Although Xiao Zuiji’s meridians had opened, what puzzled Jun Changxiao was whether it was truly poisoning that caused his realm to regress, making it impossible to condense spiritual energy.

The system said, “Judging from the poisonous gas just now, it should have been caused by poisoning.”

Jun Changxiao cupped his chin. “Toxins causing realm regression is understandable, but how could a supreme-grade spiritual root regress?”

“If the toxins in his body could suppress his spiritual root, now that they’ve been neutralized, it should have recovered. Instead, he’s only opened four meridians.”

He rubbed his temples. “Yuanfang, what’s your take on this matter?”

The system: “…”

Jun Changxiao said, “I’m asking you. Say something.”

Only then did the system realize that ‘Yuanfang’ referred to itself, and so it said, “The Xingyun Continent is a magical world. Perhaps there exists poison that can suppress both cultivation realm and spiritual roots.”

“The toxins have been neutralized, so why haven’t his spiritual root and cultivation recovered?” Jun Changxiao asked.

After a brief silence, the system said, “Perhaps within his body, there isn’t just one type of toxin. What you neutralized for him was merely the toxin suppressing his cultivation realm. There may still exist a toxin suppressing his spiritual root.”

“That’s possible…”

Jun Changxiao fell silent.

If that was the case, who was so vicious as to use two types of poison to destroy Xiao Zuiji, who should have been a genius?

“An elder of the Xiao Family?”

Jun Changxiao thought of the Xiao Family’s Great Elder, who had been full of killing intent toward Xiao Zuiji at the sect martial competition.

“And those assassins outside Liyang City—who sent them exactly?”

He clutched his head. “Damn it, I feel like my IQ isn’t quite enough. Yuanfang, are there any products that develop brain power?”

The system said, “No.”

…

After Xiao Zuiji successfully opened his meridians, he temporarily abandoned gun practice. He spent the entire night circulating the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture, and the surrounding spiritual energy began to gather.

Although he only had a common-grade spiritual root, far inferior to his former supreme-grade spiritual root in terms of absorption, he was very content. After all, it was much better than being unable to condense spiritual energy at all.

Spiritual energy merged into his body, spreading and gathering along his meridians. Xiao Zuiji once again found that exhilarating feeling from cultivating in the past.

Of course.

He also knew that everything was given to him by the sect master.

In this life, he was willing to serve the Iron Bone Sect wholeheartedly!

“Baihe Sacred Sect?”

In another disciple’s room, after finishing cultivation, Ye Xingchen said disdainfully, “When this emperor dominated the Xingyun Continent, it was merely a fifth-tier sect.”

Sigh.

Our Emperor Ye is still immersed in the past, unable to escape.

“Huff!”

He exhaled and murmured, “The Supreme Mystery Scripture is truly profound. After studying it for so long, I’ve only comprehended the first layer.”

“Fortunately, I have the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture to assist. Otherwise, with just one cultivation method, it would be very difficult for me to break through to the seventh stage of Meridian Opening in such a short time.”

He really should give proper thanks, because without the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture’s fifty percent meridian opening rate, with Emperor Ye’s current aptitude, it would have taken quite a long time to reach this level.

“Cultivating blindly won’t work either. I must combine it with actual combat. Tomorrow I’ll go to a mountain forest with fierce beasts to gain some practical experience.”

…

The next day.

Emperor Ye informed Jun Changxiao of his idea. After considering it carefully, the latter said, “Go together with your Senior Martial Brother Xiao. That way you’ll have someone to watch each other’s backs.”

Him?

Just a piece of trash.

Although Ye Xingchen was very resistant, he still agreed on the surface. After all, his current identity was that of an Iron Bone Sect disciple.

And so, one reborn powerhouse and one genius-turned-waste departed from the sect, beginning the essential outdoor training segment that should only belong to protagonists.

Xiao Zuiji brought his Type 88 sniper rifle.

His journey wasn’t just for combat training—he also wanted to take the opportunity to hunt some prey and obtain crystal cores to make up for the losses the sect master had incurred on his behalf.

Our Sect Master Jun delegated sect affairs to Li Qingyang and set off for Huyang City.

“Sect Master!”

Liu Wanshi stood at the canteen entrance and called out, “Bring back some seasonings!”

“Got it.”

