The Star Cloud Sect from the Hundred Sects Alliance had come to seek a friendly spar and discussion of the Dao with him—even an idiot could see this definitely involved some dirty deal with Alliance Leader Qin.
“Alliance Leader Qin.”
Jun Changxiao rubbed his fingers together and smiled. “Between us, we’ve agreed to a battle pact. Since it’s inconvenient for you to make a move personally, you send other sects to stir up trouble. How refined, very refined indeed!”
“Ding! Side quest triggered!” The system notification sounded.
Damn!
Finally, a quest!
Jun Changxiao hurriedly opened his data panel. The side quest read: Defeat Star Cloud Sect’s Seventh Elder Song Cai 0/1 [Elite Quest].
There was even a second quest!
The content was: Disciples brutally thrash Star Cloud Sect disciples 0/5.
None had come before, but now two at once!
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
Jun Changxiao waved his sleeve and rose gracefully. “Quickly invite the Star Cloud Sect elder inside.”
“Yes.”
Li Qingyang turned to leave, puzzled in his heart. “The Sect Leader seems very happy?”
Short on contribution points, with someone delivering themselves to his door, and two quests at that—of course Sect Leader Jun was happy. He practically wanted to turn on music and start dancing the Seaweed Dance.
……
Martial Training Grounds.
The Iron Bone Sect disciples stopped their cultivation and stood behind their Sect Leader.
Jun Changxiao sat in a chair that had been brought out, one foot propped up, unable to stop a smile from flowing across his face.
Opposite him.
The Star Cloud Sect elder stood with his hands clasped behind his back in a proud manner.
Five disciples stood behind him, and from the aura they emanated, they were clearly Martial Disciples of considerable rank.
In Jun Changxiao’s eyes, these people all had contribution points floating above their heads!
The system said, “The five disciples, from left to right, are Fifth-Rank, Fourth-Rank, Fourth-Rank, Third-Rank, and Second-Rank Martial Disciples.”
“Tsk tsk.”
Jun Changxiao thought to himself, “Worthy of being a seventh-rate sect—their disciples are quite impressive.”
“Sect Leader Jun.”
Song Cai cupped his hands lightly and said, “Your sect’s disciples swept the top four positions in the Sect Grand Competition. My Star Cloud Sect greatly admires this, so today I’ve specially brought disciples to seek guidance.”
The Star Cloud Sect had also participated in the Sect Grand Competition, but they had sent outer sect disciples whose cultivation wasn’t high, and who were eliminated in the final rounds.
It wasn’t that they didn’t want to send high-ranked disciples—the Sect Grand Competition had clear regulations that each disciple could only participate in one competition and couldn’t exceed eighteen years of age.
Jun Changxiao said, “Meeting through martial arts, sparring and discussing the Dao—everyone, quickly welcome them.”
“Clap clap clap.”
All the disciples applauded in unison to show their welcome.
The corner of Song Cai’s mouth twitched. He quickly composed himself and said seriously, “Song has brought five inner sect disciples from my Star Cloud Sect this time, hoping to conduct five one-on-one sparring matches with your sect’s disciples. What does Sect Leader Jun think?”
This fellow thinks that only Li Qingyang is formidable in my Iron Bone Sect, so he deliberately adopts a multi-person, multi-match battle strategy?
Jun Changxiao said, “Fine.”
“Qingyang.”
He waved his hand. “Go exchange some moves with our guests who’ve come from afar.”
“Yes.”
Li Qingyang stepped forward, but heard his Sect Leader say in a low voice, “Brutally thrash them for this seat—thrash them until they’re crying for their parents.”
The side quest was to brutally thrash Star Cloud Sect disciples. If it was just defeating them easily, that definitely wouldn’t meet the requirements.
Li Qingyang nodded and walked to the center of the martial training grounds.
Song Cai also sent out a disciple—the one with the lowest cultivation among the five, a Second-Rank Martial Disciple.
“Using inferior horses against superior ones?” Jun Changxiao thought disdainfully to himself. “A tactic our ancient Chinese ancestors played to death, and you still have the face to bring it out to show off.”
“Snap.”
He snapped his fingers, and a disciple brought tea.
“Li Qingyang.”
“Jia Tengying.”
“Pfft—” Jun Changxiao sprayed out a mouthful of tea.
……
Both sides announced their names, and the match began.
“Swoosh!”
