If the system had a “showing off” value, Jun Changxiao’s previous words would have definitely earned him a lot of points.

Unfortunately, it didn’t.

The elder from the Great Red Gate sitting nearby heard his phrase “truly disappoints this seat” and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Though he was showing off, his disciples had monopolized the top four positions—he had the capital to show off.

Especially when he recalled how he’d been sitting on the high platform earlier, thinking the Iron Bone Sect disciples were stepping stones for his own disciples to advance, his old face immediately burned with embarrassment.

My apologies.

All participants in the sect martial tournament had become stepping stones for the Iron Bone Sect disciples.

At this moment, the most tragic ones were naturally the Xiao Family elders and direct descendants, because Xiao Zuiji, whom they’d regarded as worthless, had won the championship of the sect martial tournament!

“The direct descendant who was expelled won this tournament’s championship—the Xiao Family probably never dreamed of this.”

“Right now, they must be regretting it to the point their intestines are turning green.”

“Xiao Zuiji’s situation teaches us that even when geniuses fall, they can still have a chance to rise again!”

“This truly is thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.”

…

The Xiao Family’s Grand Elder heard the crowd’s discussions clearly and distinctly. Blood roiled in his body, and his hands trembled violently.

If Jun Changxiao weren’t holding that spear, he might really rush down and kill Xiao Zuiji on the spot.

“Ahem!”

The City Lord of Liyang City appeared on the central combat platform and announced loudly, “This sect martial tournament has concluded. The champion is Xiao Zuiji of the Iron Bone Clanging Sect!”

Then, before everyone’s eyes, he handed Xiao Zuiji a mortal-grade high-rank martial technique manual and ten crystal-like objects.

“Spirit stones?” Jun Changxiao murmured.

From the original owner’s memories, he had learned that the Xingyun Continent had a type of stone containing vast spiritual power that could be used directly for cultivation, called spirit stones.

Spirit stones could be mined from mineral veins or refined by spirit masters using crystal cores. In terms of silver, it took ten thousand taels to buy a single one—truly precious beyond measure.

“Tsk tsk.”

Jun Changxiao said, “I didn’t expect that winning the sect martial tournament championship would come with martial technique manuals and spirit stones as rewards.”

The system replied, “Otherwise, who would participate?”

That makes so much sense, I have no rebuttal.

…

Under the envious gazes of many martial artists, Xiao Zuiji took the manual and spirit stones and returned to the interior of the venue with his martial brothers.

Jun Changxiao arrived first and said with a smile, “My precious ones, you’ve worked hard.”

Everyone’s mouths twitched, and goosebumps erupted on their skin.

Jun Changxiao draped his arm over Xiao Zuiji’s shoulder, taking the manual and spirit stones while saying, “To celebrate our sect’s triumphant winning of the sect martial tournament championship, this seat has decided to take you all to the best restaurant for a feast!”

“I want to drink!” Tian Qi said.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

Many spectating martial artists gradually left. When they saw Jun Changxiao leading his disciples out, the contempt in their eyes had been replaced with respect.

In a world where martial prowess reigns supreme, fists do the talking.

With five disciples directly monopolizing the top four positions, they had already used their fists to tell everyone not to underestimate the ninth-rate Iron Bone Clanging Sect!

“Damn it!”

The Xiao Family elders exiting from another entrance watched the Iron Bone Sect disciples swagger away, their eyes flashing with nothing but furious flames.

Just then, an elder from another family passed by, cupped his hands with a smile, and said, “Congratulations to the Xiao Family direct descendant for winning the sect martial tournament championship.”

“Oh my!”

He slapped his forehead and said, “I forgot, I forgot—Xiao Zuiji was expelled by you all. Five years ago, he stopped being a Xiao Family direct descendant.”

A Xiao Family elder roared, “Song Shizhen, are you being this passive-aggressive because you want a fight?!”

The other elders glared with furrowed brows.

They were already irritated, and this fellow was deliberately provoking them—of course they couldn’t take it!

“I was just speaking casually, everyone please don’t mind, don’t mind.” Having achieved his purpose, Song Shizhen cupped his hands and took his leave.

When he reached the crowd ahead, someone teased, “Elder Song, the Xiao Family is very upset right now. Wasn’t saying that like sprinkling salt on their wounds?”

Song Shizhen sighed, “Alas, I truly forgot.”

“Speaking of which, in these five years, Xiao Zuiji has forged his physical body to such a terrifying degree. The Xiao Family expelling him was truly a terrible move.”