…

When Jun Changxiao arrived at Huyang City again, he found it much livelier than last time. Occasionally he could encounter warriors wearing weapons on the streets.

“Can’t the Ai Family hurry up? Making us wait a whole month for the auction.”

“The Ai Family can refine this kind of Healing Pill that instantly recovers injuries and is auctioning it publicly. What’s wrong with waiting a while?”

“I heard that several major families and major sects have sent people.”

“With them competing, we poor folks can only stand on the sidelines and watch the excitement.”

Warriors on the street discussed endlessly.

Clearly, they were all outsiders gathered in the city, waiting for the Ai Family’s second Healing Pill auction.

Many families and sects were gearing up. Once the pills went on auction, they would acquire them no matter the cost.

It had to be said, the Ai Family was quite skilled at business. Through the first auction and continuous publicity, they had successfully whetted the appetite of warriors from various counties.

The Healing Pill auction had nothing to do with Jun Changxiao, and he wasn’t interested in showing his face either. So he first went to the marketplace and purchased a large pile of seasonings before entering the Ai Family’s medicinal materials shop.

Shopkeeper Ma, who was settling accounts at the counter, saw Jun Changxiao walk in. Before the errand boy could greet him, he personally came out, his face wreathed in smiles. “Sect Master Jun, such an honored visit! Forgive me for not welcoming you properly, forgive me for not welcoming you properly.”

Before the first pill auction, Family Head Ai had already issued orders that the Iron Bone Sect’s master was the Ai Family’s honored guest of the highest rank. If he came to the shop, they absolutely must not neglect him.

Jun Changxiao said, “Where’s Family Head Ai? This seat wants to discuss a big business deal with him.”

Another big business deal?

Shopkeeper Ma hastily made a gesture of invitation. “Sect Master Jun, please sit first. This humble one will immediately notify the family head.”

With that, he gave the servants a look indicating they should serve tea, then hurriedly left the shop for the Ai Family residence.

Jun Changxiao didn’t sit down. He walked to the medicine shelves and examined the medicinal herbs in the bamboo baskets one by one. When something caught his interest, he reached out to touch it.

“Don’t touch it.”

Suddenly, a voice came from behind him.

Jun Changxiao turned around and discovered an old man with completely white hair in a corner of the shop, trimming a potted plant with small scissors.

“Mad old man!” A servant in the shop scolded. “This is Sect Master Jun of the Iron Bone Sect! Don’t be rude!”

He then hastily apologized with a smile. “Sect Master Jun, he’s a day laborer hired a few days ago to trim medicinal herbs. He doesn’t know the rules. Please don’t hold it against him.”

Jun Changxiao asked curiously, “Why can’t I touch it?”

Without even lifting his head, the old man continued trimming the herbs while saying, “That medicinal herb is called Decayed Leaf Grass. Its leaves gather spiritual energy. If a person touches it, the spiritual energy will decay and the medicinal efficacy will be greatly reduced.”

“Tch.”

The servant rolled his eyes at him. “I move and handle Decayed Leaf Grass every day and have touched it many times. Can’t it still be used to refine pills? You mad old man is spouting nonsense again.”

“Sigh.”

The old man sighed. “It’s precisely because of rough and careless people like you that medicinal herbs that could originally exert one hundred percent medicinal efficacy can only exert fifty or sixty percent after being refined into pills. It’s truly heartbreaking.”

“Fine, fine.”

“You’re the professional one, okay? I can’t be bothered to deal with you.”

The servant had apparently argued with the old man more than once and didn’t continue the dispute. Instead, he smiled and said, “Sect Master Jun, please look around as you wish.”

Jun Changxiao became interested. “Senior seems quite knowledgeable about medicinal herbs?”

The old man supported his waist as he stood up. “Sect Master Jun, as the master of a sect, this old man cannot accept the title of senior.”

“The elderly are to be respected. You deserve it, you deserve it.” Jun Changxiao said.

A look of surprise appeared on the old man’s face. He shook his head. “The Xingyun Continent has always revered martial strength. This is the first time this old man has heard ‘the elderly are to be respected.'”

Jun Changxiao wanted to continue the conversation when Ai Shangni had already rushed over in a flurry. As soon as he entered the shop, he cupped his fists and smiled. “Sect Master Jun, what wind has blown you here?”