Jun Changxiao led everyone back to the Dutian Realm, quietly awaiting the Universe Holy War Grand Finals several years hence.

News about the Eternal Sect disciples monopolizing twenty positions spread like a fierce wind throughout the various star systems, becoming the focus of public discussion.

In past competitions, fellow sect members advancing together was commonplace, but this many people entering the Grand Finals together was unprecedented!

“This sect requires attention!”

“Cannot be careless!”

“If we encounter them in the Grand Finals, we must treat them seriously!”

Various system forces successively obtained information about the Canghai System main competition and immediately became highly vigilant toward the Eternal Sect.

It wasn’t just because too many disciples advanced, but more importantly because the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted son also participated in the Canghai System main competition and was repeatedly defeated by that sect’s disciples. With slightly worse luck, he might not even have made it into the Grand Finals.

Winning and losing was normal.

But losing when you’re the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted son was not normal.

According to the information everyone obtained, the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s eighty-plus adopted sons were all distributed to various systems to compete, and without exception they all won championships—only Ling Li, who fought in the Canghai System, failed.

No one believed that standing out from a star system main competition relied on luck. Having trampled the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted son firmly underfoot was sufficient to prove the Eternal Sect disciples had real ability!

This sect was dangerous.

They must be treated seriously, they must give it their all.

In the past, when Jun Changxiao brought disciples to participate in competitions, they would be mocked and ridiculed. Now things had turned around—before the Grand Finals even started, they’d become the existence everyone was most wary of.

Of course, warriors from various systems also believed that the Eternal Sect’s days ahead wouldn’t be easy. After all, the Heavenly Demon Emperor had so many adopted sons. Once they participated in the Grand Finals, they would definitely be deliberately targeted.

—

“Boom—”

In the grand hall, Ling Li directly crashed into the wall, lying down like mud.

“You still have the face to return?” A cold, sinister voice rang out.

“Adoptive… Adoptive Father…” Ling Li raised his head with difficulty, his face deathly pale. “Please… give me one more chance…”

“If you can survive coming out of Demon Abyss Valley, this father will give you one more chance.” A cold voice came through.

Hearing the three words ‘Demon Abyss Valley,’ Ling Li’s eyes showed a trace of fear, but quickly became resolute again. “Thank… thank you, Adoptive Father…”

“Go.”

Ling Li struggled to stand and walked out of the hall with difficulty.

“Isn’t this the adopted son Adoptive Father valued most? How did he become so pathetic?” A young man leaning against a pillar outside crossed his arms with a cold laugh.

“…” Ling Li remained silent, staggering forward.

The current him had long lost that proud bearing he had during the main competition.

To be precise, after being ravaged twice by Lu Qianqian and killed in one punch by He Wudi, his dignity had been completely crushed. He was like a sick wolf licking its wounds under the setting sun.

“I told you long ago,” another young man walked over, sneering mockingly. “This guy would never amount to much, but Adoptive Father trusted him the most.”

“Facts prove that any random one of us would be stronger than him,” said a warrior sitting on the railing.

Without a doubt, they were all the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted sons. Appearing outside the hall, they were obviously here to deliberately watch Ling Li’s humiliation.

No helping it—they all survived from harsh environments.

Why should he be treated differently? Why shouldn’t they receive fatherly love?

Facing his adopted brothers’ cold ridicule, Ling Li said nothing, dragging his broken body until he gradually disappeared from view.

He was the adopted son the Heavenly Demon Emperor valued most. He was once infinitely glorious. But after failing, everything completely vanished.

—

Bamboo Grove Courtyard.

A refined woman was organizing medicinal herbs.

“Creak.”

At this moment, Ling Li pushed open the door and entered, finally unable to support himself any longer, collapsing to the ground.

Having been savagely brutalized twice by Lu Qianqian and then blasted with a palm strike by his adoptive father, his injuries were extremely serious. Being able to walk from the outer courtyard to the inner courtyard was already quite difficult.

“Ling Li!” The refined woman put down her basket and walked over in panic. “What happened to you!”

“I’m… I’m fine…” A smile forced its way to the corner of Ling Li’s mouth with difficulty, then he passed out.

