Several days later.
Li Qingyang departed first.
His mission was to claim the championship of the Huayang Commandery martial arts tournament.
Li Qingyang had a steady personality and was somewhat kindhearted.
Jun Changxiao sent him to participate in an event with mortal danger precisely to temper him properly.
After joining the sect, Li Qingyang had changed considerably, especially in dealing with enemies, showing the appropriate decisive ruthlessness.
However, it wasn’t thorough enough.
For instance, in the battle with the Black Eagle Hall team leader, he could have killed him directly, but a slight hint of mercy in his heart let the opponent seize the opportunity to escape.
Kindness is a virtue.
Being a saint is also a virtue.
Jun Changxiao didn’t want his disciples to be cold-blooded and heartless, but he also didn’t want them to show mercy toward enemies.
Because that wasn’t saintly kindness—that was brain-dead Holy Mother behavior.
After Li Qingyang departed.
Five Gold Medal members followed in the shadows, providing constant protection.
The next day, Xiao Zuiji, Su Xiaomo, and the others departed early since the sect tournaments they were participating in were far away. Drizzle Hall members accompanied them as well.
Jun Changxiao then focused his attention on instructing disciples while rewarding Ye Xingchen with ten fifteen-times Qi Gathering Pills and ten spirit stones.
Going from one hundred stones to ten was somewhat stingy.
However, the fifteen-times Qi Gathering Pills made Ye Xingchen very satisfied.
“The three-month disciple tournament is coming up soon.”
Jun Changxiao murmured, “The champion can receive several spirit stones as an additional reward.”
When this decision was conveyed, the disciples immediately cultivated even more enthusiastically!
…
While Li Qingyang and the others went to participate in various competitions, Jun Changxiao repeated his routine of cultivation, instructing disciples, and training in the Training Tower.
Fifteen-times Qi Gathering Pills and spirit stones were naturally supplied at all times.
Several days later.
Relying on resources and the formidable Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic, Sect Leader Jun’s realm advanced from Fifth Grade to Sixth Grade Wushi.
Currently speaking, he had caught up with Li Luoqiu, who had just entered Sixth Grade Wushi, becoming the strongest in the sect.
“Bang!”
Punching the testing machine, the displayed strength value was 97,000.
A Fifth Grade Wushi’s strength value was around 90,000. Now, breaking through to Sixth Grade directly increased it by 7,000—1,000 pounds more than the maximum limit.
“Alas.”
Jun Changxiao said, unsatisfied: “When will I reach the level where I can directly use the Green Dragon Crescent Blade without the Strength Enhancement Talisman?”
The System said, “Based on the strength increase from the Host’s realm advancement, you must break through to Wuzong to meet the requirements.”
“The Wushi stage won’t work?” Jun Changxiao asked.
The System said, “The Green Dragon Crescent Blade requires a minimum of 150,000 pounds. When the Host reaches peak Wushi, your strength will at most be around 130,000 pounds, which definitely won’t work.”
“Only 130,000?”
Jun Changxiao shook his head.
The System said speechlessly, “The top geniuses of Xingyun Continent at the Wushi level have maximum strength values of only around 100,000. The Host is 20,000 to 30,000 pounds higher than them—what are you dissatisfied about?”
“Damn!”
Jun Changxiao said, “You finally said something I like to hear!”
System: “…”
…
Three days later.
Li Qingyang returned.
He had left clean and tidy, and returned clean and tidy.
“Second Senior Brother!”
The cultivating disciples surrounded him and asked, “How was it?”
“Not bad.”
Li Qingyang smiled and said, “Won the championship.”
“Second Senior Brother is mighty!”
The disciples shouted in unison again.
That sense of pride in being Ironbone Sect disciples became considerably stronger once more!
“Sect Leader.”
Li Qingyang entered the great hall, presenting fifty spirit stones and a mid-grade middle-tier weapon, saying, “These are the championship rewards from the Huaying Commandery martial arts tournament.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao took forty spirit stones and asked, “Was there any difficulty?”
“No difficulty.”
Li Qingyang said rather disappointedly, “The Huaying Commandery martial arts tournament had an age restriction—those over twenty couldn’t participate. The strongest contestant was only a Seventh Grade Wutu.”
