"Absolutely not! Today, this young master must eliminate these wretches! Otherwise, what face shall I have left?" Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth raged, utterly stifled. Why couldn't this master and disciple pair just leave him be? He wasn't their subordinate; why should he obey their whims? Even if he owed them a favor, it shouldn't mean losing his autonomy... You meddle in everything I do; how is a person supposed to live like this?

"Damn it! You... you owe more than just the simple words 'a favor'? You are utterly ungrateful, completely disregarding my Master’s painstaking efforts, risking the depletion of his cultivation base, even endangering his life to save you... My Master is the epitome of chivalry and compassion, possessing a heart as pure as the Guadān zither, his dedication to you is truly profound—it’s no exaggeration to say he gifted you a second life... And now you come here to sabotage the elaborate scheme we've been setting up for so long! You... do you have any conscience left at all? Any semblance of a noble bearing? Tell me, what kind of actions are these? Do you even remember how to write the character for 'person'?" Jun Mo Xie was livid, sending a spiritual transmission while roaring his condemnation. Jun Mo Xie was frantic; if Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth insisted on staying, wouldn't all his monumental efforts in setting up this situation come to naught? Think of all the manpower and resources expended! If he had known this would happen, he might as well have been chasing girls; at least he would have gotten some fragrance out of it.

"The hell you talk! What nonsense are you spouting? How am I ungrateful? Think about it—have I ever failed to help you, brat? Dare to slander my great character again, and I'll choke the life out of you first. Do you think I wouldn't dare?" Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth was clearly deeply frustrated, bordering on frenzy. "If Young Master the Fourteenth is truly so noble and principled, simply leaving would be the greatest proof. Then I certainly couldn't accuse you of ingratitude," Jun Mo Xie argued cheekily. ... "You can let me leave, fine, but you must agree to one condition. Otherwise, the deaths of these seven people today are a certainty, and I won't care if you call me ungrateful." Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth stood tall against the wind, adopting a cool stance, using his imposing aura to suppress the seven Saint Sovereigns before him, communicating via spiritual transmission. "What condition? Name it. As long as I can manage it," Jun Mo Xie readily agreed, though he shrewdly left room for negotiation. If the condition set by Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth proved too difficult, naturally, he would have to reconsider! "I trust that since you went to such lengths and employed such artifice to enter the Misty Illusory Mansion, you weren't planning on doing anything minor. Why not take the charade all the way?" Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth maintained that air of supreme, solitary mastery, but his tone sounded strangely sleazy to Jun Mo Xie: "My personal weapon was lost in the Mansion years ago due to certain circumstances... Over the years, I've never found the motivation to forge another, and none feel as comfortable in my hand as the original. Just agree to help me retrieve it; a simple condition, right?" "Personal weapon?" Jun Mo Xie paused, stunned. "Yes. I once forged a personal armament, the 'Divine Melody,' using the Nine Nether Yin Fire. During the last great war, I was besieged by the combined forces of the Three Great Sacred Lands, the Misty Illusory Mansion, and the Heavenly Punishment Beast Emperor. The Divine Melody was accidentally lost, and I was consequently trapped by their scheme within the Nine Nether Passage—while the Divine Melody fell into the hands of a Mansion expert." "This is the greatest shame of my life," Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth declared: "If you agree to retrieve it and return it to my hands, I will magnanimously spare these seven people and their mount today." Jun Mo Xie suddenly understood. No wonder! He had seen Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth fight several times before, and even in the perilous situation of the Heavenly Punishment Forest, he hadn't used a weapon to aid his battle—it was for this reason... He had lost his own weapon... No wonder this fellow held such deep resentment! "That condition is fine! It’s just a weapon, isn't it? I promise I'll get it for you and leave," Jun Mo Xie stated confidently, covering all bases. He thought to himself: My current objective is the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit. In terms of preciousness, it is absolutely far more valuable than your wretched 'Divine Melody.' Since I've already committed to the first step, why hesitate on the second? Young Master Jun felt quite certain, yet a touch of melancholy settled in. For Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth, the Three Great Sacred Lands or the Heavenly Punishment Fiend Domain were merely targets for conquest; the Misty Illusory Mansion was his ultimate adversary! However, for Jun Mo Xie, the Misty Illusory Mansion felt far more imposing than the Three Great Sacred Lands. Up to this point, only seven Saint Sovereigns had emerged from the Misty Illusory Mansion, but the profound camaraderie among these seven deeply moved Jun Mo Xie. This was true friendship. Among these