Had the Bone Demon Lord been without Dao Qi's presence, perhaps even against the tens of thousands of Swift Shadow Insects, he might have held some chance of escape. But Dao Qi himself was a formidable being, whose strength was in no way inferior to that of the Bone Demon Lord. Despite the Bone Demon Lord’s constant deployment of bizarre tricks and the unveiling of every last trump card he possessed, his repeated attempts to break through the encirclement ultimately failed, forcing him into confinement.

Deep within the gravel layer, several feet down, Lei Dong lay in a state of death-like slumber, resembling a fallen stone. He was completely unaware of the earth-shattering battle raging directly above him. Of course, under normal circumstances, when a Nascent Soul cultivator fought with desperation, the battlefield would likely span thousands of miles. However, constrained by the anti-flight formation, the Bone Demon Lord was like a majestic eagle suddenly robbed of its wings, trapped within this small, restricted area.

Dao Qi’s repeated demands for surrender were firmly rejected by the Bone Demon Lord. Based on the aura the Demon Lord projected, even facing death, he would never tolerate forfeiting his dignity to surrender to the barbarians. Nevertheless, the Bone Demon Lord was far from finished; even in such dire straits, he managed to deploy a set of swift formation flags, paying the price of injury, to erect an illusionary array whose efficacy was quite respectable. For a time, this left Dao Qi completely unable to press his advantage.

Alas, against the overwhelming tide of insects and the sheer brute force of Dao Qi, the temporary illusionary array could last for days at most. Seated within the formation, as it consumed top-grade spirit stones, the Bone Demon Lord continuously manipulated mystical seals to mend the illusion. Given his strength and injuries, he could sustain it for a few days, tops. The Bone Demon Lord had some contingency in mind; while defending, he stealthily dispatched a communication talisman, seeking aid while simultaneously demanding that the Northern Frontier Pass immediately deactivate the anti-flight formation.

Unexpectedly, the Barbarian Saintess had long intended to use the anti-flight formation to capture Nascent Soul cultivators. Years of careful planning had ensured the setup was exceedingly secure, leaving virtually no significant loopholes.

That communication talisman was intercepted halfway through its journey. Simultaneously, another army of ten thousand Swift Shadow Insects began relentlessly harassing the Northern Frontier Pass, throwing the area into chaos. This kept the City Lord in turmoil, ensuring that even if he received the Bone Demon Lord’s secret message, he would never dare to shut down the anti-flight formation, as those ten thousand insects could easily flatten the pass.

The Bone Demon Lord held out for a full four or five days before finally reaching the brink of exhaustion, completely drained of the strength needed to sustain the illusionary barrier. However, the old demon was, after all, a renowned hero of his era. Even at this final moment, his expression remained cold as he faced Dao Qi’s last plea for surrender, his face radiating pure arrogance: “Dao Qi, your barbarian tribes can only boast of momentary power. With your strength, trying to occupy Zhaozhou is utterly laughable. This Venerable One’s lifespan is dwindling, and I have long since ceased seeking further advancement in this life. Let me show you the might of a self-detonating Nascent Soul cultivator.”

Dao Qi’s face changed drastically upon hearing this, and he inwardly cursed the old fiend as a complete lunatic. His initial triumph instantly turned ice-cold, as if doused with icy water. He frantically cast a dirt-yellow shield around himself and retreated rapidly. The power released when a Nascent Soul cultivator self-detonates their essence blood and Nascent Soul is truly extraordinary. Even for someone of Dao Qi’s power, taking that blow head-on was unthinkable. At the same time, he commanded the insect swarm to pull back. Swift Shadow Insects were not easy to tame; saving even one life was beneficial. After all, the old fiend was now utterly depleted; no matter how much fuss he made, he couldn't stir up any real trouble. Despite his curses, Dao Qi held a measure of respect for the Bone Demon Lord’s backbone. Had it been any other Nascent Soul cultivator, even one facing imminent death, they would lack the courage for self-detonation.

Just as Dao Qi was feeling a mix of regret and apprehension, preparing to receive the old demon’s explosion, a plume of yellow sand and dust erupted from the gravel only half a li away from the Demon Lord. A shadowy figure flashed out, darting with phantom-like instability, his feet repeatedly striking the gravel surface without leaving the slightest footprint. Half a li was a mere seventy or eighty zhang. With such explosive velocity, the figure reached the Bone Demon Lord in just a few breaths, enveloping him in surging black mist.

Dao Qi’s expression sharpened. Wasn't this the youngster the Bone Demon Lord had been relentlessly hunting? He inwardly realized this was bad; focusing all his attention on the Bone Demon Lord, he had completely forgotten about this other person. Just as Dao Qi’s face contorted in fury while preparing to give chase, Lei Dong had already shrouded the Bone Demon Lord in Netherworld Ghost Qi. With a fierce flap of the Asura Wings, he reappeared more than ten li away.

