The Cangshan Sect was situated on Cang Mountain, south of Qingyang Commandery.

This mountain was one of the few places in the commandery with abundant spiritual energy. In terms of attribute intensity, it was even higher than Holy Spring Mountain.

In terms of potential, the Cangshan Sect was superior to the Holy Spring Sect. What it lacked was simply a more ancient foundation.

On this day.

The weather was clear with gentle winds and refreshing autumn air.

Sect Master Jun brought core disciples like Xiao Zuiji and Ye Xingchen to the front gates of the Cangshan Sect.

How did they get here?

He rode the Hurricane Wolf King, while the disciples rode Hurricane Wolves.

What normally required a two or three-day journey only took half a day—this was one of the benefits of having wind-element beasts as mounts.

Of course.

To keep a low profile, before arriving at Cang Mountain, Jun Changxiao had the wolf beasts hide in the mountain forest.

“Sect Master.”

Looking at the spiritual energy gathered on the mountainside, Su Xiaomo exclaimed in admiration, “The heavenly and earthly attributes here seem even more abundant than at Holy Spring Mountain!”

Jun Changxiao said, “With Elder Wei and the others planting medicinal herbs, our spiritual energy is also growing stronger day by day. Sooner or later, we’ll also become a blessed land.”

Every month, the Ai Family auctioned off pills, not only sending money but also large quantities of high-quality seeds. By now, a good cycle had long been established, and the expenses for improving the ecological environment weren’t too high anymore.

“Who approaches?”

Climbing the ancient stone steps to the mountain gate, several Cangshan Sect disciples inquired.

Jun Changxiao said, “Jun Changxiao, Sect Master of the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, bringing numerous disciples to visit the Cangshan Sect.”

“The Iron Bones Clanging Sect?”

The Cangshan Sect disciples’ eyes showed surprise.

One of them said, “So it’s Sect Master Jun. Please wait a moment, I’ll go report this right away.”

Due to the alliance, these Cangshan Sect disciples all appeared quite amiable.

Shortly after.

Ma Yunteng hurried out, cupped his hands and smiled, saying, “Sect Master Jun, what wind has blown you to our Cangshan Sect?”

“The spring breeze.” Jun Changxiao smiled.

Ma Yunteng stepped aside and gestured, saying, “Please enter.”

…

Although the Cangshan Sect’s foundation was weaker than the Holy Spring Sect’s, the sect’s buildings were also historically long-standing, invisibly emanating an ancient and weighty aura.

After entering, Jun Changxiao observed for a while, then praised, “Elder Ma, your Cangshan Sect is truly grand and magnificent!”

“You’re too kind, too kind.”

Elder Ma said.

On the way to the great hall, Jun Changxiao also saw quite a few disciples.

Each one was spirited and full of vigor, clearly showing that their strength was no weaker than the Holy Spring Sect disciples.

Indeed.

To become a Fifth-Rate sect, one needed real hard power!

Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Tiegu Sect had defeated the Holy Spring Sect—compared to this kind of sect, there was still a significant gap.

Just talking about the number of disciples alone, they couldn’t even come close.

After roughly surveying the Cangshan Sect, Jun Changxiao realized that for the Tiegu Sect to become a powerful sect, there was still a very long road to travel.

Entering the great hall.

Ma Yunteng said apologetically, “The Sect Master is currently in secluded cultivation and cannot personally receive you. I hope Sect Master Jun won’t take offense.”

“That Elder Ma can receive me is already giving this Jun face. How could I take offense?” Jun Changxiao said.

Naturally, one should be polite and courteous to those who treated them well.

If it were Qin Haoran, he wouldn’t need to think twice—he’d definitely start roasting him directly.

“Sect Master Jun.”

Ma Yunteng said, “Since you’ve come to our Cangshan Sect this time, you must stay for several days.”

“Will there be enough to eat?”

“Naturally.”

The two exchanged smiles, then began conversing pleasantly.

“Sect Master Jun.”

After a while, Ma Yunteng frowned and said, “Although the Demon Fiend Sect has temporarily abandoned targeting the Tiegu Sect due to competing with the Taikun Sect over mineral veins, they remain a major hidden danger.”

“That’s true.”

Jun Changxiao said this aloud, but didn’t really take it to heart.

With the sect protection formation, even if the Demon Fiend Sect dared to come cause trouble again, at worst he could just continue hiding behind it.

Ma Yunteng said, “In this Ma’s opinion, Sect Master Jun could go visit the Shangguan Family of Zhengyang City. It might help your esteemed sect resolve this crisis.”

“The Shangguan Family?”

