Sect Leader Jun was just agonizing over whether to draw his hard-to-sheathe blade and fight the three elders of the Holy Spring Sect when, at this critical moment, Elder Ma from the Cangshan Sect arrived with reinforcements.
“Phew!”
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief, saying, “The Opening Seal Talisman is safe.”
Elder Ma Yunting walked over and stood shoulder to shoulder with Jun Changxiao, smiling. “Little Friend Jun, after we parted in Qingyang City, I didn’t expect we’d meet again so soon.”
Jun Changxiao cupped his fists. “Qingyang Commandery is too small—we’re bound to run into each other everywhere.”
“Hahaha!” Ma Yunting laughed heartily. “What an excellent line—’bound to run into each other everywhere!'”
Qin Haoran and the various sect leaders’ expressions flickered uncertainly.
Elder Ma addressed him as “Little Friend Jun” and they chatted and laughed together—this clearly indicated their relationship was quite deep!
Damn it!
When did the small Iron Bone Sect latch onto the Cangshan Sect’s powerful backing?
Jun Changxiao really hadn’t latched onto anyone’s coattails—he had simply given Ma Yunting some pointers once, which made the elder quite grateful. When Ma heard about the Holy Spring Sect’s challenge, he rushed over with his people.
And wouldn’t you know it, he arrived at just the right time.
Otherwise, once our great Sect Leader Jun’s forty-meter greatsword was drawn, it would be very difficult to sheathe it again.
The three elders from the Holy Spring Sect looked rather displeased.
Could it be that the Cangshan Sect rushing over at this moment meant they were going to back up the Iron Bone Sect?
“Elder Si.”
Ma Yunting said coolly, “Although you’re an elder and Little Friend Jun is a sect leader, don’t you feel ashamed challenging a Wutu when you’re a Wuzong?”
“Hmph.”
Elder Si said coldly, “What Si said earlier was merely a joke. Elder Ma shouldn’t take it seriously.”
Heh heh.
It’s a joke now that the Cangshan Sect has arrived, but if they hadn’t come, it definitely wouldn’t have been a joke.
“I see.”
Ma Yunting feigned sudden understanding. “I thought so—how could a Wuzong possibly challenge a Wutu?”
Alliance Leader Qin and the various sect leaders immediately realized the Cangshan Sect intended to back the Iron Bone Sect, and couldn’t help but sigh with feeling—having powerful backing to rely on was truly wonderful.
Elder Si’s gaze grew dark and uncertain.
The Cangshan Sect, also a fifth-rate power, was no weaker than the Holy Spring Sect. If they truly intended to protect the Iron Bone Sect, his group would likely return empty-handed this time.
“Elder Si.”
Ma Yunting said, “Regarding the Lingquan Sect matter, Ma has heard a bit about it. Has your Holy Spring Sect come here to demand accountability?”
Elder Si said coolly, “Elder Ma misunderstands. The Wei brothers were expelled long ago and have no connection whatsoever to our Holy Spring Sect. This trip is merely to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao with the Iron Bone Sect, not to demand any accountability.”
Their casual conversation had a distinct feeling of needle-point meeting wheat-awn.
Truly worthy of fifth-rate sects—in their verbal sparring, it was like two powerful experts exchanging blows!
Glancing at Mo Shangfei lying unconscious on the martial arts grounds, Ma Yunting said, “If I’m not mistaken, it seems your sect’s disciple has already been defeated, and the match has been decided, yes?”
At the mention of this, the three Holy Spring Sect elders’ expressions grew even more unpleasant.
Jun Changxiao seized the opportunity to interject. “Elder Si, if you feel unsatisfied, our two sides could send out disciples for another friendly exchange.”
“No need.”
Elder Si said with a long face, “If we’re fated to meet another day, we can exchange pointers then.”
Mo Shangfei was the most excellent inner sect disciple they’d brought along. Now that he’d been beaten unconscious, if the other disciples went up for one-on-one combat, they definitely wouldn’t gain any advantage.
Elder Si shot a meaningful look at the two elders behind him, then cupped his fists. “Elder Ma, our sect has many pressing matters. We’ll take our leave first.”
With that, he strode forward.
Probably holding in a bellyful of anger, he didn’t even bother saying goodbye to Alliance Leader Qin and the others.
“Wait a moment.”
However, just as he reached the entrance, Jun Changxiao called out.
