The Strongest Sect of All Times

The Holy Spring Sect left, Qin Haoran and the others also left. 

Although they did not leave together, both groups were similarly suppressing fury. 

Those who had gathered to watch the show were all in shock. 

Ironbone’s Li Qingyang, a Fourth Stage Martial Apprentice, had defeated an Eighth Stage Martial Apprentice — this was absolutely valiant!

What was more astounding was that Jun Changxiao was fearless before the colossus known as the Holy Spring Sect, unexpectedly setting a challenge for a year later, agreeing to compare notes with the Holy Spring Sect!

He… was he insane?

That was what all the martial artists were thinking as they walked the mountain roads. 

The disciple gained victory with a special martial skill, which was still understandable. But an eighth-sect challenging a fifth-grade sect was absolutely ridiculous!

“The Ironbone Sect’s leader sure has courage, daring to challenge the Holy Spring Sect!”

“This is really overestimating himself.”

“In my opinion, he won’t even be able to pass Alliance Chief Qin, let alone go to the Holy Spring Sect.”

“This guy didn’t set a concrete time limit. Who the hell knows when he’s going to the Vast Spirit Gate.”

“Ever since this Sect Head Jun became somewhat famous during the Hundred Sects Recruitment, our Qinyang Commandery hasn’t had any tranquil days.”

Many martial artists were discussing amongst themselves, but were actually anticipating the day when Jun Changxiao would lead his disciples to the Vast Spirit Gate, which was hopefully sooner rather than later. 

After all, cultivation was quite a boring profession. Things like this added some spice. 

Moreover…

It wasn’t good for Jianghu to be peacefully static. 

…

Outside the ruins of the Spirit Spring Sect. 

Jun Changxiao walked out, gratefully saluting, “Elder Ma, thank you for your prompt arrival. Otherwise this Jun does not how he would have faced the Holy Spring Sect.”

Ma Yunteng smiled. “My Azure Mountain Sect is also in Qingyang Commandery, and I naturally cannot tolerate the Holy Spring Sect insulting Young Friend Jun.”

Jun Changxiao solemnly said, “This Jun will remember your help today. If Elder Ma needs my Ironbone Sect in the future, I will surely not hesitate to assist!”

His principle was: If you are bad to me, I will be worse to you. If you are good to me, I will be better to you. 

Moreover, the Azure Mountain Sect had a good background. If the two sects could become friends, it was a nice, thick thigh to hug onto. 

Jun Changxiao would not hold onto a thigh on his own initiative, but if a thigh was extended, he would certainly take it. If he went about everything like plucking leg hair, then his brain had definitely been smashed by a door.

Elder Ma smiled. “Sect Head Jun, this Ma has something to request.”

“Please say,” Jun Changxiao said. 

Elder Ma looked at his disciples behind them. “These good-for-nothing disciples have encountered some problems on the Martial Way. I ask Young Friend Jun to give them some pointers.”

Jun Changxiao said, “No problem.”

Saying that, he crushed a basic Insight Talisman and began to listen to the Azure Mountain Sect’s disciples one by one, giving them the most accurate pointers and suggestions. 

Hmn…

Yeah.

He also conveniently learned some of the Azure Mountain Sect’s martial skills. 

This could not be blamed on him, as with the Insight Talisman, as long as he received a cultivation technique, he could comprehend it within a minute. 

Naturally, these mysterious comprehension skills had a drawback, which was that the talisman would only work on martial skills from Falling Star Great Continent and not on the system’s.

Jun Changxiao wanted to use the Insight Talisman to comprehend the system’s martial skills, but that was impossible. But this was still alright because the three skills that he had obtained were not too difficult to study. 

…

After a bit more than ten minutes, all the Azure Mountain Sect disciples had been directed in turn. Each and every one of them was lost in thought, having suddenly been enlightened on the Martial Way. 

The nearby Xie Guangkun was dumbfounded. 

A fifth-grade sect’s disciples had unexpectedly been enlightened by an eighth-grade sect’s leader — that was something really inconceivable!

He walked closer, a little flustered. “Sect Head Jun, this Xie also has some problems on the Martial Way. I do not know whether you could dispel my doubts?”

“Please speak,” Jun Changxiao said. 

