Chapter Seventy-Five: Lord Yellow Toad

“Could this brat be the child of some powerful cultivator? How am I so unlucky?”
Old Crane was completely bewildered. In this remote corner of the Ancient Prime Cultivation Domain, within the Flickering Cloud Star Realm, he had somehow encountered a young wastrel of such remarkable background!
Everything that Feng Shang had revealed so far—the treasures, the techniques—was so extraordinary that even claiming he hailed from an imperial-level cosmic clan would be believable.
Fear crept through Old Crane’s heart.
Feng Shang possessed the Cosmic Crystal Star, its energy abundant, maintaining the killing array with ease. Watching the ever-strengthening tribulation strikes, Old Crane felt dread rising.
“This villain is so amusing—he threatened to destroy Brother Feng Shang, but now his face is as pale as clay.”
On the Dao Boat, the little Phoenix’s amethyst hair shimmered as she giggled, revealing a mouthful of pearly, lustrous teeth. Her adorable eyes warmed the heart, soothing any soul.
“This killing array can slay those of the Light Realm. It appeared at an auction in Nine-Star City a year ago, and Brother Feng Shang bid and won it. That person is now trapped, unable to escape. Let’s sail closer.” Qing’er said gently.
“Alright.”
The little Phoenix patted the golden boat and whispered, “Ship spirit, can you hear me? Take us to Brother Feng Shang.”
The Dao Treasure Golden Boat shuddered softly, its entire body glowing as it sped toward the Nine Tribulations Prison Array.
Inside the killing array, Old Crane’s face was grim.
He glanced at the youth high above, his hair tousled by cosmic winds, unrestrained and elegant, idly toying with the dazzling Cosmic Crystal Star, his expression calm and unbothered.
Meanwhile, the Thousand-Handed Sorrow Lord was nearly crumbling. With each recent tribulation strike, only a quarter of him remained. It wouldn’t be long before he faced the disaster alone.
“I, Crane Xuan, have cultivated for countless ages, finally becoming a Lord of Light. How can I fall here? Who will save me? Those in the alliance are coldhearted; even if I tell them of my peril, they’ll likely ignore me. Must I… must I reveal the news of the super core?”
Crane Xuan clenched his fists, his face etched with difficult hesitation.
He had never disclosed the existence of the super core to anyone. For years, he prepared, waiting only for it to mature so he could attempt to fuse with it.
Yet now, in mortal danger, he teetered on the edge.
The force behind him was always cold and ruthless. For someone of his level, asking for help meant paying an enormous price.
There were precedents.
In desperate straits, a Respect-Slayer once pleaded with a Lord in the alliance. The Lord did intervene, but the result was enslavement for a million years!
Even upon release, the light essence was drained away.
Old Crane would never accept such a fate. Weighing his options, only by offering news of the super core could he hope for rescue.
In this star system, between the Lunar and Solar Stars, two third-realm super cores were evolving. Once matured, they would at least reach the peak of the third realm, with a chance of transforming into fourth-realm super cores.

Such treasures would tempt even a God-Slayer Lord.
“How unwilling I am!”
Crane Xuan cursed in fury. “With a bit more time, the super core would be fully matured. After all my preparation, I’d have at least a sixty percent chance of successful fusion. That damned brat has ruined everything!”
After much inner struggle, Crane Xuan finally sighed.
“Send it up. I, Crane Xuan, may lose my chance to fuse with the super core, but so long as a God-Slayer Lord comes, this brat will die without question! At least my hatred will be avenged!”
Grinding his teeth, Crane Xuan closed his eyes. From his brow, a hazy golden light spread, revealing a golden character for “Slayer,” which flashed three times.
At the same time, in a distant star region—
“Hissss…”
A golden toad, enormous as a star, with sly, bright black eyes, suddenly opened its mouth and shot out a crimson tongue. It struck a drifting remnant of star debris, crushing useless matter and licking out a vein of radiant Star Soul ore.
The golden toad swallowed the prize with satisfaction.
“Golden Toad, take it easy—I’m still up here!”
A fat cultivator in a yellow-brown Dao robe scolded, riding atop the toad’s head. Compared to the creature, he was so tiny he was barely visible.
In his hand was a pale green jade scroll, shimmering with thousands of mysterious cosmic runes, ancient and extraordinary, glowing softly.
The golden toad immediately looked innocent.
“All right. I know you’re hungry. I’ll let you feast later, but don’t disturb my research now.”
The fat Daoist’s tone softened. This golden giant toad was the most gifted junior of his clan, born amid auspicious signs. Upon entering the Respect-Slayer realm, its size had swelled to two hundred thousand miles—simply astonishing.
If cultivated well, perhaps it might reach his own heights someday.
Hearing this, the golden toad immediately quieted, drool trickling at the thought of tasty cosmic crystals.
Recently, the Ancient Prime Cultivation Domain was in turmoil. Battles raged everywhere, causing chaos. Many star realm hubs couldn’t transmit warnings in time, so swallowing a few key energy ore stars was nothing.
Besides, with a senior as backing, the golden toad had enjoyed a feast lately.
The Yellow Toad Daoist held the jade scroll, frowning as he studied the intricate cosmic runes, his expression puzzled. “What a mystery—after all these days, I still can’t trace the origin transformation of that Life-and-Death Divine Rune.”
Buzz…
Suddenly, a strand of golden radiance drifted from the Yellow Toad Daoist’s brow, instantly making him impatient. There was a Respect-Slayer requesting transmission nearby.
“Let’s hope it’s good news!”

The Yellow Toad Daoist snorted coldly. He hated being disturbed while researching, so he set the jade scroll aside and reached out a rough, yellowed finger to catch the golden radiance.
“Great Yellow Toad Lord!”
Old Crane’s light-shadow appeared, bowing respectfully.
“Crane Xuan. What is it?”
The Yellow Toad Daoist’s face was gloomy, his tone unfriendly.
“My Lord, I am currently in the Flickering Cloud Star Realm, at the ruins of the Great Cold Furnace. I have unexpectedly discovered two third-realm super cores, opposing and entangled, in the process of fusion. There is a chance they may transform into fourth-realm super cores!” Old Crane reported respectfully.
“Oh?!”
The Yellow Toad Daoist was stunned.
Two third-realm super cores, fusing and evolving, with a possibility of becoming fourth-realm super cores—he had only ever heard of such a thing, never witnessed it.
“Is this true?”
A sharp gleam flashed in the Yellow Toad’s eyes.
“I would never dare deceive you, my Lord. I was just about to return and report, but encountered a troublesome youth who has trapped me in a great array. I beg your intervention.” Old Crane’s face twisted with ferocity.
“Hmm…”
The Yellow Toad Daoist squinted, then burst out laughing. “So that’s it. Crane Xuan, I bet you haven’t told me everything?”
“Never!”
Old Crane’s light-shadow broke out in cold sweat.
This lord’s appearance was crude and ugly, repulsive, but his mind was extraordinary—far sharper than he looked, instantly seeing through Crane Xuan’s intentions.
The Yellow Toad waved his hand, squinting. “Enough. I don’t care about anything else. As long as the super cores are real, that’s all that matters. Send me your coordinates—I’ll come at once.”
“Yes.”
Old Crane breathed a sigh of relief.