C13 The Help of the Beauty

In the eyes of the Elite Disciples, the status of an Outer Disciple like Lei Yan was quite low. Being spotted by them could spell significant trouble for him.

By the time Lei Yan realized it, it was too late. His distinct demeanor among the Outer Disciples caught the attention of an Elite Disciple almost immediately.

This Elite Disciple was Huo Ming, who noticed Lei Yan right away.

There were four Elite Disciples, including Huo Ming, who had come to the Devil Beast Garden—two men and two women. Huo Ming was notably handsome, dressed in a purple robe. The other male Elite Disciple was tall and slim, clad in a black robe, with a particularly icy demeanor.

The female Elite Disciples were both attractive, though not quite on par with Lee Qingping. One was statuesque with a prominent figure, dressed in a green robe, yet her beautiful face was marked by a cold expression. The other, in a red robe, had a charming and delicate appearance, but she carried an air of superiority when interacting with the Outer Disciples.

"You're Lei Yan!" Huo Ming, agile and swift, leaped from his Flying Devil Beast and approached Lei Yan in just a few strides, speaking with a chilly tone.

"Yes," Lei Yan replied, nodding slightly, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor.

"Junior Brothers and Sisters, come see for yourselves. This is the Lei Yan I was telling you about," Huo Ming called out, his face twisting into a malicious grin.

"That's Lei Yan," the other three Elite Disciples confirmed, dismounting their Flying Devil Beasts.

"She's the Outer Disciple that Senior Sister Lee invited to stay with us," the red-robed woman said, fixing her gaze on Lei Yan with a mix of surprise and scrutiny.

"Kid, Senior Sister Lee was just playing a joke on you," Huo Ming said, his voice dripping with contempt as he sneered.

Lei Yan was aware that he wasn't as powerful as Huo Ming, and their social standings were worlds apart, so he chose not to respond.

Despite feeling somewhat anxious, Han Yun boldly stepped forward and added, "Senior Brother Huo is absolutely right. Why would Senior Sister Lee take an interest in someone like him?"

His words may have sounded demeaning to Lei Yan, but Han Yun's intentions were protective.

Huo Ming and the three Elite Disciples burst into laughter upon hearing her words.

"Huo Ming, I think that kid might actually give you a run for your money," the woman in the red robe said provocatively.

It was clear she had easily read Han Yun's intentions. She was also known for her envy of Lee Qingping, which likely fueled her instigation.

Her words, spoken in such a coy tone, were truly exasperating. It was a classic case of a beauty with a venomous heart.

Huo Ming's pride was wounded by the red-robed woman's remark.

After a moment's thought, he turned to Lei Yan and said, "Kid, I could easily beat you to a pulp with just one punch. But since you're a new Outer Disciple, if you bow down to me three times, I'll let you off the hook."

The other three Elite Disciples couldn't contain their laughter at this.

"Huo Ming, you're quite the boor," the tall woman chuckled.

"Senior Brother Huo, you're in quite the playful mood," the slender young man commented.

Huo Ming smiled and replied, "Please, my fellow brothers and sisters, don't tease. I'm just looking for a bit of amusement."

The Outer Disciples around them all looked worried, but they were powerless to intervene.

"Brothers and sisters, Lei Yan is new here. He's not yet familiar with our sect's rules. Please, let's give him a pass this time," Han Yun pleaded, seeing the situation escalate.

Lei Yan felt a surge of gratitude towards Han Yun. They had only met by chance and had known each other for a mere half a month, yet Han Yun was going out of his way to help him.

"Han Yun, don't worry about them," Lei Yan said, initially planning to reveal his true abilities during the Inner Disciple Entrance Examination, but now it seemed he had no choice but to act.

"Lei Yan!" Han Yun exclaimed in alarm, trying to intervene.

But Lei Yan silenced him with a look and then turned his icy gaze to Huo Ming.

His eyes gleamed with a chilling intensity, infuriating Huo Ming.

"You little punk, you dare to defy me?" Huo Ming, seeing Lei Yan's defiance, bellowed in anger.

"Poor Lei Yan," the other Outer Disciples murmured, casting sympathetic glances his way.

Elite Disciples were forbidden from killing their juniors outright, but they were certainly capable of inflicting severe injuries. Huo Ming knew he had no choice but to go all out and give Lei Yan a harsh lesson. Failing to handle an Outer Disciple would be a major blow to his reputation, particularly since he was courting a lady in a red robe.

"Today, you will witness the true power of an Elite Disciple!" Huo Ming declared, channeling his Spiritual Power and Soul Power, ready to strike.

In a flash, a white-robed beauty appeared silently before Huo Ming.

Boom!

Before he knew it, Huo Ming's vision blurred, and he was sent flying by the beauty's slap, crashing into a large boulder and shattering it into over a dozen pieces.

"Who dares to strike me?" Huo Ming spat blood, his face beet red with rage.

But upon recognizing her, his anger turned to fear, and he quickly plastered on a smile. "Senior Sister Lee, what brings you here?"

Lei Yan hadn't anticipated Lee Qingping's arrival, and her presence stirred a rush of excitement within him. She seemed even more majestic and pure than when he first laid eyes on her. Next to Lee Qingping, the other beauties paled in comparison, both in beauty and in aura. Her jade-like presence exuded a subtle fragrance that was utterly refreshing.

"Lei Yan has caught my attention. No one is to lay a finger on him," Lee Qingping warned with a cold glance at Huo Ming, her voice cutting through the tension.

She was clearly not to be trifled with at this moment.

Huo Ming, still struggling with his bruised ego, hesitated before daring to speak up. "Senior Sister Lee, he's merely an Outer Disciple. Have you truly taken an interest in him?"

"This is my affair, and it's certainly not your place to question," Lee Qingping retorted with a cold smile, her rebuke laced with an air of authority that brooked no argument.

In Lei Yan's eyes, Lee Qingping appeared even more stunning than before, captivating him further with her beauty.

Huo Ming's face was a picture of displeasure. Amidst his nervousness, he took a deep breath and, with deliberate emphasis, addressed Lee Qingping, "Senior Sister Lee, my brother Huo Ting may only be sixteen, but he has already reached Beast Soul Level 3 in his cultivation. His talent surpasses even what you exhibited at his age."

No sooner had he finished than the woman in red robes chimed in, "Rumor has it that Supreme Elder Zhao plans to accept Huo Ting as his disciple once he reaches the pinnacle of Beast Soul. When that happens, his standing will be no less than yours, Senior Sister Lee."

Within the Divine Plant Pill Sect, the three Supreme Elders held positions of high esteem, nearly on par with the Sect Master. However, the Sect Master's authority remained supreme.

Lee Qingping offered a cold smile and retorted sharply, "Are you trying to intimidate me?"

"Of course not. It was merely an offhand remark," Huo Ming sneered before turning on his heel and walking away.

Chapter 18 - The Sect Master's Power