A True Portrait of Hard Fists

Jun Changxiao moved with such incredible speed that Ai Shangke didn't even realize his clothes had been slashed until he let out an angry roar, causing his muscles to expand slightly and instantly burst the fabric apart.

What was even more terrifying was that a lock of hair was caught on the Cold Edge Sword!

What did this signify? It meant that if he had intended to kill, he could have sliced right through his neck just a moment ago.

Ai Shangke's cultivation was strong, but not strong enough to withstand a sharp blade with his bare flesh.

Moreover, Jun Changxiao's strength was not weak either; moving at such high speeds, taking off his head would have been as easy as child's play.

Ai Shangke stood there in his white briefs, his expression stiff, cold sweat raining down his forehead, and his pupils filled with deep fear.

The moment that lock of hair was shorn off, he felt the Death Aura—it was incredibly real and terrifying!

If the opponent had harbored any murderous intent, he would have been decapitated by now.

The more he thought about it, the more lingering fear he felt. His hand loosened, and his sword, engraved with a Dragon Beast pattern, clattered onto the stone floor.

"Hey."

Jun Changxiao said, "Still want to fight?"

Ai Kelai's palms trembled slightly, and suppressing his shock, he said, "No... no more fighting!"

With speed that defied imagination, he wouldn't dare fight even if he had ten times the courage!

"Ding!"

"Side Quest completed, host has obtained 50 Sect Contribution Points."

"Ding!"

"Sect Contribution Points: 74/100."

"50 points?"

Jun Changxiao asked in surprise, "It gives that much?"

The system replied, "The Ai Family elder has the strength of a Fifth-grade Martial Apprentice. Naturally, the host will receive high contribution points for defeating him."

Jun Changxiao thought to himself, "So, he is a Fifth-grade Martial Apprentice."

Beyond the Pulse Opening stage, realms were divided into more granular levels, from one to nine, with the peak being above the ninth grade.

For example, Elder Ma of the Cangshan Sect had the strength of a Peak Martial Master and was only one step away from breaking through to the Martial Grandmaster realm. Or, for instance, the late Great Chieftain of the Black Wind Stockade, who was only a Second-grade Martial Apprentice.

The Ai Clan was not a traditional martial arts family; they primarily dealt in medicinal pills in Huyang City. For Ai Shangke to possess the strength of a Fifth-grade Martial Apprentice was already quite impressive.

"Elder Ai."

Jun Changxiao said, "You should have spare clothing in your Spatial Ring, right?"

Ai Shangke, who was gradually calming down, finally realized he was still standing there exposed.

His old face flushed red. He hurriedly took out a set of clothes to put on, retrieved his sword, and cupped his hands, saying, "Many thanks to Sect Leader Jun for showing mercy."

The arrogance and disdain in his eyes had completely vanished.

Jun Changxiao said, "Elder Ai, my disciple went to steal your family's medicinal pills. As the leader of the sect, I also bear some responsibility."

The quest was complete and the contribution points were in hand, so it was necessary to ease the tension. After all, the sect was still developing, and making enemies everywhere was not beneficial.

"However."

Jun Changxiao continued, "My disciple was also beaten half to death by the young master of the Ai Family. In my opinion, it would be better to let this matter slide."

As the victor, he took the initiative to seek peace, giving Ai Shangke a way to step down. Ai Shangke followed the lead, saying, "Young people are hot-blooded; fighting and brawling is normal. My Ai Family will not take it to heart."

Changing his attitude immediately after being beaten—this was the true portrayal of having a hard fist.

Jun Changxiao said, "Since Elder Ai has come from afar, I should fulfill the duties of a host. Please, come to the main hall to sit."

His clothes were shredded; how could he have the face to stay?

Ai Shangke cupped his hands and said, "I have other matters to attend to. I shall come to pay a formal visit another day."

Jun Changxiao said nothing more, personally escorting him to the gate, and cupped his hands, "Elder Ai, I will see you off here."

"Farewell!"

