In the face of absolute strength, there is often no need for tricks or elaborate schemes; thus, Lei Dong issued his instructions with a casual detachment. It sounded less like an order to consume the Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Worms and more like the dispensing of a miraculous elixir. He certainly wasn't worried about refusal, for the old man Gongsun, being astute and worldly, would undoubtedly grasp the terrifying fate awaiting him should he refuse the offering.

Indeed, Old Man Gongsun was a man of vast experience. Upon hearing the name Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Worm, though his face turned ashen with terror and profound dread, he gritted his teeth, accepted the wax pill without a word of protest, and swallowed it instantly. He felt the pill dissolve the moment it touched his tongue, followed by a sensation akin to a slender worm burrowing into his lungs, finally lodging deep within the Divine Soul hidden in his Purple Mansion, burrowing in stealthily.

Such a worm, implanted within the Divine Soul, could cause even a Nascent Soul stage powerhouse to turn pale with shock, let alone a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. His willingness to swallow the creature demonstrated a complete acceptance of being at Lei Dong's disposal; otherwise, a fate worse than death awaited him.

Facing a magnificent entity of the Nascent Soul stage, Old Man Gongsun couldn't muster even the faintest thought of resistance. For some rogue cultivators and mortals, the Myriad Flower Valley might seem like an imposing immortal cultivation family. But in the eyes of a Nascent Soul cultivator, it was nothing more than a tiny ant, capable of being crushed with a single finger. Furthermore, this mysterious visitor, despite his outwardly polite demeanor, clearly allowed no room for refusal.

Lei Dong was quite satisfied with his good sense, which saved him considerable effort. He tossed over a storage ring: "Here are one thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, along with various elixirs and materials valued at several million Spirit Stones. I won't give you any supreme-grade Spirit Stones, lest they bring disaster upon your clan."

Instantly, the last vestiges of resentment in Old Man Gongsun's heart vanished. This senior was truly a Nascent Soul elder, showing generosity beyond imagination. Never mind that his family had long since declined; even if it hadn't, this sum was astronomical wealth. Beaming with joy, he gratefully accepted the storage ring, bowing and scraping repeatedly, "Senior, please command me. What must this junior do?"

"My name is Gongsun Dong, I am twenty-five years old, and I am your illegitimate son born from a brief liaison with a mortal woman outside. In my youth, my spiritual root aptitude was found to be exceptional. To make a stunning debut at the Myriad Puppet Sect's Puppet Competition, I have been secretly raised as your weapon. Now the time is ripe; as the competition approaches, I am being acknowledged and brought into the clan. Because you feel guilt toward this child, you shower me with exceptional favor."

Lei Dong recited the scenario he had already conceived.

Old Man Gongsun trembled in fear, "Pr-Pre-Senior, this... this private... I wouldn't dare."

"If I have no issue, what problem could you possibly have?" Lei Dong raised an eyebrow slightly, revealing a hint of majesty. "This matter is settled. For the sake of the greater plan, why quibble over minor details? Remember this: to avoid any flaws, you must maintain the stern facade of a father, both in public and in private."

"Yes, yes, Senior. This junior would never dare jeopardize Senior's grand plan." Although the ancestor of the Myriad Flower Valley originated from the Myriad Puppet Sect, the gradual decline of his family meant Old Man Gongsun felt little actual allegiance to the Myriad Puppet Sect. Whatever machinations Lei Dong wished to employ against the sect, or whatever he sought to gain from it, was none of Old Man Gongsun's concern. Of course, being cunning with age, he added, "Senior, this junior will personally arrange the finer details of this story—such as my mother's background and current whereabouts, how we met, where you have resided all these years, and what cultivation techniques you have studied. Senior need not worry about these matters; for the prosperity of my family, this junior will exert every effort."

"Excellent. I entrust all matters to Father." Lei Dong's expression shifted instantly, his aura changing as he slowly reined in his exposed cultivation to resemble the peak of the Qi Refining stage, his face adopting an expression of deep respect toward Old Man Gongsun. "If Father has no further commands, Dong'er will take his leave now. In one month, I ask Father to welcome Dong'er home, allow me to familiarize myself with the family, pay respects to the ancestors, and announce my presence to our friends and relatives." Lei Dong employed the Heavenly Cycle Breath Concealment Art, an ancient technique whose origins were lost to time. It possessed incredible utility and power; even cultivators several stages higher would struggle to discern Lei Dong’s true cultivation easily. Back then, Tantai Bingyun had used this very art to successfully deceive Nascent Soul cultivators while at the peak of Foundation Establishment.

With Lei Dong’s current strength and profound Divine Sense, at least mid-stage and early-stage Soul Transformation cultivators would find it difficult to see through him. It was unlikely that the formidable Myriad Puppet Sect could easily summon many Soul Transformation experts to observe any event. With sufficient caution, there should be no major mishaps.

Lei Dong’s words signaled that he was officially transitioning into his role.

