The isolation formation deployed in the open area perfectly resolved the risk of exposure.

At this point, Jun Changxiao just sat waiting for Tiegu Mountain’s ecological environment to improve, drawing out the Seed of Spiritual Energy hidden underground to achieve spiritual energy revival.

How long would it take? There was no timeframe.

So after finishing his work, he began wholeheartedly focusing his mind on cultivation.

Taking fifteen-times Qi Gathering Pills, positioned within the ten-times Spirit Gathering Formation, occasionally consuming a few spirit stones—his cultivation speed was still incredibly fast.

Even so, by Jun Changxiao’s estimation, he would need at least two to three months of cultivation to advance from Second-Rank to Third-Rank!

“Sigh.”

He said helplessly, “The higher the realm, the harder cultivation becomes.”

Jun Changxiao’s advancement was slow, but his disciples’ advancement was fast!

Especially those newly inducted disciples—under the triple enhancement of mental techniques, formations, and pills, they could open a meridian practically every few days!

Take Zheng Yan, who possessed mid-grade spiritual roots, for example.

Before entering the sect, he was at Meridian Opening Sixth Stage. After half a month of sect cultivation, he had already reached Meridian Opening Twelfth Stage!

At this speed, even Li Qingyang with his high-grade spiritual roots couldn’t compare.

This demonstrated that with Tiegu Sect having more martial dao resources, the disciples’ cultivation advancement was already incomparable to the past.

“As long as we have five hundred more Meridian Opening Twelfth Stage disciples, we’ll have the qualifications to be certified as a sixth-rate sect.”

Jun Changxiao murmured.

It hadn’t even been half a year since advancing to seventh-rate, and now they were about to advance again—the speed was extremely fast!

If word of this got out, it would definitely stir up tremendous waves.

Of course, Sect Master Jun wouldn’t let his guard down.

He had already ordered Li Luoqiu to spread his informants outward, protecting the sect comprehensively from all directions.

If there were any signs of trouble, they would immediately activate the Sect Protection Grand Formation.

Speaking of which, when news of the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade spread throughout the jianghu, it indeed attracted quite a few powerful figures’ attention.

However, after learning that Tiegu Sect had formed an alliance with Cangshan Sect, they abandoned those ill intentions.

For now, openly speaking, only the Demon Fiend Sect remained as their enemy.

……

After cultivating for two hours in the Spirit Gathering Formation, Jun Changxiao returned to his study and took out the Soft Silk Armor he had refined long ago.

This item was forged from spider silk—smooth and thin, it could completely be worn as underwear.

Jun Changxiao said, “How’s the defense?”

He placed the Soft Silk Armor on the table, took out the Desert Eagle, and fired a shot at it with a “bang.”

The result—it didn’t leave even a trace!

“Excellent, excellent.”

Jun Changxiao put on the Soft Silk Armor and pressed the gun barrel against his chest.

“Bang!”

He decisively fired another shot.

Still not even a trace, and his body didn’t even feel the slightest pain or impact force!

“It’s this strong?” Jun Changxiao was utterly astonished.

To better test the Soft Silk Armor’s defensive strength, he called over Su Xiaomo, saying, “Put it on.”

“Sect Master.”

After putting on the Soft Silk Armor, Su Xiaomo smiled, “It’s actually quite comfortable.”

Boom!

Just as the words fell, a fist carrying fifty thousand catties of force slammed into his abdomen, making his expression freeze instantly.

“How is it?” Jun Changxiao withdrew his fist.

Su Xiaomo finally realized that the Sect Master had him put on the soft armor to test its defense!

Although somewhat devastated, he still said, “I don’t feel anything at all.”

Boom!

Jun Changxiao struck another punch, increasing the force to sixty thousand catties, saying, “How about now?”

“Still don’t feel anything.”

Boom!

“It hurts a bit now!”

Boom!

“It hurts a lot!”

Boom!

Jun Changxiao continued increasing the force until he raised it to one hundred thousand catties. Only then was Su Xiaomo sent flying, clutching his stomach in pain, saying, “Sect Master… it hurts… it hurts so much!”

He was injured!

