Sky Tiger Gang? They'll Be Crippled All the Same!
"Sky Tiger Gang? What do you mean? There are bandit gangs inside the Sect?"
Zhang Lingxiao didn't bother lowering his voice.
His words rang clearly throughout the Spiritual Tool Pavilion, immediately reaching the ears of the Sky Tiger Gang Disciple.
Several nearby Inner and Outer Sect Disciples who had been selecting Spiritual Artifacts also turned to look at him. Judging from their displeased expressions, quite a few of them clearly belonged to one of the Sect's many factions.
"You brat!" the Inner Sect Disciple shouted angrily. "You're just a Core Disciple without any backing, yet you dare call members of the Sky Tiger Gang bandits? I think you're tired of living on Qingyun Mountain!"
Zhang Lingxiao ignored him completely. Instead, he calmly turned to Li Ruoxi.
"Junior Sister Li, does the Sect simply allow this sort of behavior?"
Li Ruoxi shook her head.
"The existence of these smaller factions is actually part of Qingyun Mountain's tradition."
"The Sect encourages healthy competition among its Disciples by allowing them to establish organizations and factions."
"It's a survival-of-the-fittest system. Not only does it temper the leadership abilities of each faction leader, but it also strengthens the unity of the members. In the end, the unity of every faction becomes the unity of the entire Sect."
"Moreover, whenever the Sect faces an external enemy, every faction must put aside its internal disputes and fight together for Qingyun Mountain."
Zhang Lingxiao nodded slightly.
Every force had its own way of governing.
Qingyun Mountain's method of survival of the fittest wasn't unreasonable. The strong survived while the weak were eliminated. That philosophy happened to align with Zhang Lingxiao's own views.
Seeing his expression remain calm, Li Ruoxi continued,
"Of course, the Sect also imposes strict rules."
"Conflicts between factions are permitted, but during such disputes, no one is allowed to use spiritual power, Martial Skills, or Spiritual Artifacts."
"Only physical combat is allowed."
"Injuries are acceptable, and the Sect will provide healing pills afterward. However, intentionally crippling or killing another Disciple is absolutely forbidden. Anyone who violates that rule will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Sect."
"Under these rules, the Sect continues to grow stronger while keeping internal conflicts under control, allowing Qingyun Mountain to remain one of the strongest Sects in Tianhuo Country."
"And there's one more important rule."
She lowered her voice slightly.
"The faction leader who eventually unites all the factions within Qingyun Mountain earns the right to compete for the position of the next Sect Master."
"Our current Sect Master, Dongfang Hanshan, rose to that position after unifying every major faction within Qingyun Mountain."
Hearing this, Zhang Lingxiao raised an eyebrow with interest.
That was certainly an unusual system.
There was no hereditary succession, nor was the position simply passed down by seniority.
The strongest, most capable leader—someone with strength, prestige, and the support of the Disciples—could become the next Sect Master.
It was a surprisingly fair system.
"Hey!"
The Sky Tiger Gang Disciple shouted impatiently.
"What are you two whispering about? Didn't you hear me?"
"Hurry up and return my Supreme-Grade Qi Gathering Pill! Otherwise..."
He let out a sinister sneer.
Zhang Lingxiao merely glanced at him before asking Li Ruoxi one final question.
"So you're saying that as long as I don't cripple or kill him, the Sect permits fights like this?"
Li Ruoxi nodded.
"The Sect will provide healing pills afterward."
The moment she finished speaking, Zhang Lingxiao moved.
Without using any movement technique or spiritual power, he relied solely on the explosive strength of his physical body, instantly appearing before the Sky Tiger Gang Disciple.
"What arrogance!"
The Disciple sneered and threw out a punch of his own.
Likewise, he refrained from using spiritual power, following the Sect's rules.
The watching Disciples quickly gathered around.
Pure physical combat was far more entertaining than ordinary sparring.
Bang!
The two fists collided head-on.
Crack! Crack!
The crisp sounds of breaking bones echoed through the pavilion.
The Sky Tiger Gang Disciple's expression twisted instantly.
The bones in his entire arm shattered under Zhang Lingxiao's overwhelming strength, tearing through flesh and skin as blood-soaked fragments protruded from his arm.
"AAAAAH!"
He collapsed onto the ground, clutching his mangled arm as he screamed in agony.
"You bastard!"
"You actually broke my arm!"
"Do you know who my elder brother is?!"
Zhang Lingxiao looked down at him indifferently.
"I don't care who he is."
"I've always believed that if others don't provoke me, I won't provoke them."
"But since you chose to pick a fight with me, consider a broken arm your lesson."
"If not for the Sect rules, you'd already be dead."
His voice was cold and emotionless, carrying an unquestionable confidence.
Standing nearby, Li Ruoxi couldn't help but stare at him.
For a brief moment, she saw an overwhelming aura of dominance emanating from the young Core Disciple.
The injured Disciple gritted his teeth.
"My elder brother is Li Tianshuo—the Second Hall Master of the Sky Tiger Gang!"
As soon as those words were spoken, murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Oh no... he's actually Li Tianshuo's younger brother!"
"That Core Disciple is in real trouble."
"Li Tianshuo is incredibly protective of his people."
"Exactly. Forget the Gang Leader—even Li Tianshuo alone is ranked 38th among the Inner Sect Disciples. This young Core Disciple may be talented, but he's definitely kicked an iron plate this time."
"He looks unfamiliar. He probably just became a Core Disciple."
Listening to the whispers around him, Zhang Lingxiao couldn't help but laugh.
Li Tianshuo?
Ranked thirty-eighth among the Inner Sect Disciples?
Was that supposed to impress him?
Although Qingyun Mountain promoted Disciples based on talent rather than cultivation alone, making it possible for an Inner Sect Disciple to surpass some Core Disciples in strength...
...someone who couldn't even break into the top ten of the Inner Sect was hardly worth Zhang Lingxiao's attention.
He feared no one.
Looking down at the injured Disciple, Zhang Lingxiao said calmly,
"If you're so useless, then go call your brother."
"Tell Li Tianshuo that the one who broke your arm is Zhang Lingxiao."
"I'll be waiting for him outside the Spiritual Tool Pavilion."
"If he wants revenge..."
"He can come find me."