seven, Cao Guofeng's leadership was unshakeable; as for Bai Qifeng, the second in command, although his personality was sharp, extreme, and his actions often disregarded consequences, leading him to be headstrong, he had brought many unexpected troubles to their group. Whether it was dumping leftovers into He Zhiqiu's bed earlier, clashing with Zhan Mubai in Xuan City, or leading the group into a death trap during this scouting mission... These were difficult things to forget! Indeed, any one of these incidents, had the consequences been more severe, the people standing here today would absolutely not be the original lineup! Yet, the other six had never uttered a single word of complaint. When there were no troubles, they bantered; but when real trouble struck, they united as one to face and resolve it. Regardless of the source or the individual who caused the problem, it boiled down to one unspoken phrase: a brother's trouble is my own trouble. None of them had ever voiced this saying. But they demonstrated it through concrete actions! This was the truly rare and commendable aspect! In fact, seeing these seven together often brought a warmth to Jun Mo Xie's heart. At those times, he would invariably think of Tang Yuan. If one day, he courted trouble he couldn't handle, that fat man would absolutely step forward. He wouldn't consider whether he could withstand it; he would only know he had to stand up for Jun Mo Xie! He would rather burn away all his own fat to support him with everything he had! That fatty, scorned by the world as vulgar and unambitious, was precisely that kind of person! That fatty was his friend—his only recognized friend in both his past and present lives! Jun Mo Xie cherished such sentiments deeply, even feeling moved by them. And towards those who could possess such feelings, Jun Mo Xie genuinely did not wish to cause harm. There was also Cao Guofeng’s protection of him, willing to sacrifice his own lifespan to heal Jun Mo Xie and extend his vitality—this was an immense debt of gratitude! Although Jun Mo Xie was not actually injured, and the healing was a passive reception, even an outright deceitful scheme; although Cao Guofeng acted out of love for his art and ultimately for the future of the Misty Illusory Mansion, remaining utterly unaware of Jun Mo Xie's true identity. Yet, that wholehearted devotion had truly settled upon him, and he could sense it clearly! Even though this care was gained through a scheme born of fortuitous deception, Jun Mo Xie did not wish to harm Cao Guofeng. It wasn't solely about repaying the favor; it was purely because of that genuine affection that Jun Mo Xie did not want Cao Guofeng's lifespan diminished! Therefore, he reversed the Kāitiān Zàohuà Gōng to compensate Cao Guofeng for the lost vitality, even strengthening and prolonging his lifespan without Cao Guofeng’s knowledge. This is why, when Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth appeared filled with killing intent, Jun Mo Xie was so desperate to stop him. Because he could not allow himself to watch these people die before his eyes right now! It wasn't entirely because of the imminent "Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit"! It was also for the sake of his conscience. Jun Mo Xie could manipulate, scheme, and even completely disregard so-called morality. But there was one prerequisite: he must act on strong feelings of enmity or friendship, and absolutely must not allow his conscience to be burdened! As long as his conscience was clear, even murder and arson could be done with a peaceful heart! Opposing the Three Great Sacred Lands, even becoming irreconcilable enemies, stemmed from the fact that the Three Great Sacred Lands first plotted against and tried to kill him. Therefore, Jun Mo Xie could kill without any psychological burden. Even if every member of the Three Great Sacred Lands were a sage, Jun Mo Xie would kill them without hesitation or pressure. But facing the Misty Illusory Mansion was entirely different. The Mansion was an extremely unfamiliar place to Jun Mo Xie; the people of the Mansion had never actively encroached upon his interests. Moreover, this time, Jun Mo Xie was the one actively targeting the Mansion, simply because... an innocent man is condemned by his wealth; simply because the Mansion possessed the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit capable of granting eternal youth! And Jun Mo Xie desperately needed that item right now. While this reason was sufficient for Jun Mo Xie, for the Misty Illusory Mansion, it was a wholly undeserved disaster! But demanding it openly, the Misty Illusory Mansion certainly wouldn't comply... This formed the focal point of the conflict between the two sides. "If the Misty Illusory Mansion’s reaction in subsequent events isn't too severe... then after I successfully cultivate the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit in the Hongjun Tower, I can compensate them double. Whether they accept or not, I truly have no choice right now; this long-term compensation is the only way. The Heavenly Saint Palace... should be handled similarly..." Jun Mo Xie thought with a bitter smile, saying to himself internally. If you treat me sincerely, I will save your seven lives. Even if you may not know it, my conscience will be clear! I will be happy doing it! Regarding these matters, even if we know our actions are somewhat dishonorable, or perhaps overly selfish... if Jun Mo Xie had to watch his beloved companions age and turn to dust like those old fellows in the Heavenly