After Jun Changxiao finished negotiating with the two evil sect masters, he led his disciples away. At that moment, his mood was extremely comfortable, and he began singing along with the song playing from the sound system.
“Love what I love, without regret, this feeling—forever remains—in my heart—”
The disciples: “…”
“Sect Master!”
Li Fei pointed ahead, saying: “Palace Master Xi!”
“Hm?”
Jun Changxiao stopped his noise pollution, looking up to see that in the distance beneath a banyan tree, Xi Jingxuan stood quietly with Li’er’s support, the breeze stirring her robes. Her entire person appeared extraordinarily fresh and transcendent.
Very beautiful.
Like a fairy in a painting.
“Palace Master Xi.”
Jun Changxiao approached, smiling: “Why haven’t you left yet?”
“Waiting for Sect Master Jun.” Xi Jingxuan smiled.
“Uh.”
Jun Changxiao said: “We’re not really going the same way though, are we?”
Thank goodness romance expert Old Wei wasn’t present, or hearing the sect master say this, he would definitely kick him all the way to East Sea Fishing Province.
Xi Jingxuan smiled, saying: “After Sect Master Jun defeated two third-rate evil sects at the summit of Mount Hua this time, you will surely become famous across the land again. By then, Wangu Sect’s ranking on the Heroes Compete for Supremacy List will definitely rise again.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head, saying: “Jun here only wishes to develop the sect quietly. I’ve always viewed these competitive rankings quite indifferently.”
“Can’t the host survive without showing off?!” the system exclaimed in exasperation.
“Palace Master Xi.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Sect affairs are busy, so I’ll take my leave first.”
A trace of disappointment appeared on Xi Jingxuan’s face, but thinking that she also had many matters to handle upon returning, she smiled, saying: “Sect Master Jun, let’s catch up another time when we have the opportunity.”
“Farewell!”
“Farewell.”
In the eyes of various martial artists, this pair who seemed like a match made in heaven each led their disciples away.
On the road, Li Fei and the others muttered in their hearts—Miaohua Palace’s palace master clearly had feelings for the sect master, so why couldn’t he be more proactive and interact more?
…
As Xi Jingxuan had said, within days of Wangu Sect defeating Mosha Sect and Shishen Hall at Mount Hua through unrestricted life-and-death combat, the news spread completely throughout Xingyun Continent, setting off a new wave of discussion.
“Truly damn formidable!”
“Fighting so many matches, not a single disciple even got injured—that’s just too terrifying!”
“Especially that elder who challenged six elders alone and stabbed them all out!”
“Stabbed them out?”
“Right, stabbed their butts!”
“…”
When people gradually learned that the disciples and elders had repeatedly employed various underhanded tricks during their exchanges with the evil sects, they began discussing whether Wangu Sect was righteous or evil.
“If you say they’re righteous, the things they do are more evil than evil sects. If you say they’re evil, at the Dragon-Tiger Competition they only abused their opponents without harming lives.”
Ultimately, after intense debate, the world gave their judgment: Wangu Sect belonged to the category of both righteous and evil.
Sitting in his sect, Jun Changxiao learned of the evaluation given by the outside world and stroked his chin, saying: “Both righteous and evil—that’s acceptable.”
“Sect Master.”
Li Qingyang said: “Mosha Sect’s sect master and Shishen Hall’s hall master have arrived.”
“Quickly invite them in.”
Jun Changxiao very enthusiastically invited the two big shots over, then after settling the accounts, he specially ordered Liu Wanshi to prepare a table full of delicacies.
Although Sect Master Ren and Hall Master Han wore smiles on the surface, their hearts were actually bleeding. Even eating such delicious food, the more they ate the more bitter it tasted, the more sorrowful they became.
“Both of you.”
After three rounds of wine, Jun Changxiao raised his cup, saying: “To our friendship, drink this bowl!”
