**Soul-Loss Valley.**

A second-class forbidden zone in the Upper Realm.

Warriors who could enter this place needed at least sixth-turn Pill Transformation Realm cultivation or higher, otherwise entering was just serving themselves up on a platter.

It was said that some relatively dangerous second-class forbidden zones, even reaching ninth-turn might not necessarily fare well, and perishing within was quite normal.

“Old Brother.”

Gu Chaoxi said: “Although Soul-Loss Valley contains many heavenly materials and earthly treasures, it also harbors dangers. Bringing this group of first-turn disciples in will probably cause problems.”

If it were just himself entering, he wouldn’t worry at all, but being classified as a second-class forbidden zone meant low-level warriors couldn’t casually enter.

“They won’t go in.”

Jun Changxiao said: “We’ll go in.”

After obtaining quite a few resources from third-class forbidden zones, he was quite tempted by the higher second-class forbidden zones, hoping to obtain more resources from within.

Although he had successively destroyed three forbidden zones, which was somewhat unscrupulous, Gousha still hoped to obtain more resources in the shortest time to strengthen the sect’s overall power.

Therefore.

The second-class Soul-Loss Valley—he must brave it.

If his strength allowed, he wouldn’t mind braving first-class forbidden zones as well.

The System said: “According to the levels established by the relevant departments, first-class forbidden zones require at least Truth-Seeking Realm strength to get by, so the host should focus on the present and stop daydreaming.”

“Truth-Seeking Realm is nothing.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Complete two Epic missions and I can break through.”

“You really think that after Epic Two mission broke through three turns and Epic Three mission broke through six turns, subsequent missions will continue with such big jumps?” The System said speechlessly.

Jun Changxiao then said: “As long as the completion rate is high enough, naturally there can be jumps.”

The previous Epic Three mission’s triple jump was indeed related to the completion rate reaching as high as 500%. If subsequent missions could maintain this level or set new records, rising through the realms would not be difficult.

But the problem was.

Whether the completion rate could be high depended on the mission type.

No one could say for sure whether the subsequent Epic Four mission would be like Epic Three, allowing disciples to complete sect missions to crazily exploit the bug.

…

“Woo woo woo!”

“Woo woo woo woo woo!”

At a valley entrance surrounded by mountains on three sides, wild winds blew from inside, sounding somewhat like ghostly wails and wolf howls.

That’s right.

This was the second-class forbidden zone that made low-level warriors flee at its reputation.

Because the danger level had increased by one grade, irregular weeds grew at the entrance, indicating that rogue cultivators rarely gathered here on normal days.

“Old Brother.”

Before long, Gu Chaoxi appeared on screen, stopping at the valley entrance and saying: “We’ve arrived.”

“It is indeed somewhat sinister.”

Feeling the waves of evil wind blowing from inside, Jun Changxiao’s heart immediately rose with vigilance.

Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, and the others all frowned tightly. Their instincts told them that if they went in, they would definitely find it difficult to come out alive.

“You all wait outside.”

“Yes!”

Jun Changxiao looked at Gu Chaoxi and said: “Come, let’s go in.”

The two sworn brothers walked into Soul-Loss Valley under Li Qingyang and the others’ gaze, fully demonstrating what it meant to not die unless you court death.

“They went in!”

“The Eternal Sect’s sect master went in!”

Outside the valley entrance, the various rogue cultivators who had quietly followed saw Jun Changxiao enter, and their eyes immediately filled with admiration!

Earlier they had just said it casually, their purpose being to make him spare the forbidden zone that wasn’t worthy of having a name, but the result… he actually entered Soul-Loss Valley!

“Heroes emerge from youth!”

“A newborn calf fears no tiger!”

“A model for our generation!”

…

“Woo woo!”

“Woo woo woo!”

Inside Soul-Loss Valley, cold winds whistled and howled. The sound alone was enough to make people involuntarily shiver with fear.

Jun Changxiao and Gu Chaoxi, bold from their high skills, strutted in with their devil-may-care swagger.

The environment inside the valley was completely different from the outside world. Most obviously, everywhere the eye could see was completely gray and dark, and the nearby vegetation was either withered or wilted, as if devoid of any vitality.

“This place has heavenly materials and earthly treasures?” Jun Changxiao questioned.

Gu Chaoxi said: “Old Brother, the more harsh the environment, the more it can grow rare and exotic heavenly materials and earthly treasures.”

