The next day.

Steward Zhao, accompanied by several members from the Certification Hall, hurried all the way to the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.

When they walked through the entrance and stood at the inner gate, looking at the resplendent golden palace ahead and the jade-carved balustrades and ornate architectural complex surrounding them, they were all utterly dumbfounded.

This was an eighth-rate sect?

If not for the plaque outside clearly displaying the five large characters “Iron Bones Clanging Sect,” Steward Zhao and his companions would have even thought this was a sixth-rate sect!

Truthfully speaking.

After Li Qingyang’s multiple renovations, the Iron Bones Sect had truly become magnificent and imposing.

Apart from the mountain peak lacking reputation, the architectural specifications were completely on par with the sixth-rate Righteous Qi Sect.

What shocked Steward Zhao even more was this:

Several hundred disciples gathered on the training grounds, and the vital essence radiating from their bodies—without even needing certification, one could tell at a glance they were all at the Wutu level!

“Lord Steward.”

A martial artist exclaimed in shock: “These Iron Bones Sect disciples currently training are probably all Wutu!”

The person beside him said incredulously: “Just a few months ago, this was still an unranked sect. How did it suddenly become so powerful!”

These two fellows had been a bit disgruntled yesterday.

Today, seeing the Iron Bones Sect’s architecture and witnessing the aura radiating from the disciples, they were instantly slapped in the face by an invisible force.

Steward Zhao calmed himself and said: “Sect Leader Jun has been recruiting disciples during this time. Could it be that everyone recruited was a Wutu?”

Though his tone was questioning, in his heart he was one hundred percent certain that the recruited disciples were definitely all Wutu.

Heavens above!

How did he manage to persuade so many Wutu to join the Iron Bones Sect?

Thinking of how during the Hundred Sects Recruitment, he had convinced Li Qingyang, the number one talent of Qingyang Commandery, and at the Star-Moon Tower, how he had argued until an Alliance elder vomited blood.

“Sect Leader Jun must possess a silver tongue!”

Steward Zhao concluded that the Iron Bones Sect’s numerous Wutu disciples had all been directly recruited.

If Jun Changxiao knew this, he would happily accept it, since it wouldn’t be so earth-shatteringly shocking and also aligned with the strategic policy of low-key sect development.

“Steward Zhao.”

Li Qingyang said: “Please, this way.”

Under his guidance, Steward Zhao led several members toward the great hall.

Along the way, passing by Iron Bones Sect disciples, they invariably discovered that the men had sturdy builds and profound auras, while the women had graceful figures and heroic bearing!

These Wutu were definitely no ordinary practitioners!

Having certified countless sects, Steward Zhao, upon arriving at the Iron Bones Sect, deeply experienced what it meant to have one’s heart and spirit shaken.

……

Inside the great hall.

After disciples served tea, Jun Changxiao said: “Steward Zhao, what do you think of my Iron Bones Sect?”

Steward Zhao cupped his hands and said: “Sect Leader Jun’s sect is extraordinary. This Zhao gives a potential evaluation of First Grade A!”

First Grade A?

The several Certification Hall members behind him showed shock in their eyes.

When the Certification Hall visited to certify sect rankings, they would conduct professional assessments of potential from various aspects and give one of four different level evaluations: “A, B, C, D.”

A was highest, D was lowest.

Each level was further divided into three tiers.

For example, though A was the highest, it was still divided into First Grade A, Second Grade A, and Third Grade A, from low to high.

These people working at the Certification Hall had certified many sects alongside Steward Zhao, and the highest evaluation given had only been Third Grade B.

Today he actually gave the Iron Bones Sect a First Grade A evaluation!

A ninth-rank commandery sect with potential reaching First Grade A level—even the Righteous Qi Sect couldn’t achieve that!

Though the several members were shocked, no one questioned it.

Because Steward Zhao had been certifying sects for decades, his qualifications and experience were extensive. Giving First Grade A was absolutely professional, definitely not something said casually.

Jun Changxiao didn’t understand the Certification Hall’s potential evaluation standards.

