The night stars were brilliant as flowers; the star beneath the night was dejected and wounded.

A dignified generation’s Wudi, coming to the Upper Realm, was actually beaten by a ten-year-old child without any ability to fight back. This was truly too damaging to self-esteem.

The Night Emperor cannot be insulted.

But today, he was insulted to the point of being unable to lift his head.

“Junior Brother.”

Xiao Zuiji came over and said: “Actually, if it were me, I also couldn’t win, so don’t take it to heart. Moreover, we’ve only just arrived. Once we slowly adapt to the new world, we won’t necessarily be weaker than the locals.”

This was genuine comfort, unlike Jun Changxiao’s inhuman words.

“I’m too useless.” Ye Xingchen said disheartened: “Can’t even beat a child.”

Xiao Zuiji knew his junior brother still couldn’t get over the setback from the daytime, so he was about to continue persuading when he heard Jun Changxiao say: “People who’ve lost self-confidence can’t be persuaded with words alone.”

“Sect Master…”

“Put plainly, you care too much about your previous life’s Wudi identity, always maintaining airs and unable to let go, even more unable to accept setbacks.” Jun Changxiao continued.

Though the words were harsh, they hit the nail on the head.

Ye Xingchen had changed a lot and considered himself part of Eternal Sect, but still cared about his previous life’s Night Emperor identity, so his mentality remained different from others.

If it were Xiao Zuiji or Li Qingyang, they definitely also couldn’t beat Sun Mucheng. After all, the other party was peak Wusheng while they were only fourth or fifth rank, but temporary failure would only bring temporary dejection—ultimately they’d adjust their mindset.

Am I weak?

No.

It’s just that the heaven and earth environment here is too strong, where even each breath after birth is cultivation.

If it were me in the same situation, I’d also be just as strong, even stronger than them!

“You’re only facing a child now. In the future, you’ll still face Lingyao the Female Emperor who ascended thousands of years ago. If today you can’t even bear this small setback, don’t talk about revenge anymore.” Jun Changxiao said.

Hearing the sect master mention that woman, Ye Xingchen’s dejected appearance immediately faded, his gaze becoming cold and sharp.

“That’s right!”

He clenched his fists and said: “If I, Ye Xingchen, can’t withstand even this little setback, how can I seek revenge from her in the future!”

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”

At that moment, air waves surged around Ye Xingchen. His damaged self-esteem gradually recovered and became exceptionally strong and resilient.

“Aniu.”

Jun Changxiao said seriously: “You’re no longer the high and mighty Night Emperor. You’re now an Eternal Sect disciple, so you should forever carry out the sect’s first principle of never admitting defeat and never giving up!”

“The host not becoming a salesman is such a waste of talent.” The system complained.

“This disciple understands!”

Ye Xingchen’s eyes flashed with determination.

Losing to a ten-year-old child had indeed brought him a heavy blow.

But under Jun Changxiao’s verbal stimulation, he was reborn and decided to completely forget everything from his previous life!

The Night Emperor.

Had already become a thing of the past.

My current identity is an Eternal Sect disciple!

“Ding! Side quest completed, obtained 100,000 contribution points.”

“Ding! Sect contribution points: 690,000.”

When Ye Xingchen seemed to be reborn, Jun Changxiao’s ears immediately transmitted a beautiful notification sound.

It turned out that after Aniu was defeated by Sun Mucheng, a side quest had appeared. The content was to comfort the former and make him pull himself together again.

Many people thought the one who understood Ye Xingchen best was Xiao Zuiji—after all, both had been hurt by women—but actually, as sect master, Jun Changxiao understood better. So by directly mentioning Lingyao the Female Emperor, he immediately activated the other party.

…

Jingshui Town.

Sun Mucheng cultivated until late at night before leaving the academy to return to his residence.

Since beginning to study martial arts, he’d always risen early and cultivated until very late before going back, which is why he was praised as the spirit child—relying not on innate qualifications but on acquired effort.

“In half a month, it’ll be the day of Linyuan Martial Hall’s assessment. I definitely won’t disappoint everyone’s expectations and will obtain the qualification to enter and cultivate there!”

To academy students, the martial hall was a higher-level martial arts sacred ground. Only by being accepted could one access more professional martial arts cultivation and truly change one’s fate.

“Who’s there?”

Sun Mucheng suddenly stopped and turned to look toward the alley entrance. From the darkness, a black-clothed person wearing a mask gradually walked out.

“Little guy, who I am isn’t important. What’s important is whether you’re willing to become stronger?” The voice was somewhat sinister, but more so profoundly mysterious.

Sun Mucheng’s heart stirred with considerable waves.

Although he hadn’t undergone more professional, systematic martial arts cultivation, his spiritual sense perception wasn’t bad either. But if the black-clothed person hadn’t actively walked out, he actually hadn’t detected them.

An expert!

Definitely an expert!

“Of course I want to become stronger.” Sun Mucheng said.

The black-clothed person said: “Since you want to become stronger, don’t participate in the martial hall assessment. This old one will point you toward a clear path that can let you become stronger faster, even surpass Core Formation Realm and become Truth-Seeking Realm!”

Sun Mucheng’s mind shook.

Having been exposed to martial arts since childhood, he naturally knew the realms like the back of his hand, but his set goal was only Nine-Revolution Core Formation Realm. As for the higher Truth-Seeking Realm, he’d never even thought about it, because according to what town people said, only transcendent, peerless masters could achieve it.

“Can I do it?”

“If you drift along with the current, mixing in small places like martial halls, even reaching Core Formation Realm will be difficult for you. So only by choosing the right cultivation place can birds fly as high as the sky.”

“I understand.”

Sun Mucheng said: “You want me to go to a higher hall than the martial hall?”

“…”

The black-clothed person nearly toppled over.

This child—how could he not understand?

“Little guy.”

The black-clothed person said lightly: “Organizations like martial halls and halls are ultimately unprofessional. Only by joining a sect can you truly become powerful.”

Sun Mucheng understood and cupped his fists: “Please enlighten me, Senior.”

“I see you have exceptional bone structure—you’re a one-in-ten-thousand martial arts prodigy. Today I’ll point you toward a path.” The black-clothed person looked eastward and said: “Follow this road straight ahead until you reach Phoenix Roost Immortal Mountain. There’s an Eternal Sect there. If you can enter its tutelage, your future achievements will be immeasurable.”

These words were very familiar.

That’s right.

The one wearing the mask and black clothes was precisely Jun Changxiao.

This guy had taken a liking to Sun Mucheng and planned to lure him over using an expert’s identity.

Moreover, with the Concealment Technique and an aged voice, he really did have a bit of that aura of having cut ties with the world and transcended the mortal realm.

“Eternal Sect?”

Sun Mucheng scratched his head and said: “Never heard of it.”

Jun Changxiao said: “In the Upper Realm, unknown sects are as numerous as sands in the Ganges River, but don’t easily dismiss them, because their power may exceed your imagination.”

“Sorry.”

Sun Mucheng waved his hand and said: “I need to go home to eat and sleep.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“…”

Jun Changxiao stood dazed in place for a long while, then shook his head: “Sure enough, relying on deception won’t work. Need to take extreme measures.”

“Senior.”

Just then, Sun Mucheng stopped and said: “What is your honorable surname?”

“This old one…”

Jun Changxiao had wanted to say Old Man Jun Tian, but changed his mind at the last moment and said with hands behind his back: “Tongu Zhenren.”

Sun Mucheng’s facial expression gradually became rigid. After a while, he cried out in disbelief: “You… you’re Tongu Zhenren?”

“Genuine article, honest to young and old alike.”

—