Because they wasted a bit of time on the road, it took Jun Changxiao two hours to reach Sunyang City.
“Grandpa Lu…” The young girl who had cried herself to sleep on Ling Yuanxue’s shoulder would occasionally murmur in her dreams.
“Sect Master.”
Li Qingyang glanced at her and said, “This little girl is so pitiful.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head and said, “There are many pitiful people in this world. One can’t save every single one.”
“Understood.”
Li Qingyang knew the sect master was actually just talking tough.
Saving himself, saving Junior Brother Xiao, and even saving this little girl all represented the kindness in his heart—he was just deliberately concealing it.
A qualified disciple knew this but wouldn’t say it out loud.
If Lu Qianqian were present instead, she would probably have exposed it long ago and used words to strike at the sect master.
“Let’s go.”
Jun Changxiao said, “We’re entering the city.”
The usual routine.
After entering Sunyang City, they went directly to the City Lord’s Manor to inform them of the disciple recruitment news in the city.
The Sunyang City Lord had also received news that multiple Iron Bones Clanging Sect disciples had won championships in various commanderies, so naturally he had no objections.
His thinking was the same as City Lord Ao’s—matters between sects should be resolved by the sects themselves and had nothing to do with them.
Sunyang City Plaza.
The signboard representing the Iron Bones Clanging Sect was erected once again.
This time went very smoothly. The Hundred Sects Alliance didn’t cause trouble. After some fanfare and publicity, they recruited over a hundred people. Membership rose from 602 to 712, and contribution points increased from 104 to 214.
“It looks like I’ll need to go to the other four cities to fill the disciple quota.” Jun Changxiao murmured.
“Sect Master.”
Just then, Li Qingyang walked over with a handsome young man like jade trees in the breeze following behind him.
This person was the Song Family’s Second Young Master, named Song Xuanzhou.
This number one genius of Sunyang City had been extremely proud back in the day, but after standing up again, his personality had become mature and reserved.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Song Xuanzhou cupped his fists and said, “I’ve long admired your great name. Well met, well met!”
He had long heard about matters concerning the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.
He also knew his good friend Li Qingyang had joined this sect, so he had always held great interest. He had been planning to recuperate at home for a while before going to pay a visit.
“Young Master Song.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Qingyang should have told you—are you interested in joining the Iron Bones Clanging Sect?”
“Swish!”
Song Xuanzhou cupped his fists and said earnestly, “If Sect Master Jun doesn’t mind that Song was once a paralyzed person, I’m willing to join the Iron Bones Clanging Sect!”
Jun Changxiao said, “This seat thirsts for talent—how could I mind?”
“Snap!”
He stamped the seal on the admission form.
The headcount and contribution points both increased by 1, and the Iron Bones Clanging Sect gained another genius with superior-grade aptitude.
“Disciple Song Xuanzhou.”
Song Xuanzhou cupped his fists respectfully and said, “Pays respects to Sect Master!”
“What’s your current cultivation level?”
“Tenth stage of Meridian Opening.”
If not for being paralyzed for many years, he would probably have already entered the Wutu stage by now.
Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “This realm is just right for cultivating the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture. I can focus on cultivating him.”
“Go home and bid farewell to your parents.”
“Sect Master, when I left home I already said goodbye to my parents.”
So decisive?
Li Qingyang transmitted, “Sect Master, I told Junior Brother Xuanzhou verbatim what you said when recruiting me. He’s very excited about our Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s future.”
I see.
Jun Changxiao snapped his fingers and said, “Return to the sect.”
Under the watchful eyes of many martial artists in Sunyang City, he led all the disciples away in a grand procession.
“Alas.”
Various forces hiding in the shadows all shook their heads and sighed.
Song Xuanzhou had stood up again thanks to the Healing Pill. They had come early, hoping to recruit him into their ranks.
But the Song Family Head publicly announced that his son had just recovered and needed time to recuperate, so he refused all recruitment.
Who would have thought he’d be intercepted by the Iron Bones Clanging Sect!
…
“Family Head!”
