Though his words were polite, Lei Dong was already calculating the situation behind the scenes. The moment the Silver Fox had appeared and casually mentioned the intent to attack the Yin Sha Sect, Lei Dong’s heart had sunk.

Among the eight major sects of Kangzhou, the status of the Yin Yang Harmony Sect was almost equal to that of the Yin Sha Sect. Their strengths were comparable, though due to their cultivation methods—the Harmony Sect utilizing dual cultivation—they progressed faster in rank, but their general combat prowess was slightly inferior to the cultivators of the Yin Sha Sect.

It was common knowledge that Lei Dong held a deep grudge against the Yin Yang Harmony Sect. The fact that they had been unable to exact revenge after the incident involving Qi Feifei was a profound humiliation for them. However, this did not imply that the Yin Yang Harmony Sect dared to directly assault the Yin Sha Sect and instigate a full-scale conflict between the two organizations. Lei Dong also knew well that since the Harmony Sect dared to plot an attack on the Yin Sha Sect, they must have considerable confidence and vested interests at stake.

Therefore, until he could ascertain the complete picture, Lei Dong decided to exercise restraint for the time being. The more arrogant the enemy, the more likely they were to inadvertently reveal the truth of the matter.

“Heh heh, Lei Dong, you are indeed the most outstanding of the rising generation in Kangzhou, reaching the late stage of Core Formation at such a young age. What a pity, what a pity. If not for that harlot Qi Feifei daring to instigate her sect members to kill this venerable one’s great-grandson, I might have granted you a chance to surrender,” the Silver Fox stared at Lei Dong with an expression of haughty resentment. In his view, with three Nascent Soul cultivators targeting this boy, even if Lei Dong possessed means that could pierce the heavens, there was absolutely no chance for him to survive. Killing him was not an immediate concern; he preferred to see the boy’s regret and utter misery during his revenge. Moreover, that companion following young Lei Dong appeared to be the infamous Old Freak Yin Yang, who had somehow advanced to the Nascent Soul stage.

Lei Dong’s brow furrowed slightly; he recalled Qi Feifei mentioning this, but hadn't paid it much heed. Since this wasn't his primary concern, he drew a sharp breath and asked with sober gravity, “If a senior intends to take this junior’s life, this junior, being of inferior strength, can only accept his fate. However, there is one matter I do not yet comprehend, and I beg the senior to illuminate me. I heard the senior mention earlier an intention to attack the Yin Sha Sect… Surely that violates the covenant among our Four Great Evil Sects?”

“Silver Fox, why waste so many words? Hurry up and take him down first,” Mei Ji, another Nascent Soul cultivator from the Harmony Sect, said with a seductive pout, “This venerable one is also eager to taste this brat’s essence and see what is so unique about him that Qi Feifei would rather betray her sect and elope with him.”

As for Old Freak Yin Yang, he was completely ignored. So what if he had advanced to Nascent Soul? A newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator hadn't even familiarized himself with his own abilities, let alone facing three seasoned veterans on their side.

“Mei Ji, Hong Luan, go deal with that effeminate creature Yin Yang. This boy is the source of indirect harm that led to my great-grandson’s death; I shall personally cripple his limbs and sever his meridians.” The Silver Fox’s delicate face completely lacked the demeanor of a seasoned master; after letting out two sinister laughs, he unleashed an unrestrained claw toward Lei Dong.

Mei Ji and Hong Luan giggled seductively in response. “Little Yin Yang, we hear you possess the Yin Yang Body—why not surrender obediently and let us sisters have a proper look?” Their forms flickered, and amidst swirling, ethereal red mists, the two vanished and reappeared, effectively boxing in Old Freak Yin Yang.

These words enraged Old Freak Yin Yang, who cursed the wicked women inwardly. But given the disparity in strength, he dared not be careless. He circulated his Yin Yang Divine Art, and a fierce, burning red cloud enveloped him. He resolved that his goal was not to gain merit, but merely to avoid error. At this moment, he placed all his hope on Lei Dong—whether Lei Dong could eliminate the Silver Fox first, or powerfully draw away any one of the Nascent Soul cultivators, that would grant him a sliver of survival. As for relying on his superior escape techniques to flee, that possibility was never entertained; Lei Dong had once made him taste the agony of the Ghost Gu Soul Devouring, a pain Old Freak Yin Yang never wished to experience a second time.

Facing the Silver Fox’s aggression, Lei Dong’s brow didn’t even twitch. He spread the Asura Wings on his back and, with a slight flap, instantly traveled dozens of yards away, nimbly evading the claw. As his cultivation grew higher, his understanding of spatial laws deepened, making the control of the Asura Wings far more effortless than before, flowing like running water.

Simultaneously, he wove hand seals, and the Nether Flame Ghost Banner, emanating boundless chilling malice, soared out from his soul space between his brows, instantly enlarging as it met the wind. With a burn of chilling nether flames, ten thousand ghosts surged forth like an overwhelming tide, teeth bared and claws extended, descending upon the Silver Fox in a sky-covering assault.

“What?” The Silver Fox was utterly shocked, roaring out in alarm and rage, “How is the Heavenly Demon’s Ghost Banner in your hands?” He had witnessed the battle between the Heavenly Demon and Fan Quqing, and the decisive role played by that banner, suspected to be a primeval spiritual treasure, left a deep impression.

