Jun Changxiao had many questions to ask this Soul Clan member.

For instance, having experienced the War of the Gods, how was he still alive, and how did he come to parasitize Dai Lü’s body?

“Although I was severely wounded by Great Wilderness Martial Emperor, my soul didn’t perish. I’ve been lurking on Xingyun Continent all along, searching for a suitable body to occupy.”

“By chance, I encountered Dai Lü on the verge of death and sensed his powerful resentment, so I successfully infiltrated his body.”

Hun trembled as he explained.

So obedient? That’s right—Er Ya stood beside him with the Soul-Suppressing Whip in her left hand and the Soul-Suppressing Candle in her right.

Clearly, after just a brief training session, this self-proclaimed master had completely submitted from the heart.

Jun Changxiao asked, “Are all Soul Clan members formless and bodyless?”

“Our Soul Clan has an innate divine ability called Transforming Soul to Void. We can release our soul form and parasitize other living beings’ bodies.” Hun said.

Seeing how cooperative he was, Er Ya put away her instruments of torture, her little face showing a harmless smile.

Hun breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart felt more grief than anything—after all, he was one of the Three Soul Masters, yet he’d fallen to such a miserable state!

If the Tribulation Lightning Powers knew his thoughts, they’d definitely cast him disdainful looks in unison.

Is a living being from a mortal plane so impressive? We came from the Upper Realm and were still whipped until we couldn’t bear it. Did we ever brag? Were we ever proud?

“So you have a physical body, but to invade Xingyun Continent, you transformed your soul to void?” Jun Changxiao said.

“Correct.”

Hun said cautiously.

Jun Changxiao asked, “Does your Soul Clan plane have martial arts resources, martial arts secret manuals? Or ores, crystal cores, medicinal materials, and such?”

This question was extremely critical.

“No.”

Hun said, “The plane we inhabit is on the verge of desolation, which is why we must constantly devour other planes to strengthen ourselves.”

“Damn!”

Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “Array Emperor, you lied to me!”

He’d insisted Jun Changxiao save the world because afterward he could enter the Soul Clan continent to plunder and strengthen his own sect, but if there was nothing there, what was the point of going?

Forget it.

This Xingyun Continent needn’t be saved after all.

“Of course.”

Hun said proudly, “Although Spirit Soul Continent is poor, our Soul Clan is skilled at plundering. We have countless martial arts resources of all kinds!”

Living on a barren plane but relying on their innate divine abilities to plunder frantically, allowing themselves to survive and continuously grow stronger—this was definitely something to be proud of.

“Is that so?”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes lit up with fervor.

As a member of Xingyun Continent, how could he remain aloof? He must fight for his homeland, must go to that plane called Spirit Soul Continent to cause trouble!

Seeing the gleam flashing in that guy’s eyes, Hun shuddered and thought, “I have an ominous feeling!”

Spirit Soul Continent inhabitants: Damn it, you’ve screwed us over!

“Er Ya.”

Having learned what he wanted to know, Jun Changxiao instructed, “This guy is in your hands now. Quickly purify all the unclean things on him.”

“No problem!”

Er Ya summoned the Soul-Suppressing Whip again and smiled sinisterly, “Little cutie, I’ll train you properly.”

Hun’s heart and spirit trembled in shock, so he urgently roared, “Jun Changxiao! You said you’d release me! You can’t go back on your word!”

“This seat did say that.”

Jun Changxiao said, “But not right now.”

“You…”

“Smack! Smack! Smack!”

“Ahhhh~~~~~~~”

Jun Changxiao left, leaving behind a loli viciously whipping a bound figure with a whip. The camera angles switched up and down, left and right—very cinematic.

…

In the prison cell.

Dai Lü sat expressionlessly on the plank bed. Even when a beam of sunlight shot through the iron window and illuminated his face, he remained unmoved.

While Hun was undergoing Er Ya’s frenzied training in the Tianyuan Soul-Suppressing Tower, he now seemed to have lost his soul as well.

Having relied on the Devouring Power, Dai Lü had broken through to the Martial Emperor level, but now that he’d lost that assistance, the future was simply pitch black for him.

“What value do I have living in this world…” He murmured, his emotions at rock bottom.

Zhao Doudou sat beside him and consoled, “If you’re sad, try hard to look up at the sky. Keep looking and you’ll forget. It’s so vast—it can surely contain all your grievances.”

Dai Lü currently had no strength at all, otherwise he’d definitely grab this guy’s head and slam it frantically against the wall to make him stop feeding him this nutritionless chicken soup.

“Creak.”

Suddenly, the prison door opened.

