Her nine great divine dragon-beasts were birthed from within the Void Cauldron. Though in her past life she had only awakened three—Qiuniu, Yazi, and Chaofeng—they already possessed the power to topple mountains and overturn seas.
Yet, in the end, she had perished at the hands of those closest to her.
A cold glint flashed in Jun Jiuqi’s eyes. Joining the Jun Family would make it easier for her to move about and gather intelligence. For now, she needed to lie low and carefully plot the restoration of her strength. Once she reclaimed her true body, it would be time to take vengeance upon Jun Lingxue and the Holy Shrine!
Jun Jiuqi slipped out of the treasure room and emerged into the void. Her hands gently stroked the stone statues of Yazi and Chaofeng; spirit beast and master were bound by life and death—one prospered, the other flourished; one suffered, the other declined. When she had been betrayed and grievously wounded, the backlash had also ravaged her spirit beasts. Faced with enemies on all sides and surrounded by thousands, she had been forced to use her final reserves of power to seal them away into deep slumber.
Fortunately, she had survived. This Void Cauldron was attuned to Jun Jiuqi’s soul, which was why she now had the chance to awaken Chiyun and the others once more.
"I will save you. Just wait a little longer..." Jun Jiuqi murmured, stroking the stone statues with tenderness. A moment later, her gaze turned cold and clear once again.
With a shift of her consciousness, she returned to her throne. She sat cross-legged, hands held in a lotus gesture, silently circulating the Nine Dragon Technique. Soon, the air around her began to swirl without a breeze, forming a vortex that drew energy into her dantian, then channeled it through her spirit meridians.
It was unknown how much time had passed before she slowly opened her eyes. Her cultivation had risen from Rank Two Initial Stage to Rank Two Middle Stage.
Jun Jiuqi sighed. With so many beast cores consumed, she had only advanced one small stage; rising in power was indeed difficult. In her past life, her cultivation progression had always been significantly harder than others. However, cultivators of the same rank were no match for her—she could even challenge enemies one or two ranks above her. Perhaps it was related to the Nine Dragon Technique, a legacy passed down through the Void Cauldron. Though the path was arduous, the power it granted was formidable and nearly unrivaled.
Now at Rank Two Initial Stage, she did not fear even a Rank Three Warrior. She even had the strength to contend with a Rank Four. This gave her an extra measure of confidence for returning to the Jun Family.
Jun Jiuqi pulled her consciousness back to reality. The moment she opened her eyes, she was met by a pair of beady black eyes.
"Curly, you're back?"
Seeing the fluffy little white beast before her, Jun Jiuqi’s face lit up instantly! She proceeded to stroke and cuddle Curly without hesitation.
Curly looked utterly defeated, as if long accustomed to the little girl’s spontaneous affections.
Back when Jun Jiuqi was still a "wandering soul," she had accidentally collided with a beam of silver light. She felt something fuse into her body, and when she regained consciousness, she had fallen to the ground, and Curly had descended with the light, landing right in her arms.
As for the name "Curly," it was because when she first found the creature, its fur had been charred and twisted as if scorched by fire.
Jun Jiuqi had wondered if Curly was some unknown spirit beast, but a year had passed, and other than looking a bit like a puppy, it showed nothing special at all. Jun Jiuqi appeared aloof, but she was secretly a hardcore fan of all things fluffy; she adored cute, dim-witted, fuzzy creatures. Unfortunately, because of her true dragon heritage, she naturally exuded a pressure that terrified animals, causing cute pets to tremble and shy away from her.
What Jun Jiuqi had not expected was that Curly was the only one who did not fear her and was unaffected by her true dragon aura. Thus, even though Curly wasn't a spirit beast, Jun Jiuqi treated it as her little pet. Although the little guy still resisted her touch, it was a vast improvement from the days when it would bare its teeth at the slightest approach. Its habit of playing hide-and-seek hadn't changed, but miraculously, no matter how far it ran, Jun Jiuqi could sense its location. With just a thought, Curly would be "recalled."
"Curly, we’re leaving soon, so don't run off, you hear?"
When Jun Jiuqi finally grew tired of playing, she fell asleep holding Curly as if it were a ragdoll.
Only when the sound of steady breathing filled the room did Mo Xiao struggle to poke his head out from Jun Jiuqi's embrace, glaring at her with murderous intent. Who could have imagined that he, the dignified Emperor Lord Mo Xiao, would be cast into this desolate wasteland by those old fools and reduced to an ugly little pet? Deprived of his spiritual power and cultivation, he had been picked up by this little brat and treated like a toy to be kneaded at will.
