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In the memory of that Foundation Establishment cultivator, this sea region riddled with islands of Xinluo was naturally the Chaotic Archipelago. In fact, long before humans migrated from the mainland to these islands, this sea area of the Chaotic Archipelago was already infested with numerous sea fiends, among which were not a few Golden Core level sea fiends. To develop this maritime territory, seize resources, or even treat the sea fiends themselves as a resource, humans gradually began to systematically slaughter the fiends in this region and occupy island after island.

Up to the present day, humans have flourished and survived here for untold myriads of years. Within the human habitation zones, although sea fiends occasionally appear, Golden Core level ones have at least become exceedingly rare, seldom seen. However, just because they are absent in the waters of the Chaotic Archipelago does not mean they are absent in the Boundless Sea.

The Boundless Sea is vast and boundless; compared to it, the territory of the Chaotic Archipelago is but a single grain of sand in the ocean.

It contains countless heavenly materials, earthly treasures, and rare exotic items, and it is home to an unknown number of marine fiends. Humans seeking fortune always choose to enter the Boundless Sea to search for and slay various fiends. Killing a single Golden Core level fiend could effortlessly earn a million Spirit Stones. If they occasionally managed to snag some rare treasures, their wealth would increase exponentially.

Therefore, many people are willing to venture into the Boundless Sea. Some need a large number of Spirit Stones to purchase elixirs for breakthroughs. Others are driven to this path as a last resort, having nowhere else to turn. And yet others specifically enjoy engaging in such extremely perilous endeavors to gain excitement. But regardless of the reason, every single day, cultivators form teams and head out into the Boundless Sea. Some return wealthy; others remain forever lost within the Boundless Sea.

After briefly pondering the memory of the Golden Core beast soul obtained from that Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lei Dong knew that heading northwest, about ten thousand li away, there was an island that served as a gathering place for adventurers setting out to sea. There, they would team up, trade, and resupply. There were about five or six similar islands scattered throughout the Chaotic Archipelago, but that particular one was the closest, a mere ten thousand li distant.

Lei Dong decided that this would be his next destination. However, before leaving, there was one more thing that needed to be done: completely annihilating the Wang family of that so-called Whale-Couching Island before departing. Otherwise, if even one managed to escape, the people of Fisherman Island would suffer misfortune. He cared little for others, but the Mute Girl had to remain here. Unseen, unremarkable—even without a spiritual vein, as long as there were sufficient Spirit Stones, that would suffice.

Furthermore, Lei Dong was rather covetous of the Wang family's wealth. From the soul memory of the Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lei Dong had learned something of the family's staggering fortune. Setting aside their external properties, their liquid assets alone amounted to at least several million. When dealing with enemies, Lei Dong had never been one for mercy.

This time, however, he deliberately brought the Mute Girl along. It was a chance to let her witness the cruelty of the cultivation world, to see firsthand what it meant for the strong to prey on the weak.

The chilling ghostly energy swirling within the Evil Ghost Shawl enveloped and rolled around them, carrying Lei Dong and the Mute Girl towards Whale-Couching Island. The Evil Ghost Shawl had already reached the standard of a top-grade Spirit Artifact. Even when Lei Dong channeled only a small amount of true qi to propel it, it could achieve an astonishing speed of two hundred li per hour. A mere five hundred li distance was covered in just two ke (a quarter of an hour).

Inside the black mist, the Mute Girl’s face was ashen with terror, yet her eyes held a firm resolve. Before they left, Lei Dong had explained the rule of the cultivation world—the law of the jungle—to her. He also informed her that after this, he would depart for a place called Kangzhou. As for how to cultivate and what heights she might achieve, it would depend entirely on her own efforts. He could guide her to the entrance, but he would not act like a nanny looking after her. If she wished to survive in this world, she had no choice but to constantly grow stronger.

Having lost her father at a young age, the Mute Girl had survived step by agonizing step, enduring much pain and setback, often being bullied. She had long understood the preciousness of strength. For Lei Dong to grant her the means to power and offer her a brand-new life, she felt a gratitude deeper than anyone could know. Though unable to express it verbally, she firmly imprinted the place called Kangzhou in her heart.

Whale-Couching Island was an island spanning several dozen li in circumference. The Wang family was a large clan boasting over a hundred cultivators, three—no, now two—Foundation Establishment cultivators. The patriarch was the father of the deceased Foundation Establishment cultivator, now at the tenth layer of Foundation Establishment. Although he was well over a hundred years old, he still held a faint hope of advancing to the Golden Core realm, but only a faint hope. Lei Dong didn't even possess the desire to know the name of such an individual. In the nearby seas, the Wang family was considered a minor local power. The mortals serving the family on the island numbered well over ten thousand.

Upon descending over Whale-Couching Island, Lei Dong first unleashed the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner. Hundreds of fierce ghosts swarmed out, densely packed. It had to be admitted that although fierce ghosts were difficult to advance, after years of devouring vast amounts of flesh and blood, these spirits were indeed stronger than newly formed fierce ghosts. The several hundred ghosts, like a swarm of black fish, began circling above the entire Wang compound before sinking into the shadows, utterly still. They had no other task than to prevent anyone from escaping.

