Leaving all the elders of Miaohua Palace behind and soaring freely through the boundless heavens with Xi Jingxuan—how poetic and picturesque that would be!

However!

Sect Master Jun actually activated his Martial Wings and flew off on his own first!

Being alone with a beautiful woman was the perfect opportunity to cultivate feelings, and he just wasted it like that.

I really want to cut him down with a single slash and become the protagonist myself.

Xi Jingxuan, who had originally been nervous and anxious, never expected Sect Master Jun would leave first. Her delicate face showed bewilderment, mixed with just a hint of disappointment.

Does he dislike me?

Is that why he doesn’t want to stay even a moment longer?

“Whoosh!”

Just then, Jun Changxiao flew back.

Did he think it through?

Indeed, there’s still a chance to salvage this!

Xi Jingxuan sensed he had returned, and a brilliant smile blossomed on her face.

“Palace Master Xi.”

Jun Changxiao asked: “If I keep heading south, I’ll reach Southern Desolate Province, right?”

“Yes.” Xi Jingxuan replied.

Whoosh—

Jun Changxiao accelerated away again.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to instruct the Demon Ridge Black Eagle: “Girl, Palace Master Xi is on your back, be careful and don’t fly so fast.”

He himself flew quickly.

But made his contracted beast fly slowly.

Where’s my blade!

Where is my blade!

…

In Xingyun Continent, the two provinces considered most mysterious were Southern Desolate Province and Northern Desert Province, because most of their regions were covered by wastelands and deserts.

Both provinces had harsh environments and very sparse populations.

At this very moment, at the border region of Southern Desolate Province, large numbers of martial artists were racing forward at high speed.

Some traveled alone, others moved in groups, and occasionally one could even see strong warriors at the Wuwang level appearing!

They came from all corners of the world, and their destination was the Land of Desolation.

The Land of Desolation was a desolate area stretching for tens of thousands of miles, where no one had set foot for years.

Half a month ago.

Suddenly, streaming light rose from the Land of Desolation, piercing through heaven and earth, lasting for several full days before gradually dissipating.

Where strange phenomena arise, supreme treasures emerge.

This was not only an eternal, unchanging law in Xingyun Continent, but in all cultivation systems!

Thus, various factions throughout Xingyun Continent dispatched powerful warriors to rush over.

Throughout history, when supreme treasures emerged—countless in number—each appearance inevitably stirred up bloody storms and rain.

Swish—

A stream of light flew past through the heavens.

“A Wuhuang!”

The crowd cried out in surprise.

“I never expected that the emergence of a rare treasure in Southern Desolate Province would alarm a Wuhuang-level powerhouse!”

“Five hundred years ago, when a peerless divine sword was unearthed in Northern Desert Province, it alarmed quite a few Wuhuang. In the end, they fought for seven days and seven nights in the Northern Desert Abyss before it ended.”

“I heard about that. Who ultimately seized the treasure?”

“I heard it was taken by the Drifting Zero Sword Emperor.”

“If it alarmed a Sword Dao Emperor, that peerless divine sword must have been extraordinary.”

Everyone discussed while traveling.

However, one Wuwang was rather puzzled: “Strange, this Wuhuang is using flight ability, so why isn’t there any Wuhuang-level aura emanating?”

“That’s right!”

The other martial artists were also confused.

Supposedly, when a Wuhuang used flight ability with full cultivation released, one should be able to sense威能 rippling through the air.

Just then, the passing stream of light suddenly stopped, gradually revealing a young man with heroic features, with a pair of wings resembling forged steel behind him!

All the martial artists were immediately dumbfounded.

That guy has… wings? Is he human or some flying spirit beast?

“Flying too fast.”

Jun Changxiao stood in the heavens, murmuring: “Better wait for Palace Master Xi first.”

“Tsk tsk.”

Looking down at the stunned martial cultivators below, he said: “This emergence of a rare treasure has indeed alarmed quite a few people.”

Swish!

Just then, another stream of light flew through the heavens, then stopped beside him.

“Another Wuhuang!” everyone exclaimed in shock.

The streaming light gradually dispersed, revealing a white-haired old man.

He cupped his fists: “Young… Your Excellency looks rather unfamiliar. May I ask which sect or school you’re from?”

He originally wanted to say “young friend,” but thinking that this person could fly and had strange wings on his back, perhaps his age wasn’t less than his own.

