"That's right, when we first joined the sect fifteen years ago, Huangfu Ce was already dominating the grand competition stage," Ding Wanyan sighed softly. "Although his aptitude is perhaps a slight notch below Dongfang's, he is still an extremely rare talent. Having cultivated for ten years longer than us, he is already at the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment stage now."

Lei Dong's face was grim, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, and he murmured low, "He courts death." A wave of viciousness rose uncontrollably in his heart.

"Junior Brother, don't act rashly. He is no mere small fry. The entire Heavenly Demon Palace stands behind him, especially since the Heavenly Demon Lord has recently ascended to the Nascent Soul stage and is at the height of her power. If you resort to treachery and she finds out, even Master cannot protect you." Ding Wanyan's expression shifted slightly, and she quickly tried to soothe him. Then, perhaps due to the wine, her delicate cheek flushed faintly, and she whispered softly, "Lei Dong, don't be angry. Regardless of whether the other party is a Heavenly Demon or a Celestial God, I, Ding Wanyan, will never compromise on this matter, even if it costs me..."

Lei Dong swiftly reached out, covering her lips with his hand, and chided, "Senior Sister, what nonsense are you speaking? Don't dwell on this; I will handle it." After a brief pause, he asked seriously, "Who came forward this time to propose the marriage? And what was Master's reaction?"

Ding Wanyan batted away Lei Dong's intrusive hand with a blush, then replied, "It was Yang Mu, the acting Palace Master of the Heavenly Demon Palace, who came forward. Master initially refused, but given the Heavenly Demon Palace's standing, he only said he would consider it. However, later, that Yang Mu added that if Master agreed to the marriage alliance between the two families, then Huangfu Ce could marry into the Myriad Ghost Cave and become one of us."

Lei Dong's brow twitched. Though Huangfu Ce wasn't as dazzlingly prominent as the Yin Fiend Duo, he was certainly a prominent figure among the young talents. Under the guidance of the Heavenly Demon Palace, he had reached the fourth level of Foundation Establishment at such a young age. Given time, he might become another Yang Mu. Such exceptional talent, capable of becoming the Heavenly Demon Palace's right-hand man, or even having the potential to establish his own sect someday—if he were willing to marry into the Myriad Ghost Cave—Master might indeed be tempted.

No wonder Senior Sister was so worried, fearing Master might yield to temptation and agree outright. If that happened, retrieving the situation would be extremely difficult. His expression darkened slightly, and he muttered, "Then what did Master say just now?"

"Master was fair; he said he would respect my wishes. If I don't want to marry him, I don't have to."

That was the first thing Ding Wanyan said that allowed Lei Dong to relax slightly. Lei Dong let out a breath of relief. "If the choice is yours, Senior Sister, then it's much easier to handle."

"It’s not that simple. Huangfu Ce begged Master to give him a chance, and Master agreed." Ding Wanyan stamped her foot with annoyance. "Recently, he shows up at our Myriad Ghost Cave constantly, like a fly you can't swat away." She paused, then added with a touch of melancholy, "What worries me most is that he said he intends to ask the Heavenly Demon Lord herself to propose the marriage to Master during the Lord's Nascent Soul celebration. Under everyone's gaze, Master will either have to deny the Heavenly Demon Lord her face or agree. The biggest issue is that Master, well, he does have a certain inclination."

Lei Dong knitted his brows and let out a few cold laughs. "No matter how great the Heavenly Demon's prestige is, Master would never allow you to marry a dead man."

"Junior Brother, don't act rashly." Ding Wanyan's face changed sharply, and she became extremely tense. "I can go and beg the Old Ancestor to help make the final ruling."

Ding Wanyan deeply feared that Lei Dong would secretly scheme against Huangfu Ce and take his life. The Heavenly Demon Lord was nothing like the Ghost Fiend; given her current cultivation, status, and methods, if she suspected Lei Dong of anything, she could easily disregard all opposition and subject him to Soul Searching Arts to read his memories. Even if she wrongly accused Lei Dong, it would be akin to accidentally stepping on an ant—who among the Yin Fiend Sect could possibly stand up for him?

"Senior Sister, I won't act rashly. But, I, Lei Dong, am a man after all." Lei Dong’s expression became solemn. After a moment, he spoke with an unprecedented gravity, his face exceedingly serious as he slowly said, "I cannot stand idly by and watch the woman I admire so deeply be subjected to such humiliation."

