“My heavens, this is truly heavenly cuisine!”

“I’ve never eaten such delicious fried rice—give me another bowl… no, two more bowls!”

“Dudu’s cooking skills compared to Second Senior Brother’s is like heaven and earth!”

In the sect’s dining hall, the disciples wolfed down the fried rice while lavishing praise, not even willing to waste a single grain of rice.

This fried rice was so delicious they could no longer describe it with words.

Even the cold-natured Lu Qianqian sat alone at a corner table, eating methodically.

Needless to say for Li Qingyang.

After eating the fried rice, he could only describe his previous cooking skills as “garbage.”

Xiao Zuiji savored each grain of rice carefully, his facial expression changing repeatedly as he silently exclaimed in amazement: “Heavenly cuisine!”

Jun Changxiao ate two bowls. Still wanting more, he set down his chopsticks and leaned back in his chair, burping.

Across from him, Liu Wanshi propped her cheeks on her hands, blinking her eyes with a smile: “Sect Leader, how’s my cooking?”

Jun Changxiao praised: “Much better than Star Moon Tower’s head chef!”

He truly felt fortunate now that she had cried and clung to join Tiegu Zhengzheng Sect. Otherwise, where would he find such an amazing chef?

Liu Wanshi smiled and pursed her lips: “Star Moon Tower only has ordinary cooks. I’m an advanced cook. Once I comprehend even higher levels, the meals I make will even provide everyone with strength boosts.”

“That impressive?” Jun Changxiao was dumbfounded.

Lu Qianqian glanced over sideways, then after a moment continued eating her fried rice with her head lowered.

Liu Wanshi giggled: “Sect Leader, can I stay at Tiegu Zhengzheng Sect now?”

“Yes.”

Jun Changxiao didn’t hesitate at all.

Liu Wanshi’s fried rice left all the disciples eating in pleasant contentment. They each returned to their residences, still not forgetting to discuss in low voices.

…

Night fell, the bright moon hung high.

Lu Qianqian sat on the roof of the main hall, hands resting on her knees, chin pressed against her arms, gazing at the mountain forest scenery outside the sect.

“So late and still not sleeping—how will you do tasks tomorrow?” Jun Changxiao jumped up from below.

Lu Qianqian paid him no attention, her limpid eyes continuing to gaze at the distant scenery. The cold wind blew, her smooth hair swaying.

Jun Changxiao sat down, maintaining distance from her: “This seat thinks that if you have something weighing on your mind, finding someone to confide in might make you feel better.”

Lu Qianqian said: “I have nothing weighing on my mind.”

Jun Changxiao smiled: “Sitting on a rooftop in the middle of the night just to look at the stars and moon?”

“That’s right.”

“…Such refined taste.”

Lu Qianqian said: “Sect Leader, Liu Wanshi is not simple.”

“How is she not simple?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Lu Qianqian said indifferently: “As far as I know, only the Ouyang Family of Tianyu Royal City can make meals that enhance strength.”

Tianyu Royal City?

Jun Changxiao hadn’t heard of it, but from the two words “Royal City,” he could judge it must be an extremely remarkable place.

“Dudu’s surname isn’t Ouyang.”

“Names can be changed, surnames can be hidden.”

“Like you?”

Lu Qianqian fell silent, then leaped down.

Watching that graceful figure walking toward the room, Jun Changxiao called out: “Lu Qianqian, remember—you will always be Tiegu Zhengzheng Sect’s First Disciple.”

Lu Qianqian stopped: “I know.”

Jun Changxiao’s expression became serious: “If you have enemies, if you have grievances, when the sect becomes strong, this seat will stand up for you. Don’t be reckless, and don’t do anything foolish.”

A trace of something unusual flashed through Lu Qianqian’s starry eyes. Then she pushed open the door, entered, and closed it.

Jun Changxiao yawned, jumped down from the roof, and returned to the main hall.

Lu Qianqian leaned against the door inside her room, saying indifferently: “As if he knows so much.”

…

The next day.

The sky had just brightened when Liu Wanshi, wearing her apron, began bustling about in the kitchen. Soon, the aroma of dishes filled the entire courtyard. The disciples who had just risen immediately had their appetites whetted upon smelling it.

