"What's going on?"
"Isn't he an Inner Core Disciple? Why does it look like he's kneeling to that young man?"
This single act of kneeling from Zhou Hao.
Instantly caused a huge uproar.
The surrounding Outer Disciples had been intimidated by Zhou Hao's status. They had thought the two newcomers were in for trouble. They had been envious of Lü Tianfeng, thinking him incredibly lucky to have caught the eye of a woman like Lin Chuhong.
But now, every single one of them was stunned.
'What is happening?'
"Cousin, what are you doing?"
However, compared to them, the shock Lin Chuhong felt was clearly far greater.
Her pretty face was completely blank.
It was obvious she hadn't processed what was happening.
She had no idea what was going on.
But Zhou Hao's next words struck her like a bolt of lightning.
"Young- Junior Sect Leader, please calm your anger. Core Disciple Zhou Hao was unaware of the Junior Sect Leader's presence. Please forgive any disrespect!"
Zhou Hao said, his voice trembling.
"Jun- Junior Sect Leader..."
The color instantly drained from Lin Chuhong's face.
It became deathly pale, utterly devoid of color.
That was the Junior Sect Leader, after all.
How could a mere Outer Disciple like her not be afraid?
The same was true for Zhou Hao.
Although he had done his utmost to belittle Yang Xiao in front of Lux Wentian just moments before...
...now that he was truly seeing Yang Xiao right before his own eyes...
...Zhou Hao, who had personally witnessed him shatter Ye Lingtian, the Deputy Head of the Law Enforcement Hall, with a single punch and casually kill Ye Chengzong, who was at the Peak of Innate Realm Seventh Layer...
...felt the chilling aura of death wash over him.
This was a monster.
A true monster.
"Didn't you want me to kneel to you?"
Yang Xiao said indifferently.
Hearing this, a tremor went through Zhou Hao's heart.
He knew that the last person who had tried to make Yang Xiao kneel and admit his faults was Yann Xu.
And now, Yann Xu had been crippled.
Crippled by the Sect Leader's own hand and thrown into the sunless Earth Pool Abyss.
That was a Deputy Head of the Law Enforcement Hall at the Peak of Innate Realm.
Even he had met such a fate.
And he, a mere Inner Core Disciple at the Martial Master Peak, had actually dared to make the same mistake.
'Then me...'
Zhou Hao felt he was finished.
His body went limp, unable to even speak.
'I'm a dead man.'
'No, there's still a sliver of hope!'
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit Zhou Hao.
He turned his head to look outside.
Out there was Lux Wentian.
Perhaps he could save his life.
'But how do I get him to come in?'
Zhou Hao was conflicted.
He knew that one wrong move and he was dead for sure.
And while he hesitated, the nearby Outer Disciples were abuzz with discussion.
The looks they gave Yang Xiao were varied.
"The Junior Sect Leader? That young man is actually our Purple Sun Sect's Junior Sect Leader?"
"For real? I heard that among the True Disciples, Senior Brother Lux and Senior Brother Ye had the best chance of becoming Junior Sect Leader. But they're both in their twenties. This boy doesn't seem to fit the bill."
They were shocked.
They were baffled.
The entire first floor of the Library Pavilion was in an uproar.
They were, after all, only Outer Disciples.
They were the outermost layer of the Purple Sun Sect, not even considered true disciples who had been formally accepted.
Only by becoming an Inner Sect Disciple...
...would one be valued by the Sect.
Therefore, very few of them knew what had happened during the Inner Sect tournament.
However, a few of them had joined the Sect at the same time as Yang Xiao. After scrutinizing him, they seemed to recognize him.
The shock in their hearts was even greater.
But they couldn't be sure.
Because the difference between the two was too vast.
One was a piece of trash.
The other was the Junior Sect Leader.
No matter how similar they looked, they didn't dare to believe it.
"Even if he wasn't trash, just a normal person, there's no way that Yang Xiao could become the Junior Sect Leader. You need to be at least in the Innate Realm for that."
"It's definitely not Yang Xiao. His father, despite being the head of the Guest Hall, is a cripple himself. How could it be him?"