Saint Palace, leaving him utterly alone for a thousand or even several thousand years... Jun Mo Xie absolutely could not do that! Therefore, in this matter, Jun Mo Xie was willing to be completely self-serving! If one cannot even take care of their own kin, what talk is there of the common people? This statement might be slightly skewed, but it is not without reason. Hearing Jun Mo Xie readily agree, Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth snorted: "Brat, you gave your word to this young master, don't you dare forget! Otherwise, even if your Master protects you, this young master will kill you." Jun Mo Xie snorted back internally, thinking: Even if I truly forget... what can you do about it? Cao Guofeng and the others, certain of their doom, wore expressions of despair and tragic resolve. Facing the fully recovered Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth, operating at ten-tenths strength... only if the Mansion and the Sacred Lands' Saint Sovereigns, plus several senior figures, jointly intervened, could they possibly suppress him again! Right now, it was only the seven of them; the disparity in strength was too immense—they likely didn't even qualify to make Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth spit up a mouthful of blood. The seven Saint Sovereigns were submerged in an atmosphere of extreme despair, yet they watched as Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth, after releasing his threats, stood frozen there, striking an incredibly pretentious pose, utterly silent. Damn it, if you want to kill, kill quickly! Does it hurt to be swift? What's the meaning of leaving us all hanging here? Playing cat and mouse? The Saint Sovereigns cursed internally. Madman! While they were uneasy, they suddenly saw Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth frown, look up towards the distant mountains, and suddenly curse with utmost vexation: "Damn it, what is going on? Why are they out again?" As he spoke, he shot up with a whoosh, vanishing without a trace in an instant! He didn't even have time to leave a word of explanation before rushing off so hurriedly. What in the world is happening? Seeing this sudden change, the seven Saint Sovereigns were completely baffled. You came here threatening to kill and fight, so why leave just like that, after letting out a weak, insipid fart? Truly a madman! One truly cannot gauge him by ordinary standards, but the result was good—at least the immediate threat to their lives was resolved. That alone was better than anything else... "Everyone, hurry! This madman is clearly distracted by something else; we must enter the Mansion before he returns! Otherwise, our lives will truly be left here. No more delay!" Cao Guofeng was the first to snap out of it, urging them in a low, hurried voice, even scooping up Jun Mo Xie and flashing ahead like lightning. The others immediately realized the urgency, and everyone moved swiftly; Bai Qifeng instinctively stayed at the rear to cover their retreat, taking up the last position. This was their unspoken understanding: in times of danger, the strongest leader rushed ahead to clear the path for his brothers, while the second strongest covered the rear. This arrangement was logical: if obstacles remained ahead, the strongest, Cao Guofeng, would take the vanguard; if even he couldn't break through, the others were useless. If Bai Qifeng covered the rear, even if Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth pursued, he could use his life to delay them, buying time for his brothers to safely enter the Mansion. Jun Mo Xie particularly admired this arrangement. Most groups would keep the leader protected in the center while sending the subordinates into the fray to reap the rewards. Teams where the leader personally faces danger at any time were truly rare... Into a field of snow that came into view, there was suddenly a small tavern. If Jun Mo Xie could open his eyes, he would certainly recognize that he had been to this place before—it was the small tavern where he had stopped on the way back after retrieving his mother, and it was here that he first encountered the Assassin Supreme, Chu Qihun! The seven did not stop at all, passing straight through the tavern, and after traveling another few li, they arrived at a snow-covered mountain hollow. The group descended into the hollow. Cao Guofeng waved his hand, and the snow on the ground flew away neatly, revealing a strange emblem on the mountain wall previously hidden by the snow. The group exchanged glances, all sighing in relief. Cao Guofeng and Bai Qifeng placed their palms against each other, shouting heavily, simultaneously channeling their full cultivation. Two vast, concentrated streams of profound energy erupted silently from their opposing palms, rising into the air and forming a mass of white mist. It then rapidly transformed into a snarling green dragon, which shot with a swoosh into the strange emblem on the mountain wall. As the profound energy green dragon merged into the peculiar emblem, the air suddenly vibrated, and a doorway materialized silently! It wouldn't be surprising if a door appeared due to a mechanism on the stone wall, but this suddenly appearing door materialized not on the wall surface, but in the empty space above it. Jun Mo Xie, observing everything around him with his spiritual sense during the journey, was amazed by this sudden change. It seemed the person who originally opened the space of the Illusory Mansion was truly an extraordinary figure. Jun Mo Xie could distinctly