4: He wore the crown, he paid the price (with realm)

Time flew by, and two more years passed in the blink of an eye.

This year, Jun Lingxiao was five years old, and his little follower… no, actually, she was his big follower, as she was eight this year.

In these two years, Jun Lingxiao Broke Through the Dao Embryo Realm and entered the Spirit Dao Realm, specifically the third stage of the Spirit Dao Realm. He could already use Dao Dharma, but his daily training still focused on swordsmanship and physical techniques, as the body was, after all, the primary focus.

Five years old was a relatively important year because the Divine Son Hall finally opened this year, and outsiders could now come to visit.

Jun Lingxiao still had half a year before he could leave the Divine Son Hall.

According to his grandfather, although he was the only direct descendant of this generation, he still had many brothers and sisters.

He was also very clear about his identity; he was the hope for the Jun Family, but for those his age, he might be a threat. So, he had wondered who would be the first to visit him.

Perhaps it would be a burly man who would question his identity as the Divine Son upon entering?

He had considered that, but unexpectedly, the first person to appear was a woman.

“Huo~”

“Is this the flawless Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo?”

“Barely worthy of being chosen by the Divine Sword.”

The first visitor was a valiant woman, dressed in an all-black dress, with a high ponytail. Her posture was tall and straight, she wore gloves, and an empty sword sheath hung at her waist. She was like a proud poplar tree in the desert, like a mountain rock weathered by time, solid and powerful. Her figure was slender, with perfect lines, like a green bamboo under a cold moon, flexible yet unyielding.

As if born for battle, her name was Jun Qiong, Jun Lingxiao’s sixth sister, while Jun Lingxiao was ranked fourteenth, the youngest of them all.

Jun Lingxiao looked at the woman, then glanced at the Old Ancestor beside them, who was squinting as if unconcerned, and felt a little strange.

However, he now knew the name of the sword he had picked during the lot-drawing, though it might just be a title.

Divine Sword.

But Jun Qiong didn't care about any of that. She took a step forward, looking down at Jun Lingxiao, and then, with her reddish eyes, she asked Jun Lingxiao:

“Hey, kid, I ask you.”

“If you gain power, how will you use it?”

“For friends, for Family, or for the Family?”

She looked down at Jun Lingxiao, exuding immense pressure.

Power always had a purpose: shedding blood for friends, protecting Family, building the Family.

This didn't seem like a visit to her younger brother at all; it was more like a declaration of war.

Jun Lingxiao glanced again at the unconcerned Old Ancestor and his somewhat restless grandfather nearby, immediately understanding what this scene meant.

“It’s a test…”

Thinking this, Jun Lingxiao began to ponder carefully. Knowing it was a test made things easier.

The correct answer would definitely be the Family.

If one gained power, it should certainly be used for the Family; that was the perfectly correct answer.

But… this was a Xuanhuan world, this was the Jun Family, and he was Jun Lingxiao.

He had his own answer.

“If I have power, a powerful and unique power, then without a doubt, I will only let this power be used for me!”

Jun Lingxiao looked at the woman in front of him and answered seriously.

The mind, the body, the hands and feet—things one possessed since birth could also be seen as a kind of power. Although born with them, where these powers were used was the main point.

Between Superman and Homelander, he would unhesitatingly choose Homelander. Both had power; one was for others, one was for oneself.

If a man is not for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him. Only he himself is the root; only he has the Family; only he has everything!

Although it didn’t seem like it, Jun Lingxiao was a Rebirth, and at the same time, he was a self-serving villain who knew how to utilize everything around him!

“For you?”

Hearing this, Jun Qiong laughed: “Hahaha, what a selfish answer, but, I am very satisfied.”

“Fourteenth Son Jun Lingxiao, is it…”

“Here, this is for you.”

Jun Qiong smiled and casually threw a jade box at his feet from somewhere, then a meaningful expression appeared on her lips: “Eat it, and then, quickly, quickly, quickly become stronger!”

“I will wait and see how far you can go with this power.”

After speaking, Jun Qiong turned directly, and then… left?