“Mmm… so delicious!”

“I feel like after eating these dishes, I won’t be tired all day!”

“Give me a bowl of soup!”

In the sect’s dining hall, the disciples wolfed down their food, completely accepting Liu Wanshi’s culinary skills.

After eating their fill, all the disciples felt full of strength. They walked to the martial arts training ground one after another and began a brand new day of cultivation.

“Qianqian, Qingyang, you two continue doing tasks.”

Jun Changxiao, chewing on a toothpick, walked out from the dining hall.

“Bang!”

Suddenly, an explosive sound rang out. A red-lacquered door flew out with a “whoosh” from beside him and shattered on the ground in the distance.

My door…

The toothpick in Jun Changxiao’s mouth fell out. He stiffly turned his head toward the main gate.

“Step.”

The blade-wielding martial artist from yesterday strode in, proclaiming in a deep voice: “Wandering Blade Master, Ma Yongning, has specially come to seek instruction from the Tiegu Sect Leader’s superior techniques!”

…

On the martial arts training ground.

Jun Changxiao held the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, his gaze erupting with fury.

After eating and drinking his fill, he had walked out contentedly chewing on a toothpick, only to have the main door kicked flying by someone. Anyone would be angry!

The blade master called Ma Yongning locked eyes with him, slowly drew his blade, tossed the scabbard outside the field, and said: “I’ve confirmed it with my eyes—you’re the person I want to battle.”

“Confirm your grandpa!”

Jun Changxiao strode forward, pouring all his strength of over two thousand catties into the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade and fiercely slashing down.

Without the Swift Movement Talisman’s enhancement, although this slash appeared cold and severe, it was far from having the graceful elegance of when he killed the Lingquan Sect elders.

“Clang!”

Ma Yongning raised his blade to block, exclaiming in surprise: “You haven’t even stepped into the Martial Disciple level yet?”

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao withdrew his blade and chopped down again with the same technique.

But Ma Yongning still blocked it, saying: “Ma has consecutively challenged over thirty sects and has never seen such a weak sect leader!”

“So much nonsense!”

Jun Changxiao swung his blade repeatedly, executing wide, sweeping slashes.

However, his opponent was a genuine Martial Disciple who could easily receive and dodge them.

After blocking several moves in succession, Ma Yongning retreated to the edge of the training ground: “Boy, your strength is too weak. Ma doesn’t even want to bother attacking.”

“Is that so?”

Jun Changxiao threw aside the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade and summoned his Low-Grade Hanfeng Sword, saying: “Do you dare accept this seat’s sword?”

Ma Yongning glanced at the sword weapon emanating a slight chill, judging this sword to be extraordinary, yet said indifferently: “Do you think the gap between us can be made up with a high-quality weapon?”

He took a step forward, assuming a defensive stance.

“Swish! Swish! Swish!”

Jun Changxiao wielded the sword, executing the Nine-Layered Surging Waves Sword—first form, second form, third form… all the way until the eighth form. Then he leaped into the air and, amidst layers of surging waves, executed the ninth form!

Having opened eleven meridians and cultivated the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic, when he executed this sword technique again, its power far exceeded before!

“Whoosh—”

The sword qi gathered nine layers of surging waves, an incomparably brilliant silk slashing down.

Ma Yongning sneered coldly, gripped his blade handle with both hands, held it horizontally before his shoulder, and infused spiritual power into the blade surface. He clearly intended to forcefully receive the ninth form of Nine-Layered Surging Waves Sword!

“Clang!”

The sword qi struck down from above directly onto the blade surface. The cold and severe sword momentum spread out, instantly blowing away the dust on the ground.

“Crack!”

In the next second, the sound of a weapon shattering rang out. The blade infused with spiritual power was cut through by the sword qi, and the remaining force continued unabated, slashing down close to one side of Ma Yongning’s shoulder.

“Boom!”

The Nine-Layered Surging Waves sword qi crashed onto the ground, leaving a half-meter-long sword mark. The broken blade also stuck into the stone slabs.

Ma Yongning’s expression was blank. After a moment, he dropped to his knees with a thud, tremblingly pulled out the half-blade with both hands, raised his head, and screamed with heart-rending anguish: “My blade—”