Yi Hei and Er Hei walked in from outside, then set out plates of delicious food on the table. The fragrance immediately permeated the entire cell.

Zhao Doudou lightly sniffed, and drool immediately flowed.

The emotionally distraught Dai Lü remained unmoved.

His life was already utterly gray—he couldn’t muster interest in anything.

Jun Changxiao walked in and sat at the table. “Have you thought it through?”

Dai Lü lowered his head and said, “I won’t join Eternal Sect, won’t become your disciple…” Clenching his fists, he added a deadline: “Never!”

Very principled!

In this moment, Green Scarf Bro was a real man!

“My Eternal Sect has always convinced people through virtue and never forces anyone. After eating this meal, you can leave anytime.” Jun Changxiao said.

“Lord Jun!”

Zhao Doudou raised his hand and said, “I’m willing to join Eternal Sect! I’m willing to serve you like a horse or ox!”

As he spoke, he’d already seated himself at the dining table.

“Get lost.”

“Swoosh!”

Zhao Doudou instantly retreated, then curled up in the corner, thinking aggrievedly, “Why do new prisoners all get better treatment than me?!”

“After eating this meal, I can leave?”

“Correct.”

Jun Changxiao said seriously, “This seat will also gift you a pill to heal your injuries. From then on, the sea is vast for you to leap in, the sky high for you to fly.”

Dai Lü’s eyes flashed with surprise.

Looking at the steaming hot food on the table, he struggled to move his body over.

“Swish!”

He sat down.

Liu Wanshi had made many dishes—many were dishes she’d made during the Culinary Competition and God of Cooking Tournament. Anyone who could eat them was truly blessed by three lifetimes of fortune.

Dai Lü hesitated for a long time but still picked up his chopsticks.

However, just as he was about to start eating, he raised his head with difficulty and said seriously, “Bring garlic!”

Zhao Doudou: “…”

“Give it to him.”

“Yes.”

Er Hei handed over several cloves of garlic.

Only then did Dai Lü pick up his chopsticks and begin eating. The more he ate, the more tears flowed uncontrollably.

Not because the food was too delicious, but because in order to survive, he had to humble himself before his enemy—this was such agony.

“Gulp!”

Watching that guy wolf down the food, Zhao Doudou, squatting behind him, drooled constantly and thought to himself, “Big brother, save me a bite. Don’t eat it all!”

“Clack!”

After a while, Dai Lü had eaten all the food on the table clean. He set down his chopsticks and said, “Can I leave now?”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes flashed with surprise.

Liu Wanshi’s dishes were all her specialties—this guy wasn’t shocked?

Could it be… this person couldn’t be tempted by delicious food?

Currently, Dai Lü indeed hadn’t been shocked by the food. His only thought was: now that he’d eaten his fill, could he leave?

A person with principles would firmly hold to their convictions at any time. Unlike Purple Lin Demon King, Zhen Dejun, and others who bowed for a bowl of fried rice—they deserved nothing but contempt.

“Boy.”

Jun Changxiao said, “When I went to Qingyang City back then, if you’d agreed to the recruitment, you’d already be the Second Disciple. Now you’ve refused again—don’t regret it later.”

“I, Dai Lü, conduct myself throughout life never regretting my actions.” Dai Lü said seriously.

“Very well.”

Jun Changxiao tossed over a healing pill, then pointed at the prison door. “Consume it, and you can leave right now.”

Looking at that pitch-black pill, Dai Lü wondered if it might be poisonous. However, if he wanted to kill him, there didn’t seem to be any need for such trouble.

“Swish!”

Dai Lü picked up the pill and swallowed it without hesitation. After the medicinal effect took hold, his damaged meridians were instantly repaired, and his entire being became energetic.

“This…” He was immediately stunned.

Since obtaining the Devouring Power, he’d been injured during cultivation and had recovered quickly before, but he’d never experienced such rapid healing from severe injuries!

Was this a divine medicine?

Jun Changxiao said, “You can go now.”

“Swish!”

Dai Lü, his injuries healed, stood and walked toward the prison cell. After going out and seeing daylight again, he took a deep breath.

“Jun Changxiao.”

With his back to the prison, he said, “Our grievances won’t disappear because of this. Sooner or later, I, Dai Lü, will seek justice for the destroyed Lingquan Sect!”

“You’ll have no chance.”

Jun Changxiao paused, then added a deadline: “Never.”

“The green mountains remain unchanged, the green waters flow forever!” Dai Lü said. “Farewell!”

“Swoosh—”

That day, Dai Lü, who had been captured by Eternal Sect, flew out, creating a precedent of escaping completely unharmed.