Jun Lingxiao looked at her retreating figure, then opened the box in front of him. Immediately, he was so shocked by what was inside that he didn't know what to say.

Inside the box was a heart!

A frozen heart, flashing with bursts of blue light!

Although the heart was frozen, it was strangely still beating, and from time to time, a blue electric light would surge from it. Just looking at it made one feel a chilling sensation, as if looking at some kind of Vicious Beast.

“This is…”

At this moment, the Old Ancestor finally stood up and walked over, explaining: “This is the heart of an Undying Thunder Dragon.”

“Undying Thunder Dragon?”

Jun Lingxiao was puzzled.

“Yes.”

“After an Undying Thunder Dragon transforms into a Dragon, its heart will evolve and disappear. So, one must kill it and remove its heart before it transforms. Even finding one is extremely difficult, let alone the terrifying strength of an Undying Thunder Dragon.”

“Moreover, the Undying Thunder Dragon is called ‘Undying’ precisely because of this heart. As long as the heart is not destroyed, it can still Revive after a thousand years.”

“Thunder, for thousands of years, has been the symbol of Lightning Tribulation, representing heavenly punishment.”

“Eat it, and the heavenly punishment Divine Thunder that outsiders fear will be as if it doesn't exist for you. Moreover, you can even use it in reverse; every punch and sword strike will carry lightning, doubling its destructive power, not to mention being able to summon that undying True Dragon in the future.”

“Your sixth sister has been preparing for a long time, probably searching the entire Upper Thousand Realms to find this one. Don’t think she came and went in a hurry; she actually dotes on you very much.”

The Old Ancestor explained very carefully, fearing Jun Lingxiao wouldn't understand, and his eyes were full of joy as he looked at this little fellow.

As he spoke, he actually squatted down directly, looking at Jun Lingxiao at eye level.

“Old Ancestor, this…”

Jun Wenhao, behind him, was greatly startled, not knowing what the Old Ancestor meant by this.

One must know that this elder in front of them was not only the Old Ancestor of the Jun Family; he was also a Heavenly Emperor… To make a Heavenly Emperor squat down and speak to him, there was probably only Jun Lingxiao in this world… “It’s nothing.”

The Old Ancestor waved his hand indifferently, then leaned closer to Jun Lingxiao, asking seriously:

“Lingxiao.”

“I have something to ask you.”

“Just now you said that if you have power, you wouldn’t use it for the Family, nor for friends, nor for relatives, but for yourself.”

“Can you tell me what you were thinking?”

Jun Lingxiao looked over. It was the first time he had seen the benevolent Old Ancestor so serious.

Of course, from the Old Ancestor's perspective, no one had taught him, yet he would say such a thing, which was thought-provoking.

Jun Lingxiao, however, had a matter-of-fact expression: “Power belongs to me, so naturally it is for my own use.”

The Old Ancestor nodded, then continued to ask: “What if one day the Jun Family is destroyed because it doesn’t have your power? What then?”

Jun Lingxiao didn't even have to think about this question.

“The Jun Family and I are not two separate things; we are one.”

“Oh? How do you mean?”

The Old Ancestor stroked his beard, his eyes sparkling, clearly intrigued.

Jun Lingxiao continued:

“The Jun Family gave birth to me, and I nurture the Jun Family. So, in my opinion, the Jun Family and I are inseparable. In other words, I; am the Jun Family.”

“To take it one step further, if one day the Jun Family is gone, but as long as I am still here, then I alone…”

“Am the Jun Family!”

Jun Lingxiao said without hesitation.

These were all his true feelings. He knew what era he had arrived in and accepted it calmly, transforming it into awareness.

“Hahaha, good!”

The Old Ancestor laughed. This was the second time he had laughed since they met; the first was when Jun Lingxiao was born.

As he laughed, the Old Ancestor’s eyes became meaningful. He gently patted Jun Lingxiao’s shoulder: “Lingxiao, your idea is not wrong, not wrong at all. Just keep following this idea, and I will always be your backing.”

