The one-year agreement with the Holy Spring Sect, along with the upcoming exchange at the Heroic Spirit Sect, made the Iron Bone Sect’s atmosphere grow serious. The disciples also worked even harder at their cultivation.

But it was still far from enough.

Forget about rivaling a fifth-rate sect—even a sixth-rate sect was like a great mountain standing before them, extremely difficult to surpass.

After returning, Jun Changxiao kept pondering this problem. The conclusion he finally reached was that the only way to make disciples stronger was through pills and spirit stones.

The System said, “Pills and spirit stones are only supplementary items. A disciple’s spiritual root aptitude determines everything.”

“Correct.”

Jun Changxiao agreed.

Though pills and spirit stones could rapidly increase cultivation, if disciples had ordinary spiritual roots, sooner or later they would run out of steam.

“Zuiji was able to improve his spiritual roots using the Aptitude Transformation Liquid. Other disciples can certainly do the same.”

Jun Changxiao murmured.

A bold idea arose in his heart—use Aptitude Transformation Liquid to improve the disciples’ spiritual root quality!

In his purchased items inventory, there were three grades of Aptitude Transformation Liquid. They could completely allow a disciple with low-grade spiritual roots to easily step into the high-grade tier.

But buying all three types would consume one hundred fifty contribution points.

With his current contribution value limit, even if it was completely full, he could only buy three sets to help three disciples improve.

Jun Changxiao murmured, “With my current abilities, I can’t cultivate everyone. I can first let a portion of disciples grow stronger.”

Every sect had inner sect divisions. Inner sect was equivalent to elite status and enjoyed abundant resources.

Jun Changxiao wanting to let a portion of disciples grow stronger first was in fact equivalent to dividing disciples into inner and outer sect.

In major sects, to become an inner sect disciple, one had to rely on their own aptitude and hard work to compete for the position.

What Jun Changxiao wanted was to select a few first.

Excluding Li Qingyang with his high-grade spiritual roots and the mysterious Lu Qianqian, he quickly formulated a list of disciples to prioritize cultivating.

Xiao Zuiji, Su Xiaomo, Tian Qi, Li Fei, and Ye Xingchen.

The next day.

Jun Changxiao officially announced that starting today, the Iron Bone Sect would have a division between inner and outer sect disciples. The first batch of inner sect disciples totaled seven people.

“This seat treats you all equally. If you want to become inner sect disciples, you must use your strength to prove yourselves,” he added.

The many disciples showed not the slightest dejection. Their determination to grow stronger became even more resolute.

Work hard! Work even harder!

Use strength to become inner sect disciples!

The inner and outer sect division once again ignited the Iron Bone Sect disciples’ cultivation enthusiasm. After all, it gave them a goal they could strive toward.

“Sect Leader.”

After dismissal, Lu Qianqian walked into the great hall. “Since we’re dividing inner and outer sects, we should also establish a reward and punishment system. Only then will the junior brothers have more motivation to cultivate and not slack off.”

Jun Changxiao leaned back in his chair and smiled. “What ideas do you have?”

Lu Qianqian said, “Conduct a strength assessment once a month, a minor disciple competition every three months, and a major disciple competition every year.”

This type of system was used in many sects.

How many novel protagonists shone brightly in various academy and sect martial competitions, ultimately becoming divine demon emperor kings, sage sovereigns, and immortal venerables?

“Adopted.” Jun Changxiao said.

The existence of systems had its rationality. He couldn’t avoid convention.

Moreover, weren’t the top students from his former world also those who stood out through year after year of examinations, becoming existences that all living beings looked up to?

“How should rewards and punishments work?”

“The annual major disciple competition champion becomes an inner sect disciple. The top nine receive certain rewards.”

“The top ten in the three-month minor competitions are the same.”

“For monthly strength tests, outstanding performers receive corresponding rewards. Those at the bottom do labor work for a certain period.”

Hearing Lu Qianqian explain the various rewards and punishments in such detail, Li Qingyang couldn’t help but think to himself, “This is definitely the most Senior Sister has ever spoken!”

Jun Changxiao said, “This works.”

He adopted Lu Qianqian’s suggestions and established various tests, minor and major competitions for the Iron Bone Sect. He also gave serious thought to the rewards.

For monthly strength tests, winners received three Qi Gathering Pills.

For the three-month minor disciple competition, the champion got ten Qi Gathering Pills, second and third place got five, and fourth through tenth place each got three.

