Floating Mountain.
Still beneath that peach tree.
The Rose Empress looked at the figure walking toward the vortex and said plaintively, “Won’t you stay a few more days?”
Beautiful moments are always extremely brief, because Jun Changxiao was leaving after finishing his business.
“I still have important matters to attend to.”
What matters?
Studying the Heaven-Seizing Fortune-Defying Grand Formation.
“Oh.”
The Rose Empress smiled and said, “Then I won’t disturb you.”
She seemed somewhat clingy to Jun Changxiao, but in fact, she also understood that managing a sect meant he definitely had many matters to handle.
Moreover.
She also had to lead her people in battle on the battlefield.
Romance and affection only occupied a small part of life—most of the time, career had to come first.
Jun Changxiao got up and walked toward the vortex.
However, just as he was about to enter it, he stopped with his back to her and said, “After I leave this time, I probably won’t come in again, so… you don’t need to come wait at the stronghold every day anymore.”
After saying this, he continued walking forward until his entire figure disappeared into the vortex. Only then did the Rose Empress mutter bitterly to herself, “Are you depriving me of even the tiny right to miss you?”
“Whoosh!”
The wind blew, and peach blossoms filled the sky.
The woman who seemed tender as water gradually became noble again, her eyes once more recovering their usual decisiveness and sharpness.
When Jun Changxiao was present, she gave people the feeling of a delicate woman.
When Jun Changxiao wasn’t present, she was the Empress who commanded the plane and led her race forward.
…
Xingyun Continent, Eternal Sect.
Jun Changxiao had already emerged from the vortex, but he stood frozen in place for quite a while before thinking to himself, “I’m sorry.”
“Oh my.”
The System said rather surprised, “The host’s personality has greatly changed—he’s actually feeling guilty toward his wife.”
“Screw your uncle!”
“I can now confirm whether the Rose Empress is an exclamation point or a period in the host’s heart.”
“…”
Jun Changxiao was too lazy to deal with him. He returned to his study and began comprehending the Heaven-Seizing Fortune-Defying Grand Formation.
He had basically finished handling most matters—next, he should devote all his energy to the sect’s ascension.
…
The massive martial resources extorted from various major planes were successively invested in the sect’s operations, and the disciples made further progress in their cultivation.
However, the time left for them wasn’t much, because Jun Changxiao had to complete the mission within ten years. At that time, regardless of what realm or level they reached, they would all have to leave.
Jun Changxiao couldn’t possibly keep concealing the matter of the sect’s ascension forever, so he found a time to summon the high-level members and core disciples for a sect meeting at the highest level.
“What?”
Ding Xingwang directly stood up from his chair and said incredulously, “We’re… we’re going to the Upper Realm?”
Even Old Wei, usually the most composed, widened his eyes and said, “Sect Master, you’re not joking, are you?”
“No.”
Jun Changxiao interlaced his ten fingers and said seriously, “This Seat is very serious.”
“…”
Jiang Xie, the Ning brothers, and others fell silent.
With this kind of expression from the Sect Master, he was indeed very serious, which meant they were truly going to ascend to the Upper Realm!
Too shocking.
Let me calm down first!
“Sect Master.”
Li Qingyang said, “Ascending to the Upper Realm requires at least Wudi cultivation level, and we…”
“Realm isn’t a problem—I’ll find a way.” Jun Changxiao said, “All you need to do now is prepare yourselves mentally, because once we enter the Upper Realm, we’ll face unprecedented trials.”
“…”
Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, and others exchanged glances, the shock surging in their hearts growing even stronger.
Since they first encountered the martial path, their established goal had been to become Wudi. Now the Sect Master suddenly wanted to take them to the Upper Realm—this was something they wouldn’t have dared to imagine before!
“So we’re finally going up after all?” He Wudi was relatively calm. In his view, a sect created by the Seven Profound Saint Venerable shouldn’t exist in the Mortal Dust—only a bigger stage like the Upper Realm could allow it to shine.
