On the Grudge Stage, Life and Death Are Irrelevant

Jun Changxiao knew nothing about the Spirit Spring Sect, so he smiled and asked, "Is there something you need?"

"Of course there is."

Wei Yinu strode over, his gaze filled with disdain as he said, "You beat up my Spirit Spring Sect disciples; how could you possibly expect to leave so easily?"

"What?"

"He beat up Spirit Spring Sect disciples?"

"The Iron Bone Sect is in trouble now!"

"Last year, a disciple from an eighth-rate sect beat up a Spirit Spring Sect disciple, and the sect leader had to personally lead the entire sect to apologize."

"What happened after that?"

"The disciple who did the beating had his cultivation crippled and was expelled, and the sect had to pay a large sum of silver to the Spirit Spring Sect."

"So, the Iron Bone Sect is really in big trouble!"

The crowd whispered among themselves, looking at Jun Changxiao with a hint of sympathy.

A deacon from the Long Saber Sect let out a cold snort, thinking to himself, Provoking the Spirit Spring Sect is the same as provoking the King of Hell. Kid, just wait for your misfortune.

Other martial artists had paid to have Jun Changxiao provide martial arts guidance, but he and the Tiger Roar Sect disciples had not; after all, they had mocked him the most fiercely and had no face to go and ask for advice.

Now that a Spirit Spring Sect elder had appeared, it instantly triggered their twisted psychology, and they hoped to witness that guy being ruthlessly humiliated and bullied.

"So, you are from the Spirit Spring Sect."

Jun Changxiao feigned realization and nodded, saying, "That's right, I beat them. I beat... let me count." He calculated, "There should be five of them, right?"

Five?

The corners of the martial artists' mouths twitched.

Last year, when an eighth-rate sect disciple beat up just one, the sect leader had to lead the entire sect to offer an apology. You beat up five—I'm afraid you don't even have a chance for reconciliation anymore!

Wei Yinu said indifferently, "Since Sect Leader Jun admits it, I, Wei, will seek justice today for the disciples who were beaten."

"Ding!"

"Side Quest triggered!"

Another quest?

Jun Changxiao hurriedly pulled up his attribute panel and saw the side quest: Teach the Spirit Spring Sect elder who came to cause trouble a lesson 0/1 [Elite Mission].

"Elite Mission?"

As someone from Earth, Sect Leader Jun had played online games, which featured elite missions that usually required players to take down a mini-boss.

Elite missions were typically difficult, but if completed, the rewards were usually very generous.

This is interesting, very interesting! Jun Changxiao closed his attribute panel, rubbed his nose, and said, "Your disciples harassed the female disciples of my sect. This Seat is kind-hearted, so I only gave them a small punishment. How dare you have the nerve to come here and demand justice from me?"

The martial artists from the various sects were all stunned.

The Iron Bone Sect leader even used profanity; isn't he afraid of infuriating the other party and letting the situation escalate to a point where it can no longer be mediated?

One came specifically to cause trouble, and the other wanted to complete a quest.

Mediation?

It didn't exist.

The Long Saber Sect deacon and the Tiger Roar Sect disciples were secretly delighted.

Daring to curse in front of a hot-tempered Spirit Spring Sect elder is definitely a classic way to court death!

Sure enough.

Wei Yinu's face darkened, his eyes flashing with rage as he said, "Kid, you're fucking looking for death!"

"Crack!"

He clenched his fists, and twelve rays of light appeared on his wrists.

"Tch."

Jun Changxiao said disdainfully, "I thought a Spirit Spring Sect elder would be some big shot, but you're just a piece of trash at the Meridian Opening Twelve Stages."

The crowd was speechless.

You're a sect leader yourself, yet your strength is at most at the Meridian Opening Five Stages; how do you have the nerve to call someone else that!

Hearing the word 'trash', Wei Yinu's anger flared even higher. He pointed to the side and said, "You little brat, if you have the guts, follow me to the Grudge Stage!"

"Swish! Swish!"

The crowd scattered, revealing a stone platform about ten meters long and three meters high not far behind them.

This was the Grudge Stage of Qingyang City.

There was one in each of the four districts; martial artists were not allowed to fight in the city, so if they had any grudges, they could resolve them on the stage.

"Elder Wei is issuing a challenge!"

The crowd exclaimed in shock.

In a world where martial arts reign supreme, a challenge issued by one martial artist to another is a grave and serious matter.

