That night.
The core research members of the Formation Hall, who had already retired for the evening, were summoned to the hall by Old Taixuan.
“Grand Elder, what important matter is there at this late hour?” Shangguan Xinyao rubbed her eyes, sleepiness still lingering as she spoke.
“Mm.”
Old Taixuan spoke gravely: “A very important matter.”
At these words, everyone’s drowsiness vanished completely.
As members of the Formation Hall research group, they had encountered far too many important matters recently—such as researching formations for mechas day and night, or various security systems.
In short.
On the path of being tool people, they had never stopped.
Jun Changxiao felt proud of them.
A person’s life is too brief; investing limited energy into unlimited work is extremely meaningful.
“Clap!”
Old Taixuan placed both hands on the sand table representing the Eternal Realm, his expression serious as he said: “I’ve just received orders from the Sect Master. We must create a Realm-Protecting Grand Formation covering the entire Eternal Realm in the shortest time possible.”
“That’s not too difficult…”
One member suddenly stopped, exclaiming in shock: “A defensive formation covering the entire Eternal Realm?”
He had initially misheard it as a sect-protecting grand formation.
“Grand Elder!”
Someone cried out in despair: “How is that even possible!”
If it were a city-protecting grand formation, they would be confident in researching it, but a grand formation protecting the entire Eternal Realm—that was simply…
For a moment, everyone looked at the realm sand table showing freshly measured dimensions, and a strong sense of powerlessness rose in their hearts.
“Grand Elder.”
Someone spoke bitterly: “The Eternal Realm was already quite large before, and now it’s expanded dozens of times over. To set up a formation covering the entire realm would require at least several dozen generations of effort, wouldn’t it?”
“No.”
Old Taixuan spoke gravely: “Our generation alone will complete it.”
“…”
Despair appeared on everyone’s faces.
They had already begun imagining spending the rest of their lives researching formations until they grew old, until their final moments when they would grasp their children’s and grandchildren’s hands, weakly saying: “On the day the formation is established over the realm, don’t forget to tell your father at the family sacrifice.”
No, no!
With all their thoughts devoted to formation research, where would they find time to bear offspring?
“Interesting.”
Shangguan Xinyao smiled.
Researching a Realm-Protecting Grand Formation covering the Eternal Realm would be nothing short of a wild fantasy for ordinary people, yet it sparked intense interest in her.
Of course.
This would be very difficult.
But the more difficult something was, the more they needed to overcome it.
“Grand Elder.”
Shangguan Xinyao spoke eagerly: “When do we start?”
“Now.”
“Alright.”
“…”
The others collapsed in despair.
However, since it was the Sect Master’s order, they would complete it even if it cost them their lives, so they adjusted their mindsets, shouldered various tools, and entered the Temporal Secret Realm.
For such a massive project, without relying on time acceleration, completing it within their lifetimes would absolutely be a pipe dream.
“Everyone.”
Jun Changxiao sat on the great scholar tree, speaking earnestly: “I’m counting on you.”
Using his disciples as tool people, he actually felt quite pained inside, but he had to endure it, because future happiness could only be exchanged for today’s constant effort and struggle.
“Ding! Congratulations Host for dominating Hengyuan Realm, meeting the main quest domination requirements, completion progress 35%!” After the transplanted living beings felt at home and gradually adapted, the domination conditions were fulfilled.
“As expected.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Another 15%.”
“After all, Hengyuan Realm is also a top-tier realm in the upper cosmos.” The system explained.
“By this calculation.”
Jun Changxiao’s eyes burned with intensity: “I only need to dominate five more first-class realms of the same tier to complete the main quest!”
Previously, saving the Crimson Prison Realm only gave 1% completion, leaving Dog Sheng in despair, but now this was quite acceptable.
“Though it gives more.”
The system said: “There’s still difficulty involved.”
“Difficult?”
Jun Changxiao said: “I don’t feel that way at all.”
“…”
The system said: “You’ve gotten cocky.”
Actually, judging from the process of dominating Hengyuan Realm, there really wasn’t much difficulty.
The main factor was that although Fang Shanya had sold his soul to the Heavenly Demon Emperor, he wasn’t fundamentally an evil person.
If it were like Star Spirit Realm, Jun Changxiao would definitely need to mobilize the entire sect’s power to thoroughly conquer it to meet the domination requirements.
…
“Rumble!”
“Rumble!”
