Everything was as Jun Changxiao had guessed.
If Zhenyang Commandery wanted to attack a certain commandery, they would definitely send people to arrange the influential major forces within that commandery.
The several major sects and major evil factions in Heyang Commandery and Huayang Commandery had all been arranged. So when war arrived, they all chose to seal their mountains and stay put, completely ignoring the city lords’ requests for audiences.
How were they arranged?
Very simple—bring people over to cause trouble.
The two Fifth-Tier sects in Heyang Commandery were both beaten up by experts sent by Zhenyang Commandery. Although not fatal, everyone sustained injuries.
Even if they truly wanted to do something for the commandery, with their sect’s main forces injured, they had the will but lacked the power.
The two commanderies had been arranged clearly. Since Zhenyang Commandery had ambitions to annex Qingyang Commandery, they would naturally also arrange Cangshan Sect.
The old method.
Send experts to openly challenge them.
Moreover, they came with three Martial Kings and over twenty Martial Grandmasters.
They stood on Cangshan Sect’s training grounds, chests thrust out proudly, their pretentious aura extremely strong!
“Sect Leader Yu.”
An old man around sixty or seventy years old said with a cold laugh: “You and I haven’t seen each other for at least fifty years, have we?”
His name was Shui Tingfeng.
He was the Grand Elder of Zhenyang Commandery’s Fourth-Tier Lingyuan Sect, and also the leader of this troublemaking expedition.
In the great hall, the Cangshan Sect Leader wearing loose Daoist robes furrowed his brows and said: “Back then, you and I were at the same realm. I didn’t expect you’ve now advanced to Martial King.”
“Hahaha!”
Shui Tingfeng laughed loudly and said: “This old man resides in a Sixth-Tier commandery and in a Fourth-Tier sect. Breaking through to Martial King is quite normal, isn’t it?”
He and the Cangshan Sect Leader were old acquaintances.
They had once exchanged blows at the largest-scale sect competition held in Southwest Yangzhou.
At that time, both were Martial Grandmasters with comparable strength, but in the end, he lost to Sect Leader Yu.
To this day.
Shui Tingfeng had not only broken through to Martial King but reached Fourth-Rank. Not just in Zhenyang Commandery—even in all of Southwest Yangzhou, he was a strong expert who ranked among the top.
“Elder Shui.”
Another Martial King beside him grinned and said: “This Cangshan Sect Leader’s aura is only at peak Martial Grandmaster. Your loss to him back then was truly a bit unjust.”
His name was Zhuang Yong, an elder of Lingyuan Sect.
Though his name was ordinary, he was a Third-Rank Martial King.
The other Martial King came from Zhenyang Commandery’s Fourth-Tier Duanshui Pavilion, with cultivation only at First-Rank Martial King strength.
The over twenty Martial Grandmasters were respectively experts from Lingyuan Sect and Duanshui Pavilion, with strength at Eighth or Ninth-Rank.
They stood on the training grounds, unscrupulously releasing their auras, giving people a powerful sense of oppression.
Standing behind Sect Leader Yu, Ma Yunteng, Wang Donglin, and the other elders all had tightly furrowed brows.
These people came with ill intent!
Shui Tingfeng didn’t beat around the bush and said directly: “We’ve come to Cangshan Sect this time to seek guidance on martial learning.”
“Seek guidance on martial learning?”
Sect Leader Yu laughed coldly and said: “Zhenyang Commandery has two hundred thousand troops currently attacking Heyang Commandery and Huayang Commandery. You’ve probably come on orders.”
Outsider matters—Cangshan Sect had heard about them too.
They had even discussed multiple times whether to assist when enemy troops invaded Qingyang Commandery, or close the mountain gates.
The result was they hadn’t reached a conclusion before Zhenyang Commandery sent people to arrange them first.
“More or less.”
Shui Tingfeng didn’t hide it and said: “Our Commandery Governor’s meaning is—when the main army arrives, Cangshan Sect should close its mountain gates and pretend to know nothing, see nothing.”
Sect Leader Yu said coldly: “Has your Lingyuan Sect already submitted to Zhenyang Commandery’s Governor?”
Forces and commanderies had no direct relationship.
For example, in Qingyang Commandery, although the Governor could control the eight cities, he had no management authority over sects or even major sects like Cangshan Sect.
