The new students' enrollment injected vitality into the entire Northern Heavens Spiritual Academy, and various clubs, big and small, were recruiting.
Joining a club required regularly paying "club fees," which was equivalent to a tribute from club members to the club leaders.
For new students, club fees were a considerable expense, making them quite pained.
Of course, it wasn't without benefits.
Since the powerful older students in the clubs enjoyed the tributes from their members, they naturally had an obligation to protect them.
If a subordinate was taken advantage of and not helped to get even, then the club's cohesion would decrease, making it difficult to recruit new members, which would lead to a reduction in the tributes received by the older students and a loss of their interests.
Moreover, after joining a club, it was easier to find partners to complete tasks together.
A healthy club is never just about oppression from superiors to subordinates; such a club cannot last long. It is normal to have both gains and losses.
Of course, overall, it was the powerful older students who oppressed and exploited the weaker new students. However, the existence of clubs made this exploitation and oppression more orderly, keeping it within certain limits.
Outside the Spiritual Value Hall, a group of older students wandered around. They would look for new students who hadn't joined any organizations yet and "borrow" Spirit Value from them.
As for distinguishing between older and new students, it was simple: just look at whether they had a badge symbolizing a "club" on their chest.
After new students enrolled for a period, wearing a club badge on their chest had become an unwritten rule among older students.
Not wearing a badge made it easy to get into trouble, unless you could make older students retreat by "showing your face."
...
Mu Chen and Luo Li discussed it and decided to challenge the God Soul List to get the reward and exchange it for a "Divine Soul Pill."
The "Divine Soul Pill" is a pill that greatly benefits those in the Divine Soul Realm, helping them break through. However, the pill's medicinal power is violent, and if it cannot be completely refined, it will damage the spiritual power within the body. It costs 20,000 Spirit Value.
Mu Chen is currently in the middle stage of the Divine Soul Realm. With the help of the pill, he is confident of breaking through to the late stage within a month and then competing for the championship of the New Student Conference.
Challenging the God Soul List requires going to the "Trial Tower" and clearing stages there. The Trial Tower will score challengers based on their performance.
The ranking on the God Soul List is based on this score. Once a student advances to the Heaven Merging Realm, their name automatically disappears from the God Soul List.
Mu Chen and Luo Li walked out of the white teleportation gate and arrived at the First Teleportation Hub. They planned to use this as a transfer point to go to the "Trial Tower."
Just then, a voice caught their attention.
"Hey, you, the girl in front, stop right there!"
"Huh? Are you talking about me?"
Mu Chen looked in the direction of the voice and saw Hun Hunsheng being stopped by two older students, pointing at himself with his index finger, looking incredulous.
"Yes, you. From your look, you haven't joined a club yet, right? How about considering our Demon Sect?"
"Not interested." Hun Hunsheng waved his hand dismissively, "Don't bother me."
"Since you don't want to join, then lend us some Spirit Value. We two brothers are a bit tight on money recently. We'll return it once we're better off."
Mu Chen looked at the two older students with a surprised expression... Are they that bold? Robbing the Deputy Dean's daughter?
Although the Deputy Dean probably wouldn't interfere in disputes between students, do you really not care at all?
"I don't know you, so why should I lend it?" Hun Hunsheng squinted at them.
"If you don't want to suffer, you'd better obey. We won't hold back." The more muscular older student said with a fierce expression.
"You two, isn't it a bit much to take advantage of a girl like this?" An handsome, yet somewhat effeminate older student walked over.
Hun Hunsheng's face was quite attractive, and a protector immediately stepped forward.
"You want to interfere in our business? Xu Hui."
"I don't care if you rob others' Spirit Value, but if you want to rob hers, I won't allow it." The effeminate-looking Xu Hui showed Hun Hunsheng what he considered a handsome smile.
Hun Hunsheng placed his hand on his shoulder, making his heart leap with joy.
"You said rob? Are they trying to rob my Spirit Value?"
"Uh... Isn't that obvious?" Xu Hui was stunned... Why did this pretty girl seem not very smart?