Jun Changxiao knew that Zhengyang City was one of the eight major cities in Qingyang Commandery, but he hadn’t heard of this Shangguan Family.

Ma Yunteng said, “Although the Shangguan Family’s strength isn’t particularly great, the head of their family, Old Master Shangguan, once taught at the Tianyu Academy in Tianyu Royal City. Though he has now retired, he still commands great respect.”

Tianyu Academy.

A place for cultivating martial artists.

Though not a sect or family clan, it gathered many outstanding talents, and its upper echelon was extremely powerful.

It was said that the current Dean of Tianyu Academy had reached the peak Martial Emperor level—even on the Xingyun Continent, he was among the most prominent experts.

At least forty percent of the Martial Kings in southwestern Yangzhou came from Tianyu Academy, so it was regarded as a holy land of martial arts.

If Sect Master Jun weren’t a sect master, and wanted to thrive in this alternate world, cultivating at such a great academy would absolutely be the best choice.

Of course.

Entering Tianyu Academy was extremely difficult.

Leaving aside qualifications, just the regulation of only accepting students every three years meant many youths missed their chance to join.

Take Li Qingyang for example.

Initially, Family Head Li had hoped to send him to Tianyu Academy, but with two years remaining until the next recruitment, he could only settle for second best and choose to join a sect instead.

Why not wait two years?

Sorry.

Tianyu Academy’s regulation was to only accept sixteen-year-old youths.

By the time of the next recruitment, Li Qingyang would be eighteen years old and simply wouldn’t be admitted.

Therefore, to become a student of Tianyu Academy, one not only needed good qualifications, but having the right age during a recruitment year was equally crucial.

Three hundred years ago.

Zhengyang City had a genius with Superior-Grade Spirit Roots who, because his qualifications and age matched, was accepted by Tianyu Academy.

Though at the academy filled with geniuses, he didn’t perform particularly brilliantly, he still cultivated martial arts diligently. Eventually, he passed the assessment and became an academy instructor.

This person was called Shangguan Hong.

He was also the only instructor from Qingyang Commandery who had ever taught at Tianyu Academy.

During Shangguan Hong’s teaching career, he cultivated quite a few talents. Eventually, they either became city lords or high-ranking members of various forces—truly his students were found everywhere under heaven.

Ma Yunteng mentioned him hoping that Jun Changxiao would go pay a visit and, by borrowing his influence, deter the Demon Fiend Sect.

Of course.

The Demon Fiend Sect might not fear Shangguan Hong.

However, they would certainly be wary of Tianyu Academy. After all, this non-factional organization had deep foundations and powerful connections—it absolutely couldn’t be casually provoked.

Learning about Shangguan Hong from Ma Yunteng’s words, Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “To shake off the Demon Fiend Sect’s entanglement, paying a visit is indeed necessary.”

He didn’t fear this evil sect.

But if they were determined to destroy him and sent experts to block his gate, that would certainly be vexing.

Finding an expert to deter the Demon Fiend Sect was undoubtedly the best and most effective method available right now.

“It’s quite coincidental too.”

Ma Yunteng said, “In half a month, it will be Old Master Shangguan’s birthday. Sect Master Jun can prepare gifts and go to celebrate his longevity.”

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao acknowledged.

If it could deter the Demon Fiend Sect and allow the sect to develop steadily for a few years, this birthday celebration was definitely worth attending.

Dusk arrived.

Jun Changxiao and his disciples were settled in an independent courtyard of extremely high quality.

The next day.

He thoroughly inspected the Cangshan Sect.

This kind of established sect had very complete systems and infrastructure, such as training rooms, cultivation chambers, martial technique pavilions, and so forth.

Especially the Cangshan Sect elders all had clear divisions of responsibility—either teaching disciples or busying themselves with their respective duties.

Jun Changxiao had thought his own sect was already quite standardized and professional, but compared to this kind of Fifth-Rate sect, he realized there were still many shortcomings.

“Sect Master Jun.”

Ma Yunteng approached, smiling, “Are you interested in having disciples from our two sects spar with each other?”

“This…” Jun Changxiao said.

He knew how much his disciples weighed. If they thrashed the Cangshan Sect disciples until they doubted their very existence, that would be somewhat awkward.

Ma Yunteng smiled, “It’s just friendly sparring, stopping at the first touch.”

“Alright then.”

Jun Changxiao agreed and brought Xiao Zuiji and the others to the martial training grounds.

At this moment, the Cangshan Sect disciples had already assembled and were all looking at the Tiegu Sect disciples with somewhat strange expressions.

These people’s auras were quite good, but could they really have defeated the Holy Spring Sect’s personal disciples?