It was none other than Luo Hongqing, the cousin from the Gongsun family who had remained silent. This young man was the son of the Gongsun Elder’s second daughter, a member of the powerful Luo family from a nearby region. The Luo family’s strength far surpassed that of the Gongsun family; they were not in the same league. The ancestor of their clan proudly possessed the cultivation base of the Golden Core stage.

When the Gongsun Elder married his second daughter to a collateral branch of the Luo family, it was not without the aspiration of climbing to a higher status. However, the Luo family held high aspirations themselves, and the Luo descendant she married held a low standing within his own clan, meaning he could offer little aid to the Gongsun family. Consequently, the Gongsun Elder felt a sense of having tried to steal a chicken only to lose the bait.

Fortunately, Luo Hongqing was born with decent aptitude. Yet, in the grand, populous Luo family, such talent only placed him in the middle tier; achieving prominence there seemed extremely difficult. Ultimately, the family of three devised a plan: they would place Luo Hongqing with the Gongsun family to grow up, keeping him company with Gongsun Qing, with the goal of solidifying their bond through marriage—a cousin taking his cousin as a bride.

It must be known that Gongsun Qing was deeply cherished by the Gongsun Elder and was the focus of his hopes. She had been taught the clan’s secret puppet artistry, traditionally passed down only to males, from childhood. This action clearly indicated the Elder intended to groom Gongsun Qing as his successor, and in the future, he would likely only accept a son-in-law who married into the family, not allow her to marry out.

If he could unite with Gongsun Qing, Luo Hongqing’s fortunes would rise dramatically. If he could also swindle the Gongsun family’s secret arts, Luo Hongqing’s status upon returning to the Luo family would skyrocket; at the very least, he could secure a position as an Elder. For meritorious disciples, the rewards from any clan were always exceptionally generous. Otherwise, who in the clan would willingly exert themselves for the family’s benefit?

Thus, Luo Hongqing, harboring a multitude of objectives, had essentially grown up within the Gongsun family since childhood. But because he was a maternal grandson rather than a direct grandson, although the Gongsun Elder taught him the puppet arts, they were ultimately not the Gongsun family’s core, secret techniques. Fortunately, Luo Hongqing was reasonably intelligent; relying on the rather common puppet techniques, he managed to emerge as a leading figure among the younger generation, second only to Gongsun Qing.

Because of this, in the Puppet Competition three years later, the Gongsun Elder had long intended to have his grandson change his name to Gongsun Hongqing and participate in the Ten Thousand Puppets Gate competition for one of the two available spots. However, this matter had not yet been settled. Lei Dong forcefully cut in, blocking Luo Hongqing’s path.

Among the hundreds and thousands of cultivator families affiliated with the Ten Thousand Puppets Gate, the Gongsun family had declined to a certain degree, affording them only a meager two recommendation slots. Gongsun Qing claimed one, and this newly emerged Gongsun Dong claimed the other. By any calculation, Luo Hongqing felt he stood no chance. Moreover, Luo Hongqing had already mentally claimed Gongsun Qing as his intended wife, and seeing his "bride" so intimate with that effeminate Fourth Uncle made him feel utterly humiliated. Suddenly, he saw himself as a tragic figure. In an instant, jealousy and negative emotions flooded his mind. Jealousy is the original sin, often the genesis of all disputes.

Lei Dong, however, was entirely unaware of this, but even if he knew, he would merely offer a light chuckle and give it no thought. Let alone Luo Hongqing, even the entire Luo family was, in Lei Dong’s eyes, nothing more than an ant nest, something easily crushed underfoot. Only strength was the foundation for standing firm in this world.

That day, Lei Dong spent it amidst congratulations and attempts at closeness, also taking the time to pay respects to the Gongsun family ancestors, officially integrating himself into their lineage. Even for him, a Nascent Soul stage powerhouse, these elaborate rituals were somewhat taxing.

It was on this very day that Lei Dong began residing in the Gongsun family under the identity of Gongsun Dong.

Time slipped by quickly, and half a year spun past in a flash. Since entering the Gongsun family, Lei Dong had mostly kept a low profile, dedicating his time to studying the puppet arts of the Gongsun family and the Mechanism Sect. With Lei Dong’s memory and comprehension, once focused, his growth in puppet refinement was meteoric. This laid a solid foundation for him to potentially repair Divine Transformation stage puppets in the future. This mere half-year span was but a fleeting moment for someone at Lei Dong’s level.

But for some, patience had already worn thin. Luo Hongqing, who had gathered a group of rogue cultivators and members of smaller families through appeals to shared interests and obligations, still could not find an opportunity to catch Lei Dong outside and alone. The time left before the Puppet Competition was only two and a half years, and allowing for at least half a year of travel time beforehand, he had, at most, two years left. Furthermore, perhaps because that Gongsun Dong had spoken ill of him, Gongsun Qing, who used to often seek him out for banter, hadn't contacted him once in the last six months. It was all because of him; his appearance had turned Luo Hongqing into a complete tragedy.

