The Heavenly Demon Emperor army completely annihilated.

The red-haired man who killed Xiao Zuiji also executed.

This represented that in the opening battle of the New Era, Jun Changxiao and his Eternal Sect achieved victory.

However.

The price was disciple Xiao Zuiji’s death.

“Is there a way to return to the past?” Jun Changxiao asked in his mind.

“No.”

The System answered honestly.

It understood the host’s current inner pain and desperate desire to start over.

Unfortunately, what already happened couldn’t be changed.

“…”

Jun Changxiao clenched his fist: “I shouldn’t have revealed the Eternal Realm. This way Zuiji wouldn’t have died. It’s all my fault!”

“Host must eventually face the Heavenly Demon Emperor head-on. Sacrifice is inevitable,” the System said.

It liked teasing Jun Changxiao, but in this situation would definitely try to comfort him, telling him not to be too self-blaming or put all fault on himself—that would be too heavy.

“Right!”

Jun Changxiao said joyfully: “The future scene Xingchen saw—Zuiji came to find him to participate in the Universe Holy War. That means he still has a chance to resurrect!”

“This…”

The System considered briefly: “Makes sense!”

“The Shop, must be the Shop!” Jun Changxiao said hopefully: “There are items that can resurrect!”

The System didn’t speak.

It wanted to say nothing you can’t imagine, nothing you can’t buy, but considering its jinx power, better not add to the host’s troubles.

Thinking of the scene Ye Xingchen once saw and having the omnipotent System Shop, Jun Changxiao’s dejection greatly faded.

“Whoosh!”

He took a deep breath, exhaling comfortably.

The System exists!

Hope exists!

“Hey.”

Heroic Soul Nezha, spearing the red-haired man’s corpse, said flatly: “Still want to dismember the body?”

Jun Changxiao wanted to answer but suddenly noticed Gongsun Ruoli at the edge of his vision, exclaiming in shock: “Father, why did you come out of seclusion?”

Wrong!

Why did Father look so dazed? Why were tears gathering at the corners of his eyes? Why did he look so pained?

Jun Changxiao was originally a meticulous person. Seeing Gongsun Ruoli appear and display such complex emotions, his just-relaxed muscles tensed again, then with difficulty shifted to the dead red-haired man.

No way!

No way!

“We’re done for!”

The System exclaimed: “This is big!”

The Eternal Sect’s leadership and disciples were all dumbfounded.

They knew clearly that Gongsun Ruoli had been searching for the heartless man. Now staring blankly at the red-haired man’s corpse, did this mean…

Combined with being previously chased by Heavenly Demon Emperor warriors, and the red-haired man being their ally—no need to guess!

Stone-cold proof!

The Sect Master’s mother!

“Pffft!”

Jun Changxiao spat blood, pain surfacing in his gaze.

If the red-haired man truly was the heartless man Father sought, and he killed him—wasn’t this matricide to prove dao? Wasn’t this an unforgivable sin?

The System hurriedly comforted: “Not the host’s fault!”

“How do I explain to Father!” Jun Changxiao roared internally.

Right.

Not knowing the red-haired man’s identity, he killed Xiao Zuiji, so killing him was no problem. But now knowing the identity, how could he face Father in the future!

Father even witnessed him killing that person!

“You…” The long-silent Gongsun Ruoli finally spoke, but after just one word, tears uncontrollably slid from her eyes.

With Stone Statue bloodline present, seeing her tears, Jun Changxiao’s heart felt cut by knives.

“Father, I’m sorry, I…”

“Sigh.”

Just then, a sighing sound came over.

Jun Changxiao slightly raised his head, looking in shock toward Zhang San also in his field of vision. He folded his hands behind his back, slowly turned around, bitterly smiling: “You still found me.”

“???”

The entire Eternal Sect: question marks.

Gongsun Ruoli bit her lip, flying up. Stopping before Zhang San, she raised her hand without hesitation and struck him. He didn’t dodge, allowing the palm filled with anger and resentment to strike his face hard.

“SLAP—”

Crisp, loud.

“Slap!” Gongsun Ruoli raised her left hand again, cleanly striking Zhang San’s left cheek, full of angry resentment: “You really were deliberately avoiding me!”

“I have my reasons!”

“Slap!”

Another face strike.

Zhang San didn’t care, continuing: “Following someone who leaks heavenly secrets, you’d also be implicated, so…”

“Slap!”

Face strike ×4!

“I had to leave.”

“Slap!”

Face strike ×5!

Gongsun Ruoli raised her hand again but didn’t strike, eyes filled with tears, hysterically saying: “When you left, you not only abandoned me but also our son!”

“Son?”

Zhang San was instantly dumbfounded, not even feeling the facial pain.

“Slap!”

Face strike ×6!

When Gongsun Ruoli continued for the 7th strike, Zhang San caught her wrist, urgently saying: “You were pregnant before I left?”

Not even knowing about the child—what a scum father.

“Correct!”

Gongsun Ruoli said hatefully.

Zhang San’s emotions immediately went out of control, urgently asking: “Where is he! Where!”

Gongsun Ruoli didn’t answer but shifted her gaze away, looking upward.

Gah!

Zhang San’s gaze froze, with difficulty turning his head, locking onto Jun Changxiao with an incredulous tone: “He… is my son?”

“No way! No way!”

Jun Changxiao clutched his head, wailing: “He’s my mother?”

“Clang!”

Just then, Gongsun Ruoli drew her sword, pressing it tightly against Zhang San’s neck, gritting her teeth: “Abandoning husband and child—death is too good for you!”

“Father!”

Jun Changxiao hurriedly urged: “You must stay calm!”

Though unable to accept Zhang San being the heartless man Father sought, facts were facts and couldn’t be changed. Must prevent tragedy now!

Got it!

Jun Changxiao hurriedly transmitted his voice.

Zhang San turned his head with difficulty, sadly saying: “Once there was a sincere love before me. I didn’t cherish it. Only when I lost it did I regret endlessly. The most painful thing in the world is this.”

Following Jun Changxiao’s teaching to recite the entire passage, tears happened to slide down—emotions and expression handled perfectly.

Veteran actor!

Indeed.

Under this classic Stephen Chow line, Gongsun Ruoli softened, sheathing her sword, tearfully turning to fly toward the Eternal Realm.

“Don’t just stand there!”

Jun Changxiao urged: “Hurry and chase!”

“Ruoli!”

Zhang San hurriedly chased, loudly shouting: “Let me explain, let me explain!”

Watching the two figures fly into the Eternal Realm, the oppression in Jun Changxiao’s heart dissipated, and he let out a long breath of relief.

“This twist.”

The System said: “Too extreme!”

The Eternal Sect’s leadership and disciples also breathed sighs of relief.

They initially truly believed the red-haired man was the Sect Master’s mother. The result… was a feint!

“Pffft!”

Just then, Ye Xingchen standing in the universe raised his head and spat blood. The ten spirit seeds in his dantian rapidly flew out, returning to Jun Changxiao and others’ bodies.

“Not good!”

“Junior Brother Ye has fainted!”

“Quick, carry him back!”

—