Space-Time Secret Realm.
Jun Changxiao once again entered to recuperate.
Using time acceleration could help him recover quickly, but to be honest, he couldn’t keep up with the pace anymore.
“Well then.”
The System said: “With this narration, the follow-up is definitely arranged.”
While Jun Changxiao was in seclusion, Jian Guixu and his Sword Alliance chose a nearby mountain peak and began establishing a base.
The two were just allied.
So it didn’t mean joining the Eternal Sect.
Construction was fully handled by Li Qingyang and Peggy.
As veteran partners in construction, they worked through the night to build a magnificently scaled territory.
“Impressive!”
Jian Guixu exclaimed in admiration.
“Sword Saint Senior.” Young Master Yuan approached with a smile: “The Sect Master has ordered me to compile statistics on your alliance’s numbers and overall realm cultivation levels to make targeted deployments.”
“Alright.”
Jian Guixu cooperatively provided the information.
Actually, from the moment Jun Changxiao inherited the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, whether they allied or not, he would do his utmost to cooperate, because this was the inheritor of Gu Xuanyuan’s will.
Sword Alliance.
Jian Guixu had secretly established it in the shadows years ago.
The “Sword” wasn’t taken from the sword of the Sword Dao, but from his surname.
So don’t mock Jun Changxiao for naming it Jun Alliance—all major factions have this habit. They don’t care how lame the name sounds.
People all thought Jian Guixu had gone into seclusion.
In reality, he’d been developing his faction all along. Today it had three thousand disciples, named with the character “Jie.”
Jie Three Thousand.
Meaning three thousand disciples.
Don’t underestimate the somewhat small number—all were painstakingly cultivated by Jian Guixu. Their aptitude was unquestionable, their overall strength all at the Truth-Seeking Realm level, and they were all sword cultivators!
The Sword Dao existed as something special within the entire cosmic system—their true strength couldn’t be measured by realm alone.
Without exaggeration, with similar overall realms, three thousand sword cultivators definitely wouldn’t be inferior to ten thousand martial cultivators.
Moreover!
These sword cultivators all practiced unified sword techniques.
When facing enemies, they could not only fight individually but also arrange various sword formations, with power definitely not as simple as one plus one equals two.
Jian Guixu’s joining.
Gave Jun Changxiao an expansion in top-tier power.
The three thousand disciples were likewise an enormous fortune, making up for Dog Leftover’s lack of sword cultivators.
“More confident now.”
Jun Changxiao sat in his study and said.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Jian Guixu walked in, looking worried: “This old man fears the Heavenly Demon Emperor will dispatch the Eight Heavenly Dragons to pursue us.”
“Speaking of these Eight Heavenly Dragons.” Jun Changxiao said: “I heard from Uncle Gu that Senior once crossed hands with that King Jialuo?”
“Mm.”
“How’s his strength?”
“Very strong.”
Jian Guixu’s expression was exceptionally grave: “Nearly didn’t make it back.”
When Xi Jingxuan had turned dark, Jun Changxiao had wondered why Sword Saint Senior didn’t make a move. Little did he know the other was injured, his combat power greatly reduced. Appearing to block various explosions was completely just forcing himself.
Jian Guixu said: “King Jialuo is the leader of the Jialuo Clan in the upper cosmos, cruel by nature, addicted to killing, belonging to an extremely dangerous species.”
Jun Changxiao thought to himself: “If there’s a chance, might as well spar with him.”
Although he’d inherited the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, he didn’t think he could contend with the Heavenly Demon Emperor himself—he could only start with his minions.
“Ding! Side quest triggered.”
A quest came?
Jun Changxiao pulled up the panel, the corner of his mouth twitching: “Think of the devil!”
The side quest content was—Please have the host eliminate King Jialuo, one of the Eight Heavenly Dragons under the Heavenly Demon Emperor who has come in pursuit 0/1.
Eliminate.
The meaning was obvious—eradicate him.