“This is exactly how it should be! People of my Jun Family should be like this! This is the will of my Jun Family!”

“My Jun Family dominates the Upper Thousand Realms and is among the Ten Directions Immortal Court, not by relying on the hollow name of the Jun Family, but on strength! Just as I alone can represent the Jun Family, one person is the Jun Family!”

“This is the essence, the will of my Jun Family. Even if the empty shell of the Jun Family disappears, my Jun Family will never perish!”

“Your sixth sister already gave you something. After thinking about it, I should indeed give you something too.”

“Coincidentally, I have a jade pendant here that suits you perfectly.”

“Come, Lingxiao, turn around, I’ll help you put it on.”

As the Old Ancestor spoke, he tied a white jade pendant to Jun Lingxiao's waist. The pendant was oval-shaped, hollow in the middle, with a lifelike Dragon on it. Under Divine Sense perception, it felt bottomless, full of Dao rhyme.

After tying it, the Old Ancestor smacked his lips, feeling it was truly a perfect match.

However, looking at him, he casually brought up: “But there’s one more thing, Lingxiao. Do you know the other intention behind your sixth sister giving you this heart?”

“To make me stronger quickly, and then, to be her opponent.”

Jun Lingxiao touched the jade pendant at his waist and replied indifferently.

Her intentions were not hidden at all; her Battle Intent soared. She had indeed come to declare war.

This answer again made the Old Ancestor pause, then his eyes became gentle: “It seems our little Lingxiao has truly grown up.”

“Indeed, your sixth sister is known as a Devil Head in the Upper Thousand Realms. Some say she is just a madwoman who only fights. She spends her entire life looking for an opponent; don’t disappoint her.”

The Old Ancestor said and then stepped aside, letting Jun Lingxiao admire his new gift by himself.

Seeing Jun Wenhao approach, the Old Ancestor instructed:

“I will specially send someone to cook that heart. You watch him eat it. It might not taste good, but don’t be soft-hearted; it will only harm him in the end.”

“Yes…”

Jun Wenhao quickly agreed, but he looked up at the jade pendant on Jun Lingxiao’s waist and asked with some hesitation: “But Old Ancestor, is it really alright for you to give him this?”

“Isn’t this jade pendant a World-Breaking Stone… It’s said to be able to withstand all Dao Dharma below the Heavenly Palace Realm, strengthen the user’s Dao Dharma, and also break through Realms, providing one absolute life-saving opportunity.”

“What? Do you have an objection?”

The Old Ancestor glanced lightly, and Jun Wenhao immediately became as if facing a formidable enemy.

Even though he was also an Emperor, he was completely like a little chick in front of a Heavenly Emperor.

They couldn't be compared.

“No! Old Ancestor, I just feel that giving him this thing now is too much of a cheat, and it might make him too arrogant…”

“Cheat?”

The Old Ancestor directly interrupted him, then reprimanded: “Do my Jun Family children even use the term ‘cheat’?”

“As for arrogance, that’s even more ridiculous!”

“Are you saying that the son of my Jun Family still needs to be deliberately suppressed to temper his so-called Dao Heart?”

“My Jun Family is already invincible, and Jun Lingxiao was born above countless people. He should naturally be proud. Now you actually want to suppress his pride? How ridiculous! You’re getting old, don’t make me slap you!”

“Admittedly, there’s some truth to what you said; many Geniuses die young. But didn’t you hear what he said just now?”

“No one should have taught him the will of my Jun Family, but he managed to comprehend it himself, as if he was born to be in my Jun Family, born to stand at the Peak of invincibility. For such a person, are you still afraid his Dao Heart will go astray?”

“Too ridiculous. Again, don’t make me slap you. He carries all the hopes of our generation. No one can hinder him, even if you are his grandfather!”

“Although the Divine Gate has been found, no one can guarantee that this is the true Divine Gate. I originally planned to only protect this little fellow for five years and then go to the Three Thousand Provinces to search for the Divine Gate again, to prepare for both eventualities. But now it seems I might need to stay longer.”

