“Sect Leader Jun has come out?”

“Heavens, look at them acting like nothing happened—could they have actually killed the Fire Dragon Beast?”

“That… impossible, right!”

At the tunnel entrance leading to the rear area, the square-faced middle-aged man and several martial artists hadn’t left.

When they saw the Iron Bones Clanging Sect disciples lower their guard and excitedly cheer, their eyes immediately filled with disbelief.

No one would think that Sect Leader Jun had brought his disciples inside only to squat at the tunnel entrance, because the roaring they’d heard earlier proved they had already disturbed the Fire Dragon Beast!

Now that they could safely emerge, it meant the overlord of Death Valley—the Fire Dragon Beast—must have met a terrible fate!

Too terrifying.

Too unimaginable!

The several independent cultivators’ shocked state of mind was difficult to calm down.

If not for the Iron Bones Clanging Sect still blocking the entrance, they might have already rushed inside to investigate.

No matter, no matter.

The opportunity would come soon.

Jun Changxiao led his disciples to a clean area and began resting on the spot.

Although Li Qingyang and the others relied on healing pills to recover from their injuries, the spiritual energy consumed within their bodies had to be replenished through the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the square-faced martial artist and several other independent cultivators gathered their courage to enter the tunnel entrance and arrive at the scorching location.

When they saw dozens of small Fire Dragon Beasts and the Fire Dragon Beast corpse that had been divided into chunks, their legs trembled as they supported themselves against the stone walls.

This Iron Bones Clanging Sect.

Just what kind of monsters were they!

Gradually calming down, the square-faced man and the others hurriedly rushed over.

Along the way, they even threw away the meat, skin, and bones from their spatial rings, because there were even better things inside!

From the moment they entered Death Valley, they had been gambling. Looking at it now, the independent cultivators who could persist to the end had undoubtedly won their bet.

Because by collecting everything the Iron Bones Clanging Sect didn’t want, each person could earn at least forty to fifty thousand taels!

This money wasn’t much to Jun Changxiao.

But for independent cultivators without sects or factions, it was no small sum—at least enough to exchange for four or five spirit stones!

…

Li Qingyang and the others began circulating the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic, absorbing spiritual power to replenish their energy spirals.

Jun Changxiao merged into his spatial ring and took out the supreme quality aptitude transformation liquid rewarded for completing the epic quest.

This item was also sold in the purchased goods column, but because his realm was stuck and the price was expensive, he had never considered acquiring it.

Now that the quest completion rewarded one bottle, he saved 300 points—absolutely delightful.

“Swish!”

Taking out the aptitude transformation liquid, Sect Leader Jun directly drank it down.

Still that malty fragrance flavor—after drinking one bottle, he wanted a second!

Damn it.

In the future, when he had hundreds of thousands or even millions of contribution points, he’d buy them to drink like beer.

The system said: “Keep dreaming.”

“Ding! Host has used Aptitude Transformation Liquid x1, currently transforming spiritual root aptitude!”

“Ding! Spiritual root aptitude transformation complete!”

Jun Changxiao’s aptitude upgraded from superior grade to supreme grade, and he immediately felt the spiritual energy in the valley was several times denser than before!

When spiritual roots upgraded, perception of spiritual energy grew stronger.

Leaping from superior grade to supreme grade, that increase in perception was even more terrifying!

At this moment, Jun Changxiao didn’t doubt that when he sat down cross-legged and circulated the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic, vast amounts of heaven and earth attributes would come swarming in!

“Ding! Host has successfully broken through to Fifth Rank Wushi!”

After his spiritual root upgraded to supreme grade, his level rose from fourth rank to fifth rank.

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao clenched both fists, and spiritual energy instantly surged from his energy spiral into his arms—explosive power!

“At peak Wutu, my strength was around 30,000 catties. Now that I’ve advanced to Fifth Rank Wushi, how much will it increase to?”

The system said: “Each rank increase at the Wushi level raises strength by 3,000 to 6,000 catties. Based on the host’s strength increases at the Wutu level, it should be around 80,000 catties.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Only 80,000?”

This word “only” was quite spiritual.

Those Wushi who advanced to fifth rank with strength of only forty to fifty thousand catties would definitely hide in a corner and cry upon hearing this.

Each rank’s strength increase had multiple factors, such as spiritual root aptitude, physical body strength, and spiritual power purity.

Ordinary martial cultivators often leaned toward the minimum values, average ones fell in the middle, and excellent ones approached the maximum values.

