The Strongest Sect of All Times

Jun Changxiao had not misread.

Zhou Hong, whose face showed maturity, really was an expert!

It wasn’t about the cultivation; that unsheathe-sheathe movement and the torn leaves sufficiently proved his expertise. 

His strength was in the sword way!

Even the arrogant Ye Xingchen saw Zhou Hong and gave minimal praise: if there was a grandmaster of the Sword Way to direct him and a good sword technique, the boy’s lowest future achievement would be Sword King. 

Martial artists and sword cultivators walked different paths, their realm division was also different. 

The Martial Way had Martial Apprentice, Martial Ancestor, Martial Emperor, and so on. 

The Sword Way had Sword Apprentice, Sword Ancestor, Sword Emperor, and so on. 

Although it was a difference of one word, a sword cultivator would be stronger than a martial cultivator of the same rank. 

A true sword cultivator would use their undivided attention to comprehend the Sword Way, absolutely the extreme of the extreme.

A martial artist was different. 

They could cultivate the fist arts, then cultivate the sword a little, which was why their overall strength would be well below a true sword cultivator. 

Of course, not anyone could walk this extreme path. To become a sword cultivator, one had to first have extremely high Sword Way aptitude. 

According to the relevant investigation, there was 1 sword cultivator in every 10,000 people. 

Even if martial artists only had low-grade spirit roots, they could still open up at least one meridian, and were thus still martial artists. But a sword cultivator was a 1/10000, making it a very rare occupation.

Take Ye Xingchen for example. 

Although he had learned sword techniques in his previous life, he had become one of the Ten Great Martial Emperors by the Martial Way. 

The other nine, also walked the martial path without exception. 

A Sword Emperor had not appeared on the Falling Star Continent for a very long time. 

Similarly hard to find was a Sabre Emperor, as that was another path of the extreme. 

Holy shit. 

Finally I recruited a good disciple!

Jun Changxiao quickly took out his anti-glare sunglasses and turned on all the functions!

[Cultivation Base: ???

Aptitude: ???

Strength: ???]

Fuck!

Why was it all question marks?

It couldn’t be that this guy’s strength couldn’t be quantified?

The system explained, [The anti-glare sunglasses can only be used on martial artists and cannot be used on sword cultivators, so it is unable to analyze.]

“So that’s how it is,” Jun Changxiao suddenly understood. 

Li Qingyang said, “Sect Head, Junior Brother Zhou is a sword cultivator. He should be comprehending the sword right now, we should not disturb him!”

“Mhm.”

Jun Changxiao lead him out. 

After he asked this disciple a bit more about sword cultivators, he thought, If I had top-level sword aptitude, wouldn’t learning the Ice Sword Divine Art be easy?

The system said, [The store has Sword Way Aptitude Transformation Fluid.]

“You can get that too?” Jun Changxiao was startled. 

The system said, [As long as you have contribution points and your luck is good, any item that will help the host become stronger can be obtained.]

It would be better to earn more contribution points then, Jun Changxiao mused. 

…

Zhou Hong was a sword cultivator; cultivation of the martial and sword path were different. 

Jun Changxiao did not force him to go and cultivate with the other disciples, but let him comprehend in the inner courtyard. 

Just like that…

Besides hungrily eating his meals, Zhou Hong stood on the training field by himself for two days, painstakingly comprehending his sword. 

Jun Changxiao would occasionally observe from again and understood why the creator of the Ice Sword Divine Art was called the ‘Lonely Sword Emperor’.

One person, one sword. 

If practiced like this, even if they successfully walked the path of the sword and became a Sword Emperor, they would definitely be lonely and alone. 

Wait until he truly integrates into the Ironbone Sect and treats himself as a disciple, I will teach him the Ice Sword Divine Art, Jun Changxiao decided. 

Zhou Hong practiced the sword like a madman, but he wasn’t actually a madman; when he bumped into the sect head in the dining hall, he would still greet and bow politely. 

He would also interact very nicely with the other disciples, but he was a man of few words and would usually sit by himself in the corner. He also seemed to especially treasure food, carefully eating each grain of rice. 

No one could ignore Liu Wanshi’s meal seduction. 

Even such assassins like Li Luoqiu were admiring of Liu Wanshi’s skills, arriving for meals and snacks on time. 

The hall master usually sat alone too. 

Jun Changxiao carried his meal over to sit by her, chewing on some green onions. “How are the arrangements going?”

Li Luoqiu covered her nose and answered, “They have already spread to the eight cities in Qingyang Commandery and reports will be ready tomorrow.”

“Mhm.” 

Jun Changxiao breathed out, “Is my breath very smelly?”

“Smelly.”

Li Luoqiu quickly turned away. 

Jun Changxiao got up and walked to Su Xiaomo, breathing out. “Smelly?”

Su Xiaomo’s eyes rolled up and he collapsed onto the table. 

Sun Bukong stood up and clasped his fists. “Sect Head’s bad breath has knocked Senior Brother out. It could be kidney deficiency!”

…

The next day. 

Various information from the eight cities was sent via letter, detailed in content. 

Li Luoqiu did not bring them all with her, but sorted out the information before reporting the recent events in the main hall. 

It was mostly useless, but Jun Changxiao was able to get a grasp on the matters within the area, which was much better than being completely oblivious to the world. 

“Sect Head.”

Li Luoqiu added, “In three days, Liyang City’s Ai Family will publicly auction the healing pills. Various families and sects have flooded into the city. People say that even fifth-grade sects have been moved.”

“Is that so?”

Jun Changxiao clasped his hands together, thinking, This Ai Family really knows how to advertise, even moving a fifth-grade sect. I fear the ten healing pills will sell for a sky-high price.

He hoped they would sell for a high price, so that he could gain more money himself.

Li Luoqiu said, “Sect Head, I heard that the healing pill the Ai Family developed can immediately restore an injury. I have a bold idea, but I do not know whether I should say it.”

“Speak.”

“We steal it.”

Jun Changxiao’s elbow, which had originally been resting on the arm rest, suddenly slipped, causing him to almost fall off his seat. The corners of his mouth twitched as he said, “Hall Master Li’s idea is very bold and intelligent.”

“Does Sect Head agree?” Li Luoqiu happily asked. 

Agree?!

I’m the one who sold the pills to them. If I steal them back… where was the justice in that?

Moreover, I’m counting on the Ai Family to help sell them for a good price, how would they make any money if I steal them?

“Luoqiu.”

Jun Changxiao seriously said, “Your present status is part of the sect’s backbone, not an assassin. How can you still have such ideas like stealing or robbing?”

“You’re right,” Li Luoqiu tapped her chin. “I am now a hall master, stealing is disgraceful.”

“But,” she added. “The pill is very mysterious. If we can make it, we would not need to worry about our disciples being injured.”

Pah.

Jun Changxiao placed a bottle of healing pills on the table. “This is the Ai Family healing pill you were talking about. There are ten inside, take them if you want.”

Li Luoqiu startled, then smiled. “Sect Head, do not tease. In the previous auction, these pills sold for 100,000 and were short of demand, how could you have one bottle?”

Jun Changxiao said, “The relationship between Patriarch Ai and I isn’t bad, he gave me a bottle.”

Li Luoqiu blinked. “Sect Head, do you think that I’m stupid?”

“Not stupid,” Jun Changxiao answered. 

Li Luoqiu stared at him for a while, then turned around. “Since I’m not stupid, how would I believe Sect Head’s joke?”

Looking at the woman leaving, Jun Changxiao shook his head. “You weren’t stupid a moment ago, but you are now.”