A moment later, when the lesson began, the seemingly delicate female instructor produced an adorable young demonic beast and immediately launched into her lecture. "The core of our sect's Weapon Forging Technique lies in spirit fusion!"
"Only by mastering the intricacies of various punishments can you inflict the greatest possible pain on those being punished."
"Only then can you fill their hearts with hatred and rage toward you, followed by fear."
"Only the most extreme fear can make them remain terrified of you even after their tendons have been pulled out, their skin peeled off, and their souls and spirits refined and forged. They won't dare harbor the slightest thought of resisting you, or there's a chance they'll turn on you... So, if you want to become a qualified weapon forger, you must first become a qualified executioner."
As she spoke, the instructor produced dozens of torture devices that Pei Ling had never seen or even heard of, and introduced each one with the ease of an expert. Then she reminded them, "If any of you are interested, one of your senior sisters has a shop in the Artifact Peak market. Mention my name, and she'll include some weapon-forging insights for free... All right, back to the lesson. I'll demonstrate the essentials of flogging first."
By dusk, Pei Ling dragged his exhausted body back to Huaiyin Peak. He had planned to ask the Affairs Hall to find him a new place to live, but as soon as he arrived, a disciple glanced at his nameplate and changed expression. "Junior Brother Pei, you already have a place to stay. According to the sect's rules, changing residences costs one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones."
Pei Ling asked uneasily, "Who's living where I'm staying now? Or is it empty?"
The disciple wore an