“Could this young man be Xiao Zuiji, the one who was rejected by the Murong family’s pride and joy?”

“That’s him. I heard that last year, he represented Tiegu Sect in the Qingyang Commandery’s Sect Grand Competition and won the championship.”

“Didn’t he become a废物?”

“Could it be that Murong Xin came to Holy Spring Sect to see her rejected former fiancé?”

“She’s now a core disciple of the second-tier Baihe Holy Sect, while Xiao Zuiji is in the seventh-tier Tiegu Sect. They’re destined to be from different worlds.”

“To be rejected by a woman, how truly embarrassing.”

Though the martial artists from various forces were discussing in low voices, every single sentence clearly reached Xiao Zuiji’s ears, causing him to involuntarily clench his fists.

Murong Xin’s brows furrowed tightly.

Why did these people have such loose tongues?

Xiao Zuiji turned his head, his eyes carrying a faint coldness, as if telling her:

Did you hear that?

This is the harm you brought me back then.

Yes.

You can use being young and ignorant to shirk responsibility for the broken engagement.

But as a man, how am I supposed to recover the trampled dignity I’ve endured!

Murong Xin didn’t dare meet Xiao Zuiji’s gaze, because looking at those extremely cold eyes would only make her feel more guilty.

“Hah!”

Xiao Zuiji exhaled.

Just as the Sect Master had once said, things that are lost must be personally taken back!

What was lost was a man’s dignity.

How to take it back?

Two years from now, climb to Baihe Holy Sect, stand before those lofty people, produce a rejection letter, and reject this woman who brought him endless humiliation!

Not satisfied?

Then come fight!

“Holy Spring Sect disciple, Qing Linfeng.”

Qing Linfeng announced his own name, then said: “I sympathize with you.”

This was genuine sympathy, absolutely not mockery.

In a world where men are honored above all, being rejected by a woman would definitely bring fatal damage to one’s dignity.

A smile lifted the corners of Xiao Zuiji’s mouth as he said: “Actually, I’m quite grateful to that woman. If it weren’t for her rejection back then, I, Xiao Zuiji, wouldn’t have what I have today.”

Pausing slightly at this point.

“Swish!”

Clenching both fists, he said with immense pride: “And I wouldn’t have become a disciple of the Iron Bones Clanging Sect!”

Pride also surfaced on the faces of his fellow disciples behind him.

They felt extremely fortunate to have become disciples of the Iron Bones Clanging Sect, to be able to stand here and challenge this insurmountable mountain!

Jun Changxiao’s efforts hadn’t been in vain.

The disciples’ sense of belonging to Tiegu Sect was extremely strong!

“Begin!” the referee said.

“Swish!”

Qing Linfeng formed hand seals with both hands, spiritual energy roaring forth, instantly condensing into a broad palm that swept over carrying formidable power.

Spirit Gathering Seal!

An upper-grade high-tier martial technique that only high-ranking members and core disciples within Holy Spring Sect could learn!

Whoosh whoosh—

The palm seal whistled down from above, the power it carried rapidly climbing, directly breaking through one hundred thousand catties!

“So strong!” everyone exclaimed.

Enhanced by the martial technique, the explosive force was comparable to an ordinary first-grade Wuzong’s power. This was a core disciple of Holy Spring Sect!

The senior sister standing beside Murong Xin said indifferently: “Qing Linfeng is quite good. How could that guy possibly contend with him?”

Her tone made it seem like praising a fifth-tier sect disciple who should feel honored.

It couldn’t be helped.

Second-tier sect disciples were naturally extremely arrogant.

Back when Murong Xin brought people from Baihe Holy Sect to break the engagement, the lofty superiority she displayed when facing the Xiao family and facing Xiao Zuiji was even more intense.

“Step!”

Just as the palm seal was about to press down, Xiao Zuiji took a step forward, his body slightly bowing, spiritual energy from his qi cyclone surging forth madly and condensing in his right fist.

“Boom!”

Explosive Fist unleashed, meeting it head-on!

Rumble—

The instant fist and broad palm seal made contact, violent air waves roared forth, immediately sweeping away the surrounding dust.

Thud thud thud!

Xiao Zuiji and Qing Linfeng each retreated backward, stepping back a full five paces before simultaneously steadying themselves at the same moment.

“This…”

The martial artists from all forces widened their eyes.