In his own words—

He conducted himself throughout life never regretting his actions!

“Sect Master.”

Jiang Xie asked in confusion, “You’re just letting him go?”

“Everyone has their own aspirations—they can’t be forced.” Jun Changxiao looked completely righteous and proper, but in his heart he was roaring, “Delicious food couldn’t tempt him, and the healing pill didn’t work either. Is this guy a demon?!”

This fellow had initially thought to first tempt Dai Lü with delicious food, making him willingly stay. When that clearly didn’t work, he produced the healing pill, hoping seeing its miraculous effects would make him decide to stay—but he still didn’t follow the script!

The System quipped, “Finally someone broke Eternal Sect’s ‘True Fragrance’ Law!”

…

Dai Lü really left.

He hadn’t submitted to the delicious food or the healing pill—a true man indeed.

Though things didn’t go according to script, Jun Changxiao wasn’t particularly concerned. After all, the Soul Clan member in that kid’s body had been absorbed, eliminating the potential risk.

However… he was at least a young Martial Emperor. Letting him go like this was rather regrettable.

“Should I send Ye Xingchen to catch that guy again?”

But he’d clearly said he’d release him—catching him again would confirm his shamelessness.

Conflicted, conflicted.

The System said, “Does the host need confirmation of shamelessness? Isn’t this already quite obvious?”

Jun Changxiao rubbed his chin. “Good point.”

“Xingchen!”

@Pei Aniu: “Go catch that guy who just flew away. If he resists… beat him crippled first.”

“Swoosh—”

Ye Xingchen transformed into a beam of light, speeding west at extreme velocity.

System: “Sorry, my bad!”

…

Speaking of Dai Lü—

This man who broke Eternal Sect’s law, after confirming he’d truly escaped, couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Jun Changxiao!”

Dai Lü clenched his fists and roared loudly, “Don’t think that because you released me I’ll be grateful to you! The enmity of Lingquan Sect’s destruction—I’ll definitely avenge it sooner or later!”

His voice echoed through the firmament—so heart-rending!

“Swoosh!”

Just then, Ye Xingchen caught up and stopped not far from him, saying flatly, “Trash.”

“Ye Xingchen!”

Seeing this man he’d been thinking about day and night, unable to eat or sleep, Dai Lü’s eyes immediately erupted with intense fury.

The humiliation Jun Changxiao brought him was merely being stepped on at the start. The injury to his dignity from Pei Aniu was one unforgettable instance after another!

“Whoosh!”

In an instant, Dai Lü’s First-Grade Martial Emperor cultivation erupted completely. Though he lacked the Devouring Power’s enhancement, it still appeared quite imposing.

Ye Xingchen said with surprise, “You actually broke through to Martial Emperor.”

“Die!”

Dai Lü charged furiously!

Towering fury spread around his body, making him seem like a lion in a berserk state, then… Ye Xingchen dodged and directly struck him down with a Backward Scoop.

“Boom—”

The ground cracked, dust flew.

Ye Xingchen slowly descended, hovering two zhang above Dai Lü who was embedded in the pit, saying coldly, “Even if you’ve broken through to Martial Emperor, before me you’ll always be nothing but trash.”

“You…”

“Pffft!”

Dai Lü spat out blood, both hands tightly gripping the dirt.

During this period, he’d constantly been absorbing plants and trees in southeastern Beginning Province to cultivate. He’d thought that breaking through to Martial Emperor would allow him to trample this guy underfoot, yet he still suffered complete defeat—even more decisively than last time in Southern Wilderness Province!

I’ve clearly worked so hard already!

Why can’t I ever beat him? Why do I always get beaten!

Could this be my fate?!

Recalling past events, recalling scenes of being humiliated by Ye Xingchen in various situations, Dai Lü’s tears fell like rain, crying exactly like a child.

Also possessing a protagonist’s fate, in novels he was the most diligent cultivator, the one who could best embody the martial spirit, yet he could never beat the Great Emperor Reborn type—truly miserable, truly aggrieved.

…

“Thump.”

On the martial arts training ground, Dai Lü was thrown down.

Jun Changxiao walked over with a smile covering his face. “We meet again.”

Dai Lü roared furiously, “You said you’d let me go! Why did you send him to catch me?!”

Jun Changxiao said, “This seat did release you, but you failed to grasp the opportunity and were caught again by my sect’s disciple. Who can you blame?”

“…”

Dai Lü collapsed on the ground in a spread-eagle position and said resolutely, “Kill me or cut me up as you please!”

