The martial artists from various forces got their wish to see Jun Changxiao—he had neither three heads nor six arms, just two arms and two legs like everyone else.
Coming in and immediately dissing Alliance Leader Qin caught them somewhat off guard.
Many people knew the two had a grudge.
But he was still a sect leader, right?
Even if they had some conflict, they couldn’t start a verbal war the moment they met, could they?
Especially hearing that line about “this is how a great sect treats guests,” martial artists from all sides immediately realized this seventh-rate sect master was extremely arrogant, extremely audacious!
That’s right.
If he weren’t arrogant, weren’t audacious.
Would he dare bring disciples to challenge the Holy Spring Sect?
Youth was great—fearing nothing, caring about nothing, relying on hot blood alone, courting death in all sorts of ways.
The eyes people used to regard Jun Changxiao held even more concentrated disdain.
Young fellow.
Showing off invites divine retribution.
“Swish!”
Just then, an elder of about seventy years old flew out from the great hall.
He landed on the Martial Arts Arena and laughed heartily: “Sect Master Jun graces us with his presence—forgive this poor welcome, forgive this poor welcome!”
This person’s aura was deep and solid—clearly a high-level Wuzong!
“Elder Jin, who manages the Holy Spring Sect’s internal affairs!”
“The Holy Spring Sect’s Sect Master is in long-term seclusion, all affairs are handled by Elder Jin. That he personally appeared shows enough face for the Tiegu Sect.”
“The way I see it, this is courtesy before force.”
Everyone discussed in low voices.
They could capture that trace of faint displeasure in Elder Jin’s eyes.
A low-level sect displaying such arrogance before their sect gate—if it were them, they definitely couldn’t tolerate it either.
Jun Changxiao said indifferently: “My Tiegu Sect has traveled thousands of li to come here. Doesn’t your Holy Spring Sect plan to arrange lodging for us to rest?”
Really, too arrogant!
The Holy Spring Sect disciples all felt anger rising.
But after all, they came from a great sect and could restrain their anger, instead thinking in their hearts—once tomorrow’s challenge begins, you won’t be so cocky!
Elder Jin said: “This old man arranged guest rooms early on. Linfeng, lead Sect Master Jun and the Tiegu Sect disciples there.”
“Yes.”
Qing Linfeng walked out, made a gesture of invitation: “Sect Master Jun, please follow me.”
Under everyone’s gaze, Jun Changxiao headed toward the inner courtyard, with the Tiegu Sect disciples following behind. Even being scrutinized by a group of big shots, they showed not the slightest timidity.
After they left, martial artists from various forces began discussing in low voices.
“These Tiegu Sect disciples aren’t simple!”
“From their auras, it seems they’re all high-tier Wutu!”
“For a seventh-rate sect to achieve this is really somewhat incredible!”
“The way I see it, they probably took some kind of bluffing pill, right?”
Hearing someone question it this way, City Lord Xie sneered coldly in his heart.
If you knew that the two elders who came from the Authentication Headquarters of my Southwest Yang Province gave the Tiegu Sect a top-three evaluation, you’d understand whether this is bluffing or not.
City Lord Xie really wanted to loudly tell everyone—stop looking down on people with your damn dog eyes—but because Sect Master Jun wanted to keep a low profile, he could only painfully force himself to endure.
……
The Holy Spring Sect still cared about sectarian dignity and settled everyone from the Tiegu Sect in several courtyards with beautiful environments.
“Rest well.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Prepare for tomorrow’s battle.”
“Yes!”
Having rushed thousands of li, the Tiegu Sect disciples were somewhat tired and chose guest rooms to stay in.
Xiao Zuiji didn’t rest. He sat cross-legged in a stone pavilion in the courtyard, circulating the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Scripture, continuing to temper his physical body.
Since joining the Tiegu Sect and obtaining this Divine-grade mental cultivation method, he had developed the good habit of cultivating anytime, anywhere.
“Hm?”
