Great Power Vajra! Second Layer!

Dead?

Seeing the headless corpse lying on the ground, the entire arena fell silent with astonishment.

They had thought this would be a one-sided slaughter.

They had never imagined they would be wrong...

Huh? They'd guessed right after all!

Only, it was Lu Li, a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator, who had effortlessly crushed and killed Li Fei, a cultivator at the peak of Qi Refining!

"Damn! What nerve!"

The next moment, a sharp hiss of disbelief broke the silence.

Exclamations of praise rang out at once:

"Now that's nerve! He blew up a superior-grade magic artifact without a second thought!"

"When a lion hunts a rabbit, it still uses all its strength. Li Fei underestimated his opponent so badly, he deserved to die."

"Exactly. But Lu Li's body is incredibly strong! He actually took a superior-grade magic artifact's attack head-on. His strength is as vast as a dragon's—fierce!"

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

One admiring gaze after another swept over Lu Li.

Even the red-haired burly man in the sky was looking at him that way.

At the same time, he regarded Lu Li with great satisfaction, and a touch of regret.

Why couldn't he have a disciple with such exceptional talent, such nerve, such filial piety, and such a handsome face?

Nearby, the bewitching beauty's eyes shimmered with affection as she gazed at Lu Li, licking her lips.

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

At that moment, a gaze filled with boundless hatred fell on Lu Li.

Li Jing gritted his teeth and forced the words out through them.

His eyes were as red as blood.

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

"Your younger brother was the one who called for a life-or-death duel. He was bent on dying, so I had no choice but to grant his wish," Lu Li replied coolly. "And by the way, thanks for your Ten Thousand Ghost Banner."

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

A flash of yellow light, and the artifact was stored in his ring, vanishing from sight.

"You!"

Li Jing clenched his teeth. A murderous glint flashed in his eyes as his robes billowed, though there was no wind. His magic power surged, and he was about to strike.

His younger brother was dead! His ancient magic artifact was gone!

And the army of ten thousand ghosts he had painstakingly raised inside it was gone too!

He had lost both a person and a treasure. If he didn't avenge this, he wouldn't deserve to be called a man!

"Li Jing, a bet is a bet."

Seeing that he was about to attack, the red-haired burly man in the sky spoke calmly. "I'll report what happened today to the sect. The sect master may take notice as well, so don't do anything rash. Besides, you swore an oath."

"..."

At the warning, Li Jing's chest heaved with rage. Veins bulged and throbbed on his forehead, leaving him speechless.

He looked ready to explode.

But the next moment, his expression turned cold again. With a flick of his hand, he tossed out a hundred spirit stones. "Kid, my brother was inferior, so I'll accept the loss on his behalf. This is your compensation. I won't come after you for revenge, either."

After speaking, he reached out and pulled the man in green's corpse toward him.

Hummm.

A sword rang out.

A streak of yellow light flew from his sleeve, swept Li Jing up, and carried him into the sky.

He was gone.

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

Li Jing had suffered the loss of a loved one and a treasured artifact, yet he had managed to regain his composure in an instant. He was definitely a difficult opponent!

Things would probably get troublesome from now on!

"Lu Li, you're not bad. Would you like to become my disciple?"

Just then, the red-haired burly man descended directly to the ground and asked with a smile.

Hm?

Lu Li froze for a moment, then came to his senses and cupped his hands. "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, True Person Red. But my master has treated me with the kindness of a mountain. I can't betray his trust."

"Kindness of a mountain, my ass. I know how Ghost Demon True Person takes disciples. He treats it like raising gu. You'd have it different with me. I don't have a single disciple right now. If you joined me, you'd be my one and only Core Disciple. I'd pass my entire legacy on to you."

True Person Red laid it all bare without the slightest courtesy, then continued trying to tempt him.

That was a little tempting.

But even a fool knew he couldn't accept.

The moment he did, Ghost Demon True Person would kill him for betraying his master.

Lu Li was a little tempted, but he didn't let it show on his face. With righteous indignation, he declared, "True Person Red, though I respect you, I absolutely won't let you speak ill of my master! My master taught me supreme arts, bestowed a superior-grade magic artifact upon me, and showed me how to be refined and easygoing, to win others over with virtue, and to cherish compassion. My reverence for him rolls on without end like the mighty Yangtze River, and surges like a great river in flood..."