When he had first collided with Jun Jiuqi, his remaining power had been absorbed by her, and their blood had merged to form a blood pact. Since then, he could not stray too far from her, or the pact would trigger, causing his heart to twist in unbearable agony. He couldn't kill her either; the blood pact bound them in life and death—if she were injured, the backlash would befall him.
Mo Xiao harbored secret resentment. With a flash of silver light, a tall, icy shadow appeared beside the bed. He had eerie silver hair, and his features were too beautiful for the mortal world, save for those deep, crimson eyes that were as cold as frost, akin to blood or a demon. His skin was deathly pale, and his long, slender hands were elegant yet demonic, adorned with mysterious, ancient black markings.
His fingers passed through the air where Jun Jiuqi’s face lay. With a distortion of space, his shadow vanished, and he returned to the form of the little white beast. If his subordinates saw him in this state, where would he put his dignity as Emperor Lord? Once he recovered his strength and broke the blood pact, he would slaughter this reckless little brat and grind her bones to feed the sharks and whales.
"Hmm..."
Jun Jiuqi mumbled in her sleep, rolling over and pulling Mo Xiao tightly into her arms, rubbing against him as she slept soundly. Mo Xiao, acting as a pillow, felt his soul wither. He suppressed the surging urge to kill; he would definitely slaughter this wretched girl!
***
### Chapter 7: The Peacemaker
After a sound sleep, Jun Jiuqi woke up the next day feeling refreshed. Perhaps due to the beast core energy she had absorbed the previous day, she was brimming with vitality.
However, the moment she turned her head, she met a pair of eyes—seemingly resentful, but actually filled with murderous intent. "Curly, morning! Did you sleep well last night?"
Curly let out a fierce "Ao," effectively writing "I am displeased" all over its face.
"Sounds like you slept well, so energetic this early? Come here, let's have a hug!"
Jun Jiuqi completely ignored Curly’s expression and scooped it up for a thorough petting.
Mo Xiao’s face was filled with barely contained murder, and what followed was even more shameful! Jun Jiuqi stroked him from the top of his head down to his back and tail, then flipped him over to continue...
"AOOOOO!!"
*How audacious! You shameless creature! Where are you touching?! Stop it!*
"Curly, you're a boy, what are you being shy for?"
Jun Jiuqi’s hand slid down Curly’s belly, going lower and lower...
Mo Xiao began to struggle violently.
"Don't move, it's not like I haven't seen it before." Jun Jiuqi easily suppressed the little beast in her arms and laughed, "Your 'little eggs' are so tiny, I'm not even interested in looking!"
...
Mo Xiao went completely rigid. Her words echoed in his ears: *So tiny... so tiny... tiny... tiny...*
Mo Xiao exploded!
Jun Jiuqi easily kept him contained, joyfully petting him for a while longer before clapping her hands and skipping off to breakfast. She left Mo Xiao behind, trapped in a roaring inferno of fury. He had never suffered such a humiliation! He would kill her! He, definitely, must, kill, her!
***
Two days later, the Jun Family sent word again. This time, the Fourth Master of the Jun Family came in person.
"Third Brother, this is wonderful! To see you again! You’ve been in Liucheng all these years, why didn't you come find me? I thought you and Sister-in-law were still out there..."
"Fourth Brother." Jun Qingfeng nodded slightly, his eyes turning red.
Jun Qingshan, the youngest of their generation, had always been close to Jun Qingfeng. Qingfeng had known Qingshan was searching for him all these years, but having already severed ties with the Jun Family, he didn't want to implicate his younger brother, so he had never reached out.
"I only heard you were in Liucheng yesterday. Third Brother, come back home. We all miss you so much..." Jun Qingshan was very familiar. "And this must be Sister-in-law? Hello!"
"Are you Jiuer? And you are Yun’er? I am your Fourth Uncle..."
Jun Qingshan’s face bore a four- or five-part resemblance to Jun Qingfeng’s, though his features were more delicate and handsome. He chuckled as he bounced Chiyun in his arms. He had brought plenty of pastries and toys, all for Jun Jiuqi and Chiyun, and was currently using a rattle to tease Chiyun.
Jun Jiuqi watched the drama with amusement. Teasing a thousand-year-old demon as if he were a child was quite entertaining.
Chiyun looked on with disdain. After Qingshan had teased him for a long time and noticed the little guy wouldn't react, he felt rather awkward. Finally, Jun Jiuqi gave Chiyun a warning look. Chiyun reluctantly accepted the toy, "Thank you, Fourth Uncle."
The crisp "Fourth Uncle" made Jun Qingshan beam with delight. "Yun’er is such a good boy. From now on, Fourth Uncle will dote on you. Tell me whatever you want to eat or whatever you need, and Fourth Uncle will buy it for you!"
