Zhenyang Commandery’s main city, Zhenyang City, had a magnificent and palace-like architectural complex.

This was where the commandery governor lived, privately called the Royal Palace by the common people.

Just from the architecture alone, it was clear that the Zhenyang Commandery governor was an extremely ambitious person—otherwise he’d never have built a palace resembling where emperors lived.

So then.

What did this commandery governor look like?

Following the camera into the magnificent and splendid great hall, one could see a man around thirty or forty years old, with a commanding appearance, sitting in the chief position.

Zhuo Chaoqun.

Zhenyang Commandery Governor.

His full beard gave him a very wild feeling. His tiger-like eyes flashed with sharp light, his entire body radiating the aura of someone long accustomed to authority.

His image perfectly matched that of an ambitious hero.

However, at the lower positions, generals and strategists all kept their heads lowered, each trembling inwardly.

The atmosphere in the great hall was rather serious.

Just moments ago, Bai Ruihu’s severed head had been delivered in a brocade box.

“Slap!”

Zhuo Chaoqun slammed his palm on the table, roaring furiously, “Three hundred thousand troops not only failed to capture Qingyang City but ended up completely annihilated—Bai Ruihu deserves death ten thousand times over!”

This commandery governor was truly angry.

After all, the White Tiger Legion was one of his four meticulously crafted army corps. Now it was simply gone—of course he’d be heartbroken!

“Governor!”

A bear-like, powerfully built general cupped his hands saying, “This subordinate is willing to lead the Xuanwu Legion to punish Qingyang Commandery and bring back that Tiegu Sect leader’s head!”

“My Azure Dragon Legion requests to fight!”

“My Vermillion Bird Legion requests to fight!”

With the White Tiger Legion’s destruction, not only was the governor angry—the three great legion commanders were also angry!

These three great legions combined had at least a million troops. If they truly attacked Qingyang City, Sect Leader Jun would definitely be under tremendous pressure again.

Though Zhuo Chaoqun was so angry his beard trembled, he calmly said, “Recently our Zhenyang Commandery has been campaigning frequently, making several major commanderies very displeased. We absolutely cannot consume more military force over a small commandery.”

Tiegu Sect defending Qingyang City and completely annihilating the White Tiger Legion, even sending Bai Ruihu’s head back, was clearly a warning to him.

If it were just Tiegu Sect, Zhuo Chaoqun would definitely take them down at any cost.

But now the enemy wasn’t just one. Many major commanderies were watching Zhenyang Commandery like tigers eyeing prey—he had to consider carefully.

Moreover.

With the White Tiger Legion completely annihilated, Tiegu Sect clearly had some strength. Sending troops there would inevitably result in casualties.

To capture a ninth-grade commandery that would only expand territory but had no resource value—this was truly unwise.

Zhuo Chaoqun was no reckless, brainless villain sending cannon fodder to give the protagonist experience. After suffering a loss, he’d definitely lie low for a while.

At least he had to first deal with the major commanderies watching like tigers, then consider attacking Qingyang Commandery.

This was also what Sect Leader Jun hoped for.

Because what he currently lacked most was time. Even if given just a bit of breathing room to develop the sect, he’d have the confidence to fight the entire world!

……

“Have you heard? Zhenyang Commandery sent the White Tiger Legion—a total of three hundred thousand troops to attack Qingyang Commandery, and they were completely defeated outside Qingyang City!”

“I heard about such a major incident long ago. Moreover, from what I know, the commanding marshal Bai Ruihu was even beheaded, his head sent to Zhenyang Commandery!”

“My heavens, the White Tiger Legion is one of Southwest Yangzhou’s elite forces, and General Bai ranked among the top ten famous generals, yet he died in battle beneath Qingyang City walls!”

As expected, martial cultivators throughout Southwest Yangzhou successively received the latest battle report, discussing it in shock!

Especially when they learned the force defending Qingyang City was actually Tiegu Sect, their eyes filled with disbelief!

