To suppress someone purely through the power of divine sense, a significant disparity in cultivation tiers is necessary. For instance, a Nascent Soul expert could directly suppress a Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment cultivator with their divine sense. However, facing a Golden Core expert, outright psychic confinement becomes difficult; at best, one can only manage forceful interference. Consequently, in actual combat, using divine sense to directly bind an opponent is rarely attempted. It is an overly brutish and impractical approach.

Yet, this maneuver employed by the Vanguard Battalion of the Hidden Dragon Army was executed with absolute precision. What immense and boundless power the combined divine sense of three hundred Nascent Soul experts represented? To constrain and suppress a Winged Human female in the Spirit Transformation stage who was utterly spent—it was supremely effortless.

This method of divine sense linkage and fusion was not pioneered by Lei Dong; rather, it originated from that cohort of human mages in the Bright Domain. Because their individual strength was too meager, and breaking through proved agonizingly difficult, those human mages, over their immeasurably long developmental path, gradually researched this peculiar technique of multi-person divine sense linkage. It served to replace the disadvantage of single combat with the aggregated strength of the collective.

It was an idea of surprising ingenuity, but achieving a practical level demanded exceedingly stringent conditions. First, everyone had to cultivate the exact same divine sense technique; otherwise, linking vastly different kinds of divine senses was extremely difficult. Second, it required an extensive period of calibration and practice, demanding unreserved trust among the participants.

These three harsh prerequisites ensured that no human cultivator within the Nine Provinces could successfully research and develop this art. Or perhaps, someone researched it but failed to advance it. Or maybe it was developed but never implemented on a large scale, ultimately dissipating into the currents of history.

The mages of the Bright Domain, due to their inherent limitations, were compelled to devise this method as compensation. It is analogous to a person missing both arms learning to write proficiently with their feet, eventually achieving remarkable skill. For ordinary humans, lacking necessity, they lacked the drive and perseverance to pursue it.

But regardless of its origins, the Hidden Dragon Army perfectly satisfied these conditions. Their powerful military discipline and centuries of mutual tempering had forged them into a single entity, as close as brothers and sisters. Underneath this trust that knew no reservation, they achieved this feat with just over a decade of training.

This distinction made the Hidden Dragon Army an army of an entirely different essence compared to many disparate rabble forces.

Of course, "divine sense linkage" did not imply a simple sum total of the divine sense possessed by three hundred Nascent Soul experts. Instead, it involved fusing and adding only a small portion of each individual’s divine sense. Even so, the linked divine sense of these three hundred Nascent Soul guards was incredibly potent, likely rivaling the divine sense of the legendary Void Refining stage. Even a figure of the caliber of the Netherworld Ghost Emperor would require several breaths to struggle free.

The Winged Human female, already exhausted beyond measure, found escape almost impossible. Once bound by the divine sense, a net woven purely from Netherworld Ghost Qi enveloped the peculiar duo, wrapping them up as if they were zongzi.

Immediately, a small contingent of Hidden Dragon soldiers swarmed forward with utmost speed. Some bound them with specially made ropes, others affixed shackles, while some inserted fine needles into critical acupoints across their bodies to suppress their power and prevent the escape of their primordial spirits. Finally, two female Hidden Dragon soldiers wrenched open their mouths and, amidst angry shouts and curses, ruthlessly forced them to swallow potion designed to dissolve cultivation.

Under this comprehensive series of control measures, the two women were truly apprehended. Forget their current depleted states—even if they had been at full strength, escaping would have been harder than ascending to heaven. The Hidden Dragon Army was, after all, a military organization, having undergone countless drills involving coordinated tactics, executed with professionalism and standardized procedures.

The entire process sounded lengthy, but in reality, from the moment Lei Dong gave the order until the two women were secured, only a few breaths of time had elapsed.

Little You’s wide, watery eyes blinked in stunned disbelief. Grabbing Lei Dong’s arm, she urgently transmitted her thoughts: "Brother, I meant, save them, not capture them. Brother, you didn't capture those two sisters just because they looked good, ~~ShuShu Web"

"Heh, silly girl," Lei Dong transmitted back with a knowing smile. "That Baile is a great general under the command of the Abyss Lord, and the Abyss Lord is now an ally of our army. How can allies start feuding? If we don't seize those two women, should we instead capture Baile?"

