"Have you heard? The Iron Bone Unyielding Sect, whose sect leader was arrested by the authorities for frequenting brothels and then beheaded after a failed prison break, has come to participate in this year's Hundred Sects Recruitment!"
"No way, that sect still exists?"
"A young man with something wrong in his head calls himself the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect's second sect leader. I reckon his cultivation is no higher than the Second Stage of Pulse Opening."
"Someone at the Second Stage of Pulse Opening has the nerve to inherit a sect leadership? Then wouldn't those of us at the third or fourth stage be able to claim a mountain and establish our own sects?"
Jun Changxiao stood before the city gates, striking a chuuni pose and delivering those flamboyant words, instantly stirring up heated discussion throughout Qingyang City.
Of course, they discussed it only as a joke.
Back when Sect Leader Wang had developed the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect, it still possessed a trace of prestige. Now that the man was gone, the tea had gone cold as well. It was already not bad if people still remembered it.
Walking through Qingyang City's streets, hearing their discussions and seeing the scornful looks cast his way, Jun Changxiao felt deeply saddened.
Though he was the sect leader of a sect, his treatment was no different from a protagonist who had transmigrated into the body of trash and was mocked and ridiculed by everyone.
No, no.
At least after transmigrating, those people activated their cheat and embarked upon the pinnacle road of beating geniuses into submission, trampling Gods and Devils beneath their feet, and marrying rich, beautiful women.
What about him?
He did have a system, but the damn thing had also strapped a bomb to him, as though it feared his death would not be tragic enough or varied enough.
Lu Qianqian said, "Sect Leader, do you feel like finding a crack in the ground and crawling into it right now?"
This woman.
Could she not offer some comfort to this injured heart of mine?
"Haa!"
Jun Changxiao let out a long breath and smiled. "Rest assured, I have weathered great winds and waves. How could I care about other people's private gossip?"
"Great winds and waves?"
Lu Qianqian murmured, "I'm afraid you've never even left Qingyang Village from childhood to adulthood."
Heh heh.
I died once already. Was that not enough wind and waves for you?
Jun Changxiao could not be bothered with this cold, sharp-tongued woman and strode toward the west side of the city, where the Hundred Sects Recruitment was being held.
Along the way.
Many people pointed at him behind his back.
Ignoring their chatter, Jun Changxiao held his head high and strode forward in great steps.
This fellow had one virtue.
As a Transmigrator, he possessed exceptionally thick skin.
Had it been the original Jun Changxiao, or any martial artist who cared about his dignity, being mocked so wantonly would have made him vomit blood on the spot.
Following behind, Lu Qianqian watched her sect leader face the passersby's ridicule with calm indifference and thought, He can endure even this?
He had to endure it, even if he could not.
Because in Jun Changxiao's view, only strength could make them shut their mocking mouths.
Just wait!
One day, when you speak of the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect, your eyes will be filled with nothing but worship and awe!
The Main Quest given by the system left Jun Changxiao with no choice but to complete it. After suffering the mockery of passersby, it had become something he absolutely had to complete!
Before, he had been passive. Now, he was proactive. The difference was fundamental.
Qingyang City was enormous.
The western part of the city was also the location where the Hundred Sects Recruitment had been held throughout the years, and its scale was quite impressive.
When Jun Changxiao arrived with Lu Qianqian, he saw many temporary tents erected across the Training Ground, each hanging a sect banner written in vigorous, powerful strokes.
Great Saber Sect!
Golden Dragon Gang!
Elite Stronghold!
Tiger Roar Sect...
All kinds of sect names filled his vision, leaving him dazzled.
Some young men and women who had arrived earlier were accompanied by their parents, relatives, or friends as they carefully inquired about the various sects.
The general questions were—
How was this sect?
Did it have many members?
What grades were its Martial Techniques and Cultivation Methods?
If they cultivated here, what level could they reach in the Martial Dao in the future?
After listening for a while, Jun Changxiao shook his head and thought, How is this the Hundred Sects Recruitment? It's practically a job fair!
"Sect Leader."
Lu Qianqian said quietly, "We need to find an open spot and set up a storefront like the others. Only then will we meet the recruitment requirements and draw attention."
Since they were here, they had to do as the locals did.
Jun Changxiao looked around and pointed at an empty space in the distance. "This place looks good."
