LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 175: what a waste
Of the two months given for the epic mission, just about a dozen days were left.
Death Valley was quite far away, so Jun Changxiao decided to set off the next day.
The 25 disciples assigned for this mission had all improved, the 10 mid-grades all reaching the fifth stage of Martial Apprentice.
Since the 10x Qi Gathering Pill was still limited, they only took the 5x ones and so could not compare to the training speed of Li Qingyang and the others.
If they had joined another sect during the Hundred Sects Recruitment though, the upper limit would have been the first stage of Martial Apprentice.
Thus, the ten disciples were very content and grateful.
Long Ziyang and Yang Yuhua also had nice improvements.
One reached Fifth Stage Martial Apprentice, the other Fourth Stage.
Especially Yang Yuhua. During this one month, not only had his defense become much stronger, he was also much more flexible.
If Su Xiaomo and the others wanted to hit him with the ball now, they would need to use 70-80% of their strength.
Once Ling Yuanxue took the Aptitude Transformation Fluid, she used the Qi Gathering Pill to reach Martial Apprentice. After some intense cultivation, she reached the Third Stage.
Those were just outer court disciples.
Although the seven inner court disciples did not have the 10x pills either, they also improved during the one month.
Ye Xingchen reached the Ninth Stage, becoming on par with Li Qingyang.
Su Xiaomo, Li Fei, and Tian Qi all reached the Eighth Stage while Xiao Zuiji reached Sixth Stage.
As for Lu Qianqian…
According to her, she was a Fourth Stage Martial Apprentice.
Since she could shove her opponent off the stage with just spirit power, no one believed that Senior Sister Lu Qianqian was only a Fourth Stage Martial Apprentice.
Of course.
In the past month, the other disciples also improved.
The average ones like Li Shangtian and Sima Zhongda reached second or third stage of Martial Apprentice.
The newest batch of disciples strengthened their bodies and used the Tendon Altering Sutra to reach Meridian Opening Stage Ten, not completely far from Stage Twelve.
Could the sect rank be raised?
No, not yet.
The requirements for a seventh-grade sect were: sect leader was a Martial Master, 50 Martial Apprentices, and 500 Meridian Opening Stage Twelves.
Just based on the first point, the Ironbone Sect was unqualified.
Thus, Jun Changxiao had to complete the epic mission and become a Martial Master.
Moreover, if he followed how it went after the first epic mission, completion of Epic Mission II would allow him to directly jump cultivation ranks.
…
Next day.
After the 25 disciples ate the breakfast Liu Wanshi prepared, Jun Changxiao led them from the Ironbone Sect in an imposing manner.
The others saw them off, then began to regularly train.
They hoped that they could get stronger faster, following their sect head and senior brothers out for adventure soon.
Li Luoqiu stayed in the sect too.
But as she watched Jun Changxiao depart, she thought: Death Valley is filled with numerous dangers. I hope they can all return safely.
Death Valley was an ominous place. With so many people entering at once, it was difficult for her to not worry about someone being lost there forever.
“Scared?”
On the road, Jun Changxiao asked aloud.
“Not scared!” the disciples shouted.
Even if they knew the trip was bound to be filled with risk, they were not afraid, because they were ironbone unyielding!
…
Death Valley was in the southern part of Qingyang Commandery, a deep place in the mountains, at least 1000 li from Qingyang City.
Since he calculated that they would have enough time, Jun Changxiao was not anxious on his way. He led the disciples along without worry, stopping here and there to appreciate the scenery.
It was worth saying that in such a spiritually rich world, there were many places of enchanting scenery, sights that were difficult to forget.
When Jun Changxiao brought his disciples past a waterfall, he found it hard to suppress the emotions in his heart and immediately started to recite poetry:
“Sunlight illuminates Incense Burner Peak, kindling violet smoke;
From afar, a waterfall hangs before the river.
Water flies straight down three thousand feet—
Has the silver stream of our galaxy plunged from the highest heaven?” [1]
The disciples were stunned.
Apparently Sect Head could also write poetry!
Su Xiaomo and the others who did not have big backgrounds had limited literary education, only thinking that the poem was very rhythmic.
“Water flies straight down three thousand feet, has the silver stream of our galaxy plunged from the highest heaven…” Long Ziyang carefully repeated the words, then clapped his hands and praised, “Beautiful, beautiful!”
Even the icy Lu Qianqian heard the poem Jun Changxiao recited and felt surprised.
On Falling Star Continent, martial artists were as numerous as the stars, but academics were hard to find.
“Sect Head is so cool!”
Ling Yuanxue didn’t say anything special and directly worshiped him.
If the system had points for acting cool, Sect Head Jun would have received a huge amount for reciting “Waterfall on Mount Lu” by Li Bai.
…
Sha, sha, sha!
In the wooded mountains and enchanting sights, Xiao Zuiji sped along with the rifle on his back. He stopped by a tree and pulled the trigger.
Xiu-
With the silencer, the bullet flew silently, striking a goat in the distance.
Shua!
Su Xiaomo rushed over and carried the goat back, stopping by a small stream to proficiently skin the animal.
After some handling, the goat was hung on some branches.
Zhou Hong walked over, sword dancing through the air, slicing it instantly.
Before the pieces could fall on the ground, several disciples rushed around with bamboo baskets, catching the meat.
Shua, shua, shua!
The pieces of meat were skewered together and then delivered to the sect head.
Jun Changxiao placed the skewers into a temporary grill-like thing, the Exquisite Flame cooking the meat.
Xiao Zuiji shot one bullet.
Zhou Hong used the sword.
The disciples were serious and attentive, like they were facing an archenemy.
But they were just roasting skewers!
“Little Mo!”
Jun Changxiao shouted, “Where’s the kidney?”
Standing by the stream, Su Xiaomo called back, “Sect Head, I discarded the internal organs!”
“Fuck!”
Jun Changxiao cursed, “What a waste!”
Li Qingyang felt the corners of his mouth twitching. Oh my sect head. For the price of a bullet, even using the Exquisite Flame to cook a goat… You’re the one wasting!
“So bored.”
Ye Xingchen sat in the distance without a care.
Shortly, the skewers were ready.
Jun Changxiao added some pepper and cumin, then said, “Taste this lord’s craftsmanship.”
For the disciples who lived on Falling Star Continent, when had they ever seen such a thing? Thus, everyone was curious and tried one — they were filled with praise!
“Junior Brother Ye.”
Li Qingyang handed him a skewer and said, “Try one!”
“Tch.”
After taking it, Ye Xingchen didn’t think much of it and took a bite, and then… Yeah, he devoured the rest.
No one could resist the seduction of gourmet food, not even an aloof Martial Emperor!
He could write poetry, he could roast skewers.
The disciples were filled with respect for their sect head, continuous like a torrential river!
After finishing the meal, Jun Changxiao brought the disciples along, reaching the fog-covered Death Valley.
At the entrance were the words ‘Death Valley’ carved into the wall, the letters dark red as if written in blood.
Hoo-hooo!
A cold wind blew past, shrieking and howling through the valley’s entrance.
Many martial artists were hovering near the entrance. When they noticed Jun Changxiao’s group, they immediately broke into discussion.
“Oh? Is that the Ironbone Sect?”
“Sect Head Jun brought so many disciples, are they here to train in Death Valley?”
“Without a Martial Ancestor, that’s just asking for death!”