“Coming in pursuit” was even more obvious—Jian Guixu had guessed right. The Heavenly Demon Emperor had indeed sent one of his eight minions to hunt them down.
“Heh.”
The System said calmly: “When spoilers become a habit.”
“Senior.”
Jun Changxiao propped his chin up: “Does this junior have the ability to battle King Jialuo?”
“This…”
Jian Guixu considered briefly, then said: “Hard to say.”
Without the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, he definitely wouldn’t be optimistic about Jun Changxiao defeating King Jialuo. But now that he’d inherited it, along with the sword intent and sword art, only a real battle would tell.
“I.”
Jun Changxiao stood up and said: “Will take that guy’s head to announce to the upper cosmos—the great hero who will save all living beings under heaven has arrived!”
“Don’t be rash.”
Jian Guixu said: “With your current strength, you still can’t shake the Heavenly Demon Emperor.”
Jun Changxiao agreed with this.
But daring to fight King Jialuo was mainly because if he couldn’t win, he’d run. If he killed him, he’d hide. The Heavenly Demon Emperor couldn’t find him anyway.
“Oh right!” Jian Guixu remembered something: “Sect Master Jun can use the Xuanyuan Divine Sword to recruit Xuanyuan Realm martial artists scattered throughout the upper cosmos!”
“Those martial artists who fled when the battle began?” Jun Changxiao’s face showed disdain.
At the time, only Gu Xuanyuan had stayed to protect his homeland—not a single other faction or individual remained.
Contempt.
Contempt from the bottom of his heart!
“Don’t blame them.”
Jian Guixu understood his feelings and said: “The Heavenly Demon Emperor was too strong. If the local martial artists hadn’t left, they would all have perished with the plane.”
“Moreover.”
“This was also Senior Gu’s intention.”
Jun Changxiao fell silent.
The System said: “If the host faced an existence you couldn’t contend with, would you choose to have your disciples accompany you in sacrificing their lives righteously, or choose to let them escape?”
“Let them leave.”
“So why hold those departed martial artists in contempt?”
“…”
Jun Changxiao was speechless.
Right.
Those martial artists forced to leave weren’t wrong.
But the System only asked Jun Changxiao. If it asked every single Eternal Sect disciple, the answer received would definitely be—the sect exists, people exist; the sect falls, people fall.
If one day the Heavenly Demon Emperor descended on the Eternal Realm, countless warships surrounded the Eternal Sect completely, standing behind Jun Changxiao would definitely be higher-ups, disciples, even the disciples who cleaned toilets.
Of course.
This was just “if.”
The pathetic scene of being beaten to their doorstep by enemies wouldn’t appear. If it really did, it could be used as the grand finale.
…
Several months.
Jun Changxiao emerged from the Space-Time Secret Realm.
The side effects from using the Fifth Form’s Blade of No Return for the second time had finally disappeared.
When good things happen, spirits are high.
Walking on the path toward the outer courtyard, Jun Changxiao’s face bloomed with a brilliant smile.
“Sect Master, watch out!”
“Swish—” A happy ball flew over at a tricky angle.
Jun Changxiao tipped his toes, blocked it with his chest, then dribbled to the training ground, faked past disciples one by one, and shot at goal, fully immersing himself in group sports.
“Sect Master!”
At this moment, Li Qingyang transmitted: “You’re finally out!”
“What’s the matter?”
“An extra person has appeared in our hidden area, existing for dozens of days without leaving.”
“Oh?”
Jun Changxiao hurried to the great hall, his gaze falling on the starry sky map that maintained contact with the outside. He saw that where the Eternal had disappeared, transformed into a grain of sand, there existed a point of light.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Jian Guixu walked over carrying fried rice, eating while saying: “This old man believes this might be someone looking for us.”
“The Heavenly Demon Emperor’s side?”
“Correct.”
Jun Changxiao shook his arms and smiled: “Perfect timing—can use them to test my sword!”
—