Although the Asura Wings exacted a massive toll—full exertion could drain all of Lei Dong’s true energy in barely ten heartbeats—it had to be admitted that this was a truly supreme treasure. Whether for entanglement, evasion, or pursuit, its effectiveness was terrifying. Of course, forging such a treasure would be no easy feat. Without the primary materials, even top sects would struggle immensely. After all, beings like the Asura King or the Winged God King were among the most terrifying, top-tier entities in this world, and they were exceedingly rare. Hunting them down and acquiring their wings was a task far from simple.

In fact, Lei Dong had awakened a full day earlier. This was not his first time using a False Death Pill, and he was already quite experienced and adept with it. Even upon waking, he immediately entered a state of suppressed breath, cautiously observing the situation outside. To his shock upon investigating, the area was densely packed with Swift Shadow Insects. The unluckiest one was the Bone Demon Lord, apparently besieged by the barbarians and clearly at a severe disadvantage.

Fortunately, Lei Dong surveyed his surroundings with extreme care, and both opposing parties were focused intently on each other—or perhaps they were simply too exhausted—to notice Lei Dong’s awakening.

A different person might have simply continued feigning death below until the danger passed. However, Lei Dong spent a day carefully observing and contemplating, ultimately arriving at this seemingly inconceivable decision. Yet, it was not a rash decision made in a moment of excitement. From his first encounter with the Bone Demon Lord, despite the old fiend’s ferocity, he possessed a certain integrity; when he promised to hold back for the time it took an incense stick to burn, he adhered to it completely.

And during that entire day, the barbarian had pressed his surrender twice, which the Bone Demon Lord had scornfully refused every time, preferring death to capitulation—a display of imposing pride and self-respect. In the end, he chose self-detonation, fully showcasing the domineering bearing of a Nascent Soul ancestor.

This greatly earned Lei Dong’s admiration.

Of course, Lei Dong wasn't risking so much simply out of admiration for the Bone Demon Lord. He had repeatedly weighed the various potential outcomes and consequences, assessing whether this investment was worthwhile. If he could become the savior of a Nascent Soul cultivator, and if that cultivator was a grateful person, the benefits he would reap would be immense. Given the old fiend's temperament, it was highly likely he wouldn't tolerate owing such a profound favor.

Naturally, as an investment, there was always the possibility of failure. But faced with such potentially massive returns, Lei Dong still chose to act. The reason was simple: the fact that they could corner the old demon here, combined with the barbarian’s words during the surrender plea, led Lei Dong to deduce that the barbarians had likely planned this siege meticulously. Therefore, his own plight—being trapped in the gravel—might already have been detected by the enemy. If he stayed put, he might eventually be dug out by the barbarians anyway. Furthermore, who knew how powerful the old demon’s self-detonation truly was? Hiding half a li underground, whether he would be caught in the collateral damage was a significant concern.

To stay or to leave, risk was unavoidable. Lei Dong naturally chose the course of action that offered a chance for profit.

“Senior Bone, this junior holds the utmost admiration for your unyielding integrity, your incomparable, proud spirit that refuses to bow before foreign races. I—I cannot, even if it means death, stand by and watch Senior perish at the hands of these outsiders.” When Lei Dong resorted to flattery, he certainly possessed a unique flair. Though transmitted through sound, his tone was genuinely saturated with sincerity, worship, and even a slight, excited tremor, as if he were truly a hot-blooded youth inspired and motivated by the Bone Demon Lord’s noble spirit, resulting in profound adoration.

Though the Bone Demon Lord felt utterly spent, his consciousness remained sharp. The reason he allowed Lei Dong to envelop him was that as the younger man flew closer, he transmitted a private message stating he was coming to offer aid. However, if this Lei Dong dared to attempt anything unfavorable to him…

Hearing Lei Dong’s fervent and seemingly heartfelt “confession,” the Bone Demon Lord’s guard slightly loosened, and a wave of fatigue washed over him. Yet, he transmitted back: “Kid, don’t think saving me means I won’t kill you. If you’re smart, you’ll act now while I’m weak.” In his heart, however, he mused that if the kid truly intended harm, he shouldn't blame the old fiend for being ruthless.

“Senior, what are you saying?” Lei Dong’s expression seemed deeply moved: “This junior saves Senior purely for your heroic character. How could I be the sort to take advantage of another’s weakness? Senior, facing these outsiders, you exhibit such composure and imposing majesty. Even if Senior demanded my life, I would raise no objection. If I had known Senior possessed such heroic stature earlier, I would never have dared oppose you, even with thirty thousand times the courage I have now. This is not for any other reason, but for this unparalleled spirit of yours.”

When Lei Dong committed to an action, he preferred to see it through to the end. Since he had resolved to save the Bone Demon Lord, to risk gaining his favor, he naturally continued showering him with praise. The last thing he would do was save someone only to try and gain verbal advantage afterwards, ending up with a thankless situation. Since it was an investment, he naturally aimed to maximize the returns.

Lei Dong’s flattery, which gave the Demon Lord ample face, made the old fiend feel quite comfortable and inwardly proud. Indeed, refusing surrender even in the face of death was something not everyone could accomplish. Instantly, his gratitude toward Lei Dong increased significantly.

…