“Governor Zhuo harbors great ambitions. Our Lingyuan Sect naturally wishes to assist him and help him establish immortal achievements.” Shui Tingfeng said.
Sect Leader Yu said coolly: “Zhenyang Commandery’s Governor disregards treaties and repeatedly wages war on surrounding small commanderies, causing countless people to lose their homes. You all are helping tyrants commit evil!”
“Hahaha!”
Shui Tingfeng laughed heartily and said: “So-called treaties are mere formalities. Every commandery in Southwest Yangzhou harbors ulterior motives. Governor Zhuo’s expedition this time is to establish a stronger system, allowing the common people of small commanderies to live peacefully.”
“Nonsense!”
Ma Yunteng couldn’t help but angrily say: “After you all broke through several cities in Heyang City and Huayang City, they were massacred. This is your so-called peaceful living?”
Shui Tingfeng said with unchanged expression: “They chose to resist, so they must pay the price. Our Zhenyang Commandery only needs people loyal to Zhenyang Commandery.”
Sect Leader Yu said coldly: “Words do not align even half a sentence. Everyone, please leave.”
Shui Tingfeng smiled coldly and said: “Sect Leader Yu, we’ve traveled thousands of miles to exchange martial learning here. Will Cangshan Sect refuse?”
Ma Yunteng said: “Three Martial Kings came here—not to exchange martial learning, but to bully the weak, right?”
Shui Tingfeng laughed and said: “You could think of it that way.”
From the beginning, they were fairly polite. But with words reaching this point, it was just short of directly saying—we came here today to cause trouble!
Sect Leader Yu and the elders’ anger rose.
These two Fourth-Tier sects from Zhenyang Commandery were going too far!
“Ma Yunteng.”
Just then, a middle-aged man stepped forward, pointing at him and saying: “Do you dare come down and fight with Luo?”
This was an outer sect elder from Lingyuan Sect. His cultivation had already reached peak Martial Grandmaster. Unable to tolerate Ma Yunteng’s earlier “nonsense” comment, he decided to start challenging from him.
After Jun Changxiao’s guidance, although Elder Ma had broken through to Martial Grandmaster, this past year he’d only just advanced to Third-Rank. He definitely couldn’t fight a peak Martial Grandmaster.
“I’ll spar with you.”
Wang Donglin leaped down and landed on the training grounds.
His strength was at peak Martial Grandmaster. He could at least trade blows with Lingyuan Sect’s outer sect elder.
That elder surnamed Luo strode forward proudly and said: “Please.”
…
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
While Zhenyang Commandery’s two sects’ experts were causing trouble at Cangshan Sect, Jun Changxiao rode the Hurricane Wolf King, bringing Lu Qianqian and Ye Xingchen as they rapidly approached.
Two hours later, the three arrived at Cang Mountain, but didn’t see any guard disciples.
“Go!”
Jun Changxiao directly rode the Hurricane Wolf King, charging up the mountain path at high speed. He leaped up, flying over Cangshan Sect’s mountain gate and landing in the outer courtyard.
Boom!
Just then, a thunderous sound came. He saw Ma Yunteng being blasted flying toward him.
Jun Changxiao, who had just stabilized his position, captured this in advance with his spiritual sense. He immediately executed the Cloud-Treading Step and leaped up, catching the flying Elder Ma.
“Hmm?”
Lingyuan Sect and Duanshui Pavilion’s experts all looked over in surprise.
Who was this person?
Actually riding a Hurricane Wolf King!
“Thud!”
Jun Changxiao landed on the ground, holding Ma Yunteng who had a sunken palm print on his chest. His face was abnormally pale—clearly his injuries were severe.
Outside the training grounds, Wang Donglin, who had fought first, was currently being supported by disciples. Obviously, after competing with that martial artist surnamed Luo, he had already been defeated.
“Sect… Leader Jun…”
Ma Yunteng just began to speak when blood inside his body became uncontrollable. He directly spat out fresh blood, then fainted.
This kindly old man had once prevented others from disturbing Jun’s enlightenment during the Hundred Sects Recruitment. He had also helped the Iron Bones Sect multiple times. Their relationship was quite good. Now seeing him beaten unconscious—how could Jun Changxiao accept this?
He gently laid Ma Yunteng on the ground, then raised his head and swept his gaze over the Zhenyang Commandery two sects’ experts present. With overwhelming killing intent, he said: “Since you all came, then don’t leave.”
—