The constant destruction, followed by constant construction. And within these cycles, Lei Dong's body cells, meridians, and blood vessels were continuously strengthened. Soon, he reached a critical juncture, yet the physical reinforcement showed no sign of halting. Bit by bit, he was being pushed towards the absolute peak of his limits.

Even before falling unconscious, consuming the Chaos Golden Lotus had propelled Lei Dong’s cultivation to the peak of the Nascent Soul Initial Stage, just a hair's breadth away from the Middle Stage. It was precisely this thin margin that often trapped a cultivator for a lifetime; breaking through it was immensely difficult, perhaps even harder than advancing from the Nascent Soul Initial Stage to its peak. Previously, with ample spiritual energy and diligent practice, progression to that level was merely a matter of time. But to breach the limit and evolve to an entirely new tier required more than just time.

Innate talent, fortuitous encounters, perseverance, and even sheer luck could not be avoided. Lei Dong’s aptitude was far from exceptional, making advancement significantly challenging.

And now, Lei Dong was precisely at this bottleneck of breakthrough. If he succeeded, upon waking, he would essentially be in the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. However, the danger he faced was immense. If his body failed to withstand the accumulated potent medicinal effects and the chaotic spiritual energy, his meridians might shatter, and his Qi Sea could be ruptured. If injured to such an extent, the only recourse for Lei Dong would be for his Nascent Soul to escape and seek a new body for possession.

As Lei Dong teetered on the brink, Xie Feng and Xuan She were also facing a critical moment. Although Xie Feng’s injuries had healed eight or nine-tenths after years of conditioning, she still hadn't recovered to her absolute peak. With her formidable combat power, she could gain the upper hand against one Deity Transformation stage puppet alone, but facing two puppets while Xuan She was involved meant both were outmatched. Firstly, Xuan She was penniless, possessing no spiritual treasures or cultivation techniques, relying solely on savage instinct to fight—she was purely a primordial serpent. Secondly, the coordination between the two was lacking. Conversely, the two Deity Transformation stage puppets, perhaps driven by the same power, fought with a sense of unspoken understanding and excellent synergy, growing stronger as the battle progressed, pushing Xie Feng and Xuan She’s combination into a retreat, barely managing to hold on.

Their crisis seemed only to have just begun.

Perhaps because the two bronze puppets could not secure a swift victory, two more figures from the large row of puppet statues erected on the vast plaza were activated by some mysterious force, awakening at incredible speed. With a grating screech, their protective coating cracked and shed, revealing a silver light beneath. The auras of these two puppets surged violently, quickly reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul realm before easily surpassing it, radiating the power of the Deity Transformation Initial Stage. Yet, this was not the final level; the puppets’ auras continued to swell, finally settling at the intensity of a Deity Transformation Middle Stage expert before ceasing their ascent.

The two silver puppets pushed off the ground, instantly flying forward like twin bolts of lightning. Having already sensed their immense power, Xie Feng’s face turned deathly pale. Though she knew this Pluto Hall was no safe place, she never imagined the guardian puppets would be this formidable.

Trapped within the defensive barrier, there was no room to evade or flee. Xie Feng had attempted several times to strike the barrier from within, but only managed to stir up ripples. The defensive barrier appeared incredibly sturdy, almost impervious to the ordinary attacks of a Deity Transformation expert.

At this point, it was too late for Xie Feng to escape. Engaged in a desperate battle, she was completely suppressed by the two bronze puppets. The Pluto Lord was indeed a peerless expert who once invented the Pluto Banner and pioneered a school of magic. His skill in artifact refining was unique; the puppets he crafted not only possessed Deity Transformation strength but also extremely high intelligence, constantly deploying various tactical maneuvers. Such terrifying combat instinct meant even some newly advanced Deity Transformation experts might not be a match for them. Xie Feng’s desperate attempts to break through were all thwarted by the concerted effort of the two bronze puppets.

"Rumble~"

The two silver puppets descended from the sky with unparalleled momentum. Utilizing the force of their dive, they simultaneously launched a punch, aiming squarely for Xie Feng and Xuan She, respectively. The Great Dao is simple; the silver puppets’ martial arts were direct and uncomplicated, yet overwhelmingly dominant, as if a single blow could shatter stars, making evasion impossible.

Bang! Bang! Xie Feng and Xuan She could only muster all their strength to meet these two punches. But the subsequent results differed. Xuan She’s hundred-zhang massive body was sent flying by one punch, slamming violently against the energy shield, causing ripples across the barrier before slowly falling, resembling a dead snake. Although Xie Feng was also at a disadvantage, relying on superior techniques and battle skills, she managed to deflect seven to eight-tenths of the punch’s force. Her body, spanning dozens of zhang when her wings were spread, only drifted backward a few dozen zhang before stabilizing herself with her wings. Nevertheless, a mouthful of scarlet blood still trickled from her phoenix beak.

