Because the System assistance automatically manifested to help the host resolve a crisis, it violated regulations and was forcibly punished and shut down.

The result?

With the Spacetime Secret Realm’s acceleration, it came back in just ten days!

Especially when cursing at Jun Changxiao, the System’s language was so angry and emotions so agitated, fully demonstrating the passion that a hot-blooded series should possess!

“Uh…”

Outside the cave, Jun Changxiao took a few puffs of his cigarette and said awkwardly: “So that’s what happened.”

Having already understood the situation, he didn’t expect that the System wasn’t malfunctioning, but was punished for saving him and had to suspend operation for a period of time.

Other protagonists who lost their golden finger would either be extremely sad or work hard to improve themselves. He, on the other hand, had a face full of question marks and was confused the entire time—until after understanding, the golden finger… came back again!

“Fortunately, the host bought the Spacetime Secret Realm in advance, otherwise…” The System calmed down and said: “Who knows if you could have made it back alive to the Xingyun Continent.”

This wasn’t a joke.

With Jun Changxiao’s condition ten days ago, lasting two years in the Soul Clan Continent would truly be fraught with danger.

“And that Stone Statue’s power.” The System said again: “Once activated, it will cause the host to lose rationality. You absolutely must not use it again in the future.”

Certainly, the treasure from the upper realm could provide powerful combat capability, but if one day it truly took control of the body and you fell into permanent corruption, you’d become a living corpse.

Jun Changxiao took out that stone statue that was temporarily in a dim state and said: “This thing is indeed evil, but… without it, I probably wouldn’t have been able to defeat the Rose Empress.”

The System said: “So this matter also tells the host that a true powerhouse can’t just rely on treasures—you need to constantly strengthen yourself as well.”

“Mm.”

Jun Changxiao nodded.

Coming to the Soul Clan Continent alone this time, though related to incorrectly estimating the intelligence, also reflected from the side that his own strength was still too weak—without cheating, he was nothing.

“After this matter is concluded.”

“I will focus more on cultivation.”

Using various trump cards only to barely defeat the Rose Empress, and nearly having problems at the end—this rang an alarm bell for Jun Changxiao. He couldn’t keep having operations as fierce as a tiger only to check his battle results and find zero kills and five deaths.

The System said: “The host has been too smooth sailing recently at the Planar Battlefield and the East Sea Fishing Continent. You should know that in this vast universe, there are still many powerful planes and many powerful experts.”

“The road ahead is long and I will search high and low.”

Jun Changxiao and the System rarely had a good conversation with gentle attitudes. Their feelings for each other also sublimated through sharing hardships.

“You can materialize a body?”

“Obviously, otherwise the Soul Clan powerhouses would have already chopped you up with their blades.”

“Quickly materialize it. Honestly, I’ve been putting up with you for a long time. Let me punch you a couple times to vent.”

“Hell, if there weren’t restrictions, do you think I don’t want to come out and kick you a couple times?”

After a round of bickering and trading barbs to pad the word count, Jun Changxiao pulled up the side quest panel and said puzzledly: “I already abused that woman until she couldn’t take care of herself. Why hasn’t it been completed?”

“Yeah.”

The System was also puzzled: “Very strange.”

The side quest was to defeat the Rose Empress. Jun Changxiao had exploded three trump cards and even broke her Absolute Domain—by rights, it should have met the standard long ago.

“Could it have been written wrong? Should it be ‘kill’ not ‘defeat’?”

“Only someone like Jiang Hu Zai Jian could make such a low-level error. The System couldn’t possibly have this mistake.”

“Makes sense.”

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin: “There’s only one possibility—I didn’t abuse her harshly enough, it still doesn’t meet the defeat requirement.”

The System: “…”

You nearly pinched her to death, and it’s still not harsh enough?

“However.”

The System said: “That woman’s Absolute Domain was forcibly broken by the host. Her injuries must be extremely serious. She probably won’t be able to fully recover without three to five years.”

