Dutian Realm.
The Eternal Voyage landed smoothly as various musical performances rang out.
At this moment, the Star Sea Alliance military band stood in neat formation, energetically playing to welcome the heroes’ triumphant return!
“Click!”
The hatch gradually opened, and a wave of air dispersed outward.
Eternal Sect’s Sect Master Jun Changxiao, accompanied by his wife Hua Meigui, descended. First smiling as he received flowers from the children, then waving to the enthusiastic welcoming crowd to express his gratitude.
Without a doubt, having led the Eternal Sect disciples to participate in the main competition and courageously seizing twenty Grand Finals positions, he was regarded as a hero by the Dutian Realm.
“Sect Master Jun!” Vice Alliance Leader Peng gave a thumbs up. “Amazing!”
“Not bad, not bad.” Jun Changxiao rarely showed modesty.
That day, to celebrate the Eternal Sect’s triumphant return, Gu Tianxing held a grand banquet at the Star Sea Alliance. Various powerful figures were fortunately invited to attend.
Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, and others wore formal attire and attended with the sect.
At the banquet, whenever powerful figures toasted them, they praised them as ‘heaven-sent talents, rising stars.’
When disciples were praised, Jun Changxiao felt extremely proud.
So, in his pleasant mood, he completely let loose with his drinking capacity, then was carried back.
Ye Xingchen also drank quite a lot.
Though changing bodies meant he was no longer the Alcohol Dao Supreme, after years of tempering, he had gradually adapted.
In truth, coming to attend the banquet this time, Night Emperor wanted to get drunk. Even if he lost composure and ran to Spirit Beast Peak, it didn’t matter—at least he could drown his sorrows in wine.
Ever since seeing Xie Lingyao’s name on the light screen, Ye Xingchen’s mental state had been in chaos.
The more he tried not to think about it, the more it appeared.
The more he wanted to forget, the more vivid it became.
Uncomfortable, conflicted.
Even after the banquet ended, Ye Xingchen stood alone on the mountain. The events that occurred in the Tianyan Realm once again surged into his consciousness—so clear, so real.
—
The next day.
He Wudi entered the Heaven’s Mystery Secret Realm.
Under the tempering of the Eternal Realm’s powerful heaven and earth attributes, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, but his realm hadn’t substantially broken through. So to step to a higher level, he had to rely on this thing.
He came late.
The Heaven’s Mystery Secret Realm was already packed full.
There was Ye Xingchen, Xiao Zuiji, Long Ziyang, and other core disciples.
They’d all been stuck at peak Truth-Seeking Realm for a very long time. Since Senior Sister could break through, they definitely could too.
Although the Heaven’s Mystery Secret Realm was powerful, it had restrictions—only peak Truth-Seeking Realm cultivators could enter, so inevitably many inner and outer disciples could only gaze longingly.
One thing was very strange.
Most core disciples had come to cultivate, but Su Xiaomo was nowhere to be seen.
Well, he was currently in the Discipline Hall.
As for the reason, naturally it was because of deliberately throwing the match during the main competition.
Similarly miserable were Jing Zhixiao and Mao Xiaodao. The two once again took brushes and shovels into the latrines.
This matter also proved that Dog Sheng followed through on his word. When he said punishment, he meant punishment—absolutely no mercy.
—
“Whoosh!”
In the study, Jun Changxiao opened his eyes.
After advancing to Heaven’s Mystery Realm, every time he sat in meditation and cultivated, it gave him a feeling of his soul ascending to heaven.
However, upon ascending to the highest point, he would be pressed back down by some kind of force.
That force was like inviolable divine power. No matter how many times Dog Sheng shamelessly charged upward, it never revealed any opening.
“Uncle, what’s going on?” Jun Changxiao found Gu Tianxing and explained the situation he encountered.
“Very normal,” Uncle Gu said. “I’ve experienced this too. They say only by breaking through that barrier can one qualify to step onto the path of eternal life.”
