During the month Jun Changxiao earnestly cultivated, Ye Xingchen successfully advanced from peak Wutu to Wushi.

With spiritual roots and resources on par with Li Qingyang and the others, his ability to overtake them was first due to having martial experience from his previous life, and second because he cultivated the Profound Mystery True Classic.

That said.

Li Qingyang and the others had no abundant martial experience, nor did they have Divine-grade or higher cultivation methods, yet they still closely followed Night Emperor without being left far behind—this spoke volumes about how powerful the martial resources Jun Changxiao provided his disciples were.

This was the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.

Under the system’s resources, as long as one’s aptitude wasn’t too poor and they were willing to work hard, they could likewise rapidly grow stronger!

As the reborn Martial Emperor, Ye Xingchen was absolutely protagonist template material. Being within the sect, his monstrous-level protagonist halo actually seemed considerably weakened.

No.

He was still very strong.

This strength would become increasingly apparent as various resources and the Profound Mystery True Classic took effect.

As for Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, and the others, they wouldn’t become discouraged by being one step slower than their junior martial brother and continued to cultivate diligently.

A few more days passed.

They successively completed their spiritual energy transformation, smoothly crossing from Wutu to Wushi, opening a new chapter in their martial paths.

“Sect Leader.”

One day, Li Qingyang said, “Junior Martial Brother Li has also broken through to Wushi. Among the inner sect disciples, only Junior Martial Brother Tian remains at peak Wutu.”

This was due to his having superior-grade aptitude.

Because of the damned purchase restrictions, Jun Changxiao could only obtain supreme-grade aptitude transformation fluid through hidden rewards from completing tasks.

No rush, no rush.

Tian Qi would sooner or later be transformed to have supreme-grade spiritual roots.

As for the ice-cold eldest martial sister, her realm had definitely long since advanced to Wushi.

Calculating this way, the Iron Bones Clanging Sect now had seven Wushi-level disciples—this kind of strength was sufficient to rival Sixth-Tier sects.

Still not enough, they had to grow stronger!

With only four months left until challenging the Sacred Spring Sect, Jun Changxiao distributed fifty spirit stones to each inner sect disciple, hoping they would quickly raise their ranks.

With abundant high-multiplier spirit stones and spirit stone absorption—how could disciples from other sects compete!

Sect Leader Jun, don’t be so excessive!

…

As the time for the Iron Bones Clanging Sect to challenge the Sacred Spring Sect drew increasingly near, martial artists in Qingyang Prefecture would often bring it up in discussion.

Though the Iron Bones Clanging Sect had accomplished quite a few major things during this period, most people still weren’t very optimistic—after all, they were challenging a Fifth-Tier sect!

This kind of great sect that had resources and heritage simply wasn’t something a newly rising sect could contend with.

While most people generally weren’t optimistic, City Lord Xie believed it was possible!

After all, having witnessed the sect certification, he understood that many Iron Bones Clanging Sect disciples had the ability to fight above their level.

“Sect Leader Jun.”

City Lord Xie said, “When you go to challenge the Sacred Spring Sect, Xie will represent Qingyang City’s three million six hundred thousand people and travel to Sacred Spring Mountain to cheer you on!”

Jun Changxiao rolled his eyes at him. “So this is why you came to the Iron Bones Clanging Sect to mooch a meal today?”

The two were currently sitting in the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s cafeteria, with eight dishes on the table and a jar of fine wine.

City Lord Xie smiled. “Sect Leader Jun provides the food, Xie provides the wine—how can this be called mooching?”

As he spoke, he raised his chopsticks and began eating, his expression as blissful as could be.

Liu Wanshi’s cooking was too good. After eating it once, when he returned to Qingyang City, everything else tasted like chewing wax.

Jun Changxiao could certainly manage one meal, so he drank heartily with City Lord Xie, discussing strange tales and interesting stories from the martial world.

After three rounds of wine.

Xie Guangkun sighed, worry appearing on his face.

“Why is City Lord Xie sighing so?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Xie Guangkun took a drink of wine. “Xie has received news that several strong prefectures in Southwest Yang Province are actively recruiting soldiers and buying horses. War may break out before long.”

Jun Changxiao said, “There are wars even without a nation?”

“Each prefecture in Southwest Yang Province is actually equivalent to a nation. They often wage war over resources.”

“This is a game the strong prefectures play. Why should City Lord Xie worry?”

