The newly opened Disciple Mall, although the goods were cheaper than those in the Beginner Mall, their efficacy was less than satisfactory.

For example, there was an item called Qi Gathering Powder. It differed from the Qi Gathering Pill by just one character, but only provided double absorption effect and lasted six hours.

“So many features cut.”

Jun Changxiao shook his head and continued observing the goods.

He soon discovered a weapon called Low-Grade Wooden Sword, and couldn’t help but say speechlessly, “A wooden sword? That’s too shabby!”

However, thinking of the formidable Low-Grade Hanfeng Sword, he still judged that although this sword was made of wood, its power should be comparable to low-grade mid-tier weapons of the Xingyun Continent, right?

Jun Changxiao continued looking at several more items. Finding that most had little use, he bought the Qi Gathering Powder and the Low-Grade Wooden Sword.

When the items appeared in his spatial ring, Su Xiaomo’s contribution point suffix also instantly zeroed out.

“Why was there no notification sound?” Jun Changxiao asked.

The system said, “Disciple purchase notifications are set to muted by default. If the host enjoys hearing ‘ding ding’ sounds, you can enable them.”

“Keep them muted by default.”

Jun Changxiao naturally didn’t want everything to have notifications—that would be very annoying.

“By the way, can my shopping notification sounds be muted?”

“The host temporarily has no muting function.”

“Temporarily?”

Jun Changxiao said, “What do you mean?”

The system said, “The higher the host’s realm and sect construction level, the more functions the system will gradually improve.”

Jun Changxiao said, “If I get stronger, you also get stronger?”

“You can understand it that way,” the system said.

Jun Changxiao said with deep contemplation and fear, “If I fatten you up, won’t you one day harbor evil intentions toward me?”

The system said, “If the host perishes, the system perishes.”

“I see.”

Jun Changxiao relaxed and said, “How much effect time does the Swift Movement Talisman have left?”

“45 minutes,” the system said.

Jun Changxiao stroked his chin and said, “I can use the remaining time to make a trip to Qingyang City and see about that so-called thousand taels of gold reward.”

“Tian Qi.”

“Present!”

“This seat is going out for a bit. Lead them well in cultivation.”

“Yes!”

With little time remaining on the Swift Movement Talisman, Jun Changxiao didn’t waste any time. Walking out the Tiegu Sect gates, he stood still for a moment, then his figure gradually dissipated.

This fellow’s speed was truly fast. In the blink of an eye, he went from on the mountain to appearing at the mountain’s base.

“This is simply an essential item for traveling!”

“What a pity the mall doesn’t sell it, otherwise I’d buy several more to keep as backups.”

As he spoke, Jun Changxiao had already disappeared from his position, rushing at extreme speed toward Qingyang City.

…

In the wilderness.

A young woman leaned against a tree, her face full of shyness as she said, “Brother Li, don’t get handsy. What if someone sees us?”

The young man called Brother Li moved closer, placing one hand on her face and smiling, “Meimei, there’s no one around here. We won’t be discovered. Brother hasn’t seen you in several days—I’ve been missing you so much I can’t even eat.”

“Mm.”

The woman lowered her head, her voice like a mosquito’s buzz, “Me too.”

The young couple gradually embraced, kissing passionately, as if time itself had stopped.

However, the girl called Meimei inadvertently glanced upward and suddenly discovered a young man crouching in the tree, grinning at her.

“Ahhh!”

A scream echoed through the wilderness.

“Meimei, what’s wrong?” Brother Li urgently asked.

Meimei pointed at the tree, saying in panic, “The tree… there’s someone in the tree!”

Brother Li hurriedly looked up and immediately spotted the young man.

“Uh…”

Jun Changxiao scratched his head rather awkwardly and said, “Sorry, didn’t mean to disturb you two.”

Brother Li angrily said, “Who are you? When did you come—”

Before he finished speaking, the person in the tree gradually disappeared, scaring him so much he fell to the ground, crying out in terror, “My god… there’s… there’s a ghost!”

Not caring about anything else, he pulled Meimei and ran frantically toward the village.

Jun Changxiao stopped outside the wilderness, watching as the frightened man didn’t forget to pull the woman to safety. He said, “They should be a couple truly in love. This seat wishes you eternal unity and a lifetime together.”

