Chapter 62

When Jun Changxiao walked out of the martial arts registration office, the surrounding martial artists whispered and sneered, their words full of contempt.

This was normal.

Every martial arts contest was attended by participants from at least eighth-rank sects. A ninth-rank sect registering for the competition was indeed strange and laughable to them.

"Hey," Jun Changxiao sighed.

He didn't think he was inherently ridiculous; it was just that the reverence for martial strength in Xingyuan Continent was too brutal.

In the ancient world, people were divided into social classes. Servants and slaves were often regarded as pariahs, treated with disdain when entering prestigious venues.

Although the Iron Bone Sect was a sect, being ninth-rank made it barely better than pariahs in a world dominated by powerful sects.

Wait and see.

I will make my sect the most dazzling presence on the Xingyuan Continent, and have all beings worship it.

Jun Changxiao paid no attention to the disdainful eyes, instead focusing on his goal of becoming stronger.

The middle-aged man processing the registration said lightly, "Although martial arts competitions have no rank restrictions, only higher-rank sects usually participate. Why is a ninth-rank sect here?"

"Slap."

Jun Changxiao placed the Iron Bone Sect's head token on the registration table and declared, "Jun Changxiao, head of the Iron Bone Sect."

He stood proudly.

Others could look down on him, but he would not look down on himself.

The middle-aged man glanced at the token and said indifferently, "So, you are the head of the Iron Bone Sect. I see."

"He's the Iron Bone Sect leader who defeated the Cangshan Sect in Qingyang City?"

"I didn't expect him to be so young."

"I heard his cultivation isn't high, yet he defeated a twelfth-segment Kaimai expert from the Lingquan Sect!"

"I heard that too, but it sounds like a rumor."

The martial artists from Liyang City had heard of the events during the Iron Bone Sect's recruitment but had not witnessed them. Thus, they treated the stories as mere rumors.

Jun Changxiao ignored the chatter and said, "Since there's no rule against ninth-rank sects participating, hurry up and complete the registration. Are you here to drink tea?"

The middle-aged man's face darkened, but he maintained his composure, asking, "How many disciples are participating?"

"Five."

"Names and ages?"

"Lu Yan, sixteen. Li Qingyang, seventeen. Su Xiaomo, sixteen. Tian Qi, seventeen. Xiao Guiji, seventeen."

The middle-aged man paused, saying, "The last one?"

"Xiao Guiji," Jun Changxiao repeated.

"Xiao Guiji?"

A martial artist nearby laughed, "Isn't he the waste expelled by the Xiao family?"

"Brush!"

Jun Changxiao turned sharply, eyes cold, "Say that again?"

His eyes were intimidating. The martial artist flinched and stepped back, the hairs on his neck standing up.

The middle-aged man asked, "Is Xiao Guiji indeed the former Xiao family member?"

"Please omit 'Xiao family.' My disciple is not associated with them," Jun Changxiao replied.

The genius, who once brought countless honors to his family, was expelled at twelve due to regression in cultivation. Such a family didn't deserve respect from Jun Changxiao, only disdain.

The middle-aged man understood and completed the registration. He handed over five identity tokens, saying, "Ensure your disciples bring these to the competition, or they'll be disqualified."

Jun Changxiao took the tokens and left.

As he passed the martial artist who mocked Xiao Guiji, he said menacingly, "Next time, I won't be so lenient."

The martial artist's face turned pale, and he sat down abruptly in fear.

"Pathetic," Jun Changxiao scoffed. "Intimidated so easily, yet you dare mock others."

The warrior was humiliated but lacked the courage to retaliate. He feared the city's prohibition on fights and the boy's frightening aura.

Jun Changxiao left, but whispers continued in the registration venue.

"The Xiao Guiji he mentioned must be the one expelled by the Xiao family. It seems that waste joined the Iron Bone Sect."

"If he still had his talents and cultivation, even second or third-rank sects would have vied for him. Now, he's just languishing in a ninth-rank sect."

"I wonder how the Xiao family feels about their expelled member joining a lesser sect."

---

In the Xiao family estate in Liyang City, which had stood for over two centuries, the family head listened to the elder's report.

"Family head, I just heard that the expelled waste joined the Iron Bone Sect and signed up for the martial arts competition," the elder said angrily.

"Oh?" The family head was surprised.

"That waste is now associated with a ninth-rank sect, disgracing our family. I suggested poisoning him when he was expelled, but you refused!"

From the elder's words, it was clear that the anger was directed towards Xiao Guiji.

The family head smiled, "Killing a waste is easy, but the elder need not be angry."

---

In the Xiao family courtyard, younger disciples gossiped about Xiao Guiji.

"Xiao Guiji joined the Iron Bone Sect and registered for the competition. He'll be in Liyang City soon."

"No way! Without spiritual roots, he dares to come here?"

"Cousins from our family are also competing. Will they meet him?"

"There are many disciples competing. The chances of meeting him are slim."

"Regardless, we should watch. I haven't seen that waste in years."

"Hahaha, do you want to bully him again?"

The younger Xiao family members talked disdainfully about Xiao Guiji, unaware that he was training intensely in the Iron Bone Sect's facilities.

---

At that moment, Xiao Guiji was in the training room, enduring intense physical training, pushing his limits with a firm resolve.

"Become stronger, become stronger!" he chanted.

Late at night, drenched in sweat and blood, Xiao Guiji struck the strength testing machine repeatedly.

Jun Changxiao, lying on the roof, heard the sounds of determination and whispered, "Prove yourself at the martial arts competition. Show them all."