After returning to the sect, Li Qingyang began arranging accommodations for the newly admitted junior brothers and sisters, and distributing uniforms and sect regulation handbooks.

Various medicinal pills were also indispensable.

Sitting on the sect master’s throne, Jun Changxiao murmured, “Once they all reach the twelfth stage of Meridian Opening, we can certify as a seventh-rate sect.”

Jun Changxiao murmured.

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

Jun Changxiao was now a sixth-rank Wushi, already meeting the requirements.

As for fifty Wutu disciples.

Sorry, not counting the newly admitted disciples, all 501 disciples within the Iron Bones Clanging Sect were Wutu.

The inability to advance lay in still needing five hundred disciples at the twelfth stage of Meridian Opening. This way it would be 50+500, so the numbers simply couldn’t add up.

Now with disciples increased from 502 to 602, they only needed to be trained up and have their twelve meridians opened, and certification would definitely be achievable.

Sect Master Jun wouldn’t be satisfied with just over six hundred disciples, so after settling the newly admitted disciples, he decided to set out for the nearest Sunyang City to continue recruitment.

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang said, “I have a friend in Sunyang City. I’d like to go along and see him.”

“You may.”

Jun Changxiao had Xiao Zuiji remain at the sect to cultivate, and the next day set out for Sunyang City with his second disciple, Zhang Wei, and the others.

Sunyang City was one of the eight cities in Qingyang Commandery.

Previously, when the Ai Family first auctioned the Healing Pill, Young Master Song the Second, who publicly consumed it and stood up again, came from the Song Family of this city.

Speaking of coincidences.

Li Qingyang’s friend was precisely Young Master Song the Second.

One was the number one genius of Qingyang City, the other was the number one genius of Sunyang City.

The two had once met in the wilderness years ago and simultaneously set their sights on the same fierce beast. In the end, they became friends through their fight.

Later, when Young Master Song the Second became paralyzed and bedridden, Li Qingyang had gone to visit but was turned away at the door.

Since then, the two had no further contact.

Only recently, through intelligence from the Drizzle Hall, did he learn that the friend he hadn’t contacted in years had stood up again thanks to the sect master’s Healing Pill.

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao said, “This seat’s Healing Pill not only saved you, but also saved your friend. Perhaps this is fate.”

Li Qingyang said earnestly, “So this disciple’s visit to this old friend is also in hopes of persuading him to join the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Then it depends on how you play the lobbyist.”

Although he didn’t care about disciple aptitude, even if all the remaining vacancies were filled with superior-grade spiritual roots, he wouldn’t mind.

There were many roads leading to Sunyang City. Jun Changxiao chose a mountain wilderness trail, expecting to arrive in half an hour.

However.

When he led the disciples to a certain area in the mountain wilderness, he faintly heard roaring sounds coming from deep within.

Li Qingyang said, “Sect Master, it’s a fierce beast attacking humans.”

“Let’s go.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Go take a look.”

Everyone followed the sound.

Soon, they saw ahead at a giant boulder, a leopard beast lowering its head, tearing and biting at a human.

The clothes were already shredded, the back showing claw and bite marks, with blood flowing all over the ground.

“Kill it.”

Jun Changxiao said, “See if there’s a crystal core.”

“Swish!”

Li Qingyang flew forth using Cloud-Treading Steps. The Cold Edge Sword in his hand shook, immediately forming sword light that severed the head of the low second-rank leopard beast.

“Splurt!”

Slicing open the chest, a crystal core rolled out.

“Worth it.” Jun Changxiao said.

Taking action and obtaining a crystal core—this was absolutely worth it.

Li Qingyang picked up the crystal core, then came before the person who had been torn and bitten. He placed a hand on the neck, shook his head and said, “Sect Master, already dead.”

“Fate ordained his death, nothing could be done.”

Jun Changxiao said, “We should continue on our way.”

In mountain wilderness filled with fierce beasts, since one entered, naturally one had to be prepared to die.