"Oh, I see. You move aside." Hun Hunsheng pushed him aside and punched one of the two older students who had initially stopped him in the stomach.
The person immediately knelt down, clutching his stomach.
"You dare to fight back?" The other person's spiritual power surged, and he slapped out with his palm.
Then he took a kick to the chest. He only felt an unstoppable force assault him, and he flew backward, spitting blood.
Hun Hunsheng clapped his hands: "Since you want to rob me, I'll rob you too. That's fair... Hand over your Spirit Value!"
The battle ended unusually quickly, and the surrounding older students looked at Hun Hunsheng with some surprise.
"I didn't expect there to be such a ruthless character among the new students?"
"The spiritual power she just unleashed must have reached the Heaven Merging Realm, right?"
"And she seems to have cultivated a body-refining spiritual art..."
"Why do I feel like the new students are getting stronger and stronger now? I heard there are even a few who can defeat those in the Heaven Merging Realm."
"Haven't you seen last year's new students? They directly challenged the Heaven Rank as soon as they enrolled."
"You mean those two? They are exceptions! They came from powerful clans and enjoyed resources that we can't compare to since childhood."
"We were blind, we chose the wrong person, we admit defeat." The older student, who was beaten by Hun Hunsheng and couldn't get up from kneeling, said resentfully, "We'll leave now."
"Bang!"
Hun Hunsheng stepped on his face, pressing his head to the ground, making him unable to move:
"Don't you understand what I'm saying? Hand over all your Spirit Value."
"Don't go too far, we are from the Demon Sect." The older student said through gritted teeth.
Hun Hunsheng didn't speak, but the older student she was stepping on let out a miserable scream. He only felt the pressure on his head growing stronger and stronger, almost crushing his skull.
"I'll hand it over, I'll hand it over..." He immediately said.
Hun Hunsheng collected the Spirit Value, then broke one of his arms before waving her hand: "Scram."
Xu Hui was frightened by her ruthlessness and unconsciously took a step back:
"Miss, aren't you a bit... Hmm, they are from the Demon Sect. I'm afraid they won't let this go. You need to be careful."
"Won't let this go? I really am too kind... I didn't even cut the grass and pull out the roots. If this wasn't the academy, how could I let them off so easily?" Hun Hunsheng shook his head, seemingly not very satisfied with the outcome.
Xu Hui's mouth twitched, and he didn't dare to say more, worried about incurring the Demon Sect's wrath. He cupped his hands and took his leave.
He just wanted to stop those two older students from robbing, but he didn't expect the new student's counterattack to be so fierce and ruthless, looking like she wanted to make a big deal out of it!
Some older students who originally wanted to recruit Hun Hunsheng into their clubs now gave up on the idea.
The Demon Sect is not weak; it's not worth provoking such a powerful enemy for the sake of a new student.
"This is going to be a good show."
"If it's just a counterattack and a beating, it's nothing."
"Even counter-robbing Spirit Value is still somewhat justifiable. But after robbing the Spirit Value, also breaking someone's arm, that's a bit too much... The Demon Sect will definitely take action."
"If it's like this, if He Yao doesn't react, his subordinates' morale will probably scatter."
"If I were her, I would quickly find a large club to join. Li Xuantong's 'Xuan Gang' or Shen Cangsheng's 'Judgment Group' would both work."
Luo Li witnessed the entire scene, her eyes slightly grave: "She is very strong."
"Mm." Mu Chen nodded. He stepped forward and said, "You seem to have encountered a small problem."
"Haha, it's indeed just a small problem, already resolved."
"If there's anything you need my help with, just say it." Mu Chen said seriously.
"It's just a small matter. You should hurry up and cultivate. Catch up with your cultivation first." Hun Hunsheng waved his hand and said with a smile.
Mu Chen nodded and walked towards the light gate leading to the "Trial Tower."
He didn't need to worry about Hun Hunsheng's situation. Not only was she very strong herself, but if she really couldn't handle it, her two companions wouldn't just stand by and watch. The Demon Sect, who provoked her, should be the one to worry!
☰