A chorus of shouts rose up: "Kid, don't let your tongue run away with you; you talk a big game." "Just a pile of clay chickens and pottery dogs, hehe, we've become clay chickens and pottery dogs." Especially the black-robed man leading them, at the Foundation Establishment stage, whose eyes fixed on Lei Dong with chilling venom: "Boy, you must be that recently infamous illegitimate bastard from the Gongsun family, right? I'd like to see just what kind of skill you possess to boast so loudly." Lei Dong merely regarded this as a small diversion in the otherwise monotonous cultivation life. His eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued, "Then tell me, what should I do? Should I immediately kneel down and beg for mercy?"

"You little Gongsun bastard, let me teach you some manners. Respecting the strong is the most basic courtesy. If you are wise enough to kneel and beg, there might be a chance—I’ll only sever four of your tendons. If you remain uncooperative, don't blame me for tearing out your tendons, flaying your skin, and then drawing out a sliver of your Divine Soul to light a Heavenly Lamp." The Foundation Establishment expert hissed maliciously.

"Boss, this kid looks quite tender and delicate. Before we tear out his tendons and flay his skin, might I have the pleasure of enjoying him first?" one of the masked women purred, her voice seductive and brazen. Her eyes swept shamelessly over Lei Dong's body as she let out a series of giggles: "Otherwise, it would truly be a waste of such a fine physique."

"San Niang, what's so great about this pretty boy? They're all flash and no substance, good to look at but useless. Why don't you come to my manor later, Old Hei's place, after this is done? Old Hei will show you what a real man is like," another brawny, heavily built man jested without restraint.

"Hei Jingang, how dare you call out my title? Are you tired of living? See if I don't tear your tendons and flay your skin later," the masked woman scoffed, though her tone lacked any genuine anger. Clearly, having her moniker exposed was no great matter to her. She pulled off her mask in one go, revealing a charmingly foxy face showing the lingering allure of a woman past her prime.

"Hehe, if you, San Niang, would allow me to enjoy you for one night, I guarantee you wouldn't even bear to flay me when the time comes. Hahahaha." Hei Jingang also tore off his mask, dissolving into a fit of unrestrained, lecherous laughter. The surrounding group burst into boisterous laughter.

"Ah? It's... it's Liu San Niang and... and Hei Jingang?" Gongsun Qing was severely startled by the pair, stumbling back two steps. Both were notorious and ill-reputed rogue cultivators within a thousand li, both at the peak of the late stage of Qi Refining. They also had considerable dealings with the Gongsun family's Myriad Flower Valley. Gongsun Qing never imagined they would appear here. Were the others perhaps also acquaintances of the Gongsun family? No wonder they were all masked.

Lei Dong was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, possessing near-photographic memory. After probing them with his Divine Sense earlier, detailed images of these people were already imprinted in his mind. They had also been present six months ago during his 'Ancestral Recognition Ceremony,' ostensibly to offer support.

He was entirely unfazed by this. However, the Foundation Establishment cultivator was utterly unfamiliar to Lei Dong; he certainly had never met him before.

Since the sky was overcast and beating children was pointless, Lei Dong continued to watch their performance with interest. It had been a long time since he had closely observed these lower-tier cultivators, and his state of mind was utterly relaxed. Simultaneously, however, he felt a measure of sympathy for these rogue cultivators. Living long-term under constant oppression and suppression, forced into subservience, their psyches had been twisted by reality, thus triggering their various perversions and madness—seeking avenues to vent by preying on those weaker than themselves, displaying their frenzy. In truth, these rogue cultivators were arguably the most wretched existence in this world.

Carefree demeanor and bearing are often foreign concepts to low-tier cultivators. The brutality of their survival environment leaves no room for a casual heart or an unhurried manner. Conversely, high-tier cultivators, even those who slaughter rampantly in the evil path, once they reach realms like Nascent Soul, invariably develop a unique bearing and style.

However, no matter how much sympathy Lei Dong felt for them, he would not deviate from his principles. It was even less likely that he would expose his identity for their sake and jeopardize his grand plan.

"Enough, Liu San Niang, Hei Jingang, we'll talk later," the Foundation Establishment cultivator said, his voice somewhat hoarse and grim. "You two go subdue that boy. Dispose of him however you wish, but ultimately, you must cripple his Dantian while keeping him alive." Hearing the Foundation Establishment expert's words, Luo Hongqing's heart surged with excitement. This malicious plan was his own idea: it would satisfy his mother's wish to keep Gongsun Dong alive while simultaneously rendering him a complete cripple. He could finally let him taste what it meant to be looked down upon, what humiliation was, what cold indifference felt like. The thought that this detestable Gongsun Dong would live the rest of his life steeped in endless disgrace filled Luo Hongqing with a sense of exhilarating satisfaction. Afterward, he would bring his conquered cousin and leverage his status as a disciple of the Myriad Puppet Sect to torment him whenever the mood struck. Strength was the foundation. While Liu San Niang and Hei Jingang dared to banter with each other, they held deep reverence for the Foundation Establishment expert, obeying him respectfully without the slightest hint of insubordination. This was the deterrent power of a high-tier cultivator's strength, the authority it unconsciously amassed, even if this group had no formal hierarchy before this operation.

