Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

Based on their previous battle records, if Xia Zuo were replaced by Linghu Chong, and he were to fight Tian Boguang again, the person killed would definitely not be Tian Boguang.

The disciples of Mount Hua couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Even though they knew Tian Boguang was dead long ago, they still find it hard to believe that the seventh junior brother (elder brother) is even more powerful than the eldest senior brother.

This is too unreal.

Yue Buqun was very satisfied with Xia Zuo's performance, not only because of his strong internal strength and profound swordsmanship, but also because of his pleasing personality.

Alert, perceptive, calm, reliable, resourceful, brave, and fearless—if he lacked even one of these four qualities, he would never have been able to kill Tian Boguang.

If Tian Boguang, this womanizer, runs away after wandering around Mount Hua, the Mount Hua Sect will lose face big time.

By sheer luck, Xia Zuo suddenly rose to prominence and saved Tian Boguang's life at Mount Hua.

This completely changes the situation.

Tian Boguang's death signifies that the second generation of disciples of the Huashan Sect has come of age.

This means that someone can guard the mountain gate, allowing "Gentleman Sword" Yue Buqun to travel freely, easily engage in battle, and make a name for himself in the martial arts world.

Looking at Xia Zuo, who stood calmly and quietly in the center of the Righteousness Hall, Yue Buqun felt increasingly satisfied. In contrast, the chattering disciples on both sides made him extremely disappointed.

They were completely unaware that someone was spying on their mountain gate; even if the attackers were weak, it's not their fault.

But after I and my wife were gone for two days, they dared to even reduce their morning exercise time. How lax is that?

More importantly, Xia Zuo did not appear for a whole day and night in order to monitor and deal with Tian Boguang, and the entire Huashan Sect was completely unaware of it.

If Tian Boguang really did launch a surprise attack on the Huashan Sect and kidnap one or two disciples, would they not have noticed?

Yue Buqun grew increasingly furious, and couldn't help but slam his hand on the armrest of his armchair, scolding, "What's all this noise about? Have you no manners?"

"Everyone, stand in line!"

"Do you know that Xia Zuo has been diligently cultivating his internal energy and swordsmanship for the past five years, accumulating strength and finally achieving a breakthrough in his internal energy in the early morning of the day I descended the mountain, reaching the advanced level?"

"Not only his internal strength, but Xia Zuo's swordsmanship is also profound; his solid foundation is astonishing even to me!"

"Although Xia Zuo is my seventh disciple, his strength far surpasses that of your senior brother Linghu Chong. The difference in their abilities is like heaven and earth!"

Yue Buqun stood up and said loudly, "Linghu Chong is also a martial arts genius with exceptional talent. Why was he surpassed by the seventh brother, who is younger and has been practicing martial arts for a shorter time?"

"It's because Xia Zuo is determined, hardworking, and diligent!"

"Linghu Chong's mind was filled with thoughts of fine wine and a world of pleasures; his martial arts practice was sporadic and inconsistent, wasting his extraordinary talent!"

Just as Yue Buqun was getting angrier and angrier, making all the disciples tremble with fear, a burst of laughter suddenly came from outside the hall.

"Senior Brother Yue, you are truly strict in teaching your disciples. I wonder how many pillars of the Huashan Sect you have nurtured, or how many renowned masters you have become?"

Yue Buqun's expression changed drastically, and he murmured, "Feng Buping..."

Ning Zezhong suddenly stood up, took a few steps forward, and stood side by side with her husband.

The three men walked into the Zhengqi Hall side by side: a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, a Taoist priest with a gray beard, and a short, stout fat man.

Behind them were several elders from Mount Song, Mount Tai, and Mount Heng. Led by the Mount Song sect, they surged into the Hall of Righteousness, leaving the disciples of the Mount Hua sect with no place to stand.

Feng Buping, with his dark brown face and a forced smile, said, "Senior Brother Yue, the Righteousness Hall is really too small. Let all the disciples leave. Let's not let our grudges affect the disciples."

Yue Buqun's face was ashen. He waved for his disciples to leave, then solemnly said, "Brother Feng, the three of you have long since severed ties with the Huashan Sect. What are you doing here on Huashan?"

Feng Buping, seemingly suppressing resentment and anger, said, "Did your senior brother Yue buy Mount Hua? Does that mean no one else is allowed to climb it? Did the emperor grant it to you?"

Yue Buqun snorted and said, "If you all want to visit Mount Hua, of course you are welcome to do so. However, Yue Buqun is no longer your senior brother, so there's no need to mention the title 'Senior Brother Yue' anymore."

Feng Buping pursed his lips and nodded, "Okay."

"Back then, your master used underhanded tactics to seize control of the Huashan Sect. Today, we should settle this old score."

"You don't want me to call you 'Senior Brother Yue'? Hmph, once we've settled our score, even if you kneel down and beg me to call you that again, you can forget about it."

At this point, all the disciples of the Huashan Sect had withdrawn from the Zhengqi Hall.

Because the incident happened so suddenly, Yue Buqun didn't have time to explain, and they were all in a panic, not knowing what to do.

Although they were all from the Five Mountains Sword Sects, it was obvious at a glance that they were on the side of those three strangers; the Huashan Sect was at a significant disadvantage in terms of numbers.

Lu Dayou suddenly shouted, "I'm going to find my senior brother. He'll definitely have a solution."

Laudenuo and the others nodded in agreement, completely forgetting that Xia Zuo, who was even more powerful than their senior brother, was standing among them.

Ultimately, the experience of these past ten days is too unreal to shake everyone's preconceived notions.

Xia Zuo pursed his lips, showing no resentment, and turned to walk back to his dormitory.

What's the point of just talking? It's much more convincing to pick up a sword and kill someone.

In just over ten days, Xia Zuo's strength underwent another qualitative change. He was fully confident that as long as he held his sword, there was no one in the martial arts world he could not kill.

Xia Zuo knew that it would take Lu Dayou quite some time to invite Linghu Chong, so he calmly went to the cafeteria to eat his fill before returning to his dormitory. He then took his and Tao Jun's two longswords with him before heading back to Zhengqi Hall.

At this moment, dozens of Huashan disciples, including Lao Denuo, Liang Fa, Shi Daizi, Yue Lingshan, and Lin Pingzhi, stood outside the door, all staring in disbelief at the Zhengqi Hall.

Besides the Huashan disciples, there were also six extremely ugly men with wrinkled faces, who were also staring intently at the room.

Xia Zuo ignored them and did not greet his fellow disciples, walking into the Righteousness Hall on his own.

Upon entering, Xia Zuo saw that his senior brother Linghu Chong was arguing with Cheng Buyou, which then escalated into a broom fight.

Relying on his knowledge of Huashan swordsmanship and the Demonic Sect's counter-staff techniques, Linghu Chong used a broom to utterly defeat Cheng Buyou, causing him to lose face.

The two fighters completely reversed their fighting styles. Cheng Buyou of the Sword Sect charged around recklessly, relying on his profound internal strength, while Linghu Chong of the Qi Sect suppressed Cheng Buyou with his superb swordsmanship.

Finally, Linghu Chong relied on the method of breaking swords with sticks found on the stone wall. Using a broom handle as a stick, he knocked Cheng Buyou's longsword off course with one blow, and then rammed the stick into the tip of Cheng Buyou's sword.

The longsword plunged into the broom handle, reaching the very tip. Taking advantage of the moment, Linghu Chong struck the broom handle horizontally, sending both the handle and the longsword flying.

Such a surrender constitutes an absolute victory in a martial arts contest.

Linghu Chong revealed a victorious smile.