—

“My food, no one is allowed to steal it!”

In a damp, dark environment, a child held a wooden stick, protecting several pieces of moldy food behind him, his eyes containing killing intent.

Outside the cave stood over ten children, similarly disheveled and covered in filth.

“Charge!” one person shouted.

Everyone rushed forward recklessly.

These children who should have had happy childhoods were now forced to fight for survival.

“Thud! Thud!”

Half an hour later, the child with the wooden stick walked out.

Though already covered in wounds, his hands tightly held the food in his arms.

“Not bad.” At this moment, a large dark shadow appeared before him, saying with satisfaction, “You are qualified to be my adopted son.”

“Jin’er, take him to be treated.”

“Yes, Master.”

A girl about thirteen or fourteen years old picked up the child and brought him to the Bamboo Grove Courtyard for treatment.

“I’m called Mu Jin. And you?”

“Oh right, Master hasn’t given you a name yet.”

“…”

During the treatment period, the child remained silent, even though Mu Jin repeatedly tried to chat with him.

“Congratulations, Adoptive Father has bestowed a name.”

“From today on, you’re called Ling Li—Li as in ‘formidable.'”

“…”

Ling Li remained silent. After his injuries healed, he left the Bamboo Grove Courtyard and began to receive the strictest martial dao training, until later being injured time and time again and sent back repeatedly.

“You’re injured again?”

“Ah, this time the injuries are even more severe. You’ll need several months of recuperation.”

“Hey, your injuries haven’t healed yet—how can you get out of bed!”

Past memories kept flashing before his eyes until his body transmitted a stabbing pain, finally bringing Ling Li back to reality. He looked at the woman bandaging his wounds.

“I heard from others,” Mu Jin said while applying medicine, her voice gentle, “that you participated in the Canghai System main competition but didn’t win the championship.”

“Mm.” Ling Li acknowledged.

“If you lose this time, win it back next time.” Mu Jin smiled consolingly. “You don’t need to care so much.”

“In Adoptive Father’s eyes, I can only win, not lose,” Ling Li said. “In those people’s eyes, my loss is a disgrace.”

“Who told you to be the adopted son Master values most? They’re all hoping for your downfall.”

After applying the medicine, Mu Jin organized the medical tools while smiling. “Your physique is strong—with some recuperation, you’ll recover.”

“How long?”

“About half a month.”

“Still time to make it to Demon Abyss Valley.”

The hand arranging medicine bottles suddenly froze. Mu Jin raised her head to look at him, alarmed. “You’re going to Demon Abyss Valley?”

“Mm.” Ling Li nodded.

“Are you insane!” Mu Jin scolded.

“This is Adoptive Father’s order,” Ling Li said. “I failed to win the championship. Only by surviving Demon Abyss Valley can I obtain a chance at redemption.”

“No!” Mu Jin stood up. “I’ll go beg Master!”

Ling Li grabbed her hand. “Don’t you understand Adoptive Father’s temperament?”

“…” Mu Jin stood there, tears streaming down like rain. “You’ll die if you go in.”

Hearing her cry, Ling Li’s heart ached faintly.

“Trust me—I’ll definitely return alive.”

—

That night, Ling Li silently left the Bamboo Grove Courtyard.

Having received simple treatment, his injuries had improved somewhat. He wanted to quickly reach Demon Abyss Valley and quickly obtain his adoptive father’s forgiveness.

Mu Jin didn’t stop him, because she wasn’t in the Bamboo Grove Courtyard. Instead, she was kneeling outside the master’s study, begging him not to make Ling Li go to Demon Abyss Valley.

“Jin’er, you’ve developed feelings for Ling Li.”

“Master, I…”

“If he can return alive from Demon Abyss Valley, this emperor will personally hold a wedding ceremony for you two.”

Mu Jin was stunned.

However, she hastily said, “I don’t dare hope to marry Ling Li. I only hope Master will rescind the order and not send him to Demon Abyss Valley. Even if… even if it means using my life to exchange for his chance at redemption.”

“You’re willing to die for him?”

“I’m willing!”

—