After obtaining the Words Become Reality item, Jun Changxiao had contemplated who exactly to give it to.

First, this thing had limitations—it could only elevate someone up to Wusheng at most, so the sect’s higher-ups could essentially be ruled out, because Ding Xingwang, Jiang Xie and the others had either already reached Wusheng or had been struggling at the Half-Saint level for quite some time.

Obviously, disciples were more suitable.

Disciples who had just broken through to a new realm would be more cost-effective.

Words Become Reality could forcibly elevate someone by one major realm—in plain terms, it was cheating your way up. If used on Wutu or Wushi level cultivators, it definitely wouldn’t be as worthwhile as using it on a Half-Saint, so only absolutely core disciples qualified.

After careful deliberation, Jun Changxiao chose Lu Qianqian.

The reason: she was his first disciple.

Actually, Jun Changxiao had intended to treat this Words Become Reality item the same way as the Divine-grade Aptitude Liquid—following a sequence where all disciples would benefit sooner or later. But… after using it once, it was gone!

“It’s one-time use!”

The system said: “What else did you expect?”

From the conch shell’s appearance, Jun Changxiao had assumed it could be reused, at most requiring certain conditions for the next use!

“The host is overthinking.” The system said: “This kind of heaven-defying item that forcibly elevates cultivation—if it weren’t one-time use, wouldn’t you be able to instantly create an army of one hundred thousand Wusheng?”

“Sigh.”

Jun Changxiao let out a long breath.

He’d been too idealistic at the start; reality was actually quite cruel.

“…”

The system was speechless.

Such a good thing that let a disciple gain an entire realm out of thin air, and he still had something to complain about? Had he really become that arrogant?

“People, ah.”

The system sighed: “They’re just too greedy.”

While Jun Changxiao was internally lamenting, Lu Qianqian remained in a dazed state.

Not having time to settle her emotions from breaking through to Half-Saint, the next second she’d broken through to Wusheng—this pace was really too fast, a bit hard to keep up with.

After a moment, she suppressed the intense shock rising in her heart. Despite the tremendous changes occurring in her body, she still found it hard to believe: “I… broke through to Wusheng?”

“Correct.”

Jun Changxiao said.

Although Lu Qianqian didn’t know why she’d broken through, it definitely had something to do with him, so she stood up and said: “Thank you, Sect Master.”

“As the First Disciple, you should shoulder the responsibilities of a First Disciple. Pay more attention to your fellow disciples normally, don’t just shut yourself away in the Ice Layered Heaven cultivating alone all the time.” Jun Changxiao said.

Even Ye Xingchen, who had the least sense of belonging, had already moved into the Lingyan Pavilion, yet this woman still hadn’t. Dog Leftovers was getting a bit anxious.

Lu Qianqian said: “Understood.”

Though she said this verbally, she still ended up cultivating in the Ice Layered Heaven, not because she didn’t care about her fellow disciples, but because she’d just broken through and needed to stabilize her realm.

To avoid being accused of favoritism, Jun Changxiao left the secret realm and returned to his study, beginning to seriously consider how to complete the Epic Quest.

“Master.”

Xiao Longlong walked over rubbing his eyes, then lay down in his little nest, saying: “I’m so sleepy, I’m going to sleep now.”

“Mm.”

…

The Ninth Layered Heaven.

After stabilizing her realm, Lu Qianqian slowly opened her eyes, thinking silently: “Grand Elder, I’ve already broken through to Wusheng. Can I go to that place now to search for the second half of the Taixuan Ice Heart Formula?”

A rare trace of inner conflict appeared in her clear eyes, because a phrase kept echoing in her ears: “Child, without absolute certainty, you must never go there lightly, because it will be a narrow escape from death.”

“Grand Elder.”

Lu Qianqian’s emotions grew somber as she said: “This disciple still cannot achieve true stillness of heart. This may be related to not cultivating the second half. So…” Her gaze became resolute: “Even if it means certain death, I must go.”

She’d begun cultivating the first half of the Taixuan Ice Heart Formula back in the Taixuan Holy Sect, taught privately by the Grand Elder. Later, though her cultivation was crippled, relying on this miraculous mental cultivation method, she’d managed to start over from scratch.

