The next day, after the disciples’ routine morning exercises, Jun Changxiao publicly announced that Zhen Dejun would serve as Array Hall Master, with Yang Lan and five other disciples possessing array talent becoming the first batch of Array Hall members.

Of course, the numbers were still a bit too few.

“Sect Master.”

Elder Zhen suggested: “This old man believes we should conduct an array talent test. We might be able to find quite a few among the ranks.”

Martial arts talent testing was most common. Tests for specialized professions were few and far between. Some people might not know until death that they possessed certain aptitudes.

“Very well.”

Jun Changxiao agreed.

After the morning meal, disciples were summoned again.

Whether inner or outer sect members, all underwent Zhen Dejun’s strict testing.

Sure enough, over a dozen disciples possessed array talent. Though not the most outstanding, they were at least passable.

Teaching one was teaching, teaching ten was also teaching.

Zhen Dejun accepted them all into the Array Hall, providing unified instruction in array formations.

Sect Master Jun also came to attend the lecture.

Though he possessed array talent, he didn’t understand the Xingyun Continent’s array system, so naturally he hoped to unlock some new knowledge.

Zhen Dejun truly lived up to the saying about eating from someone’s hands.

In teaching arrays, he was completely thorough, starting from the basics and explaining everything in great detail.

After listening to his explanations, Yang Lan felt as if an entirely new door to the world of arrays had opened before her!

One hour later, Zhen Dejun drank some tea to moisten his throat: “If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”

“Elder Zhen!”

Shangguan Xinyao stood up: “This disciple has something she doesn’t understand.”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes widened: “How is she here? Does she also have array talent?”

Martial arts and arrays both heavily taxed brain cells. Since Shangguan Xinyao liked to carefully ponder many things, having array talent wasn’t strange.

“Elder Zhen.”

Jun Changxiao quickly slipped away, secretly thinking: “Take care!”

“Speak.”

Zhen Dejun looked at her with considerable appreciation.

Just finishing and already eagerly asking questions—this girl must have her own ideas. A promising student, a promising student.

Shangguan Xinyao said: “Elder Zhen, you just said that the application of array lines…”

Indeed, very opinionated!

Zhen Dejun patiently explained to her.

“Elder Zhen, I have another question.”

“Speak.”

One hour later, Zhen Dejun, supporting himself against the doorframe, walked out of the Array Hall, his ears filled with Shangguan Xinyao’s incessant questioning, his head feeling like it was about to explode!

This disciple didn’t just have ideas—she had too many thoughts!

Jiang Xie and the Ning brothers, who happened to be passing by, nearly hugged each other and wept.

Even a ninth-rank Array King with massive brain capacity was reduced to this state by Shangguan Xinyao’s questions—one could imagine what they had endured!

—

Jun Changxiao cultivated for a while in the Spirit Gathering Array, then went to the Trial Tower, finally returning to his study where he skillfully opened the purchased items inventory.

First he bought five AK-47s, then purchased various grades of talent enhancement fluids to use as future rewards for sect competitions.

He didn’t refresh the intermediate shop—he didn’t dare gamble again.

Besides, at present, apart from lacking higher cultivation levels, he wasn’t really missing any substantial items.

“Cultivation must still be the main focus.” Jun Changxiao said.

Dual King in sword and martial arts wasn’t the endpoint.

Achieving dual Emperor in sword and martial arts, or even dual Great Emperor, was his true pursuit!

Next, Sect Master Jun devoted his energy to cultivation.

The Tiegu Sect disciples also worked hard to grow stronger. No one relaxed their vigilance just because the sect had various resources.

*Bang!*

*Bang!*

In the training room, Xiao Zuiji, who had just broken through to eighth-rank Martial Sect, was bare-chested, fist after fist pounding the testing machine, with the displayed power consistently fluctuating around 450,000 catties.

*Bang—*

The final punch delivered 470,000 catties of force, thoroughly unleashing his maximum explosive power.

“Huff, huff!”