“Ah.”

Thinking of how he was still alone, he couldn’t help but feel sad. “There’s still one month until I turn eighteen. When will I find a girlfriend?”

Coming to this other world, developing a sect was a dull process. If he could experience the feeling of being in love, that wouldn’t be bad either.

Lu Qianqian?

Forget it, forget it.

That woman with a story—better not invite trouble.

…

Qingyang City.

Jun Changxiao stopped before the city gates.

It had taken only 5 minutes to rush here from Tiegu City, and that was while enjoying the scenery along the way. If he’d come at full speed, it would have been even faster.

“Huh?”

“Why is there another person here?”

“It’s Tiegu Sect Master Jun. Why did he come?!”

The martial artists coming and going through the city gates recognized Jun Changxiao at a glance.

“Sect Master Jun.”

A martial artist hurried over, smiling and saying, “This humble one has a difficult problem in martial learning. I’m willing to pay two hundred taels, and hope you can…”

“No time.”

Jun Changxiao strode into the city.

It had to be said, after the Hundred Sects Recruitment, he had gained some fame in Qingyang City. Entering the city immediately attracted quite a few gazes.

Jun Changxiao paid no attention, locking his gaze on the notice board at the crossroads. His eyes immediately lit up.

What was written on it was in classical Chinese. Translated, it meant that the City Lord was extremely grateful to the righteous hero who destroyed Black Wind Stronghold, wished to bestow a thousand taels of gold, and invited them to the City Lord’s Manor to claim the reward.

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao said, “I never expected that destroying Black Wind Stronghold would also come with a thousand taels of gold reward.”

Screech.

The street fell deathly silent.

Jun Changxiao sensed something was off. Turning his head to look, he saw nearby shopkeepers, passersby, and martial artists all looking at him with incredulous expressions.

A martial artist was the first to recover and said, “Sect Master Jun, Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed by you?”

“That’s right,” Jun Changxiao answered truthfully.

“…”

Everyone’s mouths twitched.

Previously at the training ground when he severely defeated Lingquan Sect, the martial artists in the city had determined that the Tiegu Sect Master had simply relied on high-quality weapons.

Destroying a Black Wind Stronghold? Absolutely ridiculous!

“Hey.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Where is the City Lord’s Manor?”

That martial artist said weakly, “Is Sect Master Jun going to claim the reward?”

Jun Changxiao pointed at the notice board and said, “Doesn’t it say right there that whoever destroyed Black Wind Stronghold can go claim the reward?”

The martial artist suppressed his voice and said, “Sect Master Jun, impersonating a righteous hero to claim a reward—at minimum you’ll be thrown in prison, at worst you’ll lose your head.”

“Impersonate my ass.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Black Wind Stronghold really was destroyed by this seat.”

“Ah.”

That martial artist shook his head and said, “Another one blinded by money.”

The surrounding passersby and common folk also shook their heads.

They believed the Tiegu Sect Master must have gone money-mad to take such a risk and impersonate a righteous hero.

Jun Changxiao was speechless.

So apparently, even though he’d done a good deed to rid the people of harm, without witnessing it with their own eyes, they found it hard to believe.

His strength was still too weak. If it were the Cangshan Sect Master, just by standing in front of the public notice, everyone would be certain that Black Wind Stronghold was undoubtedly destroyed by him.

“Sect Master Jun?”

A shout came from the left. He saw Patriarch Li, Li Qingyang’s father, approaching with a smile and cupped fists, “Why do you have time to come to Qingyang City?”

They hadn’t met in a month. His aura had changed—clearly he had benefited from the guidance and his realm had improved considerably.

Jun Changxiao said, “Patriarch Li, you came at just the right time. Take me to the City Lord’s Manor.”

Patriarch Li said in astonishment, “Sect Master Jun, what business do you have at the City Lord’s Manor?”

“To claim the reward,” Jun Changxiao said.

Screech.

The smile on Patriarch Li’s face froze.

After a long moment, his mouth twitching slightly, he said, “Sect Master Jun, don’t tell Li that Black Wind Stronghold was…”

“Correct!”

Jun Changxiao said indignantly, “Black Wind Stronghold was destroyed by this seat! Whether you believe it or not, first take me to the City Lord’s Manor!”