Jun Changxiao had been away from Xingyun Continent for over a month, but news of his ascension still hadn’t cooled down and was still being eagerly discussed by the world.
It could be said that everything about this person, everything he had done, would be recorded in history, becoming an eternal legend like Elder Taixuan.
At Wangu Sect, though the disciples had grown accustomed to days without the sect master leading morning exercises, they still mourned in their hearts.
Especially Hua Meigui, sitting in the pavilion, gently supporting her face with her hand, muttering rather sadly, “Though husband has only been gone a month, it feels like decades have passed.”
After Jun Changxiao ascended, she didn’t return to the Planar Battlefield. First, the transmission gate was gone; second, she herself was a Wangu Sect member, so she chose to stay and help manage things.
Hua Meigui held no official position, but because of her unclear and indescribable relationship with Gou Sheng, she was quite respected in the sect.
“Madam Master.”
Li Qingyang came to see her. “The third expansion of Tiegu Town has been completed. Would you like to go look?”
In the month since Jun Changxiao left, more and more planes came for trade, and the city had begun feeling crowded again.
The main reason was that the pills sold at Tang’s Medicine Shop were too heaven-defying, causing many experts to come queue up early to purchase them.
Though Hua Meigui had only been at Xingyun Continent a short time, she already understood the basic situation. She gathered the sect’s leadership to discuss and ultimately chose to expand the city again.
Having controlled an entire plane, managing a sect was naturally easy for her, especially with assistance from Young Master Yuan and others. She even had leisurely moments to miss Jun Changxiao.
“No need.”
Hua Meigui said.
Li Qingyang said, “Madam Master doesn’t need to worry so much, because if the Sect Master had a way to go up, he definitely has a way to come down.”
As one of the earliest disciples accepted, he understood Jun Changxiao quite well.
“I hope so.”
…
Jun Changxiao’s ascension upset Ye Xingchen most, because he yearned to go to the Upper Realm more urgently than anyone else in the sect, yet the former went alone!
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
Inside the high-difficulty Life and Death Secret Realm, Ah Niu channeled the depression in his heart into his fists, crazily annihilating spirit beasts one after another, his entire being transformed into a demon.
“Junior Brother Xiao.”
Su Xiaomo, who accompanied him, said quietly, “Has Junior Brother Ye been rather bad-tempered lately? Could he be missing the Sect Master too much?”
Xiao Zuiji said, “No, he’s angry about not ascending to the Upper Realm.”
Having learned of Ye Xingchen’s past life, he could completely understand the other’s feelings, since he too had once been hurt by a woman.
“Boom—”
The last spirit beast was dealt with, this training session declared complete, but Ah Niu still hadn’t vented enough, so he shouted loudly, “Let’s go drink!”
“…”
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei’s expressions became interesting.
Previously during holidays or parties, the two often looked for Ye Xingchen who couldn’t hold his liquor, but now they absolutely didn’t dare, because… they simply couldn’t outdrink him!
“Ow, my stomach hurts, I’m going to the toilet!”
“I promised Shui Yun today I’d go shopping in town!”
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei each found excuses to escape, leaving Xiao Zuiji shaking his head helplessly. “Junior Brother, come, I’ll accompany you to drink.”
Men hurt by women best understand men hurt by women.
…
In the cafeteria.
Liu Wanshi untied her apron. “You two drink less.”
When she became a Wangu Sect member she was only thirteen or fourteen. Nearly twenty years had passed, and she had long shed that innocence and naivety, becoming a beautiful woman.
The biggest change was Yao Mengying. She was no longer that child who cried when Elder Lu died, but had grown into an adult. Having primarily cultivated the demonic path, her temperament differed from others.
As for Lai Luoqiu, Ling Yuanxue, and other famous female members of the sect, with increasing age their appearances not only hadn’t declined but had become increasingly beautiful and alluring.
“Come!”
Ye Xingchen lifted his wine jar. “Keep drinking!”
Xiao Zuiji said nothing, because he was already sprawled under the table.
“Alas.”
Ye Xingchen sighed, an expression of how lonely invincibility is floating across his face.