How could Jun Wenhao dare to say anything else? He quickly assented.

Meanwhile, it was time for Jun Lingxiao to deliver food again.

Actually, he didn't need to go personally, but he had tried sending servants, unfortunately, the big follower wouldn't eat.

She seemed to be wary, as if everyone wanted to harm her.

However, she was very relaxed around Jun Lingxiao.

Like a pet.

After thinking about it, it wasn't good for her to always be in the backyard, and he, such a grand young master, didn't seem to have a single maid. Thinking this, Jun Lingxiao immediately said to the Old Ancestor:

“Old Ancestor, that little girl in my backyard, I want to take her in as a maid.”

The Old Ancestor, who should have granted every request, at this moment, said something unexpected.

“No.”

“Lingxiao, you are the hope of my Jun Family, the hope of everyone. You can keep ten or eight pets secretly; no one will say anything.”

“But a maid is different.”

“You are a member of the Jun Family. Others can, but you cannot. You are the beacon, you are the direction. Your maid must also be a person of status and reputation, involving the Jun Family’s face. This is not something you can choose.”

“Everyone is watching you, everyone is working for you, Jun Lingxiao. You also have to take care of everyone. This… is your destiny.”

“He who wishes to wear the crown must bear its weight.”

“You were born wearing the crown, and this is one of its weights.”

.

.

PS: Early Stage Realm System (Detailed Version)

1. Spirit Platform Realm: Enter Spirit, Blood Exchange, Body Tempering, Pulse Expansion, Acupoint Breaking, Spirit Guarding; The Spirit Platform is the foundation of everything, requiring Heaven And Earth Treasure for nourishment to lay the groundwork.

2. Five Extremes Realm: Hands, feet, mouth, nose, eyes; The Cultivate order varies depending on the person's Cultivate method. After Cultivate, physical strength greatly increases. Even Prodigies in the Upper Thousand Realms need five years to reach this point.

3. Dao Embryo Realm: Awaken Embryo, Condense Embryo, Guide Embryo, Nurture Embryo; Cultivate the Dao Embryo, guide Qi into the embryo for the Spirit Platform, nourish it with Qi, and then one can use the Dao Embryo to unleash various Divine Abilities.

4. Spirit Dao Realm: 1-9 Realms; At this point, one can already use the Dao Embryo to strengthen oneself or cast Dao Dharma, initially possessing Battle Intent.

5. Divine Dao Realm: 1-9 Realms; The Spirit Platform and Dao Embryo are connected. As long as the Spirit Platform is not exhausted, Dao Dharma continues endlessly.

6. Spirit Sea Realm: 1-9 Realms; The Spirit Platform expands dozens of times, enabling the use of more Advanced Dao Dharma.

7. Spirit Domain Realm: 1-9 Realms; One can open their own unique Domain. Their Dao Dharma and physical body are strengthened within the Domain. This is already a major combat force for large Families in the Middle Thousand World.

8. Divine Realm: 1-9 Realms; Within the Domain, one can not only strengthen oneself but also summon a phantom of their Natal Dharma Aspect to fight. This is already a top combat force for large Families in the Middle Thousand World.

9. Heaven and Earth Realm: Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, Perfection, Peak Perfection; One can condense their Dharma Aspect entity within the Domain to fight, further increasing combat power. The Dharma Aspect gains its own unique name, evolving into Heaven and Earth Dharma.

10. Heavenly Palace Realm: Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, Perfection, Peak Perfection; This Realm is a threshold, connecting with the Dao Embryo within one's body, condensing the true Natal Dharma Aspect Heaven and Earth Dharma. One can summon Heaven and Earth Dharma to fight even outside the Domain. This is already the combat power of a Family Clan Chief in the Middle Thousand World.

10.5. Nirvana Realm: The distinction between immortal and mortal, truly shedding the mortal body, tempering the Dao Embryo, and condensing an immortal body. At this point, lifespan increases dramatically to ten thousand years, granting the qualification to seek longevity.

Jade pendant sample image, no light effect version