Having experienced Body Sculpting Pills, the Muscle Sculpting Room, and body tempering through the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic, Jun Changxiao’s strength increase per rank absolutely far exceeded the maximum threshold.

After advancing to Wushi, with the addition of supreme grade spiritual roots, his strength being much higher than martial artists of the same level was perfectly reasonable.

It wasn’t just Jun Changxiao who was strong.

Li Qingyang and the others had all taken Body Sculpting Pills, cultivated the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic, and had their bodies sculpted in the Sculpting Room—their strength values upon rank advancement also absolutely exceeded the upper limit.

Under Sect Leader Jun’s careful cultivation, although they were still weak for now, their potential was enormous!

Of course.

The cultivation would continue!

Jun Changxiao said: “With the extra 500 contribution points, I can consider buying a few bottles of supreme grade aptitude transformation liquid.”

“Ding! Host has spent 600 contribution points to obtain Aptitude Transformation Liquid x2, already delivered to spatial ring.”

“Ding! Sect contribution points: 900/1000.”

He didn’t dare buy too many—after all, each one cost 300 points. Buying five bottles would leave his contribution points completely empty.

Sect Leader Jun without contribution points would panic like crazy.

“Qingyang, Zuoji.”

Jun Changxiao waved his hand: “Come here.”

He planned to give the two bottles of aptitude transformation liquid to Li Qingyang and Xiao Zuoji.

One worked tirelessly managing the sect’s internal affairs and also moonlighted as a civil engineer—when there were benefits to give, he was definitely the first choice.

Xiao Zuoji was also excellent.

Especially his performance just now—giving him a bottle of aptitude transformation liquid was absolutely necessary.

As for the other inner sect disciples, as long as contribution points were sufficiently abundant, they certainly wouldn’t be left out either.

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao placed the two bottles of aptitude transformation liquid on a rock: “One bottle each, take them and drink.”

Xiao Zuoji was stunned, then greatly delighted.

This type of liquid that transformed spiritual roots—he had drunk multiple bottles before.

Now that the sect leader was giving more, it meant that after drinking it, his spiritual root could definitely upgrade to supreme grade!

Li Qingyang had never taken aptitude transformation liquid before, so he asked in confusion: “Sect Leader, what is this?”

“Second Senior Brother.”

Xiao Zuoji took one bottle first: “Don’t worry about what it is—drinking it will definitely bring benefits!”

With that, he opened the bottle stopper and drank it all.

“Whoosh whoosh!”

Xiao Zuoji’s spiritual root advanced from superior grade to supreme grade, and his realm also jumped from Sixth Rank Wutu to Eighth Rank Wutu!

Feeling the degree of perception toward spiritual energy, he raised his head and shouted loudly: “I’m back!”

Yes.

That once-in-a-millennium genius of Qingyang Commandery had returned!

Five years ago, he fell from heaven to hell, tasting the coldness of human nature and experiencing the cruelty of the world.

Five years later, as a disciple of the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, he broke from his cocoon and transformed into a butterfly, once again spreading his colorful wings to soar across heaven and earth!

“Sect Leader!”

Xiao Zuoji said: “I want to cry!”

“Listen well!”

Jun Changxiao shouted: “The Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s first principle—as a member of this sect, you may only shed blood, never shed tears!”

“Yes!”

Xiao Zuoji roared.

“However.”

Jun Changxiao said: “If you want to cry, then cry.”

This turn was too sharp—Xiao Zuoji nearly stumbled, and his urge to cry immediately vanished.

Seeing Junior Brother Xiao’s temperament undergo such a tremendous change in an instant, Li Qingyang opened the aptitude transformation liquid’s bottle stopper and drank it down like savoring tea.

Whoosh whoosh!

In a flash, his spiritual root advanced from superior grade to supreme grade, and his realm also jumped from Eighth Rank Wutu to Ninth Rank Wutu.

Feeling his realm increase and his perception of heaven and earth attributes instantly multiply several times over, Li Qingyang patted his own face: “Is this… a dream?”

Xiao Zuoji leaned in and whispered the aptitude transformation liquid’s function to him.

After hearing it, Li Qingyang’s facial expression immediately stiffened, and both hands trembled.

The medicinal liquid could upgrade spiritual root quality!

He originally had a superior grade spiritual root—after taking it, didn’t that mean… supreme grade spiritual root!

“Sect Leader!”

Li Qingyang said loudly: “I want to cry!”

“Hold it in!”

“Yes!”