Before long.

Over two hundred participating disciples entered the venue from four exits and assembled in different areas.

When they stood still, each in their positions, many martial artists in the spectator stands shouted themselves hoarse cheering for their beloved idols.

These days, which outstanding disciple with any fame didn’t have some fans?

“Ahem.”

The City Lord of Liyang City appeared on the central competition platform, and the shouting gradually subsided.

“This City Lord represents Liyang City in welcoming the outstanding disciples from various sects to participate in this sect competition.”

“I also hope that in the upcoming matches, all participants will achieve good results and win supreme glory for your sects.”

After this official speech, the City Lord began calling names.

“Earth Blade Sect, Tang Bolan!”

“Present!”

“Dragon Moon Manor, Cheng Mianjin!”

“Present!”

“Iron Eagle Gang, Wang Situ!”

“Present!”

“Buxing Sect, Zhou Mou!”

“Present!”

Each time the City Lord of Liyang City called a name, the spectator stands erupted with loud cheers and support from the named disciple’s family, friends, and fans.

“Tiegu Sect, Tian Qi.”

“Present!”

Silence.

The spectator stands fell dead silent, then burst into roaring laughter.

“Tian Qi? Is he ranked seventh in his family, or is he the medicinal herb used to treat injuries?”

“Truly worthy of a ninth-rate sect—even the competing disciples’ names are so crude.”

Even the competitors standing nearby waiting for their names to be called cast disdainful glances, some even wondering how they could be standing alongside someone with such a vulgar name.

Bearing the mockery from the spectator stands and the contemptuous gazes from nearby competitors, Tian Qi clenched his fists tightly and said in a suppressed voice, “Senior Brother, I want to hit someone.”

Li Qingyang said, “Hold it in until the competition starts.”

“Haa!”

Tian Qi took a deep breath, calming his state of mind. He raised his head to look toward the high platform, meeting the Sect Master’s gaze, thinking to himself, “Sect Master, this disciple won’t disappoint you!”

…

The roll call continued.

When a certain sect’s rather famous elite disciple was called, it immediately sparked heated discussion—all kinds of praise, all kinds of envy.

“Tiegu Sect, Su Xiaomo!”

“Present!”

“Haha, the name’s not bad.”

“Too bad she’s so short. When the competition starts, she’s cannon fodder for sure.”

People you find pleasing look good no matter what; people you find displeasing look bad no matter what.

This was the mentality of the martial artists in the spectator stands. They looked down on Tiegu Sect from the bottom of their hearts, so they would always find faults from every angle.

That cautious old man who had arrived one step behind at the city gate was shocked: “Isn’t that person Li Qingyang?”

He and his disciple had always believed Su Xiaomo was Qingyang City’s number one genius.

The old man frowned, thinking to himself, “If it’s not Li Qingyang, yet her movement techniques are so nimble, could this ninth-rate Tiegu Sect actually be hiding dragons and crouching tigers?”

“Tiegu Sect, Li Qingyang!”

“Present.”

The spectator stands immediately quieted down.

Everyone locked their gazes on the upright figure of Li Qingyang, praising him as truly worthy of being Qingyang City’s number one genius—extraordinary bearing!

What a pity his eyes were blind, joining that trash Tiegu Sect.

“Alas.”

On the high platform, that elder with the fat head and large ears shook his head and said, “Such good material—if he had joined Cangshan Sect, he should have already broken through to Wutu by now, right?”

“Clearly had better options, but insisted on joining a ninth-rate sect, completely wasting such good talent.”

“Other sects tirelessly teach their people, but Sect Master Jun tirelessly ruins his people.”

No one mocked Li Qingyang—only felt regret. As for the Tiegu Sect master who recruited such a genius, they held him in even greater contempt.

Jun Changxiao listened but said nothing.

What was there to say? Argue with them? Debate them?

It would be meaningless. The best way to make them shut up was for his disciples to prove themselves with strength.

…

The roll call continued.

Before long, when Xiao Ziji’s name rang out, the spectator stands fell silent again.

Many martial artists raised their heads to look toward the eastern high platform where several Xiao Family elders sat, wanting to see what expressions were on their faces.

“Crack.”

The Grand Elder crushed his teacup, saying coldly, “A废物 has no business appearing here, no business coming to make a fool of himself.”