"Lei Dong~"

At the utterance of 'the woman I admire,' Ding Wanyan couldn't help but tremble deeply, and her moist, watery eyes involuntarily grew clouded with moisture. Many times before, Lei Dong had seemed to vaguely evade her feelings. What exactly was he thinking deep in his heart?

However, Ding Wanyan could never have guessed that Lei Dong was not originally from this world. Though he lived here every day, he always felt an inexplicable sense of detachment that even he couldn't comprehend; the notion that he didn't belong to this world was branded deep into his mind like a permanent mark. Moreover, in this dangerous world, he lived with a profound sense of insecurity. In his drive to become stronger, achieve longevity, and truly control his own destiny, Lei Dong subconsciously resisted attachments like romantic love.

Yet, after that wild ecstasy with the mysterious black-robed woman, followed by her subsequent extreme coldness, acting as if she could snuff him out like an ant, Lei Dong felt as if he had just returned from the brink of death. The fear of death, the complex emotions toward the black-robed woman—a mix of hatred and the inability to forget—the endless humiliation, and the image of Ding Wanyan that flashed before his eyes just before he thought he would die, were all vividly and deeply etched. At that moment, he had even felt a needle-like pain in his heart.

In retrospect, Lei Dong should thank that black-robed woman. It was she who, through the terrifying proximity of life and death, made Lei Dong deeply realize that his existence was real, that he was indeed a part of this world. It seemed to have instantly shattered his sense of isolation and estrangement.

"Senior Sister, aren't you worried about the Heavenly Demon Lord retaliating against me? If I defeat him honorably on the stage, and kill him," Lei Dong’s determined face was filled with resolution, "then even the Heavenly Demon Lord will have absolutely nothing to say."

"Lei Dong, you don't have to... Wuwu~"

Ding Wanyan’s words were cut short as Lei Dong sealed her lips again. But this time, he did not use his hand. Instead, he suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace, bent down, and pressed his lips fiercely against her soft, delicate mouth. Ding Wanyan struggled briefly but was quickly lost in the intensity of his domineering attack. Her eyes closed, her sweet, soft tongue yielded to his plundering. Her delicate body gradually softened and melted within his scorching kiss. It was as if this iceberg of a woman could only ever melt for him in this lifetime.

After a long moment, Lei Dong slowly released her, supporting her fragrant shoulders. His eyes, now holding a shade more composure and world-weariness than before, gazed deeply into hers. "Wanyan, rest assured. You know I am someone who cherishes life and fears death. If I weren't absolutely certain of success, I would never attempt such a reckless act."

Ding Wanyan felt a slight easing of her heart from his words. Though what he said sounded unflattering, he truly was rather fearful of death. However, in her view, being excessively cautious wasn't necessarily a bad thing in this world teeming with powerful masters and constant peril. Rushing about recklessly like a greenhorn wouldn't simply result in a bloody nose.

Yet, Lei Dong managed a bitter smile inwardly. Since transmigrating, most of his actions had been based on a high degree of certainty. But in truth, challenging Huangfu Ce was an extremely risky endeavor for him. Still, this was something he had to do. Given Huangfu Ce's status, if he truly swallowed his pride and sincerely flattered Master, Master might just agree for the sake of the Myriad Ghost Cave’s development and to save the Heavenly Demon Lord’s face.

However, if he were to be cowardly in the face of such an issue, what meaning would life hold? Would he just be a walking corpse? Of course, Lei Dong wasn't entirely without confidence. Moreover, with his eloquence and planning skills, he could manipulate the situation to his advantage, rather than foolishly challenging someone to a fight to the death or a one-on-one duel. Even if it came to a life-or-death struggle, some strategy was necessary.

"Mmm, I believe you." Ding Wanyan gazed back at Lei Dong with slightly hazy eyes, speaking very calmly, "Dong'er, if you die, I won't live alone either."

... (The book goes live in forty-eight hours. Affected by the monthly ticket war, I've finally slipped to second place. But I am not disappointed in the least, because we held the number one spot on both charts for nearly four days, far exceeding my initial expectations. Thank you, thank you all for your explosive support during these days. Our journey is still long; please continue to walk with me down this road~)M

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