“For example?”

“I’m not clear either.”

“The storyteller didn’t tell you?”

“That fellow isn’t omniscient.”

Jun Changxiao became interested and inquired: “Old Brother, just who is this storyteller?”

“A friend of mine.”

Gu Chaoxi said: “He makes a living telling stories in various major cities.”

“His strength is great?”

“Extremely weak—he just travels north and south and has seen a lot.”

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao responded, but thought to himself: Someone who knows what common people don’t know—could he really be an ordinary person who makes a living telling stories?

“Do you know where he is?”

“That fellow has no fixed abode. Who knows where he is.”

“In the future, if there’s a chance to meet, you must introduce him to Old Brother.”

“Alright.”

The two chatted as they walked, feeling less like they were braving a forbidden zone and more like they were on a countryside excursion, giving the second-class Soul-Loss Valley no face at all.

“Roar!”

After walking for about ten-plus minutes, Jun Changxiao and Gu Chaoxi entered a deeper area. They heard an ear-splitting roar, then in the grayish darkness appeared a pair of scarlet eyes, like a demon walking out of hell.

“Red-Eyed Soul Beast!” Gu Chaoxi’s gaze became serious.

In his understanding, this was a type of demon beast with a form resembling wolves and jackals. The adult body’s strength was comparable to sixth-turn Pill Transformation Realm, and they liked to live in groups—whenever they appeared, there were at least no fewer than several dozen!

Sure enough!

After the first pair of scarlet eyes appeared, many more successively appeared in the grayish dark environment. Roughly counting, there were at minimum… over a hundred!

“Old Brother!”

Gu Chaoxi frowned and said: “We should go around.”

Over a hundred demon beasts comparable to sixth-turn Pill Transformation Realm—if they launched an attack, the impact force would definitely be troublesome.

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao manifested the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, his gaze burning as he said: “This level of demon beast should have valuable crystal cores in their bodies. How can we go around!”

“…”

Gu Chaoxi’s mouth twitched slightly.

This Old Brother plays even more ruthlessly than me!

If it were the usual case, Jun Changxiao might cower a bit, but after the Red-Eyed Soul Beasts appeared, the System issued a branch mission to annihilate a hundred of them, so naturally there was only one word: do it!

“Alright!”

Gu Chaoxi gathered power in both fists and said with great spirit: “We two brothers will go on a killing spree in Soul-Loss Valley today!”

The camera spiritually turned. Thousands of Red-Eyed Soul Beasts gathered around, erupting with savage aura, surrounding Jun Changxiao and him in layers.

“Old Brother!”

Gu Chaoxi’s face collapsed: “We seem to have trouble!”

If it were just a hundred, he was confident he could defeat them one by one through maneuvering. Now facing thousands, including those comparable to seventh-turn, it was really… I was wrong, I shouldn’t have come in from the start!

Actually, things developing to this point could only be called deserved. After all, strutting with their devil-may-care swagger—in reality, going out like that guaranteed getting beaten until their parents wouldn’t recognize them.

“Step back.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Leave this to me.”

“Alright!”

Gu Chaoxi hurriedly retreated.

Surrounded by thousands of vicious and menacing Red-Eyed Soul Beasts, Jun Changxiao unhurriedly raised his hand and manifested the miniature Difficult-to-Retrieve Blade. The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile as he said: “It’s time to demonstrate true technique.”

Here it comes!

The Difficult-to-Retrieve Blade’s first unsealing in the Upper Realm!

Gu Chaoxi looked bewildered: “A fruit knife?”

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao’s right foot stepped back, his body slightly bent, his right hand in a drawing stance, with thumb and forefinger gripping the blade handle as he said: “Bankai!”

“Clang—”

“Whoosh whoosh!”

Violent energy waves instantly erupted, gathering into a tornado势.

Gu Chaoxi was pushed back several steps by the energy wave. Seeing Old Brother completely enveloped by the wild wind, he inwardly exclaimed in shock: “What’s happening!”

“Bang!”

Just then, the wild wind came to an abrupt halt.

Jun Changxiao stood proudly in the wind vortex wearing a black cloak with the characters “Dog God” faintly engraved on it. The miniature small blade in his hand had transformed into a Golden Thread Great Ring Blade form, decorated with nine iron rings, emanating heavy and terrifying might!

What kind of blade? A Golden Thread Great Ring Blade!

—