Under the upper layer universe’s absolute power, Star Meteor Continent simply couldn’t withstand a single blow. In such a short time, mountains and rivers were already shattered, the earth collapsed—as if experiencing the apocalypse.
Jun Changxiao hovered in midair, feeling deeply self-reproachful.
Though he’d torn apart the Tenth Fleet warships and torn apart that Fleet Commander, failing to arrive in time, failing to save the living beings from fire and flood, he determined he bore inescapable responsibility.
The System said: “At least the Host preserved this world.”
Though the continent’s interior suffered severe damage, the Heavenly Dao system still existed—at least that meant they’d arrived relatively timely. If they’d been even a step later, Star Meteor Continent would certainly no longer exist.
“Ding! Host consumed 1000 Reputation Points to obtain Mountain and River Recovery Machine ×1. Already delivered to spatial ring.”
“Whoosh!”
Jun Changxiao waved his hand, extracting the just-purchased item. It was a large iron box that, after hovering in midair, opened all four doors. Elf-like creatures flew out, then gathered across all of Star Meteor Continent.
“Buzz buzz!”
Shattered space gradually healed, fractured mountains and rivers gradually reconnected.
The Mountain and River Recovery Machine purchased with Reputation Points was far more professional than the Terrain Modification Device, completely able to restore a devastated world in extremely short time, but cities and buildings that suffered destructive strikes couldn’t be repaired, just as deceased living beings equally couldn’t be repaired.
This was a debt.
Jun Changxiao recorded it in his little notebook.
Right now he lacked the strength to contend with the Star Spirit Realm, but once he had strength in the future, he would definitely destroy them!
…
As the most valued martial dao holy land, Tiegu Town also didn’t escape calamity. Nearly ninety percent of buildings were damaged. The only fortunate thing was there weren’t too many casualties. City Lord Xie, Patriarch Ai and others were safe and sound.
Actually, carefully calculating, though Star Meteor Continent suffered a fatal strike, living being deaths weren’t numerous. The reason was the Tenth Fleet’s objective wasn’t to destroy living beings but to conquer them, so they focused on destroying homes.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Yun He said self-reproachfully: “I’ve disappointed you.”
He was the Martial Alliance’s Acting Alliance Leader—his duty was to maintain world peace.
“The invading enemy was too strong.” Jun Changxiao said: “Can’t blame you.”
Ma Yunteng, Ai Shangni and others stood beside them. Being able to see Sect Master Jun again should have been a happy occasion, but because Star Meteor Continent suffered calamity, they all wore bitter melon faces.
…
The second day.
Fractured space and collapsed mountains and rivers had basically restored to their original state, though stitched and patched traces could still be seen, requiring time to slowly smooth over.
Taixuan Sacred Sect, Haoguang Sacred Sect and other great sects successively began post-disaster reconstruction.
After Eternal Ancient Sect disciples cleaned the battlefield, they reunited with relatives in Tiegu Town, the atmosphere shifting from solemn to warm.
Li Qingyang first paid respects to his father, then found Sister Qiao.
The lovey-dovey scene won’t get screen time, lest it deeply stimulate certain single dogs.
“Auntie Wang.”
Sitting in the half-collapsed Yunlai Inn, Jun Changxiao wiped his mouth: “Another bowl of noodles.”
With a gold-medal chef like Liu Wanshi looking after him, food certainly wouldn’t be lacking, but he still had special fondness for Auntie Wang’s noodles. This stemmed from being given relief many times during his most destitute period.
“When are you leaving?”
While cooking noodles, Auntie Wang inquired.
“In a few days.”
Jun Changxiao didn’t plan to stay long at Star Meteor Continent, because this place could no longer provide him higher martial dao realms. To become stronger and settle accounts with the Star Spirit Realm, he could only develop in the upper layer universe.
Auntie Wang said: “After you left, the Miaohua Palace Master often came to Tiegu Town, often stood on the Tiegu Mountain clearing in a daze. Now that you’ve returned, don’t you plan to go see her?”
Picking up the noodles and turning around, Jun Changxiao had already disappeared.
…
Miaohua Palace.
Changsun Fanghua and Leng Xingyue were organizing disciples to repair the damaged sect.
“Buzz!”
Space trembled as Jun Changxiao appeared out of thin air.
