The mysterious old man who suddenly appeared was beaten savagely, lying on the ground with a swollen face, saying, “If this were when I was young, the one lying on the ground would be you.”

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

Jun Changxiao lifted his foot and kicked again.

The force erupted without any respect for the elderly and young whatsoever.

“Ouch……”

“I was wrong…… I was wrong!”

After being subjected to a second round of violence, the old man’s face was covered in lumps, his eyes squeezed into slits, that eerie feeling replaced by wretchedness.

Appearing was one thing, but playing ghost tricks in front of Jun Changxiao—it would be strange if he didn’t get beaten.

“Why were you waiting for me?” Hua Meigui inquired.

“Uh……”

The old man suddenly became serious and said, “The old master once said that sooner or later, a descendant of the Ninth Gate would return.”

“Old master?”

Hua Meigui said, “Who?”

“The Ninth Gate’s Supreme Master, Hua Qianxing.” As the old man spoke, reverence appeared in his gaze.

“……”

Hua Meigui fell into silence, her heart stirring with waves.

After learning about the exiled Ninth Gate Supreme Master, she had speculated whether she was related to him. Now it seemed to be confirmed.

“Get to the point.”

Jun Changxiao said coldly.

“Please follow me.”

The old man led the three toward the city, stopping before a massive stone-sealed gate. He said, “Place your hand on it. If you possess the old master’s bloodline, you can open the city entrance.”

Hua Meigui walked over.

Standing behind, Jun Changxiao opened his cultivation fully, obviously worried about any accidents so he could protect her in time.

Although he would do this for anyone in the Eternal Sect, he was particularly attentive to this woman. Perhaps after becoming serious, he could truly face his heart.

“Smack.”

Hua Meigui pressed against the stone. Veins gradually surfaced, flashing light as they spread in all directions. Then…… the stone disappeared.

“As expected, you’re the old master’s descendant!” the old man said excitedly.

“Let’s go.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Inside.”

With that, he took the first step into the city, maintaining a high state of alert throughout.

“Hu!”

Cold winds blew across the empty street, appearing eerie and desolate.

Walking behind, Song Dehen’s scalp tingled, the terror in his eyes growing increasingly intense.

The Ninth Gate ruins had left a psychological shadow on him since childhood. So, never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that one day he would come inside.

“Coward.”

The old man gave him a look.

“Damn!”

Song Dehen roared, “Same to you!”

The city had been sealed for a long time. Because it was in absolute isolation, the streets were very clean, various buildings perfectly preserved, possessing great archaeological value.

Hua Meigui’s facial expression grew increasingly grave.

Although this was her first time coming to this city, it felt extraordinarily familiar, as if she’d traveled to the past, witnessing scenes of clansmen connected to her bloodline living here.

“We’ve arrived.”

The old man stopped before the great hall in the city’s central area and said, “You may enter.”

Having just addressed her as “you,” he now changed to “You”—clearly after opening the city entrance, he had become exceptionally respectful as well.

Hua Meigui hesitated briefly, then stood and walked toward the stairs filled with the rich atmosphere of history.

“Kid.”

The old man said, “You cannot enter.”

“Why?”

Jun Changxiao said while following Hua Meigui. Just as he stepped on the stairs, as if triggering some kind of restriction, suddenly surging soul power crazily attacked his consciousness sea.

“Quickly retreat!”

The old man said, “The great hall has a soul restriction formation. Those without the old master’s bloodline will suffer erosion!”

Retreat?

Not happening.

Standing on the stairs, Jun Changxiao’s gaze was cold and severe.

The soul and true spirit power within his body erupted, crazily resisting the external soul force. His blood seemed to ignite all at once.

“Get lost!”

“Whoosh, whoosh!”

The soul power existing on the stairs, under this angry shout, scattered like frightened birds, fleeing in all directions.

“Step!”

“Step!”

Jun Changxiao strode up, standing before the great hall, presenting an exceptionally imposing back.

“This……” The old man was dumbfounded.

How could someone not of our race enter the great hall!

