Encouraged by the burly man, the other outer disciples also grew interested and formed a line to "experience" Lu Lei's beating service, eager to vent all the resentment they had accumulated during normal days right on him.
For these outer disciples, daily cultivation was a struggle with scarce resources; not only did they have to push themselves to the limit just to meet their monthly spirit stone quotas, but they were also constantly bullied by the inner disciples.
Those aloof inner disciples bossed them around at every turn, dumping all the dirty and exhausting chores on their laps.
The outer disciples had long harbored a burning anger in their hearts with nowhere to release it. After all, the gap in strength was vast—who would dare to resist lightly?
Now that Lu Lei's "beating service" had launched, it essentially offered them an ideal outlet.
For five spirit stones, they could not only have a satisfying fight and beat someone who wouldn't fight back, but they also didn't have to worry about any consequences. Who wouldn't want to try such a good deal?
"Let me try!"
"Me next!"
"Junior Brother Lu, don't blame me for hitting hard!"
Lu Lei turned no one away, counting spirit stones with one hand while taking beatings with the other.
Although the spiritual energy realms of these outer disciples were generally limited, there were simply too many of them! Little added to much, and they finally pushed him to a state of complete exhaustion.
Taking advantage of their inattention, Lu Lei popped a Spirit Restoration Pill into his mouth, successfully healing his injuries while simultaneously advancing his physical body to the Bronze Skin Realm (Mid-stage).
Just as Lu Lei was lying on the ground, savoring the power brought by his physical breakthrough, a sudden commotion rippled through the crowd.
"Make way, make way! Senior Brother Liu is here!"
Lu Lei looked up to see a tall, thin man with a gloomy expression walking over. It was none other than Liu Defu, a rather famous figure among the outer disciples.
Liu Defu walked right up to Lu Lei, cast a cold glance down at him, and curled his lips into a sneer. "Doing a fine trade here, aren't you, Junior Brother Lu? What's the matter? Did Senior Sister Zhou drain you once, and now you're so broke you have to earn a living by getting beaten?"
"Senior Brother Liu is joking. Your junior brother is just a bit tight on cash and trying to earn some spirit stones to make ends meet."
Lu Lei cursed his bad luck inwardly, never expecting to run into Liu Defu so soon.
His grudge with Liu Defu went back to Zhou Muxue.
The Huanhuan Sect was divided into an outer sect and the five peaks of the inner sect. Every year, outer disciples had a chance to be selected into the inner sect, but it was extremely difficult; only the absolute standouts among the outer disciples could make the cut.
However, Yunyu Peak of the inner sect was a special case.
Because the cultivation techniques practiced on Yunyu Peak required Dual Cultivation—and some even required plundering primordial yin or primordial yang—the inner disciples of Yunyu Peak would occasionally descend to the outer sect to find cultivation partners.
Though outer disciples would lose their primordial yin or primordial yang in the process, it was simultaneously an exceptional opportunity to forge connections with inner disciples.
As for primordial yin and primordial yang, those things were only useful for breaking through from the Spirit Spring Realm to the Spirit Core Realm. For untalented outer disciples, they were far better spent in exchange for a chance to enter the inner sect or secure massive resources.
Liu Defu and the original owner Lu Lei were precisely the kind of people who held this exact mindset.
Yet when Zhou Muxue of Yunyu Peak had come to the outer sect that day, she ultimately chose Lu Lei—who was merely at the Spirit Breath Realm (Early Stage)—over Liu Defu, who was at the Spirit Breath Realm (Late Stage).
And the reason Zhou Muxue gave for rejecting him left Liu Defu burning with resentment and twisting his face in agony.
She actually claimed that he wasn't as good-looking as Lu Lei!
Not daring to hold any grievances against an inner sect senior sister, Liu Defu naturally harbored all his hatred toward Lu Lei instead.
Liu Defu let out a cold snort, drew five spirit stones from his robe, and casually tossed them at Lu Lei's feet.
"Since you enjoy getting beaten so much, I'll grant your wish. But I won't be holding back like the others."
Knowing that the visitor meant trouble, Lu Lei narrowed his eyes. "Senior Brother Liu is at the Spirit Breath Realm (Late Stage), whereas this junior brother is merely at the Spirit Breath Realm (Early Stage). I'm afraid I can't withstand senior brother's attacks."