Suddenly, Xiao Zuiji opened his eyes.
He instinctively looked toward the courtyard entrance and saw outside the gate a girl standing gracefully, looking at him.
Murong Xin!
……
The Holy Spring Sect’s inner courtyard wasn’t small either, and still had greenery areas with distinctive scenery for disciples to appreciate and relax their minds when not cultivating.
In the bamboo grove, Murong Xin pinched a bamboo leaf: “You seem even stronger than last time.”
“Is this the purpose of finding me?”
Xiao Zuiji sat on a large boulder, his words indifferent.
Being able to see this woman at the Holy Spring Sect surprised him, but it was only surprise.
Murong Xin was silent for a moment: “Your sect master is very reckless. Are you going to be reckless with him too?”
Xiao Zuiji understood.
She must think that our Tiegu Sect coming to challenge the Holy Spring Sect was an act of courting death.
Xiao Zuiji said indifferently: “My affairs don’t trouble the Murong Family’s heaven’s chosen daughter to worry about them.”
Having said that, he got up and returned to the courtyard.
The broken engagement from back then was like the last feather that broke the camel’s back, making him sink for five years. He truly didn’t want to have excessive contact with this woman for even a moment.
Watching Xiao Zuiji leave, complex emotions flickered in Murong Xin’s bright eyes.
Every time she saw the man whose engagement she had broken, her heart would feel very guilty, guilty about the choice she made in her youth, causing him to bear pain he shouldn’t have borne.
From Murong Xin’s psychological activity, she wasn’t an arrogant woman—she just did the wrong thing at the wrong time.
If the two still had a marriage agreement.
According to Xingyun Continent customs, by this time they should have already married, and the world would have another perfectly matched couple.
Unfortunately.
Destined to have no fate, they missed a marriage bond.
……
The next day.
The weather was clear, not a cloud for thousands of li.
No need to check the almanac.
Because from today’s weather alone, one could tell it was extremely suitable for sparring and competition!
Jun Changxiao stood with hands clasped behind his back at the outer perimeter of the Martial Arts Arena, facing the Holy Spring Sect’s great hall. Behind him, two hundred disciples stood with upright postures, their brows radiating an air of pride.
Forces from all sides had also rushed over, all secretly amazed.
What confidence did these seventh-rate sect disciples have to dare display such fearlessness before a fifth-rate sect?
Why?
Because of iron bones clanging!
Xie Guangkun, Ai Shangni, and the others tacitly walked behind Jun Changxiao.
Elder Ma and Elder Wang from the Cangshan Sect also stood at the back, clearly supporting the Tiegu Sect.
People weren’t surprised.
After all, the Cangshan Sect was within Qingyang Commandery’s territory—supporting a sect within the commandery was reasonable and proper, nothing wrong with that.
The positions of forces from all sides leaned more toward the great hall, representing their belief that the Holy Spring Sect would achieve victory in this challenge.
Among them were Alliance Leader Qin and big shots from various alliance forces.
Especially the gazes they directed at Jun Changxiao contained disdain and cold smiles.
A broken-down car racing a sports car.
Any person with a normal brain would conclude that once the sports car pressed down on the gas pedal, it would easily leave the broken car in the dust.
The Tiegu Sect was the broken car.
The Holy Spring Sect was the high-performance sports car.
Jun Changxiao didn’t care about other forces’ support, because as he’d said before—no matter how much you look down on us, I’ll still be as strong as I should be.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Elder Jin, standing opposite, said: “How do you wish to conduct this challenge?”
Jun Changxiao said: “Let’s start with the outer disciples. First fight thirty or forty matches, determining victory by wins and losses.”
Hearing this, everyone nearly toppled over.
First fight thirty or forty matches?
Was this guy… here to challenge, or here to participate in a sect competition?
Jun Changxiao didn’t want to fight this many either!
But the damn epic quest required defeating thirty Holy Spring Sect outer disciples to count as complete!