"Forget it. Damn, you really are Ghost Demon True Person's disciple. You talk like a sow wearing a milk bra—one line after another."

True Person Red waved a hand, speechless, and cut him off.

A coquettish laugh rang out.

The alluring woman draped in black gauze landed beside them. Her red lips parted, releasing a captivating, fragrant breath. "Red Hair, you're poaching so openly. Aren't you afraid Ghost Demon True Person will come after you once he advances to Nascent Soul?"

The red-haired burly man's expression shifted at once. "Forget I said any of that. I'm leaving to report what happened."

As soon as he spoke, blood-red light flashed around him. He soared into the sky and disappeared.

Lu Li didn't even get a chance to thank him.

He had won just now thanks to a restriction the red-haired man had placed.

Just moments ago, after Lu Li blew up his artifact and rushed toward the man in green, the latter sensed the threat to his life and instinctively unleashed all his magic power, trying to defend himself and counterattack. The restriction turned against him, rendering him as stiff as a wooden puppet. He stood frozen in place, and Lu Li smashed his head apart with a single slap, killing him on the spot.

Otherwise, there might have been plenty of twists and turns in the battle.

"Thank you, True Person."

Lu Li turned and cupped his hands to thank the black-veiled beauty.

"Oh? What are you thanking me for?" The beautiful woman blinked, her voice soft and captivating.

"Thank you for your advice. It helped me make up my mind to accept the challenge," Lu Li said solemnly.

That man in green was clearly a treacherous villain. If Lu Li hadn't accepted the challenge, his revenge would have been like a fly or mosquito buzzing incessantly in his ear.

Lu Li hated flies and mosquitoes more than anything, so he had decided to strike first, slap him dead, and be done with it.

Though he had thoroughly offended Li Jing, the matter had also become a big enough deal that he was safer for it.

"Then how will you thank me? Is it 'great kindness needs no words of thanks'?"

At that moment, the bewitching woman's seductive voice drifted into his ears.

Hm? What did she mean by that?

Great kindness needs no words of thanks?

Thanks? No words?

Shoot?

Lu Li's heart stirred.

This woman was eyeing his body!

Looking again, he saw a beauty with a graceful figure, so curvaceous that if he looked down, he probably wouldn't be able to see her feet. She was an absolute stunner.

Her whole body radiated an aura like an almost-ripe fruit, releasing the intoxicating fragrance of fruit wine.

It didn't sound so bad.

But 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'll certainly give you a generous gift to express my gratitude."

"Tsk, you're a little dull, aren't you? Still, I can't help it. You're so handsome, and I rather like you."

The bewitching woman laughed coquettishly.

"Ah... thank you for thinking so highly of me, True Person." Lu Li continued to play the fool.

"Sigh, don't you understand what I'm saying? Do you think I'm ugly? Should I leave, then?"

The bewitching woman sounded a little aggrieved and pitiful.

Something was wrong!

Did a Golden Core True Person really need to be so polite to a Qi Refining cultivator?

Lu Li immediately grew wary, but didn't let it show. He cupped his hands and said, "True Person, you're a peerless beauty. How could you be ugly? But if you have matters to attend to, this junior wouldn't dare disturb you."

"Hehehe, Ghost Demon True Person really has taken a fine disciple. You're ruthless, resolute, and not led astray by beauty. I like you even more now. But if Ghost Demon True Person finds out I've taken a fancy to you, he'll probably come after me. So I'll go back and cultivate for now. Once I reach Nascent Soul, I'll come find you!"

The bewitching woman's expression changed as she laughed sweetly.

With that, she spun around and turned into a trail of black smoke that drifted away.

Huff.

As soon as she was gone, Lu Li let out a long breath of relief.

Then he swept out his hand, collecting the hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones on the ground into his storage ring. Right after, he flashed over to the edge of the arena and retrieved the Low-grade Spirit Ghost he had thrown there.

At the same time, he silently called up the System Log:

"Your Great Mercy and Great Compassion Palm, compassionate to all, has delivered a demon-path cultivator to the afterlife and found satisfaction. Cultivation progress increased by 1%."

"Your Great Strength Vajra Dharma Incantation, having slain a demon-path cultivator for the first time and rid the world of evil, is overjoyed. Cultivation progress increased by 5%."

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

"Current realm: Second Layer (progress: 3%)."