“Oh?” Jun Changxiao said in surprise. “The force blocking the soul’s ascent leads to a higher realm?”
Gu Tianxing shook his head. “More precisely, it leads to a higher-level world, and even the pursuit of eternal, undying existence.”
“Eternal, undying existence?” Jun Changxiao stroked his chin. “How captivating.”
He was also a mundane person.
If forced to exist under the survival law of inevitable death, he would definitely prefer to explore eternal life instead.
“Snap.” Gu Tianxing set down a thick stack of files. “I’ve already gathered the roster of contestants advancing to the Grand Finals from each system. It includes simple records of their strength and specialties. Let your disciples learn more about them—know yourself and your enemy.”
“Uncle, you’re so thoughtful.” Jun Changxiao put the files into his spatial ring. “I’ll go back and study them right away.”
“By the way,” Gu Tianxing said, “I’ve already discussed with the Shanhai Realm’s realm lord. Next spring, we’ll hold a wedding for Dog Cub.”
Jun Changxiao, who had walked to the door, nearly fell over, then said with a broken expression, “Uncle, Zhaoxi is only twelve or thirteen. Isn’t marriage a bit too early?”
“Next year he’ll be fourteen—just of age.”
“…” Jun Changxiao said helplessly, “Marriage is a major life event, not child’s play. Uncle should at least consult Zhaoxi’s opinion.”
“No room for discussion—he must marry.”
“Why?” Jun Changxiao was somewhat confused now.
His sworn brother was at the rising stage of his martial dao journey. Suddenly starting a family would inevitably affect his future prospects.
“Worthy nephew,” Gu Tianxing walked over and patted his shoulder. “I don’t want my son to follow in your footsteps.”
These words left Jun Changxiao puzzled.
Gu Tianxing walked out of the hall, raised his head toward the firmament, his expression solemn. “Living beings who want to live longer must go against heaven’s will. Though they can ultimately succeed, they will also be subjected to Heavenly Dao punishment and lose their ability to reproduce.”
“…” Jun Changxiao fell silent.
He’d heard about Heavenly Dao punishment before and knew that the stronger someone became, the lower their chances of conceiving offspring.
“Haah.” Gu Tianxing sighed. “Uncle searched all over the Upper Universe for heavenly treasures, finally managing to luckily have a son. So Dog Cub must marry early and produce heirs for the Gu family early.”
Jun Changxiao understood.
Uncle Gu wanted Zhaoxi to marry quickly because while he was still young and not subject to Heavenly Dao punishment, he could continue the Gu family bloodline.
But what does this have to do with me?
How did I become the bad example?
“Worthy nephew,” Gu Tianxing said, “you’ve been married for decades now, and still have no children. You should be able to deeply understand the pain of Heavenly Dao punishment, right?”
“…” Jun Changxiao nearly coughed up blood.
Understood! Completely understood!
Not letting Zhaoxi follow in his footsteps meant fearing he wouldn’t be able to have children!
“Uncle!” Jun Changxiao howled. “You’ve misunderstood!”
Gu Tianxing patted his shoulder again. “No need for excessive explanation. After all, it took Uncle tens of thousands of years to have a child too.”
“It’s not that!” Jun Changxiao was about to explain. “Uncle…”
Gu Tianxing leaned in close and said quietly, “I have a folk remedy. Want to try it?”
“…” Jun Changxiao covered his forehead with his hand, howling inwardly: “So in Uncle’s eyes, I suffer from… that kind of condition!”
“Here.” Gu Tianxing stuffed a prescription into his hand. “The medicinal ingredients inside are extremely rare. Whether you can find them depends on your fortune, worthy nephew.”
“…” Jun Changxiao was speechless.
Knowing Uncle also had good intentions, he could only accept it and take his leave.
On the road, he casually tossed it into his spatial ring, firmly thinking: “I don’t need this folk remedy!”
—