Watching the stream of young boys and girls newly initiated into the sect, their eyes fixed on the disciples with a mixture of worship and awe, Lei Dong couldn't help but muse inwardly. Surely, for the rest of their lives, they would never forget this heart-stopping, savagely bloody confrontation? He recalled himself ten years prior, witnessing similar brutal and gruesome duels under such an atmosphere. Time truly flew. Today, in a way, he had taught these youngsters a lesson through direct example. From this perspective, the Yinsha Sect’s tradition was certainly worth advocating.

Quickly returned to his temporary quarters, supported by Zuo Chao and Ding Wanyan who had finished tidying up, Lei Dong heard the Ancestor’s instruction to recover in the Myriad Ghost Cave. Yet, Lei Dong knew he was only among the top thirteen; a little bad luck, and his Foundation Establishment Pill would bid him farewell. No matter what, he needed to fight at least one more match before leaving. Although his spirit and meridians were significantly damaged, a level twelve Ghostly Trooper had now been revealed. As long as his luck wasn't terrible—and he avoided the Yinsha Twins—three of his ghost soldiers should be enough to fight.

Thus, Lei Dong was resolved to continue competing. But time was short, and he immediately sat cross-legged. He opened the jade bottle tossed to him by the Ancestor and retrieved a pill: crystal clear, emanating a cool, shimmering light, and possessing an intoxicating fragrance. Merely by the appearance of this pill, Lei Dong knew its value was exceptionally high. It seemed the Ancestor was stern but kind-hearted towards him after all.

Without further thought, Lei Dong popped the pill into his mouth. It dissolved instantly upon contact, giving rise to a profound sensation of coolness that was almost intoxicating. His listless spirit felt suddenly refreshed and comforted. This pill was indeed extraordinary; he swallowed it down with saliva. As the medicinal power dispersed, a cool wave of ease quickly spread throughout his entire body, finally reaching the crown of his head.

Lei Dong immediately held his breath, concentrated his mind, and circulated his power to coax the pill’s efficacy to its utmost limit. In barely half an hour, his eyes snapped open, showing a noticeable surge of vitality. Just as the Myriad Ghosts had claimed, this pill was miraculous for spirit injuries; in such a short time, the damage was mostly healed, around seventy or eighty percent. But for the rest, recovery would depend on time. To expect a single pill to completely mend a shattered soul was the stuff of myth.

However, in this brief half-hour, the pain in his meridians had also been significantly alleviated. Such a phenomenally effective elixir must be priceless.

Taking advantage of the remaining time, Lei Dong swallowed several more healing elixirs from his private stash. He closed his eyes again, concentrating on dissolving their power. When he opened his eyes next, a disciple was already knocking at the door, announcing that the drawing for the next round of competition had begun. Lei Dong quickly examined his body—spirit, meridians, and some external wounds. After this initial treatment, everything had stabilized somewhat. As long as he didn't push himself too hard, he could manage.

As for the claw mark on his chest, it hadn't penetrated deeply. At the time, Lei Dong had gambled, knowing that if he had continued to tangle with Baili Yun, he himself would have ended up dead on the stage. He had to bite the bullet and provoke Bai Li Yun into striking. Relying on the high-grade inner armor he wore, he managed to block the final surge of power from that strike. Then, using the Ghostly Trooper for an invisibility-cloaked surprise attack to severely wound Baili Yun, he finally risked his life to activate the Annihilation Dharma Wheel and sever his arm.

Any single step of that sequence might have been omitted. But Lei Dong dared not risk it; life was singular, and the chance to use the Annihilation Dharma Wheel was only once. If Baili Yun had blocked it again, Lei Dong would truly have been finished. Furthermore, Lei Dong had agonized over summoning the Nether Ghost Trooper, ultimately deciding to expose it. But that specific Nether Ghost Trooper not only possessed an invisibility spell but also the Ghostly Strike, and most importantly, it was already level twelve. Given his cultivation stage, with three level-ten Ghost Soldiers already in hand, achieving level twelve for a Mid-Grade Spirit Ghost in just ten years was impossible. Even reaching level ten would require immense time and resources. Otherwise, why would Lei Dong need three level-ten Spirit Ghosts as cover?

