After the disciples took their shields and left, Ling Yuanxue was kept behind alone.

Inside the study, only she and Jun Changxiao remained.

Ling Yuanxue kept her head lowered the entire time, her small hands trembling slightly.

This was her first time alone with the Sect Leader. Her personality was already timid and shy, so she was naturally extremely nervous and anxious right now.

“Thwack.”

Suddenly, a sound rang out.

Ling Yuanxue jumped in fright, unconsciously retreating two steps.

Seeing this, Jun Changxiao thought speechlessly to himself, “Just placing the Aptitude Modification Liquid on the table is enough to frighten her—her courage is way too small.”

“Yuanxue.”

He propped up his chin and said, “What is your dream?”

Why is the Sect Leader asking about dreams again?

Ling Yuanxue said in a small voice, “My… my dream is to cultivate the martial path and prove to you stinking… no, no, prove to all stinking men except the Sect Leader!”

Jun Changxiao said seriously, “Cultivating the martial path isn’t to prove things to others—it’s to prove things to yourself. Understand?”

“I… I understand!”

“Thwack!”

Jun Changxiao slapped the table and said sternly, “Louder!”

Ling Yuanxue was nearly frightened to tears, then closed her eyes and shouted loudly, “I understand!”

Jun Changxiao’s tone softened. “The martial path cultivates courage and spirit. When we go to the Valley of Death, this Seat hopes to see your brave and strong side.”

“I understand!” Ling Yuanxue said.

Jun Changxiao said, “Drink this medicinal liquid.”

“Oh.”

Ling Yuanxue shuffled over with tiny steps, then picked up the Aptitude Modification Liquid bottle, opened the stopper, and drank it all while tilting her head back.

Before long, her face turned extremely red. Her spiritual root aptitude crossed from low-grade into common-grade, and her cultivation also advanced from the tenth stage of Meridian Opening to the twelfth stage.

“This…”

Ling Yuanxue stood frozen in place with her almond-shaped eyes wide open.

……

After all twenty-four disciples were equipped with a Sturdy Iron Shield each, Jun Changxiao had them continue cultivating in preparation for the upcoming trip to the Valley of Death.

As for Qingyang Commandery, people were still discussing Tiegu Sect’s victory over Haoqi Sect, until another major piece of news spread and overshadowed it.

What major news?

Seven days later, the Ai Family would hold a public auction for Body Refinement Pills!

This type of pill that enhanced physical body strength had already spread before Tiegu Sect went to challenge Haoqi Sect, but then suddenly there was no follow-up, and many people had almost forgotten about it.

They could forget the last time, but they couldn’t forget this time.

Because after the Ai Family confirmed the auction date, they conducted massive promotional campaigns, using all kinds of laudatory advertising slogans, giving people the impression it was extremely exaggerated!

What was even more exaggerated was this: Unlike previous auctions, the Ai Family directly announced the starting bid for the Body Refinement Pills.

How much?

Starting bid: one million taels!

“One million taels? Isn’t that too exaggerated!”

“Even if high-grade pills were auctioned off, they couldn’t possibly reach this price!”

“Too extravagant, can’t afford it!”

If Jun Changxiao were holding a public auction with a starting bid of one million taels, many martial artists would definitely think he had gone mad chasing money.

But the Ai Family was different. After all, they were an established name, and they had previously sold Healing Pills. Many martial artists, upon learning the news, unanimously concluded that the Body Refinement Pills’ effects must be incredibly miraculous!

If Ai Shangni had used the fact that Tiegu Sect disciples defeated Haoqi Sect disciples as promotional material, the sensation would only be even greater. But without Sect Leader Jun’s authorization, he didn’t dare use it as a publicity stunt.

Setting the price at one million taels was already a huge publicity stunt.

The major families and sects of Qingyang Commandery who trusted the Ai Family sufficiently naturally began raising funds after learning the news.

Jun Changxiao also received the news and laughed, “The starting bid alone is one million taels. Once the bidding starts, I don’t dare imagine what the final transaction price will be.”

Li Luoqiu said, “The Body Refinement Pills that the Sect Leader refined are extremely important to martial artists. Under the Ai Family’s management, those four Body Refinement Pills will probably be auctioned for astronomical prices.”

