After drinking with City Lord Xie, Jun Changxiao understood that while the world seemed peaceful on the surface, undercurrents were surging beneath. If war broke out in Southwest Yang Province, Qingyang Prefecture would definitely be in danger of annihilation.

When the nest is overturned, how can any eggs remain intact?

The Iron Bones Clanging Sect existed within Qingyang City’s territory. Once the flames of war spread here, they would definitely be affected. So helping City Lord Xie was also helping himself.

“Still need time,” Jun Changxiao said.

The sect was currently in its initial stages. If an outside prefecture initiated war and attacked Qingyang Prefecture, organizing forces to resist would definitely be very difficult. Only with sufficient time to grow strong could they have the power to protect themselves.

How much time?

Naturally, the longer the better.

Of course.

Jun Changxiao didn’t want to be some kind of savior either.

If war truly came, he would only protect Qingyang City where the sect was located. As for other cities…

Well, given the relationship with the Ai Family, if he had the ability, he would naturally try his best to provide aid.

If that didn’t work, he could only focus on defense.

Sect Leader Jun had no ambition to rule the world, because that was something for emperor-type protagonists. As a sect leader-type protagonist, how could he overstep his bounds?

“Hall Master Li.”

In the main hall, Jun Changxiao said, “Have the Fine Rain Hall members purchase large quantities of ore from each city.”

War relied not only on people but also on excellent equipment.

Whether or not they could be refined, buying and stockpiling them first was definitely right.

Li Luoqiu said, “War is fought with economics. It’s not something that happens the moment it’s mentioned. Isn’t Sect Leader worrying too much?”

“Prepare for danger in times of peace, plan ahead,” Jun Changxiao said.

“Fine.”

Li Luoqiu rubbed her jade hands together. “You need to provide money.”

Jun Changxiao tossed over several spatial rings.

Li Luoqiu counted them and discovered they contained a total of fifty million taels. She said somewhat dazed, “How much does Sect Leader plan to buy?”

Jun Changxiao handed over materials like the Cold Edge Sword that could be refined. “First buy the ores listed here. If those aren’t available, then buy other ores.”

“Mm.”

Li Luoqiu summoned Viper and the others, distributed the banknotes, and commanded them to make purchases in Qingyang Prefecture’s eight cities as quickly as possible.

The Fine Rain Hall members who had learned Cloud Striding Step worked very efficiently. In just two or three days, they successively returned with purchases.

The mineral materials for Cold Edge Swords, Overlord Spears, and Solid Iron Shields were all replenished, and quite a few other ores of varying quality were also acquired.

As for the fifty million taels, it was naturally spent down to the last coin.

Since Jun Changxiao wanted to plan ahead, he naturally wouldn’t begrudge the money. While cultivating, he opened the Forging Pavilion and began crafting weapons and equipment.

After taking inventory, he had refined over two hundred Cold Edge Swords and over three hundred Overlord Spears.

For Solid Iron Shields, because he already had large quantities of iron ore previously obtained from the Xiao Family, he directly refined over seven hundred.

Even so, he still couldn’t equip all one thousand sect disciples with weapons and shields.

…

When war would break out, the ambitious prefecture lords knew themselves. So after crafting quite a bit of equipment and stockpiling ore, Jun Changxiao continued cultivating.

During this period, he continuously consumed Qi Gathering Pills and absorbed spirit stones. The spiritual energy cultivation speed was truly quite fast—in just a month and a half, he broke through from Eighth-Rank to Ninth-Rank Wushi!

With great advancement came great expenditure.

In over forty days, Sect Leader Jun absorbed as many as 450 spirit stones, averaging 10 per day.

Not counting Qi Gathering Pills, just the spirit stones alone.

This guy spent 100,000 taels daily—truly super money-burning.

Cultivating like him, even Fourth or Fifth-Tier sect masters might not be able to afford it!

The inner sect disciples also cultivated with Qi Gathering Pills plus spirit stones, with significant realm improvements.

Ye Xingchen advanced to Fourth-Rank Wushi.

Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, and the others advanced to Third-Rank Wushi.

Tian Qi, with superior-grade spiritual roots, had broken through to Wushi one step slower. Though he later also received spirit stone supplements, he had only just advanced to Second-Rank Wushi.

At this point, there were less than three months remaining until the time to challenge the Sacred Spring Sect. With sufficient spirit stone supply, reaching Fifth-Rank Wushi on average shouldn’t be difficult.

But… they were gone!

Conversely, Qi Gathering Pills, during this period through Old Wei and the others’ harvesting and planting, had formed a positive cycle, achieving self-sufficiency.

High-multiplier Qi Gathering Pills were certainly excellent, but as realms rose higher, even consuming them constantly would require time.

