Li Qingyang was regarded as a peerless genius by every sect, and his future achievements would at the very least begin at the Martial King level.
As for the Iron Bone Sect, every sect considered it a joke. It might disband tomorrow and become an inconspicuous grain of dust in history.
The gap between the number-one genius and a trash sect was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth!
Yet no one had expected Li Qingyang to stop before the Iron Bone Sect's entrance and take the initiative to speak!
For a moment, everyone's eyes focused on Jun Changxiao. They all secretly wondered what virtue or ability this rookie sect leader possessed to make a genius willingly approach him for a conversation.
The flattering smiles on the Long Saber Sect deacon and Tiger Roar Sect disciples' faces had frozen solid.
Qingyang City's foremost genius had not glanced at them even once from beginning to end, yet now he stood beside the leader of a trash sect, speaking with him.
Was this a dream?
Deacon Sun raised a hand and fiercely pinched his own face, immediately feeling pain.
It was not a dream. It was real!
Li Qingyang, who possessed a High-grade Spirit Root and had dared to refuse a Fifth-rate Sect, was truly speaking with the Iron Bone Sect's leader!
"Correct."
Jun Changxiao said, "I am the sect leader of the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect."
Everyone sneered disdainfully.
What gave the leader of a trash sect the confidence to introduce himself before a genius without panic, unhurried and unruffled?
Young Master Li was strange too.
Why had he taken the initiative to speak with that man in public? Was he not afraid of tarnishing his identity as the number-one genius?
In the eyes of the various sects, the Iron Bone Sect was trash. Trash ought to remain in a garbage bin tucked away in some corner; it should not become the center of everyone's attention.
To put it bluntly.
This was jealousy.
Why would a genius standing high above everyone else refuse to speak with them or anyone else, yet insist on speaking to a piece of trash?
Li Qingyang cupped his hands and said with considerable embarrassment, "Earlier in the wilderness, I was in too much of a hurry to return home and left without even offering my thanks. That was truly discourteous. I hope Sect Leader will forgive me."
Gasp.
The martial artists from every sect were dumbfounded again.
The tone of Qingyang City's foremost genius clearly showed that he was apologizing to that fellow!
Even Lu Qianqian beside them was full of astonishment.
It was hard to imagine that the most outstanding genius of a city would apologize to a sect leader, especially in such a setting. Had his brain gone bad?
See? See?
Good deeds were still rewarded!
Jun Changxiao broke into a radiant smile, and his earlier irritation vanished like smoke in the wind.
He shrugged and said with an indifferent expression, "Young Master Li, it was merely a trivial matter. If you had not mentioned it, I would have forgotten."
Lu Qianqian: "..."
She clearly remembered her sect leader muttering under his breath just moments ago, "That guy has a High-grade Spirit Root but no character. Looking at him pisses me off!"
Li Qingyang smiled. "Could you explain the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect to me?"
What?
The eyes of the martial artists from every sect nearly popped out of their sockets.
Qingyang City's foremost genius actually wanted to learn about the Iron Bone Sect. Could it be that he intended to join it?
The Tiger Roar Sect disciples' expressions became exceptionally ugly at that moment. Earlier, in order to mock Jun Changxiao, they had deliberately made a small wager.
What had they wagered on?
They had wagered that once the Hundred Sects Recruitment began, no one would ask about the Iron Bone Sect.
And now?
Not only had someone come to inquire, it was Qingyang City's foremost genius, Li Qingyang!
That slap to the face truly rang out with resounding smack! smack!
"Ding!"
"Side Quest triggered!"
Just as everyone was stunned, a system notification sounded beside Jun Changxiao's ear.
He hurriedly opened the Sect System panel and saw the Side Quest—
Explain the glorious history of the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect and persuade Qingyang City's foremost genius to join.
Jun Changxiao could accept the task of persuading Li Qingyang, but what the hell was this glorious history of the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect?
A sect that had not been established for many years.
A nobody sect with only one disciple.
What glorious history could it possibly have!