"Oh, right, I heard that Yang Xiao is already the Deputy Head of Medicine Peak, and that the death of Great Pharmacist Wang Qianhe was related to him."
"Impossible. That must be a rumor. It was probably his father Yang Zhentian's doing."
"That's right. This Junior Sect Leader must be a genius disciple secretly nurtured by the Sect Leader."
...
Those who denied it were mostly the more powerful Outer Disciples.
These disciples usually spent all their time cultivating desperately.
In fact, most of the people who came here were such individuals.
Their sole focus was on entering the Inner Sect.
They paid no attention to the outside world.
Therefore, even though Yang Xiao had caused earth-shattering commotions in the Outer Mansion, and even though Wang Qianhe had died at his hands, these people still didn't recognize Yang Xiao.
They didn't believe in his abilities.
In fact, even if they had known about it, they wouldn't have thought Yang Xiao could become the Junior Sect Leader.
Great talent as a Pharmacist didn't mean great talent in the Martial Dao.
Becoming the Junior Sect Leader of the Purple Sun Sect was no simple matter.
On the contrary, Yang Xiao's reputation as a good-for-nothing was already deeply ingrained in their minds.
It couldn't be changed.
Thus, most of them refused to believe he was Yang Xiao.
Instead, they assumed he was some newly risen genius.
Or perhaps even the successor secretly cultivated by the Sect Leader.
Of course, there were still some who recognized Yang Xiao.
After all, Yang Xiao had indeed caused a huge, attention-grabbing stir in the Outer Mansion.
Drawing a lot of attention.
But for those who did recognize him...
...the shock was even greater.
Previously, when Yang Xiao had confronted Medicine Peak and won a resounding victory, his status had already become extraordinary.
But even so, they didn't think Yang Xiao could become the Junior Sect Leader.
That was the Young Master of the Purple Sun Sect, for heaven's sake.
'How is that possible?'
The shock in their hearts was, naturally, even greater.
"Yang Xiao, are you really going to use your power to bully me? To force me to my death?"
Suddenly, at that moment, Zhou Hao roared and stood up.
His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Yang Xiao, his expression twisted.
Clearly, he had made a decision.
And when his words came out,
everyone present...
...was stunned.
It really was Yang Xiao.
He really was Yang Xiao.
And he had become the Junior Sect Leader of the Purple Sun Sect.
At this moment, many faces burned with shame.
But that was immediately followed by disbelief.
'How is it possible?'
The peerless piece of trash who, four years ago, had been proclaimed unable to cultivate.
How could he possibly have become the Junior Sect Leader?
It simply defied all reason.
For a moment, the Outer Disciples present were even more astonished.
Even Lü Tianfeng, who had been provocative earlier, wore a look of utter disbelief.
He had entered the Sect with Yang Xiao.
They had both once been considered prominent figures in the Outer Sect.
He had even been jealous of Yang Xiao when they first joined.
But later, Yang Xiao became a good-for-nothing.
And Lü Tianfeng far surpassed him.
Through his own efforts, he had reached the third-ranked position in the Outer Sect.
He had long since stopped paying any mind to Yang Xiao, his former rival.
But now...
...a scene like this was unfolding.
'Yang Xiao... Is it really him?'
Lü Tianfeng's thoughts were in turmoil.
It wasn't just him; the other Outer Disciples, and even some who had crossed paths with Yang Xiao in the past, were also in a state of panic.
But more than that, they were shocked.
As for Yang Xiao himself...
...he was laughing.
"Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious. You first use your power to bully others, wanting to slash my Yun'Er's face, and now you have the gall to say that I, Yang Xiao, am the one using my power to bully you and force you to your death? The shamelessness is unbelievable!"
"In that case, there's nothing more to talk about. For defying a superior and twisting right and wrong—die!"
Yang Xiao snorted coldly.
His figure flickered.
He casually raised a hand, about to slap this shameless bastard to death with a single palm strike.
But just then, a figure shot in.
It landed between Yang Xiao and Zhou Hao.
The aura from its body erupted instantly.
It was actually enough to make Yang Xiao's hand pause slightly.