Thunder's dominance was not just due to his three formidable specters, but also his high-grade magical artifacts, which were in no way inferior to him. As true essence was continuously depleted in the back-and-forth magical exchange, Wu Qianqiu’s complexion grew increasingly grim. He hurriedly unleashed a Ghostly Fiend Palm, forcing the Bloodthirsty Specter back just enough to pop a Returning Essence Pill, worth dozens of spirit stones, down his throat to replenish his qi.

In contrast, Lei Dong, whose cultivation realm was not significantly different, remained outwardly as calm as still water, his vital energy brimming. This was the result of Lei Dong’s year of meditation and reflection within the Minor Yin Sha Cave. He was extremely frugal with every wisp of true essence, prioritizing absolute precision. By this point in the battle, Wu Qianqiu’s true essence was nearly exhausted, while Lei Dong still possessed more than thirty percent remaining.

What frustrated Wu Qianqiu most was that the Fierce Tiger spirit beast, upon which he had pinned great hope, was being utterly toyed with by a mere Sixth-Grade Invisibility Specter—a high-grade consumable worth a full three hundred spirit stones.

While frustrated, Lei Dong was simultaneously surprised by Wu Qianqiu’s resilience. A high-grade magical artifact, coupled with ample funds for consumables—this opponent was truly troublesome. Furthermore, his own specters had revealed a weakness: insufficient killing power against a high-grade magical shield. Simply put, the combat strength of a Sixth-Grade Specter was roughly equivalent to an ordinary Qi Refining Sixth-Layer cultivator. However, against a cultivator of the same level equipped with top-tier gear, they proved slightly lacking.

Yet, fortunately, Lei Dong felt that finishing off this nouveau riche, Wu Qianqiu, would not be a major issue, especially since the summoned spirit beast was becoming progressively more transparent as time wore on and its energy was consumed; its initial ferocity was fading with every flicker and dodge.

The battle seemed dragged into a war of attrition. But everyone understood that if Wu Qianqiu couldn't produce some new trick, he was likely to lose.

The high-grade flying swords and magical shields of both men were already scarred and battered from the ceaseless impacts. Wu Qianqiu’s shield, in particular, having been struck repeatedly by two of the specters, was perilously close to shattering.

Wu Qianqiu, his face growing paler, adopted a pleading expression: “Senior Brother Lei, I was merely jesting with you. I beg you, spare my life.”

Lei Dong let out a cold snort, his expression unchanging. Suddenly, his usually measured pace exploded into action. Before the eyes of all present, his figure dissolved into a faint shadow. Simultaneously, a soul-shaking spectral howl erupted; the long-silent Fierce Howl Specter finally unleashed its might. The sound agitated Wu Qianqiu’s mind and spirit, rendering him momentarily numb as if a Soul Fixing Talisman had been cast upon him.

Nether Ghost Claws!

A ball of dark green light materialized in his right hand, then burst forth, transforming into a massive, eerily terrifying claw that descended from above, snatching the unprepared Fierce Tiger spirit beast.

“Roar~” After being caught, the Tiger responded with a final, instinctive roar of rage. Even in its near-exhausted state, it was estimated to have a maximum of three breaths to struggle free from the Nether Ghost Claws. However, at that very moment, the three specters had already surrounded it, employing every skill they possessed in a desperate assault on the spirit beast.

In a mere two breaths, the spirit beast exploded, its torn soul energy scattering everywhere. The three specters chirped gleefully, condensing into black mists to greedily devour and absorb the pure power.

Lei Dong, meanwhile, stood with his hands clasped behind his back beside the specters as they ceaselessly maneuvered, gazing with cold indifference at a drenched and terrified Wu Qianqiu. In truth, the vast majority knew that once the spirit beast was destroyed, Wu Qianqiu was not far from death himself.

But Lei Dong remained unusually cautious. After all, witnessing the stunning comeback during the Ten-Year Grand Competition on his very first day in the sect was a memory he likely would never forget in his life.

Only after the three specters had gorged themselves did Lei Dong command them to surge forward together, pushing toward Wu Qianqiu. Wu Qianqiu’s face was ashen, like a dead man’s. He frantically begged again: “Senior Brother Lei, I implore you, spare my life. I am willing to surrender all my assets; I have a large portion of my possessions stored in a secret location…”

His method of begging was far smarter than Zhou Minghua’s attempt had been, but Lei Dong remained unmoved, directing the specters to attack.

