The Strongest Sect of All Times

Although Xiao Zuiji’s meridians opened, Jun Changxiao was still puzzled. Was the poisoning the reason his cultivation regressed?

The system said, [Based on the toxic gas just now, it should be the result of poison.]

Jun Changxiao tapped his chin. “Poison made his cultivation decrease, that can be understood. But why did his supreme-grade spirit root also degenerate?”

“If there was a toxin that could suppress his spirit root, it should be solved now. Shouldn’t it be fully restored now, instead of just four meridians?”

He rubbed his temples. “Yuan Fang, what do you think?” [1]

The system: [……]

Jun Changxiao snapped, “I was asking you, why aren’t you speaking?”

The system only then realized that ‘Yuan Fang’ was referring to itself. It therefore said, [Falling Star Continent is a mysterious place. Perhaps there is a toxin that can suppress both cultivation base and spirit root.]

“The toxin was resolved, so why isn’t spirit root and cultivation restored?” Jun Changxiao asked.

The system was silent for a moment, before saying, [Perhaps within his body resides not only one toxin. The host has solved only the one suppressing his cultivation, leaving behind the one which suppresses his spirit root.]

“That’s possible…”

Jun Changxiao was silent as he thought. 

If the matter was like this, then who was so cruel as to use two toxins to destroy the originally talented Xiao Zuiji?

“Xiao Family’s elders?”

Jun Changxiao thought back to the competition and the Great Elder Xiao, who was filled with killing intent. 

“And those assassins outside Liyang City, who were they sent by?”

He held his head and complained, “Fuck, I feel like my IQ is a little insufficient. Does Yuan Fang have an item that can improve cognitive abilities?”

The system said, [No.]

…

After Xiao Zuiji succeeded, he temporarily gave up on practicing with the rifle and spent all day using the Tendon Altering Sutra to gather spirit power. 

Although he was only an ordinary-grade spirit root and absorption was far less than his once supreme-grade root, he was very content. After all, it was still better than not being able to condense qi at all. 

With spirit power integrating into his body and gathering along his meridians, Xiao Zuiji rediscovered the refreshing feeling of cultivating. 

Of course.

He also knew that everything was given by the sect head.

He was thus willing to dedicate his life to the rise of the Ironbone Unyielding Sect!

“Lily Saint Sect?” 

In another room, Ye Xingchen was cultivating. He scoffed, “When this Emperor dominated Falling Star Continent back then, that was but a fifth-grade sect.”

Ah. 

Our dear Sir Night Emperor was still immersed in the glories of his past, unable to come back. 

“Hah!”

Ye Xingchen sighed and muttered, “The Grand Mysterious True Sutra is really complex. I’ve been studying for such a long time but have only comprehended the first layer.”

“The good thing is that I have the Tendon Altering Sutra as an auxiliary. Otherwise, if I only used one core technique, it would be very difficult to break through to Meridian Opening Stage Seven in such a short period of time.”

He actually had to sincerely thank the Ironbone Sect. Without the Tendon Altering Sutra’s 50% success rate, with the Night Emperor’s current aptitude, just opening one meridian would have taken months. 

“It is also not good to constantly cultivate, as one must experience actual combat. I will go to a mountain filled with beasts for experience tomorrow.”

…

The next day. 

Night Emperor informed Jun Changxiao of his idea. The latter considered it for a bit, then said, “Go with your Senior Brother Xiao, it’s good to be more careful.”

Him?

Just trash.

Although Ye Xingchen was unhappy with the situation, he agreed on the surface. After all, his current status was a disciple of the Ironbone Sect. 

Just like that, an expert after rebirth and a talent who became a wastrel left the sect, starting the wilderness cultivation arc necessary for any protagonist. 

Xiao Zuiji brought the Type 88 rifle with him. 

He did not want to just experience actual combat, but wished to seize the opportunity to collect more crystal cores, making up for what the sect head spent. 

Our great Sect Head Jun left the sect to Li Qingyang and headed for Huyang City. 

“Sect Head!”

Liu Wanshi stood at the entrance to the dining hall and shouted, “Bring some seasonings back!”

“Got it.”

