With barely a word exchanged, hands were already raised, suggesting a collective eagerness among the assembled to test each other's current abilities. Lei Dong chuckled softly. "So, he is the Battle Monk from Vajra Temple. No wonder his temper is so volatile and belligerent. Still, for someone so young to already be at the peak of the third layer of Foundation Establishment, he is clearly no ordinary person." Lei Dong had heard that Vajra Temple was divided into Zen Monks and Battle Monks. Zen Monks were known for their excellent temperament, the type who wouldn't retaliate even if punched a few times. But Battle Monks were dedicated warriors, usually drawn only from those with exceptionally outstanding spiritual root aptitude. Perhaps due to their cultivation techniques, or perhaps tradition—regardless—every Battle Monk was exceedingly combative.

"That's right. He must be the Vajra Temple representative for this Heart Demon Hall trip, just like Nephew Lei Xian, likely not over thirty years old either," Li Yijian remarked, a touch of sentiment coloring his words. Once upon a time, he too had been a rising talent of the Heavenly Sword Sect, unmatched in both talent and potential. Yet, even so, by the age of thirty, he had only just managed to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Contrasting that with the monk and this Lei Dong from the Yin Sha Sect—one already at the peak of the third layer, the other at the peak of the second—it truly made him sigh with melancholy.

Lei Dong was slightly taken aback. What exactly was the Heart Demon Hall? Furthermore, for Li Yijian to instantly guess he wasn't over thirty years old felt strangely uncanny. Cultivators' aging processes were notoriously slow, the stronger they were, the slower it became. Lei Dong figured that even if he reached forty or fifty years of age, he would still resemble his current twenty-something-year-old appearance. He couldn't help but inquire with a hint of confusion, "May I ask, Uncle Li, what exactly is this Heart Demon Hall?"

"Hmm? Nephew Lei, could it be you are already over thirty? You aren't the Yin Sha Sect representative this time then?" Li Yijian looked at Lei Dong with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

"Your junior is indeed not over thirty, but because I have been adventuring outside these past few years, I am unfamiliar with some matters..." Lei Dong chose not to play coy, answering honestly.

"I see." Li Yijian understood, then continued, "This is hardly the place for conversation. I shall take you to the Heavenly Dao Alliance Main Hall first. As long as your identity as a disciple of the Yin Sha Sect is verified, that you are under thirty, and your cultivation is at least the second layer of Foundation Establishment, you will qualify to venture into the Heart Demon Hall. If you truly possess the skill, Nephew, you will certainly reap significant rewards." Perhaps out of respect for the Old Ancestor of Ten Thousand Ghosts, or perhaps because Lei Dong himself showed great potential and possessed a humble and polite demeanor, making him someone worth investing in, Li Yijian did not act superior or condescending, nor did he dwell on the disparity in their cultivation levels. He spoke to Lei Dong with courtesy, thinking that perhaps one day he might need to call upon this young man's favor.

Lei Dong’s heart stirred, and he displayed a look of gratitude. "Thank you for your kind assistance, Uncle Li. I shall engrave such great kindness upon my heart." Lei Dong was acutely aware that even though Li Yijian was treating him respectfully, the man was, after all, a Golden Core cultivator. Maintaining a level of reverence and humility toward a Golden Core cultivator was always the wisest course of action.

Seeing that Lei Dong was not displaying arrogance and seemed grateful for the favor, Li Yijian felt this exchange was even more worthwhile. Given his standing within the Heavenly Dao Alliance, getting this young nephew into the Heart Demon Hall would take some effort at most, provided his identity and qualifications were sound. By doing so, he would gain the favor of a rising star of the Demonic Path, and simultaneously gain the favor of the Old Devil of Ten Thousand Ghosts—a truly profitable exchange. He valued the latter favor even more than the former.

Without another word, Li Yijian steered his white sword light and flew directly over the city walls, leading Lei Dong. Lei Dong, enveloped in dark mist and ghostly energy, followed closely behind the white streak of light. With Li Yijian leading the way, the protective formation of Heavenly Dao City would certainly not obstruct him.

Soaring above Heavenly Dao City offered a distinctly different sensation. Looking down, one could see various intricate architectural clusters laid out in a harmonious pattern. The terrain undulated, and from the mountain they were currently near, several waterfalls cascaded like white silk ribbons, plunging into pools below. This stirred up clouds of mist that wreathed the trees and rocks, lending the scene a somewhat ethereal, immortal quality.

After flying for only a short while, the two ascended from the foot of the mountain toward its peak. The scenery flashed by beneath them. In mere dozens of breaths, they arrived at a massive, flat platform atop a towering mountain. Upon this platform stood a collection of imposing, solemn halls built from azure stone. At the center of each hall was a vast plaza paved with enormous white stones. This was clearly the location of the Heavenly Dao Alliance Main Hall.

Upon arrival, Li Yijian could no longer fly with Lei Dong in tow. He landed them at the main entrance, where they registered their details before proceeding inside, one after the other, on foot. They passed through several halls and crossed the plaza, finally arriving at a magnificent, colossal structure called the Heavenly Dao Hall.

As Lei Dong followed inside, he immediately saw a middle-aged man seated centrally in the hall. This man possessed an extraordinary bearing, radiating an imposing presence, and wore robes interwoven with black and white patterns.