“That truly is weak.”
Jun Changxiao asked, “Did you kill anyone?”
“The martial arts tournament didn’t distinguish between life and death. This disciple encountered quite a few heretical sect martial artists whose moves were vicious and ruthless, but in the end they were counter-killed by me,” Li Qingyang said.
Jun Changxiao said with satisfaction, “Good, very good.”
“Sect Leader.”
Li Qingyang said, “This disciple is worried that this will offend several heretical sect forces and they’ll come to our Ironbone Sect to cause trouble.”
Jun Changxiao rubbed his nose and said, “As long as they dare come, they won’t be going back.”
“Sect Leader!”
Just then, Zhang Wei rushed over from outside, saying, “There’s a fellow claiming to be an elder from Ghost Hand Sect causing a commotion outside!”
Li Qingyang said gravely, “Sect Leader, Ghost Hand Sect is a Seventh-Rate heretical sect in Huaying Commandery. Among the contestants this disciple killed was a disciple from this sect.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Jun Changxiao said, “The trouble came quite quickly.”
Saying this, he stood up and walked out.
…
Outside the sect.
The Ghost Hand Sect elder stood proudly with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes flickering with a sinister gleam—clearly a typical heretical sect member.
He was very angry now.
Because the disciple who participated in the martial arts tournament had been killed by the Ironbone Sect’s Li Qingyang.
What angered him more was that he had waited outside the city where the tournament was held for most of the day but still hadn’t caught that fellow.
After killing a heretical sect disciple, Li Qingyang naturally knew he’d provoked trouble, so when leaving he had disguised himself.
Otherwise, he definitely couldn’t have returned safe and sound.
“Creak.”
The tightly closed red lacquered gate opened.
Jun Changxiao walked out from inside, smiling: “And you are?”
“Hmph.”
Gui Jianchou said coldly, “Fourth Elder of Huaying Commandery’s Ghost Hand Sect, Song Si.”
Song Si? Sounds like “sending death”?
This name rivaled Ai Zou’s!
“Boy.”
Song Si said indifferently, “Looking at your refined appearance, could you be the Ironbone Sect leader?”
“Correct.”
Sect Leader Jun smiled and said, “Elder Song, what brings you all this way to visit my Ironbone Sect?”
“Visit my ass!”
Song Si said in a deep voice, “Call out your sect’s Li Qingyang—this old man will take his life.”
Worthy of heretical sect origins—straight to the point.
Jun Changxiao said, “Elder Song is a sect higher-up after all. Coming to my Ironbone Sect to take my disciple’s life is somewhat improper, isn’t it?”
Song Si sneered and said, “Daring to kill my Ghost Hand Sect’s disciple, regardless of status, this old man must personally execute him.”
“How about this.”
Jun Changxiao said, “This Seat will exchange a few moves with Elder Song.”
Just broke through to Sixth Grade Wushi—itching for a fight!
“Keke keke.”
Song Si cackled strangely: “Sect Leader Jun, when this old man exchanges blows with people, it’s only to take lives, not to exchange moves.”
“That’s fine then.”
Jun Changxiao said, “This Seat will let Elder Song try to take my life.”
“Killing my sect’s disciple, having the sect leader pay with his life isn’t bad either,” Song Si said indifferently. “Here, or at your sect’s martial arts arena?”
“Right here.”
Jun Changxiao said, “This Seat is afraid that blood will dirty the stone slabs afterward.”
“Keke keke.”
Song Si cackled: “Sect Leader Jun is a refined person.”
“Swish!”
Suddenly, Jun Changxiao appeared before him using Ghost Shadow Step, saying sinisterly, “Elder Song, don’t misunderstand—this Seat is afraid your blood will dirty the stone slabs!”
Song Si’s smile froze, horror flashing in his eyes.
This fellow’s speed was so fast that he hadn’t even captured how he’d approached!
“Swish!”
Right at this moment, Jun Changxiao swung his fist.
Enhanced by Explosive Fist, the force it carried easily broke through to over 100,000 pounds!
Not good…
Boom!