This was already very good.

If outside martial artists knew that the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s inner sect disciples received ten to fifteen times multiplier Qi Gathering Pills throughout, they would definitely vomit blood with envy.

Jun Changxiao steeled his heart, personally went down the mountain to Qingyang City, spent twenty million to purchase 2,000 spirit stones for himself and his disciples to cultivate, preparing for the challenge to the Sacred Spring Sect.

The one hundred million taels Family Head Ai had sent—after purchasing seeds, then purchasing ore, then buying so many spirit stones—had been spent until almost nothing remained.

Already having a huge gap compared to sects with deep heritage, if he didn’t rely on the system and pile on massive amounts of money, how could he overtake them on the curves?

During this cultivation period, the sect held the quarterly sect competition and monthly strength tests.

Even using the Spring-Autumn Great Method to accelerate the time progression, these things still had to be conducted. Just because they weren’t written didn’t mean they hadn’t occurred.

Similarly, Family Head Ai would deliver resources on schedule, and the Medicine Hall would harvest medicinal materials and conduct cyclical planting.

…

Two months later.

Only about ten days remained until the challenge to the Sacred Spring Sect!

Outside discussions became increasingly intense.

Many martial artists were constantly watching for the latest news—for instance, had the Iron Bones Clanging Sect set out yet?

The Hundred Sects Alliance people had even stationed lookouts at the mountain base. As soon as Jun Changxiao led his disciples out, they would set out for the Sacred Spring Sect.

To cheer on the Iron Bones Clanging Sect?

Impossible.

They had to go watch the spectacle, had to mindlessly play the villain and desperately mock and ridicule them, forcibly showing their presence.

The reason they hadn’t departed early and stationed lookouts was fear that the Iron Bones Clanging Sect would chicken out and abandon the fight—so this was supervision.

The Hundred Sects Alliance’s meaning was simple.

Since they had issued a challenge to the Sacred Spring Sect, they had to fight like men.

Standing them up was absolutely unacceptable!

Within Qingyang City, City Lord Xie had long since begun arranging affairs to free up sufficient time to go cheer for the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.

On this point, the Ai Family performed even better. Because the challenge date was close to the auction, they didn’t hesitate to postpone it.

When all forces were extremely pessimistic about the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, City Lord Xie and the Ai Family could still stand unwavering on their side—this was true friendship shown in adversity!

As the appointed day approached.

The originally rather peaceful Qingyang Prefecture became lively, and some forces from other prefectures also stirred.

An Eighth-Tier sect challenging a Fifth-Tier sect was an unprecedented event, so naturally they had to go to the Sacred Spring Sect to watch the excitement.

…

In the spiritually enshrouded Miaohua Palace.

Xi Jingxuan sat in a poetically picturesque pavilion. “The day Sect Leader Jun goes to challenge the Sacred Spring Sect is approaching, isn’t it?”

“Ten more days.”

Li’er muttered inwardly—since the last auction ended, over half a year had passed, yet the Palace Master still remembered the Iron Bones Clanging Sect?

“Make preparations.”

Xi Jingxuan said, “We’re going to the Sacred Spring Sect.”

“Yes.”

…

“Junior Martial Sister Murong.”

On an official road in a certain prefecture, a woman in fitted clothing said, “I heard an inferior sect wants to challenge a Fifth-Tier sect. Want to go watch the excitement?”

Her appearance was decent, but compared to the martial sister walking ahead, she clearly fell short.

The woman walking in front was about sixteen or seventeen years old.

Dressed in blue, skin like snow, slender figure, oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, emanating a noble aura.

This was Xiao Zuiji’s former fiancée, Murong Xin!

The martial artists on the road seemed to know the two were disciples of the Lily Sacred Sect and avoided them one after another, their gazes showing wariness.

“An inferior sect?” Murong Xin asked.

The senior martial sister said, “It seems to be called the Iron-something Sect. Oh right, it’s in the same prefecture as that waste who was once engaged to Junior Martial Sister.”

“The Iron Bones Clanging Sect?”

Murong Xin paused briefly. “The training mission has already ended and we still have ample time. It’s also right on the way—why not go take a look?”

“Junior Martial Sister.”

The senior sister smiled. “You’ve already broken through to Ninth-Rank Wushi. Your speed is the fastest among new disciples. You’ll definitely achieve good results in the upcoming sect competition!”

“It’s all thanks to Elder’s excellent instruction,” Murong Xin said modestly.

The senior sister said, “A heaven’s pride daughter like Junior Martial Sister—how could that Qingyang Prefecture waste be worthy? Breaking off the engagement was truly a wise move.”

Murong Xin’s willow eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Senior Sister, could you not mention him?”