Great Strength Vajra! Second Level!

Dead?

Seeing the headless corpse sprawled on the ground, the entire scene fell into a stunned, deathly silence.

They had all expected this to be a one-sided slaughter.

They never imagined they had guessed wrong...

Wait, they had guessed right!

Yet, it was Lu Li, a mere fourth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, who had effortlessly crushed and executed Li Fei, a master at the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement!

"Hiss! What audacity!"

The next moment, a sharp intake of breath shattered the silence.

Exclamations of awe and praise erupted immediately:

"Truly, what audacity! To detonate a high-grade magical artifact without a second thought!"

"Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit; Li Fei was too arrogant, he deserved to die."

"Indeed, but this Lu Li's physical body is incredibly strong! To withstand the attack of a high-grade magical artifact head-on—his power is as vigorous as a dragon's. Fierce!"

"Lu Li, is it? I'll remember that name."

Gaze after gaze of admiration swept over Lu Li.

Even the Red Hair giant in the sky was no exception.

At the same time, he looked at Lu Li with immense satisfaction, tinged with a hint of regret.

Why didn't he have a disciple like this—gifted, courageous, filial, and handsome to boot!

Nearby, the alluring woman's eyes shimmered with affection as she gazed longingly at Lu Li, licking her lips.

"You actually! Dared! To kill my brother?"

At this moment, a gaze filled with intense hatred locked onto Lu Li.

Li Jing gritted his teeth, forcing the words out through his clenched jaw.

His eyes were blood-red.

He looked like a ferocious beast ready to pounce and devour its prey.

"It was your brother who demanded a life-or-death duel. He was hell-bent on dying, so I simply fulfilled his request," Lu Li replied with a cold expression. "Oh, and thank you for the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner."

As he spoke, he brandished the purple-black banner in his hand.

With a flash of yellow light, the artifact was stowed into his storage ring and vanished from sight.

"You!"

Seeing this, Li Jing gnashed his teeth, a murderous glint erupting in his eyes. His robes billowed without wind, his mana surged, and he prepared to strike.

His brother was dead! His ancient artifact was gone!

The army of ten thousand ghosts he had spent his lifeblood cultivating was also gone!

Having lost both his kin and his treasure, he swore that if he did not avenge this, he would not be a man!

"Li Jing, accept your loss."

Seeing him about to act, the Red Hair giant in the sky spoke up, his tone indifferent: "I will report today's events to the sect; the Sect Master may take notice, so do not act rashly. Besides, you gave your word."

"..."

Hearing this warning, Li Jing's chest heaved with rage, the veins on his forehead throbbing violently, leaving him speechless.

He looked as if he were about to explode.

But the next moment, his expression returned to icy coldness. He flicked his hand, tossing out a hundred spirit stones: "Kid, my brother was inferior in skill, so I accept the loss on his behalf. This is your compensation. I will not seek revenge on you in the future."

Having said that, he reached out and grabbed the corpse of the Green-Clad Man.

Hum.

With the sound of a sword ringing, a yellow light flew from his sleeve, scooped up Li Jing, and soared into the sky.

He was gone.

Watching the direction in which the man disappeared, Lu Li narrowed his eyes slightly, a trace of wariness rising in his heart.

For Li Jing to lose his kin and a treasure, yet regain his composure in an instant—he was definitely a troublesome character!

He would likely have big problems in the future!

"Lu Li, you're not bad. Any interest in joining my sect?"

Just then, the Red Hair giant descended directly and asked with a smile.

Hm?

Lu Li was stunned for a moment. Coming to his senses, he cupped his hands and said: "Thank you for your appreciation, True Person Red, but my master has treated me with great kindness. I cannot be ungrateful."

"A load of nonsense about 'deep gratitude.' Do you think I don't know how Ghost Demon True Person recruits disciples? He treats them like raising venomous insects. It's different if you come to my side; I don't have a single disciple right now. If you come, you'll be my only true successor, and I'll pass down my entire legacy to you."

True Person Red exposed him without a hint of politeness, continuing his enticement.

This was actually somewhat tempting.

However, even a fool would know better than to agree.

Once he agreed, Ghost Demon True Person would turn around and personally snuff out this traitorous disciple.

Lu Li felt a flicker of temptation, but his face remained completely impassive as he spoke with righteous indignation: "True Person Red, although I respect you, I will never let you speak ill of my Master! Master taught me supreme techniques, bestowed upon me high-grade magical artifacts, and instructed me in the principles of being refined, gentle, and winning people over with virtue and compassion. My reverence for Master is like the surging river, endless and continuous, like a great flood..."

