Using hundreds of thousands of natural spirit stones to mature the Pure Heart Sacred Lotus—though the price was somewhat high, Jun Changxiao didn’t feel the pain. After all, it could allow the Five Absolutes Evil Saint to restore his Martial Saint level.

In an era where becoming an Emperor was extremely difficult and they rarely emerged, Martial Saints were absolutely the strongest combat power. If the Eternal Sect had such a powerful expert presiding over it, they wouldn’t fear first or second-rate sects!

Forget hundreds of thousands—even if he had to invest all the natural spirit stones he’d obtained, Sect Master Jun wouldn’t blink an eye.

The System said: “A man should have boldness—charge it up vigorously!”

“Absolutely!”

With a wave of his hand, Jun Changxiao took out a large quantity of natural spirit stones and began infusing energy into the device.

Several days later, as the countdown time on the display shortened from 666 years to several seconds, he sat down clutching his chest, painfully forcing himself to be comforted: “It was worth it, it was worth it!”

“Ding! Maturation successful.”

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

The diffusing aura swirling inside the incubation device gradually dissipated, and the Pure Heart Sacred Lotus once again assembled seven petals, completely forcibly matured.

“Recharging makes me stronger!” Jun Changxiao said proudly.

“Sect Master.”

Just then, Sun Bukong entered the study. “This disciple has found a medicinal formula in the Hundred-Faced Medical Saint’s medical texts that might cure Old Wei!”

“Really?” Jun Changxiao was delighted.

With the Pure Heart Sacred Lotus maturation successful, the Five Absolutes Evil Saint could completely restore his cultivation. If they could also cure Old Wei’s illness, that would mean another Martial Emperor!

However, when Jun Changxiao looked at the medicinal formula, the corner of his mouth began twitching.

Because the detailed description stated that for this illness—where one’s realm was lost but their aura remained—the required primary medicinal catalyst was six petals of Pure Heart Sacred Lotus.

“Hahaha, hahahaha…” the System sang: “Come on, have fun…”

Jun Changxiao looked very carefully at the formula, then with an extremely serious expression asked: “Are you certain this can cure Old Wei’s strange illness?”

Sun Bukong said: “This disciple asked Old Wei about his symptoms in detail—they’re exactly the same as what’s recorded here. As long as we have the medicinal ingredients, there’s an eighty percent chance of curing it!”

During this time, he had been constantly studying the Hundred-Faced Medical Saint’s medical texts. His understanding of medicine had advanced by leaps and bounds—he was properly the Eternal Sect’s strongest physician.

When entering the sect, he had presented various Emperor successor identification tokens.

Now he could openly and legitimately declare to the world that he was the Medical Saint’s—successor by proxy!

However, after Sun Bukong finished speaking, he saw the Sect Master collapsed on the desk, so he asked in confusion: “Sect Master, what’s wrong with you?”

What else could it be? Heartache, of course.

He’d just used hundreds of thousands of natural spirit stones to mature the lotus for healing the Five Absolutes Evil Saint, and now Old Wei’s illness also required this heavenly treasure!

The System comforted: “It’s fine—only six petals. At least it’s leaving you one petal.”

“Get lost!”

Jun Changxiao stood up, slapping his hand on the pill formula. “Forget eighty percent—even if it’s only ten percent, we must try!”

Since joining the Eternal Sect, Old Wei had been in charge of medicinal herb cultivation. The disciples’ rapid advancement was completely inseparable from him. He definitely wouldn’t hesitate to treat him. As for the Five Absolutes Evil Saint… he’d just have to wait a bit longer.

“Mm!”

With the Sect Master’s support and six petals of Pure Heart Sacred Lotus, Sun Bukong began boldly researching the formula, but a voice kept ringing in his ears: “Bukong, this medicinal ingredient is extremely precious—you absolutely must succeed for this master!”

“Sect Master!”

“This disciple will not disappoint you!”

…

Inside the study.

Looking at the single remaining petal of Pure Heart Sacred Lotus in the incubation device, Jun Changxiao’s nose immediately felt sour. Then looking at the display showing 2000 years needed under 1.5× acceleration, his eyes gradually moistened.

At first, he’d been thinking that to let the Five Absolutes Evil Saint restore his Martial Saint cultivation, he’d happily use up all the spirit stones. But when truly reaching this step, he still felt extremely blue and mushroomy.

The System sang in a female voice: “Come on…”

“It’s just natural spirit stones!” Jun Changxiao stood up resolutely. “How could this lord be reluctant!”

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

Block after block of warm natural spirit stones were inserted into the incubation device. It took a full five days, consuming over 1.8 million stones, before the Pure Heart Sacred Lotus once again restored its former glory.

“Sect Master!”

Just then, Sun Bukong pushed open the door and rushed in.