"Li Yijian pays respects to the Alliance Master," Li Yijian said, his expression grave, as he stepped forward and bowed with utmost reverence. Although the Heavenly Dao Alliance was a semi-loose confederation, granting its various sects and clans independent authority over daily affairs, this did not mean the Alliance Master was merely a figurehead. Within the Alliance, while not necessarily the single most powerful individual, the Master held considerable authority. Especially when he issued a Heavenly Dao Edict, no one within the Alliance could defy the summons. The current Alliance Master hailed from the Mystic Mechanism Dao, another superior power within the Alliance, and his name was Canglanzi.

This person emanated a formidable aura. Lei Dong cast a quick glance and dared not look again, but as he lowered his head, he glimpsed two rows of chairs arranged in the center of the Heavenly Dao Hall, already sparsely occupied by several young individuals dressed in varied styles and attire.

"Yijian, there is no need for such formality between us. You arrive just in time; I happen to need you for something," Alliance Master Canglanzi said with a smile, then looked toward Lei Dong. "This young prodigy carries dense and pure Profound Yin True Qi, with occasional surges of Netherworld Ghost Qi. Could he be the representative for the Yin Sha Sect this time?"

"This junior, Lei Dong of the Yin Sha Sect, pays respects to the Alliance Master. May the Alliance Master ascend to the Immortal Nascent Soul realm soon and enjoy eternal longevity," Lei Dong bowed respectfully, his expression exceedingly serious. Though he could not discern the depth of a Golden Core cultivator's power, judging purely by the oppressive pressure exerted by the two, this Alliance Master's strength far surpassed Li Yijian’s. Before such a figure, one could not afford the slightest lapse in caution.

"Good, good. You are young with considerable cultivation. This world will surely have a place for you sooner or later," Canglanzi praised lightly, then pleasantly added, "Rise and take a seat to converse."

"Thank you, Alliance Master, for the seat," Lei Dong said in thanks before slowly proceeding towards the center of the main hall.

While Li Yijian nearby was engaged in discreet voice transmission with Canglanzi, Lei Dong encountered some minor issues. From Li Yijian’s earlier comments, Lei Dong had gathered that top talents among the younger generation—those under thirty who had reached the second layer of Foundation Establishment—were expected to gather here.

On the two rows of chairs in the center of the main hall, four young figures were already sparsely seated. Their gazes had lingered almost imperceptibly on him since Lei Dong entered.

The four young people were divided into two sides, two on each side.

The first on Lei Dong’s left was dressed like the scholarly young master he imagined preparing for the imperial examinations in the capital: an outfit patterned with black and white phoenixes. He sat casually, gently fanning himself with a folding fan, appearing quite handsome and dashing, with an air of distinction. Even when facing Lei Dong, a disciple of the Yin Sha Sect, he did not show hostility; instead, he flashed a slight smile and gave a small nod as a greeting. However, even this could not hide the deep-seated arrogance lingering in the depths of his eyes.

His cultivation was extremely high, reaching the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment—certainly justification for his pride.

Even without an introduction, Lei Dong could roughly guess this person's origin. He likely came from the Carefree Dao, one of the eight great top sects in the realm.

The next youth, separated by an empty seat from him, also possessed an extraordinary demeanor. This young man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, sitting perfectly still. Dressed entirely in white, a sword lay across his knees. His expression was solemn and cold, yet it failed to conceal the dense pride emanating from him. Clearly, this must be an outstanding young disciple from Mount Langdu, who presumably adhered to the principle of never being without one's sword and maintaining eternal pride. His cultivation of the third layer of Foundation Establishment was indeed formidable.

On the right side, the first was a tall, robust young man clad in dark crimson battle armor. Firelight seemed to flicker perpetually in his eyes, and even his hair was the color of flame. His demeanor was intensely cold, as if everyone in the world owed him money. Without a doubt, this was a disciple from the Demon Prison Sect, which shared a fraternal relationship with the Yin Sha Sect. However, his gaze toward Lei Dong was far from friendly; there was a hint of disdain, likely stemming from Lei Dong’s peak second-layer Foundation Establishment strength, which he seemed to scorn. His cultivation was similar to the Carefree Dao disciple, around the early fourth layer of Foundation Establishment.

If he disdained Lei Dong, Lei Dong certainly wouldn't bother offering a warm greeting to a cold shoulder. They were all disciples of top eight sects; why should anyone defer to another?

Seated below him was a young woman dressed alluringly, exuding seductive charm. When her eyes swept over Lei Dong, it was truly captivating, capable of snatching away the minds of the unwary. Had it been someone with less firm willpower, they might have made a fool of themselves on the spot. Fortunately, Lei Dong’s own willpower was already considerable. Furthermore, having been severely tormented by the enchanting arts of Yan Mo during the previous encounter with the Lustful Demon, despite enduring much suffering, his resistance against seductive techniques had been strengthened immeasurably.

The woman from the Dual Harmony Sect saw that when she launched her subtle charm, this junior brother from the Yin Sha Sect showed absolutely no reaction, his eyes instead holding an indescribable coldness. She immediately dismissed her initial casual assessment, giggling sweetly, "Senior Brother Lei from the Yin Sha Sect, what are you waiting for? Come sit by little sister." (The final day for double monthly votes—allow this junior to howl one last time. Around May 12th, a burst plan will commence. Thank you for supporting with monthly votes; I hope I won't lag too far behind others by then...)