The condition set forth by Yi Kong was essentially no condition at all for Lei Dong. Although this was never explicitly stated at the time, given Lei Dong’s nature and his future blueprint for Yi Kong, there was no way he would allow him to be reborn into a subpar vessel. If possible, Lei Dong would have even sought out a body belonging to a Winged God Clan member for Yi Kong’s revival. Now, with Yi Kong willing to act again, it amounted to three Nascent Soul cultivators suppressing one, with the traitorous Blood Demon also in the mix. Against a calculated effort, even if Li Yao possessed boundless skill, he would have no path of escape.

The matter settled for the moment, Lei Dong then kindly offered solace to the injured Earth Giants. These simple-minded giants, rarely receiving such concern from anyone, had grown increasingly loyal to Lei Dong through their interactions.

Dealing with Li Yao was entirely different from handling the Blood Demon. Any slight misstep in this operation would inevitably invite fierce retaliation from the Grand Supreme Sect. This wasn't just about Li Yao’s standing within the sect; it concerned the Grand Supreme Sect’s reputation and its dignity. Compared to that behemoth dominating the Great Qian Continent, the Yin Sha Sect was undoubtedly a mere sampan floating beside a colossal vessel.

Of course, it wouldn't be easy for the Grand Supreme Sect to move against the Yin Sha Sect either. After all, the two territories were separated by vast, boundless seas, guarded by the not-insignificant Yaksha Clan.

All preparations were underway, carried out in the shadows. Lei Dong’s numerous plans and stratagems were also quietly unfurling.

Topping the list was the Ghost Gu Army Cultivation Plan. Although the Ghost Gu could potentially deal with Nascent Soul cultivators, due to Lei Dong's own weak foundation—in terms of influence, reputation, and his personal strength—it was difficult to compel proud and resolute Nascent Soul cultivators to submit. The Blood Demon was merely an exception; without a confluence of various external factors, Lei Dong couldn't have secured his allegiance either.

Therefore, Lei Dong’s primary focus shifted to cultivators at the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages. If these Ghost Gus had fallen into the hands of someone like the Old Demon of White Bones, they might manage to refine only a dozen or so, controlling a small clique of Golden Core cultivators at best. But in Lei Dong's hands, they could unleash terrifying effects for one simple reason: Lei Dong lacked for nothing in the way of Spirit Ghosts, even high-grade ones. He wouldn't hesitate to use a Ghost Gu on a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.

…

The Heavenly Dao Alliance was not counted among the eight major powers of Kang Province. However, the territory it occupied, combined with the cultivators residing within that vast expanse, was comparable to any top-tier grand sect. The reason for this situation was that the Heavenly Dao Alliance was merely an alliance organization, not a sect. Its sole purpose was to serve as a union formed by the countless large and small sects and families in the region for the sake of self-preservation. Furthermore, its neutral stance and diplomatic maneuvering between the major sects prevented any single top-tier power from forcibly swallowing this large piece of the pie.

But to Lei Dong, this was a collection of fragrant, exquisite, and tempting pastries.

The Zheng Family of Longyou within the Heavenly Dao Alliance was considered a moderately renowned family. Its progenitor had originated from a major sect within the Heavenly Dao Alliance, returning to his homeland as a Golden Core cultivator to establish a cultivation family. Over time, he married hundreds of wives, both with and without spiritual roots, beginning to branch out and multiply his descendants.

This was an occurrence happening constantly across Kang Province, utterly commonplace, stirring no ripples whatsoever.

Now, a thousand years had passed.

The leadership of the Zheng Family had been passed down through generations. It had now branched out exuberantly, boasting numerous clansmen. Currently, the Zheng Family alone had over a thousand descendants possessing spiritual roots, and tens of thousands more—bloodline inheritors without spiritual roots—forming a massive familial city. These individuals constituted the Zheng Family’s current robust foundation. With these numbers, spiritual root bearers would continuously emerge within the family, the very method by which any family sustains itself.

In recent days, the Zheng Family was celebrating a momentous occasion. An elder within the clan had finally broken through the shackles of the late-stage Foundation Establishment, ascending to the Golden Core realm.

Any promotion from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core was a cause for joyous celebration. Even in a powerful place like the Yin Sha Sect, it was considered welcome news for the sect. This was especially true for a family that hadn't produced a Golden Core cultivator in over a century.

The century-long drought of Golden Core breakthroughs had naturally led to this once-powerful family being suppressed and bullied at every turn. Even the clan disciples venturing out would face disdain and humiliation. Various family assets had been infringed upon over the past century, diminishing them by one-tenth compared to their peak.

