In Jun Changxiao’s estimate, recruiting a full ten thousand would take at least a month, but his calculation was wrong.

Over the next few days, martial cultivators from distant places arrived one after another. The number joining each day was several times higher than usual.

As such, just after dawn, seven or eight hundred martial cultivators had gathered at the mountain gate.

If they didn’t consider qualifications, they could easily gather ten thousand people, not only meeting the sect certification standards but also triggering the sect mission.

Indiscriminate recruitment was out of the question.

The Ning brothers strictly followed the Sect Master’s criteria, questioning them one by one. In the end, only two hundred martial cultivators met the admission standards.

The second day, there were still six or seven hundred applicants.

This continued, and on just the fifth day, the sect membership increased from the initial 9,413 to 9,999!

“Just one more person!”

Hearing the notification sound, Jun Changxiao’s eyes blazed with fervor.

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang came to report: “There’s an old man outside who says he wants to see you.”

“To join?”

“He didn’t say he wanted to join, just that he wanted to see you.”

Jun Changxiao went out.

At this moment, the martial cultivators who hadn’t been able to join the Tiegu Sect had already left, making the area quite empty.

In the clear breeze stood an old man wearing a long robe. He appeared to be sixty or seventy years old, with a full head of black hair and sharp eyes, showing no signs of aging.

“Are you Jun Changxiao?”

His voice was resonant. At first hearing, it sounded like someone in their thirties or forties.

This person maintained himself very well.

“Correct.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Senior, what brings you to my Tiegu Sect?”

The old man said with his back turned: “I heard your sect is widely recruiting talented individuals. This old man has come specially to join.”

The Ning brothers’ brows furrowed.

If you’re joining, speak up.

Coming here and immediately demanding to see the Sect Master—quite the attitude.

Jun Changxiao said: “My Tiegu Sect doesn’t accept unknown individuals. I wonder what exceptional qualities this senior possesses?”

His spiritual sense had been extended the entire time, but he couldn’t detect the other’s cultivation level.

There were only two possibilities.

First, he was deliberately concealing his cultivation. Second, he simply had no cultivation.

If it was the second case, then sorry—even if you’re elderly, you’ll have to go back the way you came.

The old man said: “This old man isn’t proficient in martial arts, but has some research into array formations. If the Tiegu Sect lacks array masters, this old man can reluctantly serve as Array Elder.”

The Ning brothers’ mouths twitched.

Not even through the door yet, and already wanting to be an elder—this old man was quite arrogant.

Jun Changxiao said: “Whether you understand arrays or not can’t be determined by talk alone—you must show it through action.”

“Thud.”

A gold-trimmed waist token fell on the table. The old man said: “This is this old man’s proof of being an array master.”

The Ning brothers looked down, and their expressions changed immediately.

On the token were engraved four seal-script characters: ‘Ninth-Rank Array King.’

Array King?

And ninth-rank at that!

The Ning brothers had traveled far and wide and naturally knew that on the Xingyun Continent, though there were quite a few array masters, those who reached the ninth-rank Array King level were quite rare!

“Is this waist token a fake?” Jun Changxiao transmitted.

Before Sun Bukong joined, he had pulled out a pile of various Great Emperor successor tokens, making him rather cautious, afraid this person was a swindler.

Ning Duxing took the waist token in hand, his spiritual sense permeating the complex carved patterns, transmitting: “Sect Master, it’s genuine.”

This type of waist token proving one’s status as an array master was issued by the Array Association and contained miniature array formations. When activated with spiritual sense, one could verify its authenticity. Counterfeiting was nearly impossible.

Moreover, authoritative organizations like the Array Association and Certification Hall, which weren’t tied to any force, investigated the counterfeiting of credentials very strictly. Even if one could counterfeit them, no one dared act against the wind.

“Sect Master Jun.”

The old man said: “If you still don’t believe it, this old man can personally set up an array for you to see.”

“Very well.”

Jun Changxiao still needed to test him.

What if the waist token was something he picked up on the road?

The old man said: “Sect Master Jun, what kind of array would you like this old man to set up?”

“Well…”

Jun Changxiao transmitted: “Elder Ning, what kind of array is suitable for an Array King to set up?”

Though he was also an array master, he had only learned the Thirty-Two Formations of Strange Gates and hadn’t systematically studied the arrays of the Xingyun Continent, so he knew nothing about them.