“Sect Master Jun!”
Miaohua Palace disciples cried out in alarm.
Changsun Fanghua and Leng Xingyue’s faces turned ugly.
“You two.”
Jun Changxiao retracted his spiritual sense, quite puzzled: “Where is Palace Master Xi?”
This question made Changsun Fanghua and Leng Xingyue’s faces even uglier, their gazes even flashing with pain.
“What happened?”
“Palace Master she… disappeared.”
“Disappeared?”
Jun Changxiao frowned.
…
Just as Auntie Wang said, Xi Jingxuan came to Tiegu Town at intervals, until later she never appeared again. The reason—she disappeared.
“Five years ago one night, strange phenomena appeared in the firmament, and Palace Master disappeared…” Changsun Fanghua recalled that day, her face already covered with tears.
“Did you search?”
“We’ve been searching these past five years.”
“…”
Jun Changxiao fell silent. His spiritual sense released, instantly enveloping all of Star Meteor Continent, but he didn’t find Xi Jingxuan. Immediately he reached a conclusion in his heart: “She’s not in this plane.”
“Could she have gone to another plane?” The System said.
After Star Sky Fortress was destroyed, Star Meteor Continent took its place. Many planes often came to trade, so warriors leaving had become quite easy.
“I’ll go search.”
Jun Changxiao left Miaohua Palace, merged into the universe, and quickly toured all nearby planes.
Having stepped into the Truth-Seeking Realm without realm suppression, existing in the lower layer universe, he could cross the void with a snap of his fingers, pervade all planes—truly an omnipotent god.
However.
After searching for several full days, after searching over a hundred planes, Jun Changxiao still hadn’t discovered Xi Jingxuan. He stopped in the universe and speculated: “Not in the Lower Realm—could she have gone to the Upper Realm?”
The System said: “Could that girl have reached Martial Emperor cultivation in just a few short years?”
“Perhaps she used some method to smuggle up.” Jun Changxiao speculated.
The System fell silent.
Like the Host relying on a warship to bring the entire sect back to the Lower Realm, lower-level warriors relying on some method to smuggle up—that wasn’t impossible either.
…
Jun Changxiao returned to Star Meteor Continent.
The stitched and patched traces in the firmament had completely disappeared. Heavenly and earthly order was operating normally, lost spiritual power was gradually recovering.
“Sect Master Jun.”
City Lord Han said: “You’ve finally returned.”
Jun Changxiao went to Miaohua Palace, and he hurried over in haste, only to wait at Tiegu Town for several days.
“What’s the matter?”
“I’ll show you something!”
City Lord Han extracted a bronze mirror-like treasure. Above it, the scene of the firmament being torn open repeated continuously.
“This is?” Jun Changxiao said.
City Lord Han said: “Five years ago when strange phenomena appeared, coincidentally during the Dragon Tiger Competition period, this Han happened to use an Image Formation to record this scene.”
Jun Changxiao hurriedly took it and carefully watched several more times.
The captured phenomenon existed for a very short time, but the entire process was like space being torn open by a large hand.
“Artificial!”
Jun Changxiao said with certainty.
The System said: “Being able to casually tear open space, this kind of power absolutely comes from the Upper Realm.”
“Strange phenomena appearing, Palace Master Xi disappearing.” Jun Changxiao stroked his chin: “Could she have been taken away by the one who tore open space?”
“There’s that possibility.”
Rarely, the two agreed.
Jun Changxiao said puzzledly: “Palace Master Xi’s strength isn’t high—why would a powerful expert expend great effort to take her away?”
The System said: “That girl’s body contains special energy. Could she be hiding some secret?”
Jun Changxiao fell into silence.
Ever since helping Xi Jingxuan cure her eye disease, he hadn’t considered that special attribute, since it brought her no harm. Now that the System mentioned it, he immediately felt something unusual.
“Was she taken away as fortune or misfortune?”
“Should be fortune. If it were misfortune, why would that space-tearing person go to such great lengths to take her away?”
“I hope so.”
Miaohua Palace was one of Eternal Ancient Sect’s two allies. Naturally Jun Changxiao didn’t hope Palace Master Xi encountered trouble.
“Qingyang.”
“Pass down the order—we depart tomorrow.”
“Yes!”