Sect Rules

Wang Jun, with a hearty laugh, descended the mountain with his disciples in tow, leaving the fiery remains of the pirates on Montenegro far behind. This journey had proven to be incredibly fruitful. Not only had he managed to eliminate his foes without any reservations, but he had also gained 50 valuable contribution points. The space ring he'd recovered was filled to the brim with gold and silver jewelry, forming a small mountain of wealth. Wang Jun couldn't help but wonder about the currency system on the Starfall Continent. If he could exchange the silver for gold alone for double its value, he would have a staggering sum of at least 12,000.

As they continued on their way, Wang Jun wore a smile, but his eyes betrayed a growing coldness. Spirit Spring Sect had dared to spend money to hire robbers to kidnap his disciples. Wang Jun had initially come to Black Mountain Stronghold with some trepidation, as Zhou Tianba's reputation preceded him. However, he couldn't have predicted just how chaotic things would become.

"Kidnapping a disciple for ransom. If I don't intervene, it will not only harm my disciples but also tarnish the reputation of martial arts. If I step in, even the ransom won't spare them," Wang Jun contemplated aloud.

He couldn't help but appreciate the audacity of their foes. However, he was fully aware of their intentions. The so-called "abacus" they were using was a clever scheme, but Wang Jun had a sharp mind and a deadly weapon, which made him a formidable adversary.

Wang Jun chuckled, shaking his head as he continued, "Their miscalculation lies in underestimating me and the power at my disposal. The master of Spirit Spring Sect will soon realize that they've stirred a hornet's nest, and I have the means to easily dismantle Black Mountain Gang."

Wang Jun rubbed his temples, clearly irritated by the unwanted trouble that had come his way. 

"Hey," he muttered, "I just want to quietly develop on the Starfall Continent and complete the main task to survive. Why do they have to mess with me?"

His thoughts turned to the Spirit Spring Sect, and he lazily stretched his back, a hint of determination in his voice. "Sooner or later, I will go to you for justice." However, he couldn't act immediately. The sword that could break the seal was currently inaccessible, making a confrontation with Spirit Spring Sect a tricky proposition.

As he considered his options, Wang Jun wondered if there was a way to obtain a Seal of opening from the mall. He opened the data panel with a smile, searching for it, but to his disappointment, it wasn't available for purchase. 

The system informed him, "The Seal of Opening is not for sale, and the host will only have a chance to obtain it by completing a specific task."

Wang Jun sighed and asked, "What are the chances of getting that specific task?" His tone suggested that relying on luck to obtain the opening seal wasn't exactly a reassuring prospect.

The system's response was simple, "It depends on your luck."

Wang Jun chuckled wryly, "So, it's harder than winning the lottery..." He couldn't help but feel exasperated by the situation.

Meanwhile, back at the Solid Strike School, Wang Jun's return had created a buzz of excitement among the disciples. One of them rushed over, exclaiming, "Master, second brother! The head is back with our brothers and sisters!"

Li Qingyang, who had been anxiously waiting, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Wang Jun return safely with over thirty disciples. It had been a short time since Wang Jun joined the faction, but Azure Sun City had welcomed him with open arms from day one.

However, not everyone shared this warmth. Lu Yan, the senior disciple, stood at the hall's entrance and looked at Wang Jun coldly. Her voice dripped with skepticism as she asked, "Why do I see no injuries on your body?"

The return of the head, Wang Jun, sent waves of excitement through the Solid Strike faction.

"What?" one disciple exclaimed, incredulous. "Black Mountain Stronghold on Montenegro was destroyed by the head?"

As the news spread among the disciples who hadn't seen the aftermath, they were left speechless.

Li Qingyang, still trying to come to terms with the news, asked, "Head, have you truly removed the bandit leader in Montenegro?"

Wang Jun chuckled and confirmed, "Yes."

Li Qingyang couldn't hide his admiration as he respectfully bowed. "The pirates of Montenegro have tormented peoples for years. The head's action in dealing with them is undoubtedly for the people!"

Wang Jun, ever humble, downplayed his achievement. "It's just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."

In the past, the eunuchs and various martial arts factions had repeatedly attempted to confront the pirates, but it was only under the head's leadership that they finally achieved success. However, Wang Jun didn't view it as a major accomplishment.

Li Qingyang inquired further, "Head, there were thirty-two disciples taken away. Why is there one less now?"