"Liu San Niang, Hei Jingang, aren't you afraid of my grandfather's revenge? My grandfather is a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment. Crushing you would be like crushing an ant," Gongsun Qing stammered. Though terrified, she stepped forward and positioned herself in front of Lei Dong, her face pale but her voice sharp and high-pitched.

The smiles on the two faces froze as they recalled that 'old thief Gongsun' at the peak of Foundation Establishment—indeed, a terrifying figure.

If he truly set his sights on revenge, they couldn't possibly withstand it. Hesitantly, they spoke up, "Boss, I think we shouldn't leave them alive. After it’s done, a single sword strike will suffice. Otherwise, if that old thief Gongsun goes berserk, we'll be in deep trouble."

"Hmph, does my decision allow for your rebuttal? However, don't worry. Since you've exposed your identities, I will arrange for you to flee far away once this is over. You are rogue cultivators, rootless and unburdened; there are plenty of places to hide in our vast Qianzhou Continent," the black-robed Foundation Establishment expert stated grimly. "Hurry up and act! I will personally deal with this kid's puppets."

"Go!" Liu San Niang and Hei Jingang exchanged a glance, then hesitated no longer. One wielded a set of Willow Leaf Flying Daggers as her artifact, the other gripped a massive steel whip. They charged towards Lei Dong, one coming from the front and the other from the rear.

Luo Hongqing became excited again, his pupils contracting, inwardly chanting, It's starting, it's starting. This bastard surnamed Gongsun was finally about to meet his tragic end. Humph, following the script, once they captured his cousin and prepared to humiliate her endlessly, he would step in to heroically save the beauty, then pretend he couldn't resist the erosion of desire, helplessly engaging in intimacy with his cousin, and finally winning the beauty. And that so-called Fourth Uncle would become a thorough villain.

"Fourth Uncle, I'll hold them off! Your flying artifact is fast, hurry back and call for reinforcements," Gongsun Qing said, her face turning ashen. She realized her attempt to intimidate them with her grandfather's name was utterly naive. She quickly began chanting an incantation, preparing to summon her pink puppet. However, at this most critical moment, she heard a soft sigh near her ear, and a gentle force enveloped her, pulling her swiftly backward. For some unknown reason, her mind swam, and everything went blank before she passed out entirely.

Lei Dong glanced at Liu San Niang and Hei Jingang with a hint of pity. With a soft sigh, he slowly shook his head: "It’s pitiful that you cultivated so hard for decades, only for it all to come to nothing. But you needn't feel sad; this is the common fate for most cultivators who step onto the cultivation path. Golden Core, Nascent Soul, or even Spirit Transformation, none can escape destiny." "What are you saying? I don't understand," Liu San Niang countered, bewildered.

"Don't listen to what he says, he's just putting on airs of profundity," Hei Jingang cursed angrily, raising his massive whip and bringing it down viciously towards Lei Dong's head, displaying a certain expert's momentum.

"Foolish." Lei Dong kept one hand behind his back and casually extended a single finger to tap forward.

The giant whip, weighing several thousand jin and studded with wolf-tooth barbs, approached with fierce momentum. Yet, upon contact with the tip of Lei Dong's finger, everything abruptly stopped. Do not underestimate Hei Jingang's strike; the whip weighing thousands of jin, coupled with the force of the impact, resulted in destructive power easily equivalent to ten thousand jin. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator taking this blow without any defense would likely be mashed into pulp.

But this Gongsun fellow intercepted the force of ten thousand jin effortlessly with merely a single finger. What in the world was this? Apart from the unconscious Gongsun Qing, everyone present was momentarily stunned. Hei Jingang’s strike could shatter a massive boulder. A single finger? And there seemed to be no surge of true essence emanating from it? What kind of situation was this?

Simultaneously, Liu San Niang's seven or eight Willow Leaf Flying Daggers whistled forward, slicing toward Lei Dong from different angles. Lei Dong maintained his posture, simply opening his mouth to inhale and then exhale. A gale rushed outward from him in all directions. The Willow Leaf Flying Daggers indeed turned into mere willow leaves, swept up chaotically by the wind and sent flying back, clanging as they embedded themselves, sparks flying, deep into the surrounding rocks, leaving not even the hilts visible.

Still hanging mid-air, Hei Jingang, in the act of bringing his whip down, froze. His dark, ferocious expression stiffened, sweat beading on his forehead and dripping down his cheeks.

"Alas!"

Lei Dong sighed softly again, shaking his head. "Why must this be necessary?"