Jun Changxiao assigned over twenty sect missions to his disciples. Aside from a few with fixed time limits, the rest were considered complete as long as they met the requirements.

And so.

The next day, they continued going to Qingyang Village to complete missions.

Jun Changxiao remained at the sect, continuously receiving mission completion notifications as the sect’s achievement points and contribution points gradually increased.

Since most missions had a recommended difficulty of one or two stars, the rewards from completing them were only one or two points each.

Jun Changxiao didn’t care about the increasing contribution points—what he cared about were the achievement points, because once they were full, he could upgrade the sect’s facilities and unlock more features.

Another day passed.

This was the fifth day of the disciples completing missions.

As evening fell, Lu Qianqian, Li Qingyang, Xiao Zuiji, and the others returned, having completed all twenty-plus sect missions that had been assigned.

The system data showed the contribution and achievement values as:

Sect Contribution Points: 70/100.

Sect Achievement Points: 36/100.

After completing the twenty-plus sect missions, they had gained a total of 36 contribution and achievement points, with even the disciples who completed the fewest missions earning at least 1 contribution point.

Jun Changxiao exchanged all the disciples’ contribution points for Qi Gathering Powder.

Su Xiaomo had been the first to complete his mission, and Jun Changxiao had already exchanged his rewards for a wooden sword and Qi Gathering Powder, but hadn’t given them to him yet—he was waiting for everyone to finish so they could all receive their rewards together, making it more ceremonious.

……

The next day.

Sect Leader Jun summoned all the disciples and declared loudly, “In recognition of Lu Qianqian and the others’ outstanding mission completion, each of them is hereby awarded one portion of Qi Gathering Powder.”

“Qi Gathering Powder?”

The disciples looked at each other in confusion.

Jun Changxiao explained, “After consuming this item, the speed at which you condense spiritual energy will increase by twice the normal rate, lasting for six hours.”

“You’re kidding!”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

They had heard of auxiliary items that increased spiritual energy absorption speed, but those mostly existed in wealthy and powerful sects. Our Tiegu Zhengzheng Sect has them too?

Jun Changxiao placed over twenty portions of Qi Gathering Powder on the table and said, “Each portion of Qi Gathering Powder has a name written on it. Disciples who completed missions, come forward and claim yours.”

Li Qingyang and the others walked up one by one, taking the Qi Gathering Powder marked with their names, their eyes flashing with excitement.

Doubling the spiritual energy absorption rate—for those with ordinary aptitude like them, this was absolutely the best cultivation aid!

“Zuiji.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Why aren’t you claiming yours?”

Xiao Zuiji stood in place, his heart full of bitterness as he said, “Sect Leader, I haven’t opened any meridians and cannot absorb spiritual power. The Qi Gathering Powder should go to a senior brother who needs it.”

“Swish!”

Jun Changxiao flicked his sleeve, tossing the Qi Gathering Powder over, and said, “This is your reward. Even if it’s useless, you must take it. If other disciples want to obtain it, they must complete missions.”

Xiao Zuiji caught it and said, “I understand.”

“Su Xiaomo.”

“Present!”

“In recognition of your outstanding performance, this seat awards you an additional weapon.”

Su Xiaomo’s eyes lit up.

However, when he received the wooden sword, the corners of his mouth twitched as he said, “Sect Leader, isn’t this sword a bit light?”

Jun Changxiao said, “You can test its power.”

“Mm.”

Su Xiaomo came to the training grounds and unleashed his fourth-stage Meridian Opening realm strength, swinging the sword in a dance.

“Swish! Swish!”

Sword shadows spread across the training grounds.

Lu Qianqian thought to herself, “The quality of this wooden sword is probably no weaker than high-tier low-grade.”

“Ha!”

Su Xiaomo channeled spiritual power into the wooden sword and suddenly slashed at a stone outside the grounds. With a bang, he shattered it on the spot.

“Heavens!”

“That powerful!”

“This wooden sword’s quality is definitely extraordinary!”

All the disciples cried out in unison.

Having tested the sword, Su Xiaomo’s face showed wild joy, and he immediately clasped his hands and said, “Thank you, Sect Leader, for bestowing this sword!”

Born into poverty with mediocre aptitude, having such a formidable weapon was something he had never dared to dream of before!

“Qingyang.”

