After leaving the Hunxu Star Realm, Jun Xiaoyao traveled back to the Origin Academy.
Upon returning to the Origin Academy, Jun Xiaoyao went straight to find Xia Guihua.
Xia Guihua was currently Cultivating in a blessed land within the Grass Hall.
She held the Taiyuan Brush that Jun Xiaoyao had gifted her.
With the tip of the brush, she traced the Void Realm, drawing trajectories that seemed to mimic the operation of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, outlining mountains, rivers, flora, and magnificent landscapes.
Xia Guihua possessed extraordinary natural talent, and with the Destined Black Bird Luck bestowed upon her, she took to Cultivating various methods like a fish in water.
Previously, although an abnormality had appeared in her body, with the Blood Moon Demonic Pattern manifesting on her back, the suppression from Jun Xiaoyao's Chaos Power meant there would be no major issues in the short term.
At one moment, as if sensing something, Xia Guihua suddenly stopped her movements, her gaze turning toward the distance.
A figure in white arrived leisurely.
"Xiaoyao, you're back."
A hint of joy appeared in Xia Guihua's crystalline, beautiful eyes.
She looked just like a wife waiting for her husband to return home.
After she had laid bare all her secrets to Jun Xiaoyao, their relationship seemed to have reached a new level.
"Mm."
Jun Xiaoyao nodded with a faint smile.
"Guihua, your Dao of painting has improved quite a bit."
"It's alright." Xia Guihua smiled gently.
Although as the Crown Princess of Great Xia, she had heard plenty of flowery praise, for some reason, any compliment from Jun Xiaoyao—even a simple word of approval—could make her happy for a long time.
"Is the Blood Moon Demonic Pattern in your body alright now?" Jun Xiaoyao asked next.
"With your Chaos Power helping to suppress it, there's no problem for the time being, but in the future..."
A flicker of worry still lingered in Xia Guihua's brow.
"Heh, don't worry so much about the future; I will resolve it. But right now, I want to paint you again—what should I do?"
Jun Xiaoyao laughed casually to lighten the mood.
"That's fine," Xia Guihua said innocently.
"Cough... I meant the version from last time." Jun Xiaoyao coughed lightly.
Upon hearing this, Xia Guihua's face immediately flushed as red as a sunset cloud.
What Jun Xiaoyao was referring to was not the version where she was fully clothed, but rather...
Seeing Xia Guihua's crimson, delicate, and beautiful face, Jun Xiaoyao chuckled. He stopped teasing this innocent little princess and said directly, "Alright, no more jokes. Aren't you curious if I found the immortal cauldron this time?"
Hearing this, Xia Guihua composed herself, shook her head, and said, "I believe in your ability, Xiaoyao. There will definitely be no problems."
Jun Xiaoyao flicked his sleeve, and an ancient, heavy bronze cauldron appeared.
On the body of the cauldron, mountains, rivers, flora, fauna, birds, and insects were carved.
The totem of the Destined Black Bird was also engraved upon it, emitting an incomparably transcendent aura.
Inside the cauldron, golden imperial Luck churned, transforming into auspicious beasts like True Dragons, Black Birds, and Qilins.
"This is... the immortal cauldron of the Ancient Sacred Dynasty..."
Seeing this immortal cauldron, Xia Guihua was also slightly dazed. After all, it was her first time seeing it.
"Now, it is time to return it to its rightful owner," Jun Xiaoyao said.
However, Xia Guihua continued to shake her head, saying, "No, Xiaoyao, this is something you found; it should belong to you."
"But this is an object of the Ancient Sacred Dynasty, and it is something your Great Xia Sacred Dynasty needs right now," Jun Xiaoyao said.
This immortal cauldron was not only an Immortal Artifact but also a heavy vessel for suppressing national Luck; it was a spiritual symbol.
Xia Guihua's expression remained calm; she did not feel too much turbulence because of finding the immortal cauldron.
She stared fixedly at Jun Xiaoyao, saying, "If you need it, Xiaoyao, then it is yours."
Jun Xiaoyao had done so much for her, and even knowing she might be the Reincarnation of the Mysterious Empress, he still protected her without complaint or regret.
Xia Guihua wanted to do something for Jun Xiaoyao, but she always felt she couldn't help him.
This immortal cauldron could be considered a meager repayment.
In fact, as long as Jun Xiaoyao needed it, never mind the immortal cauldron—even she herself belonged to him.
Seeing this, Jun Xiaoyao was slightly stunned, then he directly reached out to wrap his arm around Xia Guihua's slender waist, pulling her into an embrace.
Xia Guihua's face flushed, but she did not struggle, simply leaning into Jun Xiaoyao's arms.