……

Jun Changxiao continued developing the sect. He had no interest in attending the upcoming auction, mainly because he didn’t want to show his face publicly, preferring instead to wait behind the scenes to collect money.

Seven days later, the auction was held as scheduled.

Because the Ai Family’s promotional materials specified that this Body Refinement Pill auction was limited to martial artists within Qingyang Commandery only, even though forces from other commanderies heard the news, they just casually sent people to join the excitement.

“Everyone.”

Inside the auction house, Ai Shangni stood on the auction platform and said, “The effects of the Body Refinement Pills—this Ai need not explain, as you have surely already learned about them. So let’s begin the auction directly.”

“Swoosh!”

Opening the brocade box, he proclaimed loudly, “The first Body Refinement Pill, starting bid one million taels!”

“One million one hundred thousand taels!”

“One million two hundred thousand taels!”

“…”

Fierce bidding commenced.

The major families and sects threw all their strength into the competition, because there were only four Body Refinement Pills—even rarer than the previous Healing Pills!

After the bidding ended, news was relayed to Tiegu Sect. Jun Changxiao learned that after intense competition, the four Healing Pills had sold for ten million.

“Only two million five hundred thousand per pill?” He shook his head. “Doesn’t seem too high.”

Li Luoqiu said, “The Ai Family limited this auction to Qingyang Commandery and didn’t allow forces from other commanderies to participate. Being able to auction them for ten million is already quite good.”

“True enough.”

Jun Changxiao felt relieved.

Ten million split forty-sixty as agreed meant he could earn four million taels—this was practically like picking up money!

And that wasn’t all.

After auctioning the Body Refinement Pills, the Ai Family continued to auction Healing Pills.

Although without participation from forces from other commanderies, the ten Healing Pills couldn’t reach the previous height of over six million, they still sold for over four million.

The Ai Family did this also to accommodate forces within the same commandery and prevent them from constantly complaining.

“Sect Leader.”

Li Qingyang came to report, “Family Head Ai has come to visit again.”

Actually, saying “Family Head Ai has come to deliver money again” would be more accurate.

……

After Ai Shangni entered the great hall, he first presented six million taels in banknotes.

Jun Changxiao really enjoyed cooperating with the Ai Family, so this time he directly gave fifty bottles of Healing Pills and ten bottles of Body Refinement Pills.

The moment Ai Shangni received them, his hands involuntarily trembled.

So many pills—auctioning them off at intervals would generate unimaginable profits!

The tenfold penalty payment to the Xiao Family?

Bullshit!

As long as he could establish good relations with Sect Leader Jun, even if he had to give them twenty times the penalty payment, the Ai Family wouldn’t care!

Ai Shangni left happily and began planning an even larger-scale auction.

Along the way, he had already decided that next time, he would auction both Healing Pills and Body Refinement Pills together, and no longer limit it to Qingyang Commandery but open it to the outside!

……

The matter of the auction gradually faded with the passage of time.

Under the craftsmen’s busy work, the outer courtyard reconstruction of Tiegu Sect was also complete. The grounds had become larger, and the pavilions had become more numerous.

Especially the great hall—it had been renovated to be even more imposing and magnificent, even more resplendent and magnificent.

A sect’s foundation was all reflected in the main hall.

So after challenging Haoqi Sect, Li Qingyang had invested all his energy into the great hall.

Why?

Because the outer courtyard grounds and pavilions could be arbitrarily expanded and constructed, but the great hall had to remain in its original location. So if it was to be renovated, it had to be done right in one step!

Li Qingyang’s thinking was absolutely correct.

After the great hall’s second renovation, there would be a very long period before another renovation would be undertaken.

“Excellent, excellent.”

Standing in the incomparably spacious and imposing great hall, Jun Changxiao smiled with satisfaction.

“Sect Leader.”

Li Qingyang said, “This disciple has already created blueprints for an even larger-scale renovation. We can proceed with a third renovation at any time.”

“This is already quite good. We’ll discuss the third renovation later.”

Jun Changxiao paused, then said, “Relay the order—let the specially trained disciples rest well tonight. Tomorrow we depart for the Valley of Death.”