The Eternal Vessel was like a homeless little boat, tossing about in the endless cosmic ocean.

Put nicely, it was interstellar travel.

Put harshly, it was like a stray dog.

The sect’s atmosphere also became increasingly oppressive. Gone was the former joy and harmony—disciples spent more time cultivating, desperately cultivating.

As members of the sect, naturally they didn’t want to flee.

But when strength was inferior to others, what could be done?

“Doesn’t husband often say.”

In the study, Hua Meigui placed the teacup on the table and said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way?”

“…”

Jun Changxiao said bitterly, “That’s just chicken soup for the soul.”

Words of comfort could be spoken with just opening and closing one’s mouth, but only after truly experiencing something did one realize that reality was sometimes too cruel, often pressing down until one couldn’t breathe.

Of course.

Jun Changxiao wouldn’t give up on himself.

He was thinking of solutions.

Not saying he had strength to clash directly with the Heavenly Demon Emperor, but at least he should have self-preservation capability, right?

For once, the system didn’t urge the host to refresh the shop, because with that level of bad luck and insufficient prestige value, even spending everything wouldn’t necessarily produce good items.

“Monkey Bro.”

Jun Changxiao said to himself, “Can you come out again?”

After thinking for most of the day, he thought of finding a substitute player again.

He didn’t want to, but looking at the current situation, having the confidence to clash directly with the Heavenly Demon Emperor, he could only ask Monkey Bro to substitute.

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao took out the Great Sage equipment set, gently stroking the golden chain mail, saying, “Back then during the crisis, I originally wanted to rely on it to resolve things, but the result… seemed a bit different.”

“The gap is huge.”

The system said, “It’s like a different person.”

“Could this Great Sage not be that Great Sage?”

Readers had a god’s-eye view and knew the substitute Monkey Bro came from the Celestial Might Secret Realm, but Jun Changxiao as the person involved was still kept in the dark.

To be precise, when he sought a substitute, he was looking for the Great Sage Returns special effect to save the scene, but what came was a mythical heroic soul.

“Could it be an SSS-level heroic soul from the Celestial Might Secret Realm?” Jun Changxiao said.

He could guess this not because his intelligence was too high.

Rather, after completely regaining consciousness and talking with Li Qingyang, he inadvertently learned that when possessed, his appearance resembled the monkey on the secret realm wall—both had pale yellow tiger-skin skirts and split disheveled hair.

“I remember at that time, he was questioning about his equipment.” The system said, “Combined with Ye Xingchen and others going to challenge it and consecutively encountering equipment-less Guan Yu and Lu Bu, is there a connection between the two?”

“Could it be…”

Jun Changxiao speculated, “The Great Sage set was stolen from there?”

Although he didn’t want to admit it, one thing couldn’t be changed—eighty percent of everything he bought from the shop was stolen goods. As for the other twenty percent? He hadn’t found the owners yet.

“I need to go in and take a look.”

Jun Changxiao set out for the back mountain.

He wanted to enter the Celestial Might Secret Realm to investigate, but was repeatedly rejected by the vortex. He simply switched to using his body and head to ram it, finally squatting on the ground holding his head in pain.

The system said, “I told you only disciples can enter. The host definitely can’t get in.”

“Thanks for jinxing it.”

Jun Changxiao took advantage of the reverse curse effect, continuing to ram the Celestial Might Secret Realm.

If the Great Sage set truly came from the mythical heroic soul in the secret realm, then there must be secrets hidden inside. As long as he grasped them, he might not lack qualification to battle the Heavenly Demon Emperor—at least he could have the ability to protect Uncle Gu and the Crossing Heaven Realm.

“BOOM!”

“BOOM!”

Jun Changxiao persisted relentlessly, ramming the Celestial Might Secret Realm again and again.

Passing disciples saw this and subconsciously speculated—had the sect master been stimulated into madness again? Otherwise why would he do such incomprehensible wall-ramming actions?