In the arena just now, City Lord Xie had come forward to persuade him. But he knew that this was in support of himself and therefore did not mind, willing to provide pointers. 

Xie Guangkun was cultivating a type of fist art, which he demonstrated on site. 

Jun Changxiao was silent for a moment, before giving specialized technical guidance and slightly modified how the fist technique could be learned. 

Naturally. 

He also learned the martial skill for himself. 

The improvement made City Lord Xie stunned. He eventually raised a thumbs-up, exclaiming, “Sect Head Jun’s minor adjustment has untied this Xie’s many years of confusion, your ability is quite divine!”

Jun Changxiao humbly responded, “This Lord only has a little knowledge of the Martial Way, it is not worth mentioning. Later on, I will have to rely upon City Lord Xie.”

When he should be arrogant, he was arrogant. But when it was time to build relations he had to make good connections. After all, the path he had to walk was still long. If he offended the entire world, unless he had the protagonist’s halo, his ending would be miserable. 

Xie Guangkun was an experienced player, so how could he not understand Jun Changxiao’s meaning? He therefore seriously said, “Sect Head Jun, do not worry. So long as you are within the boundaries of Qingyang City, whoever dares to act against your Ironbone Sect will become my Qingyang City’s 3.6 million people’s enemy!”

He pulled out the ‘3.6 million people’ at the earliest convenience; this City Lord was a little cute. 

However, how could he think that some day in the future, when flames of war spread across Qingyang Commandery, when tens of thousands of soldiers surrounded Qingyang City, this hot-blooded man and his disciples would stand upon the city walls, guarding the 3.6 million people with their iron bones.

…

With all the disciples directed, only needing personal comprehension, Ma Yunteng bid them farewell. But before he left, he handed over 1 million taels, as a thank you for the pointers. 

Jun Changxiao was amazed. “He just handed out 1 million taels, Elder Ma is really rich!”

Xie Guangkun said, “Although they live secluded in the Azure Mountains, the Azure Mountain Sect is quite active in Jianghu. They have business in every city, which is handled by Elder Ma; their financial resources cannot be belittled.”

“Really.”

Jun Changxiao secretly thought, Regardless of the previous world or this different world, those surnamed ‘Ma’ are all very extraordinary.

The system said, [Go call him ‘daddy’ then.]

“Fuck off.”

Jun Changxiao led his disciples and descended the mountain with Xie Guangkun, returning to Qingyang City together. 

As for Xiao Zuiji and Ye Xingchen on the steep slope, they continued with their wilderness expedition. 

…

Soon, the news regarding the Ironbone Sect’s exchange with the Holy Spring Sect in a year spread through the entire Qingyang Commandery, raising another wave of unrest!

“Did you hear about the thing with the Spirit Spring Sect?”

That had become the conversation starter among martial artists. Those who said they had not heard of it yet were fucking losers [1], scorned by everyone else. 

A one-year agreement. 

This did not stay within Qingyang Commandery, but also passed on to other commanderies. 

After the various families and sect learned of the news one after another, they not only remembered the name of the obscure Ironbone Sect, but also agreed that this was just looking for death!

In fact, the reason Jun Changxiao dared to make this challenge was similar to how Xiao Zuiji had a three-year agreement — to set a goal for himself; for example, defeating a fifth-grade sect in one year.

He did not consider an eighth-grade or seventh-grade sect to start off, directly setting the goal as a fifth-grade — this was courageous. 

If you did not become stronger in the face of death, then my condolences, I will sing ‘Bracing the Chill’ for you in Hell [2].

This was very exciting!

After returning to the sect, Jun Changxiao called together all the disciples. 

“A year later, we will head to the Holy Spring Sect for a martial exchange. Your mission is to unceasingly grow stronger. Tell this Lord loudly, can you do that?”

“We can!”

The disciples joined their hands behind their backs and shouted. 

“OK, dismissed.”

[1] raws use 死肥宅, which directly translates to ‘fat otaku’, but it’s a mean/derogatory way to call someone a homebody

[2] raws say 唱凉凉, which lit. translates to ‘sing Liang Liang (“Bracing the Chill'’); “Bracing the Chill” is the ending theme to the show Eternal Love, which is a sad romance drama about a couple torn apart by fate. So to sing “Bracing the Chill” is to show your condolences.