In any world, the importance of money goes without saying.
Never mind buying weapons and martial techniques—even daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt all require money to purchase.
The Iron Bone Clanking Sect had no money. Previously, several disciples had taken the sect’s meager assets to grease palms, hoping to secure Sect Leader Wang’s release from prison.
The result?
Less than half a day after the money was sent, Sect Leader Wang was executed for attempting to escape.
The Iron Bone Clanking Sect, already tightening its belt to survive, faced disaster upon disaster. Two disciples simply couldn’t endure anymore. After eating their final meal, they each went back to their own homes to find their own mothers.
Jun Changxiao, who had transmigrated here, spent his first few days at the sect eating nothing but steamed buns and drinking mountain spring water for all three meals.
The noodles Lu Qianqian ate when she joined the sect were also begged from Auntie Wang in the village.
For the Iron Bone Clanking Sect to develop, money must also be earned!
Thus, Sect Leader Jun, utilizing the Insight Talisman before its duration expired, began his first money-making venture in this alternate world!
Need guidance without having mocked him?
One hundred taels!
Previously mocked him and the Iron Bone Sect to death and now need guidance?
Two hundred taels!
Small business, no haggling accepted.
Due to comprehending the ninth form of the Nine Layered Waves Sword and providing guidance to the Cangshan Sect elder, martial artists from various sects felt the pinch but were still willing to spend money seeking instruction.
In just thirty minutes, Jun Changxiao had resolved martial path difficulties for twenty martial artists, earning over three thousand taels.
Looking at the accumulating banknotes in his spatial ring, he thought happily to himself, “Although I can’t sell medicine, I can use items from the Shop to make money!”
“Sect Leader Jun.”
Having just pointed out deficiencies in a martial artist’s fist technique, Family Head Li approached, looking rather embarrassed as he said, “Li here also has a difficult problem. I hope you can help provide some guidance.”
The Nine Layered Waves Sword earlier was nothing but harassment.
But now, having seen so many people leave happily after benefiting from his guidance, his heart was thoroughly moved. He wanted to resolve a martial path difficulty that had troubled him for years.
“I can do that.”
Jun Changxiao said, “One thousand taels.”
“What?”
Family Head Li nearly lost his balance, exclaiming, “One thousand taels?”
Jun Changxiao said, “That’s right, one thousand taels.”
“…”
Everyone’s lips twitched.
This fellow was clearly deliberately making things difficult for Family Head Li, definitely because he had just obstructed his son from joining the Iron Bone Sect.
“Sect Leader Jun.”
Family Head Li said desperately, “Everyone else pays at most two hundred taels. Why must I pay one thousand taels?”
Jun Changxiao said, “Looking at Family Head Li’s attire, I imagine you’re not short of money.”
Hearing this, Family Head Li nearly fainted from anger. True, he had money, but money didn’t just blow into his pockets on the wind out of nowhere!
“Sect Leader Jun.”
Family Head Li said in a deep voice, “Are you treating Li as a fat sheep to be fleeced?”
Jun Changxiao smiled and said, “You could understand it that way.”
“You…”
Family Head Li grew angry.
Thinking that he was the one asking for help, he forcibly suppressed his rage.
“Sect Leader.”
Li Qingyang stepped forward, saying, “Please, for this disciple’s sake, give my father a discount.”
Jun Changxiao stroked his chin, pondered briefly, and said, “Alright, considering you’re the father of my sect’s disciple, I’ll give you a discount—one tael.”
Martial artists from various sects nearly toppled over.
A thousand taels discounted to one tael—unheard of!
…
Since they wanted to keep Li Qingyang, they certainly wouldn’t deliberately make things difficult for Family Head Li. So Jun Changxiao only symbolically charged a face-saving price of one tael to help him resolve his martial learning difficulties.
“So that’s how it is, so that’s how it is!”
Having received guidance, Family Head Li felt as though he had experienced a sudden enlightenment.
Previously, when Jun Changxiao demonstrated the ninth form, he still harbored doubts. But now, having his years-long martial path difficulty resolved, he completely acknowledged Jun Changxiao!
With my son in the Iron Bone Sect, taught by him, his future achievements will surely be nothing but high!
Not only Family Head Li—those martial artists from various sects who had benefited from his guidance also realized that the person they had underestimated was actually quite extraordinary!
One Insight Talisman allowed Jun Changxiao to earn considerable silver and gain substantial prestige—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Wrong.
