In the Xingyun Continent, high-level martial artists had a much higher probability of being injured than low-level martial artists.

Why?

Because low-cultivation martial artists were cautious and kept a low profile when going out.

High-cultivation martial artists, on the other hand, were arrogant and often more likely to stir up trouble or take risks.

Therefore, middle-grade healing pills targeted at Wushi and Wuzong. While their coverage was not as broad as those for Open Meridian and Wutu, they were definitely easier to sell for big money.

If not for the distance being a bit far, Sect Leader Jun might have sent a few pills to Family Head Ai and had him auction them off on the side.

The techniques had been distributed, the pills had been refined.

Another matter rose on the agenda—recruiting disciples!

Speaking of which, it was strange.

Since recruiting exactly 500 disciples last time, no one had registered since, which left Jun Changxiao dejected.

I’ve already thoroughly trampled the Haoqi Gate underfoot—shouldn’t the young people of Qingyang Commandery be flocking here?

Are they so short-sighted?

It wasn’t that the people of Qingyang Commandery were short-sighted.

Rather, after the hundred sects’ recruitment, most young people suitable for joining sects had already joined sects.

The remaining few had extremely poor aptitude, not even possessing low-grade spiritual roots.

Moreover.

Sect Leader Jun’s advertisements were only placed in Qingyang City and Huyang City.

In the other six cities, even if parents wanted to send their children to the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, they feared the Haoqi Gate and the Hundred Sects Alliance.

From the current situation, there were very few young people in Qingyang Commandery suitable for joining sects, and due to numerous concerns, disciple recruitment would be very difficult.

“This won’t do, this won’t do.”

Jun Changxiao said, “I must recruit the full quota as soon as possible. Even if I can’t activate the sect mission to upgrade construction, at least I can obtain several hundred contribution points!”

With only 5 contribution points, he didn’t dare activate the Spiritual Energy Array and Sect Protection Array anymore, because they’d burn through everything in two days!

After some planning.

Sect Leader Jun decided he couldn’t wait for others to register—he must take the initiative and go promote in each major city.

Of the eight cities in Qingyang Commandery, he had to visit the other six one by one, so he’d start with Liyang City.

“Zuiji.”

Jun Changxiao said, “You come along too.”

“Yes.”

Xiao Zuiji obeyed the command.

If it were before, going to Liyang City might have caused him inner conflict. Now that his cultivation had improved and the fallen genius had regained his former glory, he naturally wouldn’t care.

Jun Changxiao also selected several disciples, mostly from the outer sect with very ordinary aptitude, but all at the third to fifth rank Wutu level.

He wanted to tell the world that joining his Iron Bones Clanging Sect meant that even without excellent aptitude, under his cultivation, one could still become stronger.

…

Liyang City.

Jun Changxiao stood at the city gate for the second time, followed by twenty to thirty disciples, each holding their heads high with chests out, emanating an aura of iron bones clanging.

“It’s the Iron Bones Clanging Sect!”

“Why are they here again?”

Martial artists coming and going whispered among themselves.

When they participated in the Sect Competition, many had mocked and scorned them, but with the major events the Iron Bones Clanging Sect had accomplished recently, this had long since transformed into reverence.

Look.

Walking on the city’s wide main street, martial artists moved aside in advance to make way.

Jun Changxiao led his disciples straight along the main avenue, finally stopping before the City Lord’s Manor and cupping his fists, saying, “Jun Changxiao, Sect Leader of the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, has come specially to visit City Lord Ao.”

The City Lord’s Manor guards immediately went in to report upon hearing this.

Before long.

City Lord Ao, his face covered with a full beard, walked out and cupped his fists with a smile, saying, “Sect Leader Jun, please come inside.”

The martial artists on the street were dumbfounded.

Although the Iron Bones Clanging Sect had been in the limelight recently, it was still just an eighth-tier sect—what virtue and ability did it have to warrant City Lord Ao personally coming out to greet them!

Jun Changxiao cupped his fists and led his disciples into the City Lord’s Manor under everyone’s gaze.