In the Song Family great hall, an elder said with a rather ugly expression, “Xuanzhou joining the Iron Bones Clanging Sect is rather improper, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
Another elder said, “Jun Changxiao has not only offended Qin Haoran but also the Sacred Spring Sect. For Xuanzhou to join this sect is really not a wise move.”
The Song Family elders all opposed Song Xuanzhou joining the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.
This wasn’t contempt or belittlement, but rather—having provoked so much trouble, how could they get by in the martial world in the future?
Old Master Song said, “Xuanzhou joining the Iron Bones Clanging Sect was his own choice. As his father, I naturally support him unconditionally.”
This Song Family Head was much more enlightened than the Li Family Head.
Of course.
This was also because the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s reputation had spread recently.
If it had been during the Hundred Sects recruitment period, he definitely would have been like the Li Family Head, opposing his son joining this unranked sect.
The Song Family elders all fell silent.
Since the family head had said so, even if they opposed it, it would be useless.
After the meeting dispersed.
Old Master Song stood at the study window, hands clasped behind his back, and said, “Zhou’er, joining the Iron Bones Clanging Sect was your own choice. No matter how difficult the path ahead, you must persist in walking it.”
…
Iron Bones Clanging Sect.
Jun Changxiao led the disciples back and had Li Qingyang arrange everything.
What troubled him was that the little girl still hadn’t emerged from her grief, constantly curling up in the corner of her room. When asked her name, she wouldn’t speak. How could he admit her to the sect?
“Sect Master!”
Liu Wanshi volunteered, “Let me go ask!”
“Mm.” Jun Changxiao agreed.
At this time, he could only let a bigger young girl counsel a smaller young girl.
Liu Wanshi made several dishes, then entered the room.
“Munch munch.”
Before long, the sound of eating came through.
Jun Changxiao looked through the window and saw the little girl holding chopsticks, eating big mouthfuls, and saying in her childish voice, “Big Sister Liu, the food you make smells so good!”
Indeed, those in this world who could resist the temptation of delicious food were truly very, very few.
“Sect Master.”
Liu Wanshi walked out holding the little girl’s hand and said with a smile, “Her name is Yao Mengying, and she’s willing to join our Iron Bones Clanging Sect.”
Taking out the admission form, she filled in the name and stamped the seal.
“Toot toot.”
Jun Changxiao transmitted, “This little girl’s emotions are very low. Counsel her well.”
“Mm.”
Liu Wanshi said, “Sect Master, can Mengying and I share a room?”
“No problem.”
…
After settling the second batch of recruited disciples, Jun Changxiao set out again for Yaoyang City.
The alliance forces in Yaoyang City were very unfriendly.
After all, the Sacred Spring Sect within their territory had been destroyed by that guy, so as soon as the signboard was set up in the plaza, they came in great numbers to cause trouble.
“Dissatisfied?”
Jun Changxiao said indifferently, “Fight one of my disciples. If you win, I’ll leave immediately and never come down the mountain to recruit disciples again.”
And so, Ye Xingchen stood on the dueling platform, beating down everyone who came up.
In a short time, over thirty alliance leaders had been defeated.
Night Emperor struck much harder than Xiao Zuiji—they would probably need to lie in bed for three to five months before recovering.
After dealing with these fleas, recruitment began, and within an hour they accepted over a hundred disciples.
Over the next several days.
Jun Changxiao also went to Huayang City, Zhengyang City, and Shouyang City.
After the Hundred Sects Alliance suffered losses twice, they no longer dared to cause trouble, so recruitment went very smoothly.
“Snap!”
Stamping the sect master’s seal once more, a clear system notification sounded in his ear.
“Ding! Sect members: 1000/1000.”
“Ding! Sect contribution points: 502/1000.”
When Jun Changxiao brought the newly recruited disciples back to the sect, the next day, the system determined the requirements were met, and the Sect Mission Board in the Mission Pavilion displayed densely packed missions.
“Judging from the recommendation stars, as long as the disciples complete them all, we should be able to raise construction to level 4.”
Jun Changxiao rubbed his hands together.
The level 4 construction unlock was the Talisman Pavilion.
This made Sect Master Jun extremely excited, because perhaps he could refine talismans like Talismans of Insight, Talismans of Endurance, Talismans of Swift Movement, and the like!