“So…”

Jun Changxiao gave a cold laugh and said: “This is a good opportunity!”

The System said in astonishment: “The host wants to go capture her?”

“Those Soul Clan powerhouses who came to help are only at the Wusheng level in strength, and she’s now seriously injured and can’t recover in a short time. I definitely can’t miss this!” Jun Changxiao said seriously.

To put it bluntly.

He still didn’t want to give up on the side quest!

Never mind what punishment there’d be for quest failure—because of the Rose Empress, he wasted so many contribution points and one Seal-Breaking Talisman. If he didn’t complete this within the time limit, he’d definitely have lost both the lady and the soldiers!

Jun Changxiao could eat anything except losses!

What’s more.

The Spacetime Worm was still sleeping and there was no way to return to the Xingyun Continent. Why not go try? What if he got lucky and succeeded?

The System thought for a moment and said: “I hope the host can be careful and cautious.”

It also didn’t object, mainly because the Rose Empress’s injuries were extremely serious. As long as no powerhouse of her level appeared, there wouldn’t be too much danger in the Soul Clan Continent.

“Let’s go.”

“To the Empress City!”

Previously while investigating intelligence in the Soul Clan Continent, Jun Changxiao already knew the Empress lived in the Empress City, which was also the most sacred and supreme city in the entire plane.

Of course.

To avoid being discovered, Gou Sheng disguised himself as a disheveled middle-aged man with a wine gourd hanging at his waist.

“Do I look like the Wine Sword Immortal?”

“You look like the Evil Sword Immortal.”

“Damn.”

…

Jun Changxiao didn’t rush to the Empress City, because after getting rid of that woman’s following, he could freely wander the Soul Clan Continent, so whenever he encountered a major city he would go in to gather intelligence.

Two days later.

He arrived at one of the Soul Clan’s famous major cities.

However, just as he mixed in using a stolen identity certificate, he saw many Soul Clan warriors gathered at a public notice board on the main street, talking among themselves.

Jun Changxiao squeezed over and discovered a notice posted above. The content read—The Empress is afflicted with a stubborn illness, offering generous rewards for medical experts.

“Stubborn illness?”

Jun Changxiao gave a cold laugh: “More like she was injured by me and can’t recover for two or three years, so she can only seek help from folk experts, right?”

“I didn’t expect the Empress would also fall ill!”

“It’s a pity I don’t understand medicine, otherwise I’d definitely go to the Empress City.”

“The Empress has dedicated imperial physicians. Now that they’ve issued a notice recruiting medical experts, it means it’s not simple. Ordinary doctors going there would be useless.”

“Excuse me, excuse me.”

Just as everyone was discussing, Jun Changxiao squeezed in from outside and unhesitatingly tore down the notice.

“Who’s this guy?”

“He actually tore down the notice so decisively!”

“Could he be a capable medical expert?”

Watching Jun Changxiao’s departing back, the Soul Clan warriors couldn’t help but think hard, finally concluding they had never seen this person before.

…

City Lord’s Mansion.

Jun Changxiao stood in the training field, placing both hands on the wrist of a seriously injured person. After pretending to diagnose, he smiled: “City Lord Ke, this person’s injuries aren’t serious. I, Ye, can heal him with just one pill.”

Since he was disguised, he naturally had an identity—his name was now Ye Xingchen!

If Pei A’niu knew that the Sect Leader was using his name to swindle in other planes, he’d definitely be angry enough to down several jars of wine.

“Really?”

City Lord Ke looked skeptical.

His subordinate had recently gone into qi deviation while cultivating due to momentary distraction. Many doctors had already pronounced him dead. For him to be able to cure it with just a pill was truly somewhat unbelievable.

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao waved his hand and tossed a low-grade healing pill into the patient’s mouth, then placed his hand on the wrist again.

To prevent the other party from immediately jumping up energetically, he deliberately used spiritual energy to suppress the other’s meridians, making him temporarily remain in a semi-shock state.