…

“Grand Elder.”

At the Xiao Family, the Third Elder walked into the hall from outside, quite annoyed as he said, “The Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s Sect Leader has brought disciples to Liyang City.”

The Grand Elder, who was drinking tea, immediately darkened his expression and said, “Did that waste come?”

“He came,” the Third Elder said.

“Crack!”

The Grand Elder crushed the teacup, his gaze revealing half anger and half killing intent.

At the Sect Competition, Xiao Zuiji won the championship, delivering a harsh slap to the Xiao Family’s face. Unable to swallow this grievance, he sent assassins to kill him outside the city.

Although it ultimately failed, at least their identity wasn’t exposed.

If the Xiao Family knew that the great calamity their family suffered some time ago, which broke their bones and severely damaged their vitality, was entirely arranged by Sect Leader Jun, they would understand whether or not their identity had been exposed.

“What did he come to do?” the Grand Elder’s voice was cold as frost.

The Third Elder said, “Visit City Lord Ao.”

“Hmph.”

The Grand Elder sneered and said, “City Lord Ao has a good relationship with Qin Haoran. The Iron Bones Clanging Sect made an enemy of him—going to visit is just asking for humiliation.”

“This…”

The Third Elder paused and said, “City Lord Ao personally came out to greet that Jun Changxiao.”

“What?”

The Grand Elder’s eyes widened.

City Lord Ao was someone who loved putting on airs. Even when the Xiao Family’s family head personally went to visit, he had never come out to greet him!

What qualifications did an eighth-tier sect have to warrant a city lord personally greeting them?

Because they bore enmity toward Xiao Zuiji, they also bore enmity toward the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, completely overlooking that this very eighth-tier sect could defeat the Haoqi Gate.

Let me ask.

Could your Xiao Family do that?

No.

Within Qingyang Commandery, aside from the fifth-tier Cangshan Sect, no one could do it.

Therefore, for such a sect to be personally greeted by a city lord—what was the problem with that?

Not only did City Lord Ao personally greet them, upon arriving at the hall he treated them as honored guests, and his conversation was also very enthusiastic.

Jun Changxiao himself was a bit confused.

Have I already become so impressive that a city lord would curry favor with me?

“Sending disciples to participate in the Sect Competitions of Pingyang Commandery, Heyang Commandery, and Huaying Commandery, all obtaining championships—the Iron Bones Clanging Sect has become increasingly powerful under Sect Leader Jun’s management!” City Lord Ao said with a smile.

So that’s it.

No wonder he was so enthusiastic—he’d received the news!

Not just City Lord Ao—the city lords of the other seven cities had also successively received the news.

Initially, upon learning that the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s disciple Ye Xingchen had won the Pingyang Commandery championship, they were merely slightly surprised.

Sending just one disciple and winning an eighth-grade commandery’s Sect Competition—this was indeed quite unexpected.

A certain city lord even wondered whether Pingyang Commandery had sent all their second-string disciples and hadn’t deployed their elite disciples.

Later, when news spread that Li Qingyang had won the Huaying Commandery Martial Competition championship, each city lord was stunned.

That was a commandery with many evil sects.

During each Martial Competition, quite a few participants would die. The Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s disciple could win the championship under those conditions?

It’s fine, it’s fine.

They could still control their emotions.

Finally, when Xiao Zuiji won the Heyang Commandery Sect Competition championship, the eyes of each city lord nearly popped out of their sockets!

Two eighth-grade commandery Sect Competitions, one evil-sect-dominated Martial Competition—the Iron Bones Clanging Sect sent three disciples to compete and obtained three championships. This was absolutely terrifying!

The competitions that Su Xiaomo and Li Fei participated in were relatively far away, so news hadn’t been transmitted yet.

Otherwise, the eyeballs of each city lord in Qingyang Commandery might have shot right out.

“City Lord Ao.”

Jun Changxiao got to the point, saying, “I’ve come this time because I wish to recruit disciples in your city. Please grant permission.”