In the spacetime tunnel, Jun Changxiao sped forward at extreme velocity.

He was returning to the Xingyun Continent, because he had been away for too long and deeply missed his disciples.

As for the Rose Empress and his marriage with her, let it all drift away like passing clouds in the wind.

“I helped her reclaim the throne, so taking resources from the national treasury can be considered my compensation,” Jun Changxiao thought to himself.

The system said: “Host, you’ve already repeated that sentence three hundred and sixty-five times.”

“That many?”

“Yes.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Nothing much. I’m just trying to study some of the subtle emotions between people.”

“Big brother, you’re just a system, just data. Can you please stop appropriating classic lines from A Chinese Odyssey!”

“Is the Rose Empress an exclamation mark in your heart? Or a period? Is your head full of question marks?”

“Get lost!”

Jun Changxiao roared in his heart.

The system said: “Given the host’s personality, with so many resources in the national treasury, you clearly could have taken everything, so why leave half behind?”

“Because I felt like it!”

“Why did the host, after taking various resources, refine a top-grade healing pill and leave it behind?”

“Because I felt like it!”

“Not even bothering to explain.”

The system said: “The conclusion drawn is…” It paused, then changed its tone: “As long as the host is happy.”

“You talk so much nonsense!”

Jun Changxiao stopped paying attention to it and sped along the spacetime tunnel.

Actually, the reason for only taking half the resources was that the culprit who invaded the Xingyun Continent was ultimately Empress Ling Ping, and had nothing to do with that woman.

As for leaving behind a top-grade healing pill… because she had allowed him to complete quite a few tasks and advance from Second Grade to Fifth Grade Sword and Martial Dual Saint, consider it a token of gratitude.

“Hehe.”

The system said: “What a pale and feeble explanation.”

…

In the bedroom of the Empress’s palace in the Imperial City, memorials that had been reviewed were scattered all over the floor. The Rose Empress stood with disheveled hair, that letter still clutched tightly in her palm.

“Jun Changxiao.”

“I knew I couldn’t keep you, I knew you would leave.”

“But…” She lowered her head as tears slid down her face, saying: “Why did you have to divorce me!”

“Your Xingyun Continent has its customs, and my Soul Clan Continent has its customs too. Without my consent, you will forever be the husband of me, Hua Meigui!”

“Swish!”

The Rose Empress took out the pill Jun Changxiao had left behind and swallowed it without hesitation.

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh!”

The top-grade healing pill dissipated within her body, repairing every inch of skin and meridian. Her strength and condition instantly recovered to their peak!

The heartbroken Rose Empress had forgotten to be amazed by the pill’s miraculous effects. She raised her head with reddened eyes and said: “Jun Changxiao, unless I die, our marital relationship will never be dissolved!”

Outside.

Dark clouds gathered, and torrential rain poured down.

“The weather is changing again.”

The old man standing in the city shook his head and thought: “It’s time to return and report to Master. Taking down the Soul Clan Continent should be no problem.”

“Whoosh—”

A streak of light silently flew out from the Empress’s palace, then seemed to merge into a deeper dimensional space.

…

“Crack crack crack!”

At the spacetime tunnel connecting to the Xingyun Continent, Cuihua in complete form bit out a hole with one gulp, and then Jun Changxiao flew out from within, landing steadily on the yellow sand.

“The Sect Master has returned!”

“The Sect Master has returned!”

Within Ancient Myriad City, it immediately became lively.

The dutiful Xue Rengui and Tao Yuan hurriedly rushed to the City Lord’s Manor. Seeing Jun Changxiao, whom they hadn’t seen in many days and missed dearly, they quickly cupped their hands: “Sect Master!”

“You two.”

Jun Changxiao smiled: “Thank you for your hard work.”

“Not hard at all!”

“Pass down the order: have all War Cavalry Hall members return to the sect. We’ll leave this Ancient Myriad City here for business purposes.”

Both men looked bewildered.

“Sect Master.”

Xue Rengui said: “Aren’t we supposed to guard against invasion from the Soul Clan Continent?”

“No need anymore.”

Jun Changxiao said: “The tunnel connecting the two planes has been completely sealed. They won’t be able to attack.”

