(The esteemed seniors are issuing another single-chapter plea for votes again. This humble one truly fears a repeat of history and being pushed off the weekly recommendation list. I sincerely hope everyone can help boost the votes one more time to secure our spot. Thank you.) …… "Roar~"

To have one's Natal Ghost Servant torn apart—that agony, as if a claw had gouged a chunk directly from the heart, was beyond ordinary endurance. Even for someone as steadfast in will as Lei Dong, it resulted in a loud, anguished roar. Having already unleashed the Yin Sha Lightning, he knew instinctively that if he didn't fight with everything he had now, he would likely perish here. Almost subconsciously, he swallowed three more Gui Yuan Pills.

"Junior Brother~"

Ding Wan Yan, whose own contest had concluded, arrived before Platform C just as she witnessed this scene. Her usually icy complexion drained of color, and her slender fingers trembled uncontrollably.

"Boom, boom, boom."

Three violent explosions erupted almost simultaneously. Violent energy, mingled with ribbons of razor-sharp malicious sha energy, surged outward incessantly.

Among the various classes of Sha Lightning, the Yin Sha Lightning was not known for its maximum destructive power, but rather for its insidious and vicious nature. Even so, for cultivators in the Qi Refining stage, such explosive force was incredibly difficult to withstand. An unexpected strike from one could be fatal. Three unleashed together—even experts like Dongfang Fu or Ding Wan Yan would not dare meet them head-on.

However, Bai Li Yun, currently undergoing demonization, managed to intercept them directly. Relying solely on his Saint Devil Left Arm, he absorbed the impact of the three simultaneous lightning strikes. Of course, a treasure as potent and exhausting as Yin Sha Lightning could not be treated as entirely negligible.

Bai Li Yun's dark, robust demonic arm appeared as if subjected to a thousand cuts and ten thousand slashes; vast swathes of muscle were torn away, exposing the ghastly white bone beneath. Black and red blood sprayed everywhere.

Suffering this grievous injury, Bai Li Yun's face became even more twisted and savage. His eyes, which were in the process of changing color, seemed to burn with an inferno of demonic flame, eager to consume Lei Dong and reduce him to ashes.

"Lei Dong, I will drink your blood and eat your flesh! Heh heh heh~"

With a sinister sneer, Bai Li Yun casually backhanded an Shadow Ghost Soldier that had just managed to inflict a wound on his back, sending it flying. Perhaps because his demonic arm was severely injured, the pace of his demonization had slowed considerably.

"Thing that is neither man nor ghost. Brother is waiting for you to come and eat."

After that fleeting moment of explosive pain, Lei Dong, despite the agony that would break ordinary men, regained control. He no longer needed to roar to mitigate the suffering. Suppressing the still violent tearing sensation, Lei Dong’s eyes flickered with icy coldness, and he spoke in a low voice.

Sweat beaded constantly on his sharply chiseled face, his muscles trembling slightly, yet his expression was one of unyielding resolve. Bent slightly at the waist, he resembled a wounded beast completely enraged. The five Gui Yuan Pills he had just swallowed were now taking violent effect, burning like intense fires within him, instantly surging through his blood vessels to scorch every corner of his meridians.

The Gui Yuan Pill, that precious medicine capable of rapidly restoring True Qi power during combat, was hardly gentle in nature!

His blood was boiling.

His depleted strength was recovering at an astonishing rate.

Neither wished to grant the other a moment’s respite, and their figures shifted again. They moved even faster than at the start of the exchange. However, as Bai Li Yun became semi-demonic, his movements grew distinctly powerful and savage; every leap in mid-air was lightning-fast. Yet, for all his speed, his movement technique lacked the ethereal grace of the Ghost Shadow Evasion. As for Lei Dong, perhaps spurred on by the full effect of the five Gui Yuan Pills, he felt an inexhaustible surge of power flooding him. Moreover, he himself seemed to have entered a marvelous state—his blood seething, his entire network of meridians stinging as if scorched by intense flames.

But his mind, conversely, was exceptionally clear. He could even sense the subtle shifts in the airflow caused by the surrounding environment. With every fleeting movement, he seemed to blend perfectly with the winding currents of the wind, unpredictable, deceptive, and impossible to pin down. Each time Bai Li Yun lunged ferociously, Lei Dong would elegantly evade at a tricky angle, simultaneously using his High-Grade Nether Fire Sword to slash a bloody mark across Bai Li Yun’s semi-demonic body.