Under a direct clash between a Tiegu Sect disciple and a Holy Spring Sect core disciple, he actually didn’t fall into a disadvantage!

Wang Donglin said gravely: “That boy, though only at fifth-grade Wushi cultivation, is also an extreme-grade Wushi!”

The big shots from various forces also discerned from the initial exchange that Xiao Zuiji was also an extreme-grade tier Wushi, and the corners of their mouths immediately twitched violently.

To reach the extreme-grade tier, the most basic requirement was having an extreme-grade spirit root!

What virtue and ability did Tiegu Sect have to possess such a formidable disciple!

Surprise rippled through Murong Xin’s bright eyes as she said: “Has his… extreme-grade spirit root recovered?”

“You.”

Qing Linfeng’s gaze turned grave as he said: “Are very strong.”

“Swish!”

Xiao Zuiji charged forward using Cloud Striding Steps.

His left and right arms separately executed Explosive Fist and Mountain Opening Palm, powerful auras erupting, forming waves of fierce wind.

Boom! Boom!

In an instant, the two extreme-grade Wushi exchanged dozens of moves, each move at one hundred thousand catties of force, creating tremendous momentum!

This was definitely the most exciting battle since the challenges began.

Because previously, it had basically been all one-sided crushing by Tiegu Sect disciples, with no evenly matched contests at all.

The martial artists from various forces watched dumbfounded.

They had originally thought that when Holy Spring Sect sent out a core disciple, he would definitely crush Tiegu Sect completely, never expecting that the disciple sent out was not the slightest bit weaker than Qing Linfeng!

Today.

The powerful performance of Tiegu Sect’s disciples had thoroughly and completely refreshed their understanding, and had thoroughly and completely slapped them countless times across the face!

Bang!

Boom!

Xiao Zuiji’s moves were wide open and sweeping, Explosive Fist and Mountain Opening Palm frequently unleashed.

Though he was one grade lower than Qing Linfeng in realm, the power he explosively released each time was not inferior to his opponent’s!

This stemmed from his martial techniques.

Though Explosive Fist and Mountain Opening Palm couldn’t compare in grade to upper-grade high-tier martial techniques, as long as they were comprehended to the extreme, they could provide powerful combat strength!

Boom! Boom!

After the two sides fought more than ten additional moves, Qing Linfeng retreated more than ten steps backward, subtle changes appearing on his face, and the arms bearing the force also transmitted a numbing sensation.

Xiao Zuiji stood in place with a carefree and calm expression.

The two were evenly matched in strength, but in physical body strength, Qing Linfeng fell far short!

“Swish!”

Cloud Striding Steps unleashed!

Xiao Zuiji once again launched a new round of bombardment, the power he explosively released still as consistently powerful as before!

“This guy has been attacking like his life depends on it from the very beginning. Can his body take it?”

“As long as Qing Linfeng stabilizes the situation, he’ll definitely wear him down to exhaustion!”

“Though he can fight Young Master Linfeng to an even draw, only knowing how to explosively attack—clearly a brute who’s never experienced real combat.”

Hearing everyone’s words, Jun Changxiao smiled.

A bunch of idiots.

My disciple fights this way precisely because his body is strong, precisely because he can afford it. You just watch properly—you’re not qualified to criticize here.

Xiao Zuiji’s body wasn’t just a bit strong.

As the violent bombardment continued, not only did he not show the slightest fatigue, he instead fought with increasing courage!

Qing Linfeng naturally knew that if this continued, wearing down his spiritual energy until it was depleted would give him a possibility of winning.

But the prerequisite was:

He had to be able to hold out until the moment of his exhaustion!

As things currently stood, Xiao Zuiji was fighting with increasing courage, already causing Qing Linfeng to gradually fall into a disadvantage. Supporting for more than ten minutes would be his limit!

No good, he had to find an opportunity for a single decisive strike!

“Swish!”

Qing Linfeng seized a gap in Xiao Zuiji’s attacks, using his movement technique to explosively retreat backward, then soared into the air, rapidly forming hand seals, shouting out loudly: “Great Spirit Gathering Seal!”

“Whoosh whoosh!”

Violent spiritual energy erupted from his body, instantly condensing into a thick and heavy palm seal five or six meters wide and long, then ruthlessly suppressed down toward Xiao Zuiji!