Wang Jun revealed, "The ones who were greedy and afraid of death were killed by the pirate leader." He had been disappointed when his disciples begged for his life. It had become clear that these disciples were willing to betray the faction for personal gain, posing a problem of strength and loyalty.

Understanding the situation, Li Qingyang didn't press for more details.

Meanwhile, Lu Lu, who had been standing in front of the main hall, asked, "Since Black Mountain Gang was destroyed by you, Head, did you have a good harvest?"

Wang Jun responded, "It was a little bit."

Li Qingyang couldn't help but be touched by Wang Jun's willingness to fight for the people. However, Lu Lu seemed more interested in the material gains, displaying a keen focus on money.

It was evident that Wang Jun's first and second disciples had markedly different personalities, reflecting the diverse nature of the Solid Strike faction.

Li Qingyang addressed Wang Jun, asking, "Head, the courtyard still under renovation?"

Wang Jun grinned, clearly in a generous mood, and casually tossed a few golden bricks towards him, asking, "Is this enough?"

Li Qingyang, somewhat taken aback by the weight of the golden bricks, exclaimed, "Enough... More than enough!" He had never encountered such extravagant riches in his practice.

With that settled, Li Qingyang inquired, "Have the other disciples reported to the martial arts?"

Wang Jun nodded and replied, "Yes."

The following day, Wang Jun, dressed in a relatively clean robe, stood on the steps of the hall. In the Yanwu martial arts field, 98 disciples were assembled, each wearing different attire due to the lack of uniform clothing.

Wang Jun made a mental note to find a tailor soon to provide them with matching martial arts attire.

He cleared his throat and addressed the disciples, "Since you have joined the Solid Strike School, remember that our primary goal is to be part of the Solid Strike Party and uphold the principles of the Solid Strike."

He paused, letting the significance sink in, before continuing, "What are solid strikes? Solid strikes mean that the inner and martial paths share the same honor and disgrace. We advance and retreat together. If you can sit properly and maintain your discipline, you embody the spirit of the Solid Strike."

In unison, the disciples chanted, "Together with honor and disgrace, advance and retreat together, behave well and sit properly."

Wang Jun smiled and added, "When faced with insults and provocations from others, if you respond appropriately and stand your ground, even in the face of death, you are demonstrating the essence of solid strikes. Fear of death has no place in the Solid Strike path."

The disciples listened attentively, absorbing their leader's words and the principles of the Solid Strike School. They understood that they were part of a martial tradition that valued strength, honor, and unwavering resolve.

The disciples responded in unison with a resounding "Yes!" as Wang Jun smiled and waved, concluding his speech before leaving.

The disciples who had gathered for the meeting exchanged glances, each wondering about the meaning behind the head's words.

Wang Jun convened a teacher's meeting with his disciples to clarify the most crucial objectives. However, he recognized that martial arts should have comprehensive rules beyond its primary purpose. Thus, he called upon Li Qingyang to assist in formulating these rules.

Li Qingyang, with humility, pointed out, "Head, the rules are typically established by you and the senior management of the martial arts. The disciples usually don't participate in this process."

Wang Jun chuckled and handed over the written regulations, saying, "I say if you're qualified, you're qualified. Take a look and see if any changes or additions are necessary."

Li Qingyang, though somewhat embarrassed, carefully reviewed the regulations, making corrections and adding necessary rules. Among them, he emphasized that disciples couldn't leave the school without permission and must not harm each other.

After some discussion, the rules for the Solid Strike faction were initially established. While similar to rules in other martial arts schools, they placed greater emphasis on the principles of solid strikes and maintaining discipline.

Wang Jun handed Li Qingyang a piece of papyrus and instructed, "Go to town and find a skilled tailor. Provide them with the drawings, specifications, and the gender proportions of our disciples, and have them create two sets of uniforms."

Li Qingyang, a bit hesitant, asked, "Uniforms?"

Wang Jun chuckled and clarified, "These will be the martial arts uniforms."

Li Qingyang accepted the papyrus and saw drawings of different attire for men and women on it. He hesitated briefly before remarking, "Head, is this attire a bit..."

Wang Jun interrupted with a firm command, "Go!"

Li Qingyang nodded and replied, "Yes!" He couldn't help but feel that the new martial arts uniforms might be quite distinctive.