“Sword cultivator, Zhou Hong.”

The man speaking these words had a somewhat hoarse voice.

Jun Changxiao raised his head. It was a youth with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, probably twenty-three or twenty-four years old, but his face was filled with vicissitudes that clearly didn’t match his age.

Dressed in black robes, covered in dust.

A bit of a wandering drifter, a bit of an expert’s flavor.

Ma Yongning also had this vicissitudinous quality.

Blade wielders, sword wielders.

All had this standard appearance.

Because they’d long traveled the jianghu and cultivated that heroic spirit of brandishing their blade toward heaven with a laugh, leaving their courage and integrity to the two Kunlun peaks.

Just imagine.

The bright moon hanging high, atop the Iron Bone Sect’s great hall.

On the left, blade wielder Ma Yongning standing with blade embraced; on the right, sword wielder Zhou Hong standing with sword embraced. Their dialogue as follows—

“You came.”

“Yes, I came.”

“You shouldn’t have come.”

“But I’ve already come.”

“Why did you come?”

“I don’t know why either, but I still came.”

“Draw your sword.”

“Draw your blade.”

“Sword-blade-rock-paper-scissors!”

This kind of philosophical, thought-provoking dialogue could only be expressed by true blade and sword wielders.

Zhou Hong’s eyes flashed with a sword-like sharp gleam, making Jun Changxiao feel as if he heard him saying—I’ve come again!

Since you’ve come, I’ll accept you!

Jun Changxiao only filled in the name on the entry form, then stamped the seal.

Simple and efficient, no nonsense.

This was the greatest respect for a sword wielder!

“Gurgle!”

Zhou Hong’s stomach rumbled. He collapsed on the registration table, saying weakly, “Hungry…”

Was this what the heck an expert was?!

Jun Changxiao covered his forehead in despair. “Qingyang, carry him to the cafeteria.”

“Yes.” Li Qingyang came over, lifted Zhou Hong with one hand, and was about to take his sword with the other.

But just as he was about to touch it, the other party suddenly found strength, grabbed the sword first, and said solemnly, “Sword cultivators—sword never leaves the body.”

Li Qingyang shook his head and dragged him into the sect.

Registration continued.

The fifth registrant was seventeen years old, plain-looking with no special talents, but had a resounding name—Sima Zhongda.

Jun Changxiao quipped, “You must have an opponent named Zhuge Kongming.”

Zhuge Kongming?

Sima Zhongda looked confused.

“Accepted.”

After some inquiry, Jun Changxiao stamped the seal.

In his view, compound surnames like Ouyang, Murong, Dongfang, Lanxiang were definitely from major families.

What were Sect Leader Jun’s standards for accepting disciples?

Spiritual roots and cultivation took a back seat. As long as he confirmed with his eyes that you were the person he wanted, all were taken into his fold.

The System quipped, “Isn’t it just because there are few registrants and the host has no choice?”

Jun Changxiao was too lazy to respond. “Next.”

No response.

He raised his head and looked, only to find there was no one left. Only five people total had come to register.

“Whoosh whoosh!”

A breeze blew by. The mountain gate was filled with a desolate atmosphere.

“Sigh.”

Jun Changxiao sighed, carried his chair back into the sect, his back looking somewhat vicissitudinous, like an old man in his twilight years.

…

After the new disciples joined, the member count increased from one hundred forty-eight to one hundred fifty-three, earning five contribution points.

Li Qingyang took them to collect uniforms, distribute the sect rules manual, and such.

Jun Changxiao cultivated in the sculpting chamber for an hour, then came before the cell holding the Fine Rain Building’s building master and unlocked the chains with a series of clicks.

“Is your stay satisfactory?” After walking in, he gave the woman a gentlemanly smile.

The Fine Rain Building’s building master said, “Sect Leader Jun, we agreed to talk, but locking me up is rather inappropriate, don’t you think?”

Jun Changxiao leaned against the door, arms crossed. “If you agree to one thing for this seat, you’ll immediately be treated as an honored guest of the Iron Bone Sect.”

The Fine Rain Building’s building master brushed her black hair and smiled. “It’s definitely not anything good.”

This woman was around twenty years old, with a beautiful face and a good figure. Even an inadvertent movement exuded a seductive aura.

“If my eldest disciple were like her…” Jun Changxiao quickly stopped that thought, thinking to himself, “That would be too terrifying!”

Jun Changxiao said, “Miss, what is your esteemed name?”

“Li Luoqiu.” The Fine Rain Building’s building master said.

Jun Changxiao said, “Good name.”