“In my view, once news of Xiao Zuiji winning the championship spreads, the Xiao Family will probably become a laughingstock again.”

The high-ranking members of various families showed no consideration for the Xiao Family’s feelings, discussing as they walked.

“Damn it!”

The Xiao Family elders were beside themselves with rage.

The Xiao Family’s Grand Elder, who had remained silent throughout, looked in the direction Xiao Zuiji had left. His gaze was dark and uncertain before finally flashing with bone-chilling killing intent.

Five years ago, that woman came to break the engagement, and the Xiao Family became a laughingstock.

Five years later, he won the sect martial tournament championship, and the Xiao Family would inevitably be mocked and ridiculed again.

This could not be tolerated, absolutely could not be tolerated!

…

“Come!”

In the finest restaurant’s private room in Liyang City, Jun Changxiao raised his bowl and said, “We’ll drain it dry!”

With that, he tilted back his neck and drank all the wine in the bowl clean.

Li Qingyang, Su Xiaomo, Tian Qi, and Xiao Zuiji all drained their bowls of wine to the bottom.

Lu Qianqian didn’t drink but quietly ate her food.

“What the hell!”

“What kind of dishes are these, so terrible!”

“Compared to what Dudu makes, there’s simply no comparison!”

After getting used to eating meals prepared by Liu Wanshi, eating these dishes made by ordinary cooks felt like eating coarse grain—difficult to swallow.

Alas.

His palate had become spoiled.

Tian Qi raised his bowl and said, “If not for the Sect Master, in their eyes I, Tian Qi, would be nothing more than medicinal ingredients. This bowl of wine, this disciple drinks first in respect!”

With that, he drained the bowl of wine.

With his disciple winning the championship and bringing glory to the Iron Bone Sect, plus completing an epic quest, Jun Changxiao was in a cheerful mood, so he also raised his bowl and drank it all.

Su Xiaomo immediately raised his bowl, grinning widely as he said, “If not for the Sect Master, I, Su Xiaomo, would probably still be an outer sect disciple at some other sect. This bowl of wine, this disciple offers to you!”

Jun Changxiao pursed his lips and said, “You’re all trying to get this seat drunk.”

Having just finished a bowl with Su Xiaomo, Li Qingyang stood up and said, “I’m very fortunate to have met the Sect Master, joined the Iron Bone Sect, and become fellow disciples with all of you. This bowl of wine is for the Sect Master, and also for Senior Sister and Junior Brothers.”

As expected of someone from a family—smooth with his words.

“Drink!”

Jun Changxiao raised his wine with a “bring it on” attitude.

Since the martial brothers had all offered toasts, Xiao Zuiji also stood up and said, “Sect Master, my mouth is clumsy, I don’t know what to say. This bowl of wine is for you!”

“Gulp, gulp!”

Tilting back his neck, he drained the wine in the bowl, and his entire face immediately flushed red—clearly he couldn’t hold his liquor well.

“A bunch of idiots,” Lu Qianqian said coolly.

Everyone drank at the restaurant for over an hour, going through two jars of wine. All five were thoroughly drunk.

Perhaps the long-suppressed feelings were released through the sect martial tournament. Drunk, Xiao Zuiji hugged an empty wine jar and began crying, crying just like a child.

…

Jun Changxiao spent a night in Liyang City.

The next day after sobering up, he led his five disciples to set off on the return journey. Walking through the streets, the martial artists who had previously mocked and scorned them had long since changed their tune.

Worthless? Garbage sect?

After monopolizing the top four in the sect martial tournament, such words no longer existed.

Jun Changxiao walked through the streets with his head held high and chest out, finally leading his disciples out of the city under everyone’s watchful eyes.

However.

After traveling several dozen li beyond Liyang City’s territory, shadows stirred in the grass hidden in the darkness.

Lu Qianqian and Li Qingyang noticed. The two simultaneously placed their hands on their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment.

“Heh.”

Jun Changxiao clasped his hands behind his back and said calmly, “People of the jianghu, why hide your heads and conceal your tails?”

“Swish! Swish!”

In an instant, dozens of black-clothed figures burst from the grass, surrounding them in a tight circle, their eyes flashing with furious killing intent.

Jun Changxiao silently thought to himself, “The family direct descendants got beaten, and they came for revenge this quickly. Villains doing things to this extent are quite stupid. If I were a novel protagonist, readers would definitely think I have an intelligence-reducing aura that lowered all their IQs.”

—