When Chiyun heard there would be good food, his smile toward Jun Qingshan became much more sincere, causing Qingshan to grin foolishly.
"Third Brother, Yun’er and Jiuer are such good children. Especially Jiuer—she’s as beautiful as her mother."
Jun Qingfeng jokingly scolded him and said, "Alright! Don't just stand there, come in and talk."
Jun Qingfeng welcomed him inside. The two brothers had been apart for fifteen years; upon reuniting, they had much to say.
Soon, Jun Jiuqi realized that this Jun Qingshan was a straightforward, single-minded man who spoke his mind. She understood why the Jun Family had sent him; Jun Qingfeng was the type to eat soft but not hard, and the people in the Jun Family knew her father quite well.
But Jun Jiuqi did not lower her guard. It was someone from the Jun Family who had poisoned her father, and it could be anyone. Until she ferreted that person out, she would not easily trust anyone from the Jun Family.
Jun Qingshan asked how Jun Qingfeng had spent these years. Qingfeng didn't say much, glossing over it, but Qingshan could guess his brother had suffered greatly and felt pained.
"Third Brother, you were a rare genius in the family. I don't understand why Father could be so heartless as to drive you out and ignore you for so many years... Not just you; even I can't understand it. Yesterday, Big Brother called me over and told me you were in Liucheng. I know they wanted me to be the peacemaker."
Though single-minded, Qingshan was not a fool. "Third Brother, you don't need to worry about me. Things are a mess at home. Big Brother and Second Brother are fighting like gamecocks, and the elders aren't at peace either. Father hasn't managed affairs for a long time since he was assassinated five years ago and went into seclusion..."
"Assassinated? What happened?" Jun Qingfeng’s expression changed sharply.
"You didn't know?" Qingshan was surprised. "Five years ago, the Tang Family and our Jun Family were fighting over territory in the south of the city. We gained the upper hand, so they cowardly sent people to assassinate the younger generation. Father was surrounded outside the city and unfortunately walked into an ambush, sustaining injuries to his lungs, so..."
Jun Qingfeng pressed his lips into a thin line, silent.
Qingshan continued, "Fortunately, the family physicians provided timely aid, so it wasn't life-threatening, but it damaged his spirit meridians. Added to the fact that he has been overworking himself all these years without proper rest, his condition has worsened."
Qingshan cautiously observed his brother's expression and hesitated before adding, "Third Brother, I don't know what happened between you and Father, but I know that in all these years you've been gone, Father has always kept you in his heart. You know his temper—he’s stubborn, his words are sharp but his heart is kind, and he refuses to say anything soft..."
"I once saw him sitting alone in your old courtyard, sighing as he held your old sword. No one in the house dares mention your name; the moment it’s mentioned, Father gets into a huge rage. If he didn't care, he wouldn't be like that..."
"Fourth Brother, say no more."
Jun Qingfeng interrupted him. Qingshan noticed his brother’s look and fell silent, the atmosphere turning awkward.
"Third Brother, I'm sorry. I won't say any more. It's rare that we can meet today; let’s talk about something happy."
Jun Qingfeng’s expression softened. "Since you're here, stay for lunch. Your sister-in-law is a great cook; you're in for a treat today."
"That's fantastic!"
The mood grew lively again. Jun Qingshan stayed for lunch, and the family sat together in the courtyard, basking in a rare, harmonious moment.
***
### Chapter 8: The Brat
Five days later.
Jun Jiuqi, carrying Curly in her arms, accompanied Jun Qingshan as the family returned to the Jun Family main estate.
The imposing Jun Family gate featured towering stone tigers, and the family crest—a two-headed tiger—could be seen everywhere. Years ago, the Jun ancestor's spiritual aura manifested as a two-headed white-spotted tiger. Thus, the symbol of a Jun Family disciple was the tiger beast.
On the Tianxuan Continent, spiritual energy birthed spirit-cultivating warriors. Once a warrior underwent "Spirit Opening," they would awaken their ability. The world called this the "Manifestation" of Spirit Patterns.
Manifestation was divided into three categories: Beast Martial Spirit, Instrument Martial Spirit, and Plant Martial Spirit.
Beast Martial Spirits included the lion, tiger, eagle, python, shark, crocodile, etc. Jun Family disciples were generally tiger-beasts, so their manifestation ability was the Beast Martial Spirit.
Instrument Martial Spirits included blades, swords, spears, staves, etc. For example, the Ji Family of Liucheng focused on blades, and every disciple manifested various forms of blades.