"Forget it, damn it. You really are Ghost Demon True Person's disciple. Your speech is like a sow wearing a brassiere—one layer after another."

True Person Red waved his hand in speechlessness, cutting him off.

Pfft.

A charming, soft giggle rang out. The alluring beauty draped in black gauze descended beside them, her sandalwood lips parting slightly to exhale a captivating, fragrant breeze: "Red Hair, aren't you afraid that Ghost Demon True Person will come looking for trouble once he reaches the Nascent Soul stage, given how brazenly you're poaching his people?"

The burly Red Hair's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this: "Forget I said anything just now. I'm leaving to report this matter."

With that, a flash of blood-red light erupted from his body, and he shot into the sky, vanishing without a trace.

Lu Li didn't even have time to offer his thanks.

He had only won just now thanks to a restriction placed by this burly Red Hair.

Moments ago, when he detonated his magical artifact and charged at the Green-Clad Man, the latter had sensed a threat to his life and instinctively unleashed his full cultivation to defend and counterattack. Instead, he was suppressed by the restriction, turning into a wooden statue, frozen in place. Lu Li had then simply smashed his head in, killing him on the spot.

Otherwise, the battle likely would have had many more variables.

"Many thanks, True Person."

Lu Li turned and bowed to the beauty in black gauze.

"Oh? And what are you thanking this Concubine for?" The beauty blinked her eyes, her voice soft, delicate, and bewitching.

"Thank you for your guidance, True Person, which helped me make up my mind to fight."

Lu Li said solemnly.

That Green-Clad Man was clearly a sinister villain; if he hadn't fought, the man would have been like a fly or mosquito buzzing in his ear, seeking revenge.

Lu Li hated flies and mosquitoes more than anything in his life, so he had decided to strike directly, crush him, and be done with it once and for all.

Although he had thoroughly offended Li Jing, the matter had blown up, which actually made him safer.

"Then how will you thank this slave? Is it a case of 'great kindness need not be spoken'?"

At this moment, the alluring beauty's voice, filled with seductive charm, drifted into his ears.

Hm? What does that mean?

Great kindness need not be spoken?

Speak? Not?

Shoot?

Lu Li's heart stirred.

This woman is lusting after my body!

Taking a closer look, the beauty before him had a delicate, exquisite figure; looking down, she probably couldn't even see her own feet—she was a peerless beauty.

The aura radiating from her was like a fruit on the verge of ripening, exuding the intoxicating scent of fruit wine.

That doesn't seem too bad.

However, Lu Li cupped his hands and played dumb: "I, Lu Li, always repay kindness! Please rest assured, True Person, once I reach Foundation Establishment, I will certainly present you with a generous gift to show my gratitude."

"Tsk tsk, you little one are a bit boring. But, since you're so good-looking, this Concubine still likes you quite a bit."

The alluring beauty giggled.

"This... thank you for your appreciation, True Person." Lu Li continued to play the fool.

"Sigh, can you not understand what this Concubine is saying? Am I that ugly? Should I leave then?"

The alluring beauty said with a touch of grievance and pity.

Something is wrong!

Why would a Golden Core True Person be so polite to a mere Qi Refining cultivator?

A trace of wariness immediately rose in Lu Li's heart, though he didn't let it show on his face. He bowed and said: "True Person, you are a beauty of peerless grace; how could you be ugly? However, if you have matters to attend to, this junior would not dare to disturb you."

"Cackle, Ghost Demon True Person really did take in a good disciple—ruthless, firm-willed, and not led astray by beauty. I like you even more now. However, if Ghost Demon True Person finds out I've taken a fancy to you, he'll likely come looking for trouble. So, this Concubine will return to cultivate, and when I reach the Nascent Soul stage, I'll come looking for you again!"

The alluring beauty's expression shifted, and she laughed coquettishly.

With that, she spun around, transformed into a wisp of black smoke, and drifted away.

Phew.

Once she was gone, Lu Li finally let out a sigh of relief.

Immediately, he waved his hand, sweeping the hundred mid-grade spirit stones on the ground into his storage ring. Then, with a flash, he darted over to retrieve the low-grade Spirit Ghost he had tossed to the side of the arena.

He silently chanted a command, calling up the system log:

"Your Great Mercy and Great Compassion Palm is filled with benevolence; having delivered a demonic cultivator, it feels satisfied. Cultivation progress increased by 1%."

"Your Great Strength Vajra Dharma Incantation, having slain a demonic cultivator for the first time, is overjoyed at the act of subduing demons and eliminating devils. Cultivation progress increased by 5%."

"Congratulations to the Host, your Great Strength Vajra Dharma Incantation has broken through to the second level."

"Current Realm: Second Level (Progress 3%)."