... After lingering in the East Sea domain for a full half a month, the two Golden Core subordinates finally risked everything to drive that Jin Gang Temple battle monk out of the Sea Region of the Yaksha Clan. Having already received word, Ding Wanyan led her forces to intercept ahead of time. By fortunate coincidence, people from the Celestial Sound Palace also arrived to reinforce them. Following a fierce battle between the two sides, Ding Wanyan, radiating an intense killing aura, obliterated two of the enemy's Golden Core cultivators. It had to be admitted: cultivating the Yin Fiend Great Art with a Yin Fiend Body not only accelerated progress at a frightening pace but also multiplied her power. The Intermediary Fiend Art, which prioritized deceit, malevolence, and ruthless brutality, made Ding Wanyan's killing speed astonishingly swift and impossible to guard against. Although her current cultivation level remained significantly distant from the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, she was by no means inferior when facing those in the late stage.

After yet another bout of slaughter that stained the seas with blood and gore, Ding Wanyan finally managed to somewhat quell the anxiety churning in her heart. She guided her boat back to the East Sea outpost of the Yin Fiend Sect. However, she hadn't even managed to shed her weariness or enjoy a few days of rest when an unwelcome visitor, one she loathed intensely, showed up uninvited once more. Yet, this person held a unique status; even Ding Wanyan’s other master, the Yin Fiend Demon Lord, treated him with a degree of deference, unwilling to cause him offense.

This forced Ding Wanyan, despite her deep revulsion, to summon her energy and deal with the man.

“Wanyan, I hear you’ve been painting the town red with slaughter again recently? Truly worthy of the moniker Blood Asura; Li admires you, admires you greatly,” a tall, richly dressed young man declared, fanning himself. He materialized in the living room, the faint ripple in space betraying his profound mastery of spatial abilities. His handsome features, paired with an easy smile, gave him an air of composed elegance and natural nonchalance that would surely captivate many young women.

“Senior flatters me,” Ding Wanyan replied, her expression frigid and distant. Her outward politeness was strained: “May I ask the purpose of Senior’s visit this time?”

“Heh, Wanyan, stop calling me Senior, Senior,” the young man surnamed Li dismissed with a shake of his head. “I’ve only been around a few days longer than you; I hardly deserve such a title. Why don’t you just call me by my name, Li Yao? It will save us from sounding too formal.”

Ding Wanyan inwardly sneered. She wasn't a three-year-old girl and understood perfectly what machinations Li Yao was plotting. If it weren't for his status and power, she would have slapped him dead long ago. Still, she couldn't afford to openly sever ties with him just yet, so her expression grew even colder: “This junior is weary. If Senior has no other business, I must retire.”

Li Yao showed no outward reaction to her coldness, maintaining his casual, carefree smile. “Since Wanyan insists, so be it. You’ve worked hard fighting outside these days. Luckily, I happen to have a few Golden Origin Pills here. With Wanyan’s aptitude and current cultivation, it won't take long before you advance to the mid-stage of Golden Core. Then, there will be few in the Golden Core stage who can match you.”

He sneered inwardly. Having lived for over a hundred years, he had seen every kind of woman imaginable. None he desired had ever escaped his grasp. He was well aware that Ding Wanyan was already married to a Foundation Establishment cultivator named Lei, or something similar. Setting aside the rumor that this Lei Dong had been dead for over a decade, even if he were alive, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator—even if Li Yao were already in the Golden Core realm—could be crushed with a single finger.

In truth, Li Yao had traveled a great distance from Daqian Prefecture for a specific mission. That mission was long since complete, but a few years prior, while visiting the Yin Fiend Demon Lord, he had suddenly caught sight of Ding Wanyan, and his heart had been deeply stirred. This woman—her looks, her temperament, even her talent—was rarely encountered, truly a choice specimen among the best. He almost couldn't believe that such a caliber of woman could emerge from a small place like Kang Prefecture.

Initially, Li Yao merely intended to play with her. He was confident that with his Nascent Soul cultivation, his lineage from a powerful sect in Daqian Prefecture, and his handsome appearance and grace, capturing this woman would be effortless. What he never anticipated was that not only was this woman already married to a missing husband, but she also regarded him with utter disdain, cold as ice, keeping him at arm's length. This, in turn, only ignited Li Yao’s desire for conquest. Since childhood, everything he wanted, he obtained. Especially when it came to women; in Daqian Prefecture, countless outstanding beauties had practically thrown themselves at him.

Yet, after several years of relentless pursuit, he had achieved nothing. On the contrary, Wanyan’s disgust for him had only deepened. He could plainly read the contempt, revulsion, and icy indifference in her eyes.