Jia Tengying took the initiative, charging forward with large strides. His two fingers condensed spiritual power into glowing points, and after closing in, he stabbed out with “swish swish swish” sounds.
This was a mid-grade Common-tier martial technique—Swift Shadow Finger!
Judging from the speed and the finger shadows manifested, this person had been immersed in this technique for a long time; otherwise, he absolutely couldn’t have reached this level.
Li Qingyang kept both hands behind his back, his footsteps moving in a regular pattern, dodging each finger shadow.
Having defeated Mo Shangfei of the Sacred Spring Sect, dealing with this kind of Second-Rank Martial Disciple could truly only be described as easy. Even if he let the opponent keep stabbing, stabbing until nightfall, he might not even touch the corner of his clothes.
Jia Tengying knew the gap between himself and his opponent was huge, but as a martial artist, how could he admit defeat? He continued executing the Swift Shadow Finger in a frenzy.
“Slap.”
Suddenly, Li Qingyang, who had been dodging, caught his wrist with one hand and lightly bumped him with his shoulder, directly knocking him away.
Jia Tengying, who had retreated over ten steps and hadn’t yet stabilized himself, found a hand grabbing his collar, then forcefully lifting him up.
“Thud!”
A one-hundred-sixty-degree lift and slam to the ground, then in the opposite direction, another one-hundred-sixty-degree lift and slam to the ground.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Standing in the martial training grounds, Li Qingyang kept one hand behind his back while the other gripped Jia Tengying’s collar, slamming him left and right.
In just a moment, he had been swung and slammed until dizzy, his mouth crooked and eyes askew.
“Ding! Disciple brutally thrashed Star Cloud Sect disciple 1/5.”
Li Qingyang bullying someone like this met the brutal thrashing requirements—one task completed.
“Qingyang, it’s just a friendly spar—that’s about enough.” Jun Changxiao said.
Li Qingyang dragged the foam-mouthed Jia Tengying to the edge of the martial training grounds, then tossed him out.
“Second Senior Brother won!” All the disciples immediately cheered.
The newly admitted disciples, seeing a Martial Disciple thrashed so brutally, immediately worshipped Second Senior Brother with complete admiration.
“Hmph.” Song Cai snorted coldly.
His disciple’s defeat was within his expectations.
Now that this Li Qingyang had already fought, the Iron Bone Sect had no more outstanding disciples. The next four matches would be completely controlled by my Star Cloud Sect.
Indeed, he controlled the entire scene!
Because the second disciple who went up was kicked all over the martial training grounds by Li Fei. Every stone slab beneath his feet experienced the terror of being dominated by Li Fei’s kicks.
Finally, exhausted from running, with a swollen face and spitting saliva, he collapsed on the ground.
“Ding! Disciple brutally thrashed Star Cloud Sect disciple 2/5.” After hearing the notification, Jun Changxiao spread his hands. “My apologies, my disciple’s hand was a bit heavy.”
Song Cai’s old face darkened.
That Iron Bone Sect disciple clearly only had Second-Rank Martial Disciple cultivation—why could he thrash his own Third-Rank Martial Disciple so miserably?
If he knew this was a man who had even kicked his own Sect Leader off a cliff, he would understand.
No big problem, no big problem.
This kind of disciple with cross-rank combat ability surely wasn’t common. As long as they won the next three matches, it would be fine.
Thinking this, Song Cai raised his hand.
A disciple who had reached Fourth-Rank Martial Disciple walked onto the martial training grounds.
Jun Changxiao had originally planned to have Tian Qi or Su Xiaomo fight, but before he could speak, he saw two people appear at the main gate.
Who?
Xiao Zuiji and Ye Xingchen!
Both had disheveled hair, dirty faces, and their uniforms torn into strips—clearly ripped by fierce beast claws.
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched. “When they left, they were so imposing and dignified. How did they become refugees upon return?”
“Sect Leader, we’re back.” Xiao Zuiji grinned, revealing a row of neat, white teeth.
“Perfect timing.”
Jun Changxiao beckoned with his hand. “The Star Cloud Sect has come to spar and discuss the Dao. This third opponent—you’ll fight him.”
“Huh?” Xiao Zuiji was dumbfounded.
He and Ye Xingchen had ventured deep into the mountain forest, ended up being wildly chased by a pack of fierce beasts, finally escaped with their lives, then returned to the sect, and before even resting had to fight someone—this was way too… thrilling!!