Because Xiao Ziji was in the city and easily subjected to scornful looks and mockery, Jun Changxiao ordered him to rest after settling into the inn.

Lu Qianqian, Li Qingyang, and the others also didn’t leave the inn. Each went to their rooms to cultivate and adjust their condition, preparing for the sect competition the day after tomorrow.

Jun Changxiao, having nothing better to do, went to the martial arts market to purchase medicinal ingredients. However, after searching for quite a while, he found several copies of low-grade healing pills but couldn’t gather complete sets of anything else.

“Sigh.”

“Mass production is proving somewhat difficult.”

He hoped to refine enough Qi Gathering Pills, Body Sculpting Pills, and Qi Spiral Pills to provide cultivation resources for himself and his disciples.

“That’s the Tiegu Sect’s sect master!”

“He looks pretty young, but it’s a pity his brain has problems—actually bringing disciples to participate in the sect competition.”

“Every tournament has cannon fodder sects, nothing unusual about it.”

“The participating disciples this time are numerous, with cultivation levels mostly above the tenth stage of Meridian Opening. With his ninth-rate sect, they’ll probably be eliminated in the first round.”

Without Xiao Ziji accompanying him, Jun Changxiao tragically became the object of mockery and gossip among martial artists and passersby.

A废物 and a ninth-rate sect—if walking down the street could still draw envious gazes from others, that would truly be bizarre.

Jun Changxiao paid them no mind. After wandering the market for a while, he returned to the inn. It wasn’t until the day of the sect competition that he finally led his five disciples out.

At this moment, dawn was just breaking, yet the streets were already bustling with people coming and going.

The biennial sect competition was a grand event in Qingyang Commandery, and many martial artists from other regions had arrived three to five days earlier.

“The Tiegu Sect people are coming out!”

“Tsk tsk, they’re dressed quite brightly. Once the competition starts, let’s hope they can maintain such fine appearances.”

“Xiao Ziji has no spiritual energy emanating from his body at all. Going on stage to compete with disciples from other sects, he’s definitely looking for abuse.”

“And that girl—she also seems to have no spiritual energy. Sending such disciples to compete, are they sure this isn’t a joke?”

“It’s just a ninth-rate sect. Being able to send out one Li Qingyang is already burning high incense. What other decent disciples could they possibly produce?”

Facing the crowd’s whispered discussions and disdainful glances, Jun Changxiao turned a deaf ear, leading his disciples with large strides toward the venue.

On the surface, he appeared calm and collected, but inside, anger was rising. He wished he could grab an AK and mow down all these loose-lipped people.

Li Qingyang, Su Xiaomo, and Tian Qi were also holding back their anger, able only to vent it during the sect competition.

…

South of the city, at the sect competition location.

When Jun Changxiao had come to register, it had still been a spacious training ground. Now, however, walls had been erected around the perimeter, forming a circular structure somewhat resembling a Roman colosseum.

At the venue entrance, martial artists from various sects gathered, while the middle-aged scribe from before was verifying bamboo tokens one by one.

When Jun Changxiao approached, the man caught sight of him from the corner of his eye and immediately said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Oh my, Sect Master Jun of Tiegu Sect has arrived?”

It seemed like a greeting, but was actually a reminder to the martial artists from other sects.

Sure enough.

As soon as the words fell, the high-ranking members of various sects standing outside the venue entrance turned their heads to look.

These people had smiles on their faces, but their eyes carried disdain and contempt.

Those who came to participate in the sect competition—which one wasn’t at least an eighth-rate sect? Naturally, they looked down on the mere ninth-rate Tiegu Sect.

Jun Changxiao didn’t care whether they looked favorably upon him or not. He led his disciples to the entrance and handed over the bamboo tokens representing his disciples’ identities to the middle-aged scribe.

The high-ranking members of various sects deliberately maintained some distance from him, as if afraid of being contaminated by bad luck.

“Senior Brother, isn’t Tiegu Sect a ninth-rate sect? Why did they also come to participate in the sect competition?”

“Probably looking for thrills.”

“Hahaha, if you ask me, they’re looking for death.”

The disciples from various sects also looked down on Tiegu Sect from the bottom of their hearts.

There was no helping it—who told them to be such a low-ranked sect? If they were seventh-rate or above, people would probably already be nodding and bowing, rushing over to curry favor.

After the bamboo tokens’ identities were verified, Jun Changxiao said, “Let’s go.”

Xiao Ziji didn’t move. He stood at the venue entrance, fists clenched tight, nails digging into his flesh, his gaze filled with anger as he stared toward another entrance.

Jun Changxiao and the others noticed this. Following his gaze, they saw a tall blue-robed youth approaching from ahead.

“Cousin Ziji.”

He called out a greeting, but the smile on his face was insincere, and his eyes held a faint arrogance.

“It’s Xiao Linye.”

“The most outstanding genius of the Xiao Family’s younger generation!”

