The Strongest Sect of All Times

Sect Head Jun was just considering whether he should summon the Irretractable Sabre and fight the Holy Spring Sect’s Third Elder, but didn’t expect that the Azure Mountain Sect’s Elder Ma would show up at the critical moment. 

“Hoo!” He secretly relaxed and said, “I saved a Seal-Opening Talisman.”

Elder Ma Yunteng walked over, standing shoulder to shoulder with Jun Changxiao. With a smile, he said, “Young Friend Jun, when separating in Qingyang City, I didn’t expect to meet again so quickly.”

Jun Changxiao clasped his hands in greeting. “Qingyang Commandery is too small, you may meet by chance anywhere.”

“Hahaha,” Ma Yunteng laughed loudly. “What a good phrase, you may meet by chance anywhere!”

The expressions of Qin Haoran and the others rapidly changed. 

Elder Ma called Jun Changxiao ‘Young Friend Jun’, speaking and laughing together, meaning that the relationship between the two was significant!

Hateful!

When did the small Ironbone Sect hug the Azure Mountain Sect’s thigh?

Jun Changxiao did not hug someone’s thigh, but had given Ma Yunteng some pointers, making the elder quite grateful. Hearing about the exchange with the Holy Spring Sect, he hurried over with some people. 

By the way, Ma Yunteng truly arrived at a perfect time. 

Otherwise, once our great Sect Head Jun summoned that 40 meter long sabre, it would be very hard to recover. 

The three Holy Spring Sect elders had slightly ugly expressions. 

The Azure Mountain Sect rushing over at this time, was it so they could support the Ironbone Sect?

“Elder Si.” Ma Yunteng lightly said, “Although you and Young Friend Jun are elder and sect leader, but a Martial Ancestor against a Martial Apprentice… Are you not ashamed?”

“Hpmh.” Elder Si’s voice was cold as he responded, “This Si was only joking just now, Elder Ma should not take it seriously.”

Ha, ha, ha (sarcastic). [1]

It was a joke since the Azure Mountain Sect arrived; if they hadn’t, it definitely would not have been a joke. 

“So it’s like that.” Ma Yunteng acted like he had been suddenly enlightened. “Like I said, how could a Martial Ancestor possibly challenge a Martial Apprentice?”

Alliance Chief Qin and the other sect leaders immediately realized that the Azure Mountain Sect was here to support the Ironbone Sect and had to sigh; having a thigh to hug truly was great. 

Elder Si’s gaze became a little uncertain. 

The similarly fifth-grade Azure Mountain Sect was not any weaker than his Holy Spring Sect. If they really wanted to protect the Ironbone Sect, he feared that acting here and now would have no good results. 

“Elder Si,” Ma Yunteng said. “About the matter regarding the Spirit Spring Sect, this Ma has heard a bit. Has your Holy Spring Sect sent people here on a punitive expedition?”

Elder Si cooly responded, “Elder Ma should not misunderstand. The Wei Clan brothers have been expelled and no longer have any connection with my Holy Spring Sect. This trip is just to compare notes with the Ironbone Sect, not some punitive expedition.”

The two talked very casually, but there was a needle-sharp feeling. 

Worthy of fifth-grade sects. It was just a verbal confrontation, but it felt like two experts were exchanging moves!

Glancing at Mo Shangfei, who had fainted on the training grounds, Ma Yunfeng said, “If I did not guess wrong, your honorable sect’s disciple seems to have been defeated. Has victory and defeat in this exchange not been decided?”

When he mentioned this, the three Holy Spring Sect elders’ expressions became uglier. 

Jun Changxiao seized the opportunity to say, “Elder Si, if you are not satisfied, we can send more disciples up to have some friendly exchanges and compare notes.”

“No need.” Elder Si grimaced, “If it is fated in the future, they can compare notes then.”

Mo Shangfei was the most outstanding inner disciple he had brought today, but had been punched into unconsciousness. If the other disciples went up, they would definitely be at a disadvantage. 

Elder Si glanced meaningfully at the other two elders, then clasped his hands in a slight bow. “Elder Ma, there are still matters to finish in the sect, I will say goodbye first.”

Saying that, he walked away.

Probably because he was suppressing a lot of anger, he didn’t greet Alliance Chief Qin and the others at all. 

“Wait a moment.”

However, just as he got to the entrance, Jun Changxiao called out. 

