A gentleman's revenge spans from dawn till dusk.

Lie Tianxiong's smile deepened, carrying a hint of smugness.

"Times have changed. With the current strength of my Burning Heaven Palace, hosting this tournament is naturally more than enough."

"However, your Azure Profound Sect needs to put in more effort. Do not end up not even being able to find a single disciple capable of stepping onto the arena."

"Palace Master Lie worries too much."

Xuanyangzi responded indifferently, his gaze sweeping over the disciples behind the other party.

"Although the disciples of my sect might not possess the exceptional innate talent of your noble sect's disciples, they will still go all out."

Seeing this, Lie Tianxiong felt it played right into his hands. He jerked his thumb toward the youth beside him. "Speaking of which, it is the perfect time to let you see my prized disciple."

The youth took a step forward. His moon-white long robes fluttered wildly in the mountain wind, and the jade pendant at his waist produced a crisp yet showy clinking sound.

"This is my newly accepted disciple, Zhao Yan. He possesses mid-grade Heaven-tier aptitude. At sixteen years old, he is already at the Ninth Layer of the Body Refining Realm, only a single step away from the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Lie Tianxiong spoke with an air of complacency, his gaze sweeping across the Azure Profound Sect's disciples.

"Looking across the entire Profound Domain, those with such cultivation at this age are rare. I am afraid your Azure Profound Sect would not be able to find such a fine seedling."

Zhao Yan cupped his hands in greeting toward Xuanyangzi. His tone seemed humble, but arrogance was hidden deep within his eyes. "Sect Master Xuanyangzi, I have looked forward to meeting you for a long time."

Before his voice could fade, the green-robed youth beside him stepped half a pace forward. The longsword at his waist hummed as it was unsheathed by three inches. The spiritual energy of the Core Formation Realm condensed into a half-foot flame in his palm, bearing a provocative intent.

"Master, why not let us disciples have a sparring exchange so they can witness what true talent is? I am the Chief Disciple of the Burning Heaven Palace, Lin Lie. Twenty years old, at the mid-stage of the Core Formation Realm. I have heard that the Azure Profound Sect is full of talents. I wonder who would dare to step forward and fight me?"

Low murmurs of anger rippled through the ranks of the Azure Profound Sect. The opponent's arrogant attitude was simply intolerable.

The disciples in the front row clenched their fists. A few impulsive ones had already grasped the hilts of their swords. Had they not been firmly held back by their senior brothers beside them, they would have long since rushed out.

Watching the reactions of the Azure Profound Sect disciples, the smile on Lie Tianxiong's lips deepened.

"I heard that you have also taken in a few good seedlings this year? Why not call them out for an exchange? Do not hide them away."

Changing the subject, he looked at the formation with a probing gaze.

"I heard you have a prized disciple named Li Xuanfeng? He was already at the early stage of the Core Formation Realm last year. Why is he nowhere to be seen today? Could it be that he is scared and does not dare to come out and meet us?"

Xuanyangzi's tone was calm, yet it concealed a chilling intent.

"Xuanfeng is on the verge of entering secluded cultivation, so it is inconvenient to disturb him. However, Palace Master Lie, you are so eager for your disciples to show their faces. Could it be that you are afraid you will not have a chance to show off during the grand sect tournament a year from now?"

Lie Tianxiong's expression slightly changed, but he quickly laughed. "Xuanyangzi, you are still as sharp-tongued as ever. I just wonder if the disciples of your noble sect have the same confidence as you do?"

"The disciples of my sect have always kept a low profile. They are not as fond of showing off as your noble sect."

Xuanyangzi picked up a teacup that had appeared out of nowhere and took a gentle sip. "However, if you really want to compete, let us settle it in combat at the grand tournament next year."

Hearing this, Lie Tianxiong thought to himself: It seems I have underestimated Xuanyangzi.

He had long heard that the Azure Profound Sect had produced a few good seedlings, especially Li Xuanfeng, who was said to have broken through to the Core Formation Realm as well. He originally wanted to use this opportunity to test the waters and see the true strength of their younger generation, but now it seemed that would not be possible.

This Xuanyangzi was quite composed.

On the surface, however, he remained impassive and gave a slightly mocking smile.

"Since Sect Master Xuanyangzi has concerns, I will not force the issue. Just do not let it be that when the Seven Great Sects Tournament arrives, you still have nothing presentable to show."

He turned to his disciples and said, "Since the exchange will not happen, we should head back. Farewell."

As the group from the Burning Heaven Palace was leaving, Lin Lie passed by a disciple of the Azure Profound Sect and deliberately bumped into him. That disciple staggered a few steps before regaining his balance, but Lin Lie kept walking without even turning his head, a smug smile hanging on the corners of his mouth.

This boy is already courting death, Xuanyangzi thought coldly.