On the expanded land, Peppa ran back and forth like an excavator, spitting out foundation trenches one after another.
Li Qingyang sat in a tent, seriously analyzing blueprints.
The larger the realm.
The more planning was needed.
Jun Changxiao would occasionally come to inspect and offer condolences, giving high praise for their efforts.
“Master…”
Peppa was moved to tears, didn’t even eat lunch, and busily worked under the scorching sun as if injected with adrenaline.
The frenzied work brought rapid progress.
City walls were erected one after another, buildings constructed one after another.
On the newly opened lands of the Eternal Realm, massive changes occurred almost every moment.
When the realm is strong.
The sect is strong.
Therefore, Jun Changxiao eagerly anticipated what form this realm would ultimately take, standing proudly in the upper cosmos through his and his disciples’ efforts.
“The strongest!”
“Eternally the strongest!”
…
“Whoosh—”
In the vast cosmos, the Eternal sailed through the void toward the next realm.
Jun Changxiao’s current strategy was to first develop the Eternal Realm quietly, secretly complete the main quest, then go fight the final boss!
However.
Having lost four more great generals, would the Heavenly Demon Emperor continue to remain idle?
The answer was: impossible.
Realizing that Hengyuan Realm had slipped from his control and learning that four of the Eight Heavenly Dragons had lost contact, the Heavenly Demon Emperor immediately realized something had gone wrong again, and the instigator must be Jun Changxiao!
During this time, though many forces resisted him, they were merely a rabble. Only the Eternal Sect’s Sect Master repeatedly caused trouble, so whenever something unusual happened, blaming him was never wrong!
This was precious experience gained at great cost.
“Boy!”
The Heavenly Demon Emperor stood in a dark chamber, speaking coldly: “Once this Emperor comprehends the supreme mystery, I will drag you out from the shadows.”
Because Jun Changxiao had the hidden Eternal Realm and liked to strike once then move locations, he was as slippery as a loach, which frustrated the Demon Emperor greatly.
However.
It wasn’t a big problem.
Let that fellow run wild for now.
Once he comprehended the supreme treasure before him, everyone including him and all living beings in the upper cosmos would become sacrifices for his path to eternal life!
Thinking this, the Heavenly Demon Emperor took out a secret manual.
It was a very thick book with a slightly yellowed cover, clearly of ancient vintage. On the spine were six characters—Heaven-Devouring Demon Transformation Great Method.
…
Traveling to the next realm required some time.
With nothing else to do, Jun Changxiao went to drink and chat with Jian Guixu.
“Senior.”
After three rounds of drinks, he asked: “Just who exactly is this Heavenly Demon Emperor?”
A great villain doesn’t simply appear from nowhere—there must be a tragic past that twisted their character, so naturally it needed proper investigation.
“This demon…”
Jian Guixu paused briefly before saying: “I don’t know much about him either.”
“However.”
He continued: “There are rumors that the Heavenly Demon Emperor might be a descendant of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Ancestor.”
“Heaven-Devouring Demon Ancestor?”
Jun Changxiao had only heard of the Demon Ancestor, who was currently helping him manage the Avengers.
“This was a demon even more terrifying than the Heavenly Demon Emperor, who once strengthened himself by devouring realms and living beings.” Jian Guixu said.
“…”
Jun Changxiao was speechless.
Did every great demon and villain have to use ‘Ancestor’ in their title to show how extraordinary they were, to show how awesome they were?
If so.
Please call me Ancestor Jun in the future!
Jian Guixu said: “The Heaven-Devouring Demon Ancestor’s luck was poor. At the peak of his life, he encountered the Martial Dao legend Senior Qixuan, then was obliterated in the Endless Abyss.”
“Indeed.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head: “Quite tragic.”
Though he had never met the Seven Profound Saint Venerable, from the remaining Radiant Shattering technique alone one could glimpse his power—this was definitely a super big shot. Any villain living in the same era as him was truly born at the wrong time.
The system said: “Villains in the same era as Host all meet the same fate.”
“Agreed!”
“Seconded!”
All readers voiced their support.
“So…” Jun Changxiao held his chin: “I might really be the Taixuan Saint Venerable, experiencing lower realm life in another identity, or perhaps making up for certain deficiencies in past cultivation to pursue even higher martial dao realms.”
“Ahhh!”
The system roared and bellowed: “Those with yellow urine, uremia, and incomplete urination, hurry up!”
—