Chapter 71: Shaking Tianyangfeng! The Sect Master Calls for You!

“Looks like I need to find that bitch sometime...”

Feeling the growing heat in his body, Jiang Ye forcibly suppressed the turbulent thoughts in his mind.

He turned and returned to the wooden hut, scooped up a basin of cool water, and tried to douse the fire in his heart.

The cool water splashed against his face, sliding down his neck, bringing a momentary relief.

But when he lifted his head, his gaze accidentally swept over the blurry bronze mirror.

He froze rigid.

The face in the mirror was still aged.

Yet at the roots of his salt-and-pepper hair, strands of jet-black were quietly sprouting—like a withered tree reborn, stubbornly pushing new shoots through a white desert.

“Am I becoming younger?!”

A surge of uncontrollable joy flashed into Jiang Ye’s ancient eyes.

He leaned close to the mirror, staring fixedly at the new black hairs, as if determined to confirm this wasn’t an illusion.

In that moment, he suddenly recalled something Liu Qingshi had once said—

On the path of martial cultivation, once you reach a certain point, it’s no longer just about killing techniques—it becomes a way of sustaining life.

Jiang Ye, having entered the Golden Core realm, had clearly proven this truth.

“Hahahaha!!!”

Jiang Ye couldn’t help but burst into loud laughter.

The laughter echoed through the cramped wooden hut, startling several birds resting outside.

He didn’t rush to leave seclusion; instead, he continued to settle his energy.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, seven more days passed.

Night fell, inside the Tiankui Herb Garden.

Moonlight spilled like water over the blood-red herb fields.

A figure, back straight as a spear, stood silently at the center of the clearing, his aura radiating a scorching heat like the midday sun.

It was none other than Jiang Ye.

He suddenly swung a punch!

On his fist, a layer of crimson-gold true qi instantly surfaced.

The true qi condensed into solid form, shimmering with searing light under the moon—like a flame compressed to its absolute limit.

BOOM—!!!

Twenty meters away, a tree as thick as a bowl shattered on impact.

In the instant the trunk exploded, a strange flame burst from within, instantly igniting the fragments into roaring fireballs.

Immediately after, he curled his fingers—and a gleaming curved blade appeared in his hand.

With a reverse slash, he struck fiercely!

SHHHH—!!!

A crimson-gold crescent blade-light tore through the night sky.

The blade-light was breathtakingly beautiful, carrying a searing heat that could burn all things, sweeping outward.

Twenty meters away, over a dozen trees at varying positions were cleanly severed at waist height—all at once.

The cut surfaces were mirror-smooth, yet faintly charred—where the residual fire qi from the blade had scorched them.

The trunks crashed to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

The small grove beyond the herb garden looked as if some divine force had simply erased a large section—leaving only broken, charred stumps.

Jiang Ye sheathed his blade and stood, gazing at the scene before him, finally nodding in satisfaction.

After seven days of cultivation, his strength had risen another level.

Host: Jiang Ye

Lifespan: 70/150

Strength: Golden Core (Initial Stage)

Destiny: Ascension to Divine Stairway [Effect 1: Extraordinary Comprehension!]

Cultivation Method Acquired: Great Sun Heavenly Flame Qi Cultivation Method (Beginner, 328/1000)

Martial Arts Acquired: Five Animals Fist (Perfected), Blood Moon Blade (Mature, 3688/5000), Golden Body Cultivation Technique (Beginner, 896/1000)

True Intentions Acquired: Tiger Moves Like Illness, Spirit Monkey’s Thousand Transformations, Startled Deer Leaves No Trace, Wind-Riding Flight

His realm was now fully stabilized, and his true qi manipulation had grown far more refined.

The Blood Moon Blade had reached maturity—close to perfection; with true qi enhancement, each slash carried unfathomable power.

The Golden Body Cultivation Technique was nearing minor perfection; his flesh and bone strength now surpassed solid stone, approaching bronze armor.

Every morning, Jiang Ye’s pants would tear open—truly absurd.

“Pity, the Snow Yang Grass and Green Water Silk are both gone...”

Jiang Ye sighed inwardly.

