So he wants to recruit disciples in my city.

City Lord Ao said, “It’s possible, but I must state that Liyang City has a verbal agreement with Alliance Leader Qin—young people within the city can only join sects under the Hundred Sects Alliance.”

“Is that so?”

Jun Changxiao raised his eyebrows.

Qin Haoran actually dared to play monopoly in Liyang City—how could sects that hadn’t joined the Alliance compete?

The other several cities also had verbal agreements.

In short, any young people who reached the age for cultivating martial arts must choose sects from the Hundred Sects Alliance.

Not joining?

Fine, wait for the Hundred Sects recruitment and join sects from other territories instead.

All things considered, they still joined the Hundred Sects Alliance, just in different cities.

This was also why emerging sects desperately squeezed into the Hundred Sects Alliance—because once they joined, they gained disciple recruitment privileges.

Back then, hadn’t Sect Leader Wang also wined and dined to establish connections, barely managing to squeeze in and become an Alliance member?

Otherwise, they wouldn’t even have qualified to participate in the previous Hundred Sects recruitment.

“City Lord Ao.”

Jun Changxiao said, “What if my Iron Bones insists on recruiting disciples in Liyang City?”

“It’s not impossible.”

City Lord Ao said, “But Sect Leader Jun would likely face resistance from the Hundred Sects Alliance, and they might very well come cause trouble.”

If it were before, he definitely wouldn’t permit the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, which hadn’t joined the Hundred Sects Alliance, to recruit disciples within the city, because doing so would offend Alliance Leader Qin.

But now his mindset had changed.

Three disciples winning three championships—anyone with normal intelligence would understand that although the Iron Bones Clanging Sect was an eighth-tier sect, its strength and potential were enormous.

To offend a rapidly rising sect because of one Qin Haoran would definitely not be a wise move.

Furthermore.

It was merely a verbal agreement.

If the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s Sect Leader insisted on recruiting disciples in the city, he couldn’t just drive them away, could he?

Don’t want him to recruit?

Fine, you Hundred Sects Alliance come drive them away.

City Lord Ao’s meaning was: your affairs are for you to handle yourselves. I’ll turn a blind eye and offend no one.

Jun Changxiao naturally could hear the subtext and cupped his fists, saying, “Today, my Iron Bones Clanging Sect will recruit disciples in Liyang City. If the Hundred Sects Alliance dares to cause trouble, that will be a matter between me and them.”

City Lord Ao symbolically displayed a very conflicted expression.

…

In the plaza outside the Sect Competition grounds, the Iron Bones Clanging Sect’s storefront was set up.

Disciples scattered to various streets, handing out recruitment flyers to everyone they saw. Before long, all of Liyang City knew about it.

Join the Iron Bones Clanging Sect and create dreams together.

Gathering talented individuals from across the land, recruiting worthy and capable people—the Iron Bones Clanging Sect is worthy of your trust.

The simple recruitment slogans written on the flyers deeply stimulated many parents of young people and martial cultivators, giving them the urge to bring their children to register.

“City Lord Ao has an agreement with Alliance Leader Qin that young people within the city who reach the appropriate age for cultivating martial arts must prioritize joining the Hundred Sects Alliance. The Iron Bones Clanging Sect is openly recruiting disciples here—isn’t this picking a fight?”

“It is strange though—how could City Lord Ao agree to this?”

“The way I see it, recruiting disciples is a matter between sects. City Lord Ao doesn’t want to get involved, so he’s chosen to stay out of it.”

“If the people from the Hundred Sects Alliance find out about this, they definitely won’t sit still.”

Many martial artists discussed this throughout the city and began predicting that before long, there would probably be a show to watch.

Sure enough!

The Iron Bones Clanging Sect had just released the recruitment news when, not two hours later, dozens of sect leaders from large and small sects in the Liyang City territory gathered and came charging over in great force.

“Jun Changxiao!”

The Tiger Roar Sect’s sect leader shouted coldly, “In this Liyang City, your Iron Bones Clanging Sect has no right to recruit disciples!”

