Xi Jingxuan left with all her disciples.

As she traveled along the road, her face was full of smiles, like a happy child.

At Miaohua Palace, Xi Jingxuan rarely had time to relax, and rarely had anyone to chat with. Every day was just mechanized cultivation and managing the sect.

Coming to the Tiegu Sect, she didn’t need to think about anything or do anything, and Sect Leader Jun could even chat with her. This rare sense of relaxation was something she had never experienced before.

“The Palace Master is very happy,” Li’er thought to herself.

She and Xi Jingxuan were similar in age and had lived together since childhood, their relationship like sisters.

Because of her eye condition and being abandoned by her parents, for a very long time, Li’er hadn’t seen the Palace Master smile. She was silent all day long, as if isolated from the entire world.

Later, when Xi Jingxuan succeeded as Palace Master and began managing the sect, she gradually emerged from her withdrawn personality and finally learned how to smile.

But her smiles were forced, unnatural, like putting on a brave face.

It wasn’t until she met Jun Changxiao at the Shengquan Sect that the Palace Master’s smile changed from stiff to natural. And after coming to the Tiegu Sect, she could actually smile from the heart.

So then.

What kind of magic did Sect Leader Jun possess?

Nothing much, really—just that yesterday in the maple forest behind the mountain, when it was only the two of them, Xi Jingxuan had said: “Sect Leader Jun, managing a sect is truly exhausting.”

She had never said these words to her disciples, nor to the elders.

Today when she brought it up with Jun Changxiao, it was because the two were similar in age and both were sect masters.

“Indeed.”

Jun Changxiao said: “The responsibility is great, the burden is heavy. Being a sect master is indeed very exhausting.”

At the beginning, if there hadn’t been that ticking time bomb, he might have become a carefree rogue cultivator, living worry-free on the Xingyun Continent.

The System delivered a cutting remark: “Right, living worry-free on the Xingyun Continent getting beaten up.”

Harsh truth.

Because he had the Strongest Sect System, it gave him the capital to become stronger and powerful tools.

If he had become a rogue cultivator, relying entirely on himself.

He would have been one of those small fries in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range, desperately fighting for resources and constantly being killed and beaten up.

Of course.

That was only at the beginning.

After working hard to adapt to being a sect master and accepting many disciples with diverse personalities, that feeling made him feel wonderful.

Sometimes, Jun Changxiao would often think late at night that he didn’t want to build the strongest sect, but rather wanted to build a warm home.

A home with many children who, despite their diverse personalities and each having their own stories, would slowly grow under his care.

There might be hardships and trials, but also warmth and joy.

“Palace Master Xi.”

Jun Changxiao said: “The most important thing in life is happiness. No matter how great the pressure, you must always keep smiling.”

“Is that why you’re called Jun Changxiao?” Xi Jingxuan asked.

Jun Changxiao said: “Exactly.”

Xi Jingxuan fell silent.

“Girls who love to smile will never have bad luck.”

Jun Changxiao smiled and said: “So, Palace Master Xi, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Facing each day with happiness is what’s most important.”

Girls who love to smile will never have bad luck…

These words stayed in Xi Jingxuan’s heart. On the road back to the sect, whenever she thought of them, she would unconsciously smile.

…

“Sigh.”

Jun Changxiao sat in the great hall, murmuring: “I still didn’t give her those middle-grade healing pills.”

The System said: “Healing pills can’t cure diseases, much less eye conditions.”

Jun Changxiao naturally knew this.

So that was also the reason he hadn’t given them to Xi Jingxuan.

“She’s gone.”

Lu Qianqian appeared leaning against the doorway at some point, arms crossed as she said: “Is the Sect Master feeling very lost and very sad right now?”

“What’s there to feel lost about, what’s there to feel sad about,” Jun Changxiao said.

Wait!

Even if I were feeling lost, even if I were sad, what does that have to do with her?

As an expert in ’emotional matters,’ Jun Changxiao immediately sensed something.

He looked toward the ice-cold Lu Qianqian and asked suspiciously: “Is it because you saw this seat getting rather close with Palace Master Xi that you’re feeling lost, that you’re feeling sad?”

“No.”