He had originally thought those herbs would last long enough to bring the Golden Body Cultivation Technique to minor perfection.

But his body absorbed the secret herbs far faster than he’d imagined.

Only half a month had passed, and the herbs were already exhausted.

“I need to find a way to get more herbs.”

Jiang Ye mused inwardly.

A fire centipede, about a foot long, quietly emerged from the soil nearby, its eyes alert as it scanned the surroundings.

“Let’s test my current flesh strength with this one.”

Jiang Ye’s eyes flickered with amusement; he stomped the ground sharply.

THUD.

A muffled sound echoed from beneath the earth.

The fire centipede, just emerging, was instantly jolted upward by a deft force, flying into the air.

JIIII!

The fire centipede shrieked in fright and fury, its slender body thrashing wildly midair.

Before it could react, two withered fingers pinched it firmly.

It writhed violently, instinctively opening its grotesque mandibles and biting down hard on Jiang Ye’s fingers.

CLANG.

The fire centipede froze. Its jet-black compound eyes showed a hint of human-like confusion.

Why won’t it bite through?

“Looks like this ordinary poison creature can’t harm me anymore.”

Jiang Ye nodded inwardly.

He shifted his intent—and a thread of crimson-gold true qi surged from his fingers.

HISS...

The fire centipede didn’t even have time to struggle before it was instantly reduced to a charred stick; a stench of burnt flesh filled the air.

At that moment.

SSSSS~

A delighted hissing rose from beneath his feet.

Jiang Ye looked down—it was Xiao Huo, the little fire creature he’d raised in the herb garden.

Clearly, it had witnessed what just happened; it circled excitedly around his feet, its two pairs of mandibles opening and closing eagerly, as if wanting to test whether it could bite through him too.

Jiang Ye stared at its scythe-like mandibles and waved his hand dismissively: “Go away, go away.”

This little creature’s bite force far exceeded ordinary fire centipedes, and its poison was extremely fierce.

He truly dared not test it.

If this little thing scratched even a tiny bit of skin, he might end up losing a limb.

SSSS...

Xiao Huo, driven off, let out a pitiful hiss but dared not defy him—only sulkily slithered back into the depths of the herb field.

“Time to rest.”

Jiang Ye shook his head slightly and turned back toward the wooden hut.

The next day.

At noon.

Jiang Ye sat cross-legged in the center of the Tiankui Herb Garden, eyes half-closed, breathing slow and deep.

Above him, the blazing sun poured down ten thousand rays of light; he sat within it, as if fused with the radiance, a faint crimson-gold aura swirling around his body.

At that moment.

Footsteps approached from afar.

Jiang Ye, sensing something, opened his eyes.

In those ancient eyes, a fleeting glimmer of gold flickered—gone in an instant.

The visitor was Lu Ming, the chubby little fellow, his round figure walking along the garden path—clearly coming to chat and visit.

Sure enough, Lu Ming spotted Jiang Ye sitting cross-legged in the garden and immediately smiled, instinctively calling out: “Elder Jiang, it’s been a while since I came to see you...”

The moment the words left his mouth, Lu Ming’s steps froze abruptly.

His smile froze suddenly, as if struck by a paralysis spell.

Those small eyes widened to their fullest, fixed unblinkingly on Jiang Ye, filled with utter disbelief.

“Jiang... Jiang Zhishi...”

Lü Ming’s voice trembled, his plump cheeks quivering slightly: “You... you’ve formed a Golden Core?!”

As he drew closer, he could clearly sense that Jiang Ye’s aura carried a scorching heat like the midday sun.

This was clearly a hallmark of successfully forming a Golden Core and cultivating Fire-element true qi.

“Hmm, just lucky, I suppose.”

Jiang Ye smiled faintly, the expression devoid of any arrogance, as calm and gentle as ever.

“L... lucky...”

Lü Ming stood frozen in place for a long while, his round face contorting with an array of expressions.

Shock, envy, awe—all these emotions mingled within.

The next instant, he lunged toward Jiang Ye, his rotund body moving with startling agility that defied his size.

