Fire Dragon really could eat. Consuming several hundred jin of meat per day was like child’s play, and the more it ate, the more it could eat, to the point that Iron Bones Sect disciples had no meat left to eat.

It wasn’t that Jun Changxiao couldn’t afford to buy meat, but rather that with this way of eating, even the town’s meat supply couldn’t keep up.

Did he have to go to the city to buy meat?

Jun Changxiao didn’t consider going to town every few days during his cultivation breaks a waste of time, but traveling back and forth to the city was a bit far.

Send disciples to buy it?

Not impossible, but with Xiao Longlong eating like this, how many spatial rings would they need to bring?

“Iron Bones Mountain is so large, with plenty of birds and beasts. We can let it hunt on its own to fill its belly.”

Jun Changxiao murmured.

This kind of big eater would definitely be very expensive to raise through feeding alone. The only option was to throw it into the mountain forest and let it roam freely.

The System said: “The Fire Dragon young beast was just born not long ago. Its strength isn’t strong enough yet. If it encounters a high-level fierce beast, it might sing a sad song.”

The corner of Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched: “When it was just born, the flames it erupted could burn Xiaomo unconscious—that’s not strong enough?”

The System said: “The disciple knew it was the host’s contracted beast. First, he wasn’t on guard, and second, he didn’t want to hurt it. Otherwise, he could easily subdue it.”

These words hit the mark.

Su Xiaomo, Tian Qi, and the others had strength comparable to Martial Masters, so naturally they could easily dominate Fire Dragon.

But because it was the Sect Master’s contracted beast, they would rather eat vegetable dishes and preserve face.

As the saying goes, even when beating a dog, you must consider its master.

Jun Changxiao said: “You mean to let Xiao Longlong continue eating in the sect?”

The System said: “It can eat for a while first. When its strength improves and it has the power to protect itself, then throw it into the mountains to hunt on its own.”

Jun Changxiao was silent for a moment, then said: “That works too.”

Throwing the little creature alone into the mountains—even if it was Iron Bones Mountain—made him somewhat uneasy. At worst, he’d bring more spatial rings and buy tens of thousands of jin of beast meat.

If that didn’t work.

He’d make a trip to Death Valley and kill some large-bodied fierce beasts.

“Sect Master!”

Just then, Su Xiaomo rushed in from outside. Whether it was excitement or sorrow on his face was unclear as he said: “Xiao Longlong has been frozen by Big Senior Sister!”

“What?”

Jun Changxiao hurriedly walked out of the great hall.

He saw on the training grounds that Lu Qianqian’s face was cold, the cold air in her hands not yet fully retracted, the surrounding air incomparably frigid.

Many disciples stood outside, but because the temperature had dropped, they hugged themselves and shivered with cold.

On the training grounds was also a small ice sculpture, with Xiao Longlong sealed inside, frozen in a running posture with all four limbs extended.

“What’s the situation?” Jun Changxiao said.

Su Xiaomo said: “Big Senior Sister went to the dining hall to eat. Xiao Longlong ate the meat from her dish, and then this happened.”

Jun Changxiao said speechlessly: “Courting death!”

That little creature was really bold, actually daring to snatch the Ice Mountain Woman’s meat. Being frozen was getting what it deserved.

“Crack crack crack!”

A moment later, the seal released. Ice layers fell away piece by piece, and the little creature fell to the ground, its entire body convulsing from the cold.

“Achoo.”

The next day, the little creature lay on its master’s shoulder, still constantly sneezing.

A fire element fierce beast frozen like this—clearly our Big Senior Sister who was cold in person and sparse with words had ice element attributes that were truly powerful.

Jun Changxiao shook his head: “In the sect, you can provoke anyone, but absolutely don’t provoke that woman.”

“Squeak squeak!”

Xiao Longlong called out once in defiance.

Hey.

My contracted beast is quite…

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, the little creature fearfully burrowed into his clothes.

Why?

Because Lu Qianqian walked out from the inner courtyard.

I thought you were quite manly, but in less than a second you turned into a coward!

“Sect Master.”

Lu Qianqian said flatly: “Your contracted beast keeps snatching the junior brothers’ meat. This ultimately isn’t a solution.”

The disciples training on the grounds, hearing Big Senior Sister’s words, immediately felt sorrow surge into their hearts, and had the impulse to cry.

Although Liu Wanshi’s cooking skills were excellent, and eating vegetables was beneficial for health, they were carnivorous animals after all. Not eating meat for several days really put them in a bad mood.

“This seat is also considering this problem.”

Jun Changxiao said: “In a bit, I’ll have someone go to Qingyang City to purchase enough fierce beast meat so everyone has meat to eat and soup to drink.”

