The Eternal Sect’s culture dictated that all newly admitted disciples must receive the hospitality of joyful football, allowing them to experience the feeling of home right from the start.

However, the situation changed after Sun Mucheng’s arrival, because Su Xiaomo and Li Fei, who had long implemented this sect culture, not only failed to succeed but were instead… counter-killed by him.

This couldn’t stand!

Thus, the two contacted more fellow disciples and organized a football match at the martial training grounds, making Sun Mucheng serve as goalkeeper.

“Tap!”

“Tap!”

Su Xiaomo, Li Fei, Li Shangtian, Sima Zhongda, and others appeared one after another in front of the penalty area, each with a joyful football at their feet.

This wasn’t regular football—this was special training for the goalkeeper!

The young and innocent Sun Mucheng hadn’t yet realized he’d been targeted by the veteran disciples. He even bent over and stood before the goal with a silly grin, asking: “Senior brothers, is this right?”

“Correct.”

Su Xiaomo said: “You just need to guard the goal and not let the ball in.”

“Understood, bring it on!” Sun Mucheng’s interest was piqued.

Everyone exchanged glances with each other, then quickly reached a silent agreement in their hearts. They infused spiritual energy into their feet and fiercely kicked the joyful footballs!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Several streaks of light burst forth. From their trajectories, they appeared to be aiming for the goal, but in reality, they were all locked onto Sun Mucheng’s face!

“How ruthless!”

“This little guy is probably in for trouble!”

“May he remain unharmed.”

The disciples outside the martial training grounds showed sympathy in their eyes.

Especially Shang Youhen—every time he recalled being “looked after” by his senior brothers when he first came to the Eternal Sect, tears nearly fell uncontrollably.

However, Sun Mucheng, standing before the goal, remained in place while his body twisted frequently. His hands wove together into palm shadows that blocked all the explosively shooting footballs.

“Damn!”

The spectating disciples’ eyes widened.

So many balls, yet this newly admitted junior brother not only deflected them all, but his feet hadn’t shifted even a fraction!

Incredible!

Too incredible!

“Attack!”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Su Xiaomo, Li Fei, and the others charged forward.

From different positions, everyone kicked the rolling joyful footballs again, this time carrying even stronger force!

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Sun Mucheng stood before the goal, his body and arms moving rapidly as if transforming into the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, blocking the leather balls bursting from all directions. He was simply a super goalkeeper deity!

In front of the main hall.

Ding Xingwang said in surprise: “Sect Master, this child is very strong!”

“Otherwise, how would this seat have taken notice of him?” Jun Changxiao said proudly.

Upper Realm martial artists generally had very high aptitudes and constitutions, and this Sun Mucheng was an outstanding example among them. After joining the Eternal Sect and receiving cultivation, he would surely shine brilliantly in the future!

If all the new disciples recruited in the future were of this caliber, when they all rose up, the resulting scene would surely be magnificent!

The system threw cold water on him: “You’re overthinking it.”

……

Half an hour later.

Su Xiaomo, Li Fei, and the others all lay sprawled on the ground in exhaustion.

At first, they’d aimed to kick him, but finding they couldn’t touch him, they focused on breaking through the goal. Yet no one managed to score, which was undoubtedly a huge blow.

“Senior brothers.”

Sun Mucheng stood before the goal with a brilliant smile: “Tomorrow, let me do the kicking while you guard, okay?”

The next day.

Su Xiaomo and Li Fei lay scattered around the goal area—some clutching their stomachs in struggle, others covering their faces and howling. Their appearance was utterly miserable, and over ten joyful footballs had already been kicked into the goal.

The veteran disciples who always enjoyed welcoming newcomers with sect culture had thoroughly fallen to Sun Mucheng’s hands.

They were unwilling, unconvinced!

What to do? The only option was to devote all their thoughts to cultivation!

Sun Mucheng’s appearance made the sect disciples feel oppressive pressure and deeply stimulated their hearts’ desire to become stronger.

“Not bad, not bad.”

Feeling the rich martial cultivation aura gathering in the sect, Jun Changxiao’s face showed a smile.

