Dantai Bingyun could scarcely imagine the consequences had she arrived a half-step later. Amidst waves of lingering fear, she even forgot Lei Dong’s casual remark about her being "your man." Immediately, she suspended her zither before her, her slender, jade-white fingers flying up and down. Amidst the forceful and passionate strains of the instrument, countless arcs of azure sword energy materialized, shooting out like a myriad of arrows, overwhelming the Demon King in a torrential assault.

The Black-Winged Demon King was miserable. First, he hadn't expected anyone to meddle in this secluded valley. Even less had he anticipated that this mysterious woman who suddenly appeared seemed to have some sort of intimate entanglement with that brat Lei Dong. He had tasted the power of those azure sword energies before; they were lethally potent. Not daring to linger for even a moment, he resolved to use his last reserves of strength to flee.

His demonic form transformed into a black shooting star, flickering indistinctly as it tore through space, creating ripples in the void, escaping at incredible speed. Unfortunately, he had ultimately underestimated Dantai Bingyun. Spending a century within the Azure Wave Secret Realm was an achievement few among the Yaksha tribe, spanning from ancient times to the present, could claim. While her comprehension of Spatial Laws still fell short of a Soul Transformation expert, she was far from ordinary. Otherwise, her "Hmph—want to run? Too late." The countless strands of azure sword energy suddenly converged, solidifying into a single sword projection tens of feet long. With a gentle slash, it tore open space, manifesting unpredictably above the Black-Winged Demon King, cleaving down viciously.

Though the Black-Winged Demon King was immensely powerful—in his prime, even the Netherworld Ghost Emperor might find no advantage against him—at this moment, he was truly like a candle flickering in the wind, utterly spent. Caught completely off guard, with no possibility of evasion, he took the full force of the strike. His massive demonic body, five or six zhang tall, was undeniably sliced into two halves beneath the sharp brilliance of the Azure Lotus Sword Qi.

Simultaneously, a slightly smaller, though still two or three zhang high, translucent figure of the Demon King frantically bolted away. This was the demon’s Jingpo (Essence Soul), what Soul Transformation cultivators often referred to as the Primordial Spirit (Yuanshen). The Yuanshen is the advanced, mature form of the Nascent Soul (Yuan Ying), ostensibly little different from the physical body. However, this demon had suffered a severe drop in cultivation level, causing this Yuanshen to become somewhat small and miniature. But fundamentally, this entity remained a Yuanshen, or perhaps, an Jingpo.

The value of a Yuanshen far surpassed that of a mere Yuan Ying. Whether for refining artifacts, brewing elixirs, or crafting puppets, it possessed immensely powerful special effects. Although Dantai Bingyun hailed from a righteous sect like the Heavenly Sound Palace, having followed Lei Dong, she had been profoundly influenced by him and certainly would not let such an object escape. Moreover, this villain had nearly killed Lei Dong.

In truth, the world of cultivation is inherently cruel, governed by the principle that the strong prevail. The so-called righteous path does not imply soft-heartedness, nor does it typically allow the Jingpo of slain demonic beasts to escape. Nor does it neglect salvaging valuable materials from a vanquished foe. Cultivation is an act of defying the Heavens, opposing the laws of the universe. Without decisive killing intent and a hardened heart, success is impossible. If a sect were devoted to universal compassion and mercy, it would have long since vanished into the annals of history.

Consequently, capturing the villain’s Jingpo was a practiced move for Dantai Bingyun. She spread her white wings from her back and pursued swiftly, tossing out a Soul Sealing Orb, which successfully enclosed the Jingpo. Just as she nervously turned to check on Lei Dong, she heard that scoundrel shouting: "Collect all the vital blood! That fellow was a Soul Transformation level existence; his entire essence blood is worth a fortune."

Dantai Bingyun nearly stumbled to her death, not just because she had cleaved a Soul Transformation expert in two with one sword stroke, but because Lei Dong, on the brink of death, was still concerned about the valuable essence blood needed for advancement. This incident revealed that the brute was incredibly tough-skinned and wouldn't die immediately, which brought her a measure of relief.

She quickly retrieved jade bottles and refined the Black-Winged Demon King's blood, collecting every drop. As for the demonic corpse, it was also valuable, though not because the Heavenly Sound Palace didn't collect demonic beast bodies. Rather, Dantai Bingyun rarely engaged in such activities herself, especially in front of Lei Dong, where she felt compelled to maintain a semblance of feminine reserve.

"Are you dead yet? You truly have guts. Daring to provoke a Nascent Soul cultivator while only at Foundation Establishment, and confronting a Soul Transformation expert while at Golden Core. If you ever reach Nascent Soul, who in this world will you even bother looking at?" After finishing the task, Dantai Bingyun floated over, chiding him with feigned annoyance. It had been "over a hundred years" since she last saw him, and she never expected their reunion to be under such circumstances. However, thanks to her significant advancement in cultivation, the psychological pressure between her and Lei Dong had lessened considerably, making her demeanor much more relaxed.

This world has always valued strength above all; without it, one lacks even the right to speak. Back when Dantai Bingyun hadn't even reached Golden Core, she naturally worried about the immense tangible and intangible pressures. In fact, if her strength reached a certain level—say, if she achieved Soul Transformation—let alone pursuing a romance with Lei Dong, even if she wished to be with Ding Wanyan, few would dare to strongly object.

