The impact of this event was truly enormous for everyone. It seemed these people had grown somewhat accustomed to Lei Dong’s outrageous nature. But now, they realized how little they truly understood about him. A dignified female cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage, possessing beauty that could topple kingdoms, was merely this fellow’s…

Shangguan Hong, in particular, was so impressed he almost knelt and kowtowed to Lei Dong three times, sighing internally that his loyalty to this 'Boss' was entirely justified; the Boss was indeed the Boss, superior to this little subordinate in countless ways, no matter the aspect.

Lei Dong felt a tremor in his heart seeing the Heavenly Demon’s resentful expression, especially recognizing the sliver of cold light suppressed in her gaze. Suppressing a sudden chill, Lei Dong let out a dry laugh and said, "Everyone, those ten Arhats cannot be spared either. Keep your guard up."

Although Lei Dong was immensely tempted by the ten Arhats, those bald donkeys from the Vajra Temple, having undergone religious indoctrination since entering the temple as children, possessed unshakable faith; surrender was impossible even in death. Consequently, Lei Dong couldn't even be bothered to attempt capturing them alive. He directly utilized the Heavenly Demon’s vast Divine Sense range to set an ambush for the ten Arhats. Exploiting the advantage of strength over weakness, he annihilated them easily. Afterward, Lei Dong dispatched Han Chao and Zhao Ge to the earlier battlefield to scavenge the spoils from the Arhats eliminated by the Heavenly Demon. Arhats were all Golden Core stage cultivators, meaning their wealth was considerable.

With that, Lei Dong’s side achieved a resounding victory. They significantly weakened the enemy Vajra Temple while also reaping substantial rewards for themselves. Shangguan and Qing Niangzi, having directly participated in this battle, perhaps stimulated by the events or simply reaching a natural culmination, both requested a safe place to attempt the most crucial undertaking for a Foundation Establishment cultivator: breaking through to the Golden Core stage. As for Zhao Ge, he had spent significant effort on formations, and his proficiency still fell slightly short.

Lei Dong had been planning for the breakthrough to the Golden Core stage for a long time, especially considering his arrangement with Qi Feifei; he certainly couldn't return to the Yinsha Sect to advance. Fortunately, Qi Feifei was also waiting for him near the border this time, sensing his direction and coming along. Upon meeting, another round of conversation ensued.

Since several people were set to advance, and keeping Shi Quan in mind, Lei Dong immediately led the group to hide near the edge of the Hengduan Mountain Range. Boarding the flying boat, they wound their way out of the Vajra Temple territory, passed several small neutral factions, and finally vaguely approached the scope of the Heavenly Dao Alliance.

Not too deep within the Hengduan Mountain Range, Lei Dong located a spiritual valley filled with the scent of birds and flowers. After easily slaying the Golden Core level demonic beast that occupied it, the group temporarily set up camp there. Some tended to injuries, others cultivated, and others prepared for breakthroughs.

Residing in a stone chamber, expanded by the help of an Earth Giant and rich with spiritual energy, Lei Dong began making the final preparations for his own push toward the Golden Core stage.

Pure True Qi flowed continuously within his body, his Profound Yin Heart Method constantly circulating, slowly regulating his Divine Sense, breathing, and every single part of his physical form. The objective, naturally, was to adjust his condition to the absolute peak. For anyone, failing to reach the Golden Core stage on the first attempt often leaves a significant mental scar, making the next attempt much harder. At the very least, it would require a significant amount of time to recover.

Having inherently inferior aptitude compared to others, Lei Dong naturally did not wish to waste much time and energy after a failed attempt.

Qi Feifei, whom Lei Dong had not seen for a long time, was also sitting cross-legged beside him. This small stone room, meticulously arranged by the loyal Han Chao, possessed a certain cozy and comfortable atmosphere, fully equipped with various furnishings, looking rather auspicious. Despite Qi Feifei’s background in the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, where such matters were second nature from childhood exposure, when it came to her own experience, her heart fluttered like a trapped deer, leaving her uneasy. Her beautiful eyes kept stealing glances at Lei Dong’s face, growing more delighted with each look, yet simultaneously more bashful.

Lei Dong’s appearance was resolute, his facial contours sharp and rugged, setting him apart from those 'pretty boys' with a distinct heroic air. Moreover, his strength was considerable, his power profound, and the gentleness he occasionally showed in his tone toward Qi Feifei especially delighted her—in this world governed by the law of the jungle, strength was undoubtedly the most important factor. Unfortunately, Qi Feifei knew that in Lei Dong’s heart, she was merely a subject of a transaction, a deal struck to spare her life.

"Feifei, stop overthinking. Calm your spirit and gather your focus." Seeing her breathing erratic and showing signs of qi deviation, Lei Dong transmitted a voice reminder to her.

Qi Feifei’s mind snapped to attention, and she hurriedly banished the chaotic thoughts, activating her Yin Elixir Furnace technique. Decades of cultivating this method had brought her to a state of perfection. Within a few breaths, her aura settled down. Advancing to the Golden Core stage was also an earth-shattering event for her. Moments later, Qi Feifei had brought her state to the extreme, her gaze tinged with slight shyness, and she spoke softly, "Senior Brother Lei, Feifei is ready."