But in his understanding, the character “A” definitely belonged to a good evaluation, so he cupped his hands and smiled: “Steward Zhao is too kind, too kind.”

More than just good—extremely good!

To receive an “A” character evaluation from a Certification Hall steward, either the sect’s commandery level had to be high, or the sect itself had already reached sixth-rate.

And the Iron Bones Sect?

It wasn’t located in a spiritually blessed high-level commandery, and the sect level was only eighth-rate!

If Steward Zhao’s First Grade A evaluation spread throughout the martial world, it would definitely shock quite a few sects and martial artists.

Within this regional commandery area, sects with potential reaching First Grade A could be counted on one hand.

Oh, right.

The Qishan Sect managed by Liao Cunfang, whom Jun Changxiao had killed, had once received a First Grade A evaluation, the reason being it had great potential to advance from sect to school status.

Steward Zhao said: “Sect Leader Jun’s disciples have formidable strength and profound auras. At a glance, they’re clearly not ordinary-level Wutu. This is the reason this Zhao gives a First Grade A evaluation—absolutely not mere pleasantries.”

What determines a sect’s potential?

Definitely not the architecture, but the disciples!

Even if you built the sect more magnificently and imposingly than the royal palace in the capital, if the disciples were all a bunch of Meridian Opening Stage Two or Three, it absolutely wouldn’t even receive a First Grade B evaluation.

Conversely, even if the sect was just a pile of thatched huts, if those living inside were a group of high-level disciples, it could still receive First, Second, or Third Grade A evaluations.

An eighth-rate sect with five hundred Wutu disciples—if he didn’t give this a First Grade A evaluation, his decades as a steward would have been completely wasted.

“Steward Zhao.”

Jun Changxiao got to the point: “When can the sect certification begin?”

Steward Zhao said: “If Sect Leader Jun can assemble the disciples who meet the requirements on the training grounds, we can begin certification right now.”

“Qingyang.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Gather the disciples and have Steward Zhao verify them one by one.”

“Yes.”

Li Qingyang departed.

Before long, five hundred and fifty disciples stood in neat formation on the training grounds.

Steward Zhao walked out from the great hall. Looking at that group of Iron Bones Sect disciples standing with heads held high and profound auras, he thought to himself: “What reason would I have not to give First Grade A?”

“Steward Zhao.”

Jun Changxiao pointed to the disciples on the left and said: “These are my Iron Bones Sect’s Meridian Opening Stage Twelve disciples. Please begin verification.”

“Mm.”

Steward Zhao walked down and retrieved a testing stone from his spatial ring, setting it upright outside the training grounds.

“Please have your sect’s disciples first activate the light rings in their hands, then undergo testing one by one. As long as they achieve 1,500 jin of force, they pass.”

The twelve light rings of Meridian Opening Stage could potentially be faked, but strength values wouldn’t lie. Delivering 1,500 jin with one’s fist absolutely meant Meridian Opening Stage Twelve.

“Go ahead.”

Jun Changxiao waved his hand.

Yang Kong, who had just entered the sect, stepped forward first.

He stopped before the testing stone, took a deep breath, then raised his fist and struck out, his face showing indifference, looking extremely casual about it.

Steward Zhao shook his head, thinking: “Being so perfunctory when certifying the sect—aren’t you afraid the Sect Leader will blame you?”

Bang!

Striking the testing stone, the displayed strength was 1,800 jin.

This…

Steward Zhao was dumbfounded.

Next, he would continue being dumbfounded.

Because the disciples who came up one after another all struck with the same indifferent manner, yet the strength values displayed never dropped below 1,800 jin!

After fifty disciples had been verified, Jun Changxiao said: “Steward Zhao, my Iron Bones Sect really can’t scrape together enough Meridian Opening Stage Twelve disciples. Can we substitute with Wutu?”

The corner of Steward Zhao’s mouth twitched: “Yes.”

“Go ahead,” Jun Changxiao said.

Cui Bujian stepped forward first, raising his small fists and lightly tapping the testing stone.

He swore he had definitely controlled his strength with this punch, but it still produced a value of 3,000 jin!