Jun Changxiao had previously considered sending disciples to participate in the sect competition because it could improve their practical combat experience, but he abandoned the idea after acquiring the Tempering Tower.

With that thing available for tempering over time, who had the leisure to compete with others in duels?

After the branch quest appeared, even if he wasn’t interested, he had to participate—after all, what was at stake was contribution points.

The System said: “The first epic quest was to win the sect competition, and now the branch quest is also to win the sect competition. This elite quest won’t be easy to complete.”

“The harder it is, the more challenging it becomes,” Jun Changxiao replied.

Ai Shangni said: “As far as I know, the sects participating in this sect competition are mainly sixth or seventh-tier, and the strongest participant is at the ninth-grade Wutu level.”

The System: “…”

Forget what I just said!

Why? Because the inner disciples of the Iron Bones Sect were already invincible at the Wutu tier.

The highest-level participant in Pingyang Commandery’s sect competition was only at ninth-grade Wutu—wouldn’t this be like winning the championship with their eyes closed?

Jun Changxiao was overjoyed.

The branch quest given by the System was essentially free rice delivered without reason!

“Family Head Ai,” he inquired, “what are the rewards?”

Since he was sending disciples to participate, he naturally cared more about the championship prize.

Ai Shangni said: “If a sect’s disciple can enter the top ten, they will receive ten spirit stones. If they win the championship, they will receive one high-grade martial technique manual and one hundred spirit stones.”

“So generous?” Jun Changxiao was astonished.

Previously at Liyang City’s sect competition, when Xiao Zuiji won the championship, he only received one high-tier mortal-grade martial technique and ten spirit stones.

In the Pingyang Commandery competition, just making the top ten earned ten stones—truly a world of difference.

Even without considering the contribution points, just for those one hundred spirit stones, they had to participate!

…

After leaving the Ai Family medicinal shop, Jun Changxiao returned to the sect and began considering whom to send to participate in Pingyang Commandery’s sect competition.

For something with such generous rewards and an attached quest, he would definitely select from the inner disciples.

Among them, only Ye Xingchen and Li Fei had never participated in Liyang City’s sect competition, so he would choose one of the two.

“Let’s go with Xingchen,” Jun Changxiao decided definitively.

When Ye Xingchen learned of this matter, his heart refused.

After all, going to participate in that kind of child’s-play level competition was not as worthwhile as cultivating at the sect.

But upon learning of the spirit stone reward, he said earnestly: “Sect Leader, when do we depart for the sect competition?”

“We’ll set out in ten days,” Jun Changxiao said.

Ten days?

He could still cultivate for a while.

Night fell.

Jun Changxiao, as usual, entered the Tempering Tower to cultivate for over two hours, then came out, took a hot bath, and sat cross-legged in his room circulating the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic.

The sect needed to develop, but his cultivation level couldn’t fall behind either.

After an hour, Jun Changxiao skillfully opened the shop, murmuring: “It’s time for a refresh.”

“Ding! Sect contribution points: 770/1000!”

The newly appeared goods still had no practical use.

However, looking at the very end, he discovered an item called the **Disciple Shop Vending Machine**.

He clicked for details—

Item: Disciple Shop Vending Machine.

Description: This item can automatically sell goods from the Disciple Shop. Simply verify with a fingerprint, and with sufficient contribution points, one can select and purchase items.

Price: 100 contribution points.

“This thing is great!” Jun Changxiao said happily.

Previously with the sect quests that appeared, many disciples completed tasks and earned corresponding contribution points, and he had to purchase items for them one by one and distribute them—it was really too troublesome.

Now with the Disciple Shop Vending Machine, when sect quests appeared next time, disciples who completed tasks could buy things themselves, which would undoubtedly save a lot of trouble.

“Ding! Host has spent 100 contribution points to obtain Disciple Shop Vending Machine x1, delivered to the spatial ring.”

“Ding! Sect contribution points: 670/1000.”