There were eccentric experts in this world who liked to disguise themselves as young people to prey upon naive young women.

“Wangu Sect.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Jun Changxiao.”

“Oh?”

The old man was rather surprised: “Your Excellency is the Sect Master of Wangu Sect?”

Fame really was powerful.

Just by stating his name, even a Wuhuang could immediately figure out his identity.

“That’s right.” Jun Changxiao said.

The old man smiled: “Sect Master Jun has also come for the rare treasure?”

“Yes.”

Jun Changxiao responded with a sound, his gaze continually focused on the rear, thinking silently: “Why haven’t they arrived yet?”

Bah.

And he still has the face to say that.

The old man lowered his voice: “Sect Master Jun, this emergence of a rare treasure in Southern Desolate Province has alarmed quite a few major sects. Are you interested in joining forces?”

He had no sect or school affiliation—he was a rogue cultivator who wandered the continent year-round.

Though his personal strength was decent, compared to major sects, naturally two fists couldn’t match many fists.

“Not interested.”

Jun Changxiao flatly refused.

Those who actively sought to join forces with him usually harbored ulterior motives. He had no interest in playing mind games with them—better to work alone for peace of mind.

“Very well.”

The old man cupped his fists: “This old one will take his leave first.”

Jun Changxiao continued standing in the heavens waiting. It wasn’t until half an hour later that the Demon Ridge Black Eagle finally flew over leisurely with Xi Jingxuan on its back.

“My heavens!”

The martial artists traveling below exclaimed: “Such a huge eagle beast!”

“Whoosh!”

Jun Changxiao landed on the eagle’s back and asked: “Palace Master Xi, should we wait for the elders from Miaohua Palace?”

“No need.”

Xi Jingxuan said: “They’ll probably take quite a while to arrive. Let’s head to the Land of Desolation first.”

“That works.”

This time Jun Changxiao didn’t fly ahead first. Standing on the Demon Ridge Black Eagle’s back, they proceeded toward the Land of Desolation at maximum speed.

…

The Land of Desolation was barren of vegetation.

From a distance, it looked like a lifeless yellow desert.

The heaven and earth attributes here were abnormally thin. The air was not only filled with dryness but also charged with a sense of desolation and death.

“Whoosh, whoosh!”

The Demon Ridge Black Eagle flapped its wings, flying slowly through the sky above.

Though Jun Changxiao and Xi Jingxuan were rarely alone together, neither spoke, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

If it were the romantic expert Elder Wei, he’d surely already be discussing moonlit poetry with the young woman.

So you see, some people excel at many things but are unbearably terrible when it comes to romance—like our Jun Gusheng.

“Sect Master Jun.”

After a while, Xi Jingxuan said: “Legend has it that ten thousand years ago, there was a Soil-Devouring Sacred Beast in Southern Desolate Province that lived by absorbing heaven and earth attributes.”

“Sacred Beast?”

Jun Changxiao was extremely surprised.

That level was comparable to a Wudi!

Xi Jingxuan continued: “Later, a powerful expert passing through killed this beast. Its scorching blood sprayed across tens of thousands of miles, making the land barren of vegetation, which became today’s Land of Desolation.”

“I see.”

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin: “To kill a Sacred Beast, that expert’s strength must have been terrifyingly formidable!”

Rumble—

Just then, the flying Demon Ridge Black Eagle suddenly crashed into an invisible barrier and was immediately bounced back, then its body fell downward uncontrollably at extreme speed.

This sudden change caught Xi Jingxuan completely off guard, and she was immediately thrown off!

“Not good!”

Jun Changxiao quickly kicked off with his right foot, shot forward despite being off-balance, caught the falling Xi Jingxuan with one arm around her waist, then landed steadily on the ground.

“Boom!”

The Demon Ridge Black Eagle crashed to the ground, stirring up billowing dust!

“Cough cough!”

Little Demon Fairy transformed into human form, rubbing her forehead while pouting: “Master, there’s a restriction here that’s limiting my flight!”

Setting down Xi Jingxuan, Jun Changxiao asked: “Are you alright, girl?”

“I’m fine!” Little Demon Fairy said.

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao looked up at the faintly visible barrier in the heavens, rather displeased: “Who would be so bored as to set up an array barrier in the Land of Desolation!”

—