Two days later, Jun Changxiao led his disciples back to the sect.

Huaying Commandery, on the other hand, completely exploded, because Black Eagle Hall on Black Eagle Mountain had been burned to ruins.

Could this be… sect extermination?

When the news spread, it instantly swept through all of Huaying Commandery like a wild wind.

For a time, everyone was discussing this matter, with most secretly celebrating.

There were quite a few evil sects in Huaying Commandery, but the one with the worst reputation was Black Eagle Hall, because this sect completely disregarded jianghu rules and spent every day engaging in the business of murder and robbery.

Now that the sect had been burned, with the Hall Master and disciples’ whereabouts unknown, someone must have acted on behalf of heaven and exterminated this force!

It was normal for righteous sects to be happy.

After evil sects learned of it, they were surprisingly also clapping in praise.

Black Eagle Hall truly stank to high heaven!

Of course.

While celebrating, everyone discussed who exactly was the hero that had exterminated Black Eagle Hall, established for a hundred years.

Unfortunately, there were no witnesses.

Everyone could only speculate based on the forces Black Eagle Hall had offended.

The result of all their speculation—they couldn’t figure it out, because the offended forces were as numerous as cow hairs!

Some people had also mentioned that Black Eagle Hall’s Vice Hall Master had once gone to Death Valley to pursue Tiegu Sect, but it didn’t attract attention.

Not even under pain of death would Huaying Commandery’s martial artists imagine that an eighth-rate sect from Qingyang Commandery would exterminate the Vice Hall Master and others, then strike first to exterminate Black Eagle Hall.

For a time, various opinions abounded.

Exactly how Black Eagle Hall was exterminated was destined to become an unsolved mystery under history’s turning wheel.

…

Qingyang Commandery’s side also received the news.

But because it was another commandery’s affair, they only casually discussed it without taking it seriously.

What they were focusing on discussing now was the Ai Family’s pills, and several months later, Tiegu Sect going to challenge Shengquan Sect.

After returning to the sect.

Jun Changxiao distributed the obtained spatial rings one by one, ensuring each disciple had one.

With Black Eagle Hall exterminated, he had obtained considerable wealth and resources, which couldn’t help but make him think—why not raise the banner of acting on behalf of heaven and go rob evil sect organizations?

No, no.

That would be a bit too high-profile, inconsistent with the strategic policy of developing the sect in a low-key manner.

Coming to this other world, he had first exterminated Lingquan Sect, then thwarted Haoqi Sect, and now had taken down Black Eagle Hall.

One couldn’t see at all where the low-key approach was!

“Sect Master.”

The day after returning to the sect, Elder Wei came to see him: “The second batch of medicinal herbs has matured and can be harvested.”

“Really?”

Jun Changxiao was extremely delighted and hurried to the medicine garden.

Under Elder Wei’s meticulous care, the ten-plus acres of medicinal fields were full of mature medicinal herbs, with even more concentrated spiritual power gathering above.

“Whoosh!”

Jun Changxiao took a deep breath, his spirits lifting.

“Elder Wei.”

He said in surprise: “Under your care, the medicine garden has become a blessed land abundant with spiritual power.”

Elder Wei said: “Sect Master, our Tiegu Sect’s mountain peak is really too ordinary. This old one suggests planting spiritual power-type medicinal herbs all around, which should be able to raise the heaven and earth attributes quite a bit.”

“That’s an excellent suggestion.” Jun Changxiao’s eyes lit up.

Although Tiegu Mountain was large, it was truly ordinary.

Although it had a bit of spiritual power, compared to blessed lands, it was a hundred and eight thousand miles inferior.

Not even mentioning Black Eagle Mountain, even Lingquan Mountain where the ninth-rate Lingquan Sect was stationed had considerably stronger spiritual power than Tiegu Mountain.

Outstanding people from beautiful lands.

Beautiful mountains and rivers with spiritual energy could nurture outstanding talents.

Various basic facilities needed to be in place, and Tiegu Mountain’s spiritual energy also needed to be strengthened—only then could both he and his disciples benefit.

Under normal circumstances, in places with thin spiritual power, gathering spiritual energy was impossible, but Elder Wei could achieve enhancement by cultivating medicinal herbs.

Once Tiegu Mountain’s spiritual power strengthened, the speed of nurturing medicinal herbs would increase, then after maturing, they would continue releasing heaven and earth attributes, creating a virtuous cycle.

“However.”

Elder Wei added: “This is a major project—it definitely won’t show results in just two or three years.”

“No problem.”