…
In days without Jun Changxiao, though Wangu Sect remained full of vitality, it always lacked a certain ease and joy.
“Boom!”
One night, thunder suddenly rang out in the firmament. Dazzling light like lightning seemed to emerge from the depths of space, instantly rendering the entire plane bright as day, then fiercely struck in the direction of Tiegu Mountain.
“What’s that?”
The abrupt lightning startled everyone on Xingyun Continent.
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
Shortly after, an extremely familiar aura surged madly, containing the profundity of martial dao and emanating the sharpness of sword dao!
“It’s him!”
City Lord Xie walked out in his pajamas, exclaiming excitedly, “It’s him!”
Who?
Our hero, Jun Dog Emperor!
“Didn’t he shatter the void and ascend to the Upper Realm?” City Lord Han said with a confused expression. “Why did he come back down?”
…
“Whoosh whoosh!”
At Wangu Sect, on the dust-filled training ground, vast sword and martial energies spread madly.
“Swish! Swish! Swish!”
Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji and others rushed to the scene at top speed, their gazes flashing with joy and excitement.
Gradually, the dust dispersed, and the various spiritual energy waves began weakening. They saw Jun Changxiao half-kneeling, right elbow resting on his leg, fist against his forehead in a thoughtful pose.
“Sect Master!”
Li Qingyang and Xiao Zuiji called out excitedly.
“Swish!”
Jun Changxiao stood up, left hand pressed to his chest, right hand gently raised, head still lowered. “Babies, did you miss me!”
“Yes!”
Everyone responded in unison, brilliant smiles spreading across their faces, the sect’s sky gradually enveloped by a joyful atmosphere.
This was a complete Wangu Sect, this was a Wangu Sect with soul.
…
Jun Changxiao, who had trained in the Upper Realm for over a month, not only successfully returned to Xingyun Continent using the Moonlight Box, but was precisely transmitted to the sect.
The entire Wangu Sect immediately became lively, especially the dining hall. Led by Liu Wanshi, the gold medal chef team began bustling about, because the Sect Master had just ordered preparations for an evening banquet to celebrate a holiday called Mid-Autumn.
“Host ascended on September 9th. Corresponding to the lunar calendar and over a month in the Upper Realm, the Mid-Autumn Festival already passed long ago!” The System roared.
“If I say today is Mid-Autumn Festival, then it’s Mid-Autumn Festival. This issue doesn’t need discussion—everyone listen to me.”
“…”
The disciples began busily preparing for the upcoming banquet while Jun Changxiao alone went to Dragon Head Peak, walking toward his residential courtyard.
However, he stopped at the entrance, because Hua Meigui stood there, smiling beautifully. “You’re back?”
When Jun Changxiao appeared on the training ground, she captured it immediately, but didn’t rush over with the disciples. Instead, like a wife awaiting her husband’s return, she stood quietly waiting in the courtyard.
“I heard from Qingyang and the others that you’ve been managing the sect this whole time, so…” Jun Changxiao paused. “Thank you.”
“The disciples respect me as Sect Master’s wife. Managing my husband’s sect is only natural.” Empress Meigui said, “Moreover, with Young Master Yuan and Elder Wei here, I actually didn’t help much.”
After brief conversation, the two fell silent, and the atmosphere immediately became rather awkward.
“Snap!”
Li Shangtian, the sect’s absolute photography expert, secretly poked his head out from behind a rock, took out his camera and pressed the shutter. A photo was born of Jun Changxiao and Hua Meigui gazing at each other outside the courtyard, with the background moon made especially round to match this Mid-Autumn Festival.
…
“Whoosh whoosh!”
On the training ground, bonfires rose, dispelling the chill and darkness.
Jun Changxiao, sitting before the great hall, raised his wine cup. The sect’s leadership and disciples all stood up, collectively looking at you in the lens, offering congratulations: “On this joyous day, may the moonlight carry Wangu Sect’s blessings. May your dreams, career, family fortune, and everything be complete and perfect!”
“Come!”
“Drain this cup!”
—