Ai Shangke left.

However, while walking down the mountain, he was still shaken, thinking, "I never expected the leader of the Iron Bone Sect to be so unfathomable. I must return immediately and tell the family head not to provoke him lightly."

Ai Shangke did not doubt it; with the terrifying speed Jun Changxiao had just displayed, killing a Martial Master would be as easy as turning over his hand!

"Sect Leader, you are too amazing!"

"The Phantom Step you used just now was simply divine!"

"Sect Leader, is this also a God-grade Martial Technique like the Yi Jin Jing?"

When Jun Changxiao returned to the sect, the disciples swarmed around him. Especially after recalling the scene of him thrashing Elder Ai, their gazes were filled with even deeper admiration.

Jun Changxiao said, "Cultivate well. In the future, I will teach you this footwork one by one."

"Wow, the Sect Leader is going to teach us Phantom Step!"

"We must work hard to cultivate and become stronger; we cannot let the Sect Leader down!"

"Let's go, let's go, time to cultivate!"

The disciples' enthusiasm soared, and the blood in their veins burned with excitement.

To be honest, in just one short month, Jun Changxiao had already attained an irreplaceable position in their hearts.

Even if outsiders came to entice them, they would not betray the sect to join a higher-ranked one.

This was what Jun Changxiao was most pleased to see, because he did not care about the level of his disciples' aptitude; he only cared that they were loyal to him and loyal to the sect.

Inside the main hall.

Jun Changxiao sat on his chair, lazily stretched his back, and smiled. "I earned 50 Contribution Points; my whole body feels refreshed."

"Ding!"

"Su Xiaomo has found the lost Little Yellow, Sect Mission completed!"

"Ding!"

"Sect Achievement Points: 2/100."

"Sect Contribution Points: 76/100."

Hearing the notification sounds, Jun Changxiao's smile grew even wider. "Not bad, not bad. Completing the mission so quickly, I didn't misjudge him!"

"Ding!"

"Sect Mission completed, Disciple Contribution Points unlocked."

Jun Changxiao asked, "Disciples have Contribution Points too?"

He opened the Sect System Data Panel and saw the words 'Click for details' as a suffix to 'Sect Member: 100/100'.

He clicked it.

A small data panel appeared.

It listed the names of many disciples, but only Su Xiaomo had the words '2 Contribution Points' written next to his name.

Jun Changxiao asked, "What does this mean?"

The system replied, "When disciples complete Sect Missions, they earn corresponding Contribution Points, which the host can use to purchase items from the mall."

Upon hearing this, Jun Changxiao jumped up in a flash and exclaimed with great joy, "There's such a good thing!"

If he completed missions, he got Contribution Points, and if his disciples completed Sect Missions, he also got them—didn't that mean double the benefits!

The system said, "Disciple Contribution Points can only be used by the disciples; the host can only purchase items on their behalf."

Hearing this, Sect Leader Jun slumped back into his chair and collapsed, saying, "Please, can you finish your sentences all at once next time!"

"I can," the system replied.

Jun Changxiao asked, "Do you mean that the Sect Mall is shared between me and the disciples?"

"It is not shared."

The system said, "Disciples have a dedicated mall; the host can click on the mall to view it."

Jun Changxiao hurriedly opened the mall, and sure enough, beneath the Initial Stage Mall, a Disciple Mall button had appeared out of thin air.

Opening it, he discovered many items listed inside, mostly of the initial grade, with prices generally around 1 Contribution Point.

"Damn it!"

Jun Changxiao cried out in despair, "Why are the items in the Disciple Mall cheaper than mine!"

The system said, "Because you are the host, there are many ways to earn Contribution Points, whereas disciples can only earn them by completing Sect Missions."

"I see."

Jun Changxiao understood.

He clicked on a random item to examine it and found nothing remarkable in its description; compared to his own mall, it was clearly several grades inferior.

The system said, "The items in the Disciple Mall are mostly auxiliary in nature, while the host's mall is the one that encompasses everything."