Lu Qianqian said: “This disciple is just worried that the Sect Master couldn’t resist the temptation of beauty and told the Miaohua Palace Master everything about the sect that shouldn’t be said.”

Jun Changxiao said speechlessly: “With beauties like you and Hall Master Li in the sect, this seat can remain unmoved like Liu Xiahui. How could I be tempted by other women?”

“Oh my.”

Just then, Li Luoqiu walked in from outside and said with a smile: “Out of nowhere, why is the Sect Master praising me?”

Lu Qianqian got up and left.

Jun Changxiao said: “Hall Master Li, is something the matter?”

Li Luoqiu blinked her eyes and smiled: “Did I interrupt you two?”

Jun Changxiao: “…”

Li Luoqiu stopped joking and got down to business: “Is the Sect Master certain about participating in the Mount Hua Martial Tournament in a month?”

“Yes,” Jun Changxiao said.

The side quest had triggered. For the contribution points, he had to go no matter what.

Li Luoqiu said: “As far as I know, the minimum qualification to participate in this grand event is fifth-rate. If we go, I’m afraid it would be somewhat inappropriate.”

The Mount Hua Martial Tournament was a sect martial tournament.

So-called sects were definitely fifth-rate and above.

Although the Tiegu Sect’s reputation had improved considerably during this period, ultimately it was still just a seventh-rate sect.

“We need to raise our rank, at least to sixth-rate.”

Jun Changxiao called Li Qingyang over and inquired about the disciples’ recent cultivation progress. The final answer he got was that the latest batch of newly admitted disciples had long since met the standards for advancing to a sixth-rate sect.

Then what were they waiting for? Hurry up and get certified!

“Hall Master Li.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Notify the shopkeeper of the beast feed store in Qingyang City to contact Executive Zhao from the certification hall and have him come to the Tiegu Sect to certify our rank.”

“Understood.”

Li Luoqiu withdrew.

…

Qingyang City, Certification Hall.

Zhao Xingming was currently pacing back and forth.

He had already received news that Jun Changxiao was requesting him to come to the Tiegu Sect for certification, but what he was conflicted about now was whether he should go himself or contact headquarters and have headquarters send someone?

“This sect has potential to reach the top three. I should contact the people above to do the certification to avoid any mistakes.”

Zhao Xingming hurriedly notified the certification headquarters in Southwest Yang Province at the fastest speed.

The next day.

Headquarters sent word that all matters regarding the Tiegu Sect’s rank certification were to be handled entirely by him.

Zhao Xingming was immediately overjoyed.

For headquarters to entrust him with certifying such a promising sect meant they had great trust in him!

“Promotion is in sight, promotion is in sight!”

Zhao Xingming held the letter, his heart incomparably excited.

Of course.

He also knew that whether he could get promoted and receive a raise still depended on the Tiegu Sect!

“Executive.”

A certification hall member walked in and said: “People from the Lingering Snake Sect have come for rank certification. They’re currently waiting outside.”

“Lingering Snake Sect?”

Zhao Xingming thought to himself: “Isn’t that just a ninth-rate sect from the Hundred Sects Alliance?”

The member added: “Alliance Leader Qin also sent a letter.”

Zhao Xingming took the letter. The content read: Executive Zhao, the Lingering Snake Sect Master is a cousin of mine, Qin. Please give him convenience, and I will visit with generous gifts in due time.

In the past, seeing the words ‘generous gifts,’ Executive Zhao would definitely have been beaming with joy.

But now he casually crumpled the letter into a ball and tossed it away, saying: “Tell the Lingering Snake Sect Master to wait in Qingyang City first. This executive has important matters to handle.”

“Yes.”

The member withdrew.

Zhao Xingming said coldly: “Qin Haoran, oh Qin Haoran. I made a private agreement with you, and you reported it to the higher-ups. If the Tiegu Sect hadn’t been designated as top three potential, my head would have rolled already. And you still dare to try pulling strings!”

Sect Leader Jun had also given him guidance before.

So whenever members of the Hundred Sects Alliance came for certification, he would delay them as much as possible, drag things out as much as he could.

That morning.

Zhao Xingming took his certification tools and headed to the Tiegu Sect at the fastest speed possible.