The biggest reason the Eternal Ancient Sect broke into the top 100 of the Heroes Competing for Supremacy Rankings was challenging the Lily Holy Sect and disciples from various sects in East Hao Province.
So Jun Changxiao speculated that to improve rankings, he must stir up some trouble!
The system’s existence and the quests meant he was destined to never keep a low profile—destined to either advance through violent storms or sing loudly through the underworld’s yellow springs.
“Who should I challenge?”
Jun Changxiao propped his chin, beginning to consider whether to challenge a major sect or simply challenge an entire great province?
Having broken through to Peak Sword-Martial Dual Emperor, his combat power was no weaker than a Half-Saint, so his courage had grown considerably. Fighting one wasn’t satisfying enough—if he was going to fight, he’d fight an entire province!
“No, no good.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head: “Without any grudges, suddenly going to challenge a province’s sects would be excessive.”
Wait, grudges?
“Right!”
He slapped his forehead: “Demon Fiend Sect, God-Slaying Hall!”
At the critical moment, Sect Master Jun thought of the two third-rate evil sects that had grudges with his sect. Although they’d been quite docile recently without much presence, since he needed to improve the sect’s ranking, using them as stepping stones would be perfect!
A saying circulated in the jianghu.
Better to provoke the King of Hell than evil sects.
Not that evil sects were stronger than top-tier sects in power, but such evil organizations acted extremely ruthlessly and loved using underhanded tactics. Offending them meant facing endless retaliation.
Using two third-rate evil sects as stepping stones—if outside warriors learned of this, they’d definitely admire him wholeheartedly!
“Of course.”
Jun Changxiao stroked his chin: “This kind of thing must be well-publicized. Let the relevant departments tracking the Heroes Competing for Supremacy Rankings know about it. Otherwise, if I stomp them but don’t get points for the sect, that would be terrible.”
…
“Extra, extra!”
In a certain city, a young boy ran through the main street, shouting at the top of his lungs: “Half a month from now, the Eternal Ancient Sect Master will lead disciples to challenge the Demon Fiend Sect at their doorstep!”
“Extra, extra…”
Similar newspaper-selling boy voices rang out across various provinces.
For a time, many warriors learned of this matter and eagerly discussed it.
“The Eternal Ancient Sect actually dares challenge a third-rate evil sect!”
“The Dragon-Tiger Contest was after all friendly sparring, stopping at a touch. Evil sect warriors are always sinister and cunning, stopping at nothing—daring to challenge them will probably require paying a painful price!”
“The Eternal Ancient Sect is getting cocky.”
“With a little success, they think they’re invincible. The outcome will probably be like the Heaven-Defying Faction from years ago.”
“It’s normal for the Eternal Ancient Sect to challenge the Demon Fiend Sect—after all, both sects had grudges before. Just didn’t expect Sect Master Jun to be so hasty.”
If it were the past, people learning a fifth-rate sect was challenging a third-rate evil sect would definitely consider it suicidal. But now they couldn’t give a definite answer.
Strength-wise, the Eternal Ancient Sect definitely had it, having defeated so many first and second-rate sects in the Dragon-Tiger Contest. But third-rate evil sects employed despicable methods—playing dirty tricks might make things uncertain.
“If looking purely at normal challenges where both sides don’t play tricks, the Eternal Ancient Sect versus Demon Fiend Sect should be sixty-forty.”
“Evil sect forces have some unknown strange martial arts. I think it should be fifty-fifty.”
Half a month remained until the challenge between the two sects. Warriors from all sides, with nothing better to do, had already started predicting who would win or lose.
“Extra, extra!”
Several days later, more boys shouted through the streets and alleys: “Half a month from now, the Eternal Ancient Sect Master will lead disciples to challenge God-Slaying Hall at their doorstep!”
“Good grief! Challenging another third-rate evil sect? Only five days apart?”
“Sect Master Jun is planning something big!”
“Coincidentally, both evil sects had conflicts with the Eternal Ancient Sect. Is he telling the world he always repays his grudges?”
A fifth-rate sect consecutively challenging two third-rate evil sects—this had absolutely never occurred on the Starfall Continent before. So while various warriors discussed it, they also decided they must rush to the scene to spectate on the challenge day!
“Extra, extra!”
“The Eternal Ancient Sect, Demon Fiend Sect, and God-Slaying Hall have reached an agreement. All three parties will set up a no-rules arena at Mount Hua, deciding victory through life-and-death combat. Disciples, elders, and sect masters can all participate!”
