Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

"Brother, I’m just asking to borrow an elixir. If you don’t want to lend it, fine, but why such a big reaction?"

Li Rui’an casually flicked his wrist. He wore a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, but inwardly, he was stunned.

Xu Yang put the elixir away. "This is robbery, not borrowing," he said. "Do you think the Sect’s rules are just for show?"

"Li Rui’an, how dare you bully a member of our Dawn Association! You’ve got some nerve."

Just then, several people strode over, exuding a fierce aura.

"Oh, so this brother is a member of the Dawn Association. It’s all a misunderstanding! I wasn’t bullying him, just asking to borrow an elixir. Since he’s one of your own, I won’t disturb you."

With a panicked expression, Li Rui’an offered a quick fist-cup salute and scurried away, putting on a great show of being terrified of the Dawn Association.

"What’s the deal with this Dawn Association? Their name alone was enough to scare Li Rui’an off like that."

"No idea, but they look powerful."

"Join the Dawn Association, and you could probably walk all over the Outer Sect."

...

The surrounding disciples couldn’t help but murmur amongst themselves at the sight, all stunned by the Dawn Association’s display of power.

’So... that’s the game they’re playing.’

Xu Yang’s eyes narrowed slightly.

’Borrowing the elixir was a lie, and so was starting trouble. This was all about the Dawn Association making a show of force. The thing is, I’m not even a member.’

"You have the wrong person. I’m not a member of the Dawn Association," Xu Yang said, clasping his hands.

The leader froze for a second, then chuckled. "Oh? This junior brother isn’t a member of our Dawn Association? Looks like we got the wrong person. But no matter. You saw it yourself, junior brother. Without a group backing you, any piece of trash will think they can walk all over you."

"Join our Dawn Association now, and I guarantee you’ll be able to do as you please in the Outer Sect. No one will dare bully you."

He then raised his voice, addressing the crowd. "Fellow disciples! I am Ma Jun, Hall Master of the Dawn Association and a Dragon Ascending Disciple from the previous intake! The Dawn Association is now recruiting all talents who are determined to walk the path of the Martial Dao!"

"It doesn’t matter who you are or what your background is. As long as you are willing to improve, you can become a member of our Dawn Association."

"In the Dawn Association, all brothers are equal and united! From this day forward, no one will ever dare to bully you again..."

As he spoke, he instinctively glanced aside, only to realize that the disciple Li Rui’an had chosen for their "demonstration" had, at some unknown point, already left.

Ma Jun’s eyelid twitched, and a shadow fell over his heart.

The person who was most likely to be tricked into joining had simply walked away. Fortunately, they had a backup plan: shills already planted in the crowd.

"The Dawn Association is that powerful? I want to join!"

"I never thought I’d have a chance to become a member of the Dawn Association!"

"But the Dawn Association is one of the biggest organizations in the entire Outer Sect!"

...

In an instant, several people were running toward Ma Jun, their hands in the air.

Those who knew what the Dawn Association was really about couldn’t help but smirk at the clumsy performance. The uninformed, however, looked genuinely tempted.

In the private room of a tavern, Qin Ze smiled. "You really had me worried for a second there."

Xu Yang’s expression was calm. "They were just putting on a show. Worst case, we would’ve fought. They wouldn’t dare kill anyone, anyway."

No matter how powerful the Dawn Association was, one rule stood: no one dared to kill wantonly. Never mind mere Outer Disciples—even Inner Sect Disciples wouldn’t dare do such a thing.

The others nodded. There was really no need to be afraid. As long as you didn’t bow your head, there was little the Dawn Association could do to you—at least, not within the Sect’s grounds.

"Anyone have any new intel to share?" Yue Gui asked.

Xu Yang shook his head. "I’ve been out on missions from dawn till dusk lately. I haven’t heard anything."

Qin Ze and Chen Jiang nodded as well, saying they’d also been too busy with missions to socialize.

Liu Qian spoke up. "I have something. Han Xing and Gu Haoming have both reached the Qi Cultivation Gang stage. A few days ago, Kong Yu also reached Qi Gathering Perfection and has started preparing to break through to the Marrow Cleansing realm."

A wave of surprise passed over the group. It wasn’t shocking that Han Xing, known as a "Half-Step Marrow Cleansing" expert, had reached the Qi Cultivation Gang stage so quickly. But for Gu Haoming to have reached it as well was unexpected.

Kong Yu, with his Lower A-class Root Bone and his rank as third among the Ten Heroes, reaching Qi Gathering Perfection wasn’t much of a surprise.

For a moment, everyone felt the pressure mounting.

If their Alliance didn’t produce an expert at the Qi Cultivation Gang stage soon, they might not be able to stand against the Eagle Society and Sharp Wind Hall.

Those two factions hadn’t targeted them yet, but that was only because their strengths had been relatively equal in the past.

If that power gap grew too wide, who knows about the Eagle Society, but with Cao Rong’s domineering personality, he would absolutely make a move.

Yue Gui turned to Xu Yang. "It’s been over a month since Lu Ren comprehended Wind and Thunder Strength," he said. "Everyone’s very curious if you’ve managed to grasp it as well."