C2 Beat Someone up and Slap Their Face

The Azure Cloud Sect, one of the Vast Lifting Empire's three esteemed sects, recruits disciples under eighteen who have reached the Spirit Transforming Stage.

The Moon God River Purification aids practitioners in purifying their Spiritual Meridians, paving the way for the awakening of their second Spiritual Meridian. It's essentially a shortcut to the Spirit Transforming Stage!

In the Conference Hall, Du Dahai noticed Lu Yuanmo deep in thought, a frown creasing his brow. Du Dahai's lips curled into a slight smirk, as if he had anticipated this reaction. He said,

"Uncle Lu, I'll just leave this Python Bull Pill here. I'm sure Brother Lu Chen wouldn't turn it down!" With that, he turned on his heel, ready to depart.

His words were a naked taunt.

Du Dahai's earlier arrogance was subtle compared to his current brazenness!

Just then, a voice even more audacious than Du Dahai's rang out.

"Who the hell needs your Strength Pill? Keep it for your old man!"

"Trading sesame seeds for watermelons? That's quite the thought. It's a wonder you've made it this far in life!"

With a loud bang, the door was kicked open. A young man, about fifteen or sixteen, strode in with a maidservant of similar age, who was clearly overwhelmed by the situation.

It was none other than Lu Chen and Yue Yao.

Yue Yao, trailing behind Lu Chen, had never witnessed such a spectacle. She timidly took refuge behind him, too intimidated to reveal herself.

Upon recognizing Lu Chen, Du Dahai couldn't resist a cold laugh. "Look who it is, Brother Lu Chen. How have you been? I heard you were recently beaten so badly you were bedridden. I've brought you a Pill I have no use for, to give you a bit of self-defense."

Lu Chen burst into laughter. "Seems like every minnow and shrimp thinks they can leap about these days. Can't secure a spot in your own house, so you come begging at ours? You're not even close to being worthy."

To the average person, the Python Bull Pill was a rare treasure. But for Lu Chen, who had been a Grade Nine Spirit Emperor in his past life, such an item was hardly worth a second glance.

"Lu Chen, our Third Young Master has come to have a proper discussion with you. Don't throw away the respect you're being offered!"

Before Du Dahai could utter a word, Du Si, who was standing nearby, took the lead. Speaking, he positioned himself in front of Du Dahai, radiating the energy of the Spirit Transforming Stage in an attempt to intimidate Lu Chen.

"Address me as Young Master Chen! How dare a mere servant address me so casually?"

In his past life, Lu Chen was a Grade Nine Spirit Emperor, accustomed to dealing with those of the Spirit Emperor Stage. This minor Spirit Transforming Stage was hardly a challenge!

Du Si, fuming at Lu Chen's words, darkened in complexion as the pressure of his Spirit Force intensified.

Observing the scene, Lu Yuanmo's brow furrowed slightly. "Chen, the Du family has come to strike a deal. Let's not act rashly." With a gentle wave of his hand, he effortlessly dissipated Du Si's oppressive energy from around Lu Chen.

Lu Chen felt a surge of warmth. He had always been told that his father was the weakest among the patriarchs of the four great families, indifferent to his own son. Yet now, it seemed there was more to the story.

"Since time immemorial, only the worthy can claim what they desire. You, I'm afraid, are not fit for the Moon God River Purification!" Du Dahai's face, already darkened by Lu Chen's previous remarks, lost all traces of composure.

Lu Chen was right; the family's spot had been given to his younger brother, Du Zheng. This would be Du Zheng's second purification—a stark reminder that Du Dahai was treated as the family's discard.

"Not even a Grade One Spirit Disciple, and you think you're worthy of the Moon God River Purification?"

"I'm offering you a generous trade with the Python Ox Pill, and you ungrateful wretch dare to refuse?" Du Dahai's voice grew more forceful, his indignation palpable.

"Grade One Spirit Disciple? Trading with me for a Python Ox Pill?" Lu Chen couldn't help but smile, sensing the condescension dripping from Du Dahai's words.

