Jiang Xie, who had been shocked by the Healing Pills and Body Tempering Pills, was once again shocked by the disciples of the Iron Bones Clanging Sect!

At that moment, he finally realized that this sect’s victory over the fifth-rate Holy Spring Sect was definitely not a coincidence, but that they truly had real strength!

The sect competition ended, and the distribution of rewards began.

Long Ziyang, Yang Yuhua, Song Xuanzhou, Ling Yuanxue, Zhang Wei, and ten others—a total of fifteen disciples—unsurprisingly became the second batch of inner sect disciples.

With this calculation, the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s inner sect disciples increased from seven to twenty-two, which could also be considered growth and expansion.

Although Li Shangtian, Sima Zhongda, and the others didn’t advance this time, they still had the potential to become inner sect members. If not this year, they would definitely make it next year.

Of course.

This was merely the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s initial stages.

With various resource supplies, the second year’s sect competition would definitely produce even more outstanding disciples.

Long Ziyang and the others felt immensely proud to have advanced to inner sect disciples.

The inner sect had a group of monstrous genius senior brothers, and they were following close behind—what glory this was!

Even better.

Becoming inner sect disciples meant they would receive even more resources, which would be extremely helpful for advancing their martial cultivation!

The Sect Master had just announced the dismissal when Long Ziyang, Yang Yuhua, and the others couldn’t wait to head to the Pill Pavilion to claim the martial resources that only inner sect disciples were entitled to.

……

After the sect competition ended.

Jiang Xie gradually calmed down and said solemnly, “Sect Master, if our sect can continue developing like this, becoming a fourth-rate sect would be no problem at all!”

With so many formidable disciples, there was no reason not to be optimistic!

“Fourth-rate?”

Jun Changxiao shook his head. “That’s too low.”

Fourth-rate is still low?

The corner of Jiang Xie’s mouth twitched.

Although sects of this level weren’t few on the Xingyun Continent, they couldn’t just appear randomly—they required sufficient time and resources to be built up!

Jun Changxiao said seriously, “This Seat’s goal is to make the Iron Bones Clanging Sect become the strongest sect on the continent.”

The strongest sect?

The corner of Jiang Xie’s mouth twitched even more violently.

So the Sect Master was an ambitious person!

But wasn’t this goal set a bit too high?

“Of course.”

Jun Changxiao said, “The road is long and arduous. This Seat needs strong individuals like you to assist.”

Jiang Xie declared, “I am willing to serve before the saddle and behind the horse for the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, for the Sect Master!”

This was due to the effect of the Recruitment ability.

But in his heart, he was also quite expectant—just how far could such a potentially great sect grow in the future?

“Sect Master.”

Jiang Xie’s expression turned serious. “Whether a sect is strong or not, the most important point is that it must be able to withstand great storms and waves.”

Throughout the long years, countless geniuses have emerged, and stunning sects have been born, yet how many have fallen into the river of history?

Those who stand tall on the Xingyun Continent and become beings worshipped by all—which strong individuals and great sects haven’t experienced great storms and waves?

So potential only represents potential.

Only by transforming it into actual strength and establishing oneself in the world can one truly be strong!

Jun Changxiao asked, “Does challenging the Haoqi Sect count as a great storm and wave?”

“It counts.”

“Does challenging the Holy Spring Sect count as a great storm and wave?”

“It counts.”

More than counts—it was practically turbulent waves and raging seas!

“Therefore.”

Jun Changxiao said proudly, “This Seat has confidence in making the Iron Bones Sect become the strongest sect, and also has confidence in facing future storms and waves.”

Jiang Xie said, “Sect Master, there’s something I must tell you.”

“What matter?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Jiang Xie informed him about the Grand Helmsman’s plan to go to headquarters to request a Wuhuang.

“Really?”

Jun Changxiao’s expression changed, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Even a Wuhuang-level expert is being mobilized? They’re giving my Iron Bones Sect way too much face!”

Jiang Xie was speechless.

Where did that ambitious determination you displayed just now go?