“Buzz buzz!”

Just then, the secret realm vortex reacted.

Jun Changxiao’s heart leaped with joy, then was replaced by disappointment.

There was movement, but that was because Ye Xingchen walked out from inside.

“What is the sect master doing?” Night Emperor asked.

Jun Changxiao answered, “Ramming walls.”

“…”

Ye Xingchen remained silent for a moment, then said, “This disciple has good news to tell the sect master.”

“No time.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Get out of the way, don’t delay this seat from ramming walls.”

After speaking, he was about to accelerate toward the vortex. The instant before impact, he suddenly stopped, turned his head and said, “Good news?”

“Mm.”

Ye Xingchen nodded, “Barely counts.”

“What good news?”

“This disciple has already obtained Demonized Lu Bu’s recognition.”

“You beat him into submission?”

“Sort of.”

Jun Changxiao said, “For you, it does count as good news.”

This disciple of his had been solo challenging Demonized Lu Bu in the Celestial Might Secret Realm for several years. Being able to obtain the other’s recognition sufficiently proved his strength had obviously improved.

In the past, Dog Leftover would feel gratified. Now he didn’t feel much, because even with recognition, it only proved he was stronger, but not strong enough to contend with the Heavenly Demon Emperor.

“…”

The system was speechless: “This guy has been traumatized. Now he compares everything to the Heavenly Demon Emperor.”

“Demonized Lu Bu said.”

Ye Xingchen added, “I obtained his recognition and can summon him to battle.”

“What?”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes widened.

Ye Xingchen turned and walked several steps, stopping in a relatively spacious area, gently raising his hand: “Among men, Lu Bu; among horses, Red Hare.”

“Manifest!”

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

The moment the word ‘manifest’ was shouted, gale winds suddenly rose.

If Jun Changxiao hadn’t broken through to the Celestial Mystery Realm and been cured of hair loss, the current situation would definitely be his toupee blown off, revealing a shiny scalp, with Hua Meigui calling from the distance: “Husband is so handsome!”

“What’s happening?”

Jun Changxiao raised his hand, retreating against the wild waves.

When the momentum weakened slightly, he squinted and looked over, seeing behind Ye Xingchen standing in the open area was a horse, with a person mounted on it.

This person was about two zhang tall, wearing beast-face swallowing-head chain mail, a three-pronged purple-gold crown binding his hair, draped in Western Sichuan red brocade hundred-flower robe, carrying an eight-armed divine power bow on his back, holding the Sky Piercer halberd, his cold stern gaze sharp as a sword blade. The aura of one who had experienced countless battlefields erupted—truly overwhelming imposing presence!

“Marquis Wen!”

Jun Changxiao said, “Lu Fengxian!”

Ye Xingchen and others hadn’t read Romance of the Three Kingdoms, much less seen the novel, so their understanding of Lu Bu wasn’t deep. Dog Leftover from China naturally grew up hearing about him, so he immediately recognized him!

“Who are you?”

Lu Bu, surrounded by crimson radiance, said coldly, “How do you know my noble rank?”

“I…” Jun Changxiao paused. A feeling of meeting a fellow countryman in a foreign land surged through his heart as he said, “Same origin, different clan.”

Same origin meant same ancestors.

Same clan meant same family or surname.

Same origin, different clan meant although not the same family or surname, they shared common ancestors.

Not wrong either.

Both were Chinese souls with common ancestors.

“Little one.”

Lu Bu sneered, “Don’t try to curry favor with me, because I’ve already…” He looked at Ye Xingchen: “Established a heroic soul contract with him.”

“Heroic soul contract?”

Jun Changxiao said in surprise, “What does that mean?”

Lu Bu said, “I am a heroic soul, he is the host. The host’s enemies are my enemies. If the host battles, I battle.”

Jun Changxiao understood.

“Damn!”

The system couldn’t help but complain, “Just walked out of romance genre, how did it become summoning genre again?”