Or was it that Sect Leader Wang had been arrested for visiting a brothel, then beheaded after failing to break out of prison, and that was the most glorious event in the sect's entire history?
This Side Quest was not reliable at all!
Although Jun Changxiao was inwardly collapsing, his brain began spinning madly in order to complete the quest and obtain Contribution Points.
The Iron Bone Unyielding Sect might not have any glorious history, but he could make one up!
After racking his brains, Jun Changxiao said, "Young Master Li, in the eyes of the secular world, my Iron Bone Unyielding Sect is nothing more than a nobody sect."
Everyone snorted in unison.
Since this fellow had such self-awareness, why had he shamelessly come to participate in the Hundred Sects Recruitment?
"However."
Jun Changxiao's expression suddenly turned solemn as he said, "In truth, my Iron Bone Unyielding Sect was once an Ancient Sect with a long history and profound foundations!"
"An Ancient Sect?"
"Pfft, hahaha! Stop joking!"
"It is clearly a sect that was casually established, yet he dares to drag it all the way back to ancient times. There is really something wrong with this guy's brain!"
The martial artists of the various sects laughed at him mercilessly.
Lu Qianqian, standing behind him, felt black lines rise across her forehead.
To tie the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect to an Ancient Sect, how thick did her sect leader's skin need to be? How much courage did it take to say that?
Li Qingyang said with interest, "Could you explain in detail?"
"..."
Everyone's mouths twitched.
Could Qingyang City's foremost genius possibly be mentally unsound, to listen to this fellow's nonsense?
That was it. That had to be it.
What normal person would refuse a Fifth-rate sect and inquire about a nobody sect?
"Young Master Li."
Jun Changxiao said, "Have you heard of the East Sea?"
Li Qingyang nodded. "I have."
To the east of the Starfall Continent lay a vast ocean, filled with countless sea beasts. It was an extremely dangerous region.
Jun Changxiao said, "At the end of the East Sea lies an Aalai Kingdom. Have you heard of it?"
"Aolai Kingdom?"
Li Qingyang shook his head. "I have only heard of the East Sea from books and have never truly been there, so I did not know a kingdom existed there."
It was not merely that he did not know.
Even the Cangshan Sect Elder present had never heard of the Aolai Kingdom.
Jun Changxiao said, "Within that Aolai Kingdom stand two divine mountains. One is Flower-Fruit Mountain, and the other is Iron Bone Mountain. Our Iron Bone Unyielding Sect originated from Iron Bone Mountain. Its first sect leader was named Sun Wukong, and his immortal title was the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"
This guy had dragged Journey to the West into it!
Though it was awkward as hell, the martial artists of the Starfall Continent had never heard of it and were left utterly bewildered by his bluff.
Some even secretly wondered whether the East Sea truly contained an Aolai Kingdom and an Iron Bone Mountain.
"What utter nonsense!"
At that moment, the Cangshan Sect Elder walked over and said, "The East Sea is perilous beyond measure. Even Martial Emperors would not dare venture deep within it. None of the records surviving in the world have ever mentioned the Aolai Kingdom, much less Iron Bone Mountain!"
"Exactly!"
"I have read extensively since childhood and am well versed in astronomy and geography, yet I have never heard of an Aolai Kingdom or Iron Bone Mountain in the East Sea!"
"This fellow is obviously making up stories!"
"Damn it, does he take us for three-year-old children?"
Everyone felt their intelligence had been insulted and became extremely angry.
"Old man."
Jun Changxiao said blandly, "All I can say is that you know absolutely nothing about the Starfall Continent."
"..."
Everyone's mouths twitched.
A rookie at the Pulse Opening level actually claimed that the Cangshan Sect Elder knew nothing!
"Fine! Fine!"
Suppressing his anger, the Cangshan Sect Elder said coldly, "This old man is ignorant, then. I would like to ask Sect Leader Jun: what sort of figure is this Sun Wukong you speak of, and under whom did he study?"
Making up stories?
Then he would question him deeply until he exposed his own lies!
Before you continue