“Boom!”

On the Eternal Sect’s main peak martial arts training ground, He Wudi set down the heavy bronze cauldron.

“What’s this?”

Disciples gathered around one after another.

Su Xiaomo raised his voice to introduce: “This is the championship trophy of the Eleventh Universe Holy War Grand Finals, won by He Wudi!”

“Scrap metal?”

“Doesn’t seem valuable.”

Although the bronze cauldron’s design was quite nice, in the eyes of the disciples it was nothing more than an art piece.

“Not valuable?”

Su Xiaomo crossed his arms and said: “Supposedly, mysteries exist within the cauldron. If you can comprehend them, you can step onto the path of eternal life!”

“Wow!”

“Is it really that magical?”

The disciples began seriously examining the bronze cauldron, but after looking for quite a while couldn’t detect any mysteries.

Normal.

If the mysteries could be easily perceived, the cauldron would definitely be long gone.

“Sigh.”

He Wudi shook his head and sighed.

Originally, he had planned to let Eldest Senior Sister have the championship, but as soon as she got on the platform, she froze the arena and jumped off first.

Giving away a championship—was it really that difficult?

Wanting to keep a low profile—was it really that difficult?

If the contestants who fought tooth and nail for the championship knew about this, they would definitely drown him in spit.

“However…”

He Wudi shifted his gaze to the bronze cauldron, his eyes burning: “Since it was left by Senior Qixuan, I must study it carefully.”

“Wudi.”

Jun Changxiao’s voice came from inside the great hall: “Bring the cauldron over.”

“…”

He Wudi’s mouth twitched.

Could it be his championship reward had to be turned over to the sect?

Inside the great hall.

Jun Changxiao circled around the bronze cauldron, saying: “What mysteries exist inside this?”

“Sect Master, I…”

“Mm, you go back first. I’ll keep the bronze cauldron temporarily for a while.”

“…”

He Wudi walked out with a bitter face, howling in his heart: “I should have been more confident and removed the ‘could it be’ and question mark!”

…

What secrets the bronze cauldron contained couldn’t be solved overnight, so after observing for half an hour, Jun Changxiao shook his head, sighed, and sat down.

Liu Sinan didn’t understand: “A disciple winning the championship is a happy thing—why is the Sect Master sighing?”

“Don’t mention it.”

Jun Changxiao clutched his chest: “My heart aches.”

Why did it ache?

Because after He Wudi won the Universe Holy War championship, the main quest still hadn’t progressed at all.

“Haha!”

The System laughed loudly: “Someone usually overthinks things!”

“Smack!”

Jun Changxiao slapped himself in the face and roared: “You laugh again!”

This sudden self-slapping action truly frightened Liu Sinan. Only after seeing the Sect Master glare angrily while cursing did he tactfully leave, thinking to himself: “The Sect Master is self-harming again!”

…

Disciple won the championship.

Main quest had no progress.

And he had thoroughly offended the Heavenly Demon Emperor.

Honestly.

Jun Changxiao felt terrible.

Most infuriating was that from the preliminaries to the main event to the finals, aside from the bronze cauldron, there were no other rewards.

“This wave was a huge loss.”

The more Jun Changxiao thought about it, the worse he felt. Finally, leaning back in his chair, he shouted loudly: “If I’d known, I would have changed careers to become a bandit instead!”

“Heh.”

The System mocked: “Finally saying what’s in your heart?”

…

Three days after the competition ended.

Jun Changxiao stayed at the Eternal Sect for three days.

Actually, ‘hiding’ would be a more precise word.

Hiding from whom?

The Heavenly Demon Emperor, of course.

In this Universe Holy War, he had sent eighty-one adopted sons, and over fifty died at the hands of Eternal Sect disciples. The grudge was enormous.

Jun Changxiao could even imagine that the moment he left Tianluo City, he’d be ambushed by the Heavenly Demon Emperor in the wilderness.

“I’m not afraid.”

Gou Sheng consoled himself: “I just don’t want to cause trouble.”

“Sect Master.”

Sun Bukong walked in and said: “Senior Brother Ye has awakened.”

“You didn’t tell him about the fetus, right?”

“No.”

“Mm, you may go.”

After Sun Bukong left, Jun Changxiao fell into thought.

According to the Medical Hall’s most professional diagnosis, the fetus in Xie Lingyao’s womb had been suppressed by spiritual energy for so long that the situation seemed rather pessimistic. The worst outcome would be a choice between saving the mother or the child.

“Sigh.”

Jun Changxiao shook his head: “What a karmic entanglement.”

“Uncle.”

He called Gu Tianxing over and inquired: “Do you have any formulas for preserving the pregnancy?”

“That young woman’s fetus has been suppressed too long. Whether medicinal treatment can work is still unknown. In my opinion, it would be better to…” Gu Tianxing hesitated.

“I understand.”

Jun Changxiao said: “This matter requires Xingchen to make the choice.”

…

Ye Xingchen lay in the ward for several days, and his physical condition gradually recovered.

Sun Bukong would come check on him from time to time, often seeing his senior brother leaning on the bed, staring blankly at the potted plant on the windowsill, gazing at the tender sprout stubbornly growing from the soil.

“What are you looking at?” Jun Changxiao walked in.

Ye Xingchen quickly withdrew his gaze and said: “Looking at the scenery.”

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao sat beside him, helped him peel a spirit-infused orange, and said: “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“…”

Ye Xingchen said nothing, but had already sensed something ominous.

Jun Changxiao said: “The child in Xie Lingyao’s womb has been suppressed by spiritual energy too long, seriously affecting its development. According to expert analysis and research, the best solution is to abort it.”