Xiao Zuiji breathed rapidly, sweat sliding down his chiseled face. Combined with those robust muscles, his masculine hormones exploded.

“One year and three months left.” He clenched his fist.

The three-year agreement with Murong Xin had already passed halfway. Xiao Zuiji would never forget—he still had to go to that Lily Sage Sect and reclaim the dignity that rightfully belonged to him.

—

“Senior Sister.”

At the ethereal Lily Sage Sect, a female disciple came before the waterfall: “The Tiegu Sect’s potential was rated in the top three.”

Murong Xin, who was cultivating, opened her eyes: “Is that so?”

“How did an obscure sect suddenly have such great potential?” the female disciple wondered.

Murong Xin said: “Being able to win so many matches against the Holy Spring Sect shows the Tiegu Sect is no simple matter.”

“Oh, Senior Sister.”

“I heard your former fiancé is also at the Tiegu Sect.”

“Mm.” Murong Xin acknowledged.

“That guy’s luck is pretty good, being able to join a top-three potential sect,” the disciple said.

“Senior Sister.”

Murong Xin said: “I still need to cultivate.”

“Then I won’t disturb you.” The disciple smiled: “Senior Sister will take her leave first.”

After she left, Murong Xin murmured: “One year and three months left. By then, there should be a complete resolution between us.”

—

“Hehehehe!”

In a dark valley, bone-chilling eerie laughter echoed, followed by a green-haired man walking out.

Turning the view inward, one could see dozens of high-level fierce beast corpses inside, as if their blood and flesh had been drained, reduced to skeletal frames covered in skin.

Moreover, there were scattered human corpses.

Because they seemed to have been extracted by some ability, it was impossible to determine their cultivation levels.

The perpetrator was that eerily laughing green-haired man—none other than our long-absent Green Turban Brother.

After Jun Changxiao challenged the Holy Spring Sect, he recovered from his injuries at the sect, then left on the pretext of descending the mountain to cultivate, never returning.

During this time, his understanding of his devouring ability had improved considerably. From initially absorbing plants, he had progressed to absorbing fierce beasts, and even martial cultivators!

His strength had also increased significantly.

Not only had he broken through to Martial Sect, he had advanced to eighth-rank!

“Jun Changxiao!”

Dai Lü said hatefully: “This old man lost to you and your disciple twice. In the future, I’ll never lose again!”

“And that guy surnamed Ye—sooner or later this old man will abuse you until you’re kneeling on the ground begging for mercy!”

He could accept being abused by Jun Changxiao. After all, back then he was a rookie while the other was a sect master. But being wildly abused by Ye Xingchen at the Holy Spring Sect was unbearable.

*Swish! Swish!*

Just then, figures flew in from the wilderness, surrounding Dai Lü. From their attire, they appeared to be from the same force.

“Elder!”

A disciple said angrily: “It’s this punk who killed Senior Brother Zhao and the others!”

The elder, whose cultivation had reached peak Martial Sect, looked coldly at him: “Punk, killing members of my Great Response Sect—you’re like an old man hanging himself, tired of living!”

*Whoosh whoosh—*

Clusters of grass-green attributes spread out, like vines intertwining, rapidly coalescing into a large hand that pressed toward them.

“This is bad…”

“Ahhh—”

The quiet wilderness suddenly erupted with terrified screams, startling birds and beasts into chaotic flight.

Much later, Dai Lü, covered in grass-green, walked out.

The dozens of disciples and that elder who had surrounded him were all reduced to desiccated corpses, their air spirals and spirit cores’ spiritual energy completely absorbed.

“Martial Master level can barely provide me with sufficient energy anymore. Looks like I need to find more Martial Sect level cultivators.”

“Jun Changxiao, the speed at which you and your disciples increase cultivation is nothing compared to me!”

*Bang!*

In the training room, Ye Xingchen’s fist slammed into the testing machine, displaying 600,000 catties of force.

“My goodness!”

Sensing that powerful aura, Su Xiaomo exclaimed: “Junior Brother Ye, you’ve already broken through to peak Martial Sect?!”