Then there were Plant Martial Spirits, such as the Tengqing, Baihua, and Yaoling clans of the Tianxuan Continent; they were all plant-manifesting cultivators. However, compared to the first two, Plant Martial Spirits were weaker in combat, so they were mostly pharmacists or alchemists.
As for Beast and Instrument Martial Spirit warriors, the former possessed greater destructive power but consumed more spiritual energy and lacked endurance, while the latter had more varied attacks and were better suited for prolonged combat. Therefore, many powerhouses on the Tianxuan Continent were Beast or Instrument Martial Spirit warriors.
For instance, the Tianxuan Imperial Family held the dragon lineage; their ancient bloodline was one of true power. Unfortunately, as centuries passed, fewer descendants could inherit it. By the generation of Jun Jiuqi’s father, a true dragon had not awakened for at least two hundred years. The imperial children either awakened peripheral bloodlines—pythons, snakes, or dragons—or their bloodlines were so thin and chaotic they couldn't even fight.
That was until Jun Jiuqi was born, breaking this deadlock.
On the day she was born, a purple dragon circled the void, golden light shone brilliantly, and ten thousand beasts bowed in submission. The golden light bathed the continent for seven days and seven nights, and she was born with the Peerless Purple-Luck Dragon Body, awakening the Empire's strongest bloodline legacy. Thus, at birth, she was named the First Princess of the Tianxuan Empire, and at twenty-two, she ascended as Empress.
She ruled for over a hundred years, developing the once-barren and murderous Tianxuan Continent into a peaceful era.
However, Jun Jiuqi’s Beast Martial Spirit was not an ordinary one. Each spirit warrior could only awaken one in their lifetime, but Jun Jiuqi had nine. In her past life, she had only revealed Chiyun to the world, so people didn't know she actually possessed three divine beasts.
Jun Jiuqi was keenly aware of her uniqueness. Her Peerless Spirit Root and Purple-Luck Dragon Body had already provoked Jun Lingxue’s jealousy, who had wanted to seize her abilities; if others knew of her other powers, it would likely invite another storm of bloodshed.
Beyond these three categories, there was a "Special" class of Spirit Patterns. These did not manifest as beasts, plants, or weapons, but as other things. This category was complex and profound—it could be tangible objects like farming tools, kitchenware, brushes, mirrors, clocks, or intangible forces like space, death, or life. To a degree, Special-type warriors were more dangerous and unpredictable, but they were also extremely rare.
In her past life, Jun Jiuqi had encountered a Special-type warrior whose martial spirit was a clock, possessing the power to manipulate time. One could imagine how heaven-defying such an ability was.
"Third Master, you're back."
The steward had been waiting for a long time and led others out to greet them. "The Old Master and the Master are waiting in the main hall. Please, come in."
"Third Brother! Let's go in!" Jun Qingshan patted Jun Qingfeng’s shoulder.
Qingfeng’s tense face relaxed slightly at the gesture. Qingshan turned and excitedly greeted Lv Xiuer, "Sister-in-law."
"Jiujiu, Yunyun, let's go! We're home!"
With that, he scooped up Jun Jiuqi and marched grandly toward the Jun Family gate.
*Home?*
This was not their home. Jun Jiuqi held onto her Fourth Uncle’s neck, her fair, delicate face devoid of expression.
Along the way, they passed through courtyards and gardens; the Jun Family’s pavilions were magnificent with blue tiles and grey bricks, exuding elegance. However, the main courtyard was more imposing and solemn, with rockeries and water features mostly in cool tones, creating a sense of gravity.
If a normal child were to enter such an unfamiliar environment, they would likely be startled or uneasy. But Jun Jiuqi remained calm from start to finish. In her past life, she had been an Empress—what kind of grand scenes hadn't she seen? This Jun Family was small fry; at best, it was... barely passable.
Jun Jiuqi looked at the placement of the pavilions, the carvings on the water features, and the cobblestones under her feet, her little brow furrowing. Truth be told, was the design of the Jun Family’s layout done by someone with poor eyesight? The level of taste was simply... something else.
Suddenly, she sensed something and looked toward a tree nearby.
The next second, a stone whistled toward her, accompanied by the laughter of children and youths. Jun Jiuqi didn't move; Jun Qingfeng swiped the stone away in an instant!
His sharp gaze shot over. Seeing the stone fall, Qingshan immediately understood what had happened and cursed, "Who is it? Get out here!"
Several giggling youths slid down from the trees, each holding a slingshot, looking to be about eleven or twelve years old.
"Fourth Uncle, it's us!"
"Zelin, Zechuan, what are you doing? Who told you to shoot people with slingshots?"
Seeing them, Qingshan scolded them with a dark face.
Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan were the eldest and second sons of the Jun Family patriarch, Jun Qingya.