After this round of verification, Jun Changxiao drew his conclusion:

The Soft Silk Armor could neutralize force below one hundred thousand catties. Any higher than that, and one would be injured.

“Excellent!” Jun Changxiao said.

This type of defensive equipment could completely neutralize most damage from an ordinary First-Rank Wuzong. Having lower-level disciples wear it would absolutely guarantee their safety!

“The host is overthinking.”

The System said, “Su Xiaomo could withstand that much force because his cultivation is high. If it were ordinary Wutu or Wushi, they might not be able to activate such powerful defense.”

“I see,” Jun Changxiao said.

Even so, he was still very satisfied.

In any case, wearing it as underwear on the body didn’t affect anything—it was equivalent to wearing level-three armor.

“There’s still quite a bit of spider silk left. Let me refine several dozen pieces first,” Jun Changxiao said, opening the Forge Pavilion and beginning to craft.

The next day, he summoned the inner sect disciples and gave each person one Soft Silk Armor for self-defense.

“I need to refine Mid-Grade Healing Pills, I need to refine talismans, and I also need to refine Mid-Grade Hanmang Swords.”

Jun Changxiao murmured, “I need to get materials.”

Because the Demon Fiend Sect was such a major hidden threat, he couldn’t possibly devote himself entirely to cultivation. He had to plan ahead to deal with it.

Especially the Swift Talisman from the Talisman Pavilion—he had to refine it so he could use it to escape in dangerous situations.

“Wind-element crystal cores are very difficult to buy.”

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin. After some thought, he said, “I can only go hunt in mountain forests filled with fierce beasts.”

The powerful fierce beasts inside Death Valley had nearly been killed off—he could only seek elsewhere.

“Qingyang.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Does Qingyang Commandery have any other forbidden lands filled with fierce beasts?”

After some thought, Li Qingyang said, “There’s only Death Valley as a forbidden land, no others.”

“Are there any in other commanderies?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Li Qingyang said, “Huayang Commandery has a Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range stretching hundreds of miles. It’s regarded as a forbidden land by martial artists. It’s said that within it, there are even spirit beasts comparable to Wuwang.”

“Is that so?”

Talismans needed crystal cores, weapons needed ore—most of these items could only be found in dangerous mountain forests, so Jun Changxiao’s heart stirred.

“Constantly cultivating with my head down in the sect is boring anyway. Why not make a trip to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range and consider it training?”

He murmured.

Li Qingyang’s mouth twitched, “Sect Master, the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range is far more dangerous than Death Valley.”

“The more dangerous, the more challenging.”

Jun Changxiao had made up his mind. He arranged sect affairs for Li Qingyang and Li Luoqiu, then decided to go train in Huaying Commandery for a while.

Before this, he went to the mountain range behind the sect and summoned Little Dragon over.

Going to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range had another mission—to get more food for the little fellow.

“Whoosh!”

The fire dragon emerged from the darkness with a wild rabbit in its mouth.

The little fellow’s physique hadn’t changed, but the wildness emanating from its entire body and the coldness flashing in its eyes were much stronger than before.

Fierce beasts could only be called fierce beasts after experiencing life-and-death training in mountain forests. If raised at home the entire time, they could only be considered pets or livestock.

“Let’s go.”

Jun Changxiao said, “We’re going to train in the wild.”

Little Dragon’s eyes lit up, then with a “whoosh” it leaped onto its master’s shoulder and coiled up, making a sound resembling a dragon’s roar.

“Whoosh!”

Jun Changxiao tossed out the Sect Master Ball, summoning the Purple Lightning Young Beast, then rode it and galloped rapidly toward Huayang Commandery.

Before long, Miaohua Palace would come for a friendly visit.

Therefore, this training excursion’s duration was tentatively set at one month.

When heading to Huayang Commandery, Jun Changxiao once again activated the Sect Protection Grand Formation and instructed the disciples that apart from doing missions, they should cultivate within the sect as much as possible and not go out casually.

“Whoosh!”

The Purple Lightning Young Tiger went full speed, transforming into a purple flowing light, advancing through desolate and uninhabited mountain wilderness. In just one day, it had entered Huayang Commandery’s territory.