another day, another good deed.

“Master, I have a concern,” Chen Kangbao interjected, his expression serious. As a strategist, he felt obligated to raise issues. “Your romantic lines are certainly clever and heartfelt, but people’s preferences vary. What if someone doesn’t like them?”

“Well, in net dating, there are bound to be some who slip through the net. If they don’t like it, let them leave. With so many recipients, there’s bound to be someone who appreciates it,” Qi Yuan replied nonchalantly.

Casting a wide net and reeling in the catch remained an eternal truth.

After all, there might just be someone out there with taste as refined as his own, who adored such lines.

“To put it simply, why do scammers use such obvious and flawed scripts? Because their goal isn’t to fool the cautious—it’s to find those who won’t notice the flaws. Identifying the right target is what truly matters!”

Chen Kangbao’s eyes widened in awe, as if Qi Yuan’s wisdom was too profound to comprehend.

<hr>

The Shen family hall was brightly lit.

Seated at the head of the room was Shen Wanshan, the family patriarch. His expression was grave, and his luxurious silk robe bore intricate patterns. A soft sword hung at his waist, a treasured earth-grade weapon.

Shen Wanshan was not only the head of the Shen family but also one of their rare earth-tier weapon masters—a powerful figure capable of taking on thousands of soldiers single-handedly.

“I’ve just returned from Mount Ye Lake. The situation there is grim.”

Shen Wanshan's voice resonated through the room, heavy with the weight of his report.

“Luotong Shui Jun’s influence has grown unchecked, merging with the waters of Mount Ye Lake to form a near-invincible presence.”

Mount Ye Lake was Jiangzhou’s largest lake, spanning over a hundred miles. A terrifying water-based ghost, Luotong Shui Jun—the Water Lord of Luotong—had emerged, wreaking havoc.

“Even the combined might of Xuan-tier weapon masters and some of the strongest earth-ranked forces have proven ineffective. Even Wei Kun, the ‘Melancholy Fist’—ranked among the top twenty of the Earth-tier—has been unable to deal with him.”

Gasps filled the hall at the mention of Wei Kun’s name.

Ning Kingdom has an Earth List, which records the Earth-level Weapon Masters of Ning Kingdom.

The Earth-level Weapon Masters are the overlords, and the top 30 on the Earth List are also called Grandmasters!

Each one is a Weapon Master who has reached the limit of the Earth-level.

Wei Kun was a legend, an Earth-tier master revered as a grandmaster. Such figures were near the pinnacle of human capability. If even he could not handle the situation, it underscored the dire threat posed by Luotong Shui Jun.

“Luotong Shui Jun has fully fused with Mount Ye Lake. This grants him the ability to control the lake’s waters at will, submerging entire counties if he so desires. Not only are thousands of fishermen losing their livelihoods, but should he unleash a deluge, even Jiangning Province could suffer widespread devastation.”

The situation at Mount Ye Lake had become a crisis, not just for the local area but for the entire region.

“Even the heavens seem unwilling to intervene,” Shen Wanshan continued. “To further complicate matters, Wei Long Xuan Yuan, the artifact capable of controlling such threats, remains damaged and unusable.”

The room descended into an uneasy silence.

"It's a pity that the Wei Long Xuan Yuan was damaged and no weapon master could be found to repair it."

"The Wei Long Xuan Yuan is a near-heavenly weapon. Even the top Earth-level artifact masters find it difficult to repair it. I'm afraid it will require a Heaven-level artifact master!

Ning Kingdom doesn't even have a Heaven-level Weapon Master, let alone a Heaven-level artifact master!"

"Difficult, difficult, difficult!"

The Shen family is a wealthy family, relying on the Heavenly Sect behind them, so naturally they don't want the Heavenly Sect to have any problems.

This time, the family council gathered most of the weapon masters and artifacts masters of the Shen family. They all looked worried about the Water Lord.

Wei Long Xuan Yuan, an artifact on the verge of heavenly-grade, had once been the pride of Jiangzhou. However, its internal mechanisms had suffered extensive damage during a prior conflict. Without it, the region was left vulnerable.

“The Heavenly Sect has called for an artifact master convention at Mount Ye Lake to discuss strategies for repairing Wei Long Xuan Yuan. The greatest craftsmen in Jiangzhou, and even some from neighboring regions, will be in attendance.”

Shen Wanshan turned his gaze toward the family’s leading artifact masters.

“All artifact masters within the Shen family, regardless of rank, must attend. Even those with unconventional ideas or untested talent might provide a breakthrough.”

“Master Wanshan, what if this convention draws the wrath of Luotong Shui Jun?” asked Chen Xianwei, a Xuan-tier artifact master employed by the Shen family.

In Ninghe County, the county magistrate has to treat him with courtesy.

The number of artifact masters is much less than that of weapon masters.

As one of the top three families in Jining Prefecture, the Shen family has seven earth-level weapon masters, but only one earth-level artifact master.

Despite his skill, Chen Xianwei was visibly uneasy. Artifact masters were far rarer than combat weapon users and were not suited to battle. Gathering so many artifact experts in one place would be a tempting target for the ghostly Water Lord.

“Your concerns are valid,” Shen Wanshan said, nodding. “But the Heavenly Sect has guaranteed the safety of all participants. Even Master Huo Lie, one of the most skilled artifact craftsmen in Ning Kingdom, will attend. If he’s confident in his safety, why shouldn’t we be?”