“…”
Sect Master Ren and Hall Master Han raised their cups. This banquet lasted only an hour, yet made them feel like days were passing like years, suffering through every moment.
When the feast concluded, Jun Changxiao drunkenly saw them to the mountain gate entrance, warmly grasping their hands and saying: “In the future, visit more during festivals and holidays to strengthen our relationship.”
Another hint!
It seemed they truly had to pay tribute!
“Of course.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Both of you are Jun Changxiao’s friends. Whoever dares trouble you is making an enemy of me, Jun Changxiao, and of my Wangu Sect!”
“…”
Sect Master Ren and Hall Master Han’s facial expressions were extremely colorful.
They finally understood completely—this fellow wasn’t asking them to pay yearly tribute, but yearly protection fees!
“Sect Master Jun, farewell.”
“Both of you, have a smooth journey.”
After seeing them off, Jun Changxiao expelled the alcohol from his body, completely regaining sobriety, and murmured: “I stated it so obviously, they should understand, right?”
The system said: “Why didn’t the host directly destroy these two third-rate evil sects and occupy all their resources?”
Jun Changxiao shook his head, saying: “Sects are different from schools—how could they be destroyed just like that? Moreover, these are two third-rate evil sects with prestige.”
Ever since conversing with that young man at Fenghua Valley, he had realized that person would definitely not be content hiding in the shadows—there would surely be major actions in the future.
Keeping the two third-rate evil sects and maintaining a ‘friendly’ relationship with them was also preparation for the future.
“Host extorted them so severely and even makes them pay protection fees—how could they genuinely befriend you?” the system said.
“Friendship is proven through actions.”
Jun Changxiao smiled, saying: “I will naturally find ways to make them acknowledge it.”
…
Half a month later.
The latest Heroes Compete for Supremacy List was released, with Wangu Sect advancing from position 98 to position 90.
Upon receiving the news, Jun Changxiao slumped in his chair, exclaiming in exasperation: “We defeated two third-rate evil sects and only advanced single digits?”
“This is already quite good.”
Li Luoqiu said: “I’ve observed recent ranking changes on the list. Some sects with decent potential have only advanced one or two positions.”
It was good indeed.
But Sect Master Jun was anxious, after all, the epic quest required ranking above 80—there was still a gap of 10 positions.
No good, no good.
He had to continue courting death, continue challenging other sects.
Jun Changxiao calmed down, saying: “Currently speaking, stepping on two third-rate evil sects only gained 8 positions. To advance further, I’m afraid I’ll have to target second-rate sects!”
“Sect Master.”
Ning Duxing entered, saying: “The day for opening the mountain gate to recruit disciples is approaching. Are there any special instructions?”
Jun Changxiao said: “For this recruitment, moderately relax the assessment standards and increase disciple numbers to thirty thousand.”
“Understood.”
The Ning brothers also noticed that the sect master seemed very concerned about sect member numbers, so when opening the mountain gate to recruit disciples, they lowered the assessment difficulty considerably.
Consequently, nearly five thousand disciples successfully passed and became entry-level disciples of Wangu Sect.
“Ding! Sect members: 30,291/50,000.”
“Ding! Sect contribution value: 17,510/50,000.”
“Hall Master Li.”
After hearing the notification, Jun Changxiao went to Xiyu Hall and instructed: “Notify Executive Zhao at Qingyang City’s certification hall and have him come to certify the sect’s grade.”
“Mm.”
Before long, Executive Zhao at Qingyang City’s certification hall received the message and hastily notified the main certification hall at Tianyu Royal City.
“Hall Master.”
Elder Zhou said: “Qingyang City sent word that Wangu Sect wants to certify their sect grade.”
“Certifying again?” Yi Tianxing was astonished and hastily instructed: “You and Elder Zhen hurry over there.”
“Yes!”
Elder Zhou and Elder Zhen left delightedly, especially thinking that they could soon eat that food they dreamed about day and night—their mouths were practically drooling already.
—