"How arrogant, I didn't expect the sect leader of Divine Sword Sect, Yan Changjian, to be so presumptuous and arrogant..."
"Exactly, he even dares to provoke Sect Leader Zhong and the others. I really don't know if he's overly proud or just ignorant of the rules..."
"Divine Sword Sect has been isolated for twenty years, staying out of worldly martial arts affairs. Perhaps their minds are filled with seawater, and they can't keep up with the current society..."
"Really, they still think this is the old era of fighting and killing? We practice martial arts to stay fit now, who wants to fight to the death with him..."
The people from various martial arts sects present all condemned Yan Changjian as an arrogant individual, utterly self-important...
Zhong Yulong's calm expression showed no hint of disturbance from Yan Changjian, and Abbot Renxin also wore a cheerful smile. Only Shi Yizhen, Liu Bing, Lu Chenzi, and Yuan Gaowu appeared sullen, sitting silently. Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi, who were among the younger generation, exchanged glances as it was not appropriate for them to speak.
"Sect Leader Zhong, this Yan Changjian is going too far. So arrogant and self-important, acting so overbearing. Does he really think he's invincible?"
Shi Yizhen, with his aged face, could no longer stand it. Yan Changjian's repeated provocations had angered him. He said to Zhong Yulong and Abbot Renxin, "His overbearing conduct is completely different from ours in the major sects!"
"Indeed."
Lu Chenzi nodded, his eyes glaring. "I think we should just expel the Divine Sword Sect from the major martial arts sects and let them fend for themselves."
This remark left Liu Bing speechless. He glanced at Lu Chenzi and said, "Old Lu, the Divine Sword Sect has been isolated for over twenty years and hasn't interfered in martial arts affairs. They seem to be doing just fine."
"Hey Old Liu, why are you speaking up for him?" Lu Chenzi glared, pointing at Liu Bing, arguing...
"Alright, let's all say less."
Zhang Xuanliang waved his hand, and the two stopped arguing. Abbot Renxin looked at Zhong Yulong and smiled, "Sect Leader Zhong, it seems the days ahead for our martial arts world might be quite lively!"
Zhong Yulong nodded and smiled...
After the banquet concluded, Wan Yunting led Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, Yang Jingyi, Duan Yingying, along with Zhou Ruoxi, Abbess Yunbai, and the other disciples of the Emei Sect back to their accommodations. On the way, they were discussing the events at the banquet. Abbess Yunbai raised an eyebrow and said, "That sect leader of the Divine Sword Sect indeed has extraordinary martial arts skills."
Yang Jingyi nodded and said, "His overbearing behavior clearly indicates he intends to challenge us, the major sects!"
Zhou Ruoxi also added, "What he said to Sect Leader Zhong and Abbot Renxin at the banquet earlier seems to suggest he wants to challenge Sect Leader Zhong's position as president of the Martial Arts Association!"
"No way, he wants to snatch the position of Martial Arts Association president?" Duan Yingying exclaimed, her almond-shaped eyes widening in surprise.
Abbess Yunbai said, "The president of the Martial Arts Association is elected by vote among all the major sects; it's not selected based on martial prowess."
Yang Jingyi nodded, "The Wudang Sect is the leader of the Taoist sects among us. Sect Leader Zhong is benevolent and upholds the righteous path. Whether it's his own martial arts or his conduct, he has the highest prestige among all our sects, so naturally, no one can shake his position as president of the Martial Arts Association."
Abbess Yunbai and Zhou Ruoxi and the others nodded, but Wan Yunting's brow remained furrowed in thought. Gu Luotang turned to see this and asked, "Yun Ting, what are you thinking about?"
Yang Jingyi and Abbess Yunbai and the others also turned to look at him. Zhou Ruoxi sighed, "Earlier at the banquet, Abbot Wan proposed that the major sects unite against the Heavenly Eye Main God Cult, but everyone seemed uninterested in this alliance. Sect Leader Lu of the Kongtong Sect even explicitly stated he wouldn't join the union!"
Yang Jingyi and Abbess Yunbai raised their eyebrows, seeing Wan Yunting's troubled expression, they assumed he was worried about this matter. Thus, they comforted him, "Now, the sect leaders of the major sects prioritize their own interests. It's normal for them to refuse to unite against the Heavenly Eye Main God Cult. Yun Ting, don't be discouraged; you can discuss it with Sect Leader Zhong later."
Abbess Yunbai also nodded. Gu Luotang wanted to comfort him, but Wan Yunting waved his hand and said, "I'm not thinking about that. I'm thinking about the Divine Sword Sect. I always feel their appearance is a bit coincidental, especially their sect leader's overbearing behavior, which is truly hard to understand!"
These words left Gu Luotang, Zhou Ruoxi, Qi Miaomiao, Duan Yingying, Yang Jingyi, and Abbess Yunbai confused. They said, "Isn't it said that Yan Changjian is arrogant and wants to challenge the masters of the major sects? For someone like him, isn't it easy to understand?"
Wan Yunting shook his head and said, "I always feel he's doing it deliberately!"
"Deliberately?"
Gu Luotang and Zhou Ruoxi raised their eyebrows. Everyone exchanged glances, a bit confused.
"Yun Ting, are you perhaps overthinking?" Yang Jingyi felt he was overthinking.
Zhou Ruoxi and Duan Yingying nodded. After all, why was Yan Changjian of the Divine Sword Sect like this?
