Jun Changxiao didn’t take the Third Grade evaluation to heart, so he continued as usual—cultivating when he should cultivate, instructing disciples when he should instruct.

In his view, only by developing the Iron Bones Clanging Sect into the Starfall Continent’s strongest sect and removing the ticking time bomb bound to his soul that he couldn’t throw away no matter how hard he tried—that was the top priority!

“Sigh.”

Li Luoqiu said, “By choosing to keep a low profile, Sect Leader missed the opportunity to bring fame and glory to the sect. It’s really a bit of a shame.”

Jun Changxiao took a sip of tea. “As long as our Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s strength is great, there will be many more opportunities to bring fame and glory. We’re not lacking this one time.”

Li Luoqiu said, “What I mean is, if the outside world knew our sect was evaluated as Third Grade, it would definitely attract many excellent young people to apply.”

“Similarly.”

Jun Changxiao said, “It would also attract endless challenges from many sects.”

Li Luoqiu thought for a moment. “That’s true too.”

On the Starfall Continent, many people actively challenged higher-realm martial artists, either to prove their own strength or to make a name for themselves.

There were also bored forces that challenged high-level, highly-evaluated sects.

If the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s Third Grade evaluation got out, it would inevitably cause tremendous uproar.

A Ninth-Class prefecture with a Third Grade sect?

Many forces would naturally become skeptical, then come knocking to challenge.

The Iron Bones Clanging Sect had truly just started and needed to develop slowly. Having to deal with challenges from various forces every day would definitely be frustrating.

…

The Iron Bones Clanging Sect disciples felt deep pride that their sect had been certified as Third Grade, but they also cultivated even more desperately because they couldn’t hold the sect back!

And so.

The sect’s martial cultivation atmosphere grew even stronger.

With sufficient pill supply and no shortage of resources for the time being, Jun Changxiao focused his attention primarily on his own cultivation.

A Seventh-Tier sect?

This was only the second step forward.

There were still Sixth-Tier ahead, and even higher sect grades waiting to be surpassed!

As the leader of a sect, whether or not he received the Certification Hall’s approval, Jun Changxiao’s own realm definitely needed to rise.

…

At the beginning of the month.

The Ai Family continued to hold their auction.

After it ended, Family Head Ai personally delivered the money, seeds, and medicinal materials.

After refining quite a few more pills, Jun Changxiao murmured, “I can’t keep distributing them myself forever. I must establish a Pill Pavilion and let disciples collect them on their own.”

Other sects all had pill distribution organizations with assigned elders.

When disciples wanted to receive pills, it was either based on contribution level or cultivation realm.

Because the Iron Bones Clanging Sect had no elder positions, Jun Changxiao opened a Pill Pavilion with Medicine Hall members temporarily responsible for pill distribution.

Of course.

He definitely wouldn’t just give to anyone who came, since current resources weren’t sufficient for long-term maintenance.

Jun Changxiao also established rules for what grade level could collect how many Qi Gathering Pills each month.

As for Body Tempering Pills, Meridian Opening Pills, and Qi Spiral Pills, disciples could collect them freely.

This way, newly admitted disciples didn’t need Jun Changxiao to personally distribute pills—they could go to the Pill Pavilion to collect them themselves.

The Pill Pavilion was just the beginning.

Jun Changxiao calculated that once he had enough ore to refine more weapons, he’d establish a Weapon Pavilion, letting disciples who contributed to the sect collect weapons on their own.

Lu Qianqian leaned against the hall entrance, saying coolly, “Under Sect Leader’s management, the sect is becoming more and more comprehensive.”

“That’s as it should be,” Jun Changxiao said.

After several months of development, if there were no changes, wouldn’t all his efforts have been in vain?

“However…”

Lu Qianqian said coldly, “Compared to true great sects, there’s still a huge gap.”

Jun Changxiao said, “No one can become fat in one bite, so don’t rush. We need to take it slowly.”

Lu Qianqian said nothing and turned to leave.

This woman was still as ice-cold as ever.

…

The disciples collected their appropriate pills, either cultivating in the Spiritual Energy Enhancement Array, or tempering their bodies in the Training Rooms and Tempering Tower.

Having arranged everything, Jun Changxiao continued cultivating and launched an assault on Eighth-Rank Wushi.

Unfortunately, as realm increased, cultivation difficulty also rose. Even with high-multiplier Qi Gathering Pills to supplement, it would take at least over a month.

Sect development needed to be taken slowly.

Cultivation also had to be taken step by step.

Just like that, a month passed peacefully. During this time, routine strength tests were held, with disciples who improved rapidly receiving corresponding rewards.

The fourth batch of medicinal materials in the Medicine Garden also matured under Old Wei and the members’ careful cultivation, providing Sect Leader Jun with quite a few more high-multiplier Qi Gathering Pills.

What concerned him most was still the two hundred thousand medicinal plants planted around the sect. Once they matured again, not only would they supply large quantities of pills, they would also make Iron Bones Mountain’s spiritual energy even better.

Half a month later.

The second batch of medicinal materials matured.

Because the soil had been previously cultivated, the two hundred thousand medicinal plants had faster growth cycles, and their spiritual energy intensity was also higher than before.

Jun Changxiao happily refined over thirty thousand more Qi Gathering Pills, once again replenishing the Pill Pavilion’s supply and giving disciples abundant martial resources.

Even better.

The maturation of the second batch of medicinal materials released spiritual energy that permeated the mountain peak, making it seem even more spiritually enriched.

Old Wei led the Medicine Hall members in continuing to plant the third batch of seeds.

As long as the money was in place, Iron Bones Mountain would naturally be slowly transformed into a blessed land abundant with spiritual energy.

…

“Whoosh! Whoosh!”

In the room, after a night of cultivation, the spiritual energy in Jun Changxiao’s dantian qi spiral had reached its peak and was continuously transforming. His entire body released thick heaven and earth attributes.

Half an hour later.

The spiritual energy began to retract inward, returning to his body.

“Whoosh!”

Jun Changxiao exhaled a breath of turbid air and gradually opened his eyes. Two sharp gleams flashed and vanished.

This represented that his realm had advanced from Seventh-Rank to Eighth-Rank.

Thanks to the miraculous Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic and the pills, the time consumed was less than two months—truly quite fast!

“Bang!”

One punch on the testing machine displayed strength of one hundred and ten thousand pounds!

“Tsk tsk.”

The system sighed, “Host’s current strength has already surpassed even the most talented geniuses. You can completely compare to an ordinary Second-Rank Wuzong now.”

Jun Changxiao said dissatisfied, “At the current rate of improvement, even reaching peak Wushi, I won’t be able to wield the Green Dragon Crescent Blade with my own strength.”

The system said, “Breaking through to Wuzong will massively increase your strength. At that time, Host won’t need to rely on Strength Enhancement Talismans and will be able to use it steadily.”

“Mm.”

After breaking through, Jun Changxiao continued cultivating.

But tragically realized that to advance to Ninth-Rank Wushi would require at least four to five months.

There were only a bit over four months left until challenging the Sacred Spring Sect. Breaking through to peak Wushi had absolutely no hope.

Unless…

Jun Changxiao waved his hand. “Use spirit stones!”

High-multiplier Qi Gathering Pills could certainly increase spiritual energy absorption speed, but the spiritual energy gathered in spirit stones was even purer—using them for absorption would definitely be faster.

Normally, Sect Leader Jun was reluctant to use them, since one cost ten thousand taels—simply ridiculously expensive!

To break through to peak Wushi before challenging the Sacred Spring Sect, he could only rely on spirit stones!