Given Old Man Gongsun’s astuteness, especially now that the pressure from Lei Dong had eased, he immediately adopted the bearing of an elder, straightening his back and stroking his flowing, white beard. "Dong'er, rest assured. I have been remiss in my duties to your mother and you for too long, and I will certainly dedicate myself fully to this matter. Here is a jade slip I have treasured; it records our clan's art of mechanical puppetry, our internal cultivation methods, the research insights of past ancestors on puppetry, and some initial puppet refining materials. You must study them diligently and strive to achieve remarkable results in the Myriad Puppet Sect's Puppet Competition three years from now, bringing glory to the Gongsun branch of our Myriad Flower Valley and expanding our influence. Remember this, remember this." With that, he flicked out a jade slip, which drifted slowly toward Lei Dong.

After accepting it, Lei Dong bowed once more to Old Man Gongsun. "Dong'er remembers Father's teachings. Since matters here are concluded, Dong'er will take his leave." With that, he transformed into a wisp of black mist, ethereal and gone, leaving not a single trace behind.

Old Man Gongsun stood motionless for a long time, his eyes filled with determination. Serving this mysterious senior seemed fraught with peril; one wrong move could invite the extermination of his entire clan. However, if they succeeded, this would truly be the turning point for the Gongsun family.

With that massive sum of wealth, combined with the clan's existing resources, he might actually have a chance to break through to the Golden Core stage. Once he reached the Golden Core, not only would his lifespan and strength soar, but his descendants for generations to come would also benefit immensely. The older he grew, the more terrifying the sense of life slipping away and his body aging became, making him cling more fiercely to survival. Having such an opportunity, he naturally had to seize it with both hands. Moreover, he possessed no other options or retreat paths.

Once his resolve was firm, he immediately set about personally arranging and overseeing all the necessary arrangements.

Old Man Gongsun did not realize that Lei Dong was exceptionally cautious. After monitoring the old man diligently for three full days and confirming that he was indeed putting his all into the task, Lei Dong quietly vanished, finding a secluded spot to delve into the Gongsun family's puppetry arts. Lei Dong was by no means unfamiliar with puppetry now; although the Mechanical Sect of Kang Prefecture was not powerful, it possessed unique expertise in puppet refining.

However, the knowledge embedded within the art of mechanical puppetry was as vast as the sea. Even though Lei Dong was now a Nascent Soul cultivator possessing profound comprehension and prodigious memory, mastering it was still not entirely effortless. Moreover, the puppetry arts of the Gongsun family and the Mechanical Sect, while both falling under the umbrella of 'puppetry,' still held significant differences, each possessing its own subtle ingenuity.

Lei Dong spent several days rapidly reviewing and memorizing the knowledge of the Gongsun family's introductory puppetry techniques, engraving them deeply into his mind. Only then did he begin, with genuine interest, to attempt crafting his very first puppet. The art of mechanics was not something mastered through theory alone; even if one knew the knowledge by heart, proficiency would remain limited without constant, hands-on experimentation.

Ultimately, learning puppetry required refining puppets suited to one's own capabilities. Two years of familiarization with puppetry arts had left Lei Dong intensely eager. After taking out the materials from the storage ring given by Old Man Gongsun and sorting them systematically, he began continuously modifying the initial puppet blueprints forming in his mind, adapting them based on the available materials.

Lei Dong, in his previous life, was an Earthling. Earth's technological prowess at that time was not insignificant, and it offered limitless information and space for imagination. In essence, mechanical puppets were no different from robots on Earth. Among robots, the ones that left the deepest impression on Lei Dong, and which he admired most, were undoubtedly the Transformers. Bumblebee was incredibly cool, the ultimate tool for wooing girls. Lei Dong had coveted that thing for a long time, even spending several hundred yuan to buy a transforming Bumblebee model and investing time to thoroughly understand the transformation process between car and robot form.

Now, presented with this opportunity, he was determined to fulfill a dream from his youth. Lei Dong still couldn't fully grasp the mechanism behind his transmigration. But one thing he knew clearly: the higher his cultivation ascended, the clearer and more profound the memories latent in his soul became. Even complex model schematics he might not have fully recalled in his past life were now presented before him with crystalline clarity, like watching a high-definition movie, every minute detail perfectly visible.

Of course, armed with his current knowledge base and immensely deep comprehension, the Bumblebee version of the Transformer still had numerous design flaws. He thoughtfully analyzed and revised many sections. Once the preliminary groundwork was complete, Lei Dong began attempting to refine each individual component.

Controlling the flame, managing the heat, and shaping the material—tasks that were extremely difficult for puppetry novices—were remarkably easy in Lei Dong's hands. After all, he was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and the intensity of his Divine Sense was already approaching that of a Soul Transformation expert. His control over his body and Divine Sense, particularly its subtlety, far surpassed that of low-stage cultivators.

One by one, the parts were forged with unparalleled precision under his hands, and a surge of accomplishment immediately welled up within him.