A surge of monumental power, trailing a fierce roar, swept outward, shaking the stone chamber until dust and debris rained down incessantly. It pierced straight through the cliff face, echoing across the heavens, startling a flock of passing birds—mere Qi Refining stage cultivators in the sky—causing their forms to wobble violently, nearly losing their flight posture. They flapped their wings wildly, fleeing in panic, each seeking the nearest escape. One bird, cursed by terrible luck, slammed into the cliff wall and plummeted.

This was the pressure of rank, the innate terror the weak feel toward the strong. It was just like when Lei Dong first joined the sect; the casual glance from his Master, the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Ghosts, had been enough to blanch his face, leaving him trembling and drenched in sweat. Though decades had passed, Lei Dong remembered that moment with perfect clarity. Perhaps this memory was one of the very reasons he relentlessly sought greater strength. In this perilous world where the powerful dictated fate at whim, a weaker person’s very survival depended entirely on the mood of the strong—a truly tragic reality.

This explosive roar was also Lei Dong venting the insecurity and stagnation he had bottled up for years. His mood became exceptionally light. Thinking back, Heaven surely favored human endeavor after all. Given his original aptitude, merely reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in this lifetime would have been a blessing beyond measure. Yet, through a confluence of opportunities and his own desperate struggle, he had ascended from a mere fledgling to a Golden Core powerhouse in less than fifty years. While he still hadn't surpassed the dazzling genius of someone like Tantai Bingyun, such an achievement was exceedingly rare, countable on one’s fingers. After all, how many high-spirited young talents throughout history had become hopelessly stuck at some bottleneck, only to watch themselves wither with age, ultimately dying in quiet misery?

“Excellent, excellent. Congratulations, congratulations.” A ribbon of black mist coiled and materialized within the stone chamber, swiftly followed by the mature and statuesque figure of the Heavenly Demon. A rare hint of a smile touched her breathtakingly cold and aloof features: “This Venerable One knew the Dao of the Golden Core would not be an obstacle for you.”

Lei Dong merely smiled in response. The Heavenly Demon attributed his success to superior talent, never guessing the sheer effort and suffering he endured to achieve the Golden Core Dao. Nevertheless, Lei Dong held deep gratitude for the Heavenly Demon. Had she not shielded him at every turn, even procuring this Asura Wing for him, he would surely have been crushed long ago in this brutal world. Not to mention the advantage he’d gained in every opportunity, profiting immensely. Of course, this gratitude remained unspoken, kept deep within his heart. For those who treated him well, given his temperament, he would certainly not fail to repay their kindness.

“Congratulations, Master, best wishes on achieving the Golden Core Dao.” Han Chao, utterly devoted to Lei Dong, immediately resumed pledging his loyalty, bringing along the contingent of Earth Giants and the Mute Woman to offer congratulations from the exterior.

Not one to be stingy with his loyal subordinates, Lei Dong flew out of the cave mouth to accept the felicitations from the honest-looking Giants and Han Chao. He retrieved some elixirs from his storage bracelet, handing one to each person as a shared token of joy. The Earth Giants were naturally ecstatic, roaring with laughter, as such pills greatly aided their strength enhancement, deepening their respect for Lei Dong. Han Chao and the Mute Woman both wore expressions of sheer delight.

“How are Shangguan and Qing Niangzi progressing in their seclusion?” Lei Dong asked with concern, though he then glanced at Han Chao: “From now on, call me Lord. Hearing ‘Master’ is quite jarring.” Having been subtly corrupted by certain unsavory cultural influences in his past life, Lei Dong found the term ‘Master’ rather… unpleasant.

“Yes, My Lord,” Han Chao immediately replied with deference. “They have not yet emerged, but there are no unusual signs. However, Miss Qi’s stone room seems to have tribulation clouds gathering—she should be close too.”

“Mhm. You continue guarding diligently to ensure they are not disturbed during their breakthrough.” Lei Dong knew that his rapid advance to the Golden Core stage owed much to the favor of Qi Feifei’s Yin energy. For an ordinary person, a month or two to break through to the Golden Core was considered fast. Aware that haste was unwise, he gave a few more instructions, then returned to the stone chamber. Under the Mute Woman’s service boiling the water, he enjoyed a thorough bath to cleanse the grime before preparing for secluded cultivation to consolidate his new realm.

The Heavenly Demon understood that even though Lei Dong had succeeded in his breakthrough, consolidation was necessary for stability. She curbed her impatience, refraining from disturbing him or urging him back to the Yin Fiend Sect. After all, if his cultivation realm remained unstable and something went wrong, his entire life’s work could be ruined.

Time passed quickly. As Lei Dong settled into secluded cultivation, the initial stage of the Golden Core realm gradually stabilized.

During this period, Lei Dong naturally had time to ponder many matters. Previously, all his focus had been on finding a way back to Kang Prefecture. But now, not only had he achieved his decade-long goal of returning home, but he had also successfully advanced to the Golden Core stage.

It was time to reconsider some things.