Hearing the last two words, Ye Xingchen’s eyelid twitched.

“Of course.”

Jun Changxiao added: “You are the child’s father, so you must decide.”

“…”

Ye Xingchen clenched his fists and asked with difficulty: “Is there no other way?”

“There is one.”

Jun Changxiao said: “But the risk is very high.”

“What risk?”

“Uncle Gu has a formula for preserving the pregnancy, but the required medicinal ingredients are extremely precious…”

“I’ll go find them!” Ye Xingchen said urgently.

“I understand your feelings. After all, the fetus is also a life.” Jun Changxiao said: “However, the formula can’t guarantee a cure, and even if you search for a long time, you may not gather all the required ingredients.”

“If I can’t find them in one year, I’ll search for ten years!”

“If not in ten years, then a hundred years!”

“If not in a hundred years, then a lifetime!”

Ye Xingchen spoke rapidly. Clearly, he didn’t accept the abortion option and chose to gamble on the formula!

“Alright.”

Jun Changxiao placed the list of required ingredients on the table and said: “I’ve already listed the ingredients for you. After your injuries completely heal, you can set out to search.”

“Swish!”

Ye Xingchen stood up, grabbed the list, and said: “Disciple’s injuries have already healed. I’ll depart now to find the ingredients.”

That face remained cold and aloof.

That voice remained emotionless.

However, a different luster shone in his eyes.

Jun Changxiao knew this represented a father’s proper sense of responsibility.

“Wait.”

“Wait until the Heavenly Demon Emperor leaves.”

However, Ye Xingchen couldn’t wait. That very night, he flew out of the Eternal Realm.

“Sect Master!”

Li Qingyang rushed over urgently: “Junior Brother Ye has left!”

“…” Jun Changxiao removed his face mask and shook his head: “Xingchen has changed again.”

The more his disciple showed importance for his own child, the more Gou Sheng believed the future vision he once saw would definitely come to pass.

What to do?

Since he couldn’t change the plot, he could only follow the script.

…

Xie Lingyao had awakened several days ago.

She was being cared for around the clock by the Eternal Sect’s best medical team.

“Miss Xie.”

The day after Ye Xingchen left, Jun Changxiao came to visit and said: “During this time, please be sure to take care of yourself and the child in your womb. Give Xingchen a chance to make amends.”

“Sect Master Jun.”

Xie Lingyao said: “Please let me leave.”

She had thought about this for a long time. Since she hadn’t gotten her revenge, she could only go far away.

“My Eternal Sect has a professional medical team. Staying here will better preserve the pregnancy.” Jun Changxiao wouldn’t let the plot of “abusing the wife for temporary pleasure, chasing the wife to the crematorium” happen.

“The matter of the fetus doesn’t need to trouble Sect Master Jun.” Xie Lingyao said.

Jun Changxiao said: “Xingchen is my disciple. His child is my grand-disciple, so there’s no need to be polite.”

“…”

“If you need anything, you can notify me at any time.”

Jun Changxiao stood to leave. Before departing, he instructed Sun Bukong: “You must take good care of Miss Xie.”

“Sect Master.”

Sun Bukong said with a bitter face: “She seems to hate Senior Brother Ye very much. What if she can’t take it and aborts the child herself?”

Jun Changxiao said: “If she didn’t want the child, she wouldn’t have let it exist for so long.”

This “it” implied the pregnancy was a son?

“That’s true.”

Sun Bukong breathed a sigh of relief.

Jun Changxiao also went to the Medicinal Cuisine Hall and instructed Liu Wanshi to definitely provide Xie Lingyao with the highest standard of pregnancy-nourishing meals.

“Sect Master.”

After finishing everything, just as he sat in the study, He Wudi walked in, scratching his head: “The bronze cauldron, could it…”

“You want to study it?”

“Mm.”

“Take it.”

“Thank you, Sect Master.”

He Wudi happily shouldered the bronze cauldron back to his residence, then placed it in the courtyard and began examining it. Even every carved line and every corner on it was carefully touched.

Jun Changxiao sat in the study and said: “What secrets does the bronze cauldron really hide?”

The reason he returned the cauldron to He Wudi was because he had been studying it these past days but had absolutely no leads.

Since there were no clues.

He could only let his disciple study it.

Perhaps he’d get lucky.

“That bronze cauldron is too mysterious.” The System said: “It can’t be comprehended just like that.”

“Sect Master!”

Just then, He Wudi excitedly transmitted: “I found the mystery!”

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao flew directly out the window.

Regarding this immediate face-slapping behavior, the System could only express its calm with “Heh heh.”

…

In the courtyard.

He Wudi was extremely excited.

Jun Changxiao flew over and discovered the bronze cauldron looked no different from before, so he asked: “What mystery?”

“Sect Master.”

He Wudi said: “Please step back.”

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao hastily retreated.

He Wudi walked to the bronze cauldron and stroked the carved lines on its surface with both hands. Wherever he passed, faint flowing light appeared.

Jun Changxiao watched intently without blinking.

“Hum!”

Suddenly, the bronze cauldron flashed with brilliant light, illuminating the dim courtyard brightly.

“Hm?”

Jian Guixu and Gu Tianxing sensed it and immediately flew over wearing pajamas.

When the two arrived at He Wudi’s courtyard and clearly saw everything inside, their eyes gradually widened and their mouths gradually opened.

What did they see?

They saw a scroll suspended above the bronze cauldron, slowly unfurling left and right, displaying map-like markings inside.

“Could it be…”

Jun Changxiao exclaimed in shock: “These are the coordinates to the Path of Eternal Life?!”

—