There were still over ten days remaining until the two-month deadline stipulated by the epic mission.

The Valley of Death was quite far away and required a considerable journey, so Jun Changxiao decided to depart tomorrow.

The designated twenty-five disciples had all achieved good improvements in their realms, especially the ten disciples with mid-grade spiritual roots, who had all advanced to fifth-rank Wutu.

Because there weren’t many tenfold Qi Gathering Pills, they had all consumed the fivefold type, so their speed couldn’t compare to Li Qingyang and the others who had previously gone for intensive training at Haoqi Sect.

If they had joined other sects during the Hundred Sects recruitment, being able to advance from Meridian Opening to Wutu at this point would already be the limit.

So the ten disciples with mid-grade spiritual roots were very content and very grateful.

Long Ziyang and Li Yuhua had also improved considerably.

One had advanced to fifth-rank Wutu, the other to fourth-rank Wutu.

Especially Li Yuhua—one month of training had not only cultivated extremely strong physical defense but also made him very agile.

For Su Xiaomo and the others to actually hit him with the soccer ball, they had to unleash at least seventy to eighty percent of their strength.

After Ling Yuanxue consumed the Aptitude Modification Liquid, she broke through to Wutu relying on Qi Spiral Pills, and through subsequent cultivation, advanced to third-rank Wutu.

These were all outer sect disciples.

Although the seven inner sect disciples didn’t have a supply of tenfold Qi Gathering Pills, their improvements over the month were also quite good.

Ye Xingchen advanced to ninth-rank, his realm on par with Li Qingyang.

Su Xiaomo, Li Fei, and Tian Qi were all eighth-rank, while Xiao Zuiji was sixth-rank Wutu.

As for Lu Qianqian.

In her words, fourth-rank Wutu.

Having seen her use spiritual power to form little fists and instantly defeat her opponent at Haoqi Sect, everyone didn’t believe Senior Sister’s true strength was really just fourth-rank Wutu.

Of course, over the month, the other disciples had also improved considerably.

Disciples with average aptitude like Li Shangtian and Sima Zhongda had also advanced to second or third-rank Wutu.

The last batch of disciples to join had advanced to the tenth stage of Meridian Opening under the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic, Body Tempering Pills, and Meridian Opening Pills, and weren’t far from all reaching the twelfth stage.

Could the sect rank be upgraded?

No.

The certification requirements for a seventh-rate sect were: Sect Leader at Wushi, fifty Wutu disciples, and five hundred disciples at the twelfth stage of Meridian Opening.

The very first requirement alone was not met.

So no matter what, Jun Changxiao had to complete the epic mission to allow himself to advance to Wushi.

Moreover, based on completing the first mission, if he completed the second epic mission, he might directly break through a major realm.

……

The next day.

After the twenty-five disciples finished the breakfast prepared by Liu Wanshi, they left Tiegu Sect in a grand procession under Jun Changxiao’s leadership.

The other disciples saw them off, then began continuing their cultivation.

They hoped to become stronger faster so they could follow the Sect Leader and senior brothers and sisters on adventures together in the future.

Li Luoqiu remained to guard the sect.

But after watching Jun Changxiao and the others depart, she thought to herself, “The Valley of Death is fraught with danger. I hope they can return safely.”

The Valley of Death had a fearsome reputation. Taking so many people there for training made it hard for her not to think that some disciples might never be able to return.

“Are you afraid?”

On the road, Jun Changxiao asked.

“Not afraid!”

The disciples shouted in unison.

Even though they knew this journey would be extremely perilous, they showed no fear whatsoever, because they possessed iron bones!

……

The Valley of Death was located deep within a mountain forest to the south of Qingyang Commandery, at least a thousand li from Qingyang City.

Because time was still relatively sufficient, Jun Changxiao wasn’t in a rush. When leading the disciples past particularly scenic locations, he would stop to appreciate the view.

It must be said that in a world abundant with spiritual power, the outdoor scenery was delightful and made one reluctant to leave.

