The monstrous black-winged demon's guttural laughter ceased abruptly as his grotesque visage contorted with fury. That tiny golden-cultivation reptile dared to rescue someone before him! Dark energy surged through his form, dissolving into the void as he pursued relentlessly.

A violent wave of dark energy erupted toward Leidong who immediately paled at sensing its oppressive might. This demon lord could actually follow them? Was it truly a transcendental-level powerhouse? Without hesitation, he initiated another teleportation maneuver.

Spatial rifts demanded exponentially more power over longer distances. After several dozen-li leaps using the Demon Emperor Transformation to squeeze every ounce of potential from his body, Leidong felt utterly drained. Fortunately, his erratic trajectory had just barely evaded the demon's grasp—the oppressive aura vanished completely.

Earlier during their escape, he'd simultaneously sent Tong Chou and Yin Yang Old Monster fleeing separately. When that black-winged demon pursued him, they should have already escaped safely.

Leidong believed himself to be escaping solely through merit—never suspecting the demon had just borrowed a body for regeneration in its most vulnerable state. Though possessing transcendental-level strength inherently, it could barely muster thirty percent of full power now. After several forced teleportations draining vast reserves, it simply couldn't keep up with Leidong's desperate flight.

Meanwhile, Leidong released the first tier of Demon Emperor Transformation's effects and slumped into a secluded cliff cave carrying Meiji. "Senior Sister Meiji," he said coldly, "if you wish to live, set up concealment wards. No need for protective barriers—just something to mask our presence."

Leidong knew most sect disciples beyond golden cultivation invested time in minor arts, with array theory being an essential skill.

Meiji had endured prolonged combat and taken a brutal hit from the black-winged demon's immense power. Despite her Grand Body Protection Technique shielding internal organs, she suffered severe injuries. However, as an immortal-level cultivator, she could survive even if her physical form was destroyed so long as her core remained intact.

Though now too weakened for serious battle, Meiji could still arrange wards. Her delicate features were pale with lingering fear until she steadied herself—perhaps remembering Hongluan's death made her expression momentarily darken before she hurriedly retrieved quality warding materials to construct an illusionary array at the cave entrance and a smaller detection-blocking formation deeper inside.

The clever woman didn't make the entire area unrecognizable but subtly altered the cave mouth into jagged rock formations, reducing the risk of discovery. After completing these measures, Meiji collapsed cross-legged nearby, ingesting pills for cultivation to heal her wounds.

Throughout this, Leidong maintained a meditative state—though it appeared he trusted her completely, only he knew this was a test. If she even dared consider betrayal during their weakened states (he being merely high golden cultivation), he could kill her instantly despite their current vulnerabilities.

Such precautions were necessary after saving her life at the critical moment. After all, why else would he risk his own safety?

More importantly, Leidong needed information—how dare the Celestial Pleasure Sect attack Yinsha Sect? Even if they had stronger overall strength, invading this territory was suicidal given Yinsha's millennia of defenses: ferocious spirit-ghost cores trapped in the gate plaque, multiple immortal-level outsiders living within these mountains willing to join defensive efforts when their domain was threatened.

Understanding these connections required capturing a live witness. Additionally, Meiji intrigued him—after all, she taught Qifei and had shown no objection during his forced recruitment attempt with Hongluan, suggesting potential for subjugation.

Though now seemingly deep in meditation, Leidong knew better than to trust her. The woman was far too experienced to risk entering true trance near an active threat.

As he emerged from cultivation with full spiritual energy restored, Leidong casually observed the strikingly beautiful Meiji—her expression vacant as she meditated, though he saw through her pretense immediately.

After a few moments of this charade, Meiji finally gave up the act and opened her eyes to gaze at him with tear-streaked cheeks. "I'm deeply grateful for your rescue, Master Leidong," she murmured, "but my dear companion Hongluan... both body and core were devoured by that demon."

Her voice carried no sexual allure yet evoked heart-wrenching sorrow—the perfect performance of a wronged woman. This was the essence of Celestial Pleasure Sect's arts—not mere seductive dances but subtle psychological manipulation tailored to each target.

Yet Leidong, with his unshakable willpower and formidable spiritual resistance honed through lifetimes, remained unmoved beyond initial sympathy. His hands behind his back, he smirked dispassionately, "Senior Sister should abandon such tricks. If you attempt any mental coercion, I can't promise not to kill you outright. By the way, my resistance to mental manipulation is quite exceptional."

Meiji's eyes widened at his knowing expression before she hastily adopted a vulnerable posture. "Master Leidong？ You've already saved my life once—our positions shouldn't be adversarial!"

"Indeed," he chuckled, "I rescued you from that demon's devouring jaws. How do you intend to repay me?"

Meiji gasped in outrage, cheeks flushed with indignation as she glanced downward. "How could you suggest such... unethical things? Our circumstances make this..."

Leidong sighed impatiently at her deliberate redirection of the conversation. "Enough games," he said coldly. "Choose now—submit to me or I'll kill you myself. If you agree, I promise rewards beyond your imagination."

"Rewards beyond imagination?" Meiji's eyes narrowed suspiciously.