Reaching Jiang Ye’s side, he said nothing, dropped straight into a sliding kowtow, thudding to the ground, then fumbled frantically at his body, pulling out several silver notes totaling ten thousand taels.

“I knew Master Jiang would succeed in forming the Golden Core! Master Jiang is truly a divine being!”

With both hands, he held the silver notes aloft in reverence, his voice thick with excitement and flattery:

“Congratulations, Elder Jiang, on entering the Golden Core realm! This is a small token from little Lü—please, you must accept it!”

Jiang Ye shook his head slightly, intending to refuse.

But Lü Ming’s resolve was stubborn—he remained kneeling, refusing to rise, clearly determined to stay put until Jiang Ye accepted.

In the end, Jiang Ye could only reach out and take the notes, smiling faintly: “Then thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

Seeing Jiang Ye accept the silver, Lü Ming’s face lit up with joy, his round cheeks flushing slightly red.

Immediately, the little fat man began showering Jiang Ye with lavish praise, nearly claiming he was a celestial immortal reincarnated.

“I truly only succeeded by sheer luck.”

Seeing Lü Ming’s praise grow increasingly absurd, Jiang Ye could only sigh and cut him off.

“By the way, Master Jiang.”

Lü Ming grinned nervously and asked cautiously, “May I spread the news of your breakthrough to the Golden Core realm?”

“No problem.”

Jiang Ye gave a slight nod.

Entering the Golden Core realm placed one among the mid-to-high ranks within the Tianqing Sect, granting access to better cultivation resources.

He had no intention of hiding it.

Upon receiving Jiang Ye’s approval, Lü Ming’s round face glowed with even greater excitement.

After a few more casual words, Lü Ming’s demeanor toward Jiang Ye became more reverent than ever, his speech now laced with careful caution.

Soon after, another set of footsteps approached.

A slender figure walked down the path—it was Chen Lili.

Today she wore a pale green robe, her movements graceful and swaying; even the loose fabric could not conceal the curves of her figure.

“Haha, Brother Lü, Master Jiang...”

Chen Lili was about to greet the two with her usual cheerful grin.

The next instant.

Her smile froze abruptly.

For she, too, felt the searing, sunlike aura radiating from Jiang Ye.

“Master Jiang... you’ve formed a Golden Core?!”

Unlike Lü Ming’s trembling voice, Chen Lili let out a startled, piercing scream.

The scream echoed over the herb garden, startling several birds from their perches.

“Just lucky in breaking through.”

Jiang Ye’s expression remained as calm and faintly smiling as ever.

Hearing this, Chen Lili’s face mirrored Lü Ming’s shock, though without his exaggerated theatrics—she did not slide to her knees beside him.

She hurried forward in three swift strides, reached Jiang Ye’s side, rummaged through her body, and pulled out several silver notes emitting a faint, sweet fragrance—totaling six thousand taels—and offered them respectfully: “Congratulations, Master Jiang, on your successful Golden Core formation. This is my humble token.”

With Lü Ming’s example before him, Jiang Ye offered no further formalities; he smiled faintly and accepted the notes: “Thank you, Miss Chen, for your kindness.”

Beside him, Lü Ming noticed Chen Lili’s offering was less than his own, and a flicker of smug satisfaction crossed his face.

Seeing Jiang Ye accept the silver, Chen Lili joined the conversation with equal delight.

Yet this woman, usually bold and prone to crude remarks, now grew timid.

She sat quietly to the side, speaking in a lowered voice, her gaze toward Jiang Ye now filled with cautious reverence.

Jiang Ye observed it all, silently sighing within.

He had not changed.

Lü Ming had not changed.

Chen Lili had not changed.

Yet with his rising strength, the status between them had quietly shifted.

That change was intangible, yet like an invisible wall, standing between them.

Their casual chat did not last long.

For both Lü Ming and Chen Lili feared disturbing Jiang Ye’s cultivation.

After roughly half a stick of incense, they rose respectfully and took their leave.

Watching their retreating figures, Jiang Ye’s aged face flickered with a subtle, complex emotion.

Another half stick of incense passed.

“Jiang Zhishi, the Peak Lord requests your presence!”

A voice came from nearby.