Jun Changxiao said: “This seat fully supports your tree planting and forest cultivation.”

Being slow didn’t matter. As long as it could improve Tiegu Mountain’s ecological environment, it would be a deed beneficial to the present generation and advantageous for a thousand years to come.

“Since that’s the case.”

Elder Wei said: “Please, Sect Master, purchase more medicinal herb seeds, preferably all high-quality ones.”

Jun Changxiao said: “No problem.”

Next, Elder Wei began collecting the medicinal herbs.

He didn’t let the Medicine Hall disciples help but harvested them personally, aiming to perfectly preserve the spiritual power.

After an inventory, there were over two thousand portions of medicinal herbs for refining Qi Gathering Pills, and their medicinal efficacy was stronger than those previously planted.

“Elder Wei.”

Jun Changxiao said with emotion: “For our Tiegu Sect to recruit a medicinal herb master like you is truly a great fortune.”

Elder Wei smiled: “Thanks to the Sect Master’s generous favor, this old one wishes to do his utmost in his remaining years.”

“Those words are a bit inauspicious.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Elder Wei is hale and hearty—you’ll definitely live a thousand years!”

“Hahaha.”

Elder Wei laughed heartily: “Only those who step into Wuwang level can have a thousand-year lifespan. These old bones of mine don’t hope for that anymore.”

“Breaking through to Wuwang grants a thousand-year lifespan? That’s not very difficult.” Jun Changxiao said.

“…”

Elder Wei’s lips twitched.

Although Wuwang wasn’t the strongest existence on Xingyun Continent, those who could be called kings were all regional overlords. Yet the Sect Master actually said it wasn’t very difficult.

After collecting the medicinal herbs, Jun Changxiao left the medicine garden to refine pills.

Elder Wei led disciples to continue planting high-quality seeds.

Having gone through two cultivation cycles, the spiritual power permeating the medicine garden had improved, and the third maturation time would also shorten considerably.

This was what Jun Changxiao most hoped to see, because within the one-year agreement’s time limit, if there were more high-quality medicinal herbs, it would definitely help both him and his disciples advance.

…

In his room.

Jun Changxiao sat cross-legged, circulating the Yi Jin Jing.

Inside the Pill Refining Pavilion, pill refinement was proceeding, with ding-ding sounds continuous, like beautiful music.

The second batch of medicinal herbs refined by Elder Wei, because of their high material quality, also had high effects.

After refining them all completely, Jun Changxiao consumed one pill and roughly calculated it had fifteen times absorption speed.

If consumed continuously for twenty-four hours, it would be equivalent to others absorbing spiritual power for one day while he absorbed spiritual power for fifteen days!

Jun Changxiao’s eyes burned intensely: “The medicinal herbs Elder Wei cultivates are definitely the key to our Tiegu Sect’s path to becoming stronger!”

The next day.

He distributed ten Qi Gathering Pills each to disciples who had participated in exterminating Black Eagle Hall as a reward.

Then he went to Huyang City and found Family Head Ai to inform him of his purpose.

“What?”

Ai Shangni exclaimed in shock: “Such seeds—you need several hundred thousand of them?”

“Can you gather them?” Jun Changxiao said.

Ai Shangni calmed down and said: “Although the quantity is large, I can gather them if I try, but the price will be quite expensive.”

The previous high-quality medicinal herb seeds were gifts from him. The quantity hadn’t been too large, so the Ai Family could afford it.

But several hundred thousand seeds—that value was too great!

Jun Changxiao tossed over a spatial ring: “Inside is twenty million. Family Head Ai, gather what you can.”

Ai Shangni’s lips twitched slightly.

Taking out so much money to buy medicinal herb seeds was definitely a grand gesture.

“Sect Master Jun, please rest assured.”

Ai Shangni said: “This Ai will gather twenty million worth of high-quality medicinal herb seeds in the fastest time possible.”

“Mm.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Take the money and return my ring.”

Having already forked out twenty million, he was still concerned about one spatial ring—this was truly stingy!

“Oh right, Sect Master Jun.”

After finishing official business, Ai Shangni smiled: “In neighboring Pingyang Commandery, half a month from now they’re holding a fairly large-scale inter-sect competition. Would your esteemed sect be interested in participating?”

“No interest…” Jun Changxiao said.

“Ding! Side mission triggered.”

Opening the data panel, the mission read: Send disciples to participate in Pingyang Commandery’s inter-sect competition and seize the championship [Elite Mission].

Jun Changxiao finished his sentence: “…we still must participate!”