Having been active for many years, Xie Feng realized at this moment that they were cornered, with little hope of survival. Her clear phoenix eyes fixed upon the unconscious Lei Dong suspended in mid-air for a moment, then she let out a mournful yet high-pitched cry. With a fierce flap of her wings, she stirred up a hurricane. The hurricane, like blades and edges, tore through the air, transforming into countless icy wind blades that shot out wildly towards the four puppets overhead.

The Nether Phoenix Clan were a branch lineage of the true Phoenix, possessing noble and powerful bloodlines. Every Nether Phoenix found comprehending the laws of space twice as effective. Xie Feng was an outstanding member of their kind. When she integrated a wisp of spatial law into her killing move, the wind blades became laced with a fissure of space. Strictly speaking, these could no longer be called wind blades, but rather blades of space.

Spatial fissures are indestructible, and the resulting blades of space were immensely powerful. Xie Feng’s move was clearly a life-or-death strike; even in death, she intended to take a puppet down with her. Unexpectedly, the puppets’ might far exceeded Xie Feng’s expectations.

The two silver puppets flashed forward, blocking the incoming attack. They thrust both arms forward, and from their wrists sprang two bright silver shields, their surfaces coated with a faint, glowing sheen. They allowed the endless blades of space to bombard them like a torrential storm. When the storm ceased, the silver shields were covered in deep scars, yet the four Deity Transformation stage puppets remained completely unharmed.

Xie Feng’s phoenix eyes momentarily froze, and she could only slowly close them in resignation, all her power completely depleted by that last attack. At this moment, she lacked the strength not only to flee but even to resist. The only thing she could do was silently transmit a divine thought to Lei Dong: "Sorry, I dragged you into this."

Her form flickered, instantly transforming from her black phoenix state into a delicate yet stubbornly resolute woman.

As soon as she assumed her human form, one of the silver puppets moved. Its massive body agilely flickered, and its giant fist smashed down mercilessly towards Xie Feng’s delicate head, carrying a wild momentum akin to an overwhelming tide. Such terrifying puppets were certainly beyond the crafting ability of modern individuals.

Just as Xie Feng closed her eyes, preparing to accept this final blow, a faint, dark wisp of wind passed by. Xie Feng felt her body lighten as she was swept away rapidly. Startled, she opened her slender phoenix eyes only to stare in astonishment at the previously unconscious Lei Dong, who was now holding her slender waist and moving at incredible speed with an exceptionally stern expression.

The Ghost Shadow Evasion Technique left an elusive and ethereal trace. Moreover, Lei Dong had not only cultivated the Ghost Shadow Evasion Technique to its zenith but had innovated upon it, integrating a trace of instantaneous teleportation derived from the law of space. This made his Ghost Shadow Evasion Technique akin to a true phantom, almost invisible during its evasion.

Yet, even this was not enough. The four Deity Transformation stage puppets reacted instantly to the movement. Their movements were unflashy but extremely fast, perfectly matching the standard of Deity Transformation experts. Despite Lei Dong's superior movement technique, he could not overcome such a profound difference in level. Within a few breaths, he was overtaken and encircled by the four puppets.

The faint black mist dissipated, and Lei Dong, still cradling Xie Feng, reappeared. His expression, however, was as calm as ever, devoid of any panic. Facing the intensely oppressive auras of the four Deity Transformation puppets, Lei Dong suddenly bowed respectfully and spoke: "Four seniors, this junior and my companion had no intention of disturbing you. We merely stumbled into this Pluto Hall by chance. We implore your magnanimity and ask that you grant us a path to survival. This junior will be eternally grateful."

The held Xie Feng was slightly stunned, never expecting Lei Dong to beg the puppets for mercy. She knew that while puppets usually had a Divine Soul sealed within them, this soul possessed almost no subjective consciousness, only instinct and the directive to obey the master’s commands. As someone knowledgeable, she never considered communicating with these puppets.

To Xie Feng’s utter astonishment, one of the silver puppets spoke in a cold voice: "You intruders disregarded orders and dared to attack the guardians of the Pluto Hall; your offense is unforgivable. However, His Highness, the Pluto Lord, has compassion for the world and offers even the most heinous criminals a glimmer of life. Seeing your attitude is respectful and that you have not initiated violence, if you immediately surrender and await the Pluto Lord’s judgment, this servant will not execute you here and will spare your lives."

Lei Dong’s heart eased slightly; his estimation was correct. Who was the Pluto Lord? Not only was he an entity of supreme power, but also one of ingenious thought and immense creativity. When relying on these puppet guardians to protect the Pluto Hall, how could he not have attempted to enhance their intelligence? Of course, Lei Dong was merely trying his luck; the outcome could hardly be worse.