This trip to the Soul Clan Continent, plundering the national treasury thoroughly, could be considered completing the robbery quota. After returning, he commanded Cuihua to seal it, which meant the two planes would henceforth have no further connection.

“Yes!”

That same day, the War Cavalry Hall members stationed at Ancient Myriad City and hundreds of thousands of fierce beasts all withdrew to the sect, leaving only a city of extreme prestige standing in the yellow sands for ore transshipment.

Standing on the city tower.

Looking toward the sealed location that once led to the Soul Clan Continent, Jun Changxiao clasped his hands behind his back: “Everything has come to an end.”

“Not necessarily.”

The system said: “Given the Rose Empress’s personality, as soon as her cultivation recovers, she’ll definitely come to the Xingyun Continent to find you.”

Jun Changxiao shook his head: “If she could come here, she would have come thousands of years ago.”

“Moreover.”

“Not annihilating the Soul Clan is already very merciful.”

“If that woman dares to come seeking revenge, I definitely won’t let her off lightly.”

Jun Changxiao had truly come to see himself as a person of the Xingyun Continent, so his relationship with the Soul Clan Continent was always categorized as enemy.

The system muttered: “Perhaps she won’t come seeking revenge, but seeking her husband.”

“Damn!”

Jun Changxiao roared: “This matter, don’t ever mention it again!”

…

The Soul Clan Continent arc had ended.

Although Jun Changxiao failed to subdue the Rose Empress and add another formidable hall master to the sect, obtaining massive resources and raising his level could still be considered a full harvest.

“Swish!”

Merging into the super teleportation array, he returned to Ancient Myriad Sect.

However, during the frequent teleportation process, Jun Changxiao couldn’t help but occasionally think of that woman bent over reviewing memorials, and so shook his head with a bitter smile: “I helped her reclaim the throne, so taking resources from the national treasury can be considered my compensation.”

“Five hundred and sixty-second time.” The system was keeping count for him.

…

“Step!”

At the back mountain of Ancient Myriad Sect, when Jun Changxiao walked out from the teleportation array, Li Qingyang, Su Xiaomo, and other core disciples stood in ranks, calling out in unison: “Welcome back, Sect Master!”

Xue Rengui and Tao Yuan had returned to the sect first, so news of the Sect Master’s return had already spread at the first opportunity.

Looking at the disciples he had carefully cultivated, a smile appeared on Jun Changxiao’s face.

The feeling of coming home was so comfortable!

“Beep beep!”

Jun Changxiao’s voice rang out across the back mountain: “Quickly prepare a table of Manchu-Han Imperial Feast for this Seat!”

“I’ve already started arranging it to celebrate the Sect Master’s survival of great danger!” Liu Wanshi smiled with pure innocence.

“…”

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.

However, thinking about how he nearly met his end on the Soul Clan Continent and almost couldn’t return, the little girl using “survival of great danger” was actually quite fitting.

“Screech—”

Just then, an abnormally sharp cry came from above the back mountain. Jun Changxiao looked up in surprise: “Where did that eagle come from?”

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang quickly said: “That’s Junior Brother Ye’s eagle.”

“How does he have an eagle?”

“This… disciple isn’t quite clear either.”

“Where is that guy?”

“Junior Brother Ye and Junior Brother Xiao left the sect three days ago to compete for ranking on the Elite Assembly List.”

Jun Changxiao didn’t ask further and strode into the dining hall. After a table full of delicious food was served, he began wolfing it down voraciously.

Liu Wanshi sat beside him with concern, pouring wine for him: “Sect Master, drink some wine, don’t choke.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Jun Changxiao hurriedly raised his hand to grab the wine cup.

However, his sea of consciousness suddenly conjured up the ceremonial wedding wine cups that had been brought out during his marriage to the Rose Empress in the palace.

“Smack.”

He waved his hand, knocking the wine cup flying, and said irritably: “Change it to plain boiled water for this Seat.”

“Oh, oh.”

Liu Wanshi quickly gave Er Hei a meaningful look, thinking with great confusion: “I didn’t upset the Sect Master, did I? Why did he suddenly lose his temper?”

—