Once the Nether Ghost Trooper appeared, the Old Ancestors, with their keen sight, could instinctively judge it to be a High-Grade Spirit Ghost based on intuition and experience. Lei Dong never harbored any illusion of hiding this fact when he summoned it. Of course, the other Ancestors assumed it was a gift from the Myriad Ghost Ancestor. Only the Myriad Ghost Ancestor knew the truth. To Lei Dong’s surprise, the Myriad Ghost Ancestor merely harbored some reservations and did not question him on the spot.

His steps felt unsteady, yet he walked unhesitatingly toward the drawing venue. The eyes of everyone present immediately zeroed in on Lei Dong. On the viewing platform, the Myriad Ghost Ancestor frowned slightly upon seeing Lei Dong still intending to fight, but a sliver of joy surfaced in his heart.

“Junior Brother, are your injuries alright now? Why did you come here?” Ding Wanyan hurried to his side, her tone a mix of reprimand and concern.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister. My injuries are mostly healed,” Lei Dong replied with a sincere bow, then broke into a smile. “I just wanted to try my luck with the drawing. With thirteen people remaining, everyone will have an opponent, meaning one person is guaranteed a bye. If my luck is exceptionally good, and I draw the bye, how could I possibly pass up such a gift?”

Ding Wanyan paused, then realized she had let worry cloud her judgment; there was a one-in-seven chance of a bye. If he could advance this way, it would be greatly beneficial for Lei Dong. Her expression relaxed slightly, and she smiled sweetly, “Then I sincerely wish you the best of luck, Junior Brother.”

The drawing began quickly. Opponents were determined one by one. Unfortunately, when it came time for Lei Dong to step up, his one-in-seven chance failed him; he did not draw the bye. His opponent was the ill-tempered girl from the Heavenly Demon Palace, Wu Youhan. Her cultivation was the same as Baili Yun’s: peak level eleven. This woman was formidable; in the previous round, just like him, she had directly eliminated the chief seeded disciple to advance.

Unwilling to worry Ding Wanyan, Lei Dong waited a moment after she left for her own stage before walking, step by deliberate step, onto the Ding platform.

Wu Youhan was already waiting on the stage. She had initially been in high spirits, thinking drawing Lei Dong was a stroke of immense luck. Everyone knew Lei Dong had been beaten to a near-death state in the last match. Yet, to her utter surprise, he walked onto the stage, step by step.

“Lei Dong, are you certain you want to fight me?” Wu Youhan frowned, attempting to dissuade him. “With your injuries, perhaps you should reconsider.” Her earlier disdain for Lei Dong’s strength had long since been cast to the clouds. Even though he was only at the eighth layer of Qi Condensation, he had managed to fight and defeat a semi-demonized Baili Yun in a life-or-death duel. That was something she, Wu Youhan, could not accomplish.

“Thank you for your concern, Senior Sister Wu. I just wish to test myself,” Lei Dong stated calmly, neither subservient nor aggressive.

Wu Youhan blinked in surprise before recalling that this fellow practiced the Ghost Control Arts, and rumor had it he possessed another level twelve High-Grade Spirit Ghost. Her face immediately became uncertain. A level twelve High-Grade Trooper alone was strenuous for her to handle, let alone two other not-weak level-ten Ghost Soldiers and the Myriad Ghost Banner. Thinking about it gave Wu Youhan a headache. By what right was she telling him to forfeit?

Seeing Wu Youhan’s face shift between gloom and uncertainty, Lei Dong actually smiled. “If you find me too difficult, Senior Sister Wu, perhaps you could forfeit instead.”

“Nonsense! This venerable lady would be afraid of a half-dead brat like you?” As the second-ranked disciple of the Heavenly Demon Palace, second only to Dongfang Fu, Wu Youhan was accustomed to flattery wherever she went. Her nature was somewhat arrogant, and she hadn't suffered much humiliation. A small goad from Lei Dong was enough to make her lose control. She shouted, “Referee, start the match quickly! What are you waiting for? This venerable lady will teach this arrogant brat a lesson!”

The Foundation Establishment referee paused, inwardly cursing this mere Qi Condensation cultivator for his impudence in daring to reprimand him. But then he thought of her origins in the Heavenly Demon Palace, and the terrifying entity residing there. The referee could only swallow his grievance and announce the start of the duel.

While Wu Youhan was still basking in the fleeting pleasure of seeing the Foundation Establishment referee yield, Lei Dong struck immediately. He summoned two level-ten Ghost Soldiers in rapid succession; they appeared with fierce roars, baring fangs and brandishing claws as they charged toward Wu Youhan.

...M