Jun Changxiao had come from the Canghai System, so naturally he paid closer attention after seeing the announcement.
It would have been better if he hadn’t looked—one glance and he got quite a shock.
Champion?
Xie Lingyao?
Both Jun Changxiao and his disciples had an impression of this name, since not long ago she’d had some unclear entanglement with Ye Xingchen.
“No way!” Su Xiaomo said incredulously. “The woman who had that messy situation with Junior Brother Ye actually won the championship?”
“Could it be someone with the same name?” Li Fei said.
Everyone found it hard to believe that Xie Lingyao could win the Canghai System main competition championship, because they remembered that when she came to the Eternal Voyage back then, that woman didn’t seem particularly strong—at most she was at the Core Formation Realm.
“It’s probably just the same name,” Jun Changxiao also didn’t think Xie Lingyao had championship-level strength.
“Not necessarily,” the System said. “Before leaving, the host gave her quite a lot of resources—enough that ordinary people couldn’t obtain in several lifetimes.”
Jun Changxiao stroked his chin. “That makes sense.”
“Besides,” the System continued, “just because your disciples can rapidly improve their cultivation doesn’t mean others can’t encounter their own fortuitous opportunities.”
“Snap!” Jun Changxiao clapped his hands and declared confidently, “Now that you put it that way, it’s definitely just someone with the same name.”
“…” The System roared, “I’m being very serious in my analysis here!”
Jun Changxiao’s expression turned solemn. “I’m being very serious too.”
“Go to hell!”
“Try cursing at me one more time!”
“Go to hell!”
“Damn it!”
Dog Sheng, unable to care that he was walking on the street, directly grabbed his own neck and started wrestling with himself.
A man should be ruthless to himself.
“What’s wrong with my worthy nephew?”
“Senior Gu, don’t panic—this is our sect master’s special cultivation method.”
The disciples had seen Jun Changxiao’s self-harming behavior so many times they could face it with a calm mind, and even secretly wondered if the sect master’s breakthrough to the Heaven’s Mystery Realm was related to his constant neck-grabbing.
For this reason, He Wudi decided to follow suit, choking himself until he couldn’t breathe before hastily letting go, silently lamenting: “The sect master is truly extraordinary—I cannot compare!”
“Hey!” Just as they walked out the city gate, Jian Xiaohong chased after them from behind.
She first blocked Jun Changxiao’s path, then put her hands on her hips and said, “Didn’t we agree that you’d let Zhou Hong return to the Guixu Realm with me?”
“I almost forgot!” Jun Changxiao slapped his forehead, then looked at Zhou Hong. “Since Miss Jian is so enthusiastic, don’t decline—why not go with her to the Guixu Realm?”
“…” Zhou Hong originally wanted to refuse, but seeing the sect master’s smiling expression, he changed his tune. “This disciple obeys your command.”
“Miss Jian,” Jun Changxiao turned back with a smile. “My disciple has practiced the sword until he’s become a bit foolish—I’m afraid he’ll cause you trouble when he goes. How about I personally escort him there instead?”
The Guixu Sword Saint must be an incredible expert.
For his disciple to become his apprentice would be a great opportunity, and for himself to have the fortune to meet him would also be an opportunity.
The System said, “The host is trying to latch onto another big leg again!”
“No way,” Jian Xiaohong flatly refused. “My grandfather doesn’t like outsiders, especially doesn’t like shameless people.”
“Alright then.” Jun Changxiao looked at Zhou Hong. “You can go with Miss Jian now.”
“…” Zhou Hong stepped forward and left with Jian Xiaohong.
However, before leaving, he heard Jun Changxiao’s voice transmission: “This seat gives you two years. Return to the Dutian Realm after two years.”
“Yes!”
Just like that, Zhou Hong left.
Having never had much screen time to begin with, he completely entered an offline idle state.
Watching his disciple’s silhouette gradually disappear into the crowd, Jun Changxiao said meaningfully, “Hong, when you return after two years, give this seat a pleasant surprise.”
