As Lei Dong sized him up, the monk turned his gaze back, a slight frown creasing his brow, before letting out a cold snort: "So, it's a spawn of the Yin Sha Sect." Though his tone was dismissive, his posture radiated intense caution.
Lei Dong noted the monk's excellent cultivation, seemingly already at the third layer of the Foundation Establishment stage.
He looked to be only in his twenties or thirties, but his true age was surely greater.
To be so insolent.
Lei Dong, in turn, kept his hands behind his back, his expression coldly arrogant: "Just a little bald donkey from the Vajra Temple." "You!" The bald monk, whose physique was as hard as iron and seemed brimming with explosive power, raised an eyebrow.
His aura surged, and a wave of golden qi shot toward Lei Dong: "Seeking death." Lei Dong had been mentally alert the moment the monk spoke his provocation.
Seeing the monk make a move, Lei Dong let out a cold laugh, mocking him: "Arrogant." A burst of ghostly, dark mist erupted from his body, meeting the incoming golden qi.
Simultaneously weaving hand seals, his Violent Strike Ghost Guard and Frost Ghost Guard materialized almost at once.
They were now both Level Two Ghost Guards.
Empowered by the dense Nether Ghost Qi, they became exceptionally ferocious and violent, lunging at the monk.
The monk’s expression shifted slightly upon seeing the two formidable Ghost Guards, and he swiftly executed a hand seal.
A shield of golden light enveloped his body.
With two muffled booms, the attacks from the two Ghost Guards left ripples across the golden, translucent barrier.
He Ran sneered again, stomping his feet sharply, riding the golden light and hurtling toward Lei Dong like a projectile from a cannon.
Lei Dong had no intention of engaging in a close-quarters brawl with a Vajra Temple monk renowned for such combat.
Instantly, another surge of Nether Ghost Qi welled up around him, making the area for several dozen zhang feel eerily dense with ghostly and melancholic energy.
He himself activated his Ghost Shadow Escape, stepping upon the fluctuating, elusive ghost energy, drifting unpredictably in the void like a phantom.
The erratic Nether Ghost Qi swirling around him continuously lashed out, threads of it coiling and binding his movements.
When the monk found his movements hampered and his speed inhibited by the clinging ghost energy, he stopped in mid-air, rapidly cycling through hand seals.
Suddenly, a string of crystalline prayer beads erupted, scattering and flying around his body in ceaseless rotation.
Each bead shimmered with crystalline clarity, laced with flickering golden light.
The moment the grim ghost energy encountered this crystal-clear golden light, it melted and vanished as if snow meeting fire.
However, just as fire can melt snow, snow can also extinguish fire.
Every time a strand of Nether Ghost Qi was dissolved by a prayer bead, the golden light would diminish slightly.
Seizing this opportunity, the two Ghost Guards drifted close again, launching a relentless barrage of attacks against the monk.
The monk’s golden energy shield rippled incessantly.
Even for a Vajra Temple monk, famed for defense and brute force, it was impossible to indefinitely endure the relentless assault of two high-grade Ghost Guards.
After just a few more impacts, the Vajra Shield would inevitably fail and explode apart.
The monk glanced at the two grim and vicious Ghost Guards, a look of distaste and annoyance in his eyes, finding them troublesome.
He then turned, brandishing his fists, and charged the Ghost Guards.
With every punch, a surge of golden light manifested, his presence unusually powerful.
If Lei Dong were not his enemy, he would have been compelled to shout an accolade.
The two Level Two Ghost Guards were being driven back by the monk, reduced to merely fending off attacks, looking utterly battered.
This caused Lei Dong’s eyebrow to twitch as well.
He mused that this Vajra Temple monk was indeed troublesome.
Truly worthy of being ranked alongside the Yin Sha Sect as one of the Eight Great Sects of the world.
Yet, Lei Dong remained confident in his heart; his Yin Sha Sect was not some fish to be casually slaughtered, and he still held many trump cards in reserve.
He had initially intended to keep a low profile.
Seeing the monk fighting so recklessly, however, a murderous intent flickered in his heart.
He summoned the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner with a single hand gesture, and nearly a thousand malevolent ghosts surged forth, accompanied by howling winds and mournful cries.
Within a radius of several dozen zhang, the very colors of heaven and earth shifted.
This location was one of the city gates of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, where countless cultivators passed through daily.
Sometime earlier, someone had shouted that a fight had broken out between the Yin Sha Sect and the Vajra Temple.
Instantly, those planning to leave the city halted, and those trying to enter stopped short.
They all backed away slightly, forming a curious crowd.
The vast majority were Qi Refining stage cultivators, but there were also Foundation Establishment cultivators present.
All were curious to see which side—the Vajra Temple or the Yin Sha Sect—was superior.
But when Lei Dong unleashed the might of the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner, revealing a sky-covering, surging mass of malevolent ghosts, the terrifying and ferocious scene unfolded.
The faint-hearted quickly retreated farther, fearful of being caught in the crossfire.
Upon seeing the seemingly endless army of fierce ghosts, the monk’s expression also changed slightly.
By then, it was too late to break free from the entanglement of the two Ghost Guards and strike at Lei Dong himself.
The distance was not great; the tide of ghosts instantly engulfed him.
However, the three massive main soul malevolent ghosts hovered in the air, issuing sharp chirps as they directed the swarm.
Once submerged in the ghost tide, the monk’s spiritual sense could no longer probe outward, and his vision became completely obscured.
All he could perceive was the shrill, miserable, and resentment-filled wails of the malevolent ghosts ringing in his ears.