The disciples were overjoyed.

Sima Zhongda voluntarily raised his hand and said: “Sect Master, I once sold meat and have a good understanding of prices. I’m willing to go to Qingyang City to make purchases!”

“You may.”

Jun Changxiao calculated the storage capacity of ordinary spatial rings, then gave Sima Zhongda twenty rings and a large sum of money, sending him down the mountain to make purchases.

Dusk arrived.

Sima Zhongda returned, with the spatial rings fully loaded with twenty thousand jin of meat.

Even eating five hundred jin per day, it would be enough to last a month.

“One jin of meat costs ten taels. Twenty thousand jin is two hundred thousand taels, and one year would be two million four hundred thousand taels!”

Jun Changxiao was somewhat frantic.

A sect of over five hundred people eating this much money in one year—what reason was there not to continue earning money to support the family!

“Sect Master.”

Li Luoqiu came from outside and said: “News has come from Huyang City. Family Head Ai is going to the Eighth Rank Lingyang Commandery to auction pills.”

Jun Changxiao said in surprise: “Why isn’t he auctioning in Qingyang Commandery anymore?”

Li Luoqiu said: “Marketplace rumors say that a great family in Lingyang Commandery spent a fortune to invite the Ai Family to auction healing pills there.”

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang came to report: “Family Head Ai requests an audience outside.”

Li Luoqiu had learned of the news that Ai Shangni was coming to the sect, but before she could speak, he had already arrived. The speed was truly fast.

“Please invite him in.”

…

Ai Shangni entered the great hall. After some conversation, he first presented the recently prepared medicinal ingredients and high-quality seeds, then informed them about going to Lingyang Commandery.

“Family Head Ai.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Why are you going to Lingyang Commandery?”

Ai Shangni smiled: “The Qian Family of Lingyang Commandery offered a high price, hoping my Ai Family could hold a pill auction at their auction house.”

The Qian Family?

Just from the name, they sounded very wealthy!

Ai Shangni said: “I have decent relations with Family Head Qian. Unable to refuse such generous hospitality, I had no choice but to accept the appointment and chose Lingyang Commandery as the location for the next auction.”

When he received the Qian Family’s invitation, he had been tempted. After all, Qingyang Commandery was too small. If he went to an Eighth Rank commandery to auction, he could definitely sell for higher prices.

Merchants valued profit.

If he could sell healing pills and body tempering pills for higher prices, he would naturally be willing to go to economically developed regions.

“I see.”

Jun Changxiao considered briefly, then took out another 20 healing pills and 10 bottles of body tempering pills, saying: “Lingyang Commandery is quite far. Making the trip isn’t easy, so Family Head Ai should sell more.”

Ai Shangni was overjoyed.

Combined with what he had before, he now had 70 healing pills and 20 body tempering pills. Going to Lingyang Commandery would definitely bring a full return.

The two conversed a while longer, then Family Head Ai rose to leave.

After seeing him off, Jun Changxiao murmured: “Right now I need money. I hope that on Family Head Ai’s trip to Lingyang Commandery, he can bring back enough silver.”

“Clap.”

Slapping his hands together: “There’s enough meat now. I can cultivate in peace.”

However, unexpectedly, the next day Xiao Longlong’s appetite decreased greatly. It only ate two or three jin of meat and had a listless appearance.

Had it gotten sick from the cold?

Another day passed, and the little creature lay in the small nest temporarily arranged in the study, sleeping and not getting up.

Jun Changxiao became more worried.

The System said: “Host, don’t panic. This little creature should have entered hibernation.”

What hibernation!

It was only autumn right now!

The System said: “Some special fierce beasts on Xingyun Continent periodically fall into deep sleep states. Fire Dragon should be in this situation.”

“It’s not sick?”

“No.”

“That’s good then.”

Jun Changxiao said: “What benefit does deep sleep have?”

The System said: “Fierce beasts in deep sleep can better comprehend heaven and earth attributes, thereby improving their strength. This is called sleep evolution.”

Hearing that it could improve strength and even evolve, Jun Changxiao’s gaze grew fervent. Then, as if understanding something, he said: “Xiao Longlong ate so much food but didn’t grow—is it because it lacked sleep evolution?”

“Uh…”

The System said: “Theoretically, yes.”

Jun Changxiao rubbed his hands together: “This so-called sleep evolution—how long does it take?”

“Fast would be three to five months, slow would be three to five hundred years.”

Three to five hundred years?

Jun Changxiao nearly collapsed.

If the little creature belonged to the slowest category, by the time it woke from deep sleep, he would either have already self-detonated with grass several zhang high on his grave, or he would have already developed Iron Bones Sect into the strongest sect on Xingyun Continent.