The life-or-death arena challenge at the mountain’s base had already passed some time, and the excitement was gradually fading. But because Tiegu Sect participated in secular warfare and annihilated the White Tiger Legion, it rocketed back to the top of trending topics.

Family feuds and whatnot.

Some big battle between so-and-so that lasted three days and nights.

Even the recently hot scandal about the young mistress of some major family having an affair with the steward—all were overshadowed by Tiegu Sect!

The happiest were the seven city lords within Qingyang Commandery. Upon receiving the intelligence immediately, they nearly jumped up in excitement.

Qingyang City was the commandery’s main city. With Tiegu Sect defending it, this undoubtedly brought light to them lost in darkness!

The sixth-grade Zhenyang Commandery.

Was not invincible after all!

News of victory spread throughout Qingyang Commandery. Common people in cities, towns, and villages all spread the word excitedly, beating gongs and drums in celebration.

Many people even knelt and kowtowed toward Tiegu Mountain.

If Qingyang Commandery fell, they’d become slaves. It was Tiegu Sect, Sect Leader Jun who turned the tide—naturally they were deeply worshipped by the common people!

If Jun Changxiao converted the sect into a temple and set up incense burners, he’d definitely attract many worshippers.

……

Haoqi Sect, great hall.

After receiving the battle report, Qin Haoran held the letter, sitting dumbfounded in the chief position, unable to recover for a long time.

Tiegu Sect could resist three hundred thousand troops?

How was this possible!

If it weren’t written clearly in black and white, Alliance Leader Qin would truly think he was dreaming!

When Zhenyang Commandery attacked Heyang Commandery and Huayang Commandery, he’d already received the news. At that time, he’d discussed with the alliance leaders, ultimately concluding that Qingyang Commandery would probably also be targeted.

For this reason.

Haoqi Sect and the alliance sect powers all closed their mountain gates, ignoring worldly affairs.

When Qingyang Commandery faced danger, they each chose to protect only themselves—such behavior was truly contemptible!

Therefore.

Jun Changxiao leading Tiegu Sect disciples to defend Qingyang City and severely damage Zhenyang Commandery’s army was equivalent to viciously slapping their faces.

Loud and crisp!

This slap also awakened the pretending-to-sleep Qin Haoran.

He finally realized, finally admitted, that Tiegu Sect had become an existence he and the alliance could no longer contend with!

Challenging Shengquan Sect.

Fighting Shishen Hall on the arena.

Now even clashing head-on with a sixth-grade major commandery’s elite forces.

Of the above three accomplishments, which one could he, Qin Haoran, his Haoqi Sect, his Hundred Sects Alliance achieve?

Not a single one.

They didn’t even dare to imagine it!

Previously, in Qin Haoran and the alliance leaders’ eyes, Tiegu Sect was merely an ant at the mountain’s base.

Now it had transformed into a colossal entity, forcing them to look up in reverence!

The looking up would come later.

When Tao Yuan acknowledged Jun Changxiao and acknowledged Tiegu Sect, his 2,472 Huwei Army soldiers also joined the sect.

The number reached exactly 5,000, triggering a sect quest!

When disciples completed the quest, when achievement points met requirements, the sect’s level would rise and membership would expand.

Tiegu Sect would also advance one step closer to becoming a fifth-rate sect!

Why?

Because advancing from sect to major sect required not only ten thousand members, but in terms of cultivation, there must be one Wuwang, ten Wuzong, and a thousand Wushi!

In realm levels, Tiegu Sect already completely qualified. Only lacking disciples, so membership expansion would be the key to becoming a major sect!

Of course.

Disciples weren’t a problem!

Because Tao Yuan’s trained soldiers all lived at Tiegu Sect. Due to membership restrictions, they hadn’t all joined the sect yet.

As long as Jun Changxiao didn’t care about aptitude and was determined to advance, making Tiegu Sect rise from sect to major sect would be extremely easy!