"Will Sect Leader Jun accept the challenge?"

"The disparity in strength is too great, so he has the right to refuse. Although Sect Leader Jun has rich Martial Arts Experience, his cultivation is very low. He shouldn't accept it, right?"

"That may be true, but he is a sect leader. Since Elder Wei has issued a challenge, based on their equivalent ranks, he must accept!"

As the crowd discussed, they kept their eyes on Jun Changxiao. After all, no matter how much they speculated, the decision to accept or decline rested solely with him.

"Sect Leader."

Li Qingyang leaned in and whispered, "On the Grudge Stage, life and death are not guaranteed."

"You're kidding, right?"

Jun Changxiao's expression shifted slightly.

Li Qingyang looked at Wei Yinu and said, "Let this disciple accept his challenge on your behalf."

Jun Changxiao shook his head and said, "Since an elder has issued the challenge, how could I let a disciple risk their life to fight in my stead?"

As he spoke, he strode toward the Grudge Stage with long, purposeful strides.

"He accepted!"

"Sect Leader Jun actually accepted!"

"With his level of cultivation, he's definitely going to be beaten to a pulp by Elder Wei!"

Martial artists from various sects chattered noisily.

Among them were those with ulterior motives intentionally stirring the pot, such as the deacons from the Long Saber Sect and the disciples of the Tiger Roar Sect.

"This is too reckless!" Lu Qianqian frowned, her willow-leaf brows knitting together.

The Spirit Spring Sect elder possessed the strength of the Meridian Opening Twelve Stages, while Jun Changxiao was only at the Meridian Opening Five Stages. With such a massive gap, wasn't going up there just asking for death?

The newly joined disciples also grew anxious. Their sect leader was brilliant in terms of martial arts knowledge, but his cultivation was a bit low. How could he possibly face a Spirit Spring Sect elder who was nearly at the level of a Martial Apprentice?

When Jun Changxiao stepped onto the Grudge Stage, neither the martial artists from the other sects nor his own disciples held any hope for him.

"Hahaha!" Wei Yinu also stepped onto the Grudge Stage and laughed loudly, "Kid, if you had played the coward, I might have let you off. Since you've stepped onto the stage, prepare yourself for death."

"Is that so?"

Jun Changxiao remained unimpressed.

This brat is actually this calm? It's time to let him know the true strength of this elder!

Wei Yinu rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists, his muscles bulging and veins standing out prominently.

"Elder Wei specializes in physical training. Even without the aid of any Martial Technique, a single punch from him can shatter a two-thousand-pound boulder!"

"My god!"

The crowd gasped in unison.

A martial artist at the Meridian Opening Twelve Stages, including their own internal strength, could shatter a fifteen-hundred-pound boulder—that was already considered incredibly fierce!

"That's nothing."

A Spirit Spring Sect disciple said proudly, "Our Elder Wei once killed a fierce beast comparable to a Martial Apprentice with his bare hands out in the wild!"

"What?!"

The crowd was stunned beyond belief.

To kill a Martial Apprentice-level beast with bare hands while only at the Meridian Opening stage was absolutely terrifying!

Although the beast he killed had been injured, seeing the shock on the faces of the martial artists from the various sects, Wei Yinu wore a look of immense smugness.

However, when he looked at Jun Changxiao, he found him holding up his pinky finger, busy—picking his nose!

Gack!

The martial artists from the various sects stood frozen like wooden chickens.

On the sacred and solemn Grudge Stage, that guy was actually doing something so indecent in front of everyone!

Even more outrageously, he flicked a large clump of it onto the toe of the Spirit Spring Sect elder's shoe.

"Ahhh!"

Wei Yinu felt as if he had suffered the greatest humiliation. He roared in fury and lunged forward, throwing a right fist condensed with all his power.

"Whoosh!"

The angry strike, infused with his Twelve Stages of cultivation, instantly created a visible shockwave!

Jun Changxiao stood with his hands behind his back, looking completely indifferent.

"Sect Leader..."

Li Qingyang's expression was grave.

Even the usually cold Lu Qianqian showed a rare flicker of worry on her face.

"It's over!"

"If that guy gets hit, he'll either be dead or crippled!"

"Boom!"

A dull thud echoed out, whipping up gusts of wind that sent everyone's hair, sleeves, and robes fluttering wildly.