Although this was arguably the most normal occurrence in the cultivation world—the law of the jungle dictated that those lacking strength would be bullied and unable to safeguard the legacy inherited from their ancestors—the Zheng family members harbored deep-seated resentment. Now, Elder Zheng Xiong’s advancement to the Golden Core stage gave all the long-suffering Zheng clansmen the feeling that their day of vindication was not far off. They began decorating extravagantly, widely inviting sects and families to grand feasts, intended to display the Zheng Family's revived prestige.

Simultaneously, immediately after his breakthrough, Elder Zheng Xiong paid a visit to the Golden Core ancestor of the Huang Family, the Zheng Family’s bitter rival; the details remain unknown to everyone. All that was known was that afterward, the Zheng Family regained control of a small-scale Profound Iron mine vein that the Huang Family had seized thirty years prior.

This action and event propelled Elder Zheng Xiong’s support and stature within the clan beyond even that of the current Zheng Family Patriarch, garnering immense adoration, especially from the passionate younger generation.

The Patriarch was quite helpless in the face of this; in this world, weakness was inherently the greatest flaw, and he lacked the strength.

…

However, no one anticipated what happened the day before the clan-wide celebration, within the Zheng Family's secret chamber. Zheng Xiong, appearing as a vigorous man in his prime, bowed with utmost reverence before a mysterious, exquisitely beautiful woman: “Lady Qing, your subordinate has arranged everything. Except for a few guests who hold deep grudges against the Zheng Family and refused to show face, the others have been arriving sequentially.”

The woman reclined languidly on a Grand Tutor's chair, exuding an air of profound, alluring lassitude. The mysterious metallic mask covering the upper half of her face only amplified her perilous, stunning beauty. Another Golden Core cultivator, entirely shrouded in black robes with surging demonic energy obscuring his face, stood erect, waiting on her side, not daring to breathe too deeply.

Both Zheng Xiong and the black-robed Golden Core cultivator were acutely aware of Lady Qing's sharp means. Though she often presented herself as a delicate, alluring neighborly wife, once this lady truly unleashed her temper, it was bone-chillingly terrifying. Describing her as a 'femme fatale' was no exaggeration.

In fact, it wasn't just them. Even Lei Dong's other top lieutenants, such as Qian Luo and Shangguan, held a degree of apprehension towards Madam Qing and rarely dared to provoke her.

“What about the high-aptitude children under the age of ten that I ordered you to gather?” Lady Qing inquired, her voice both charming and icily cold.

Gathering these high-aptitude children was one of Lei Dong's plans. Relying solely on the Ghost Gu to control adult cultivators at the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages could rapidly expand his power base. However, this was not a long-term solution, and such individuals would be difficult to deploy for critical tasks; they couldn't form his core contingent.

Lei Dong possessed vast resources and could nurture a foundational group loyal only to him and possessing formidable strength, starting from childhood. The reason for seeking those under ten was that children of this age were highly pliable, extremely easy to guide, and would mature into Lei Dong’s capable right-hand figures. For mortals undertaking such a task, it might seem like a losing proposition. But for a cultivator like Lei Dong, decades or a century was a tolerable wait. Considering his current stage of early Golden Core, cultivating to the Nascent Soul realm wouldn't take merely eight or ten years. Achieving Nascent Soul within a century would already be considered Lei Dong’s good fortune.

These words caused sweat to bead on Zheng Xiong’s forehead. He quickly bowed low, stammering, “Regarding that, your subordinate is still investigating. You must understand, I am not yet the Zheng Family Patriarch; many matters are inconvenient for me to execute.” He knew too well the consequences of angering this lady—just like that Huang Family Golden Core ancestor who refused to cooperate and ultimately…

“Hmph~”

Lady Qing showed a flicker of displeasure, her voice turning cold. “Useless. You, a dignified Golden Core cultivator, are so hesitant and dragging your feet. Must I consider finding a new representative?”

“Lady Qing!”

Zheng Xiong instantly dropped to his knees in panic, his face etched with fear. “Your subordinate dares not! I will finish—no, I will present the list within ten days. Please grant your subordinate one more chance.”

“Zheng Xiong, you must understand. The Master bestowed so many treasures and resources upon you not for you to sit idly by and eat,” Lady Qing said, employing the practiced blend of firmness and softness in managing subordinates, her tone softening slightly. “You may not fully grasp the Master’s methods. If he were to issue a reprimand, I would have no choice but to accompany you to death. Be more diligent in the future.” In the latter half of her sentence, her voice trembled slightly, suggesting profound dread and fear towards that Master.

“Yes, yes, your subordinate will certainly exert every effort and serve the Master diligently.” Lady Qing’s words instilled in Zheng Xiong the impression that the mysterious Master was incredibly terrifying. What kind of fearsome entity could cause Lady Qing such fear and apprehension? The black-robed figure had secretly hinted to him that the Master had recently executed a Nascent Soul cultivator who had defied him. This further deepened the awe and reverence felt by the already survival-focused Zheng Xiong toward the enigmatic Master.