Within Qingyang Commandery was a notorious mountain called Black Mountain. Bandits occupied it year-round, descending from time to time to plunder homes and flaunt their presence.

After half a month’s interval, they had struck again.

The presence they flaunted was capturing over thirty disciples of the Iron Bone Sect, leaving behind a letter demanding money.

Other bandit gangs generally robbed travelers on the road, stealing money and goods. This method of kidnapping people and brazenly demanding ransom was quite creative.

“Damn it!”

Jun Changxiao walked out the main gate emanating killing intent. “Daring to bully my Iron Bone Clanging Sect’s people—whether you’re bandits or robbers, I’ll kill you all!”

Having finally recruited a hundred disciples only to have over thirty captured—this was intolerable!

Being able to emanate killing intent and speak such ruthless words was sufficient proof that Jun Changxiao had completely adapted to his new identity and to the cruel Starfall Continent.

“Sect Leader!”

Li Qingyang chased after him. “This disciple will accompany you!”

As the Iron Bone Clanging Sect’s second senior disciple, he naturally couldn’t remain indifferent when junior disciples were captured by bandits.

Lu Qianqian also followed.

Jun Changxiao stopped and said, “There are still disciples who haven’t come to report. You two remain at the sect to manage things. There’s no need to accompany me to Black Mountain.”

Li Qingyang’s expression turned grave. “Sect Leader, the bandits on Black Mountain number at least two hundred, and the leader is said to have entered the Martial Apprentice realm. If you go alone, I’m afraid…”

Jun Changxiao said in a deep voice, “This is an order.”

In that moment, he truly had the dignity of a sect leader.

Though he wanted to continue dissuading him, Li Qingyang could only cup his fists. “This disciple respectfully obeys the Sect Leader’s order.”

Jun Changxiao strode down the mountain, his gaze still cold and severe.

Anger.

He was serious!

“Senior Sister.”

Watching Jun Changxiao’s figure descend the mountain, Li Qingyang couldn’t help worrying. “If something happens to the Sect Leader, what will become of our Iron Bone Clanging Sect in the future?”

“Very simple.”

Lu Qianqian leaned against the gate, arms crossed. “I’ll be sect leader, you’ll be head disciple.”

Hearing this, Li Qingyang’s mouth twitched.

…

Black Mountain.

Located fifty li outside Qingyang Village.

Here the mountains rose in overlapping ranges, with sheer cliffs standing thousands of feet high—the terrain was extremely treacherous. Relying on this complex topography, the bandits acted fearlessly and descended the mountain to commit all manner of evil.

Government officials and many sect forces had repeatedly come to suppress the bandits, but Black Mountain was easy to defend and difficult to attack, so they always returned empty-handed.

Over time, Black Mountain was viewed by Qingyang Commandery’s martial artists as forbidden ground that none dared enter.

Today, on the winding mountain path, Jun Changxiao climbed step by step up the stairs. If any martial artists learned that the Iron Bone Sect Leader was ascending Black Mountain alone, they would certainly cup their fists and say, “I salute you as a true man!”

“How should I deal with those bandits and rescue the disciples?”

Jun Changxiao muttered to himself as he walked.

Anger aside, fury aside, he finally began seriously considering how to deal with the bandits next.

From Li Qingyang’s account, not only were there two hundred people on the mountain, but there was quite possibly a Martial Apprentice as well. This was rather thorny.

Possessing an initial-grade Cold Edge Sword, having learned the Nine Stances of Cascading Wave Sword, with ten of twelve meridians opened—with Jun Changxiao’s current strength, dealing with over twenty people at the fourth or fifth stage of Meridian Opening was possible, but dealing with over two hundred would be extremely difficult.

Moreover, if there truly was a Martial Apprentice, this trip might be easy going up but hard coming down.

Jun Changxiao’s consciousness entered his spatial ring. Looking at the Swift Movement Talisman and Escape Talisman given by the newbie gift pack, he thought secretly, “These two talismans aren’t suitable for fighting either.”

Just then, his gaze swept over the Difficult to Sheathe Blade.

Seeing this thing made him angry, since a casually spoken sentence had been treated as his primary wish and sent over!

Jun Changxiao hefted the Difficult to Sheathe Blade and discovered it had quite some weight. He murmured, “What quality might this be?”

Unconsciously, he gripped the hilt and gently drew it from the sheath.

“Boom!”

A thunderous sound rang out.