The first half had four levels in total.

After inheriting the Ice Emperor’s legacy, Lu Qianqian had long since comprehended it. To achieve higher accomplishments, she could only cultivate the second half.

Moreover, this mental cultivation method left by Old Man Taixuan consistently emphasized one state—stillness of heart. Only by truly comprehending it could one achieve complete mastery.

Lu Qianqian had continuously explored, each time feeling she was just one small step away, yet it remained like being separated by a great mountain. Especially after becoming a disciple of the Eternal Sect, her mental state would always be disturbed by ripples.

Was her Dao heart unstable?

Or must she cultivate the second half to achieve stillness of heart?

Lu Qianqian had been confused and hesitant, but ultimately concluded that her inability to reach this state was due to incomplete cultivation of the mental method. Now that she’d broken through to Wusheng, she had the thought to search for it.

…

In the study.

Jun Changxiao pulled up the system panel, clicking on functions.

The listed Casting Pavilion, Spirit Beast Pavilion and other functions all displayed ‘+’ signs, indicating they could be upgraded.

“Ding! Casting Pavilion successfully upgraded to Enhanced Casting Pavilion!”

After the Pill Pavilion was enhanced, it saved materials and increased pill refining speed, bringing infinite benefits to the sect. So Jun Changxiao prioritized upgrading the Casting Pavilion—after all, in terms of usage rate, weapons and equipment were second only to pills.

As expected!

After reviewing many weapon and equipment forging recipes, materials had been significantly reduced, and the speed of forging a weapon was also much faster.

Jun Changxiao said with great joy: “Full-sect Zhenyang equipment sets are no longer a distant dream!”

The hundred thousand disciples, cultivated through various martial facilities and secret realms, were already considerably stronger than martial artists of the same realm. If they also wore the mighty and imposing Zhenyang equipment sets and stood in the firmament forming the Four Directional Heaven and Earth Formation, that scene would definitely be incredibly spectacular!

Dog Leftovers grinned widely, eagerly anticipating that day.

The system scoffed: “Can’t afford the expenses, stop daydreaming.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao rolled his eyes, the joy on his face gradually disappearing as he thought darkly: “It’s been almost half a month since rescuing the nine Wudi from the Star Fortress. Why hasn’t the Epic Quest 14 settled yet!”

“Perhaps the host…”

“Ding! Epic Quest complete, beginning settlement.”

“Ding! Host successfully rescued the nine Wudi safely from the Star Fortress, meeting the criteria. Epic Quest complete with 100% completion rate. Host receives 100,000 contribution points!”

“Ding! Sect contribution points: 190,000/100,000.”

“Ding! Sect contribution points overflow…”

“…”

The system now wanted to die.

The host had been on the Xingyun Continent for so long without settlement, and just as it opened its mouth to speak, the notification couldn’t wait to jump out and slap its face!

Jun Changxiao was delighted.

The Epic Quest 14 settlement had directly given 100,000 contribution points, making him instantly feel wealthy and able to spend freely!

“Don’t get excited, don’t gloat!”

Dog Leftovers calmed down, thinking: “There’s still Epic Quest 13 that hasn’t been completed!”

To be honest, Jun Changxiao was getting a bit anxious now. After all, having taken the main criminals away from Hell, the Star Fortress absolutely wouldn’t let this go. Once their identity and location were exposed, they would definitely send Patrol Enforcers.

The sect’s overall strength had improved considerably with Yi Feixue and others joining, but facing twelve Mid-rank Void Breaking Realm cultivators was still pretty dicey!

Moreover, these were just the Patrol Enforcers.

Who knew if the Star Fortress had other departments, had even stronger existences? Especially the Fortress Master who hadn’t appeared yet—what level of strength did they possess?

Too many unknowns made Jun Changxiao exceptionally cautious.

“Sect Master.”

Just then, Lu Qianqian walked into the study, saying: “This disciple requests permission to go out for a period of time.”

Jun Changxiao said with surprise: “Isn’t the Ice Layered Heaven the best training ground for ice-element cultivation? Could there be somewhere even better on the Xingyun Continent?”

“This disciple isn’t going out to train.”

“Then what for?”

“Can this disciple not say?”

“No.”

—