Jiang Xie tumbled and rolled down from the cliff, undoubtedly worsening his injuries even more.
This was intentional on his part. After all, since he was putting on an act, he naturally had to go all out and couldn’t let the suspicious Great Helm Master see through any flaws!
“Sect Master.”
On the mountaintop, Li Qingyang said worriedly, “What if he doesn’t come back?”
Jun Changxiao said, “If he cares about his lost relative, after taking the Body Molding Pill, he will definitely return.”
Why was he so certain?
Not because of the recruitment force’s control, but because the physical enhancement brought by the Body Molding Pill would surely make him recognize his extraordinary nature even more.
“After Jiang Xie returns.”
Jun Changxiao said, “My Iron Bones Sect will have an elder at the Martial King level.”
Su Xiaomo said with a bitter face, “Sect Master, I’ve beaten him up many times. If he becomes an elder, how am I supposed to get by in the future?”
Jun Changxiao said, “Didn’t you also beat up Xingchen? Aren’t you still alive and kicking now?”
“That guy came out of the Magic Evil Sect. How can he be compared to Junior Brother Ye?” Su Xiaomo said.
If this fellow knew that in his past life, Ye Xingchen was a Martial Emperor who killed people like flies, he would definitely change his mind and think Jiang Xie seemed relatively gentle!
Jun Changxiao murmured, “Our Iron Bones Sect should be able to have some peace for a while.”
……
Outside the mountain gate, ten Martial Grandmasters and two formation masters were still there.
At first, they had wanted to break the formation. Now they were simply waiting for Jiang Xie. After all, he had been missing for several days!
“It’s been over ten days. Why hasn’t the lord returned?”
“Could he have run into some trouble?”
“That’s impossible, right? The lord is a Martial King. In Qingyang Prefecture, who could cause him trouble?”
The more everyone discussed, the more anxious they became.
The Magic Evil Sect disciples would never dream that Jiang Xie had been captured by the Iron Bones Sect as a prisoner, much less that he had been subdued!
“Thud!”
Just then, a sound came from behind them.
Everyone’s hearts jumped as they turned to look, only to see a black-clothed martial artist covered in blood lying on the stairs.
“It’s the lord!”
A Martial Grandmaster recognized him.
Everyone rushed over in a hurry and helped up the severely injured Jiang Xie.
Good heavens!
In Qingyang Prefecture, there was actually someone who could injure the lord!
“Iron… Iron Bones Sect has an expert…” Jiang Xie said weakly. “Quickly… quickly return to the branch…”
“Swish!”
The Magic Evil Sect disciples didn’t hesitate for a moment and hastily carried him away.
Anyone who could beat a Martial King into such a state—the Iron Bones Sect’s expert must be extremely terrifying!
Jun Changxiao sat in the great hall. Seeing the Magic Evil Sect group depart, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile as he said, “The performance was quite good.”
If Jiang Xie knew this, he would definitely have a breakdown.
I wasn’t putting on an act—I was really beaten by you into serious injury!
……
At the Magic Evil Sect branch headquarters in Southwest Yang Province, when the Great Helm Master saw Jiang Xie carried back severely injured, he first ordered a medicine master to treat his injuries.
Once his condition stabilized, he came to personally inquire, “How did you get injured so severely? Who injured you?”
Jiang Xie said weakly, “I was injured by an elderly expert. Based on my judgment, his cultivation is either a peak Martial King or… a Martial Emperor!”
“What?”
The Great Helm Master said in shock, “A Martial Emperor?”
An expert at that level—never mind a single Qingyang Prefecture, even Southwest Yang Province’s Tianyu Royal City might not have one!
“Are you certain?” The Great Helm Master questioned skeptically.
Jiang Xie said, “The opponent’s aura was too profound. I couldn’t probe it at all. But when he made his move, he clearly wasn’t using his full power, yet he beat me until I had no ability to fight back!”
The Great Helm Master fell into contemplation.
He had examined Jiang Xie’s injuries. Though severely wounded, they weren’t caused by overwhelming force.
“It seems.”
He murmured, “That person didn’t intend to take your life.”
“Correct.”
Jiang Xie said, “Before the elder left, he said he was sparing my life and told me not to come harass the Iron Bones Sect again next time.”
The Great Helm Master frowned and said, “That powerful expert is connected to the Iron Bones Sect?”
“Not clear.” Jiang Xie said.