By coincidence, Jun Changxiao sat on an adjacent high platform. Seeing that old fellow’s eyes flashing with anger and killing intent, he touched his nose and thought, “So these are the Xiao Family people?”

The Xiao Family Grand Elder seemed to sense something and turned his head to look over.

Their gazes met.

Jun Changxiao smiled politely, then pointed at him, making a gun gesture and pressing it against his own temple, mouthing “bang.”

This was a warning not to harbor killing intent toward his disciple, or else he would shoot him dead.

Unfortunately, the Grand Elder didn’t understand. Seeing him make such a strange gesture, he thought disdainfully, “No wonder he would accept that废物 as a disciple—turns out this person has mental problems.”

…

After the roll call, over two hundred participating disciples were all assembled. The City Lord of Liyang City didn’t drag things out and immediately announced the competition rules.

The rules were simple.

The two hundred-plus people would be divided into groups, drawing lots to determine opponents. Winners would advance, losers would be eliminated.

To avoid disciples from the same sect meeting each other, participants from each sect would be arranged in different areas for the draw.

Lu Qianqian and the other four were divided into Areas A, B, C, D, and E.

Before heading to their respective competition areas, Li Qingyang said solemnly, “Senior Sister, Junior Brothers, the Sect Master is watching from above. We can’t disappoint him.”

“Hmph.”

Lu Qianqian strode into Area A.

“Senior Brother, understood!” Su Xiaomo and Tian Qi puffed out their chests and marched toward their battle areas.

Xiao Ziji remained where he was, raising his head to look toward the high platform. Meeting the Sect Master’s gaze, his eyes immediately became even more resolute.

In that moment, except for Lu Qianqian due to her personality, the blood of all four disciples began to boil, and they deeply understood that they were about to fight for their sect!

Sitting on the high platform, Jun Changxiao leaned forward, chin resting on the back of his hand, thinking to himself, “Do your best, my disciples.”

…

The two hundred-plus disciples took their positions and began drawing lots, which were then publicly announced by the area supervisors.

“First round, first match: Tiegu Sect’s Tian Qi versus Great Red Gate’s Sun Kai!”

“Oh my.”

The Great Red Gate elder with the fat head and large ears smiled and said, “Sect Master Jun, what a coincidence—my sect’s disciple encounters your sect’s disciple in the very first round.”

Martial artists from various sects cast envious glances.

If their own sect’s disciple had drawn this match, it would be equivalent to a guaranteed pass to the second round.

Jun Changxiao remained silent.

The drawing continued, and several hundred disciples were successively matched with opponents.

Except for Li Qingyang, the disciples from various sects who drew Su Xiaomo and the others as opponents all wore smiles on their faces, as if they had already advanced to the second round.

“First round competition begins! Participants, please take the stage!”

Tian Qi and Sun Kai stepped onto the competition platform. The two formally cupped their hands in courtesy, signaling that the first match of the first round of the sect competition had officially begun.

“That Great Red Gate disciple seems to be at the twelfth stage of Meridian Opening—definitely going to completely dominate.”

“In this sect competition, there are quite a few at the tenth stage of Meridian Opening. For Tiegu Sect disciples to encounter someone at the twelfth stage in their first battle, their luck is terrible enough.”

“Hahaha, with that kind of trash, wouldn’t encountering anyone mean bad luck?”

Martial artists discussed privately, laughter continuous.

The Great Red Gate elder was also laughing, and said, “Sect Master Jun, my sect’s disciple has a rather hot temper and sometimes doesn’t know his own strength. If he injures your disciple, please be understanding.”

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao responded with a single syllable.

“Begin!” The referee’s voice rang out.

The words had barely fallen when Tian Qi on the competition platform charged forward in a single bound, punching Sun Kai in the abdomen and directly sending him flying.

This Great Red Gate disciple did indeed have a rather hot temper, but before the match even started, before he could even summon up his hot-tempered emotions, he was already lying outside the arena wailing.

The Great Red Gate elder’s fat flesh immediately froze, and his beady eyes bulged wide.

Jun Changxiao said blandly, “Pathetically weak.”

On the competition platform, Tian Qi withdrew his fist, scratching his head and saying, “I didn’t control my strength well—accidentally sent him flying.”