The expression on his face was very complex—so complex it was indescribable.

Seeing this, Jun Changxiao quickly lay back in his chair clutching his chest, breathing rapidly: “You… don’t tell me you failed!”

“Right…”

“Swoosh!”

Jun Changxiao’s legs kicked out and he directly fainted.

Seeing this, Sun Bukong cried out in alarm: “This is bad—the Sect Master has fainted! Quick, someone carry him to the Medical Hall for emergency treatment… wait, I’m a doctor!”

“Pinch the philtrum! Pinch the philtrum!”

“Whoosh…” Jun Changxiao woke up.

However, thinking that Sun Bukong had failed and his hundreds of thousands of spirit stones had gone down the drain, he was about to assume the proper position to faint again.

“Sect Master!”

“I was too excited and misspoke just now—the medicine to treat Old Wei has been successfully developed!”

“Boom!”

The study window shattered!

The disciples cultivating in the inner courtyard all looked over to see Sun Bukong fly out like a ball, then roll several times across the training grounds before finally slamming into the wall with a “boom,” leaving an inverted impression of the character for “great.”

…

Medicine Hall.

Jun Changxiao sat in the seat of honor, his fingers constantly tapping on the table, his crossed leg also swaying.

He wasn’t showing off—his heart was panicking like crazy, because Old Wei had already taken the medicine that Sun Bukong had just developed.

Please, absolutely must succeed!

“Whoosh!”

After a brief moment, Old Wei, who was sitting in the lower seat, opened his eyes. Complex emotions flowed through those turbid eyes.

“Old Wei…”

“Whoosh! Whoosh—”

Jun Changxiao had just opened his mouth when Old Wei stood up. His turbid eyes became incomparably sharp, and strands of thick Emperor-level aura surged around his body.

In that moment, he no longer appeared aged or decrepit, but gave off a feeling of an old sword still sharp, its edge fully revealed!

“Swoosh!”

Old Wei clenched his fist tightly, unable to suppress his exhilarated emotions, looking up and saying: “Old friend, my cultivation has returned—can you see it? Can you see it!”

The last two sentences were spoken with much heavier tone, revealing sadness and pain. Sharp eyes filled with tears that slid down his cheeks.

“Hahaha!”

“Hahahaha!”

Laughter echoed across the Eternal Sect.

The disciples who heard it couldn’t understand whether this was happy laughter or sad crying.

Present in the Medicine Hall, watching Old Wei’s bittersweet appearance, Jun Changxiao stroked his chin, thinking silently: “What unknown story lies behind him?”

…

Old Wei’s strange illness was completely cured by the medicine.

Thus, the Eternal Sect gained another Emperor-level powerhouse.

However.

After Old Wei recovered, besides cultivation, he would sit in the medicine garden pavilion in melancholy every day.

“Wei’er, quickly leave this place and live well. Don’t ever think about avenging us…” That person’s voice transmitted to his ears, making him grip his teacup tightly, his eyes full of conflict.

“What are you thinking about?”

Jun Changxiao sat down and poured himself a bowl of tea on his own.

Old Wei withdrew his complex emotions. “Sect Master, my cultivation restoration is both a good thing and a bad thing.”

Jun Changxiao took a sip of tea. “How so?”

Old Wei said: “Without cultivation, I could only survive wretchedly like a stray dog. Now that my cultivation has been restored, I have the impulse to avenge them.”

“Them? Revenge?” Jun Changxiao looked at him.

Old Wei poured tea and drank it in one gulp, then gripping the teacup, looked toward the sky. “Sect Master, have you ever heard of the Heaven-Defying Sect that briefly appeared several hundred years ago?”

“Pfft!”

Jun Changxiao spat out his mouthful of tea. “Heaven-Defying Sect? That name is pretty badass!”

Old Wei said: “That sect, like the Eternal Sect, rose from humble beginnings and also gathered a group of young people with dreams. It’s just that later…”

“They didn’t manage to defy heaven and were instead defied by others?” Jun Changxiao said.

“Crack!”

Old Wei crushed the teacup. “Sect Master, I was once the Heaven-Defying Sect’s Vice Sect Master. I’ve survived wretchedly until now. Now that my cultivation has been restored, should I continue surviving wretchedly, or go find my enemies for revenge!”

Though these words seemed to be asking Jun Changxiao’s opinion, from the tone it was clear he’d already made his choice—to go avenge the brothers he’d once striven and fought alongside.

“Are the enemies very strong?”

“Very strong!”

“Are there many?”

“Very many!”

Jun Changxiao poured tea and gently lifted it, his eyes cold and sharp: “Don’t be rash—keep surviving. When you have absolute strength, then go slaughter them until heaven and earth overturn, fight them until the cosmos reverses!”