Recruiting Sun Mucheng, while partly to strengthen the sect, was more about providing the disciples with motivation, letting them understand the gap between themselves and Upper Realm geniuses, thus making them focus more intently on cultivation.

Of course.

On the long journey of cultivation, as Sect Master, Jun Changxiao also had to protect and guide the disciples, providing shortcuts they could take whenever possible—such as the First Revolution Body Shaping Pills.

Due to limitations in materials and funding, these pills could only be refined in quantities of over a thousand, unable to achieve comprehensive distribution. So after completing the refinement, he could only first select high-ranking and core disciples to use them.

……

“Creak!”

Ye Xingchen closed the door again and looked down at the pill in his hand, excitedly saying: “What miraculous effect does this pill have?”

He raised his head and swallowed the entire Body Shaping Pill. When he realized his flesh body, soul, meridians, and other aspects had all comprehensively improved, he exclaimed: “This is even stronger than the Body Shaping Pill and Soul Shaping Pill!”

Li Qingyang, Xiao Zueji, and others also successively took the pills. After receiving comprehensive sublimation, they were all mentally shaken and overjoyed.

Having experienced various tempering in the Lower Realm, their aptitudes and constitutions weren’t necessarily inferior to Sun Mucheng’s. The reason they were hard-pressed to match him was due to the enormous difference in living environments.

Now the Sect Master had given them new pills, improving all aspects. Surpassing a teenager of just over ten years… was still somewhat difficult, because he’d also taken them!

“Sect Master!”

After feeling the changes throughout his entire body, Sun Mucheng stared with pure, large eyes: “These pills are so miraculous!”

“Mucheng.”

Jun Changxiao tossed over copies of the Radiant Mind Scripture and Heaven-Crossing Palm Print, saying: “These are our sect’s low-level martial arts. Take them and cultivate for now.”

If Black and White Rakshasa heard this, they would collapse.

If these were low-level martial arts, it would be very difficult to find anyone in the entire Upper Realm cultivating high-level martial arts!

“Thank you, Sect Master!”

Sun Mucheng took the two martial arts texts and returned to his quarters to begin cultivation. After studying all night, he said excitedly: “Senior Tonggu really pointed me toward a bright path!”

Coming to the Eternal Sect was entirely because of setbacks in the examination. He’d arrived at the gate with a disheartened attitude, but unexpectedly, this sect had miraculous pills and high-level martial arts that were both accessible and profoundly mysterious!

He should also thank the Linyan Martial Hall. If they hadn’t played dirty with hidden rules, the young fellow probably would have had great difficulty entering the Eternal Sect, and would have crazily wasted his talent and time in the years to come.

……

Outside the Eternal Sect.

The flat area originally covered with weeds had thoroughly transformed into medicinal fields through Paige’s efforts over several days.

The little fellow had expended considerable sweat, but had also grown significantly stronger through eating and spitting. Now it lay on the ground snoring in sleep, with Heaven and Earth attributes clearly visible gathering in every strand of fur.

Possessing the bloodline of the Earth-Devouring Saint Beast, to become stronger it just needed to keep eating, and the Upper Realm’s soil was obviously more nutritious than the Lower Realm’s.

As the saying goes, Heaven rewards diligence. Paige’s current strength could definitely rank among Jun Changxiao’s contracted beasts, but due to its special attributes and functions, it was destined to spend more time on construction work.

“Old Wei.”

Standing on the mountaintop, Jun Changxiao watched Sun Bukong and the others orderly planting medicinal material seeds, then inquired: “The Upper Realm’s land contains stronger Heaven and Earth attributes, so the medicinal materials’ growth cycle should be faster, right?”

Old Wei shook his head: “I’ve already researched it. Although the soil here is strong, the seeds the Sect Master provided are also incomparable to the Lower Realm. From planting to maturity will probably require a long time.”

“……”

Jun Changxiao was speechless.

The abundant Heaven and Earth attributes could indeed allow disciples to improve faster. If there were various pills to assist, it would surely save vast amounts of time. But if the medicinal materials supply couldn’t keep up, that would be quite frustrating.

The system seized the opportunity: “Have problems? Find the Mall!”

“……”

Jun Changxiao raised his head and said solemnly: “I really want to rely on myself. I really don’t want to cheat!”