Poor Silver Fox had no idea that Lei Dong had acquired this treasure after countless efforts, even risking his life several times. It originally belonged to him; he had merely lent it to the Heavenly Demon for the duel. The Heavenly Demon, on a trip to Zhao Prefecture, had also paid a visit to Lei Dong’s brother—the Divine Transformation Flying Dragon—asking it to help erase the soul imprint. Upon returning, he handed it back to Lei Dong for protection.

The might of this artifact was such that even Meng Chao, a late-stage Nascent Soul Heavenly General, found it difficult to resist. The Silver Fox never imagined his mere early-stage Nascent Soul strength could achieve anything against it. In utter horror, he rapidly retreated backward, waving a treasured fan that whipped up a torrent of red flames—flames so potent they distorted the very space they burned.

Though fierce, the vengeful ghosts could not withstand such intense heat, and one by one, they were incinerated. Lei Dong withdrew his hand seals, halting the ghosts' self-sacrificial charge, knowing that while the Silver Fox's technique was potent, any spell covering such a vast area with such power could never be sustained for long.

He cast another hand seal, summoning the temporarily sheathed Tyrant Dragon Ghost King, Ah Chou. Ah Chou now possessed high intelligence and was almost telepathically linked with Lei Dong. Without needing instruction, its body transformed into a streak of blazing red light, forcefully piercing through the wall of crimson flames, its Soul Blade slashing down with savage intent.

Ah Chou, inherently skilled in close combat, brought down its blade with fierce momentum; the arc of the blade energy tore through the void, carrying the unmistakable force of unstoppable, world-splitting power.

“Ghost King?” The Silver Fox was again utterly aghast. Close combat was not his specialty. Daring not to meet the attack head-on, he unfurled his exquisite escape arts and movements, weaving various spells to skirmish with Ah Chou.

The Silver Fox, amidst his terror, began contemplating retreat. He certainly did not fear a single early-stage Ghost King. But the myriad ghosts Lei Dong summoned were truly terrifying; anyone encircled by them would find escape impossible.

Unfortunately, Ah Chou’s orders from Lei Dong were not to kill the Silver Fox, but to engage and entangle him by any means necessary. Every time the Silver Fox attempted to flee, Ah Chou intercepted him with desperate, mutually destructive maneuvers. The Silver Fox, being a man who valued his life, was unwilling to perish alongside a Ghost King. Having lost the initiative, he was firmly pinned down by Ah Chou, unable to escape.

Though this sounds like a lengthy account, it occurred in mere seconds. The other two Nascent Soul cultivators from the Harmony Sect, Mei Ji and Hong Luan, had initially approached the engagement with Old Freak Yin Yang with the intent of merely toying with him. But in the blink of an eye, seeing the Silver Fox clearly at a disadvantage, their beautiful faces turned pale with shock, and their attacks momentarily faltered.

Old Freak Yin Yang, unlike cultivators from the major established sects, originated from the struggling path of a rogue cultivator, having fought for survival since childhood, resulting in exceptionally rich evasion experience. Coupled with the subtle and profound escape techniques inherited from the ancient Yin Yang Divine Art, he could evade ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators even at the peak of Core Formation. Now that he had achieved Nascent Soul, his rapidly increased strength made his escape techniques even more astonishing. Enduring one strike from Mei Ji, his body instantly transformed into a crimson streak of light, slippery as an eel, shooting out from the encirclement.

He was a ruthless individual; having broken free, he did not flee far. Instead, he sped toward the Silver Fox, cackling maniacally, “Silver Fox, yield your life!” He unleashed a palm strike imbued with extraordinary power.

The Silver Fox was startled once more. Whether facing Old Freak Yin Yang alone or the Ghost King, he was confident of victory. But facing both combined was far more complicated than a simple addition. With no room to dodge, he struck out with a palm of his own to meet the Old Freak Yin Yang head-on.

A crimson shockwave erupted like a detonating bomb, forming a miniature mushroom cloud, tearing the space into fleeting, microscopic fissures. How powerful were Nascent Soul cultivators? With mere gestures, they could often cause mountains to collapse and rivers to reverse course.

Even in this hurried exchange, the Silver Fox held a slight advantage, sending Old Freak Yin Yang flying backward. But the Silver Fox also spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen. He had absolutely no time to regulate his vital energy. Ah Chou’s domineering blade energy had sealed off all his avenues of retreat.

Boom!

The Silver Fox’s defensive shield shattered under the impact. Wounded further, his power instantly plummeted. Precisely at this moment, the Silver Fox’s scorching red flames dissipated into nothingness.

Lei Dong seized the opportunity, driving the ghost army forward in a relentless assault. From a distance, the ten thousand ghosts resembled a vast, dark cloud, or perhaps a swarm of locusts, boundless and inescapable. The already short distance was practically closed in an instant, engulfing the cornered Silver Fox within their mass.

Mei Ji and Hong Luan, who had intended to rush to the Silver Fox’s aid, gasped in shock. Sensing disaster, they each flared up their crimson escape lights and fled.

“Hmph, trying to leave? Too late.” The twin wings on Lei Dong’s back unfurled and flapped mightily. He ripped open space, his figure transforming into a stream of light, instantly closing the gap. He extended both claws, and two Nether Ghost Claws, each several yards long, shot out toward the two women.

With Lei Dong’s Nether Body, and the Nether Ghost Claws augmented by a sliver of spatial law, they became truly ghostly appendages. Appearing slow, they silently infiltrated the opponents’ proximity just as reactions were forming.

The two colossal ghost claws squeezed shut, capturing the two Harmony Sect women in their grasp like one might catch hatchlings.