Half an hour later.

Jun Changxiao withdrew his hand. The meridians were no longer suppressed, the medicinal effects fully erupted, and that injured person slowly opened his eyes, then jumped up with a ‘swoosh’.

“This…”

City Lord Ke’s eyes immediately widened.

After repeatedly confirming his subordinate’s injuries had healed, he said with wild joy: “Master Ye is truly a divine physician!”

Jun Changxiao said: “The Empress has been afflicted with a stubborn illness. As a subject, my heart aches. If City Lord Ke has no doubts about my medical skills, please allow me to quickly proceed to the Empress City for treatment.”

“Now, immediately, depart!”

After confirming that the person who accepted the notice had real ability, City Lord Ke hastily made arrangements. That very afternoon, he personally brought Jun Changxiao to the Empress City.

On the road.

Thinking that the doctor he brought could cure the Empress’s stubborn illness, his future days would definitely bring promotion and prosperity.

Sitting in the luxurious carriage pulled by special spirit beasts, Jun Changxiao looked at the passing scenery while thinking: “Rose Empress, this one has a hundred ways to infiltrate your bedroom chamber, then turn you upside down.”

…

Several days later.

Jun Changxiao followed City Lord Ke into the Empress City. He didn’t even have time to look at the scenery before arriving at the magnificent Empress Palace.

The guards of the forbidden palace grounds were all female, and their appearances were all quite good.

Because Jun Changxiao had no interest in beauty whatsoever, he was too lazy to describe their looks one by one.

“City Lord Ke.”

In the East Garden Hall, a heroic-looking female general glanced at the disheveled Jun Changxiao and said: “This is the physician you brought?”

“Correct.”

City Lord Ke said with a flattering smile: “This person’s medical skills are superb. Even severe injuries from qi deviation can be cured within half an hour!”

“So miraculous?”

Strong doubt flashed in the female general’s eyes.

However, the Empress’s illness couldn’t be delayed. Since City Lord Ke had verified him, there should be no problem. So she said indifferently: “Follow me.”

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

As soon as she finished speaking, dozens of fully armed soldiers approached and surrounded Jun Changxiao, then led him out of the great hall toward the Empress’s sleeping quarters. Their posture was like escorting a prisoner.

“Empress.”

The female general arrived at the rose-fragrant sleeping quarters and saluted: “City Lord Ke has found a medical expert.”

“Let him in.”

Hearing the voice from inside, Jun Changxiao immediately confirmed this was the Rose Empress, and from the weak tone, her injuries were serious.

“Ugly woman.”

“You can’t escape from this one’s palm.”

“Creak!”

The door opened, and Jun Changxiao was escorted inside.

The female general and soldiers then withdrew, guarding the sleeping quarters.

The room where the Rose Empress lived was very large, especially that bed shrouded in red gauze curtains—also very large.

Jun Changxiao estimated it could sleep five or six people with no problem, and couldn’t help but secretly sigh: “This is true luxury!”

“Swish!”

A delicate jade hand extended from within the gauze curtains, saying weakly: “You should know suspended thread diagnosis, right?”

“Buzz! Buzz!”

Just then, a formation inside the sleeping quarters silently appeared, isolating the outside!

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao strode forward and directly grasped the delicate wrist, coldly laughing: “That would be too troublesome.”

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

The gauze curtain was blown open by the explosive air current. The Rose Empress appeared in his field of vision with a weak face and disheveled hair. Seeing him act so rudely, she said in a deep voice: “Bold! Impudent!”

“Hehehe.”

Jun Changxiao scratched his face and laughed in the manner of a mischievous monkey: “The monk can run but the temple cannot. Better to accept your bet and become this Old Jun’s maidservant.”

The System: “…”

Why is my host so shameless!

The Rose Empress’s beautiful eyes flashed with something unusual as she said in shock: “You are… Jun Changxiao!”

—