If Lei Dong were aware, he would feel quite wronged. He had merely told Gongsun Qing to focus diligently on her cultivation; he certainly hadn't spoken ill of Luo Hongqing. Moreover, Lei Dong paid no mind to such petty matters. Gongsun Qing, or the Gongsun family, were merely fleeting clouds to him; after this event, they would have no further intersection.

Of course, he had casually slipped her some Qi Refining stage pills. He supposed Gongsun Qing was busy striving to reach the peak of the late Qi Refining stage.

Yet, within this brief span of half a year, Lei Dong’s reputation spread rapidly. Especially with the Puppet Competition drawing near, spies from various major families were already active, gathering all sorts of intelligence. Lei Dong’s outstanding performances were naturally uncovered by these spies and reported back to their masters.

Although Gongsun Dong hadn't seemingly advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage yet, posing no immediate threat to core disciple competition, he was, after all, at the peak of late Qi Refining. Who knew if he might advance within the next two years? Moreover, his mastery of puppet arts seemed considerable; perhaps he could genuinely pose a threat to core disciples in the future.

Consequently, Lei Dong’s renown spread in a short time to dozens of major families, and then to hundreds, placing him on a threat assessment list. In this way, it perfectly served Lei Dong's intention, cementing his position as the Gongsun family's secret weapon. When the competition arrived, others' attention would not be solely focused on Lei Dong's identity and origins. The previous widespread display had been for precisely this purpose.

Several more days passed. Inside a secluded side room of a courtyard within the Gongsun family residence, Luo Hongqing, looking somewhat haggard, gnashed his teeth while speaking to Gongsun Rong, the Gongsun Elder’s second daughter, "Mother, are you truly going to let that bastard of unknown origin steal my son's opportunity?"

"Silence," Gongsun Rong, the middle-aged woman whose allure had not faded, snapped, her eyebrows raised in anger. "He is your Fourth Uncle, and his origins are clear—he is your maternal grandfather’s biological son."

"But, Mother, the sudden appearance of my Fourth Uncle has snatched away the competition spot that rightfully belonged to your son." Luo Hongqing seethed with shame and fury. "As his mother, how can you turn against your own kin? Do you truly wish to see your son achieve nothing in this life and suffer endless humiliation? Mother, have you forgotten how the direct disciples in the Luo family view your son and me?"

"This..." Gongsun Rong seemed to recall some unpleasant experiences, her brow furrowing deeply as she hesitated. "Qing'er, though your Fourth Uncle has taken your spot, he is still your Fourth Uncle. Furthermore, your Fourth Uncle is undeniably more suited to participate in the Puppet Competition. With your current skill level, simply making it into the outer sect would be a miracle."

"Mom, the only reason my Fourth Uncle’s cultivation and puppet mastery are superior to mine is due to Grandfather’s favoritism. Think about it, if Grandfather hadn't privately subsidized him with massive amounts of spirit stones and elixirs, could he have cultivated so quickly? And if he hadn't received the true teachings of the Gongsun family puppet arts from Grandfather, could his skills be so profound?" Luo Hongqing complained resentfully. "Mom, you know my aptitude isn't poor; all I lack are some spirit stones and pills, and the Gongsun family's secret puppet arts that Grandfather absolutely refuses to teach me. There are still two and a half years until the Puppet Competition. If Grandfather would wholeheartedly support me, I dare not claim a core disciple spot, but securing a common disciple position is achievable."

Gongsun Rong did not harbor much doubt about her son’s assurances, but lingering concerns remained. "However, because our Gongsun family has performed poorly for several consecutive sessions, we only have two spots now. Your grandfather absolutely will not sacrifice either your Fourth Uncle or your cousin to accommodate you."

"Mom, it's because in Grandfather's eyes, I am always an outsider, bearing the surname Luo, not Gongsun." Luo Hongqing ground out, his eyes dark with malice. "But I carry your bloodline, Mother, and Grandfather's bloodline as well! How can he be so partial? Mother, I do not want to return to the Luo family in disgrace to suffer that bullying and indignity again. As long as I can become a disciple of the Ten Thousand Puppets Gate, I will finally hold my head high. Those direct disciples in the Luo family won't even dare to breathe loudly in front of me. Furthermore, when the Luo Family Head sees you again, he will surely greet you with fawning deference."

As if captivated by the scenes her son painted, Gongsun Rong began to lean toward his side, whispering, "Then what shall we do? However, I declare beforehand: this matter absolutely cannot endanger your Fourth Uncle's life—only injure him severely enough that he cannot recover for two or three years."

"Mother, this matter is for you to decide," Luo Hongqing said with an appearance of deference, though a sinister glint flashed fleetingly beneath his lowered gaze. He continued coaxing, "Mother, once your son becomes a disciple of the Ten Thousand Puppets Gate, your suffering will end."

Gongsun Rong's heart warmed by his words, and mother and son immediately began plotting their course of action.

Several days later, Lei Dong, who was deep in seclusion meticulously studying the mechanism puppet arts, heard Gongsun Qing calling frantically from outside: "Fourth Uncle, Fourth Uncle, I’m here! Hurry and open the door." He slowly opened his eyes, and the fierce light within them immediately subsided immeasurably.

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