Jun Changxiao took out a low-grade Frost Edge Sword and said, “You’ve handled quite a few matters for the sect recently, so this sword is your reward.”

After the Hundred Sects recruitment ended, Li Qingyang had set his sights on the Frost Edge Sword, but Jun Changxiao hadn’t given it to him, saying he wanted to see his future performance.

Bestowing it today meant his performance had been good.

From rebuilding the sect to leading his junior brothers in cultivation, even filling in as a cook—could such an all-around steward-type disciple’s performance be poor?

Li Qingyang stepped forward, received the Frost Edge Sword emanating cold energy, and said excitedly, “Thank you, Sect Leader, for bestowing this sword!”

Jun Chang swept his gaze over all the disciples and said, “As long as you all wholeheartedly serve the sect and continuously strive to become stronger, you will have resources, weapons, and martial techniques!”

“Yes!”

The disciples shouted in unison.

Liu Wanshi, sitting in front of the dining hall, rested her chin in her hands and murmured, “When will I be able to become a disciple of Tiegu Zhengzheng Sect?”

……

After dismissing the disciples, Jun Changxiao called Xiao Zuiji alone to the main hall and inquired, “How is your cultivation of the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic progressing?”

He was quite concerned about this disciple. After all, it had been several days since he joined the sect, and while he had integrated well with the other disciples, he still carried an air of dejection.

Xiao Zuiji said, “Reporting to Sect Leader, I haven’t comprehended it yet.”

“Nothing is achieved in one go. Don’t be anxious, take it slowly,” Jun Changxiao said.

Xiao Zuiji said, “This disciple is working very hard!”

“Can you talk about your past? For example, why did your realm fall and your spiritual root degrade?” Jun Changxiao asked.

A flash of pain crossed Xiao Zuiji’s eyes. His past was like a nightmare to him.

Jun Changxiao said, “If you don’t want to talk about the past, that’s fine too.”

“Hah!” Xiao Zuiji took a deep breath and said with difficulty, “Years ago, this disciple opened all twelve meridians and gathered a qi spiral to attempt breaking through to Martial Disciple realm, but failed and fell unconscious. When I woke up, my spiritual root and cultivation were both gone.”

“No pain or sensation?”

“No pain, no sensation.”

“When you were unconscious, was anyone nearby?”

“This disciple was in the family’s closed-door training room. There was no one else.”

Jun Changxiao first let Xiao Zuiji return to his cultivation, then stood alone in the main hall, thinking silently, “Breaking through to Martial Disciple might have been too rushed mentally, and failure is normal enough. But losing his spiritual root and cultivation—that’s a bit suspicious.”

Could there be an old grandpa inside that kid’s body?

No, that’s not right. If there were an old grandpa, at most he would absorb spiritual power to nourish himself. How could the spiritual root disappear for no reason?

Could he have been poisoned, or had it stolen?

Jun Changxiao went through all the plot devices from novels he’d read that could turn a protagonist into trash, but the more he thought about it, the bigger his headache became, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

“What’s more important right now is helping him improve his strength. Hopefully the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic can help him open his meridians.”

……

The next day.

The disciples came to the training grounds for their routine cultivation, and many couldn’t help beaming with joy, because after taking the Qi Gathering Powder and cultivating overnight, they had each opened one meridian.

Coming to the sect for less than two months and opening two meridians in succession—this was something they had never dared to imagine before!

But it was too early to celebrate.

Because Jun Changxiao brought them before the low-grade Disciple Spirit Power Array, and after explaining the double spiritual power effect inside, the disciples nearly jumped for joy.

Lu Qianqian didn’t care much about the Qi Gathering Powder, but looking at the formation flickering with blue light, she thought in disbelief, “The Sect Leader can also set up Spirit Power Arrays?”

“The array opens once every seven days. Groups of twenty people will enter in turns to cultivate for two hours each,” Jun Changxiao said.

“Ding!”

“Array activated, consuming 1 contribution point.”

“Ding!”

“Sect Contribution Points: 69/100.”

Lu Qianqian was the first to enter the array, and upon sensing the spiritual energy inside that was double that of the outside world, she could no longer remain calm and thought, “He really knows how to set up formations!”

Li Qingyang also walked in, exclaiming in admiration, “I didn’t expect the Sect Leader to be an Array Master as well!”

—