Chapter 3: Elder's Fury
The outer disciple plaza of Azure Cloud Academy was deathly silent under the morning sun. Hundreds of disciples had gathered after hearing the news. Zhao Feng stood at the center, his once-handsome face still bearing the ugly red palm print from yesterday. His eyes burned with hatred and humiliation.
Behind him stood Elder Sun, an outer sect elder wearing luxurious purple robes. At Qi Condensation 2nd stage, he was a powerful figure among outer disciples, and heavily favored by the Azure Clan.
"Li Wei! Come out and face justice!" Zhao Feng shouted, voice trembling with rage.
The crowd parted as Li Wei walked forward calmly. His plain gray robes looked the same, but his aura had changed. Qi Refining 5th stage. The rapid breakthrough was obvious to everyone.
Elder Sun's eyes narrowed. "So you are the insect who injured Young Master Zhao and his followers. A mere outer disciple dares to act so arrogantly? Kneel immediately, break both your arms, and kowtow one hundred times. Only then will I consider sparing your worthless life."
Li Wei stopped ten steps away and looked straight at the elder. "Elder Sun, you claim to uphold academy rules, yet you shield a bully who stole from new disciples. Is this the 'justice' of Azure Cloud Academy?"
Murmurs spread through the crowd. Some outer disciples who had suffered under Zhao Feng clenched their fists in silent support.
"Impudent!" Elder Sun's face darkened. "A trash like you has no right to question me. Today, I will cripple your cultivation as a warning to all who dare challenge the strong!"
He raised his hand. Powerful qi surged, forming a massive spiritual palm that pressed down with crushing force.
The system's cold voice sounded in Li Wei's mind:
[New mission issued: Publicly slap the biased Elder Sun. Reward: 800 Spirit Points, Advanced Slap Technique (Level 1), and one Low-grade Spirit Weapon.]
Li Wei smiled faintly. "Elder, since you like protecting faces, I'll help you lose yours."
His figure blurred. Using the newly acquired Basic Movement Technique, he shot forward. Before Elder Sun could react, Li Wei's palm flashed through the air.
PA!!!
The slap was crisp, loud, and devastating. Elder Sun's head snapped to the side as his body spun like a top. He crashed heavily onto the hard stone ground, blood spraying from his mouth. A bright, swollen handprint burned across his wrinkled cheek.
The entire plaza fell into stunned silence.
An outer sect elder… slapped to the ground by a 5th stage outer disciple.
Elder Sun's eyes widened in disbelief and fury. "You… you dare?!"
He roared and channeled his full Qi Condensation power. The air trembled as a giant golden spiritual palm materialized above Li Wei, ready to crush him into meat paste.
Li Wei didn't retreat. He poured spirit points into his slap technique.
PA!!!
The second slap rang out even louder. It shattered the giant palm like glass and struck Elder Sun directly on the other cheek. The elder flew backward, smashing into a thick stone pillar. The pillar cracked. His purple robes tore, hair disheveled, face now bearing two clear, humiliating handprints.
Pain and shame twisted Elder Sun's expression. "Impossible… How can a mere outer disciple…"
Li Wei stood tall, voice calm but carrying to every corner of the plaza:
"Listen well, all of you. In this academy, I will no longer be trampled. Zhao Feng, Elder Sun, or anyone else — if you bully the weak, I will slap your face until it breaks. The era of trash being stepped on ends today."
The system chimed happily:
[Mission completed!]
[Rewards: +800 Spirit Points. Advanced Slap Technique unlocked. Low-grade Spirit Sword acquired.]
A surge of energy flooded Li Wei's body. His meridians expanded rapidly. In front of everyone, his cultivation broke through once more — straight to Qi Refining 7th stage.
Gasps and shocked whispers filled the air.
"He broke through again? In public?"
"From 1st stage to 7th stage in two days… what kind of monster is he?"
Su Ling and several outer disciples who had been bullied before looked at Li Wei with sparkling eyes and growing respect.
Zhao Feng stumbled back, face pale as paper. "This… this can't be real. Father… the Patriarch will come! The entire Azure Clan will destroy you, Li Wei!"
Li Wei turned his cold gaze to the Young Master. "Let your father come. Let your whole clan come. I will slap every single one of them if they dare stand in my way."
He flicked his sleeve, and a sleek silver sword appeared in his hand — the low-grade spirit weapon from the system. Its blade hummed with power.
Without another word, Li Wei turned and walked away from the plaza, leaving chaos and awe behind him.
Elder Sun lay on the ground, trembling with rage and humiliation, unable to stand. Zhao Feng could only glare at Li Wei's departing back, fear and hatred mixing in his heart.
In just three days, the mocked trash disciple had slapped a young master, his followers, and now an elder — all in public.
The legend of Li Wei, the Face-Slapping Madman, had truly begun to spread.
That night, in his small courtyard, Li Wei sat cross-legged and checked the system.
[Spirit Points: 2300]
[Skills: Advanced Slap Technique (Level 1)]
He upgraded the slap technique further and began refining pills using the recipe he received earlier. His cultivation continued to climb steadily.
Outside, rumors were exploding across the academy.
"The trash disciple slapped Elder Sun!"
"Zhao Feng is terrified…"
"Many outer disciples are calling Li Wei their hope against the tyrants."
Li Wei opened his eyes, staring at the moonlit sky.
"This is only the beginning. Young masters, elders, clans… I will slap them all on my path to the top."