The Strongest Sect of All Times

With the Meridian Attacking Pill and the Tendon Altering Sutra working in tandem, Liu Wanshi was able to open her fifth meridian with ease.

Afterwards, Jun Changxiao called for all the disciples under Meridian Opening Stage Twelve to convene. 

Not many people, only 13. 

Four Meridian Opening Stage Ten, nine Meridian Opening Stage Eleven. 

It was not that their efforts were insufficient, but that they had joined later and had worse spirit roots. Sometimes for one meridian, even with the help of the Tendon Altering Sutra, they would need to continuously try, so the difference between them and the others gradually increased. 

Looking at how the others were all Meridian Opening Stage Twelve or above, these 13 disciples rebuked themselves, ashamed to be using so many of their sect head’s resources. 

Jun Changxiao could tell they were dejected, which was why he gave each of them three Meridian Attacking Pills and encouraged them.

“Failure now does not mean failure forever. If you practice diligently, you can do it.”

The system said: [The host seems more and more like the leader of a sect.]

Saying it like that…

Does that mean I didn’t seem like a sect leader before?!

Indeed, before, Jun Changxiao was quite weak and so did not seem like a sect leader. Now that his cultivation had increased and his physique was leaner, his bearing did seem to be a bit more like that of a sect leader. 

But he did lack something. 

Unlike those high-rank sect leaders, he lacked the aura of an expert!

This was not something that could be trained, as Sect Head Jun needed to become a true expert first. Next, the sect needed to become a powerhouse. It didn’t need to dominate the continent, but it had to be a major player. 

Without a high rank, he and the sect were nothing. 

Since I, Jun Changxiao, have arrived on this Falling Star Continent, I must become the supreme sect leader who awakens to the power of this world and can sleep on the legs of drunk beauties!

The system spat: [You single dog, go wash up and sleep.]

…

After the 13 disciples took the Meridian Attacking Pills, nine of the Stage Elevens broke through to Stage Twelve, another four went from Stage tTen to Stage Eleven. 

What did that mean?

All of them broke through!

The next day, Jun Changxiao was happy to hear that the disciples had all opened a meridian. “When I recruit new disciples in the future, as long as they can condense enough spirit energy, opening a meridian will be an easy thing.”

“Unfortunately, Zuiji and Xingchen went out for experience, otherwise I would give them several each. Still, after they return, they will also have great improvements.”

The Tendon Altering Sutra and the Meridian Attacking Pill together could give a martial artist a 100% success rate when opening a meridian — that was very terrifying. If news was leaked, it would definitely cause a great stir!

Unfortunately. 

No one knew. 

In the eyes of those high tier sects, the Ironbone Sect was just like an ant, an ant crawling slowly up the high mountains into the clouds. 

…

The eve before the battle. 

Li Qingyang sat cross-legged in the Qi Gathering Array. 

He was immersed in revolving the Tendon Altering Sutra, his whole body covered in layers of spirit power, like a silkworm forming a chrysalis.

Su Xiaomo and the others learned that their Second Senior Brother was going to fight with an inner disciple of the Holy Spring Sect and thus had not entered the array for the past two days, fearing that they might distract him. 

Puff. 

At this time, the last spirit stone had been cleanly absorbed and the now ash colored stone tumbled to the floor. 

“Huff.” 

Li Qingyang took a deep breath in, inhaling enough spirit power to fill his whole body. He then opened his eyes, a gleam flashing through his pupils. 

“Fourth Stage Martial Apprentice, there should be no problems.”

He entered the Sect Martial Arts Competition as a First Stage Martial Apprentice, reaching Second Stage shortly after returning. With the spirit stones and Qi Gathering Pills, he was able to increase two more levels.

As Qingyang City’s number one talent, Li Qingyang’s innate talent could not be doubted. The reason his cultivation had been a bit slow was because he helped the sect head with many internal affairs, losing cultivation time here and there. 

He had no complaints though, because this was the sect head’s trust in him and thus did his best to complete each matter. 

The night approached. 

Li Qingyang stepped out from the array and entered the training room, starting the final body tempering session before the fight. 

Jun Changxiao sat on the edge of the main hall’s roof, an elbow on his leg and chin resting on his palm. “Qingyang, these past few days have been hard for you.”

Lu Qianqian was ice-cold, Xiao Zuiji was dispirited and depressed, Su Xiaomo was mischievous and carefree — all his disciples were talented. 

But a sect could not depend only on the sect leader. 

