With Stovelord Fire, Liu Wanshi’s culinary arts improved tremendously.

The greatest beneficiaries were naturally the Eternal Sect disciples, because with delicacies of the mortal realm supplied daily, their cultivation became incredibly refreshing.

And then there was Zilin Demon King.

Having been bombarded for so long, he looked rather haggard overall.

After eating Liu Wanshi’s cooking for a few days, he suddenly became lively and energetic, even transforming completely—one could describe it as being reborn.

“Girl.”

One day, after opening the main gate, Zilin Demon King slipped into the kitchen and said, “Can you make something special just for this King?”

“Junior Brother.”

Liu Wanshi, holding a ladle, said seriously, “How many times have I told you, don’t call yourself ‘this King,’ call yourself ‘I’!”

“Alright, alright, I, I, I!” Zilin Demon King said with a fawning smile.

Sigh.

This demon lord who died before accomplishing his mission had completely fallen before Liu Wanshi’s culinary arts.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Whatever you make, I’ll eat it, I’m not picky at all!”

“Go wait in the dining hall.”

“Okay.”

Zilin Demon King hurried to sit properly in the dining hall. Thinking about how he would soon be able to eat delicious food again, saliva immediately flowed down.

“Food’s here.”

Before long, Liu Wanshi brought over two dishes, one was spicy shredded potatoes, the other was stir-fried pea shoots.

Zilin Demon King collapsed, “Why are they all vegetables!”

“Won’t eat?”

Liu Wanshi said, “Then I’ll take them away.”

“No, no!”

Zilin Demon King hurriedly stopped her, picked up chopsticks and grinned, “I’ll eat, I’ll eat!”

Although fierce beasts mainly ate meat, under the erosion of this home-style cooking made by Liu Wanshi, he still displayed an exaggerated expression.

Too delicious.

Too tasty!

…

“Boom!”

In the training room, Xiao Zui punched the testing machine, seeing the power value increase, “Junior Sister, eating one bite of your Strength Fried Rice has the same effect as eating a whole bowl!”

“That’s wonderful!”

Liu Wanshi jumped for joy.

After obtaining Stovelord Fire, the little girl took time to research meals, first improving the Strength Fried Rice.

Previously, one had to eat an entire bowl of fried rice to get the enhancement, but now just eating one bite would get the same proportion of strength boost—a substantial breakthrough!

“Not bad, not bad.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Continue working hard, create more meals to make fellow disciples even stronger!”

“Okay!”

With the Sect Master’s praise and encouragement, Liu Wanshi began challenging new and unknown domains, deciding next to research defense and speed-type fried rice!

…

After the Space-Time Secret Realm cooldown finished, Jun Changxiao entered once more. When he emerged, his cultivation had completely recovered, and he seemed sharper than before.

“Finally can crush the experience talismans.”

At the Dragon-Tiger Championship, defeating the Great Yan Holy Sect earned two experience talismans. His realm advanced to fifth grade, and now with four more stored, after crushing them he smoothly broke through to seventh grade.

Others struggled and labored to break through.

But he relied on talismans to break through easily and effortlessly—this could really make all Wuhuang die of envy.

What’s there to envy!

I still traded managing the sect for this!

“Boom!”

In the training room, Jun Changxiao condensed his power and directly struck the testing machine, resulting in a display of garbled characters. He said in astonishment, “Did I break it with one punch?”

The system said, “The testing machine’s power assessment has an upper limit. Exceeding the upper limit won’t display accurately.”

“I see.”

“Moreover, with the host’s current level, when fighting strong opponents, unless you have overwhelming strength, it’s difficult to determine victory or defeat through pure power values alone.”

“True.”

After breaking through to Emperor level, Jun Changxiao’s use of heaven and earth attributes and qi domain couldn’t be measured by numerical values at all. The higher the level, in combat, momentum and techniques became more important.

For example, the palm strike that hit Ye Xingchen—that couldn’t be measured by power values. The pressure and deep-level heaven and earth attributes contained within were already terrifyingly powerful.

“Get a few more contribution values, break through to peak Emperor level, activate epic missions, complete them and advance to Saint level in one go!” Jun Changxiao said.