Warriors from all sides who heard the news widened their eyes in unison.
From disciples to sect masters, deciding victory through life-and-death combat on a no-rules arena—this was definitely playing for high stakes!
“Kid, what other news do you have!”
Someone stopped the ‘newspaper boy’ to inquire. The boy said: “The Eternal Ancient Sect is taking on two opponents at once this time!”
“Taking on two at once?”
“Holy crap, Sect Master Jun is that audacious!”
“On a no-rules arena, evil sects will definitely use every underhanded tactic. Can the Eternal Ancient Sect handle it?”
“Thirty-seventy split!”
“Twenty-eighty split!”
Obvious arrows are easy to dodge, hidden arrows hard to guard against. Various warriors’ optimism for the Eternal Ancient Sect sharply declined.
…
Tianyu Royal City.
Mu Changhong, receiving the first-hand news, covered his forehead: “This guy won’t properly develop his sect. Jumping out to court death every few days—is he sick?”
Sick indeed.
Can’t Break Through Without Courting Death Syndrome.
After learning about it, Yi Tianxing and Situ Haoyun were equally devastated.
They knew the Eternal Ancient Sect had grudges with the two third-rate evil sects. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have eradicated both sects’ Southwest Yang Province branch halls years ago. But challenging such evil sect forces and playing no-rules life-and-death combat with them—had his brain been kicked by donkeys thousands of times?
“Palace Master.”
At the Miaohua Palace, Leng Xingyue said gravely: “Are we really going to Mount Hua?”
“Now. Immediately.” Xi Jingxuan said.
With the Eternal Ancient Sect challenging two evil sects, she definitely had to go. Though her eyes couldn’t see, she’d use her heart to cheer for them.
“Alas.”
Shangguan Fanghua said: “This boy is truly restless. To survive until now and build up the sect is simply a miracle.”
She hit the nail on the head.
If it were anyone else, they’d have died thousands of times. But Jun Changxiao had the system, was in perpetual cheat mode, plus had a group of protagonist-fated disciples, so he lived more comfortably and awesomely as time went on.
…
Demon Fiend Sect.
When the high-level members received Jun Changxiao’s reply letter, their mouths all curled into cold smiles.
Days ago, the Eternal Ancient Sect had sent a challenge letter saying they’d come challenge them. They were quite troubled, because the former’s momentum had grown, having won the Dragon-Tiger Contest championship. Their own sect might struggle to compete.
“Sect Master.”
An elder said: “Since the Eternal Ancient Sect came to challenge us, why don’t we leverage our strengths and play a no-rules life-and-death match?”
Evil sects’ strength lay in using any means necessary to kill their targets.
“Makes sense!” The Demon Fiend Sect Master adopted the suggestion and hastily wrote to the Eternal Ancient Sect. The general meaning was—since you’re coming to challenge us, this Sect Master warmly welcomes it, but let’s play a no-rules life-and-death match.
In his view, any normal sect would absolutely refuse such combat. But Jun Changxiao not only agreed, he set the location at Mount Hua and challenged both his sect and God-Slaying Hall simultaneously.
“Arrogant, presumptuous!”
“Or does he, Jun Changxiao, really think that defeating first-rate sects who sent ordinary disciples to the Dragon-Tiger Contest means he’s invincible?”
“On a no-rules life-and-death platform, our Demon Fiend Sect will definitely make this sect understand what it means to stop at nothing!”
…
“Sect Master.”
Li Qingyang said seriously: “Evil sect forces have many methods. This might be tricky.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Since it’s a no-rules life-and-death match, evil sects can play dirty, and our Eternal Ancient Sect can equally play dirty.”
“This…” Li Qingyang fell silent.
Jun Changxiao patted his shoulder: “Qingyang, your personality is magnanimous and benevolent, but you must also remember—on a true battlefield, even monkey-steals-peaches tactics must be used, because staying alive is more important than anything.”
Li Qingyang said: “This disciple understands!”
What an honest child.
Being gradually, subtly changed by Jun the Scoundrel.
“Depart!”
After eating a traveling meal, Jun Changxiao led everyone away from the sect toward Mount Hua.
He brought not just Li Qingyang and other disciples, but also Mo Shang, Ding Xingwang, and the newly recruited Purple Scale Demon King.
From the lineup, one could see.
Playing dirty? The Eternal Ancient Sect had people for that!
Speaking of Elder Ding—this old-generation evil cultivator could make young evil cultivators deeply understand what it meant when their strength was suppressed to Martial Master or Martial Ancestor level: your uncle will always be your uncle!