Jun Changxiao interlaced his ten fingers, also falling into silence.
For Lu Qianqian to go out, he needed to know the reason. She directly told him about going to find the second half of the Taixuan Ice Heart Formula.
This news greatly shocked Dog Leftovers, because back at the Star Fortress, the nine Wudi had mentioned that the second half might contain the Heaven-Seizing Fortune Array!
One could ignore cultivation levels and forcibly ascend to the upper realm.
This array left by Old Man Taixuan was terrifyingly powerful. Even though he currently had no thoughts of ascending, he still planned to find it—who knew if it might come in handy later?
Jun Changxiao said: “You cultivated the first half?”
“Yes.” Lu Qianqian said.
Jun Changxiao realized: “No wonder, even though both of you are disciples of the Taixuan Holy Sect, Xia Shuiyun’s cold aura is far inferior to yours.”
“You may go.”
He paused, then said: “But this seat is coming with you.”
Lu Qianqian said: “According to the records in the first half of the manual, the second half is hidden in the cave dwelling where Old Man Taixuan once went into seclusion. The interior is extremely dangerous, entering…”
“If this seat didn’t ask and you didn’t say, you planned to go risk your life alone?” Jun Changxiao interrupted.
“…”
Lu Qianqian fell silent.
Jun Changxiao said: “You still haven’t considered yourself a true disciple of the Eternal Sect, haven’t treated this place as your home.”
“I just don’t want to implicate the Sect Master.” Lu Qianqian said.
Jun Changxiao looked at her: “Old Man Taixuan’s seclusion cave dwelling—could it possibly be a mountain of blades and sea of flames? With this seat’s strength, how could I not handle it?”
Having rescued the nine Wudi, Dog Leftovers had gotten a bit cocky.
In his view, he could swagger sideways across the Xingyun Continent.
From the surface level, this indeed seemed to be the case.
Lu Qianqian said: “This disciple knows the Sect Master’s current strength is very formidable, but… Old Man Taixuan…”
“No buts.”
Jun Changxiao interrupted again: “This seat can come and go freely in any forbidden land on the Xingyun Continent. No danger exists.”
Very arrogant, very domineering.
The system scoffed: “Didn’t see the host being this forceful at the fortress.”
“Fine.”
Lu Qianqian said: “Since the Sect Master is going, this disciple cannot stop you.”
“Wait until this seat arranges the sect’s internal affairs properly.” Jun Changxiao said: “Then we’ll go to Old Man Taixuan’s cultivation cave dwelling.”
Lu Qianqian said: “Then this disciple will take her leave first.”
“Mm.”
With Jun Changxiao’s personality, he never proactively pried into disciples’ secrets, but today he still asked.
With Lu Qianqian’s personality, she likewise wouldn’t reveal secrets in her heart, but today she still told him.
The system couldn’t help but sigh: “Did these two take the wrong medicine?”
One never asked but suddenly asked, one never told but suddenly told—it truly conveyed something unusual.
…
There wasn’t much to arrange for sect affairs. After all, before Jun Changxiao came it was running a certain way, and after he came it still ran the same way, completely following normal operational trajectory.
“Host.”
The system said: “I think you still shouldn’t be careless. After all, Old Man Taixuan is a legendary figure of the Xingyun Continent. The cave dwelling hiding the Taixuan Ice Heart Formula might have many mechanisms and prohibition arrays.”
“Since you, the jinx, have spoken, I absolutely must make this trip.” Jun Changxiao said.
“I’m being serious!”
“Am I not being serious at all!”
“…”
“Of course.”
Jun Changxiao said with a straight face: “I also very much want to see if the legendary Old Man Taixuan left any good treasures behind in his seclusion cultivation cave dwelling.”
“So that’s it!” The system understood.
So this guy wasn’t just eyeing the Heaven-Seizing Fortune Array, but had other intentions too. Truly befitting Dog Leftovers.
Actually, Jun Changxiao held great respect for Old Man Taixuan. After all, creating two martial techniques above Divine-grade, he absolutely belonged among the pinnacle mighty beings of the mortal realm.
