Jun Changxiao was startled and said: “We walk fast, you walk slow—how could we be blocking the way? Besides, if you hadn’t shouted for us to stop, we’d already be in the city by now and definitely wouldn’t be blocking your path.”

This explanation was perfectly reasonable and completely sound.

However, the various factions secretly thought: Hasn’t this Iron Bones Sect from the outer commandery noticed that the Beast Taming Sect’s Young Sect Master has an issue with you? Why not quickly apologize to avoid trouble?

Alas.

People coming from remote backwaters just have no sense of propriety.

The Beast Taming Sect’s Young Sect Master hadn’t expected the other party to explain it this way, so he said indifferently: “This young master’s Black-Skinned Leopard is somewhat ferocious. If you two walk ahead and anger it, getting eaten in one bite would be an unjust death.”

If it were a high-tier sect from another commandery, he would naturally give face.

But an eighth-tier sect coming to Pingyang Commandery’s territory needed to be taught a lesson.

“So you’re looking out for us.”

Jun Changxiao cupped his fists: “Then many thanks to this young master. We’ll meet again sometime.”

With that, he led Ye Xingchen toward the city gates.

The Young Sect Master’s gaze blazed with fury.

The Black-Skinned Leopard, its mind connected with its master’s, strode forward in pursuit.

It wasn’t attacking—rather, it opened its great maw, planning to let out an angry roar to intimidate the two humans ahead.

However.

Before it could even begin roaring!

Ye Xingchen suddenly turned around and ruthlessly launched an Explosive Fist.

“Bang!”

It struck directly on the side of the face.

This punch was as satisfying as eating roasted gluten, blasting the Black-Skinned Leopard backward over ten steps before its four limbs went soft and it collapsed on the ground.

The Young Sect Master’s body lost balance and rolled down, covered in dust and looking extremely bedraggled.

“Young Sect Master!”

The disciples rushed over.

The various factions at the city gates all stared wide-eyed.

Heavens!

That youth who looked only seventeen or eighteen had knocked down the Black-Skinned Leopard—comparable to a peak Wutu—with one punch. How terrifying must his strength be!

This wasn’t the main point. The main point was that he actually dared attack the sixth-tier Beast Taming Sect’s Young Sect Master’s mount—this was like an old birthday celebrant hanging himself, tired of living!

“Xingchen.”

Jun Changxiao said sternly: “How can you strike out so casually?”

Ye Xingchen withdrew his fist and said indifferently: “This disciple was worried that vile beast would attack the Sect Leader.”

“That’s true.”

Jun Changxiao turned his head and smiled at the Young Sect Master who was being helped up: “Young master, please keep your pet under control, especially don’t let it get close to this seat, because my disciple is also very ferocious.”

“…”

Everyone’s mouths twitched.

Knocking down the Black-Skinned Leopard with one punch—truly ferocious indeed!

“You…”

The Young Sect Master’s face was full of fury, but just as he opened his mouth, he saw the two had already entered the city. He clenched his fist and roared inwardly: “Just you wait!”

He had arrived riding the Black-Skinned Leopard in glory, feeling very comfortable.

But his mount had been knocked down and he had rolled to the ground, losing face in front of everyone—of course this was hard to accept.

This grudge must be avenged!

However, fighting was prohibited within Suiyang City, so he could only suppress his fury and settle accounts after the sect competition ended!

“That fellow just now called himself ‘this seat,’ and the man who struck called him Sect Leader. Could that be the Iron Bones Sect Leader Jun Changxiao?”

“It must be!”

“I heard that recently, this Iron Bones Sect went to challenge the Righteous Qi Sect and achieved complete victory.”

“Tsk tsk, heroes emerge from the youth.”

The martial artists at the city gates discussed animatedly.

Not everyone looked down on Jun Changxiao. Quite a few veteran martial artists expressed admiration—after all, using an eighth-tier sect to contend with a sixth-tier one and achieve victory was unprecedented!

…

Suiyang City was very large and very bustling.

After Jun Changxiao brought Ye Xingchen inside, he only glanced around briefly, then followed the street signs to the sect competition registration point in the south of the city.

Registration for the sect competition had begun several days ago, and many factions would send high-ranking members to register in advance, so there weren’t many people at the registration point.

“Sect name.”

As soon as Jun Changxiao arrived at the registration point, the man holding the brush spoke.

“Qingyang Commandery, Iron Bones Clanging Sect,” Jun Changxiao said.

The brush-wielding man froze, then raised his head and scrutinized him: “Your Qingyang Commandery sect wants to participate in Pingyang Commandery’s sect competition?”

“Is it not allowed?” Jun Changxiao smiled.

It was allowed—after all, there were no written regulations restricting participation from other commanderies.

But this was the brush-wielding man’s first time handling registration from an outer commandery sect, so his surprise was quite normal.

“You are?”

According to regulations, he needed to confirm whether the registrant’s identity was that of sect leadership.

“Iron Bones Clanging Sect Leader, Jun Changxiao.”

Jun Changxiao said proudly.

Others could look down on his sect, but he himself must take pride in it!

“How many participants?”

“One.”

“One?”

The brush-wielding man’s mouth twitched: “Sect Leader Jun, the sect competition is limited to disciples. As the leader of a sect, you don’t qualify to register.”

He had misunderstood.

He had treated Emperor Ye standing to the side as air!

“This is this seat’s competing disciple,” Jun Changxiao said.

“Oh.”

The brush-wielding man understood and said: “Name, age.”

“Ye Xingchen, eighteen.”

“Slap.”

Stamping the registration form with a seal, the brush-wielding man handed it over along with a competition token: “Come gather here early tomorrow morning.”

“However.”

He paused and said: “Pingyang Commandery’s sect competition has always been participated in by disciples from commandery sects. Your distinguished sect comes from another commandery, so you’ll inevitably receive special treatment.”

This was a well-intentioned reminder.

Jun Changxiao simply smiled: “Understood.”

After he left with Ye Xingchen, the martial artists from various factions who had entered from the city gates and come to register began discussing animatedly.

“So the Iron Bones Sect isn’t here to watch the excitement—they’re here to participate in the sect competition.”

“Their courage is really not small, daring to cross commanderies to participate in an event hosted by our Pingyang Commandery.”

“Two years ago, an outer commandery sixth-tier sect brought ten disciples to participate. Didn’t they still get eliminated in the first round?”

“So our Pingyang Commandery’s sect competition really needs our own people to participate. When outer commandery sects come, they’ll definitely face united opposition and attacks.”

“The Iron Bones Sect only has one disciple competing. In the first round’s grand melee, he definitely won’t last long before being eliminated.”

Undeniably.

The ferocity Ye Xingchen had just displayed by knocking down the Black-Skinned Leopard with one punch made the witnessing martial artists very wary.

But Pingyang Commandery’s sect competition had its own style. The first round of competition was a grand melee—hundreds of people would battle in one area at that time, and only survivors could advance to the second round.

As someone from another commandery, he would definitely become a target for everyone.

Jun Changxiao took Ye Xingchen to an inn to stay, and early the next morning, they headed to the competition venue.

The venue for Suiyang City’s sect competition was also a coliseum-like structure, with spectator stands that could accommodate two to three hundred thousand people.

The usual practice.

As sect leadership, Jun Changxiao was arranged with the big shots from various sects in the best viewing seats.

Shortly after, Ye Xingchen followed the other participants, emerging from inside the venue and stopping in one of the coliseum’s eight areas.

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao looked down from his elevated position at the eight areas and murmured: “At least over two thousand people competing—the standards are indeed much higher than Qingyang Commandery’s sect competition.”