Jun Changxiao couldn’t help with Xiao Zuiji’s past experiences, because things had already happened. What he could do now was ensure that not a single disciple would ever suffer the slightest grievance again!

When Lu Qianqian encountered trouble in Northeast Luzhou, he’d rushed over in the heat of the moment—that was the best proof.

No one can bully or dare bully my disciples of the Eternal Sect!

Jun Changxiao was extremely protective of his people.

If forced to give an explanation, it would be—love.

He loved Xiao Zuiji, loved Li Qingyang, loved every single disciple of the Eternal Sect.

This kind of love was more like that of a family patriarch, silently watching the children grow, being happy for their progress, and proud of their strength.

Of course.

He also wouldn’t tolerate others bullying them!

“Sect Master…”

Xiao Zuiji’s eyes were so moved they nearly moistened.

With all resources provided, and everyone helping to stand up for those who’d been bullied—with such a Sect Master, such a sect, how could he not defend it with his life!

“Zuiji, remember this.”

Jun Changxiao said seriously: “The Eternal Sect’s first principle: A man has gold beneath his knees, a man sheds blood but not tears.”

Xiao Zuiji raised his head and straightened his chest, forcibly holding back his tears.

“Rest well.”

Jun Changxiao patted his shoulder, saying: “Adjust your condition to its peak, and let those people who once trampled on you understand what it means—don’t look down on a poor youth!”

“Yes!”

Xiao Zuiji shouted loudly, his eyes filled with pride.

…

After returning to the great hall, Jun Changxiao called Li Luoqiu over, his face stern: “Investigate at the fastest speed—find out everyone who went to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement several years ago!”

That unconscious clenching of fists and the ferocity appearing on his face couldn’t have been deliberately acted—Xiao Zuiji must have suffered tremendous humiliation back then.

Investigate!

Must investigate!

Even if it already happened, this old man will hold a grudge!

He didn’t ask Xiao Zuiji because some things are like scars—even gently uncovering them still hurts.

“Understood.”

Li Luoqiu withdrew.

After the intelligence network was established, information gathering became very fast.

Half a day later, Li Luoqiu brought news: “The one who went to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement was the Lily Saint Sect’s Eleventh Elder, named Cheng Huixin. Murong Xin is her personal disciple. Six others accompanied them—though their identities can’t be confirmed, they were all young generation direct disciples.”

This information was gathered in Liyang City. It had caused quite a stir at the time, and even though six or seven years had passed, people still remembered it vividly.

However.

Now in Liyang City, most of the discussion was about this:

The Xiao Zuiji who’d been jilted and abandoned by his family had found new life as an Inner Sect disciple of the Eternal Sect—what terrifying achievements would he have in the future?

“Cheng Huixin?”

Jun Changxiao took note of the name.

Li Luoqiu said: “The elder visiting from the Lily Saint Sect this time is also this woman.”

“Is that so?”

Jun Changxiao rhythmically tapped his fingers on the table, then smiled coldly: “What a coincidence indeed.”

…

In the mountain wilds.

A group of fairly attractive female martial cultivators were resting, among them Xiao Zuiji’s former fiancée, Murong Xin.

At this moment, she sat on a boulder, looking quite unhappy.

“Junior Sister.”

A female disciple approached, saying: “You haven’t smiled once since leaving the sect. Do you have something on your mind?”

“No…” Murong Xin replied casually.

“In my opinion.”

The disciple beside them said: “Junior Sister definitely doesn’t want to see that Xiao Zuiji. After all, after all these years, the two have worlds of difference between them.”

“That’s right.”

Another person said: “Junior Sister has exceptional talent and has now broken through to Wuwang. That waste from Qingyang Commandery, even if his spirit root and cultivation still existed, wouldn’t even have the qualifications to carry her shoes.”

“Senior Sisters, stop talking.” Murong Xin frowned.

“Ah.”

One person said: “Junior Sister, you and he no longer have any marriage contract, so why is it that after all these years, whenever he’s mentioned, you seem to be protecting him?”

“You don’t still have feelings for him, do you?” someone speculated.