The system reminded, “The host’s current understanding of the sword way is only at Emperor level, there’s no higher level. Breaking through to Saint level is undoubtedly a pipe dream.”

“No problem, I can refresh it!”

Since the shop had low-grade and mid-grade Sword Way Aptitude Liquids, there must be high-grade, superior-grade, divine-grade ones. As long as they refreshed, he could drink them.

“Wishing you good luck.” The system said.

…

Over two months, Iron Bone Town developed extremely rapidly. Not only did it have a large permanent population, various shops also opened one after another—food, drink, clothing, entertainment, and daily necessities were all available.

The “entertainment” here refers to recreation, please don’t overthink it.

Auntie Wang transformed into the innkeeper of Fortune Inn.

Other villagers from Qingyang Village also successively set up businesses, like butcher shops and steamed bun stores.

Emergency aid, not poverty relief.

Jun Changxiao gave them permanent residence rights and large mansions, but whether they could make a living in the town still depended on themselves.

From the previous recruitment batch, those who passed the examination but weren’t accepted as disciples also gradually gathered here, waiting to become Eternal Sect disciples.

The Ai Family medicinal shop and auction house branch opened for business.

The first auction attracted a large number of outside martial artists.

Auntie Wang’s inn was packed with guests. When she really couldn’t handle it alone, Eternal Sect disciples would come over to help with odd jobs.

Of course.

This was also for sect missions.

The entire Iron Bone Town became increasingly lively with more and more guests coming and going.

Occasionally, when they saw Eternal Sect disciples wearing bright school uniforms, their eyes always showed respect and envy.

Lying on the roof of the mansion, Jun Changxiao held a dog-tail grass in his mouth, watching the martial artists coming and going on the street, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He hadn’t expected that building a town would bring the same sense of achievement as developing the sect.

“Sect Master.”

Li Luoqiu transmitted, “Young Master Tang Er has come to visit.”

…

“This Iron Bone Town situated at the foot of Eternal Sect has great development prospects!”

“The Ai Family’s auction house is set up in the town, and the monthly auction is scheduled there too. In the long run, it will definitely attract many martial artists!”

“No good, we need to find a way to get property there and extend our family business!”

Commercial families in Southwest Yang Province with business acumen all estimated that Iron Bone Town would definitely have unlimited potential in the future, so they sought connections, hoping to purchase a bit of land.

Unfortunately, Jun Changxiao was very strict in his screening.

He only permitted disciples’ relatives and some commercial families from Qingyang Commandery to settle in; outsiders had almost no hope of entering.

The more this was the case, the more many families’ hearts itched.

Gradually, a trend formed where being able to open a business in Iron Bone Town became an incredibly glorious thing.

A few days later.

Shocking news spread across the continent.

The second young master of the Tang Family from the Great Venerable Imperial City formally announced to the public that Tang’s Pill Shop would open in Iron Bone Town on a chosen date!

“The wealthy and powerful Tang Family is actually opening a pill shop in Iron Bone Town!”

“Tang’s Pill Shop has been extremely popular recently. Many major cities in various provinces haven’t opened branches yet, but a small town got one first. This is truly unexpected!”

Before long.

Another piece of news spread—the Tang Family would only establish Tang’s Pill Shop branch in Iron Bone Town.

Smart commercial families immediately realized that the Tang Family’s second young master must have discussed this with Eternal Sect, otherwise he definitely wouldn’t only open one branch in Southwest Yang Province!

“The pills sold at Tang’s Pill Shop have long been famous throughout the Nine Provinces. In Southwest Yang Province, only Iron Bone Town has a branch, which will definitely attract more martial artists to buy, thus driving all trades and businesses in the town!”

“Iron Bone Town is going to explode!”

After the Tang Family’s second young master made his public announcement, major powers and families in Southwest Yang Province who had long wanted to buy pills rushed over, and even martial artists from nearby Southern Desolate Province and Western Transport Province came.

A town that had just been built not long ago was now packed with people, its bustling prosperity completely comparable to the historic Qingyang City!

—