“That’s right.”

Jun Changxiao said: “Your family’s direct descendant—this seat was the one who beat him.”

Ai Shangke’s face darkened, anger flickering in his eyes.

He had been away on business these past two days. Last night he received a carrier pigeon message from the family, learning that Ai Zou had been beaten. He came over along his route, but didn’t understand the detailed circumstances very well.

If it had been Tiegu Sect disciples who did the beating, Ai Shangke could still understand. After all, young people were hot-blooded—some conflict was inevitable.

But for a sect leader to personally take action—wasn’t he afraid of losing face?

Right, right.

A garbage sect’s leader, humble as dust—caring about face would be the strange thing.

Thinking this, the disdain in Ai Shangke’s eyes grew even thicker. “Sect Leader Jun, as the master of a sect, beating my Ai Family’s direct descendant—isn’t that a bit excessive?”

Jun Changxiao shrugged. “Your family’s direct descendant brought people to beat my sect’s disciples, even beat them right at our doorstep. How is this seat teaching him a lesson excessive?”

“The fellow who stole my Ai Family’s medicinal pills is your Tiegu Sect disciple?” Ai Shangke’s expression grew increasingly gloomy.

Jun Changxiao said: “Correct.”

Ai Shangke said coldly: “Sect Leader Jun, your sect disciple stole my family’s pills, and my direct descendant was beaten by you. That’s two accounts.”

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

“Is Elder Ai here to settle accounts?” Jun Changxiao maintained a smile throughout, looking quite punchable.

If there were no side mission, he might still reason with the other party logically and emotionally to resolve the grievance. But now he could only be indifferent to life and death—if you don’t accept it, let’s fight.

Ai Shangke said indifferently: “Sect Leader Jun, injuring my direct descendant, stealing my pills—you should at least give an explanation.”

“Sure.”

Jun Changxiao tossed over one tael of silver. “Consider this compensation. My sect and your family’s grievances are settled.”

Ai Shangke didn’t catch it, letting the silver fall at his feet. His eyes were ice-cold. “Sect Leader Jun, are you humiliating this Ai, humiliating my Ai Family?”

One tael of silver was a considerable sum to poor commoners, but an Ai Family Elder didn’t regard it at all. Jun Changxiao tossing it over was truly naked humiliation.

“This seat is sincerely giving you an explanation.”

“If you insist on feeling insulted, then there’s nothing I can do.”

Jun Changxiao spread his hands, expressing helplessness. He looked even more punchable than before.

Ai Shangke could no longer suppress his fury and said coldly: “For the sake of the Hundred Sects Alliance, this Ai addresses you as Sect Leader Jun. Don’t actually consider yourself an important figure!”

“Less nonsense.”

Jun Changxiao said indifferently: “Do you want to fight or not?”

Ai Shangke, being an Ai Family Elder after all, cupped his fists quite gracefully. “I’ve heard Sect Leader Jun severely defeated the Lingquan Sect Elder in Qingyang City. This Ai truly wants to experience it for myself.”

“Then come.” Jun Changxiao said.

Ai Shangke smiled faintly. “This isn’t the place for a sparring match. Why not enter your esteemed sect’s training ground for a proper contest?”

This guy wants to teach me a lesson in front of the sect disciples? Jun Changxiao guessed his intention but still stepped aside and gestured: “Please.”

So, that one tael of silver—you’re not taking it?

…

On the training ground.

Jun Changxiao and Ai Shangke stood ten zhang apart, facing each other. The atmosphere was rather tense.

“That guy is an Ai Family Elder?”

“From the aura emanating, he should be at the Martial Apprentice realm!”

Outside the training ground, disciples who hadn’t gone on missions discussed in low voices, their eyes showing deep wariness.

Although Martial Apprentice was only the second realm on Xingyun Continent and nothing to stronger cultivators, in the eyes of those at the Meridian Opening stage, it was a colossal entity.

“Can the Sect Leader defeat him?”

“The Black Mountain bandits including their Martial Apprentice realm chieftain were all killed by the Sect Leader. Defeating him definitely won’t be a problem.”

“Right, right.”

Everyone felt reassured.

Ai Shangke heard their discussion and his expression froze. “You killed the Black Mountain bandits?”

“Is there a problem?” Jun Changxiao said.

There was a problem, a big one!

Some time ago, the government and warriors from various sects had mobilized forces, deciding to attack Black Wind Stronghold once again.

The result? When they went up, they found the base burned to ashes, with over two hundred already rotting corpses scattered across the training ground.

At that moment.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

After a long while, they realized—Black Wind Stronghold had been completely annihilated!

In an instant, news of the bandits’ complete destruction spread throughout Qingyang Commandery, causing a huge sensation. Common people in every town and city rushed to spread the news, beating gongs and drums in the streets to celebrate—truly universal celebration.

Everyone also competed to discuss exactly who had eliminated Black Wind Stronghold that had been a scourge for many years?

Some warriors speculated it might be some major power, but this was ultimately rejected because according to official and sect investigations, no large force had appeared in the Black Mountain area for several months.

One person, or a few people did it—this became the final verdict.

Within just a few days, many rumored versions appeared. For instance, some profound cultivation expert passed by Black Mountain and on a whim completely annihilated the bandits.

Or that Black Wind Stronghold had committed too many evils, angering Heaven, which sent immortals down to eliminate them with immortal power.

Various versions of news spread crazily through Qingyang Commandery, becoming after-dinner conversation for many warriors and ordinary commoners.

After learning the bandits were eliminated, the Qingyang City Lord even issued widespread notices, hoping the righteous person who eliminated the evil for the people would come forward to receive a reward of one thousand taels of gold.

One tael of gold equaled ten taels of silver. One thousand taels of gold was ten thousand taels of silver!

Many warriors, blinded by the money, took desperate risks pretending to be the righteous person to collect the reward. The results? They were identified one by one and thrown into prison.

The Black Wind Stronghold’s annihilation was a very major event. Ai Shangke had naturally heard of it and had even discussed with clan elders, believing that whoever could attack Black Wind Stronghold and completely annihilate them must possess cultivation above the Martial Master realm.

But now?

The Tiegu Sect disciples actually said their sect leader did it?

“Hmph.”

Ai Shangke said indifferently: “Sect Leader Jun, something like eliminating bandits—you actually dare claim you did it. Could it be you also have ideas about collecting that one thousand taels of gold reward?”

Anyone with normal thinking wouldn’t believe that Jun Changxiao, who was only at the Meridian Opening level, could eliminate the easily defended and hard to attack Black Wind Stronghold.

“Collect one thousand taels of gold?”

Jun Changxiao said: “What do you mean?”

Ai Shangke said indifferently: “Sect Leader Jun, we’re all understanding people. Stop pretending.”

Jun Changxiao was speechless.

What the hell am I pretending?

However, being clever, he quickly deduced that news of eliminating the bandits must have spread. This so-called one thousand taels of gold was probably reward money from the government.

“I need to find time to go to Qingyang City.”

Jun Changxiao needed to develop the sect. Although the system could provide quite a bit of help, money was equally important—naturally the more the better.

“Swish!”

Ai Shangke waved one hand, and a three-chi long sword appeared in his hand from nowhere. He said indifferently: “I’ve heard Sect Leader Jun has a high-quality sword weapon. This Ai very much wants to see it.”

This sword of his had a lifelike dragon beast carved on the blade body. The sword edge emanated sharpness—one look and you knew its quality wasn’t low.

“As you wish.”

Jun Changxiao waved one hand and the Elementary Cold Edge Sword appeared. A faint cold intent immediately permeated the training ground.

“Good sword!”

“Not as cheap as you.”

“…”