Lei Dong was a cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage, having undergone transformation after transformation of both body and spirit on his journey. It was precisely this tempering that had, bit by bit, brought him closer to perfection. Properly dressed, he truly resembled a refined young master, nurtured in comfort and overflowing with self-assurance. Coupled with the latent aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator and a subtle air of authority, he exuded an elegance unlike any other.

His appearance naturally drew the collective gaze of the two to three hundred cultivators present. Glances, harboring countless differing intentions, swept over him, and various detection techniques were discreetly cast his way—some tinged with suspicion, others with admiration, aloofness, or outright hostility.

“Hmm? High-tier Qi Refining? No, almost at the peak.” A few so-called ‘Senior’ cultivators in the early Foundation Establishment stage, who had initially regarded Lei Dong’s handsome and dashing attire with a critical eye, nearly scornful, gasped in surprise as they instinctively gauged his aura.

All those present were either rogue cultivators or members of minor families, well-acquainted with low-level cultivators still stuck in the initial stages of Qi Refining even at seventy or eighty years old. Seeing someone as youthful as Lei Dong possessing such formidable cultivation made them instantly perk up, looking thoroughly astonished.

Given Lei Dong’s cultivation level, on the verge of breaking into the “Peak of Qi Refining,” the vast majority present could only perceive his aura as vague and indistinct; most assumed the young man possessed some specialized technique for concealing his presence. When those Foundation Establishment ‘Great Sages’ suddenly revealed the truth, the expressions of the overwhelming majority of cultivators became spectacular—a torrent of enmity, jealousy, and praise washed over them, one after the other.

Old Man Gongsun burst into hearty laughter, “Fellow Daoists, this is my son, Gongsun Dong. Do you still find him worthy of consideration?” “Tsk, tsk, Old Man Gongsun, you’ve gone to such lengths to hide your son away. Are you planning for him to make a spectacular splash at the Myriad Puppets Sect’s Puppet Competition?” A Foundation Establishment cultivator, familiar with him, tested cautiously in jest.

“Making a spectacular splash is perhaps an exaggeration, but I do hold deep expectations for Dong’er; I hope he can break into the ranks of the Myriad Puppets Sect’s core disciples.” Old Man Gongsun was also skilled in performance; his words were humble yet laced with pride and the barely concealed satisfaction of a parent regarding their offspring’s potential. In truth, he had no choice but to exert every effort in this endeavor, for should the truth ever surface, it would bring a devastating calamity upon his entire clan.

Core disciples of the Myriad Puppets Sect? A collective gasp echoed through the surroundings. The Myriad Puppets Sect was already renowned as one of the great powers in the Great Qian Continent. To these rogue cultivators and small families, such an entity was utterly unattainable. Forget core disciples; even an outer disciple of the Myriad Puppets Sect was enough to inspire intense envy and resentment among countless lower-tier cultivators, yet they dared not offend in the slightest. If this Gongsun Dong could truly astonish everyone at the Puppet Competition and squeeze into the core disciple ranks, then the Gongsun family might finally shake off its decline, turn its fortunes around completely, and see its status soar.

Many quick-witted cultivators felt their hearts burn with fervor, staring intently at Lei Dong and Old Man Gongsun. A continuous stream of flattery immediately followed.

Lei Dong, possessing immense patience, interacted with them all neither overly assertive nor overly humble, displaying the demeanor of a young man born of a prestigious lineage, possessing excellent education and refinement. Meanwhile, Old Man Gongsun beamed, his face flushed with excitement amidst the cheers and congratulations, as if a truly joyous event were unfolding. Witnessing the lively scene and Lei Dong’s exceptional performance, Old Man Gongsun couldn't help but feel a pang of sentimentality and regret—how wonderful it would be if this Gongsun Dong were genuinely a descendant of the Gongsun family!

But that was clearly just wishful thinking. This person was a mighty expert in the Nascent Soul stage. If not for a current necessity to interact, he wouldn't have the chance to revere even a single Nascent Soul Senior in his lifetime, as they simply did not operate on the same plane; there could be no intersection.

They often said that among the cultivators of the Great Qian Continent, experts were as numerous as clouds, and Nascent Soul cultivators were countless. However, in reality, the abundance of Nascent Soul cultivators was predicated on the vast territory of the Great Qian Continent, where humanity had colonized nearly every accessible area. Abundant population and rich resources naturally gave rise to a great many strong individuals.

But when measured by the ratio of experts, the Great Qian Continent wouldn't significantly surpass the Kang State where Lei Dong hailed from. The lower-tier cultivators remained just that—lower-tier. There were countless examples of those who lived their entire lives as low-tier cultivators, dying without ever encountering a single Nascent Soul expert.