Jun Changxiao actually wasn’t afraid—after all, with the Sect Protection Grand Array, even a Wuhuang might not necessarily be able to do anything to his sect.

But being constantly targeted by a powerful third-rate sect, how could they develop in the future!

Sigh.

Knowing this would happen, it really would have been better to lose to the Holy Spring Sect’s Sect Master!

“However.”

Jiang Xie said, “The Taikun Sect has gone to seize the Demon Sha Sect’s mine vein, so the Grand Helmsman temporarily doesn’t have the energy to target our Iron Bones Sect.”

Jun Changxiao let out a long breath of relief and asked, “What mine vein?”

Jiang Xie answered, “A spirit stone mine vein.”

Jun Changxiao asked in astonishment, “Spirit stones can be mined?”

Jiang Xie explained, “Spirit stones are divided into two types: natural spirit stones and artificial spirit stones. Natural spirit stones are mined from veins, while artificial spirit stones are refined by Spirit Masters.”

“I see.” Jun Changxiao had learned something new.

Jiang Xie continued, “In terms of quality, spirit stones nurtured by heaven and earth are stronger than artificially refined spirit stones.”

“Are the spirit stones circulating in the market artificial spirit stones?” Jun Changxiao asked.

“Correct.”

Jiang Xie said, “The spirit stones sold on the market are all artificial spirit stones.”

Jun Changxiao asked, “Are there many mine veins on the continent?”

“Quite a few.”

Jiang Xie added, “But they’re all controlled by major sects. Small sects can’t even get close to them.”

“So that’s why the Taikun Sect would go rob the Demon Sha Sect?” Jun Changxiao said.

Jiang Xie nodded.

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin and said, “It seems that these spirit stone mine veins are quite important to a sect—they even dare to openly fight and snatch them.”

Jiang Xie said seriously, “Whether a sect is strong or not largely depends on spirit stone mine veins. Sects without mine veins can at most become fourth-rate, so they’re extremely important!”

Major sects easily have tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of disciples.

And this definitely requires massive resource supplies. Relying solely on pills absolutely won’t work, so having sufficient spirit stones becomes especially important.

Jun Changxiao asked, “Are spirit stone mine veins easy to find?”

Jiang Xie shook his head. “Although there are still many undiscovered mine veins on the continent that haven’t been mined, finding them is quite difficult.”

“Moreover.”

He paused and continued, “Even if you find one, it will inevitably be targeted by major sects, and then it becomes another bloody storm.”

Jun Changxiao wasn’t surprised.

They even dare to openly rob owned mine veins, so for newly discovered unowned mine veins, if various powers don’t fight until their heads are bloody and faces are beaten, that would be the strange thing.

Powers that ultimately brought extinction upon themselves because of mine veins are everywhere.

Therefore, mine veins are a major matter for great sects, but for small sects, they’re a great calamity!

Jun Changxiao didn’t dwell too much on the spirit stone mine veins and said, “You’ve also taken the Body Tempering Pill. Starting tomorrow, undergo body tempering in the Tempering Chamber. As for martial resources, this Seat will provide them at any time.”

Appointing him as an elder wasn’t to manage internal affairs, but to continue becoming stronger to assist in building the strongest sect.

“Tempering Chamber?”

Jiang Xie entered the training hall with some confusion and, imitating the disciples, crawled into the Tempering Chamber.

Ding!

The machine activated and began operating.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

A furious barrage of bombardment.

“Creak.”

The door opened, and Jiang Xie slid out from inside like mud, then said with complete despair, “Too… too terrifying, too horrifying…”

His physical body was very strong, but the power unleashed by the Tempering Chamber was also very strong.

Therefore, regardless of whether you were a Wutu or a Wuwang, once you entered, everyone was treated equally—you’d still be beaten so satisfyingly that you’d cry!

Witnessing Elder Jiang collapsed on the steps, passing disciples immediately remembered their former selves and thus all developed sympathetic looks.

Even a Wuwang was beaten to this state.

What was there for them to feel psychologically unbalanced about!