Now that he knew there existed a seclusion cave dwelling, even without searching for the Taixuan Ice Heart Formula, he still needed to go properly pay his respects.
“Sigh.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head: “When will I also become a legend of the Xingyun Continent, where even a piece of paper I used to wipe my ass would become a heavenly treasure fought over by later generations?”
“Do later generations have a grudge against you?” The system said.
…
Several days later.
The Ancient Penetrating Warship hovered above the main peak.
Jun Changxiao stood at the bow, Lu Qianqian at the stern.
“Sect Master!”
Li Fei, standing on the training grounds, looked up: “Can this disciple come alo—” Before finishing his words, Su Xiaomo covered his mouth.
“During this seat’s time away, you must all diligently cultivate.”
“Yes!”
“Whoosh—”
The Ancient Penetrating Warship transformed into a stream of light, disappearing from above the main peak.
Li Fei said puzzled: “Senior Brother, what are you doing!”
Su Xiaomo rolled his eyes at him: “The Sect Master and First Senior Sister rarely go out alone together. What are you joining in for?”
Worthy of being personally taught by Old Wei, his perceptiveness was strong indeed.
“Right, right, right!” Li Fei slapped his forehead: “How did I not think of that? Thank goodness Senior Brother stopped me, or I’d have made a big mistake!”
…
“No!”
Ye Xingchen, sleeping soundly, suddenly woke from his dream, his forehead covered in sweat beads, his expression gradually becoming fierce.
He’d had the dream again.
Again dreamed of obtaining the Taixuan True Scripture back then, experiencing all those hardships.
Ah Niu feared nothing in heaven or earth, except he had lingering fears about the process of obtaining that manual in his past life, to the point it could even be described as a nightmare.
“Phew!”
Ye Xingchen calmed down, raising his head to look north, thinking: “Old Man Taixuan, since you left opportunities for later generations, why did you also leave such terrifying mechanisms?”
The direction he looked toward was where the Ancient Penetrating Warship was currently traveling, having flown to the edge of the Northeast Lu Continent and entering the endless ocean.
The Xingyun Continent had East Sea, West Sea, South Sea, so naturally it had North Sea. Jun Changxiao and Lu Qianqian were now within the North Sea waters, heading toward Old Man Taixuan’s cave dwelling.
Unlike the other three seas which each had a continent, the North Sea had no complete large landmass. After the Battle of the Emperors, it was dotted with many small islands like scattered stars.
“Are you certain Old Man Taixuan’s cave dwelling is in the North Sea?” Jun Changxiao asked.
Lu Qianqian silently took out a yellowed manual with ‘Taixuan Ice Heart Formula’ written on it, then placed it on the table: “The last few pages have detailed records.”
“This is the original?”
“Correct.”
Jun Changxiao was quite surprised: “This item should be the Taixuan Holy Sect’s sect-protecting treasure. How is it in your hands?”
“The Grand Elder gave it to me.”
Lu Qianqian said: “She said only I could perfectly comprehend the manual.”
Jun Changxiao clasped his hands: “Now this seat is very curious—were you expelled because of Fang Lingyu, or is there another hidden story?”
“Because of her, no hidden story.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Jun Changxiao picked up the manual. Without looking at the recorded techniques, he flipped directly to the last few pages: “Is it because this seat previously said you didn’t consider yourself an Eternal Sect disciple that you proactively took out the manual?”
“…”
Lu Qianqian fell silent.
After reading the detailed location records of the cave dwelling, Jun Changxiao shook his head: “Cultivating this type of mental method, you’ve turned your brain into a block of ice, making the things you do easily misunderstood by others.”
“This disciple doesn’t care about being misunderstood.” Lu Qianqian said.
“…”
What else could Jun Changxiao say?
The system scoffed: “The First Disciple consistently maintains the sect’s bottom line. Otherwise, led astray by the host, it would have long ago become the true Eternal Fragrant Absurd Sect.”
—