The Purple Lin Demon King of the brain-supplement trio wasn’t too surprised either. After all, having come down from above, he wasn’t unfamiliar with the Upper Realm. His only worry was that going back and being discovered by the Dragon Clan would spell big trouble.
“Sect Master.”
He said quietly, “Can I not go?”
“All sect high-level members and disciples must go.” Jun Changxiao said.
What did sect-wide ascension mean?
It meant taking the entire sect to the Upper Realm together, even including the chickens, ducks, fish, and geese raised by Liu Wanshi.
“Sigh.”
The Purple Lin Demon King sighed and said, “I’m afraid that if I go up and the Dragon Clan discovers me, it will bring catastrophic disaster to the sect.”
In the past, he had always firmly believed he was enduring humiliation at the Eternal Sect for the sake of beasts never being slaves. Now he truly regarded it as his own, and when thinking about going to the Upper Realm, he thought about the sect’s safety rather than his own.
A’zi had truly changed—changed even more than A’niu!
“Creak, creak, creak!”
Suddenly, the sound of fingernails scraping on the table surface came over, making everyone break out in goosebumps.
They all turned their heads to look, and saw Ye Xingchen sitting in an inconspicuous position, his ten fingers scratching marks on the table surface, his face twisted and fierce, his eyes radiating murderous intent.
“A’niu.”
Jun Changxiao said, “What’s wrong with you?”
“Sect Master!”
Ye Xingchen raised his head and said, “When are we going up!”
From his tone, you could tell he seemed unable to wait any longer, urgently hoping to ascend to the Upper Realm immediately.
This was understandable. After all, since his rebirth, A’niu’s hatred for the Lingyao Empress had never extinguished—rather, it burned ever more fiercely.
“Ten years at the latest.” Jun Changxiao said.
“Swish!”
Ye Xingchen stood up and said, “This disciple will go cultivate first!”
Ten years wasn’t long—he needed to improve his strength faster in the limited time!
Of course.
A’niu naturally wouldn’t think that upon going to the Upper Realm he could immediately seek revenge on the Lingyao Empress. He didn’t even doubt that she could slap him to death with one palm. But the higher plane definitely had a higher cultivation environment, which was undoubtedly beneficial to himself!
“You hateful woman, when we’re both in the same cultivation environment, I, Ye Xingchen, will one day surpass you!” Ye Xingchen roared in his heart.
Watching A’niu leave, Jun Changxiao wondered to himself with considerable curiosity, “Just who is this guy’s enemy in the Upper Realm?”
Having experienced the Dragon-Tiger Championship incident, Dog Sheng had some understanding of Ye Xingchen’s secrets, but he didn’t know he was the Night Emperor reborn, much less that his enemy was Lingyao, praised by the world as the first empress of all time.
“Since we’re going to the Upper Realm, I naturally need to ask thoroughly.”
In principle, Jun Changxiao rarely pried into his disciples’ privacy. However, since the other party’s enemy was in the Upper Realm, he had to understand the situation clearly. What if the moment they arrived, A’niu’s enemy came killing upon hearing the news—that would be troublesome.
Of course.
He couldn’t forget about the Purple Lin Demon King stealing dragon eggs and offending the Dragon Clan either.
“Damn it!”
Jun Changxiao rubbed his temples and collapsed inwardly, “A’niu’s enemy, A’zi’s enemy—I haven’t even ascended to the Upper Realm yet, and I already have two enemies in the open.”
While Ye Xingchen’s nemesis was currently an unknown quantity, it was probably just one individual. But the Purple Lin Demon King had offended an entire race. Especially if they learned that the five-clawed dragon representing imperial authority had, under his well-intentioned incubation, become a lizard-like thing—wouldn’t they directly come at him with weapons?
“Ascending to the Upper Realm.”
Jun Changxiao covered his forehead and said, “Fraught with danger!”