Massacring entire clans was not a new endeavor for Lei Dong; in fact, he was quite adept at it. Of course, when he had more subordinates, Lei Dong usually only observed. But this time, being far from home without his team members present, Lei Dong had no choice but to take action himself.

Having set up the escape routes, Lei Dong quietly summoned his three Level Twelve Ghost Guards one by one. Simultaneously, the Shadow Tiger and the Gold and Silver Puppets all materialized. Popping a small Cloud Mist Spirit Restoration Pill into his mouth, Lei Dong immediately began sitting cross-legged in the dark night sky to refine his qi. In moments, the true qi expended during the summons was fully restored.

Eighth layer of the Qi Refining Stage—indeed, the strain on Lei Dong’s divine sense was considerably lighter now. Commanding the three Level Twelve Ghost Guards felt relatively effortless, unlike before when he often felt dizzy and on the verge of splitting headaches. Lei Dong did not attack immediately; instead, he dispatched the Phantom Ghost Guard.

The Phantom Ghost Guard excelled at stealth and assassination. Its figure flickered slightly, and it vanished directly into the black night. If Lei Dong hadn't been connected to it via divine sense, he would have almost been unable to perceive its location. The Phantom began creeping towards the main entrance of the architectural cluster. Lei Dong had already scanned the area with his divine sense; clearly, a protective mountain formation existed above the family’s buildings.

However, protective mountain formations vary in strength. A family with only a few million Spirit Stones in assets could never muster a formation capable of resisting him. At the main entrance, two Qi Refining cultivators stood guard in the shadows. The Phantom Ghost Guard approached, silently closing the distance, and dispatched them both with a single silent strike. Afterward, it remained hidden in the dark.

The Berserk Ghost Guard struck decisively. A red light emanated from its body, gathering a dark aura. With a heavy chop, it struck the shield projected by the protective mountain formation.

Boom! With a thunderous crash, the Berserk Ghost Guard, utilizing its Phantom Strike, nearly shattered the shield. Of course, this was partly because the enemy had not fully activated the formation to conserve energy. The Berserk Ghost Guard chopped again and again, each blow stirring ripples across the barrier. Just as the shield was on the verge of collapse, it suddenly illuminated with bright light, re-coalescing and stabilizing—evidently, the enemy had fully activated the formation.

"Who dares trespass on Whale-Couching Island!" a furious roar echoed from within the formation. A phantom blue flame erupted directly from an inner room. The rest of the family members, in extreme haste, rose into the air on various streams of light—some good, some poor, but mostly Qi Refining cultivators.

Lei Dong, along with the puppets and guards, remained hidden in the shadows. The Berserk Ghost Guard’s previous attacks were meant as 'beating the grass to startle the snake'—a deliberate tactic to draw them out. Since Lei Dong was alone, completely surrounding the island was difficult. This method naturally served to force the family's cultivators out into the open.

The Berserk Ghost Guard, its soul armor condensed to near-physical substance, stood tall and fierce, resembling a heavily armored vanguard general. It completely ignored the furious shout, continuing to hack at the shield. Every strike sent out a wave of energy, the sound vibrating so intensely that the early-stage Qi Refining cultivators could barely maintain stable flight on their escape lights.

The Foundation Establishment elder was enraged. He could tell the intruder was not weak; judging by the force of the attacks, the enemy was likely a figure within the Foundation Establishment realm. If he allowed the attacks to continue, the protective mountain formation would be broken within half an incense stick's time. The elder roared, "Everyone follow me! Eliminate this fiend!"

Hearing this, Lei Dong knew the elder hadn't discerned the non-human nature of the Berserk Ghost Guard. He remained hidden, holding off any thought of immediate action.

The elder took the lead, followed by some of the stronger Qi Refining cultivators. Once outside the shield, they assaulted the Berserk Ghost Guard with various magical artifacts and spells. The Berserk Ghost Guard then ceased attacking the formation shield, instead engaging the group using its blade and shield, along with its ghostly, elusive movement. The elder’s cultivation was considerable, reaching the tenth layer of Foundation Establishment, and with the assistance of the Qi Refining cultivators, he fought the Berserk Ghost Guard to a standstill.

Lei Dong began scanning with his divine sense, counting the heads. There were ten fewer Qi Refining cultivators and one fewer Foundation Establishment cultivator than reported in the soul search memory. Because of this discrepancy, Lei Dong paused his direct intervention for a moment longer. While the Berserk Ghost Guard and the elders were locked in fierce combat, casually dispatching two more Qi Refining cultivators, Lei Dong’s divine sense detected another Foundation Establishment cultivator leading several Qi Refining cultivators, rushing over desperately for aid: "Big Brother, who is this?"

The personnel are assembled, Lei Dong thought coldly. Although a few Qi Refining cultivators were still missing, it didn't affect the overall situation. As long as the Foundation Establishment cultivators were present, that was enough. With a subtle shift of his divine sense, the Ghost Guards and Puppets stealthily moved forward.