At this juncture, even the members of the Gongsun family who had initially displayed strong hostility toward Lei Dong turned warm and extended olive branches. They had previously assumed Lei Dong had come to vie for the few scarce resources within the family or perhaps pose a threat to their standing. But now they understood; his true target was the core discipleship of the Myriad Puppets Sect. This meant he possessed the capability and confidence; even if he failed to become a core disciple, being an ordinary disciple, or even an outer one, was far superior to languishing in a small family clan.

A veritable rising star, he instantly became a hot commodity. Even Old Man Gongsun’s two married daughters, still possessing considerable charm, hurried over to cozy up to Lei Dong, calling him "younger brother" repeatedly, eagerly introducing girls from their husband’s families. Setting aside whether this sudden 'brother' could indeed enter the core disciple ranks of the Myriad Puppets Sect, he was currently at the high-tier of Qi Refining, nearing the peak. With a little effort and some luck, given his age, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage was merely a matter of time. Such a capable individual—never mind a blood-related brother, even if he weren't, they would desperately seek to align with him.

This was the benefit bestowed by strength and potential. If Lei Dong were not an imposter but truly Old Man Gongsun’s illegitimate son, one possessing poor aptitude and an ugly appearance, today’s ancestral recognition ceremony would likely have been the most miserable day of his life.

Old Man Gongsun’s other three sons—two of whom were already elderly, and the last a robust man in his forties—also approached warmly to welcome Lei Dong. The first two were already in the early Foundation Establishment stage, while the middle-aged man displayed a cultivation level similar to Lei Dong’s projected strength: both seemingly high-tier Qi Refining. Yet, they all addressed him as 'younger brother' and repeatedly patted their chests, assuring him they would never shirk any request for help.

The old are wise, and having survived long in this cruel world of cultivation, none of them were simple characters. However, Lei Dong paid them no mind; in the face of absolute strength, all schemes and trickery were mere vapor. Furthermore, when it came to longevity and surviving longer, Lei Dong surpassed them all.

Those two 'brothers' with streaks of gray in their hair appeared to be nearing old age, but to Lei Dong, they were still little more than juniors in terms of life experience.

Old Man Gongsun had three sons and two daughters, all possessing decent aptitude. His two daughters had married well into cultivation families of comparable standing. However, Lei Dong refused to believe that these were the entirety of Old Man Gongsun’s offspring. Even when both parents possessed spirit roots, the chance of their children inheriting them was less than two or three in ten. Clearly, only children with spirit roots, capable of cultivation, would be acknowledged by Old Man Gongsun and brought into the open. Those born without spiritual roots were labeled failures, hastily married off or made to settle down early. Unless they managed to produce offspring with spirit roots, they would never regain significance or status, forced instead to live obscure, unremarkable lives, largely devoid of freedom. In many ways, their fate was more miserable than that of commoner families, primarily involving a spiritual anguish that led to lifelong melancholy until death.

Of course, Lei Dong paid little attention to this matter; this practice was not unique to the Gongsun family. Across the vast world, virtually all cultivation families maintained this method of succession, with hardly any exceptions.

“Fourth Uncle~” A delicate, girlish voice sounded beside Lei Dong.

Lei Dong turned his head and saw the young girl he had observed a month prior while watching the puppet contest from above, named Gongsun Qing. She was exquisitely beautiful and delicate, yet her eyes held a sharp intelligence, marking her as a clever child. Seeing her, Lei Dong smiled, “You must be Second Brother’s cherished daughter, Gongsun Qing? Indeed, you are as pretty and lovable as Father said.” Gongsun Qing was not the eldest among her generation of disciples; in fact, she was quite young. But her innate talent had shown itself early, particularly in the art of mechanical puppetry, where she had achieved some renown. Before Lei Dong’s arrival, she had been the hope of the Gongsun family—not necessarily to become a core disciple, but simply a regular one would have sufficed. Of course, this so-called outstanding aptitude was relative only to these minor families and rogue cultivators.

Among the younger disciples of any powerful sect, such talent would only rank in the middle to lower tiers. Compared to his wife, Ding Wanyan, or the exceptionally gifted and talented marvels like Dongfang Fui and Tantai Bingyun, she fell far short. Naturally, the reason those ladies possessed such excellent and potent cultivation at a young age was partly due to their natural aptitude, partly due to the sects pouring resources into their training, and partly due to their individual opportunities. To mature into supreme powerhouses, many elements were indispensable.

“Fourth Uncle, please just call me Qing’er. Fourth Uncle, you are so young! I heard someone say you are already nearly at the Peak of Qi Refining. Please teach me how you cultivate; I want to reach High-tier Qi Refining quickly too.” Gongsun Qing was very affectionate toward Lei Dong, clinging to his sleeve coquettishly.

“There is no other way; only through diligent cultivation can one achieve success,” Lei Dong replied with a faint smile, his bearing as a strong practitioner unintentionally radiating outward, carrying a subtle majesty.