These things did not make him give up; however, the failure of his gentle approach was slowly eroding his patience. If all else failed, he would resort to coercion to claim her. If she dared to refuse these Golden Origin Pills... though, in his mind, he knew that very few Golden Core cultivators in this world could refuse Golden Origin Pills—pills of incalculable value, possessing an extraordinary effect on enhancing a Golden Core cultivator's power. Especially in a small place like Kang Prefecture, where a Golden Origin Pill was rumored to be priced at ten million spirit stones, often unavailable even for that price. Even in Daqian Prefecture, Golden Nine Pills were exceedingly rare.

Ding Wanyan didn't spare even a glance for his Golden Origin Pills, merely stating coolly, “Senior, please depart. In this junior's heart, there is only my husband.”

“But he is already dead.” Li Yao’s smile solidified, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly. His gaze turned somewhat cold, but he made one last attempt at persuasion: “Is it worth it for you, Wanyan, over a dead man?”

“Do not speak of my husband as merely missing; even if he truly died, Ding Wanyan’s life will never accommodate another person,” Ding Wanyan said with extreme coldness. “Li Yao, this junior must take her leave.” With a slight flicker of her figure, Ding Wanyan dissolved into a phantom gust of malevolent wind and vanished from his sight.

Li Yao was left alone, his face a hard, ashen mask, muttering to himself: “Ding Wanyan, you forced my hand. I, Li Yao, have never failed to obtain what I desired.”

At nearly the same moment, within the Blissful Valley of the Yin-Yang Harmonious Union Sect in Kang Prefecture.

Qi Feifei, who had been diligently cultivating all these years, had finally reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm some time ago. Originally, she had planned to secretly achieve Great Perfection, then slip away, waiting for Lei Dong’s return. Once they merged their cultivation to reach the Golden Core stage, the deed would be done. Even if the Sect demanded accountability, they would have to take it up with the Yin Fiend Sect. Qi Feifei certainly didn't believe the Yin Fiend Sect, given how highly they valued Lei Dong, would dare harm him.

However, Qi Feifei hadn’t anticipated running into a gossiping senior sister during her stealthy departure. As a result, within a short time, everyone in the Harmonious Union Sect knew that Qi Feifei had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection.

In the Harmonious Union Sect, the number of cultivators capable of practicing the Pure Maiden Cauldron Furnace Art was already extremely limited. And a young, beautiful, and outstanding girl like Qi Feifei achieving Foundation Establishment Perfection naturally made her the coveted prize among many male cultivators, especially those disciples with decent aptitude who were stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

A fierce contest erupted over who would become Qi Feifei’s dual cultivation partner. After several months of maneuvering, the winner was finally confirmed: a junior relative of a Grand Elder. That junior’s aptitude was acceptable, but despite consuming significant resources, he had failed several times to break through to the Golden Core realm. The Grand Elder, having spent countless favors, wealth, and even intimidation, finally secured this opportunity for his descendant.

Upon learning the final outcome, Qi Feifei was overcome with shame and rage. Although she had anticipated this result, being treated like a commodity by the Sect, fought over, and ultimately awarded to someone else as a spoil of victory, left her deeply unbalanced. For years, the image of Lei Dong had remained indelible in Qi Feifei’s mind. Although her initial soul fusion and subsequent submission to his control had been forced by life-threatening peril, the deeper her contact with Lei Dong became, the more she recognized his extraordinary nature. Not only was he unparalleled in every aspect of excellence, but his domineering strength, his inherent might, and even the subtle, fleeting tenderness he possessed were branded into Qi Feifei’s heart like a permanent mark.

Compared to Lei Dong, the disciples in the Blissful Valley simply didn't measure up—all of them pale-faced, overly adorned, and putting on airs.

Over the years, Qi Feifei was more certain than anyone that Lei Dong was not dead; otherwise, she would not be alive and well herself. However, over the years, the mysterious connection between Lei Dong’s soul and hers had grown faint, almost indiscernible. This, she surmised, was due to the vast distance between them. Yet, recently, the connection between their souls had begun to clarify slightly. Though this clarity remained weak, it was growing stronger day by day.

It was clear that this signaled Lei Dong was on his way back.

For numerous reasons, Qi Feifei decided she must escape, and she had been meticulously planning her method of escape for many years.

First, she quietly sought out a senior brother who had lost the competition for her but whose backing was equally formidable. She poured out her grievances in vague, melancholic terms, allowing them to vaguely suspect that Qi Feifei’s heart was truly devoted to them, but now that she had been claimed by another, she would rather die than submit.

Qi Feifei possessed exceptional talent and a very strong foundation in the art of enchantment. Her greatest advantage was that, unlike other female disciples who had long since entered dual cultivation, she had cultivated the Pure Maiden Art and retained her virginity. Combined with her other excellent attributes, this made it difficult for many men to refuse her favor. Through a few subtle exchanges, the senior brother, who had a powerful background, became hot-headed and utterly reckless. Under Qi Feifei’s subtle guidance, he finally murdered the victor. Simultaneously, filled with elated fervor and a sense of noble fulfillment, he secretly left Blissful Valley with Qi Feifei, willing to sacrifice everything for love.