Kang Prefecture was Lei Dong’s homeland; unlike his time in Zhao Prefecture where he was an outsider who could simply dust off his trousers and leave if trouble arose, here he needed to be far more cautious in every action. As the saying went, the monk may run, but the temple cannot be moved.

Of course, Kang Prefecture offered immense benefits as well. At the very least, having the formidable Yin Fiend Sect as a powerful backer meant that ordinary rogue cultivators or minor sects wouldn't dare provoke him rashly. In summary, the situation had its pros and cons.

The current Lei Dong was far from the naive boy who first entered the sect, having traveled widely and gained extensive knowledge. He knew well that achieving the Golden Core was cause for celebration, but countless experts still existed who far surpassed him. Reckless behavior would not only bring disaster upon himself but also implicate his family. Maintaining a low profile, hiding his true strength to lull potential enemies, was the only way to live a long and peaceful life. At the very least, it made it easier to lull and deceive lurking adversaries.

If he acted without regard for consequence, boldly returning to the Yin Fiend Sect with a retinue of powerful Earth Giants, he would instantly draw all attention to himself. If he became the target of general scrutiny and his secrets were widely known, even if his power and influence were several times greater, catastrophe would eventually strike.

Furthermore, the Golden Core stage was not his ultimate goal; in fact, it was merely the starting line. If he lived perpetually under the gaze of others, with every action scrutinized, his future days would be exceedingly grueling.

These considerations compelled Lei Dong to suppress the joy of his Golden Core promotion, maintaining a level state of mind. However, his current aura-concealing technique was mediocre, making it difficult to truly hide his personal strength. Perhaps the Heavenly Demon might have some solutions.

Lei Dong’s mental fortitude was growing alongside his power, and he no longer felt psychological barriers about seeking the Heavenly Demon’s aid. Even if she lacked a specific method, Lei Dong could commission her, perhaps paying an exorbitant price, to acquire a suitable technique for concealing his cultivation. Wealth was not the primary issue.

Unexpectedly, the moment Lei Dong brought up the matter, the Heavenly Demon coldly handed him an ancient jade slip, made of unknown material, and relayed a message from Tantai Bingyun with an icy expression.

Lei Dong held the jade slip, his face expressionless, yet his heart churned with barely contained waves. Although he had known this day would come when he was with Tantai Bingyun, the reality of it still brought a sudden, subtle ache to his chest. He felt a strong impulse to storm the Heavenly Sound Palace and forcibly take her away.

Forcing down the urge, which he knew was suicidal, Lei Dong took a deep breath: “If that is her intention, then let it be so.”

Deep down, however, he knew the root cause was his own insufficient strength. If he were a Soul Transformation stage expert, he could kick down the gates of the Heavenly Sound Palace and drag Tantai Bingyun out, and no one would dare utter a single complaint. But at his current cultivation level, such an act would not only risk her refusal to come with him but, even if she agreed, they would likely only end up as two unfortunate souls bound by shared misery.

Fortunately, they were both cultivators; separating temporarily for ten or eight years was not an unacceptable prospect. Once his strength increased and the timing was right, he could pursue such ventures without issue. In the current circumstances, forcing her to stay would only cause more internal conflict. After all, neither of them possessed the power to resolve the enmity between their respective sects.

Lei Dong quickly adjusted his mindset and began studying the spell within the jade slip Tantai Bingyun had provided. He had witnessed her technique for concealing her aura many times—it was bizarre and traceless, difficult even for Nascent Soul cultivators to fully discern. Even the Heavenly Demon had offered high praise for its subtleties.

But what left Lei Dong utterly astonished was that the moment his divine sense invaded the jade slip to begin his study, the ancient artifact suddenly shattered. Countless fragments of information regarding this specific aura-concealing technique flooded into Lei Dong’s mind in a process akin to sudden enlightenment. In that single instant, Lei Dong felt as though he had memorized it, yet also as if he hadn't. But he knew clearly that with dedicated study, he could quickly master this concealment art.

“This is actually a learning jade slip inherited from the Ancient Era?” After his initial shock, Lei Dong let out a wry smile. Tantai Bingyun’s gift was truly substantial. The Ancient Era was the zenith of the cultivation path, a time when powerful sects dotted the landscape and countless great figures roamed the world. The sects of that era had their own unique methods for handling the transmission of martial arts. To prevent vital techniques and incantations from falling into enemy hands, they developed these specialized learning jade slips.

This object not only allowed rapid assimilation of the inherited technique but also prevented the slip itself from being captured by foes. However, these items were heavily restricted; one learning jade slip, forged at great cost using rare resources and labor, could only be used three times before shattering. Furthermore, techniques learned via this method were exceedingly difficult to pass on to others. Naturally, any technique requiring such an item for its transmission was invariably one of a sect’s most crucial core arts.

Over several days, Lei Dong slowly deciphered the spell’s application. The deeper he delved, the more pleasantly surprised he became. This technique, named the Zhou Tian Zang Ri Jue (Cycle of Heaven Concealing the Sun Art), suited him perfectly. It was truly a magnificent treasure.

…… (To be continued RH)