"I have already gained a lot from this trip to the Hunxu Star Realm; I'm not lacking this one immortal cauldron."
"I think it is also time to help the Great Xia Sacred Dynasty unify."
Hearing these words, Xia Guihua's delicate body trembled, and she looked up at Jun Xiaoyao.
"Xiaoyao, you want to..."
"That's right, I want to help the Great Xia Sacred Dynasty unify," Jun Xiaoyao said.
Xia Guihua's eyes trembled.
Their Great Xia Sacred Dynasty had always been the weakest of the three great sacred dynasties and was often under threat.
And now, Jun Xiaoyao was actually going to help the Great Xia Sacred Dynasty unify the other two.
This was something previously unimaginable.
And all of this was because of Jun Xiaoyao.
"But Xiaoyao, doing this will probably be very troublesome for you, as you will have to mobilize the power of the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace," Xia Guihua said.
"What does that matter?" Jun Xiaoyao said casually.
In fact, helping the Great Xia Sacred Dynasty unify would also benefit the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace.
In the future, the Great Xia Sacred Dynasty would be the most solid ally, or rather, a follower, of the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace.
"Xiaoyao..."
Jun Xiaoyao's words naturally moved Xia Guihua deeply.
She pressed her fair, delicate cheek against Jun Xiaoyao's chest.
"By the way, before that, are you willing to go back to the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace with me?" Jun Xiaoyao asked.
Xia Guihua nodded her head.
Now that the matter regarding Grandmaster Motian was temporarily resolved, Jun Xiaoyao had also learned the location of the Demonic Lord's legacy.
The Boundary Abyss was not a place that could be visited in a short time; it required planning.
Now, remaining at the Origin Academy no longer had much significance.
It was time to return to the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace.
After Jun Xiaoyao revealed the news that he was returning to the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace, the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace sent someone to break through the realms on a Cloud Sea Dragon Boat to welcome Jun Xiaoyao back almost immediately.
This time, although ancient ancestor-level figures like The Two Elders of Mountain and Sea did not come in person, an Elder from the Earth Lineage of the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace named Elder Yun Jing arrived.
While Elder-level figures in the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace were not as boundlessly powerful as the ancient ancestor-level figures, they at least possessed the cultivation of high-level Quasi-Emperors.
When he saw Jun Xiaoyao, this Fifth Elder, Yun Jing, had a hint of excitement in his expression.
Although the Earth Lineage of the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace had separated in the past to form the current Yun Imperial Clan of the Boundary Sea, a portion of the Earth Lineage actually remained in the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace.
However, it was clear that this remaining portion of the Earth Lineage could not compare to the Heaven Lineage.
Although there was no internal strife in the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace and it was generally quite harmonious, the Earth Lineage of the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace also longed for a Prodigy to appear and hold down the fort.
Jun Xiaoyao was undoubtedly the hope of the Earth Lineage now, and barring any accidents, there would be no problem with him becoming the Young Emperor of the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace.
"Young Emperor, this old one is Elder Yun Jing, the Fifth Elder of the Earth Lineage of the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace, here to welcome the Young Emperor back to the clan," Yun Jing said.
Although he was an Elder-level figure, he did not hold himself in high regard and kept a very low profile.
"Elder Yun Jing, you are too polite," Jun Xiaoyao replied with a smile.
"Without further ado, Young Emperor, let us set off," Yun Jing said.
Afterward, Jun Xiaoyao took Xia Guihua, Ji Mingshuang, Princess Hongxiu, and others, boarded the Cloud Sea Dragon Boat, and prepared to return to the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace.
At the Origin Academy, many gazes looked toward the Cloud Sea Dragon Boat that was soaring through the clouds and breaking through the sky.
Their eyes were filled with undisguised envy.
Yuan Lingxuan also appeared, watching the departing Cloud Sea Dragon Boat with a very complex expression.
She knew that with Jun Xiaoyao going to the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace this time, he was truly going to soar into the sky.
He would officially establish his status and prestige.
His future status and position would likely be no less than that of her Prodigy sister, perhaps even greater.
Although she had arranged for Chen Xuan to go to her sister's side, she knew that Chen Xuan held prejudices against Jun Xiaoyao in his heart.
If he were to come into conflict with someone like Jun Xiaoyao in the future, Chen Xuan would likely not have a good outcome.
"With Yun Xiao returning to the Yun Sheng Imperial Palace this time, it is truly like a dragon returning to the sea and a tiger returning to the mountain; his prestige will be unstoppable."
"I can only hope Chen Xuan learns to let it go..."
Yuan Lingxuan sighed inwardly.