The annual major competition rewards were more abundant.

The champion not only became an inner sect disciple but also received a basic-grade Cold Edge Sword and twenty Qi Gathering Pills. The top nine also received different quantities of rewards.

This was only a temporary reward system. In the future, when the sect grew stronger and had more martial resources, they would certainly keep improving it.

Unlike other sects, as long as disciples joined, they received various benefits. For example, they could freely cultivate sect techniques, each person received a basic-grade Body Tempering Pill, and Meridian Opening Pills were distributed at fixed times.

This point alone made even powerful sects feel inferior!

Deep night arrived.

Jun Changxiao sat on the great hall’s roof ridge. He took a puff of his cigar, exhaled smoke rings, and said, “The disciple ranking system and reward-punishment establishment represents the great ship of a formalized sect setting sail. My goal is…”

Pointing at the sky with his cigar, he said with boundless heroic spirit, “To conquer that sea of stars!”

“Bang!”

“Splash—”

“Oh my goodness, Li Fei, you kicked the Sect Leader down!”

…

“Swish swish swish!”

In the dark, damp mountain forest, a human figure bent at the waist and rushed forward rapidly, then pressed against a moss-covered stone. He pinched up a handful of grass leaves and scattered them, watching as they drifted with the wind.

This was Xiao Zuiji, determining wind direction and speed!

“Swoosh!” Suddenly, he appeared from behind the stone. The Type 88 Sniper Rifle was raised to his shoulder. His index finger fiercely pulled the trigger. With a “bang,” streaming light shot out, accurately hitting the head of a bear beast eight hundred meters away that was tearing at a corpse.

Without using the eight-times scope—this was completely shoulder-fired!

Very accurate, super accurate!

“Thud thud thud!” Due to the recoil, Xiao Zuiji retreated several steps.

When shooting prone with the bipod, relying on the modified shoulder guard, he could ignore the recoil. But when standing and firing, he still couldn’t withstand it.

After a moment, he came before the slain low fifth-grade fierce beast and used the Cold Edge Sword to extract the crystal core. A brilliant smile appeared on his face.

“Boom!” In another area, the sound of fist strikes rang out.

Ye Xingchen’s cold, fierce fist winds bombarded a low first-grade tiger beast. Finally, he cruelly disemboweled it. Fresh blood and shredded flesh splattered everywhere. The entire person looked exactly like a god of slaughter!

Xiao Zuiji thought to himself, “Junior Brother Ye has very heavy killing intent!”

Having just reincarnated only to be forced to join the Iron Bone Sect and endure the torment of happy soccer, now during outdoor training, if Emperor Ye didn’t vent his fury and killing intent, he’d probably develop internal injuries from holding it in.

Not counting the time setting up the gun at Lingquan Mountain, the two had been training outdoors for seven days.

Relying on the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Manual, Xiao Zuiji advanced from the fourth stage of Meridian Opening to the fifth stage. Ye Xingchen advanced to the ninth stage.

Realm advancement was only secondary. More importantly, after seven days of training, their combat experience increased tremendously.

Take Ye Xingchen, for example. During this period of training, he perfectly adapted to his body. Relying on his previous life’s martial experience, when facing enemies he could seize the initiative.

But due to his body’s aptitude limitations, his agility, reaction speed, and various bodily functions were restricted. When challenging high-level fierce beasts, he would definitely get beaten.

“As long as I comprehend the second layer of the Supreme Mystery Scripture, my spiritual root aptitude can improve from low-grade to common-grade.”

Ye Xingchen thought to himself.

He was full of hope for his future, because he had the Supreme Mystery Scripture and the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Manual!

“Bang!”

Suddenly, gunfire rang out. A streaming light bullet shot toward him.

Ye Xingchen’s pupils suddenly contracted. In that moment, he wanted to dodge, but his body couldn’t keep up with his thoughts!

“Bang—” The streaming light bullet flew past his ear, directly exploding the head of a low fourth-grade fierce beast pouncing from behind.

“Thud!”

The massive body crashed to the ground, blood flowing freely.

A drop of cold sweat appeared on Ye Xingchen’s forehead. In that zero-point-zero-one second just now, he thought he was dead and wondered whether his next reincarnation would take several thousand or tens of thousands of years.

“Junior Brother Ye.” Xiao Zuiji steadied himself and rested the gun on his shoulder, smiling. “Extract the crystal core.”