"I'll show you right this minute if your so-called Elixir of Strength has any effect on me!"

In a flash, Lu Chen's Spirit Force burst forth, revealing the power of a Grade Four Spirit Disciple. It surged with such intensity that it even pushed back Du Si's Spirit Force Fluctuation.

"What?"

The overwhelming Spirit Force Fluctuation swept through the Conference Hall, catching everyone off guard. No one had anticipated that Lu Chen had reached the level of a Grade Four Spirit Disciple, not even Lu Yuanmo, who leapt to his feet from the leader's seat, visibly shaken.

Without missing a beat, Lu Chen sprung into action, closing the distance to Du Dahai in a few swift moves. He then raised his right hand and brought it down hard.

"Smack!"

"Smack!"

The sound of two sharp slaps echoed through the hall.

Du Dahai stared at Lu Chen in terror, his face swelling as a mix of saliva and blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth.

Lu Yuanmo's eyes sparkled at the sight. Lu Chen's movements, though seemingly brash, were in fact incredibly precise, and his speed was breathtaking.

"You... you lowlife, how dare you strike me!?"

"Strike you?" Lu Chen's lips twisted into a sardonic smile. "Yes, I struck you. If a 'lowlife' like me can land a blow, what does that make you? Even less than a lowlife, perhaps?"

"The Moon God River Purification was wasted on you. I'm bold enough to strike not just you, but your father, your brother, your grandfather—anyone!" Lu Chen continued, his face etched with scorn as he mimicked another slap.

"Next time, have the decency to send someone of substance from your family to confront me. Sending nobodies to test the Lu family's resolve—do you have a death wish?"

After his tirade, Lu Chen cast a pitiful glance at Du Dahai and sighed, "Truly, there's no substitute for one's own flesh and blood."

"What did you just say?" Du Dahai exploded upon hearing Lu Chen's words. The entire city knew the secret of his birth, yet no one had ever dared to confront him with it.

Seated at the head of the table, Lu Yuanmo couldn't help but crack a smile at the audacity of the young man. This kid really did have the guts to say anything.

Years ago, after Du Chun and his father, the elder Du Zheng, welcomed the birth of Du Zheng, a misadventure befell the latter during an expedition—he was kicked in the groin. Unwilling to let this setback define him, Du Chun took a young concubine as his wife. Surprisingly, it wasn't long before she became pregnant and bore a child, Du Dahai, the result of an illicit affair.

Out of concern for the family's reputation, the elder Du Zheng raised Du Dahai as his own, keeping the scandal under wraps. Nonetheless, the incident of Du Zheng's unfortunate injury became common knowledge, leading to rampant speculation.

The Du family's decision to allocate a coveted spot to Du Zheng was twofold: firstly, Du Zheng was undeniably a prodigy, the likes of which Vast Dragon City had seldom seen; secondly, it was to mitigate the fallout from the aforementioned scandal.

Du Si, the man currently in our midst, was none other than the brother of Du Chun's concubine and, consequently, Du Dahai's uncle.

"Such arrogance from a mere Grade Four Spirit Disciple? Haven't you heard that there's always a higher sky?"

Du Si, who had been seething at the sight of Lu Chen slapping Du Dahai before he could even react, was now boiling with rage. Without regard for his surroundings, his fists crackled with unleashed Spirit Force as he lunged at Lu Chen.

"Are we really going to come to blows?" Du Si's body was now a whirlwind of Spirit Force, signaling his readiness to strike.

"Perhaps you, a lowly servant, are uneducated. As I said before, you... are not worthy. And that includes him!" Lu Chen's lips twitched into a smirk, utterly unfazed by Du Si's status as a Spirit Transforming Stage powerhouse.

"You insolent kid!" Du Si could contain himself no longer. His body thrummed with Spirit Force as he propelled himself toward Lu Chen with a swift push from his toes.

"I'll see if your actual strength is as sharp as your tongue!"

"Bull Charge!"

"No, stop this at once!"