With the Black-Winged Demon King eliminated, a great worry lifted from Lei Dong, and he let out a heavy sigh, flashing a wry smile: "Do you think I wanted to fight this Black-Winged Demon King to the death? This creature possessed the body of the Silver Fox of the Union Cultivation Sect and inherited its will, determined to kill me. If I didn't strike while he was weakened, wouldn't I have to live the rest of my life in constant fear? I don't mind hiding myself, but implicating Wanyan and my parents would be unacceptable."

No matter how formidable Dantai Bingyun was, she remained a woman at heart, and her relationship with Lei Dong was ambiguous. Her greatest apprehension was undoubtedly his proper wife, Ding Wanyan. Upon hearing that name, Dantai Bingyun’s expression became complex—a mix of discomfort and shame, but overwhelmingly, a degree of lingering resentment towards Lei Dong. If he and Lei Long hadn't conspired to trick her back then, how could she and Lan Qisi have both lost their innocence to him? How could she have stepped onto this crooked path? Yet, Dantai Bingyun was also clear that without that fateful turn, given the merciless nature of this man, she, Dantai Bingyun, would long ago have turned to dust.

Much of her inner turmoil had dissipated with her growth in strength, leaving her mood exquisitely complicated. In the Azure Wave Secret Realm, the century she spent had not made her forget him; instead, the long, unbearable loneliness had deepened her attachment. She had become accustomed to thinking of this hateful man every time she faced a colossal crisis, gradually causing a subtle shift in her feelings for Lei Dong.

In truth, setting aside their initial antagonistic positions, even Dantai Bingyun had to admit that Lei Dong was an exceptionally outstanding man, perhaps even surpassing her in some ways. Especially during the confrontation with the White Bone Old Demon at Beisai Pass, the imposing spirit and sense of responsibility he displayed had utterly captivated her. Sharing tribulation and pitying each other’s plights inevitably sparked subtle emotional changes. Across the vast Zhao Continent, he was the only person Dantai Bingyun could truly trust and rely upon.

Subsequently losing her virtue to him, though it filled her with bitterness and indignation, there was an undercurrent of silent acceptance stemming from her recognition of Lei Dong’s capabilities. Otherwise, she would never have gradually grown accustomed to a relationship resembling that of lovers under his persistent pursuit. At that time, they were lovers and partners, but more so, they deeply respected each other, frequently discussing the cultivation challenges they each encountered. The greatest impression Lei Dong left on Dantai Bingyun was his unrestrained thinking, which soared like a wild horse, coupled with his formidable comprehension.

And Dantai Bingyun, in turn, greatly shocked Lei Dong. This woman was truly a prodigy; she could rapidly grasp complex and obscure matters, often extrapolating from a single instance. Furthermore, the music produced by her ancient zither when not used for combat was profoundly moving.

Returning to Kang Prefecture in that hazy state, Dantai Bingyun suddenly awoke to reality, as if startled from a beautiful dream, only to face infinite pressure. In terms of standing, lineage, and the shame of facing Ding Wanyan, she felt desolate and inclined toward escape.

Clutching her turbulent emotions, Dantai Bingyun softly mumbled, "You truly are considerate of Wanyan, willing to disregard even your own life."

"Cough, cough." Lei Dong coughed several times, laughing dryly: "If you were in danger, I would throw myself in without hesitation as well."

Dantai Bingyun’s face flushed slightly, and she glared at him with mock displeasure: "You're this injured and still spouting pretty words. Hurry and heal; I'll guard you."

Lei Dong knew his injuries were severe and dared not delay further. He hurriedly swallowed a healing pill and slowly circulated his energy to begin mending. However, as soon as he started healing, he was severely alarmed. Not only were his internal organs displaced, but numerous areas were damaged, and his meridians had suffered catastrophic trauma—some severed, others twisted into knots. His spirit was also in a poor state, weakly slumped within his Zifu like a candle sputtering in the wind. It was only due to his high-level Golden Core status, granting him a physique and life force hundreds, even thousands, of times stronger than a mortal, that he avoided immediate death.

Coupled with the single thread of his Natal True Essence sustaining his life, he managed to escape a fatal end.

Half an hour later, Lei Dong’s injuries had not only failed to recover but were showing signs of worsening. Using True Essence to accelerate healing requires circulating energy through the meridians, gently warming and stimulating acupoints, using the True Essence to moisten wounds and speed physical recovery. But at this moment, there was hardly a single healthy spot on Lei Dong’s body, and his meridians were nearly impossible to unblock.

Fortunately, Dantai Bingyun, watching nearby, discerned something was amiss. She rushed forward and placed her hand over his meridians, her divine sense probing within. The sight terrified her, draining the color from her face. She had vastly underestimated the severity of his injuries; if this continued, he would perish within mere hours. The Golden Core stage was incomparable to the Nascent Soul stage; a Nascent Soul could still attempt reincarnation through possession. But the spirit of a Golden Core cultivator could not store a complete life imprint or memory, making possession futile.

Discarding any pretense of reserve, she swiftly placed her hand on his lower abdomen, where his Dantian lay, and slowly injected her supremely pure True Essence.