He’d seen through it—this guy had absolutely no intention of letting him leave from the start, so he could only give up. At worst, in eighteen years he’d be a fine man again.

“Boy, this seat gives you two choices: either join my Eternal Sect as a disciple, or be locked in the dungeon to keep company with Doudou.” Jun Changxiao said.

Dai Lü’s attitude was firm. “I won’t join an enemy’s sect. Never!”

“Creak!”

“Thump!”

“Creak!”

Zhao Doudou, who was licking an empty plate, saw Dai Lü thrown back in and collapsed. “Big brother, you ate way too cleanly! You didn’t even leave me any oil slick!”

“When you figure things out, Eternal Sect will welcome you anytime.” Jun Changxiao’s voice came from outside.

Zhao Doudou shouted, “Lord Jun, I’ve figured it out! I’m willing to join Eternal Sect and serve like a horse or ox!”

Jun Changxiao ignored him and returned to Dragon Head Peak.

On the way, the System said, “This Dai Lü has real backbone. Getting him to submit will be difficult. Host should either kill him or release him. Why keep imprisoning him?”

“The Soul Clan parasitized this boy’s body—there must be something extraordinary about him. He can’t be killed. I can only keep him imprisoned first and find an opportunity to tame him.” Jun Changxiao said.

“Whoosh!”

Returning to the study, he glanced at the egg that had been incubating for five days and muttered, “I’m now a bit worried—are there still Soul Clan members parasitizing martial artists’ bodies on Xingyun Continent?”

“Sect Master.”

Li Luoqiu came and said, “We just received intelligence that four Sixth-Rate sects and one Fifth-Rate sect in Donghao Province were all destroyed overnight.”

“Who did it?” Jun Changxiao asked.

This kind of simultaneous destruction of multiple sects was extremely rare, naturally catching his attention.

Li Luoqiu said, “Near the incident sites, sect scouts happened to discover a group of masked men in black in the mountain forests.”

“Masked men in black?”

Jun Changxiao immediately thought of the mysterious organization that repeatedly troubled the sect and might be Dark Sect.

“Since going to Maple Flower Valley, this mysterious organization hasn’t appeared again. Could they have truly reconsidered and decided not to oppose me?”

“Xiao Mu also sent news—Taixuan Holy Sect has already engaged Devil Path remnants at Raging Wave Lake.” Li Luoqiu said.

Jun Changxiao wasn’t concerned about this matter. Instead, he asked, “Can we mobilize the entire intelligence network to find this mysterious organization hidden in the shadows?”

“This…”

Li Luoqiu said, “It’s somewhat difficult.”

Those masked men in black were too covert. The currently expanded intelligence network had only encountered them once by accident.

“Sect Master.”

Just then, Jiang Xie entered the study. “I’d like to request several days’ leave to go out.”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes brightened.

This elder inherited the Primordial Spirit Body and could easily perceive even high-level formations in the Plane Battlefield. Having him investigate the masked men in black should be no problem. Moreover, his strength was considerable—much more professional and safe than branch scouts.

“Is Elder Jiang going out to search for family?”

“Yes.”

“Approved.”

Jun Changxiao said, “However, while searching for family, please also watch for those masked men in black. If you can find their base of operations, that would be best.”

“Understood!”

Jiang Xie accepted the Sect Master’s arrangement.

He’d already gained sufficient understanding of the Primordial Spirit Body and had long planned to go out searching for his sister. Xingyun Continent was so vast with nine great provinces—it would naturally require time. Incidentally investigating Dark Sect wasn’t a bad idea.

…

The next day.

Jiang Xie prepared everything.

As he was about to leave, Li Qingyang came to his residence. “Elder Jiang, could you also help me find someone?”

“Who?”

Li Qingyang handed over a paper. “Her name and former residence are written here.”

“So thorough?”

Jiang Xie glanced at the name written on it. “You’re looking for a woman?”

“Yes.”

“Leave it to me.”

“That…” Li Qingyang said, “Just finding where she currently lives would be enough.”

Jiang Xie nodded, then flew out of Eternal Sect.

Only after he’d disappeared from view did Li Qingyang withdraw his gaze, then turned to see a large face appear in his field of vision. Startled, he hastily retreated several steps. “Sect Master, why are you here?!”

Jun Changxiao tucked his hands in his sleeves. “If you miss her, just go find her. Being wishy-washy is the most boring.”

Li Qingyang said bitterly, “She deliberately avoids me. Going to find her would only make her avoid me more.”

“Sigh.”

Jun Changxiao said, “These love affairs of you young people—this seat truly can’t understand them anymore.”