"What's this? Are you scared, Junior Brother Lu? If you don't dare, then I'd say you might as well shut down this paid beating stall of yours."
Liu Defu crossed his arms, looking down at Lu Lei from on high.
"No, no, no. What I mean is... that'll cost extra!"
Lu Lei reached out, raising his fingers one by one.
"Fifty spirit stones? Fine, I'll pay it! As long as you let me beat you to my heart's content, these fifty spirit stones are yours."
Clenching his teeth, Liu Defu tossed over another forty-five spirit stones.
*Hmph!*
Once you're dead, won't all these spirit stones be mine anyway?
Did you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?
I've already greased the palms of the outer sect elders. What does the death of a useless Spirit Breath Realm (Early Stage) nobody matter to anyone?
"Huh?"
"Fifty?"
"My idea was just to add five more."
Overjoyed, Lu Lei lost none of his speed as he scooped up every last spirit stone from the ground.
Before Lu Lei could even call for the start, a ruthless glint flashed in Liu Defu's eyes.
"Spirit Skill—Gale Palm!"
"Whoosh!"
A fierce surge of spiritual energy condensed into a howling palm print that hurtled straight toward Lu Lei's chest.
"Bang!"
The blow sent Lu Lei flying backward to crash heavily onto the ground. A burning pain flared in his chest, and a trace of blood even seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Had he not just broken through to the Bronze Skin Realm (Mid-stage) moments before, that single palm strike could easily have beaten him half to death.
"Cough, cough..."
Lu Lei climbed back up with difficulty, hardening his heart.
"This Liu Defu is genuinely trying to take my life!"
Seeing that Lu Lei was still able to stand, a trace of surprise flickered in Liu Defu's eyes, though his expression quickly returned to its cold, grim mask.
"Not bad, Junior Brother Lu. You can even take a Huang-grade lower-tier spirit skill head-on. It seems Senior Sister Zhou's plundering didn't affect you much after all?"
Lu Lei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and managed a forced smile.
"Senior Brother Liu jests. Your junior brother is just thick-skinned and can take a beating."
"How about a Huang-grade mid-tier one, then?"
Liu Defu sneered, clenching his right fist. As he moved, the surrounding air began to tremble as if stirred by an invisible giant hand, emitting a low, buzzing hum.
"Spirit Skill—Raging Wind Fist!"
Before the words had even faded, Liu Defu's right fist lashed out fiercely, a violent cyan wind vortex condensing atop his knuckles.
The vortex was only the size of a fist at first, but it expanded instantly into a roaring pillar of wind, carrying a piercing shriek that tore through the air straight toward Lu Lei's face.
"Damn it! He actually pulled out a Huang-grade mid-tier spirit skill, the turtle bastard!"
Lu Lei hastily raised his hands to shield his handsome face, driving the Bronze-Skin Iron-Bone Incantation to its absolute limit.
The next moment, the wind pillar formed of spiritual energy slammed into Lu Lei's arms with a sharp snap. His arms fractured, and his entire body was sent flying once more, crashing violently against a stone pillar in the plaza. The impact shattered his internal organs.
"Pfft!"
Lu Lei spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of his entrails, collapsing limply to the ground without even the strength to stand.
Witnessing Lu Lei's miserable state, Liu Defu walked over and looked down at him with a tone dripping in mockery.
"Junior Brother Lu, I'm afraid your beating business has come to an end."
With a cold snort, he turned to leave, not forgetting to toss a parting remark over his shoulder.
"Trash is trash. No matter how much you thrash about, you can't change the facts. Why would Senior Sister Zhou ever fancy a piece of trash like you?"
Liu Defu was certain that with Lu Lei's meager Spirit Breath Realm (Early Stage) cultivation, taking a Huang-grade mid-tier spirit skill head-on meant he wouldn't last the night.
Once he died, Senior Sister Zhou would naturally have to find another cauldron, and his own chance would finally arrive.
The surrounding disciples shook their heads and sighed upon seeing Lu Lei beaten to such a wretched pulp.
Yet just as everyone assumed Lu Lei was finished, the system's voice suddenly rang out in his mind:
"Ding! Host's total exhaustion detected. Energy replenishment complete, physical body realm elevated to Bronze Skin Realm (Late Stage)!"