Huo Lie was a legendary figure among artifact masters, known for creating several near-heavenly-grade artifacts. His involvement provided a sense of assurance.

“We must have faith in the Heavenly Sect’s preparations,” Shen Wanshan added. “Our family’s interests align with theirs. If we fail to control Luotong Shui Jun, the consequences will be catastrophic.”

Despite his reassurances, the anxiety in the room was palpable.

“Let’s hope someone at the convention finds a way to repair Wei Long Xuan Yuan,” murmured an elder.

“Without it, what hope do we have against a calamity like Luotong Shui Jun?”

As the family deliberated their participation in the convention, an unexpected figure burst into the room.

“Mother-in-law, is it time for your bath?”

Qi Yuan strode into the hall, carrying a steaming basin of water. The hot steam curled in the air, making his arrival both absurd and oddly theatrical.

All eyes turned toward him, their expressions a mixture of disbelief, confusion, and horror.

Qi Yuan remained unbothered, his gaze focused solely on his mother-in-law.

“What are you doing?” Shen Lingxiu, his mother-in-law, demanded, her voice icy yet tinged with embarrassment.

“Bringing you bathwater, of course!” Qi Yuan replied matter-of-factly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

He turned to the assembly. “As a live-in son-in-law, I’ve endured many hardships. Being looked down upon, receiving cold stares—even the servants won’t acknowledge me. But I persist, for the sake of my family! I brew soup for my wife and bring bathwater for my mother-in-law. This is what it means to be a dutiful son-in-law!”

“Now then, mother-in-law, are you ready for your bath? Shall I help you carry this to your room?”

The room fell deathly silent.

The gathered Shen family members were stunned, their expressions ranging from shock to sheer disbelief.

Shen Lingxiu’s face turned crimson with embarrassment, a mix of anger and humiliation. “Qi Yuan, leave!” she hissed.

“Not bathing tonight?” Qi Yuan asked innocently.

“Not bathing!” Shen Lingxiu snapped, her voice rising.

“Alright then,” Qi Yuan said with a shrug. “But if you change your mind, just call for me—I’ll bring the water right away.”

He left the room as abruptly as he’d entered, leaving behind a hall full of stunned faces.

As the door closed, Shen Wanshan finally broke the silence.

“Has he… lost his mind?” he asked, his voice heavy with resignation.

Shen Lingxiu let out a long sigh. “He must have endured too much ridicule since marrying into the family. Now, even in his madness, he still thinks about fulfilling his duties.”

Her voice faltered slightly.

“Perhaps… we’ve been too harsh on him.”

Shen Wanshan rubbed his temples, his face a mixture of exasperation and pity. “Send word to the servants. If any have mistreated him, punish them accordingly.”

“Understood, Master.”

"I heard that something big happened in Ninghe County?" Shen Wanshan asked.

"The Thorned Blood Sect appeared, and eighty-seven specters attacked Hongyun Village. As a result... they were all killed by a strong man holding a thick spear!"

"It turned out to be the Thorned Blood Sect!"

When the Thorned Blood Sect was mentioned, everyone present was afraid.

This force is a cult, mysterious and powerful. It is not only active in Ning Kingdom, but also in other forces.

Madam Shen told Shen Wanshan the information she got one by one.

"Calling himself a god?"

"The soul attack of the specters is ineffective against him?"

"The specters cultivated by the Thorned Blood Sect are good at soul attack. Even if it is yellow level, eighty-seven gathered together, I have to spend some effort to deal with it.

Where did this genius come from?"

Shen Wanshan mentioned it, and then he didn't care anymore.

Just a genius.

If it were normal times, he would still want the Shen family to investigate the identity of that person and make friends with him according to the situation.

But now, with the crisis of Mount Ye Lake ahead, he has no mood to care about these trivial matters.

For him, it is more important to find a powerful artifact master now.

If Brother Qi is still alive, with his talent, he may have a way to repair Wei Long Xuan Yuan now.

Thinking of this, he felt melancholy: "Chen Xianwei, during this period of time, go and teach Qi Yuan to see if he has the talent of a Artifact master."

He doesn't want Qi Yuan to be crazy and confused.

He also doesn't want the inheritance of the Qi family to be broken.

"This..." Chen Xianwei was confused.

Let me teach a madman to learn to refine weapons?

How to teach this?

He felt very bitter.

It's better to let him teach a mute to sing.

<hr>

Despite Qi Yuan’s recent eccentricities, Shen Lingxiu couldn’t help but feel conflicted. Once a troublemaker and a layabout, he now displayed an almost tragic sense of devotion—albeit in the most bizarre ways.

“Better that he’s like this than how he was before,” she murmured. “At least now, he’s not causing as much trouble.”

Still, her heart ached for her daughter.

“Poor Xuan’er… marrying a man like him.”

<hr>

Outside the meeting hall, Qi Yuan hummed to himself, satisfied with his performance.

“Carrying bathwater for my mother-in-law has really boosted my roleplay progress,” he mused. “It seems Qi Yuan truly wanted to curry favor this way!”

He began pondering other ways to embody his role as a live-in son-in-law.

“Perhaps letting her trample me underfoot? Washing her socks?”

“No, that’s a bit too much.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Being a live-in son-in-law is exhausting. Upgrading, fighting specters—that’s the real goal!”

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