“Xie fears that some powerful prefectures will expand their territory and come to devour our small Qingyang Prefecture.”

Jun Changxiao fell silent.

As only a Ninth-Class prefecture, Qingyang Prefecture was absolutely the weakest in Southwest Yang Province. If a strong prefecture truly wanted to expand its territory, they would definitely be the first target to be consumed.

Xie Guangkun said, “Several thousand years ago, Southwest Yang Province had over five hundred prefectures. As of today, only just over two hundred remain.”

“Those three hundred-plus prefectures were annihilated?” Jun Changxiao asked.

“Correct.”

Xie Guangkun took a drink of wine, his face showing even deeper worry. “Our Qingyang Prefecture, being in a remote location, has managed to escape calamity in wars. But living under numerous strong powers, sooner or later we’ll be destroyed.”

“Moreover.”

He paused, then continued, “The Prefecture Lord of Sixth-Class Zhenyang Prefecture is extremely ambitious and not far from our prefecture. Once he initiates war, not just Qingyang Prefecture—even Eighth-Class Heyang Prefecture will be destroyed.”

Jun Changxiao drank a cup of wine. “I originally thought the world was at peace. I didn’t expect our Qingyang Prefecture’s situation to be so dangerous.”

“City Lord Xie.”

He set down his wine cup and said seriously, “The Iron Bones Clanging Sect exists within Qingyang City, making us people of Qingyang City. If war breaks out, we will certainly fight for our homeland!”

“Swish!”

Xie Guangkun stood, raising his cup. “Xie toasts Sect Leader Jun on behalf of Qingyang City’s three million six hundred thousand people for those words!”

Jun Changxiao stood with his wine. “This is rather solemn.”

They drank, then sat back down.

“By the way.”

He asked curiously, “City Lord Xie, who is our Qingyang Prefecture’s Prefecture Lord?”

The city lord was only responsible for city affairs. The prefecture lord controlled the entire prefecture and was the city lord’s direct superior.

Not just Jun Changxiao who had transmigrated here, but even Qingyang Prefecture’s local residents had little awareness of their own prefecture lord, some even forgetting such a boss existed.

“Sigh.”

Xie Guangkun said helplessly, “Our Qingyang Prefecture’s Prefecture Lord is like a dragon—you see its head but not its tail. In the decades since I took office as city lord, I’ve only seen him twice.”

“That mysterious?” Jun Changxiao was astonished.

Xie Guangkun shook his head. “So mysterious that he hasn’t asked about prefecture affairs for decades.”

“However.”

He paused, his expression turning grave. “The Prefecture Lord’s strength is formidable. At the prefecture competition several decades ago, he defeated the Prefecture Lord of an Eighth-Class prefecture.”

“Really?”

Jun Changxiao asked curiously, “What’s our Prefecture Lord’s name, how old is he, what’s his realm?”

Xie Guangkun said, “The Prefecture Lord is named Yun He. He’s about thirty to forty years old. Judging by his victory over an Eighth-Class prefecture’s lord, he must be at least Eighth-Rank Wuzong.”

Yun He.

That name was certainly fitting for a free-spirited wanderer!

As for Eighth-Rank Wuzong, that truly surprised Jun Changxiao. A powerhouse of this level could serve as an elder even in Fifth-Tier sects.

“Do you have any specific description of his appearance?”

Such a mysterious prefecture lord piqued Sect Leader Jun’s interest, and he hoped to learn more.

“Prefecture Lord Yun likes to wear blue robes and never parts with his wine gourd. He doesn’t look very old, but has a head of white hair,” Xie Guangkun said.

“Quite a unique character.”

Jun Changxiao committed this to memory. “If there’s an opportunity, I hope to meet such a free-spirited Prefecture Lord.”

“That’ll be difficult.”

Xie Guangkun said, “Prefecture Lord Yun appears and disappears unpredictably. No one knows if he’s currently in the prefecture or has gone traveling and sightseeing in other prefectures.”

“As a prefecture lord who manages and asks about nothing, he’s truly enviable.”

Jun Changxiao also wanted to be a hands-off boss, leaving matters to Li Qingyang and the others while he traveled the Starfall Continent. But with the main quest existing, he could only dutifully develop the sect.

Free-spirited wandering?

Traveling the world?

Such a blissful life could only be experienced after developing the sect into the strongest sect.

“Come, drink!”