The steady Li Qingyang was, without a doubt, who Jun Changxiao needed and favored the most.

Asking him to fight this time was also in the hope that the boy would gain some prestige, in order to better assist Sect Head Jun in leading the numerous junior disciples. 

…

The next day. 

The day had just brightened but Liu Wanshi was already bustling about in the kitchen to make a sumptuous breakfast, which Ma Yongning and the two assassins carried over to the tables. 

Swiftly, the disciples came to dine. 

Li Qingyang also came. Although he had been in the training room all night, he seemed full of energy. 

Su Xiaomo walked over, raising his bowl as he said, “Junior Brother hopes that Second Senior Brother beats the Holy Spring Sect’s disciple, raising the prestige of my Ironbone Sect!”

Saying that, he gulped down the soup. 

“Hah!” 

He then quickly stuck out his tongue, panting, “Hot! Hot!”

The other disciples also wished Li Qingyang luck, the atmosphere in the dining hall becoming warm. 

Liu Wanshi, still in the apron, popped her small head out from the kitchen. Shaking a ladle, she grinned and said, “I got up especially early today to make a hearty meal to send Second Senior Brother off.” [1]

Putong!

Several people simultaneously stumbled. 

Li Qingyang staggered and held onto the table, his forehead creasing. 

Children’s words carry no harm, children’s words carry no harm…

Shortly after, Jun Changxiao walked into the dining hall. After eating the hearty send-off meal, he brought Li Qingyang, Lu Qianqian, and several main disciples and set off with no worries. 

…

Yaoyang City, Spirit Spring Mountain.

The first time Jun Changxiao was here, he exterminated the Spirit Spring Sect. The second time, he accepted a challenge. 

“They’re here, they’re here!”

“The Ironbone Sect really accepted the challenge!”

“I thought that facing the Holy Spring Sect, this guy wouldn’t dare come.”

Jun Changxiao led several disciples up the mountain and saw that many martial artists had gathered outside the ruins of the Spirit Spring Sect. 

He hadn’t descended the mountain these past few days and didn’t know that the news related to the fight between the Holy Spring Sect and the Ironbone Sect had spread across Qingyang Commandery. 

The various sects and martial artists who received the news wouldn’t miss the fun; they had arrived in Yaoyang City the day before. 

The Hundred Sects Alliance also came. 

For example, there was the Tiger Roar Sect’s sect master, and also the Iron Fist Gang’s leader, who had been punched by Xiao Zuiji. 

These two, after seeing Jun Changxiao and the Ironbone Sect disciples, were sneering. 

Brat. 

We must thank you for withdrawing from the Alliance.

The Holy Spring Sect doesn’t bother us about the matter anymore. Otherwise, I would never forgive you!

“Hehe,” Jun Changxiao chuckled. “This is just a challenge. That this place is livelier than the Sect Martial Arts Competition makes this Lord a little surprised.”

“Sect Head Jun,” called the Tiger Roar Sect Master. “The Holy Spring Sect is waiting for you in the Spirit Spring Sect’s training grounds. When you enter, you might be a bit frightened.”

After the conference in Qingyang City, the Hundred Sects Alliance definitely despised Jun Changxiao.

The reason they came today was to look at how he would be beaten by a fifth-grade sect. 

Thinking back to this guy’s rampage in Star Moon Pavilion and then thinking of how he would face the Holy Spring Sect, about the panicked expression he would soon have, the various elders and sect leaders were immediately amused. 

“The Spirit Spring Sect is just ruins, how could it frighten this Lord.”

Jun Changxiao walked forward with his disciples. Just as he walked in, he saw that there were three seats in the place where the main hall had collapsed. 

On these seats sat three people. 

At the center was a resolute-looking middle-aged man, his hands clasped in his lap, head tilted slightly down. 

On the left was another middle-aged man, head resting on one hand, his expression slightly gloomy. 

On the right was a man with a wrinkled forehead. He sat with his legs crossed, picking at his ear with a pinky and generally looking very careless. 

Although these three people all looked different, all of them had a vigorous aura and cultivation bases no lower than elders of the Azure Mountain Sect. 

Jun Changxiao touched his nose and secretly thought, These three people, if they wear the Marines’ uniform and then add a long cape engraved with ‘justice’, they would look just like the Three Great Admirals. [2]

[1] Dudu sounds like she’s sending Qingyang off to death, or making his last meal

[2] He means the Three Admirals from the Golden Age of Piracy in One Piece