Following his gaze, Lu Qianqian's willow-leaf brows creased slightly. "The Great Saber Sect on the left is an Eighth-rate Sect, and the Tiger Roar Sect on the right is also Eighth-rate. Are you sure you want to set up between them?"
Jun Changxiao said, "Since both are Eighth-rate Sects, they will certainly attract plenty of attention once recruitment begins. Sandwiched between them, we can at least draw some notice."
After thinking it over briefly, Lu Qianqian said, "That makes sense."
"Let's go."
Jun Changxiao said, "Let's set up our storefront."
Leading Lu Qianqian into the gap between the two Eighth-rate Sects, he skillfully took out strips of cloth and, with a few quick moves, set up a simple little tent.
At a regularly held Hundred Sects Recruitment like this, all one needed was a place to shelter from wind and rain. Only sects that were both flashy and powerful would build something especially luxurious.
Like the Great Saber Sect on the left and the Tiger Roar Sect on the right.
The two sects possessed some strength, and their storefronts had been built with sheer luxury and grandeur.
Compared to theirs, Sect Leader Jun's crude tent was instantly reduced to scraps.
Of course.
That was exactly what he wanted.
With two luxurious storefronts propping up either side, his humble little nest would instead be much more likely to catch people's attention.
Some people mooched food and drink.
Jun Changxiao's behavior was called mooching splendor—the splendor of borrowed glory.
After the Long Saber Sect's steward finished speaking with a young man, he noticed a tent had suddenly appeared beside them and shouted, "Which blind sect dares set up its storefront in front of my Long Saber Sect?"
The people from Tiger Roar Sect noticed as well.
One disciple rolled up his sleeves and walked out, looking vicious. "Damn it, who has the gall to pitch camp beside my Tiger Roar Sect? Did you eat the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard?"
By coincidence, Jun Changxiao had just hung up his sect banner.
When the two saw the five words "Iron Bone Unyielding Sect" written upon it, deep contempt surfaced on their faces.
"Pah."
The Tiger Roar Sect disciple spat on the ground. "A sect whose leader got arrested for visiting brothels actually dares build a storefront beside my Tiger Roar Sect. This is simply a monstrous humiliation!"
"Hey, hey!"
The Long Saber Sect steward pointed at Jun Changxiao and said impatiently, "This is my Long Saber Sect's territory. Hurry up and get lost to build somewhere else."
Neither sect regarded the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect as worthy of notice. After all, it was merely a Ninth-rate Sect, one rank below their Eighth-rate Sects.
Lu Qianqian said blandly, "The site of the Hundred Sects Recruitment has always been provided by the Qingyang City Lord. Since when did it become the territory of your tiny Eighth-rate Sects?"
Jun Changxiao was speechless.
Even Eighth-rate Sects were merely tiny in her sharp-tongued mouth.
His own sect was Ninth-rate, so it was surely even more unworthy of mention!
Hearing the words "tiny Eighth-rate," the Long Saber Sect steward burned with anger, yet he had no retort.
That was right.
The site was provided by the Qingyang City Lord.
Not to mention Eighth-rate Sects—even Seventh-rate Sects would not dare claim it as their own territory.
The Tiger Roar Sect disciple was equally furious, because Lu Qianqian's "tiny Eighth-rate" included his own sect as well.
Jun Changxiao stepped forward to smooth things over. "The Hundred Sects Recruitment is about to begin. As fellow members of the hundred sects, we should remain harmonious. There is no need to fly into such a rage."
"If Sect Leader Wang were still here, I, Li, would regard the Iron Bone Unyielding Sect as one of the hundred sects. But now..." The Long Saber Sect steward looked at him with disdain. "You don't even amount to a fart!"
"Exactly."
The Tiger Roar Sect disciple raised his brows. "A sect whose disciples have already eaten their final parting meal should have disbanded long ago. Why come to Qingyang City and join the bustle?"
Jun Changxiao's expression changed again and again. He could endure the ridicule of passersby, since common folk loved to follow the crowd, but he could not endure the humiliation and mockery of these two sects.
"You two."
He rubbed his nose and smiled. "Today, I am setting up my storefront right here. If you don't like it, you can come bite me—or pack up your tents and get lost yourselves."
Before you continue