Elder Si stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn around. “Sect Leader Jun, is there something else?”
Jun Changxiao also faced away from him, looking down as he rubbed his fingers together. “The first principle of my Iron-Boned and Upright Sect is: courtesy demands reciprocity.”
It changed again—better write this down quickly.
Li Qingyang and Su Xiaomo closed their eyes slightly, committing the latest “first principle” to memory.
If conditions permitted, they would probably pull out a little notebook and write it down.
Courtesy demands reciprocity?
Elder Si said in a heavy voice, “Sect Leader Jun, what do you mean by that?”
Jun Changxiao touched his nose. “One year from now, this seat will personally lead our sect’s disciples to the Holy Spring Sect to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao.”
Xie Guangkun and the various sect leaders immediately widened their eyes.
Though he’d added a one-year time limit, this was undoubtedly a challenge issued to the Holy Spring Sect!
An eighth-rate sect challenging a fifth-rate sect—absolutely unprecedented and never to be repeated!
Elder Si said disdainfully, “Sect Leader Jun, to put it bluntly, your Iron Bone Sect truly doesn’t have the qualifications to come to our Holy Spring Sect to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao.”
Indeed.
The gap between an eighth-rate sect and a fifth-rate sect was too vast.
Jun Changxiao smiled faintly. “Not having the qualifications now doesn’t mean we won’t have them in a year, does it?”
“Fine!”
Elder Si said readily, “My Holy Spring Sect accepts the challenge. One year from now, we’ll await Sect Leader Jun and your disciples at Holy Spring Mountain to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao.”
“However…” His gaze darkened. “At that time, Sect Leader Jun must not break the appointment.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Elder Si, please rest assured. The first principle of my Iron Bone Sect is civilization, harmony, integrity, and friendliness. Naturally, we would never do anything like going back on our word.”
Every martial artist present couldn’t help but twitch at the corners of their mouths.
They even very much wanted to presumptuously ask: Sect Leader Jun, just how many “first principles” does your Iron Bone Sect actually have?
Elder Si said coolly, “One year from now, my Holy Spring Sect will respectfully await the Iron Bone Sect’s honored visit!”
With that, he swept his sleeves and led the other elders and disciples away in a huff.
Originally intending to punish the Iron Bone Sect in front of everyone, the inner sect disciple they’d sent out ended up beaten unconscious, and they still had to carry him back themselves. This loss of face was too great—it would be strange if they weren’t angry.
…
With the Holy Spring Sect’s people gone, the excitement was over.
The various sect leaders came over one after another, smiling as they bid farewell to Ma Yunting one by one.
However, just as Qin Haoran reached the entrance, Jun Changxiao said, “Alliance Leader Qin, in a while, my Iron Bone Sect will also come to the Heroic Spirit Sect to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao.”
“Hmph.”
Qin Haoran said coolly, “Qin will be waiting.”
After he and the various sect leaders departed, Xie Guangkun walked over. He first cupped his fists toward Elder Ma, then shook his head. “Sect Leader Jun, you first made a one-year appointment with the Holy Spring Sect, then made a challenge agreement with the Heroic Spirit Sect. Isn’t this making enemies on all sides?”
Jun Changxiao said, “City Lord Xie, do you think my Iron Bone Sect could still coexist peacefully with the Hundred Sects Alliance or even Alliance Leader Qin?”
“No.” Xie Guangkun said.
From the moment this young man called Qin Haoran a “dog,” he knew the two sides had completely torn off all pretenses. If they encountered each other in the wilderness next time, they’d be doing a disservice to their bitter mutual enmity if they didn’t fight.
Jun Changxiao shrugged. “Since they’re enemies anyway, why not make a formal challenge agreement and let everyone know about it?”
Hearing these words, Xie Guangkun suddenly understood. He immediately raised his thumb in praise. “Sect Leader Jun, this move is brilliant. Xie admires it, truly admires it!”
By making a challenge agreement with Alliance Leader Qin, once word spread through the jianghu, neither the Heroic Spirit Sect nor the Alliance members could too blatantly come looking for trouble with the Iron Bone Sect—otherwise, they’d invite criticism.
This strategy was quite excellent.
But Xie Guangkun also knew that while making the challenge agreement could spare them from harassment by the Alliance sects, sooner or later they would have to go fight. When that time came, could Sect Leader Jun and his Iron Bone Sect defeat the sixth-rate Heroic Spirit Sect?
—