When Jun Changxiao led the disciples to a waterfall, he couldn’t suppress the poetic spirit in his heart and immediately recited a poem:

“Sunlight on the incense burner creates purple mist, from afar the waterfall hangs before the mountain stream.”

“Cascading straight down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way has fallen from the ninth heaven!”

The disciples were astonished.

So the Sect Leader could also compose poetry!

Su Xiaomo and the others weren’t from distinguished backgrounds and had limited education, but they just felt the poem sounded very smooth.

“Cascading straight down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way has fallen from the ninth heaven…” After savoring it carefully, Long Ziyang clapped and praised, “Marvelous, marvelous!”

Even the perpetually cold Lu Qianqian showed surprise in her bright eyes upon hearing Jun Changxiao’s poem.

On the Xingyun Continent, martial artists were a dime a dozen, but cultured people like this were not easy to find.

“The Sect Leader is truly amazing!”

Ling Yuanxue skipped the usual protocol and directly began worshiping him.

If the System had a showing-off value, Sect Leader Jun reciting this poem “Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu” by Li Bai would definitely instantly harvest quite a bit.

……

“Swish, swish, swish!”

In the scenic mountain forest, Xiao Zuiji ran swiftly carrying the Type 88 sniper rifle on his back, then stopped before a tree, set up the gun, and pulled the trigger.

“Whoosh—”

With the suppressor, the bullet shot out silently, precisely striking a running mountain goat in the distance.

“Swoosh!”

Su Xiaomo leaped over, hoisted the goat onto her back, and came to a small stream where she began skillfully skinning and deboning it.

After finishing, she hung the goat on a tree branch.

Zhou Hong walked over, sword shadows flickering, instantly cutting it into chunks.

Before the pieces could fall, several disciples approached with bamboo baskets and caught the falling chunks of goat meat.

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

They skewered the meat chunks onto bamboo sticks, then delivered them to the Sect Leader.

Jun Changxiao arranged the meat skewers on a temporarily constructed barbecue stand, released the Exquisite Fire, and began continuously rotating them.

Xiao Zuiji fired the gun.

Zhou Hong wielded his sword.

The disciples busied themselves frantically, as if facing a formidable enemy.

But they were actually just—grilling skewers!

“Xiaomo!”

Jun Changxiao called out, “Where are the kidneys!”

Su Xiaomo, standing by the stream, said, “Sect Leader, I threw away all the organs!”

“Damn!”

Jun Changxiao said, “What a waste!”

Li Qingyang’s mouth twitched.

My Sect Leader, using a bullet as the cost and adding the Exquisite Fire to grill meat—now that’s what I call wasteful!

“How utterly boring.”

Ye Xingchen, sitting in the distance, looked on with disdain.

Before long, the skewers were cooked.

Jun Changxiao sprinkled on chili powder and cumin, saying, “Come try this Seat’s grilling skills.”

The disciples living on the Xingyun Continent had never seen this kind of barbecue before, so they curiously each took a skewer to eat, then praised it profusely!

“Junior Brother Ye.”

Li Qingyang passed a meat skewer over, saying, “You should try some too!”

“Hmph.”

Ye Xingchen very reluctantly accepted it, took a bite, then… mmm, finished eating all the rest.

No one could resist the temptation of delicious food—not even a aloof Wudi!

Composing poetry and grilling skewers.

The disciples’ admiration for the Sect Leader flowed like surging rivers, continuous and unending!

After the outdoor barbecue ended, Jun Changxiao led the disciples to continue their journey, and on the second day, they stopped before the Valley of Death shrouded in pale mist.

On the stone wall at the valley entrance were carved three large characters “Valley of Death,” colored crimson red as if dyed with blood.

“Whoosh, whoosh!”

Cold wind blew in, pouring into the valley entrance, forming sounds like wailing ghosts and howling wolves.

Before the mountain valley, quite a few martial artists were hesitating. When they saw Jun Changxiao’s group arriving, they immediately began discussing in low voices.

“Hm? It’s Tiegu Sect?”

“Sect Leader Jun is bringing so many disciples—could they be entering the Valley of Death for training?”

“Without a Wuzong leading them, rashly entering is just courting death!”