Elder Si stopped but did not turn around. “Sect Head Jun, what is the matter?”

Jun Changxiao was also facing away from him, head down and rubbing his hands together. “My Ironbone Sect’ first sect rule is: not to reciprocate is against etiquette.”

It changed again, quickly remember it. 

Li Qingyang and Su Xiaomo closed their eyes, engraving the latest ‘first sect rule’ into their memories. 

If the situation permitted, they might even have written the line down on a small notebook. 

Not to reciprocate is against etiquette? Elder Si seriously asked, “Sect Head Jun, what do you mean by this?”

Jun Changxiao touched his nose. “A year later, this Lord will personally lead disciples to compare notes with your Holy Spring Sect.”

Xie Guangkun and the others were immediately wide-eyed. 

Although there was a deadline of one year, that was still a challenge against the Holy Spring Sect!

An eighth-grade sect against a fifth-grade sect was absolutely unprecedented and would likely not have a repeat!

Elder Si dismissively said, “Sect Head Jun, if I use coarse words: Your Ironbone Sect really does not have the qualifications to compare notes with my Holy Spring Sect.”

Indeed. 

The disparity between an eighth-grade and a fifth-grade sect was too big. 

Jun Changxiao smiled lightly. “We do not have the qualifications now, but that does not mean we will not have the qualifications in the future.”

“Alright!” Elder Si quite happily agreed. “My Holy Spring Sect accepts this challenge. In a year, Sect Head Jun and disciples will visit Holy Spring Mountain and compare notes with my disciples.”

“But…” His eyes were deep and chilling as he added, “When the time comes, Sect Head Jun must not retract from this agreement.”

Jun Changxiao said, “Elder Si please do not worry, my Ironbone Sect’s first rule is ‘civility, harmony, integrity, and friendliness’, we naturally will not do something like failing to keep our word.”

The martial artists listening felt their mouths twitching. 

Even more, they really wanted to ask: Sect Head Jun, how many ‘first sect rules’ does your Ironbone Sect have?

Elder Si indifferently said, “A year later, my Holy Spring Sect will respectfully await your honorable Ironbone Sect’s visit!”

Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he led the elders and disciples off with a huff. 

They had originally come as a big crowd to punish the Ironbone Sect, but their inner sect disciple had gone up to fight and been punched unconscious — he even had to be carried off. This was a big loss of dignity, so it was not strange to be angry. 

…

With the Holy Spring Sect gone, the show had also ended. 

Various sect leaders walked over, bidding Ma Yuntung goodbye one by one with a smile. 

However, when Qin Haoran reached the entrance, Jun Changxiao said, “Alliance Chief Qin, after a period of time, my Ironbone Sect will also visit the Vast Spirit Gate to compare notes.”

“Hmph.” Qin Haoran coldly responded, “This Qin will be waiting.”

After he and the various sect leaders left, Xie Guangkun walked over and clasped his fist to Elder Ma. With a shake of his head, he said, “Sect Head Jun, you first set a one year agreement with the Holy Spring Sect, then challenged the Vast Spirit Gate. Isn’t this antagonizing everyone?”

Jun Changxiao responded, “City Lord Xie, do you think that my Ironbone Sect can peacefully coexist with the Hundred Sects Alliance and Alliance Chief Qin?”

“It cannot,” Xie Guangkun admitted. 

From the moment this guy called Qin Haoran a dog, both sides had decided to forgo all pretenses. In the future, if the two sects ever met in the wild, they would be sorry for the bitter resentment they had created. 

Jun Changxiao shrugged. “Since they are enemies, why not set up a challenge and let everyone know?”

Hearing these words, Xie Guangkun was suddenly enlightened and immediately held his thumb up, praising, “Sect Head Jun’s move is wise, this Xie admires, admires!

As long as news of the agreement with Alliance Chief Qin passed along Jianghu, regardless of whether it was the Vast Spirit Gate or another Alliance member, no one would straightforwardly make trouble for the Ironbone Sect, otherwise it would be considered intervening in a personal argument.

This was a good development. 

But Xie Guangkun also knew, with a challenge agreed upon, the Ironbone Sect could avoid harassment from the Alliance, but they would have to take on the challenge sooner or later. Sect Head Jun and his Ironbone Sect, could they defeat the sixth-grade Vast Spirit Sect at the appointed time?

[1] raws use 呵呵哒 (he-he-da), which is used to convey derision or child-like laughter