Within the maple forest.

Xi Jingxuan stood before a tree, with crimson maple leaves drifting past her.

Beautiful scenery, beautiful woman—the entire scene was adorned magnificently.

“Palace Master Xi.”

Before long, Jun Changxiao walked over.

“Sect Leader Jun.”

Xi Jingxuan turned around and smiled, saying, “Inviting you here—was it a bit abrupt?”

The two were separated by only a few meters.

The man was handsome and distinguished, the woman possessed heavenly beauty, and with the sky full of maple leaves setting the atmosphere around them, the scene was truly poetic and picturesque.

Jun Changxiao said, “How could that be?”

Xi Jingxuan pinched a leaf that had landed on her shoulder, saying, “My disciples tell me this is a maple forest.”

“Mm.” Jun Changxiao responded.

Xi Jingxuan said, “The scenery must be very beautiful. What a pity that this palace master has no way to appreciate it.”

These words carried a hint of melancholy.

Seeing this from a distance, Li’er and the other disciples immediately grew concerned.

Jun Changxiao said, “Palace Master Xi is more beautiful than the scenery. These maple trees and maple leaves have no eyes and cannot have the fortune to witness you—that is their regret.”

“Pfft.”

Xi Jingxuan covered her mouth and laughed, the melancholy between her brows dissipating along with it.

Li’er breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself, “I didn’t realize this guy was actually pretty good at saying nice things.”

“Sect Leader Jun.”

Xi Jingxuan said, “You’re quite skilled at making girls happy, aren’t you?”

Jun Changxiao roared inwardly, “If I were actually good at making girls happy, would I still be a damn single dog right now?!”

“Palace Master Xi has misunderstood.”

He said, “I’m not flattering you—I’m speaking the honest truth.”

“Is that so?”

Xi Jingxuan smiled sweetly and said, “Am I truly that beautiful?”

“Very beautiful.” Jun Changxiao said.

This fellow truly wasn’t trying to make a girl happy—he was genuinely speaking the truth. After all, the Miaohua Palace Master’s appearance was in no way inferior to Lu Qianqian’s.

Xi Jingxuan said bitterly, “No matter how beautiful I am, I cannot see it myself.”

“Uh.”

Getting dejected at every turn—this left Jun Changxiao unable to respond properly.

“Sect Leader Jun.”

Xi Jingxuan adjusted her despondent mindset and smiled, saying, “In a while, this palace master would like to visit your sect for an inspection. What are your thoughts on this?”

This was her purpose in inviting Jun Changxiao.

A seventh-rate sect that could thrash a fifth-rate sect so thoroughly—naturally she was very curious about what exactly made the Iron Bones Sect different from others.

Jun Changxiao said, “We warmly welcome Miaohua Palace to conduct a friendly visit to our sect.”

“Friendly visit?”

Xi Jingxuan smiled and said, “Sect Leader Jun has such an amusing way of speaking.”

“How about this.”

She said, “This palace master will return first to handle sect affairs, and in three months I’ll come visit the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.”

“You’re welcome anytime.” Jun Changxiao said.

Xi Jingxuan didn’t say anything more and walked toward her disciples’ location, relying on her sense of direction.

At this moment, if she were to trip and lose her balance, with Jun Changxiao gallantly catching her, staging a scene that only happens in television dramas—that would definitely be excessively melodramatic.

Although Xi Jingxuan had an eye condition, she still possessed cultivation. Unless it was intentional, she would absolutely never trip and fall.

“Palace Master Xi.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Perhaps there exists in this world a master physician who can cure difficult and complicated ailments, so don’t be pessimistic. The most important thing is to face each day with happiness.”

He quite sympathized with Xi Jingxuan, who due to her eye condition had faced endless darkness since birth.

But unable to help, he could only offer chicken soup encouragement.

“Face each day with happiness?”

Xi Jingxuan shook her head, saying, “Managing a large sect makes it very difficult for this palace master to be happy.”

Indeed.

Having a woman manage such a large sect, the burden must be heavy—how could she be happy?

“Sect Leader Jun.”

Xi Jingxuan said, “Are you happy managing a sect?”

“Happy.” Jun Changxiao said.

Training disciples every day, occasionally shooting the breeze and chatting with them, like family—there was no reason not to be happy.

“The Iron Bones Sect disciples must be very happy to have such an amusingly talkative sect leader as you.”

Xi Jingxuan murmured, then left with her disciples supporting her.

Jun Changxiao shook his head, then regrouped with everyone and continued on their journey back to Qingyang Commandery.