It was not until the other party's figures completely disappeared into the clouds and mist that Xuanyangzi turned to look at the disciples behind him.

Every disciple wore an expression of indignation, their eyes burning with an unyielding flame.

"They came today, firstly, to flaunt their strength, and secondly, to probe our depths."

Xuanyangzi's voice echoed through the valley. "For the Seven Great Sects Tournament, they want to throw us into disarray, but we must remain calm and composed."

He walked up to the trial stone stele, his gaze sweeping over the patterns carved into it.

"From today onward, all disciples must cultivate diligently."

Xuanyangzi's gaze swept across every young face, his tone heavy yet inspiring.

"The tournament a year from now is not just for the glory of the sect, but also for yourselves, to prove that the disciples of the Azure Profound Sect are absolutely not inferior to anyone!"

...

The group from the Burning Heaven Palace swaggered away from the Azure Profound Sect, with Lie Tianxiong boasting loudly the whole way.

"Did you see that? Even after being provoked like that, Xuanyangzi did not send a single disciple out. It seems the disciples of the Azure Profound Sect are nothing more than this."

"Wait until the grand tournament next year. We will trample the face of the Azure Profound Sect under our feet..."

The disciples repeatedly echoed his sentiments, completely unaware that a surprise was waiting for them in the Black Wind Canyon.

Barely half a day after leaving the Azure Profound Sect, the group had just stepped into the desolate canyon when a grey silhouette suddenly darted out from the cliffs on either side.

"Who is there?"

Everyone from the Burning Heaven Palace was so startled that their spiritual energy nearly went awry. They hurriedly assumed defensive postures.

But that grey silhouette did not play by the rules at all. Right off the bat, it started throwing punches and kicks.

Lin Lie had only pulled his sword halfway out when his knee took a vicious kick. He howled in pain, dropping his longsword with a clatter as he hugged his leg, trembling uncontrollably.

Zhao Yan wanted to act cool and save the day, but the moment he rushed forward, he took an elbow strike straight to the chest. Like a kite with a broken string, he crashed into the stone wall. As he slid down, he even chipped half a front tooth.

Before the four purple-robed elders even had time to form a formation, they were flipped to the ground by the grey silhouette with a few punches and kicks. Clutching their stomachs, they groaned and moaned, looking exactly like four old hens whose tails had been stepped on.

Lie Tianxiong shouted furiously and stepped up himself. But just as he unleashed the pressure of the Heaven and Human Realm, the grey silhouette tripped him with a sweeping kick, sending him sprawling on his back.

He struggled to get up, wanting to spout some harsh words, but was immediately met with an uppercut to the face. Instantly, he saw stars, and blood gushed from his nose.

The grey silhouette's punches landed solidly on flesh, specifically aiming for his face. Within a few moves, Lie Tianxiong was beaten into having panda eyes, and his cheeks swelled up as if he had two walnuts stuffed in his mouth.

No one from the Burning Heaven Palace escaped the fate of being beaten. After a flurry of punches and kicks, every single one of them lay on the ground, unable to move.

The grey silhouette sneered coldly. With a final kick, it sent Lie Tianxiong rolling across the ground like a gourd. In a few leaps and bounds, the silhouette vanished without a trace.

"Do not run if you have the guts!" Lie Tianxiong roared, clutching his swollen face.

Deep in the dense forest, the grey silhouette pulled off the cloth covering his face, revealing the usually gentle countenance of Xuanyangzi. However, at this moment, a chilling frost coated the corners of his eyes and brows.

"That is for uprooting my Welcoming Pine. Not breaking your legs is already being polite."

As it turned out, this person was none other than the Sect Master of the Azure Profound Sect, Xuanyangzi.

He took off his grey martial arts outfit and changed back into his regular Azure Profound Sect Master attire. As his fingertips brushed over his lapel, he let out a low, cold snort.

"Acting so insolently at my sect's gates is one thing, but to think you could humiliate my sect's disciples. Did you really think I, Xuanyangzi, am a soft persimmon that anyone can squeeze?"

His earlier restraint at the mountain gate was merely out of consideration for the sect's reputation, and more importantly, he did not want the Burning Heaven Palace to figure out the true depths of the Azure Profound Sect.

But Lie Tianxiong's insufferably arrogant attitude, with his nose always up in the air, coupled with the blatant and thinly veiled mockery from his disciples, had long since left him seething with pent-up rage.

As a sect master, if he couldn't even protect the dignity of his own disciples, what kind of sect master was he?

While it was inappropriate to lash out in public, who said he couldn't find a secluded spot to exact some revenge on their behalf?

Xuanyangzi brushed the dust from his hands. Gazing in the direction of the wailing members of the Burning Heaven Palace, a cold smirk curled at the corner of his lips.

"Consider this beating as a little interest paid on your arrogance."