“A heavenly pride like Junior Sister—so many outstanding geniuses from major sects want to climb high for her favor. A guy who’s become a waste isn’t worth dwelling on.”

Murong Xin’s willow-leaf eyebrows knitted slightly.

When she was young, her senior sisters often said such things, and back then she thought they were praising her.

But as she grew older, Murong Xin gradually realized that other people’s praise of her was invariably built on trampling that person’s dignity.

I don’t want to hurt him.

I just want to cultivate hard and pursue higher martial arts.

But some things truly aren’t within one’s own control.

For example—

Cheng Huixin walked over, quite dissatisfied: “You should have told me about that three-year agreement between you two early on.”

“Master, I…”

“Say no more. This time when we go to the Eternal Sect, I will have them give up on this agreement. After all, you still need to participate in the upcoming Dragon-Tiger Hegemony Competition—you don’t have time to waste dueling with a waste.” Cheng Huixin said.

From these words, it wasn’t difficult to hear that she hadn’t come to the Eternal Sect by chance, but intentionally.

From her attitude, it seemed just like when she’d brought her disciple to the Xiao Family to break off the engagement years ago.

Unfortunately.

The Eternal Sect wasn’t the Xiao Family.

And Xiao Zuiji was no longer the Xiao Zuiji of the past.

…

Everyone rested briefly, then continued their journey, arriving at the foot of the Eternal Sect mountain two days later.

“So this is the sect that’s recently made a name for itself in the martial world?”

“Doesn’t seem to have anything special about it.”

“Compared to our sect, there’s no basis for comparison.”

The disciples’ gazes turned disdainful.

They’d heard about Jun Changxiao battling a half-saint, but didn’t take it seriously.

Our Lily Saint Sect not only has Half-Step Martial Saints, but actual Martial Saints too. That guy just relied on some kind of divine ability, not his own true strength—there’s nothing surprising about it.

These major sect disciples truly had overflowing superiority complexes!

“Who goes there?”

Jiang Xie’s voice came from the mountain.

Cheng Huixin said proudly: “The Lily Saint Sect’s Eleventh Elder, bringing disciples to visit the Eternal Sect.”

It’s her!

Xiao Zuiji, who was cultivating, heard that voice he could never forget in his lifetime. His gaze immediately filled with endless fury.

Painful scenes from the past instantly flooded his consciousness, making his face contort and veins bulge.

After so many years.

This old hag was still as high and mighty as ever!

Jun Changxiao’s spiritual sense had been monitoring Xiao Zuiji. Seeing his rage, he interlaced his ten fingers, propped up his chin, and murmured: “The grievances you once suffered—today, this Sect Master will first help you get them back.”

“This Elder from the Lily Saint Sect.”

Jiang Xie’s voice rang out: “According to our Eternal Sect’s regulations, sects coming to visit must pass the mountain ascent trial.”

Mountain ascent trial?

Cheng Huixin’s brows furrowed.

Isn’t this the method sects use to recruit disciples?

Now that she’d brought people here, making them go through the same thing clearly showed they didn’t take the Lily Saint Sect seriously!

“Of course.”

Jiang Xie added: “If you feel you cannot do it, you may also leave with your disciples. Our Eternal Sect won’t force anyone.”

These words were a bit provocative.

The Lily Saint Sect disciples who’d come along all showed anger.

A fifth-rate sect—even if they’d set up mountains of blades and seas of fire, how could they not manage it!

“Fine.”

Cheng Huixin said coldly: “This old woman wants to see what’s so different about your Eternal Sect’s mountain ascent trial.”

With that, she led her disciples forward.

Whoosh!

The people from the Lily Saint Sect successively merged into the formation, finding themselves on the first stairway.

Cheng Huixin thought disdainfully: “This level of formation is truly third-rate. Watch how this old woman breaks it!”

Swoosh—

As she spoke, her spiritual sense spread out.

However, the instant it touched the formation barrier, the sky above the interior suddenly erupted with lightning radiance, becoming incomparably brilliant.

“Not good!”

Cheng Huixin’s face changed drastically.

BOOM!

Just then, Tiegu Mountain suddenly transmitted an earth-shattering explosive sound, shaking the entire ground with tremors.

This was—the formation exploded!