feel that the profound energy force conjured by Cao Guofeng and Bai Qifeng’s cooperation was absolutely not ordinary profound energy; at the very least, it was completely different from what they used in battle, seemingly a unique type of cultivation technique... "Perhaps this is the unique power required to unlock the Mansion," he mused, just as he felt his body being lifted. After a slight jolt, he felt himself enter a void. After a long pause, he felt the feet of Cao Guofeng, who was carrying him, finally touch solid ground again... The Misty Illusory Mansion... I have finally arrived at this legendary place! And at this moment, there were five months and ten days remaining until the start of the Battle for Heaven's Grasp! Jun Mo Xie closed his eyes, contemplating. Currently, his side possessed eleven Saint Sovereign level experts: Mei Xueyan, Ying Bokong, Feng Juanyun, plus the eight ancient Saint Sovereigns of the Heavenly Punishment—with himself included, that made twelve. However, those eight Beast Emperors had long dominated the Heavenly Punishment Forest; controlling them would not be easy. Furthermore, he hadn't intended to control them; the current situation should suffice. After taking the current spirit stone immortal milk, it was likely that Beast Kings like Xiong Kaishan and He Chongxiao would also break through to the Saint Sovereign rank. When he returned, he could use even more advanced elixirs to help them advance again, certainly strengthening their power... ... He still needed to advance the Cántiān Shìhún as well... All these preparations must be completed before the Battle for Heaven's Grasp! By then, the battlefield would be set. After the battle, he wouldn't hesitate; he would immediately head to Tianzhu Mountain! To completely exterminate those disgusting foreign races, eradicating them root and branch! These were roughly the established plans for now. And the prerequisite for all of this was simple: his actions within the Misty Illusory Mansion must proceed smoothly, and the entire process had to be completed quickly! Only then would there be time to prepare everything he had just deliberated; in other words, the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit of the Misty Illusory Mansion and the Divine Melody of Young Master Jiu You the Fourteenth—both must be acquired within two months, after which he must leave immediately and return to the Heavens' Punishment! Time was terrifyingly tight! Jun Mo Xie counted on his fingers, letting out a sigh... Every second counts, every moment must be seized! The seven members of Cao Guofeng’s group escorted Jun Mo Xie, charging straight ahead. Jun Mo Xie clearly saw in his spiritual sense that they were heading toward a grand palace. On both sides of the road were rows of civilian houses, shaded by green trees, and there was even the sun and clouds in the sky... He could hear hawkers calling out, and even the sounds of a marketplace... Jun Mo Xie exclaimed internally: Holy crap! Everything in the Misty Illusory Mansion was indistinguishable from the outside world. Amidst Young Master Jun’s confusion and surprise, he was swept by Cao Guofeng into the destination palace. "Palace Master! Please, examine this child—save him! This child possesses the legendary Ethereal Physique! A once-in-ten-thousand-years Ethereal Physique!" As Cao Guofeng’s urgent words rang out, the hall, which had been bustling with many people talking, instantly fell into utter silence! Then, suddenly, many people gathered, their eyes shining as they looked at the unconscious Jun Mo Xie, as if they were gazing upon a priceless treasure. Ethereal Physique! Just those four words were enough to make everyone present lose their usual composure! This was the physique allegedly possessed only by the foremost Young Master of the Nine Nether! To put it plainly, even an ancient Ginseng Spirit that transformed into human form might not possess the potential as great as an Ethereal Physique possessor! A hand was placed on Jun Mo Xie's wrist, followed by a gentle surge of power entering his body. After circling once, Jun Mo Xie clearly felt this vital energy fiercely vibrate within his body. Evidently, the person examining him was greatly stimulated. Cao Guofeng gasped: "Palace Master—you... please be gentle! This child is too weak; he cannot withstand a jolt of profound energy!"

Jun Moxie naturally let his body tremble, coughed weakly, and a thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth…

That gentle force immediately receded from his body, and two burning gazes fixed upon Jun Moxie, speaking in a voice laced with increasing astonishment: "Indeed! Meridians void like bamboo… yet without cultivation beyond the Divine Profound realm, the body is like jade, and the dantian resembles an empty lake—Ah! It truly is the legendary Ethereal Physique! Heavens above… Quickly, quickly, fetch the Seven-Colored Sacred Fruit…” With that, a person’s hurried footsteps dashed away. (Please follow for more!)

The speaker excitedly circled Jun Moxie’s body several times, rubbing his hands together; Jun Moxie could clearly hear the frictional sound of his palms, exclaiming in agitation: “Ethereal Physique… it is genuinely the Ethereal Physique! Ancestors, bless us! Our Misty Illusory Mansion is finally set to rise again! I must take this genius with the Ethereal Physique as my disciple and personally instruct him! What a terrible waste if he were to stray onto the wrong path?”

Bai Qifeng and the others exchanged bewildered glances, while Cao Guofeng stood stunned—