The only regret was that, perhaps due to the semi-demonic transformation, the Nether Fire, which was usually devastating against souls, seemed ineffective against him. It would stick to him, burn briefly, and then extinguish. His remaining two Level Ten Ghost Soldiers fought desperately, either intercepting or sniping at Bai Li Yun, carving out a sliver of survival for Lei Dong. The fierce spirits within the Myriad Ghost Banner also gathered into a mass, forming a barrier against Bai Li Yun’s pursuit, clinging to him desperately like locusts, biting and tearing. Even when shattered by the black mist erupting from Bai Li Yun’s demonic body, they surged forward relentlessly—just scratching him was a victory.

On the viewing stands, nearly every Golden Core Ancestor focused their attention on this ring. Although a mere contest between two Qi Refining disciples shouldn't warrant their notice, for some inexplicable reason, this battle thrilled them intensely. Perhaps it was the constant suspense of their decisive fight, the viciousness of their exchange, or perhaps it was a life-and-death duel involving substantial stakes.

One by one, they watched with keen interest, some even regretting that they hadn't placed a bet.

Among the children newly admitted to the sect below, some could no longer bear to watch such brutal combat but were forced by the robed figures to keep their eyes wide open. Certain young girls, in particular, mentally sided with Lei Dong. After all, Lei Dong was at a disadvantage, and the opponent frankly looked less than human. Lei Dong's soaring fighting spirit in the face of adversity was truly remarkable. They clenched their little fists, as if willing their strength toward him.

"Lei Dong will win! Senior Brother will win!"

Zuo Chao, who had returned after losing his own match, saw Lei Dong fighting so desperately. Tense but energized, he immediately waved his hands and roared encouragement, as if trying to transfer his own power to Lei Dong.

The others who sympathized with Lei Dong, after a brief pause, joined the chorus.

The voices grew louder, the shouts more synchronized. Soon, the accumulated chants of "Lei Dong Will Win!" formed surging waves that made the very air seem ready to ignite.

……

"Hmph." The roars of encouragement, rising in wave after wave, were naturally heard by the Ancestors in the stands. However, for some, it felt like a thorn lodged in their hearts; they let out a cold, sullen snort, cursing Bai Li Yun internally for his uselessness—even in this semi-demonic state, he still couldn't finish Lei Dong.

"The people have chosen their side," the Enchanting Demon giggled unrestrainedly. "I didn't expect that despite his low cultivation, the Lei boy shows genuine mettle when fighting desperately. Far better than your disciple who is neither man nor demon."

"Enchanting Demon, you’re old enough to be less bold," Ku Gu grumbled unhappily. He had fully expected Bai Li Yun’s Saint Devil Left Arm to instantly reverse the tide and crush Lei Dong, whom he detested. Instead, the battle had reached a stalemate. That boy had an endless supply of Yin Sha Lightning and Gui Yuan Pills, his tricks seemingly inexhaustible. Still, it was fortunate that the boy was currently relying on a massive stash of Gui Yuan Pills to stimulate this superhuman performance; once the effects wore off, they’d see how he could withstand Bai Li Yun.

"Whether I'm bold or not is none of your business," the Enchanting Demon scoffed, curling her lip in disdain. "No matter how bold I am, it won't be aimed at you."

……

Ignoring the bickering among the Ancestors, Lei Dong, who was locked in combat with Bai Li Yun, knew that continuing like this would eventually lead to exhaustion. The moment seemed ripe. With a quick shift, Lei Dong moved into the thick cluster of a hundred ghosts, obscuring both sight and some mental senses. He raised his hand slightly, as if nothing significant had happened.

Bai Li Yun’s temper, sharpened by the struggle, flared even hotter. Ignoring the ensnaring ghosts, he roared and charged forward. A faint layer of demonic energy enveloped him, acting like sharp blades, tearing apart the relentless, incoming fierce spirits.

"Lei Dong, die!"

His demonic claw thrust forward heavily. With a poof, it shattered Lei Dong’s Profound Yin Shield and pierced directly through his ethereal Spirit Nurturing Shield, which materialized to protect him. After breaking through two layers of defense, its momentum was finally checked, but the arm mysteriously elongated by a noticeable length, aiming straight for Lei Dong’s heart.

Hiss~~

Lei Dong seemed caught completely off guard, making no attempt to dodge the grasping claw.

Seeing Lei Dong’s face contort in utter terror, Bai Li Yun felt a wave of exhilaration, his own features becoming even more terrifyingly fierce. However, just as that sense of satisfaction arose, when the demonic claw was about to strike his heart, he met another resistance—not overwhelmingly powerful, but enough to halt the momentum of his depleted demonic claw. His claw managed to sink in only half an inch before coming to a complete stop.

What made Bai Li Yun feel that things were going terribly wrong was that Lei Dong’s expression suddenly shifted, revealing a smile that suggested a trick had succeeded.

……M