Jun Changxiao was blasted dozens of meters away.

Outside, his body involuntarily retreated several steps, nearly losing his footing and tumbling down.

Jun Changxiao said with lingering fear, “That was close, that was close!”

When he’d drawn the blade just now, a violent energy had suddenly surged between the hilt and sheath. If he hadn’t reacted with lightning speed to throw the blade away, he’d probably have been injured by the blast!

The system voice sounded: “The Difficult to Sheathe Blade must have its seal released before it can be used. Forcibly drawing the blade from its sheath will only injure oneself.”

Jun Changxiao collapsed in despair. “Why didn’t you say so earlier!”

The system said, “You didn’t ask.”

“…”

Jun Changxiao was speechless.

After calming down, however, he was overjoyed. “The erupting energy was so terrifying—the Difficult to Sheathe Blade’s quality must be very high. Perhaps it can help me rescue the disciples!”

In an instant, Sect Leader Jun’s confidence soared.

“Hm?”

Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks.

Two burly men, each wielding weapons, stood on the stone steps ahead, corners of their mouths curved in malicious smiles.

“Sixth Brother.”

The shorter burly man laughed. “I’m not seeing wrong, am I? Someone actually dares come up Black Mountain?”

The man called Sixth Brother glanced at Jun Changxiao and said indifferently, “Looking so frail and delicate, he’s probably some cultured scholar come to tour the mountains and enjoy the scenery.”

“Whoosh!”

The shorter man jumped down, brandishing his large ring-pommel blade with a sinister air. “Boy, do you know you’ve entered a bandit’s den?”

Jun Changxiao’s expression was calm. “I know.”

The shorter man was stunned, then grinned widely. “Knowing that and still daring to come up—are you like an old birthday star hanging himself, tired of living?”

Jun Changxiao said, “You’re a bandit?”

The shorter man shouldered his large ring-pommel blade and said proudly, “That’s right. I’m a bandit from Black Mountain, known by the nickname Iron Blade Little Tyrant.”

Jun Changxiao shook his head.

Even a bandit had such a strong sense of superiority—truly, the world’s standards had declined.

The bandit called Sixth Brother grew impatient. “Seventh Brother, stop dawdling with him. Hurry up and finish him off.”

“Right away.”

Iron Blade Little Tyrant changed to a fierce, menacing expression. “Boy, will you voluntarily hand over the valuables on you, or shall Seventh Master here search you myself?”

“Search then.”

Jun Changxiao said.

Iron Blade Little Tyrant smiled coldly. “The consequence of making me search is that I’ll dismember you into eight pieces.”

Jun Changxiao asked, “What if I hand them over voluntarily?”

Iron Blade Little Tyrant said proudly, “I can leave you with an intact corpse.”

Jun Changxiao rubbed his nose. “You mean that no matter which choice I make, I can’t escape death?”

“Hahaha!”

Iron Blade Little Tyrant laughed loudly. “Boy, from the moment you set foot on Black Mountain, you were destined only for death, not life…”

“Pfft!”

Jun Changxiao had somehow summoned the Cold Edge Sword and thrust it directly into his chest, saying in a suppressed voice, “My apologies, but this sect leader isn’t tired of living yet, so I’ll have to trouble you to die first.”

Iron Blade Little Tyrant was stunned, then his expression turned savage as intense pain spread through his body.

“Pfft!”

Jun Changxiao withdrew the sword.

Iron Blade Little Tyrant immediately toppled over, tumbling down with repeated thuds, leaving long trails of blood on each step of the stone stairs.

“Seventh Brother!”

The bandit called Sixth Brother angrily drew his blade.

“Whoosh!”

At that moment, the Cold Edge Sword was already pressed against his neck.

Jun Changxiao’s gaze was cold and severe. “Answer me—were the Iron Bone Clanging Sect disciples captured by you people?”

“Gulp!”

The bandit called Sixth Brother swallowed and said in terror, “Yes…”

“Pfft!”

One sword stroke, and blood splattered three feet.

“Ngh…”

The bandit desperately clutched his spurting neck. When his consciousness faded, he rolled down the mountain path just like Iron Blade Little Tyrant.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”

After killing the two, he’d alerted those above. Over ten bandits charged down wielding weapons, glaring furiously at Jun Changxiao.

“Clang!”

Jun Changxiao sheathed his sword and said indifferently, “Tell your chief that the Iron Bone Clanging Sect Leader has come to ransom his people.”