After the purchase, Jun Changxiao didn’t dare refresh the shop again, fearing he’d get addicted and consume quite a few contribution points.

When daybreak came, he placed the vending machine in the Quest Pavilion.

…

Morning.

Under the brainwashing divine music, the disciples danced happily and joyfully, their minds being cultivated.

The best dancer was definitely Liu Wanshi, with her various self-choreographed dances that were absolutely pleasing to the eye.

Unfortunately, she was born in the wrong place.

If she were on Earth, she would definitely capture the hearts of countless otaku, who would gladly call out their support and vote for her on rankings.

After morning exercises, Jun Changxiao explained the vending machine’s functions, and the disciples hurried to the Quest Pavilion.

“Let me try!”

Cui Bujian stood in front of the machine, extended his thumb, and pressed it on the fingerprint button. The screen immediately displayed data—

Disciple: Cui Bujian.

Contribution Points: 3 points.

Below were listed many goods from the Disciple Shop, such as wooden swords and Qi-Gathering Powder.

What should I buy?

After brief consideration, Cui Bujian clicked on Qi-Gathering Powder and bought three portions.

At present, he needed resources to raise his realm, so buying Qi-Gathering Powder was definitely more cost-effective than buying a wooden sword.

The disciples who had done quests tested it one by one. Seeing they still had contribution points, they would also choose to buy Qi-Gathering Powder.

“Sect Leader.”

Li Qingyang stood outside the great hall, saying: “Although the vending machine is good, the sect quests are too few. Many junior brothers have no contribution points to buy goods.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Don’t worry, there will be more in the future.”

The System stipulated that sect quests would only open after the disciple count was full. For the third opening, they must recruit a full one thousand people.

“Ah.”

Jun Changxiao sighed: “If only there were sect quests every day—even if they didn’t give me contribution points, that would be fine.”

The System said: “There’s an item in the shop called a Quest Publisher that releases tasks daily. Disciples who complete them only increase their own contribution points, which meets the host’s requirements.”

“Is it easy to acquire?” Jun Changxiao asked.

The System said: “Easy to acquire, but it’s only sold in the mid-tier shop.”

“Get lost.”

…

Family Head Ai handled matters very efficiently. In just a few days, he came to visit, bringing two hundred thousand high-quality medicinal herb seeds, averaging only one hundred taels each.

Seeds had always been inexpensive—the difficulty lay in planting and cultivation.

Spending twenty million to buy two hundred thousand seeds made Jun Changxiao’s heart ache a bit.

But thinking about how this could improve the ecological environment of Iron Bones Mountain—a project benefiting the present and profiting future generations—it was still acceptable.

After obtaining the large quantity of seeds, Elder Wei said: “Please have the Sect Leader assign more hands to follow me in planting.”

“Mm.”

Jun Changxiao assigned Long Ziyang, Sima Zhongda, and others. The sect’s ecological environment transformation thus began in full swing.

Ten days later.

Within a radius of several miles centered on the Iron Bones Sect, all had been sown with high-quality medicinal herbs, then maintained by disciples of the Medicine Hall.

This kept Sun Bukong and the others quite busy—after all, two hundred thousand seeds had been planted!

It was tiring, but it could undoubtedly improve their skills in cultivating medicinal herbs, so the Medicine Hall disciples worked happily and joyfully.

“Let’s go.”

After breakfast, Jun Changxiao took Ye Xingchen and departed, heading to Pingyang Commandery to participate in the sect competition.

“Junior Brother Ye! (Senior Brother!)”

The disciples saw him off, calling out: “We await your triumphant return!”

“Hmph.”

Ye Xingchen snorted coldly.

He didn’t know why, but his state of mind had undergone a slight change.

In his previous life, he had no friends. When he went to battle and fight others, he always came and went alone.

Now participating in the sect competition, with all his fellow disciples seeing him off, that strange feeling was something he had never experienced in his previous life.