Killing three birds with one stone!
Because while Grand Sect Leader Jun was providing guidance, he also conveniently learned their various martial techniques and cultivation methods!
Although the levels were somewhat low, he now had everything—sword techniques, fist techniques, cultivation methods, palm techniques. If he had to buy these with money, it would cost at least several thousand taels.
Huge profit, absolute windfall!
“Everyone.”
After providing martial path guidance to yet another martial artist, Jun Changxiao said with a slightly weary expression, “This seat is tired. The guidance ends here.”
“No, Sect Leader Jun!”
Those who hadn’t gotten their turn became anxious.
One martial artist even pulled out four banknotes, saying, “Sect Leader Jun, I’m willing to pay four hundred taels!”
Jun Changxiao shook his head, saying, “Providing martial path guidance to everyone has consumed too much of this seat’s mental energy. It will take ten days to half a month to recover.”
He very much wanted to continue earning money, but just as he finished guiding that previous martial artist, the Insight Talisman’s duration had expired.
Originally, Jun Changxiao planned to exchange for another one. But when he opened the Shop, he saw that the Insight Talisman was grayed out, with a note reading—This item limited to 1 purchase per month.
Damn it.
Healing Pills were purchase-limited, talismans were also purchase-limited.
Could they still play happily? Could they still earn money happily?
Without the enhancement of the Insight Talisman, Jun Changxiao was essentially knocked back to his original form, so he could only put on a very weary appearance.
“Sigh.”
Martial artists from various sects returned dejectedly to their sect stalls. The Hundred Sects Recruitment that had been interrupted earlier continued.
“Qingyang.”
Family Head Li said, “Study well under Sect Leader Jun. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Mm.”
Li Qingyang nodded.
Family Head Li exchanged a few pleasantries with Jun Changxiao with considerable deference, then hurriedly returned to the Li Family to enter closed-door cultivation and digest the guidance he had received.
…
“Dad, I want to join the Iron Bone Sect!”
“Father, Mother, I’ve decided—I want to join the Iron Bone Sect!”
“Goudan’er, what are you still hesitating for? Come on, let’s hurry to the Iron Bone Sect to register!”
When the Hundred Sects Recruitment resumed, those young boys and girls who had originally been considering which sect to join swarmed into the Iron Bone Sect’s stall, scrambling to register!
They had been tempted when Li Qingyang joined the Iron Bone Clanking Sect, but after witnessing Jun Changxiao provide martial learning guidance to the Cangshan Sect elder and martial artists from various sects, they naturally registered without hesitation!
Just moments ago, the stalls of various sects were bustling with activity while the Iron Bone Sect had no one asking about it.
Now the stalls of various sects stood empty while the Iron Bone Sect’s stall was packed to overflowing!
“Don’t push, don’t push!”
Jun Changxiao shouted, “One at a time!”
“Qingyang!”
“Don’t just stand there—hurry over and help.”
Because there were too many young boys and girls registering, Jun Changxiao immediately became flustered.
This won’t do, this won’t do.
Too many people—must select the best!
Jun Changxiao ordered his First Disciple and Second Disciple to have registrants fill out entrance forms, then decide whether to accept them based on aptitude and cultivation level.
The main quest given by the System was to make the Iron Bone Clanking Sect the strongest sect.
What counts as strong?
Certainly the sect must be strong, and the disciples must also be strong!
Randomly selecting a bunch of rejects, meeting the quota in numbers but lacking in strength, unable to raise the sect’s level—in the end, all the effort would be wasted.
Jun Changxiao was very clear that what he needed now were elite troops and capable generals. So he secretly set requirements: those entering the Iron Bone Sect must have at minimum a mid-grade spiritual root—upper-grade would be even better!
However, after tallying everything up, among the hundreds of registered youths, only ten possessed mid-grade spiritual roots. The others either had low-grade or common-grade; as for upper-grade, they simply didn’t exist.
Although Qingyang City was the main city of Qingyang Prefecture, it was still a small place after all. Producing one upper-grade spiritual root like Li Qingyang was already quite remarkable.
“They’re a bit lacking.”
“But let’s first develop the sect’s numbers to the upper limit of one hundred.”
Jun Changxiao picked up the sect leader’s seal and stamped it on the entrance forms of those possessing mid-grade spiritual roots.
“Ding!”
“Sect Members: 4/100!”
“Ding!”
“Sect Contribution Value: 11/100.”