Some things couldn’t be said too directly. Vague and ambiguous statements could achieve better results.
The Great Helm Master stroked his chin, his gaze grave as he said, “It seems there’s a need to contact headquarters and have them send a Martial Emperor over.”
“……” Jiang Xie secretly groaned inwardly.
If they really brought over a Martial Emperor from headquarters, the Iron Bones Sect would definitely be in danger!
“Great Helm Master.”
Just then, a subordinate walked in and said, “There’s a latest transmission from headquarters.”
The Great Helm Master received the special communication letter from headquarters. After scanning it, he laughed coldly and said, “The Taikun Sect actually dares to target our Magic Evil Sect’s mineral veins. Their courage isn’t small!”
“Taikun Sect?”
Jiang Xie said in astonishment, “I think that’s a third-rate sect, right?”
The Great Helm Master said, “Headquarters wants our Southwest Yang Province branch to dispatch personnel for support. The Iron Bones Sect matter will be temporarily put on hold for now. As for you, just return to Jiang Family Town to recuperate.”
With that, he stood up to leave.
“Great Helm Master.”
Jiang Xie said, “Is there any news about the person I’m looking for?”
“No news yet.”
The Great Helm Master said this sentence and hurriedly departed.
Jiang Xie had asked this question countless times, and the Great Helm Master had answered countless times.
After hearing Jun Changxiao’s words of discord, it instead made him realize this seemed like an impatient brush-off.
Jiang Xie, oh Jiang Xie.
You and the Magic Evil Sect only have an employment relationship.
You’re not a member of their sect—how would they sincerely help you find someone?
Even without Jun Changxiao’s recruitment force, Jiang Xie had completely lost faith in the Magic Evil Sect. Leaving was only a matter of time.
Speaking of which, he really had to thank the Taikun Sect.
Without them suddenly barging in to seize the Magic Evil Sect’s mineral veins, the Great Helm Master definitely wouldn’t have let this go.
……
The next day, Jiang Xie dragged his weakened body back to Jiang Family Town, back to that shabby, broken-down home.
Strangely enough, every time he went out on missions, he would be very anxious. But after returning home, he would become exceptionally calm.
“Hah!”
Lying on the bed, he took out the middle-grade healing pill and swallowed it.
His injuries rapidly healed again. His entire being became spirited and vigorous, leaving Jiang Xie’s heart shaken once more.
“Having such a miraculous pill, this Iron Bones Sect Master is truly extraordinary.”
He then took out that Body Molding Pill and murmured, “I hope he has a way to help me find the relative I’ve been separated from for many years.”
With that, he swallowed the pill.
“Whoosh whoosh!”
In an instant, the meridians, blood, and skin inside his body were rapidly strengthened. As his physical body improved, his strength was also driven upward.
“Swish!”
Jiang Xie jumped up from the bed. Clenching both fists, feeling nearly two hundred thousand pounds of additional strength compared to just moments ago, his eyes immediately filled with shock.
The Body Molding Pill’s effect would continuously strengthen as cultivation improved during the Meridian Opening stage. When consumed by high-level martial artists, it would directly recover the strength from previous stages.
After consumption at the second-grade Martial King level, strength directly increased by two hundred thousand pounds.
This seemed terrifying but was actually normal.
After all, an ordinary second-grade Martial King could easily unleash over one million pounds of force.
However, Jiang Xie couldn’t contain himself!
He possessed a high-grade spirit root and was a high-tier Martial King!
His normal strength at second-grade cultivation was around 1.7 million pounds. Now, having gained over two hundred thousand out of nowhere, he was already very close to supreme-tier level!
This was merely from one pill!
What shocked Jiang Xie even more wasn’t the strength increase but the physical enhancement.
One must know that at his level, his muscles had already taken shape. Unless relying on spiritual energy enhancement, there was absolutely no possibility of improvement at the foundational level!
“What I ate…”
He said somewhat dazedly, “Was that actually a pill or an immortal elixir!”
“No!”
Jiang Xie got up from the bed, his expression grave as he said, “I must return to the Iron Bones Sect!”
Having witnessed the healing pill’s efficacy and the Body Molding Pill’s formidable power, even if the recruitment force were lifted right now, he would return without hesitation!
That very night, Jiang Xie left Jiang Family Town.
After daybreak, he arrived at the Iron Bones Sect. It just happened to be the day of the first Sect Grand Competition.