“Sect Leader.”

Lu Qianqian transmitted her voice, saying, “What did Palace Master Xi want with you?”

Jun Changxiao was instantly somewhat confused.

Among all these disciples, the biggest gossip was undoubtedly Su Xiaomo.

He hadn’t even asked, yet his usually cold and taciturn first disciple had asked first?

Could it be that thing?

Jun Changxiao said, “Nothing much, just saying some admiring words that made even this seat feel embarrassed.”

“Is that so?” Lu Qianqian responded indifferently.

Jun Changxiao said, “Ah, this seat is handsome and dashing, loved by all who see me, flowers bloom when they see me.”

As he transmitted his voice, he was constantly watching for changes in Lu Qianqian’s facial expression, but she remained cold as ever without any fluctuation.

It seemed.

He had overthought things.

Lu Qianqian said, “Palace Master Xi is not simple. Sect Leader must be on guard.”

“Mm.” Jun Changxiao agreed.

Anyone who could become the palace master of a fourth-rate sect—he absolutely did not believe she was just a beautiful woman.

“In three months, Palace Master Xi wants to come visit.” Jun Changxiao said.

Lu Qianqian’s brows furrowed as she said, “She wants to come investigate what secrets our Iron Bones Sect is hiding.”

Jun Changxiao said, “The sect has many things that cannot be known by outsiders, so when she comes to visit, naturally what should disappear will disappear.”

“After experiencing the battle at Sacred Spring Sect, the Iron Bones Sect will definitely become known to more martial artists.”

Lu Qianqian said, “This disciple believes the sect leader should activate the sect protection grand formation every day to prevent outsiders from sneaking in and carting off a Physique Forging Chamber.”

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin, saying, “That makes sense.”

“Sect Leader.”

Just then, Su Xiaomo transmitted her voice, saying, “What did Palace Master Xi talk to you about?”

As expected.

This fellow was very gossipy—Sect Leader Jun hadn’t wronged her!

……

From Sacred Spring Sect territory to Qingyang Commandery required at least three to four days of travel.

Because they were returning victorious, Jun Changxiao was in a very pleasant mood, so he wasn’t in a hurry to rush back.

Ma Yunteng and Wang Donglin, who were traveling with them, were in for a treat, because they could now taste Sect Leader Jun’s barbecue skills.

“Excellent, excellent!”

After finishing a skewer, Elder Ma praised effusively, saying, “This old one is learning for the first time that meat can actually be grilled and eaten this way.”

Wang Donglin held a small wine jar, eating and drinking simultaneously, his mood greatly improved.

City Lord Xie, Family Head Ai, and the others had tasted this during their journey here, so they didn’t display overly exaggerated expressions—they just silently ate skewers and drank wine with their heads down.

“Sect Leader.”

Liu Wanshi walked over, her hands itching as she said, “Let me try.”

“Sure.”

Jun Changxiao moved away from the grill.

Liu Wanshi fully displayed her culinary prowess, grilling skewers that directly outclassed his and earned continuous praise from everyone.

However.

Just as everyone was eating enthusiastically, hurried footsteps came from the shadows, and dozens of black silhouettes flew out.

They weren’t masked, wearing black practical combat attire, their gazes flickering with cold malice, exuding a sinister aura, with beast skull-like patterns printed on their chests.

“Demonic Malice Sect!”

Ma Yunteng and Wang Donglin immediately frowned.

What?

City Lord Xie, Family Head Ai, and the others’ faces suddenly changed dramatically!

The Demonic Malice Sect—they had heard this name before. It was a third-rate evil sect with branch halls spread across various provinces, extremely formidable in strength. Even second-rate sects might not dare provoke them!

Now that they had suddenly appeared, they definitely came with ill intent!

“Heh heh heh.”

The weathered old man in the lead laughed coldly, saying, “Elder Ma, Elder Wang, this seat has brought people here—we haven’t disturbed you two elders’ elegant interest in outdoor dining, have we?”

This seat?

This person must be a branch hall master of the Demonic Malice Sect!

Ma Yunteng said in a deep voice, “What brings Your Excellency here?”

The weathered old man looked toward Jun Changxiao, saying, “This seat has come here because I wish to borrow something from the Iron Bones Sect Leader.”

“Borrow what?” Jun Changxiao said.

The old man smiled sinisterly, saying, “Borrow the blade with a weapon spirit that Sect Leader Jun used when defeating the Sacred Spring Sect’s Sect Master.”