…

When Jun Changxiao arrived in Huyang City, he discovered that it had livened up since his previous visit, as martial artists carrying weapons wandered the streets. 

“Can’t the Ai Family do it faster? They just have to wait for a month to auction.”

“This type of instantly effective healing pill… The fact that the Ai Family can refine it and is willing to auction it off… What’s wrong with waiting a bit?”

“I heard that several noble families and major sects have sent people.”

“If they contend among themselves, poor people like us can only go there to watch the fun.”

The martial artists on the road discussed. 

Obviously, they were people from other places who were gathered here to wait for the Ai Family’s second healing pill auction. 

Many families and sects had moved, so once the pill auction started, they would be willing to pay almost any price. 

It can be said that the Ai Family really knew how to do business. After the first auction and the unceasing advertisement, they had successfully roused the interest of many commanderies. 

The pill auction had nothing to do with Jun Changxiao, as he was not inclined to appear in public. He therefore went to the market first, purchasing a large pile of seasonings, then entered the Ai Family’s medicinal herb shop. 

When Storekeeper Ma, who had been checking the accounts, saw Jun Changxiao walk in, he didn’t wait for an assistant and personally hurried over. With a smile on his face, he greeted, “Sect Head Jun, your honorable self has visited. Excuse me for not going out to meet you, excuse me for not going out to meet you.”

Before the first pill auction, Patriarch Ai had passed down orders: the Ironbone Sect’s sect head was the Ai Family’s superior distinguished guest. If he came to the shop, they were not to show any neglect. 

Jun Changxiao said, “Where’s Patriarch Ai? This lord is here to discuss big business.”

Big business again?

Storekeeper Ma quickly invited him inside. “Sect Head Jun, please sit first, I will go inform the patriarch.”

Saying that, he glanced meaningfully at a servant servine tea, then hurriedly left the shop for the Ai Family. 

Jun Changxiao did not sit down, but walked to the medicinal herbs, sizing up the raw materials in the bamboo basket. Interested in some of them, he lifted his hand to touch. 

“Don’t touch it.”

Suddenly, a voice was heard.

Jun Changxiao turned his head and discovered that in the corner was a white-haired old man, trimming a bonsai tree with small scissors. 

“Crazy old man!” the servant scolded. “This is the Ironbone Sect’s Sect Head Jun, do not be impolite!”

Saying that, he quickly turned with a smile. “Sect Head Jun, he is just a casual laborer hired to prune the bushes a few days ago. He doesn’t understand the custom, do not lower yourself to his level.”

Jun Changxiao curiously asked, “Why can’t I touch it?”

The old man did not lift his hand, continuing to prune the tree. “That medicinal herb is named the ‘Decaying Leaf Grass’. The leaf-like blades gather qi. If a person touches them, the qi will decay and it loses efficacy, causing it to sell at a greatly discounted price.”

“Che,” the servant rolled his eyes. “I move the Decaying Leaf Grass around every day and have bumped into it many times, but it’s still used to refine pills all the same. You, crazy old man, are talking crazy.”

“Ah,” sighed the old man. “It is because there are reckless people like you that the medicinal herb, when taken to refine pills, can only display 50-60% of its true potency. Really distressing…”

“Ok, ok. You’re the professional, okay? I can’t be bothered to respond.” 

As if the two had bickered more than once before, the servant did not continue to argue with the old man. Instead, he turned with a smile, “Sect Head Jun, please look around freely.”

Jun Changxiao was interested now and asked, “Senior seems to have researched medicinal herbs a lot?”

The old man held his waist and said, “Sect Head Jun is the noble leader of a sect, the honor of being called your senior, this old man cannot withstand.”

“Elders are my seniors, can withstand, can withstand,” Jun Changxiao said. 

The old man’s face was filled with surprise, but he shook his head. “Falling Star Continent venerates martial might. To revere elders, that is the first time this old man has heard of it.”

Jun Changxiao wanted to continue talking, but Ai Shangni had already hurried over and entered the shop. With a submissive smile, he said, “Sect Head Jun, what wind blows you here?”

[1] ‘Yuan Fang’ is also how ‘far direction’ would be pronounced; JCX is basically calling the system the ‘voice from faraway’