And the countless sharp claws and teeth desperately gnawing at his Vajra Shield, even recklessly devouring his Sarira Prayer Beads.
Although the golden light of the Sarira Beads could easily melt any malevolent ghost daring to consume them, after only a few assaults, the once-brilliant beads began to dim.
What frustrated the monk the most was that with both his sight and spiritual sense blocked, and countless malevolent ghosts clinging to him, the two Ghost Guards—who were originally no match for him—were now operating with full power, turning the tables and forcing him into a clumsy defense.
Especially galling to the monk was the continuous stream of commentary from the onlookers drifting from afar, discussing how the monk was about to lose, and how the Vajra Temple was nothing special.
Those who psychologically favored the Yin Sha Sect were not polite, hurling cold sarcasm and ridicule. "Roar~" The monk was finally completely enraged, letting out a deafening roar that made the hearts of those nearby tremble.
A large, crimson cassock suddenly materialized on him, draping over his body like a fiercely burning cloud of fire, the color a mix of deep red and gold.
Simultaneously, the monk’s aura spiked dramatically, his eyebrows shooting upward, his eyes wide—the very picture of an awe-inspiring, roaring Vajra protector.
Waves of malevolent ghosts wailed as they were reduced to ash within the golden-red flames.
Lei Dong’s face darkened.
What kind of person was this monk? His treasures were so numerous! That string of prayer beads before was extraordinary enough, but this great crimson cassock was certainly no trinket picked up casually.
His expression hardening, Lei Dong slightly raised a hand, preparing to unleash the Annihilation Dharma Wheel.
The monk, despite his ferocious appearance, was secretly filled with regret for provoking this brat from the Yin Sha Sect so carelessly.
Among his peers at the temple, he was considered a top talent.
He had intended to deal with this Yin Sha Sect spawn, whose cultivation was even lower than his own, swiftly and easily.
He hadn't expected this kid to be so tenacious, and it appeared he still had backup moves.
Although the monk believed that if he used his full power, he certainly wouldn't lose to this kid.
But before this confrontation... "Stop both of you." A stern voice approached from the distance, resounding directly in both their ears.
Regardless of how the monk felt, Lei Dong was left feeling flustered and agitated, his vital energy becoming difficult to control.
Horrified internally, he dared not summon the Annihilation Dharma Wheel to attack.
After all, someone capable of causing such mental disruption with a mere shout was definitely no ordinary figure.
The monk also seemed to be judicious, ceasing his attack.
Indeed, in the blink of an eye.
A streak of dazzling white light shot out from within the city, arcing through the air before settling directly in front of the two combatants.
Upon closer inspection, they saw a middle-aged man with a black beard, a pale face, and a long sword strapped to his back.
His face was square, and his aura was extraordinary.
With his hands behind his back, he surveyed Lei Dong and the monk with a cold expression: "Yin Sha Sect? And Vajra Temple?" "This junior, Lei Dong of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave of the Yin Sha Sect, greets Senior.
May I ask for Senior's designation." Lei Dong knew this fight would end before a victor could be decided.
He swiftly recalled his Ghost Servants and the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner.
He straightened his posture and bowed respectfully.
The middle-aged man seemed satisfied with Lei Dong’s etiquette.
He nodded: "So, you are the disciple of Elder Wan Gui.
Indeed, a master yields a worthy student.
I am Li Yijian, an Elder of the Tian Lie Sect.
I have met your esteemed master several times.
I wonder how your master's health is?" The Tian Jian Sect was a top-tier force, exceptionally powerful, operating outside strict orthodoxy or heterodoxy.
But compared to the Yin Sha Sect and Vajra Temple, it was somewhat inferior.
Because of this, even if Li Yijian was a Golden Core expert, he treated Lei Dong with considerable politeness.
Especially since Li Yijian knew the Ancestor Wan Gui and was aware that he was not someone to be trifled with. "Thank you for Senior Li's concern.
My master is in excellent health.
Just a few days ago, he actually broke through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core." Lei Dong was outwardly humble, yet he deliberately highlighted his master's recent breakthrough.
Having learned that the man knew his master, he immediately began seeking connections in his speech.
Indeed, Li Yijian’s expression grew serious: "Brother Wan Gui is indeed a heavenly genius; breaking through to the middle stage at such a young age.
It seems he has a chance at the Nascent Soul stage in this lifetime." Li Yijian's words were not empty flattery; given the Ancestor Wan Gui’s age, he absolutely had a shot at reaching Nascent Soul.
But having a chance was just that—a chance.
Countless cultivators reached the Golden Core but never advanced past the initial stage. "This junior has also heard my master speak of Uncle Li, believing you to be one of the rare, unparalleled talents in the Tian Jian Sect, a true dragon among men." Lei Dong read the man’s expression and immediately shifted his address from 'Senior Li' to 'Uncle Li.' Li Yijian did not object; instead, he chatted idly with Lei Dong for a few more moments.
The monk, hearing Lei Dong shamelessly ingratiating himself with a Golden Core expert, was clearly unskilled in rhetoric.
His face soured, and he stood aside resentfully.
Listening to the two trade compliments back and forth, the reverence he initially held for the Golden Core master dissipated.
He coldly stated: "Senior Li, this junior will take his leave first." With that, he flashed away toward the city gate.
Li Yijian made no move to stop him.
Only after the monk departed did he transmit a voice message to Lei Dong: "Nephew Lei, that little monk wears Sarira prayer beads around his neck and a Mituo Cassock, and he likely still carries a Vajra Ring.
He is known for his volatile temper.
He is clearly a War Monk from the Vajra Temple's Battle Hall.
Why did you come to blows with him?"