Wan Yunting couldn't figure it out either. In any case, seeing the sect leader of the Divine Sword Sect, Yan Changjian, behave so domineeringly at the banquet, his intuition told him that this suddenly appearing Divine Sword Sect was not right!
"Hmm, someone from the Divine Sword Sect!"
At this moment, Duan Yingying spotted several disciples of the Divine Sword Sect appearing ahead. It was Jian Feng, who was spirited and extraordinary. He now had his long hair tied back, his eyes sharp and imposing. He was holding his long sword with both hands and leading several male and female disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, getting into an argument with some disciples from the Huashan Sect...
"Is this how you treat guests?"
Jian Feng's slightly long hair was tied back, his star-like eyes sharp, and his aura intimidating as he reprimanded the Huashan Sect disciples.
The Huashan Sect disciples were also awed by Jian Feng's aura and stammered, "This is our elder's rule. Your Divine Sword Sect can only stay in the dormitory building..."
"What a ridiculous rule."
Another disciple of the Divine Sword Sect next to Jian Feng pointed at the Huashan Sect disciple aggressively and cursed, "Why can disciples from other sects live in courtyards, while our sect leader and disciples from other sects have to live in the same dormitory building?"
"Don't talk nonsense, quickly arrange an independent courtyard for our sect leader, or this matter won't end." A female disciple from the Divine Sword Sect also had an intimidating aura and reprimanded the Huashan Sect disciples.
"What's going on?"
At this moment, several young disciples from the Huashan Sect arrived, namely Mu Zhiming and Xie Qiuhe, who had appeared at the Wuliang Taoist Temple's ancestor worship ceremony earlier.
"Senior Brother Mu, Senior Sister Xie..."
Several Huashan Sect disciples immediately reported to them, "They are dissatisfied with the accommodation we arranged and insist that we arrange courtyards for them."
Mu Zhiming and Xie Qiuhe looked at the imposing Jian Feng and the formidable-looking young disciples from the Divine Sword Sect. Mu Zhiming said, "I'm sorry, our Huashan Sect's guest courtyards are full. If you have any other needs, I can try to satisfy them, but you'll have to make do with the current accommodation..."
"Nonsense."
The young disciple from the Divine Sword Sect named Meng Yan, holding his sword with his left hand, pointed at Mu Zhiming and Xie Qiuhe and angrily said, "It's clearly because your Huashan Sect looks down on our Divine Sword Sect that you intentionally arranged such a rudimentary dormitory building for our sect leader."
Another female disciple from the Divine Sword Sect, He Yunxia, also with an intimidating aura, reprimanded, "We can understand you arranging courtyards for the sect leaders of first-class sects, but the Wuliang Taoist Temple is just a third-rate sect, yet you've arranged a courtyard for their abbot. Does my Divine Sword Sect leader not compare to him?"
This statement made Mu Zhiming frown. Regarding these arrangements, the person in charge of the Huashan Sect naturally allocated accommodation for the sect leaders of the major sects based on their strength. Sect leaders of first-class sects like Wudang, Longhu Mountain, and Shaolin naturally resided in separate courtyards, distinct from the ordinary disciples' dormitory buildings.
As they said, the Wuliang Taoist Temple was indeed just a small third-rate sect, yet their abbot was enjoying the same treatment as the sect leaders of first-class sects!
Xie Qiuhe retorted, "That's because Abbot Wan has a different status, so..."
"Status?"
Jian Feng spoke, sneering, "Just because he's from the Ouyang family in the capital?"
"As expected." Meng Yan echoed, pointing at Mu Zhiming and Xie Qiuhe, the Huashan Sect disciples, and mockingly said, "All of you from the major sects are seeking wealth and fame, how pathetic."
Mu Zhiming and Xie Qiuhe's expressions turned unsightly, and they said in a deep voice, "Please watch your words."
"Heh, are we wrong?"
He Yunxia looked at Xie Qiuhe and the others disdainfully, scoffing, "With your mediocre martial arts skills, participating in the martial arts assembly is just for show, isn't it?"
Meng Yan laughed, "I heard they're even doing live broadcasts now. If that's not for show, what is?"
These words provoked Xie Qiuhe and Mu Zhiming, who could no longer suppress their anger. "I warn you again, watch your words!"
Meng Yan, arrogant and overbearing, pointed at Mu Zhiming's nose and taunted, "I'll speak like this. What can you do about it? Want to spar now?"
"Tsk, against him, my Junior Brother Meng could defeat him in one move," He Yunxia next to him chimed in, mocking.
"You've gone too far."
Mu Zhiming finally lost his temper. Their sect leader had openly provoked everyone in the hall earlier, and now their Divine Sword Sect disciples were acting this way. Mu Zhiming immediately drew his long sword, pointing it at Jian Feng, and angrily said, "Don't you look down on us? I challenge you now. If you win, I'll immediately arrange a separate courtyard for your sect leader. If you lose, you'll honestly go back to the dormitory building!"
Immediately, Meng Yan also drew his long sword and stood forward, sneering at Mu Zhiming, "To deal with a small fry like you, my Senior Brother Jian Feng doesn't need to make a move. I'm enough."
"Everyone step aside."
Mu Zhiming waved his hand, letting Xie Qiuhe and the others step back. He pointed his sword at Meng Yan in front of him and said angrily, "I've tolerated you for a long time."
"Heh, then let's see if you have the skill,"
Meng Yan held his sword in his right hand, a sinister smile playing on his lips, and faced off against Mu Zhiming...
In an instant, many disciples from the surrounding major sects were also attracted by this scene and gathered to watch...