The Yutian Realm had a barren wasteland where not a blade of grass grew, called the Despair Wilderness.

Long, long ago, this area was suddenly shrouded in black light that persisted for several years, gradually forming a spatial vortex leading to another region.

Initially, many powerful experts thought this was a rare treasure emerging, so they all set out to enter and explore. As a result, they encountered the Soul Clan inside, and both sides began a long, great slaughter.

This event was defined by later generations as the War Between Two Clans.

As for the space linked at the other end, it was called the Independent Battlefield.

Enmity is better resolved than perpetuated.

Why couldn’t the two planes sit together peacefully and chat?

The reason was simple—although the environment inside the Independent Battlefield was relatively harsh, it nurtured vast martial resources, such as… first-grade Spirit Stones!

That’s right.

The resources Jun Changxiao obtained from Gong Baiyu and others mostly came from the Independent Battlefield.

What about the other small portion?

This matter must start from the former Yutian Realm.

Although this plane was large, actually its heavenly and earthly attributes weren’t strong in the past. Only after the spatial vortex appeared and vast spiritual qi gushed from within did it slowly begin improving.

The Yutian Realm’s attributes could reach their current level entirely because of the Independent Battlefield.

Moreover, over countless years, the vast spiritual qi merged into the underground, beginning to gather Spirit Stone mineral veins. After being successively mined, this became the other small portion.

The Spirit Stones produced by the plane varied in quality and were extremely scarce in quantity. So to obtain more and higher quality ones, they still had to go to the Independent Battlefield. Thus almost every moment, people entered.

Strangely enough, over these years, both planes fought while mining, yet the mineral veins inside still hadn’t been exhausted. It gave people the feeling they were inexhaustible and eternally usable.

Resources.

What martial artists valued most.

Tell me, would the Yutian Realm and Yuhun Realm yield to others?

You won’t yield, I won’t yield.

You want more, I want more.

Then there was no solution—they could only use fighting methods to decide.

…

After Jun Changxiao learned about the Independent Battlefield from Gong Baiyu, he led Hua Meigui all the way toward the Despair Wilderness, quite surprised along the way: “That miraculous?”

He didn’t care how many years the two planes had fought, nor how many people had died. What he cared about was that the Independent Battlefield could actually continuously supply spiritual power, with vast mineral veins existing internally.

The upper realm didn’t have this treatment.

His own sect didn’t have this treatment either.

The system said: “The world is vast and full of wonders. The host needn’t be surprised at every little thing.”

Jun Changxiao rubbed his hands together, saying: “This so-called Independent Battlefield doesn’t belong to the Yutian Realm or the Yuhun Realm. I can go in and look for mineral veins.”

First-grade Fire Stones had relatively simple attributes, very suitable for use as fuel. First-grade Spirit Stones were stronger than upper realm Immortal Stones, extremely suitable for cultivation. He naturally hoped for more and more.

“Sigh.”

The system sighed: “The Independent Battlefield is going to have bad luck.”

Along the way, Hua Meigui remained silent throughout.

She didn’t care about the battlefield, much less the mineral veins. What she cared about was: were the Soul Clan and her clan from the same lineage and ancestry? Did this mean her ancestors migrated out from the Yuhun Realm?

There were also the Blue Souls and Black Souls mentioned by the Yutian Realm powerful experts—did they represent pure bloodlines?

Thinking of this, worry gradually appeared on Hua Meigui’s face.

They said she was a Green Soul.

They said this was a lowly clansperson.

Jun Changxiao noticed Hua Meigui’s expression was off, saying: “What are you thinking about?”

“I’m wondering whether I should go to the Yuhun Realm.”

“Still need to think? Of course we’re going.”

In Jun Changxiao’s view, the Soul Clan was definitely related to her clan. A single Soul Ring had already brought benefits—they definitely needed to take a trip to this plane. Perhaps she could awaken some bloodline.

“I’m afraid…” Hua Meigui paused briefly, then said: “After entering, I’ll be discriminated against.”

The Yutian Realm’s powerful experts had all mocked her because of her Green Soul. If she went to Soul Clan territory, she’d probably only suffer even more blows.

“As long as you can become stronger, don’t care about others’ opinions.”

“Moreover.”

“When I first took over the Iron Bone Sect, I only had one disciple under me. Didn’t I still slowly stand up amidst mockery and contempt?”

When Jun Changxiao first started out, bringing Lu Qianqian to Qingyang City, he indeed suffered quite a bit of contempt from peers. But with his thick skin, he completely didn’t take it to heart.

“People can’t have smooth sailing their entire lives. When encountering problems, you should face difficulties head-on.”

“…”

Hua Meigui thought to herself: “Why did he suddenly become so talkative.”

“Of course.”

Jun Changxiao said: “If anyone dares discriminate against you, I’ll help you kill them.”

Hua Meigui stopped.

She looked at that back that emanated a sense of security, warmth rising in her heart. Then she brushed aside the hair at her forehead, smiling beautifully: “Thank you.”

“Don’t misunderstand.”

Jun Changxiao’s facial expression shifted from serious to cold, saying: “I’m helping you because of the sect.”

“…”

Hua Meigui thought to herself: “How long is he going to keep running away.”

“Stop spacing out.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Let’s go.”

“Oh.”

To avoid spreading dog food and causing tens of thousands of tons of spiritual damage to a certain reader surnamed Duo, the two didn’t have much conversation along the way. After traveling for an hour, they finally arrived at the barren Despair Wilderness and saw from afar the pitch-black vortex suspended in the firmament.

“Whoosh!”

“Whoosh!”

Shortly after, Jun Changxiao and Hua Meigui flew over.

Because the vortex led to the Independent Battlefield, a reasonably sized fortress existed nearby. Anyone wanting to enter had to register.

“Who goes there!”

On the watchtower, a martial artist saw two streams of light flying over and urgently shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Pilgrims from the Eastern Tang seeking scriptures!”

Eastern Tang?

The guards looked at each other, clearly having never heard of it.

“Whoosh!”

Just then, Jun Changxiao arrived with Hua Meigui, with absolutely no intention of entering the fortress.

If this were the past, he might have wanted to experience this plane’s local customs. Right now, he’d set his mind on the Independent Battlefield and Spirit Stone mineral veins.

“Not good!”

“They’re going to breach the fortress!”

“Quickly stop them, quickly stop them!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In an instant, martial artists wearing battle armor like soldiers flew out from the fortress, attempting to intercept the two strangers rushing over.

“Scram!”

Jun Changxiao waved both hands. The Crossing Heaven Palm Imprint appeared, directly slapping away the hundreds of soldiers blocking the way.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

The palm imprints pressed into the empty ground, leaving five-fingered deep craters.

The fortress soldiers who hadn’t been attacked were shocked to the point their hair nearly stood on end.

This person!

Was too strong!

Jun Changxiao’s purpose was to enter the Independent Battlefield. He had no killing intent whatsoever—otherwise, forget the blocking soldiers all having to die, even the fortress would be destroyed.

Breaking through layer after layer of defenses, the vortex was close at hand.

“Go!”

Jun Changxiao grabbed Hua Meigui and smoothly embraced her in his arms. Both feet transformed into jet propellers, erupting with scorching light, then rushed into the pitch-black vortex at extreme speed.

The entire process occurred in the flash of lightning and flint. By the time those soldiers who’d been knocked away stood up, the two had already completely merged inside.

“Damn it!”

“Who was that guy!”

“The palm craters have words!”

A soldier exclaimed.

Everyone looked down and saw each five-fingered deep crater had the character for “handsome” carved in it. Thus they roared internally: “That guy must be so bored!”