“Let’s go inside.” Jun Changxiao looked at Hua Meigui. The two walked side by side into the open great hall.

Being a bodyguard.

He was a professional.

……

The Ninth Gate’s great hall was simple and unadorned. Aside from one grand and imposing throne, there was nothing else.

“Buzz!”

When Jun Changxiao and Hua Meigui had just entered, strange veins surfaced on the stone slabs beneath their feet, bringing the two into an illusory realm.

They were still in the great hall.

However, at this moment there were many Soul Control clan experts present.

Especially on the throne sat a young man with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. He leaned to one side, his right hand supporting his face, his gaze filled with worry.

“He’s probably Hua Qianxing.” Being in the illusory realm, Jun Changxiao appeared quite calm, because having experienced this many times, he was long accustomed to it.

Hua Meigui remained silent.

Especially upon seeing the young man, seeing the experts in the great hall, that feeling of blood connection became even stronger.

“Master.”

At this moment, a gray-haired old man said in a heavy voice, “Your research is too earth-shattering.”

“To the other Eight Gates, my discovery might shake their ruling position in the Soul Control Realm.” The young man spoke in a rather lazy tone.

“So……” the gray-haired old man said, “They won’t tolerate Master continuing research, much less tolerate the Ninth Gate’s existence.”

“Sigh.”

The young man shook his head and said, “A bunch of old fossils only hoping for the status quo, completely lacking exploratory spirit. How can they lead our clan toward prosperity in the future?”

“Forget it, forget it.”

“Different paths lead to no agreement.”

He stood up and said proudly, “If the other Eight Gates have opinions about my Ninth Gate, leaving the Soul Control Realm is no big deal.”

“But……”

The gray-haired old man had just opened his mouth when he was interrupted by the young man saying, “No buts. With this Seat’s understanding of the clan, even living in barren lands, we can still reproduce and survive.”

Hearing this, Jun Changxiao speculated, “So you ended up living in the godforsaken Soul Clan Continent?”

“……”

Hua Meigui said bitterly, “Perhaps.”

“This ancestor is too terrible.” Jun Changxiao said.

Being exiled, couldn’t he choose a realm with suitable environment? Why settle in a barren land? Could it be to temper the resilience of descendants?

“Of course.”

The young man said, “They may live very difficult lives in the future. However, harsh environments can temper their resilience, thereby preparing for future sublimation beyond gold soul.”

Alright.

Jun Changxiao really guessed correctly.

“Master.”

The old man said puzzledly, “What exactly exists beyond gold soul?”

“This Seat isn’t clear either.” The young man paused briefly, then said, “However, one thing is certain—this is a bloodline sufficient to rival our ancestor. If descendants inherit it, they can break through the cocoon and become butterflies, achieving higher realms.”

“Therefore.”

“This Seat will name it Supreme Qianxing Soul!”

“……”

Jun Changxiao was speechless.

Actually using his own name as a prefix for a soul that hadn’t even been successfully researched yet.

“Whoosh!”

Just then, the illusory realm changed. He and Hua Meigui stood above the city, watching the entire Ninth Gate clan carrying luggage and families gathering on the streets, as if preparing for mass migration.

“Master.”

“Where are we going?”

The young man stood before the great hall and said, “The lower realm.”

“Why not stay in the upper universe?”

“Supreme Qianxing Soul needs to be conceived and born from the most primal universe system.”

“Ah Cai.”

“You remain at the Ninth Gate, waiting for descendants to arrive.”

“Yes!”

A tall, muscular middle-aged man said. Looking closely, it was actually the old man who’d been beaten earlier. Indeed…… years were like flying knives, each cut aging people.

The Ninth Gate clansmen left the city. After Hua Qianxing finished setting up various restriction formations, he stood before the gate-sealing massive stone and said, “If descendants of my Ninth Gate come to this place one day, they can inherit the Supreme Qianxing Soul.”

He wasn’t speaking to himself.

He was leaving a message in advance through an image formation for clan members who might enter in the future.

“However.”

Hua Qianxing added another sentence: “Must be green soul!”