Lei Dong looked at the slightly flushed Qi Feifei, an involuntary sigh escaping him, feeling a degree of helplessness. His preparatory work had been thorough, but even with the Ascension Pill, his solitary chance of succeeding in breaking through to the Golden Core was still less than fifty percent. If that weren't the case, why would he absolutely need Qi Feifei’s assistance? However, things had reached this point, and Lei Dong was unwilling to abandon the plan halfway; failure to advance now would have a devastating impact on him. Only by achieving the Golden Core stage could he further solidify his footing in this world and secure the right to exist freely.

"Senior Brother Lei, please be gentle with Feifei." A mingling of hesitancy and shyness played in Qi Feifei’s beautiful, watery eyes, radiating an enchanting allure.

Truly a born siren, even Lei Dong’s iron will was momentarily shaken. In his memory from the world before his transmigration, even with the advanced media, creatures this bewitching were rare. But it was understandable; Qi Feifei was the cream of the crop selected by the Dual Cultivation Sect, and having practiced charm arts for decades, such captivating power was hardly surprising. The art of charm was not the vulgar posturing one might imagine, but rather an extremely profound technique. After countless years of development, the system of charm arts was now fully mature. Even those with the firmest resolve could fall prey if they let their guard down for an instant.

Before Lei Dong could speak, Qi Feifei wound around him like a beautiful serpent, her delicate body pliant and elastic, combining various alluring postures with her charm arts, making it difficult for Lei Dong to resist, causing him to meet her advances fiercely.

Not long after, a soft cry, half-weeping and half-exultant, escaped Qi Feifei. Her pearly teeth bit down on Lei Dong’s shoulder, and she whispered heartbreakingly, "Senior Brother, Feifei is yours now."

His response was a low roar from Lei Dong and even more ferocious thrusts.

"Hmph~"

The Heavenly Demon floated in the air. The formation arranged by Zhao Ge could not entirely block her Divine Sense intrusion. Witnessing this scene, the Heavenly Demon’s face paled slightly, and ferocity flared in her beautiful eyes. Although she had long anticipated this day, and had even supported Lei Dong in utilizing the Yin Elixir Furnace for advancement, the reality of the moment still caused her intense displeasure.

Prior to this, to allow Lei Dong to conserve his strength for the breakthrough, the Heavenly Demon had endured restraint and avoided 'touching' him for a long time. Now, consumed by jealousy, wicked thoughts of how to 'torment' him flooded her mind.

Suddenly, the Heavenly Demon sensed danger. She focused her immense Divine Sense toward one direction and coldly roared, "Who is it?"

A stunning woman dressed in white slowly materialized in mid-air. Her features were also exceptionally rare and beautiful. Her temperament was transcendent and ethereal, slender and graceful, suspended in the air like drifting smoke, appearing as if a celestial carriage had descended from the Immortal Realm. She showed little reaction under the Heavenly Demon's immense pressure, merely letting out a soft sigh, "Senior Heavenly Demon truly lives up to her formidable reputation. This junior believed her concealment technique could fool Nascent Soul cultivators. I never expected to be seen through by Senior."

Dantai Bingyun's technique for concealing tracks was indeed unparalleled. When she was at the Foundation Establishment stage, she relied on this skill and a concealment treasure to evade several Nascent Soul cultivators and enter the Divine Temple. Now that she was at the Golden Core cultivation level, she was naturally even more adept, yet she hadn't expected to have her movements exposed by the Heavenly Demon.

"I wondered who it was—it turns out to be the traitor of the Heavenly Sound Palace, the famous Fairy Dantai." Earlier, after Lei Dong's introduction, the Heavenly Demon had learned that this woman was Dantai Bingyun, who had disappeared alongside him. While astonished, she had clearly perceived the deep connection between her and Lei Dong. Evidently, some story had unfolded during the many years they wandered outside together. This fact naturally increased the Heavenly Demon’s hostility, given her naturally petty nature. Especially since Dantai Bingyun kept addressing her as 'Senior,' which the Heavenly Demon interpreted as deliberate mockery.

However, at that moment, the Heavenly Demon was slightly shaken by Dantai Bingyun's stealth methods. Had she not shown a clear flaw due to her earlier distraction, even the Heavenly Demon, with her Nascent Soul cultivation, would have found it difficult to pierce her concealment.

Dantai Bingyun’s face turned pale, but she offered no denial or counterattack, merely biting her lip lightly with her teeth. Deep within her heart, she seemed to be hesitating and struggling. After a long pause, she let out a quiet sigh and tossed a jade slip to the Heavenly Demon, saying, "This jade slip contains a breath and track concealment technique that Bingyun obtained inadvertently. Its mysteries are profound; Bingyun has only managed to study one or two tenths of it. Please pass it to Lei Dong."

"You are leaving?" The Heavenly Demon took the jade slip, her voice hoarse and low, "Returning to the Heavenly Sound Palace, and from now on standing in opposition to Lei Dong?"

"This junior was born of the Heavenly Sound Palace, so naturally, I should return," Dantai Bingyun’s face became incredibly pale as she slowly shook her head. "However, from this day forward, this junior will concern herself only with cultivation, not worldly affairs." Although the loss of her virginity to Lei Dong was not her initial intention, Lei Dong's excellence, distinction, and uniqueness had earned her deep admiration even before any connection was formed. After spending so much time together later, how could there not be feelings?

... (To be continued RH)