Seeing that pleading was useless, Wu Qianqiu’s face contorted into a vicious sneer: “You surnamed Lei, is your heart made of iron? You proposed this life-and-death duel, and now that you can’t win, you beg for mercy, blaming me for being hard-hearted—that’s laughable.” With that, he raised his fiery-red flying sword and fiercely slashed toward the specters. Knowing he could no longer prevail against Lei Dong, he likely intended to take at least one or two specters down with him before dying.

Clang—Lei Dong’s Nether Fire Sword thrust out diagonally, intercepting the fiery-red sword in mid-air.

“Wu Qianqiu, are you an idiot? You proposed this duel to the death, and now you want to beg when you’re losing, even criticizing me for being ruthless? Truly ridiculous.” Lei Dong sneered a few times, pushing his specters to press the attack harder.

Boom—Wu Qianqiu’s Dark Yin Shield was shattered by the combined assault of the specters. This was immediately followed by his other high-grade magical shield, already heavily damaged, being violently smashed apart by a heavy strike from the Bloodthirsty Specter. What followed left Wu Qianqiu facing the three specters like an unarmed peasant confronting three hulking brutes—utterly helpless. He darted around the arena atop a high-grade flying artifact, but in the end, it could not change the outcome: he was killed, his flesh and soul entirely devoured.

The Nether Ghost Claws extended again, this time seizing Wu Qianqiu’s storage belt. After quietly securing it, the claw swept toward the crowd of onlookers below. Even two of the upperclassmen whose cultivation stood at the Eighth or Ninth Layer dared not meet Lei Dong’s cold, sharp gaze, instinctively lowering their heads, terrified of inviting trouble.

The reason was simple: those two had mentally placed themselves into the life-and-death match while watching. They chillingly realized that after seventeen years of cultivation, if they faced this Junior Brother Lei, they might not be his match.

In the world of cultivation, strength reigns supreme, and the Yin Sha Sect is particularly so. As for ruthlessly killing an opponent who pleads for mercy in a death match, that was entirely expected behavior for Yin Sha Sect disciples. Some who had originally come to see Lei Dong humiliated were now filled with both shock and fear. During this period, they had certainly not been sparing in their gossip behind Senior Brother Lei’s back. If that gossip were to reach his ears and displease him, none of them could bear the consequences.

Even Chen Ge and Wei Hua showed expressions of awe in the face of Lei Dong’s imposing might.

Returning to his residence, Lei Dong felt an indescribable weariness, coupled with a secret sense of alarm. Originally, he had believed that with his current equipment and three decent specters, he could sweep aside all peers of the same level. However, after this fight with Wu Qianqiu, he understood that while his strength was indeed good among his peers, it was far from absolute. Wu Qianqiu, relying on a bit of luck and having struck it rich, had managed to fight him to such a degree after acquiring substantial resources.

What if his opponent had a better background than the Ghostly Fiend’s son, possessed all top-grade magical artifacts, brought several High-Grade Spirit Ghosts as spectral servants, or commanded something even more powerful than that Fierce Tiger?

The more he thought, the colder he felt. His recent rapid increase in power had led him to become somewhat complacent and arrogant. In reality, Lei Dong could guarantee that within the vast world of immortal cultivation, there were absolutely individuals at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining who could defeat him, and their numbers would certainly not be small.

Not only that, but there were countless others throughout the world whose cultivation was higher and whose wealth was far greater than his own. When he first joined the sect, he was merely an ant in the eyes of the truly strong. Now, at best, he was a slightly sturdier ant. To put it bluntly, there were countless beings in this world who could extinguish him with the casual strength of a single clap. For instance, the Ghostly Fiend Ancestor could kill him by merely twitching a finger. Considering this, Lei Dong couldn't help but feel a chill of fear, and his sense of crisis intensified.

Lei Dong couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. Even as a transmigrator, things weren't so easy. Thinking about the YY transmigration novels he used to read, where protagonists were ridiculously lucky, brimming with over-the-top confidence, and possessed immense psychological advantages, constantly looking down on the native inhabitants of the world—Lei Dong found it amusing. What right did he have to scorn those powerful beings who could crush him on a whim?

Be that as it may, Lei Dong truly felt grateful to Wu Qianqiu. He had provided him with an opportunity for self-reflection. Life is singular; one must be exceedingly cautious. After deep contemplation, he resolved that he needed to increase his methods for survival. ...