“I heard that a few months ago, he was accepted as a direct disciple by the Grand Elder of Jueyin Valley, a sixth-rate sect.”

“Could it be that Jueyin Valley also sent disciples to participate in the sect competition?”

The crowd discussed in low voices.

Xiao Linye?

Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched as he thought to himself, “If you added a dragon character, this kid would monopolize all four surnames of the strongest novel protagonists.”

Xiao Ziji said, “I’m no longer a member of the Xiao Family. I cannot bear the title of cousin.”

Xiao Linye smiled and said, “If Cousin Ziji hadn’t opened my meridians for me back then, this younger cousin wouldn’t have been noticed by Jueyin Valley, and wouldn’t have today’s achievements. So regardless of whether you’ve been expelled, in my heart, you’ll always be my cousin.”

Jun Changxiao saw not a trace of gratitude in his eyes, but rather a hint of mockery.

“Sect Master, let’s go.” Xiao Ziji didn’t want to have too much interaction with people from the Xiao Family and turned to leave.

Xiao Linye blocked his path, leaning in to whisper, “Cousin, the facts have already proven that the family pouring all their resources into cultivating you was a mistake. I, Xiao Linye, am the Xiao Family’s future.”

Xiao Ziji lowered his head, his heart pierced as if by knives.

Him, Xiao Linye.

His cousin whom he had once cared for so dearly, even using his own meager spiritual energy to help open his meridians—their relationship was closer than blood brothers.

Yet after his own spiritual root and cultivation regressed, this person had become the one who mocked and humiliated him most deeply.

“Cousin.”

Xiao Linye smiled and said, “Do you still remember? I once said that one day I would surpass you, would become stronger. Now it’s been realized.”

“And you?”

The smile on his face grew even broader, twisted and ferocious, exactly like a madman.

Jun Changxiao’s brows furrowed tightly.

He had worked so hard to build up his disciple’s confidence, and you’re here causing trouble? Believe it or not, I’ll shoot you right now?

Just then, Xiao Ziji, who had been holding his head down, laughed—laughed so hard his shoulders shook.

“What are you laughing at, Cousin?” Xiao Linye asked.

Xiao Ziji raised his head, a smile hanging on his angular face as he said, “I’m laughing at your childishness, laughing at how full of yourself you are.”

A trace of anger appeared in Xiao Linye’s eyes.

Xiao Ziji patted his shoulder, saying proudly, “Linye, remember this: your brother will always be your brother. Even without a spiritual root, even without cultivation, you can never surpass me.”

With that, he strode into the venue.

Jun Changxiao led his disciples forward, deliberately stopping in front of Xiao Linye and smiling, “Did you hear that? Your brother said you’ll live in his shadow for the rest of your life.”

“Damn it!”

Xiao Linye’s face twisted ferociously as he shouted, “Xiao Ziji! In this sect competition, I’ll make you, make the Xiao Family, make everyone know that I, Xiao Linye, bow to no one!”

“Dream on,” Xiao Ziji’s voice came back.

Jun Changxiao smiled with satisfaction.

He had been quite worried that Xiao Ziji would have his self-esteem crushed by that guy, but it turned out he had worried needlessly.

…

The venue resembled a colosseum. The central area had many competition platforms, while the surrounding area consisted of spectator stands that could accommodate two hundred thousand people.

As various sects entered the venue one after another, the spectator stands were already packed with martial artists eagerly anticipating the sect competition about to begin.

After Jun Changxiao led his disciples inside, they were placed in a waiting area that contained high-ranking members and participating disciples from various sects—roughly a hundred people in total.

Of course.

After entering, they received no shortage of contemptuous looks.

This was just one waiting area—there were three others in different directions.

“High-ranking sect members, please proceed to the spectator stands. Participating disciples remain here to await the first round groupings.” A middle-aged man approached and announced.

Jun Changxiao glanced at his five disciples and encouraged them, “Don’t let outside voices disturb your emotions. Display your best condition, and moreover, don’t give up easily!”

“Mm.”

Li Qingyang and the others nodded.

Jun Changxiao left the waiting area and, under guidance, arrived at a high platform with an excellent view where the competition platforms below could be seen at a glance.

“Sect Master Jun.”

Just as he found a seat and sat down, a certain sect’s elder with a fat head and large ears beside him cupped his hands and smiled, “If in the first round my disciple encounters your sect’s disciples and strikes too heavily, please be understanding.”

“Oh.”

Jun Changxiao responded with a single syllable.

The high-ranking members of various sects on his left and right began discussing in low voices.

They all hoped that in the first round they could encounter Tiegu Sect disciples—at least it would guarantee victory.

In short, all the bigwigs from various sects present regarded Tiegu Sect’s disciples as stepping stones for their own disciples’ advancement to the second round.

Jun Changxiao leaned back in his chair, fingers interlaced, seemingly oblivious to the crowd’s whispered discussions.

The good show was about to begin…