Jun Changxiao had both feet propped on the registration desk, his body leaning back in the chair, arms crossed over his chest as he smiled and said, “Why not?”

“Because…”

Having only said two words, the Tiger Roar Sect’s sect leader subconsciously stepped back two paces, because the Iron Bones Clanging Sect disciples leaning behind their Sect Leader were all glaring angrily.

When participating in the Hundred Sects recruitment, Jun Changxiao had set up his storefront between the Long Blade Gate and Tiger Roar Sect, drawing the dissatisfaction of both sects’ disciples, who surrounded him with fierce and menacing glares.

At that time, the Iron Bones Clanging Sect was extremely weak, with only the disciple Lu Qianqian. They were mocked and scorned by the world, even treated as air.

Now, in Qingyang Commandery, aside from the Cangshan Sect, which other force dared to face them alone?

No one dared face them alone, so they could only travel in groups!

Your Iron Bones Clanging Sect is impressive, but do you dare oppose all the forces in Qingyang Commandery!

“Jun Changxiao!”

A sect leader shouted angrily, “Since you withdrew from the Alliance, you should follow jianghu rules and cannot recruit disciples within Qingyang Commandery’s cities!”

Normally they might not provoke the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, but coming to their home territory to recruit disciples—anyone with a temper definitely couldn’t tolerate it!

Why?

Because if they let the Iron Bones Clanging Sect recruit disciples, where would their own sects’ and the Hundred Sects Alliance’s face be?

This concerned matters of principle and face. Even knowing the other party could contend with the Haoqi Gate, they must unite and present a unified front!

Jun Changxiao lowered his legs, crossed his arms over his chest, and smiled, saying, “Whoever has the strongest power has the authority to speak—isn’t that the jianghu rule?”

These words had no flaw whatsoever.

The Haoqi Gate was strong, the Hundred Sects Alliance was strong, so the jianghu rules were set by them.

By coming to Liyang City to recruit disciples, Jun Changxiao was breaking the jianghu rules they had established and creating his own jianghu rules.

Breaking away from the Hundred Sects Alliance and not wanting to associate with a group of trash was also about gaining freedom.

Coming down the mountain to recruit disciples represented that his Iron Bones Clanging Sect wanted to compete with the world!

“Everyone.”

Jun Changxiao’s gaze swept across the sect leaders, saying indifferently, “This Seat insists on recruiting disciples in Liyang City. Whoever is dissatisfied can declare war—my Iron Bones Clanging Sect welcomes all challengers.”

These four words “welcomes all challengers” fully displayed the wild, arrogant, and domineering aura of a sect leader!

Xiao Zuiji and the others coordinated with their Sect Leader, circulating their spiritual energy and gathering it around their bodies, instantly creating an extremely powerful momentum.

Once, the Iron Bones Clanging Sect had only one disciple.

Now, the Iron Bones Clanging Sect had a group of monstrous disciples!

It was no longer a lowly sect that anyone could spit on and trample at will.

You’re not convinced?

Then come fight!

The watching martial artists witnessed the Iron Bones Clanging Sect facing so many sect leaders without the slightest fear, and immediately admired them completely.

In Qingyang Commandery, the Hundred Sects Alliance held absolute authority. They never imagined that one day, a sect would dare to openly challenge them.

Could the tides be changing?

Seeing the Iron Bones Clanging Sect so arrogant, the fury in the sect leaders’ eyes grew even stronger.

One eighth-tier sect leader, angered to the point of losing his wits and his intelligence plummeting, shouted furiously, “Cui would like to experience Sect Leader Jun’s brilliant techniques!”

“Sorry.”

Jun Changxiao shook his head, saying, “Your strength is too weak—this Seat doesn’t deign to make a move.”

“Zuiji.”

Waving his hand, he said, “You spar with this sect leader for a few moves. Don’t be too harsh—avoid creating any fatalities.”

“Yes!”

Xiao Zuiji stepped forward, pointing toward the sparring platform to the side, saying, “This sect leader, please.”