Chapter 40

Li Qingyang said to save him, but Lu Yan disagreed.

The two had very different personalities and perspectives.

"Sister!" Li Qingyang said earnestly, "Saving a life is a noble act!"

Jun Changxiao stayed silent.

Li Qingyang's words suggested the importance of saving lives, while Lu Yan looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Ridiculous," Lu Yan said faintly. "People die every day in Starfall Continent. Can you save them all?"

Li Qingyang fell silent.

Lu Yan continued, "We are a martial sect, not a hospital. The headmaster's elixirs are limited. Rather than using them on outsiders, they should be reserved for us."

Li Qingyang had no response to that.

Jun Changxiao patted his shoulder, saying, "Qingyang, your kind heart is commendable, but sometimes reality is cruel."

"Headmaster, I..." Li Qingyang hesitated.

Jun Changxiao continued, "Back then, I didn't know how effective the ancient healing elixir was, so I used it without hesitation."

"Now that I understand its value, I'll be more cautious and won't use it on irrelevant people."

Lu Yan commented dryly, "Finally, some sense."

Li Qingyang asked with a bitter smile, "Headmaster, do you regret using that healing pill on me?"

Jun Changxiao shook his head, smiling. "If I hadn't saved you, you wouldn't have joined the Iron Bone Sect and become my second disciple. Not saving you would be my greatest regret."

Li Qingyang felt relieved.

Looking at the unconscious boy, Jun Changxiao mused, "Using another healing elixir, I might gain another talented disciple."

Lu Yan said, "You're really going to save him?"

"Yes," Jun Changxiao replied. "A disciple died earlier. Saving this boy can fill the vacancy."

Lu Yan said nothing more.

Though their time together had been short, she knew that the headmaster's decisions were final.

"Ding!"

"The host consumes 1 contribution point to obtain a first-grade healing elixir x1, which has been delivered to the space ring."

"Ding!"

"Martial contribution: 29/100."

A month had passed since Li Qingyang's rescue, and Jun Changxiao had almost forgotten about the healing elixir. Spending 1 contribution point for an elixir that could heal severe injuries quickly was worth it, especially without a time limit.

Jun Changxiao retrieved the healing elixir and gave it to the injured boy.

Lu Yan remarked, "Headmaster, do you really think you'll get another talented disciple like the second senior?"

"Maybe," Jun Changxiao shrugged.

Lu Yan scoffed, "If he was truly talented, he wouldn't have been bullied by a few low-level thugs."

"True," Jun Changxiao admitted, rubbing his chin. "I hadn't considered that."

Just then, the boy, healed by the elixir, regained consciousness. He opened his eyes and asked, "Am I still alive?"

"Yes, you are," Jun Changxiao replied.

The boy sat up, tidying his messy hair. He looked at Jun Changxiao and said, "Headmaster Jun, please let me join the Iron Bone Sect!"

Jun Changxiao asked, "You know me?"

The boy replied, "I met you a month ago at the Baizong Recruitment. I wanted to join the Iron Bone Sect and learn martial arts under you!"

"So that's it," Jun Changxiao said. "What's your name, and where are you from?"

The boy hesitated before answering, "My name is Xiao Guiji, from the Xiao family in Liyang City."

Li Qingyang was shocked. "You're Xiao Sin?"

Jun Changxiao asked, "Do you know him?"

Li Qingyang replied solemnly, "He was once a genius with a rare spiritual root. Everyone in Qingyang County knew his name."

"Superb Spiritual Root?" Jun Changxiao's eyes widened.

Even Lu Yan showed surprise.

A boy dressed like a beggar had a higher spiritual root qualification than their second senior?

"Haha!" Jun Changxiao laughed. "It seems I've struck gold again!"

One healing elixir had brought him Li Qingyang, and now another had brought him Xiao Guiji, a former genius.

Good deeds indeed bring rewards!

"From today," Jun Changxiao announced joyfully, "you are my ninety-ninth disciple."

Xiao Guiji bowed deeply. "Disciple Xiao Guiji greets the headmaster!"

"Uh-huh," Jun Changxiao nodded, pleased. "Qingyang, get his entry form."

"Yes, headmaster," Li Qingyang replied.

But he hesitated and whispered, "Headmaster, you should know that Xiao Guiji was a rare genius, but his spiritual roots degraded to a low grade. Now, he's considered useless."

Jun Changxiao's face froze.

Important information like this should be shared earlier, not at the last minute!

Jun Changxiao felt immediate regret. But since he had already accepted Xiao Guiji, he couldn't go back on his word.

Li Qingyang continued, "Because his spiritual roots degraded, his fiancée broke off their engagement and humiliated him. The Xiao family, feeling ashamed, expelled him."

Jun Changxiao's expression softened.

Genius turned waste, fiancée breaking off engagement—these were standard elements in many stories. Xiao Guiji was like a protagonist straight out of a novel!

Although Li Qingyang had spoken quietly, Xiao Guiji heard everything. He lowered his head, a bitter smile on his lips, fists clenched tightly in frustration.

Jun Changxiao, noticing this, said, "Go get the entry form."

"Yes," Li Qingyang complied.

Lu Yan remarked, "Headmaster, taking in such a waste..."

Before she could finish, Jun Changxiao's stern look silenced her.

"Headmaster," Xiao Guiji said, "are you willing to accept a waste like me?"

"No," Jun Changxiao replied honestly.

Xiao Guiji's face fell. "I knew it. I don't deserve to be a disciple of the Iron Bone Sect. Sorry for bothering you, Headmaster."

He turned to leave, shoulders slumped in defeat.

Li Qingyang returned with the entry form and saw Xiao Guiji leaving. "Sister, what happened?"

Lu Yan replied indifferently, "He thinks he's a waste and left on his own."

Watching Xiao Guiji's dejected figure, Li Qingyang called out, "Xiao Guiji, you were a rare genius! Stay in the Iron Bone Sect, and with the headmaster's guidance, you can regain everything you lost!"