“Let’s go.” Dog Sheng snapped his fingers and led the disciples in another direction.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped, turned back and roared, “Who was that woman calling shameless!”
“…” The disciples were speechless.
The sect master’s reaction time was a bit slow today!
—
“Swoosh—”
The Eternal Voyage broke through the spatial barrier and merged into the endless universe.
There were still two or three years until the Universe Holy War Grand Finals. Jun Changxiao planned to temporarily settle in the Dutian Realm and focus all efforts on cultivating the disciples to improve their realms.
In this main competition, the disciples performed well and their results were within acceptable range, but it also exposed a major problem—aside from the core disciples, the other disciples were falling behind.
For example, Jing Zhixiao and Mao Xiaodao.
“The Grand Finals is where the real hidden dragons and crouching tigers will be,” Jun Changxiao said gravely. “If the disciples don’t make significant breakthroughs in these few years, I’m afraid it will be very difficult to sweep the top twenty positions.”
The System said, “Your disciples repeatedly brutalized Ling Li, which has offended the Heavenly Demon Emperor. Even if he doesn’t secretly sabotage you, during the Grand Finals he’ll definitely deliberately target you.”
“Indeed,” Jun Changxiao said. “That guy still has eighty adopted sons. The Grand Finals a few years from now will probably be a fierce battle for Qingyang and the others.”
He didn’t underestimate the Heavenly Demon Emperor himself just because Ling Li had been savagely beaten by his disciples. Moreover, the fact that he openly took drugs during the main competition and the organizers didn’t intervene showed that the other party had significant power.
“Fortunately, there’s the Eternal Realm hidden inside my body,” Jun Changxiao said with relief. “Otherwise, I really wouldn’t dare provoke that guy.”
For Dog Sheng, who usually feared neither heaven nor earth, to actually adopt a cautious attitude—this was quite unexpected.
“Host, it’s precisely because you have the Eternal Realm that you can’t avoid being enemies with him,” the System said.
“That’s why I hope the disciples become stronger faster. Once I have enough Half-Step and Heaven’s Mystery Realm cultivators, how could I fear the so-called Heavenly Demon Emperor?” Jun Changxiao could act cowardly, but he would never stay cowardly to the end. As long as he had the capital to challenge the other party, he would definitely fight to the bitter end.
—
Qingyuan System.
The same star system main competition was being held.
“Boom!”
On the battle stage, an explosive sound erupted. Energy waves resembling a Kamehameha blast violently crashed into the edge defensive barrier, producing dense cracks all over.
“Pfft! Pfft!”
Dozens of formation masters responsible for stabilizing it spat blood and were sent flying.
“…” The audience fearfully stood up, looking at the collapsed battle stage below, looking at the contestant who had pierced his opponent’s chest, their scalps tingling!
“The Universe Holy War Qingyuan System main competition champion, Ling Yuan!” A trembling voice rang out outside the battle stage.
“Tch.” Ling Yuan pulled his hand out from the chest, scorching hot blood splattering on the ground. He said disdainfully, “Why would Adoptive Father make me participate in such a boring competition?”
“And Ling Li—he actually didn’t win the championship. What utter trash.”
He walked down from the battle stage without even claiming the trophy or rewards before leaving.
Similar scenes appeared in other star systems. All the adopted sons the Heavenly Demon Emperor sent out won championships without suspense. If one had to describe it, it was multi-front warfare with complete success across the board.
Everyone acknowledged their strength.
But striking with lethal intent the moment they attacked was far too ruthless.
—
Canghai System.
Xie Lingyao sat on a mountain peak.
In her hand, she tightly clutched a piece of torn cloth.
From its color, it was clearly a sleeve corner from an Eternal Sect uniform.
“Ye Xingchen!”
Xie Lingyao raised her head, looking toward the endless firmament, fury rising to her brow. “I will personally kill you in the Grand Finals!”
On the Eternal Voyage, Ye Xingchen was also looking out at the starry sky through the window. Inadvertently recalling what had happened before, he immediately felt tangled emotions that couldn’t be sorted out.
“Damn it! Why can’t I forget!”
—