“Mm.”

Li Qingyang sheathed his sword.

But just as he took a step, he suddenly stopped, lowering his head to look at the corpse, then grabbed it and lifted it up.

Beneath the corpse was a small pit, inside which curled a young girl covered in blood.

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang said, “There’s a young girl.”

Jun Changxiao turned his head. When he saw the corpse Li Qingyang had lifted, he immediately recognized it—wasn’t this the old man from Liyang City yesterday?

Could it be…

He walked over and looked into the pit.

Indeed, it was that seven or eight-year-old girl who had called out “Grandpa Lu.”

The little girl seemed extremely frightened, her body curled up and constantly trembling.

“Grandpa Lu…”

After a moment, seeing the old man’s corpse, she could no longer control her emotions and cried with tears streaming down like rain.

Li Qingyang said, “Sect Master, this old man should have pressed her underneath to protect her, using his body to bear the fierce beast’s tearing and biting.”

Jun Changxiao shook his head and said, “Without sufficient strength, one shouldn’t take wilderness paths.”

…

In the mountain wilderness, a small mound of earth was piled up. Five characters were carved on the stone wall: ‘Tomb of Grandpa Lu.’

The little girl knelt before it, her eyes swollen from crying.

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang said with compassion, “This child is so pitiful. Why not take her into the sect?”

He had already learned from his junior brothers about what happened in Liyang City yesterday, knowing the little girl had no father or mother.

Now the old man had died for her. Without any relatives, how pitiful to live alone and helpless in this world.

Though he had killed many people and become much more decisive, Li Qingyang’s heart was still kind.

Jun Changxiao said, “Alright.”

He wasn’t a cold-blooded, heartless person either. Since they had encountered her again in the wilderness, he could only take her into the sect. He couldn’t just leave such a young child alone in the wilderness, could he?

Back then, because Liu Wanshi was crying, he had taken her into the sect and been labeled with the title of “bleeding heart” by certain readers. Today, taking in another little girl, he was already mentally prepared.

“Ling Xue.”

“Present!”

“Carry her.”

“Ah?”

Ling Yuanxue still obeyed the sect master’s order, picking up the little girl. However, she cried and struggled, wanting to stay with Grandpa Lu.

“Depart for Sunyang City.”

Jun Changxiao led the disciples to continue their journey.

That little girl called Mengying kept crying and struggling, her tear-stained eyes constantly looking toward the tombstone.

Although Grandpa Lu had no blood relation with her, he was her only relative in this world. Now he too would gradually grow distant, gradually be lost.

…

After Jun Changxiao and the others left, the newly built tomb suddenly began to tremble. The stone tablet fell over, and the earth began to turn outward.

“Swish!”

Suddenly, a withered hand reached out from the tomb, and the dead old man slowly climbed out from within.

If anyone saw this scene, they would probably be scared to death on the spot.

“Huff!”

The old man sat on the stone tablet, taking a few light breaths.

He was still alive? He hadn’t died?

“Child.”

After resting briefly, looking in the direction Jun Changxiao had departed, the old man said in an aged voice, “My divination won’t be wrong. The Iron Bones Clanging Sect is certainly not simple. I hope in the future you can grow stronger step by step in this sect.”

“No.”

He paused, then said, “Live carefree and without worry.”

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Several martial artists dressed in black tight-fitting clothing appeared, standing in neat formation behind the old man, as if they were soldiers who had undergone strict training.

“Protector Lu.”

One person said in a low voice, “When shall we return to Demon Mountain?”

The old man who appeared to be a beggar stood up. Black energy instantly enveloped his entire body, forming pitch-black battle armor.

His previously turbid gaze became incomparably cold and stern as he said, “The young master’s future has been properly arranged. It’s time for us worthless lives to follow the Demon Lord.”

On this day, dozens of black streaks of light flew away. The sinister aura they emanated frightened the birds and beasts within the mountains to sudden death on the spot!