Li Luoqiu smiled. “Sect Leader Jun, this wouldn’t be the matter you mentioned, would it?”

“Of course not.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Building Master Li, are you interested in bringing your subordinates to join my Iron Bone Sect?”

“Hehehe.”

Li Luoqiu covered her mouth and laughed, her laughter like swaying flowers.

Jun Changxiao said, “Very funny?”

Li Luoqiu stopped laughing. “Sect Leader Jun, I, Li Luoqiu, am an assassin. I won’t join your so-called sects.”

“Why?” Jun Changxiao said.

Li Luoqiu said, “Would a bird accustomed to freedom and ease like being locked in a cage?”

Jun Changxiao shook his head. “An assassin who keeps company with darkness and usually doesn’t dare show their face in public—is this freedom and ease?”

Li Luoqiu said coolly, “If you want to recruit me, you’d best not waste your breath.”

Jun Changxiao naturally wouldn’t give up. “Miss Li, this seat could destroy the Lingquan Sect, showed no fear of the Holy Spring Sect, and invited all your building’s people here. You should understand my strength, right?”

After a moment of silence, Li Luoqiu said, “Sect Leader Jun is not simple.”

Last night she’d wondered how a sect obscure in the jianghu could suddenly become so formidable.

And this guy.

At the Hundred Sects Recruitment, he was at the fifth or sixth stage of Meridian Opening.

In just a few months, he advanced to high-grade Wutu and defeated her—this was truly inconceivable.

Jun Changxiao said, “My Iron Bone Sect is currently at the just-starting-out stage and lacks worthy and capable people. If Miss Li brings her subordinates to join, when we one day become the strongest sect dominating the continent, you’ll be a founding elder!”

Li Luoqiu’s almond eyes widened.

If he’d said something grandiose like “dominate Qingyang Commandery,” she might still believe it.

Dominate the continent? And strongest sect? There were only two possibilities: one, he was joking; two, something was wrong with his head.

Jun Changxiao wasn’t joking, and his mind was quite normal.

He said seriously, “If Miss Li is willing to assist this seat, you’ll be the Fine Rain Hall’s hall master.”

Li Luoqiu teased, “The Iron Bone Sect has a hall master position?”

“Didn’t in the past, does now.”

Jun Changxiao said, “If Miss Li joins, you’ll be my Iron Bone Sect’s first hall master. This will be forever recorded in history for the world to admire!”

Li Luoqiu: “…”

“Swoosh!”

Jun Changxiao pulled out the Desert Eagle, spun it on his finger, and pointed the grip toward her. “Become my Iron Bone Sect’s hall master, and Miss Li can use this Divine Might Fire Blunderbuss as you please.”

“Of course.”

Jun Changxiao said, “There are also various martial resources. Not only can Miss Li use them, your subordinates can too.”

“Finished?” Li Luoqiu said.

Jun Changxiao said earnestly, “Miss Li, today is both the first time this seat sincerely invites you and the last time. Please consider carefully, because this opportunity won’t come again if you miss it.”

“Pfft.”

Li Luoqiu covered her mouth and smiled. “You make it sound like if I don’t agree, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

Jun Changxiao said, “I’ll give you three days to consider.”

With that, he turned to leave.

Li Luoqiu called out, “Stop.”

Jun Changxiao stopped. “Miss Li has thought it through?”

Li Luoqiu crossed her arms, looking quite interested. “If I become your Iron Bone Sect’s hall master, what special privileges do I get?”

Jun Changxiao said, “You and your subordinates aren’t restricted in freedom. You can go out as you please.”

Right, the intelligence department definitely needed to go out. Sitting in the sect like a lord drinking tea and reading newspapers wouldn’t serve any purpose.

Li Luoqiu smiled. “Sect Leader Jun invites me so sincerely—could it be the sect just happens to lack a hall master?”

“Of course not.”

Jun Changxiao said, “This seat provides all martial resources for Miss Li. Naturally, you must also demonstrate corresponding value.”

“Help you kill people?” Li Luoqiu said.

Jun Changxiao said, “Dirty and exhausting work like killing will be done by male disciples. Miss Li’s responsibility is to help this seat gather intelligence.”

“Just something as simple as gathering intelligence?” Li Luoqiu said in surprise.

Jun Changxiao said, “You want to do something else?”

Li Luoqiu propped up her chin. “Give me some time to consider.”

“In three days, this seat will come again. I hope Miss Li…” Before he could finish, she interrupted. “I’ve already thought it through. I’m willing to accept your recruitment and become the Iron Bone Sect’s hall master.”

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.

This woman considered things really fast!