“Sect Master.”

Ning Duxing transmitted: “You could have him set up a Superior-grade Lightning Gathering Array.”

Array masters had rank divisions, and arrays did too—like weapon quality, divided into Low-grade, Common-grade, and so on.

The Superior-grade Lightning Gathering Array was just right for an Array King’s level.

Of course, this was the Xingyun Continent’s classification.

Jun Changxiao relied on Array Talent Enhancement Fluid to advance and set up Medium-grade Spirit Gathering Arrays, which didn’t align with this dimensional plane’s classification system.

If compared, his understanding of arrays and the Spirit Gathering Arrays he set up could reach ‘King’ level standards.

In that case, Sect Master Jun wasn’t just a dual King in sword and martial arts, but a triple King in sword, martial arts, and arrays!

Shh!

Keep a low profile, keep a low profile.

Jun Changxiao said: “Senior, please set up a Lightning Gathering Array.”

The old man shook his head with a smile: “Having this old man set up a Superior-grade level array—it seems Sect Master Jun still doesn’t believe me.”

“Very well.”

He waved his long sleeve: “Then I’ll make a fool of myself.”

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Streams of light flew from his sleeve, inserting themselves neatly several meters away from him as the center, forming a circle.

Jun Changxiao looked and saw they were small golden triangular flags.

“These are array flags.”

The system said: “A type of tool used for setting up arrays.”

Jun Changxiao was amazed: “Very professional!”

*Swish!*

The old man casually picked up a wooden stick, then wielded it with one hand, beginning to trace on the ground, like a master completely focused on painting with a brush!

Very professional!

This was what the Ning brothers were thinking.

*Swish! Swish!*

In just a moment, within the area covered by the array flags, he had traced out complex array lines with a complexity that made one’s eyes spin.

As an array master, Jun Changxiao could see the technique and secretly marveled: “Vigorous and powerful, flowing like dragons and phoenixes—this is definitely an array grandmaster!”

*Swish—*

When the last line connected beginning to end, the old man stepped out and casually tossed the wooden stick aside, hands behind his back, head held high and chest out, displaying the bearing of a generation’s grandmaster.

“Buzz!”

In an instant, the array flags and intricate patterns blazed with light, making the area before the mountain gate radiant and brilliant!

*Whoosh—*

A shimmering barrier shot skyward, and an array was instantly constructed!

“Excellent!”

Jun Changxiao couldn’t help but applaud.

Just from the fluid array-setting technique alone, he was certain this person had genuine talent!

“Sect Master Jun.”

The old man said: “The Lightning Gathering Array has been formed. You may send someone to test it.”

“Two elders.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Go into the array and investigate.”

“Huh?”

The Ning brothers’ mouths twitched.

The Superior-grade Lightning Gathering Array was a high-level offensive array. If they went in, they’d definitely be in trouble!

The reason Array Kings were respected on the Xingyun Continent was that the Superior-grade arrays they set up were completely on par with Martial Kings.

In terms of strength, they couldn’t beat Martial Kings.

But if you made an enemy of one, they’d set up offensive arrays at your doorstep every day—no way you wouldn’t get killed by attrition!

Ning Duxing collapsed internally: “If I’d known, I would have suggested a defensive array!”

No choice.

The pit you dig yourself, you fill even if it kills you.

*Boom!*

*Boom!*

The Ning brothers resolutely walked in. Immediately, thunderous sounds echoed, and the array barrier trembled.

Jun Changxiao couldn’t bear to watch and turned his head: “Senior’s understanding of arrays is truly admirable.”

“Sect Master Jun.”

The old man said: “Am I qualified to be an elder?”

“Qualified.”

Jun Changxiao said: “However, my Tiegu Sect doesn’t have an Array Elder position. If you want to join, you can serve as Array Hall Master.”

Indeed, through his unremitting efforts to build the sect’s reputation, even a ninth-rank Array King had actively joined.

At that moment, Sect Master Jun’s sense of achievement exploded!

The old man pondered briefly, murmuring: “As long as I can personally taste the food that girl makes, becoming a Hall Master isn’t unacceptable.”

Gah!

Sect Master Jun instantly petrified.

“Hahahaha…” The system’s laughter echoed in his ears.