"But they could..." Little You responded anxiously, then seemed to grasp something. She let out an 'oh,' looking at Lei Dong with a strange expression, and giggled, "Brother, you are very cunning. Allies, giggle, let's see how Baile handles this."

The Hidden Dragon Army quickly retreated, escorting the two women. The Deputy Commander respectfully saluted Lei Dong: "Reporting to Commander, the mission is complete. Awaiting the next directive, my Lord." For the Hidden Dragon Army, they had only one commander—Lei Dong—and only one Sovereign—also Lei Dong.

Unless Lei Dong ordered them to follow someone else’s command, no one else could issue orders to the Hidden Dragon Army. Otherwise, if just anyone could take command, what would be the point of having a core personal contingent?

Lei Dong was quite satisfied with their swift and decisive action. He could discern that the auras emanating from the two captives were those of rare Spirit Transformation level cultivators. Even in their drained state, they possessed means if they chose to fight desperately. While three hundred Hidden Dragon soldiers would ultimately prevail in a direct assault, the process certainly wouldn't have been this smooth.

Simultaneously, Lei Dong recalled his previous encounter with the Dawn King’s White Armor Army. If the White Armor Army had been as elite and cohesively trained as the Hidden Dragon Army, operating as one entity, Lei Dong and his group would have been in dire straits last time. Though they might not have been utterly destroyed, significant losses would have been unavoidable.

The perfect obedience and outstanding performance of the Hidden Dragon Army caused a slight jolt of surprise in Baile’s heart. However, though Baile outwardly appeared rough, he was a seasoned schemer. Halting his army behind him, he laughed heartily in a candid tone: "Brother on the opposite side, are you Commander Lei Dong of the Hidden Dragon Army from the Nine Provinces? I am Baile, a Great General under the Abyss Lord. I was specifically dispatched by my Lord to welcome our allies."

"It must be the renowned General Baile from the Abyss Domain," Lei Dong’s figure flickered slightly as he moved outside the flying vessel, positioning himself before the Hidden Dragon Army, and bowed from a distance. "I am indeed Lei Dong, Commander of the Hidden Dragon Army. I thank General Baile for traveling millions of miles to greet us. You have worked hard, General."

Baile swept a faint divine sense over Lei Dong, assessing his aura—only a late-stage Nascent Soul? Given his mindset that strength dictates respect, he couldn't help but feel a slight displeasure. This individual so highly valued by his Master had such low cultivation? And he had troubled this General to travel millions of miles to meet him?

However, like all Abyss powerhouses, Baile had clawed his way to this position through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, through betrayal and being betrayed. Despite his inner irritation, he laughed openly: "Commander Lei, you are too kind. Your army’s actions just now were truly swift as lightning, moving as one seamless unit. A good army, a strong army." The implication was clear: the army was good, but the commander...

Lei Dong couldn't fail to catch the drift of his words, but feigning weakness and concealing one's true strength was the very intention of this journey. If he displayed too much might, Lei Dong feared that the bait he had thrown out might not be taken by the Abyss Lord due to excessive caution.

Imagine: a figure barely at the peak of late-stage Nascent Soul, yet achieving a status equal to the Abyss Lord by relying on a few Spirit Transformation wives and brothers, plus a host of loyal subordinates? How intensely envious that would make others...

Anyone with even a modicum of ability would instinctively think: this fellow simply rode a wave of incredible luck. If I were in his shoes, I could certainly do better. It was like an unarmed child running down the street with a gold brick—it would be absurd if it didn't attract covetous eyes. Only by being underestimated would Lei Dong’s opportunities grow. If the Abyss Lord were constantly vigilant, worrying that Lei Dong might usurp his position, wouldn't that be disastrous?

"Since we have met here, General Baile, please lead the way. I can hardly wait to witness the most mysterious and perilous region of the Abyss Domain," Lei Dong said with a beaming smile, then turned to the Deputy Commander with a lewd chuckle: "Men, take these two lasses back to the cabin, clean them up. This Commander has yet to sample a Spirit Transformation level Succubus and a Winged Goddess. Heh heh heh, what good fortune. Upon arriving in the Abyss Domain, we run into such delights."

The Succubus and the Winged Goddess had previously gambled on whether they would meet a savior, only to be captured the moment they appeared. Capture aside, when this man’s lecherous gaze swept over them, the Winged Goddess flared with rage. But under the restraints, neither her spirit nor her mouth could function. She could only fix Lei Dong with a look of utter ferocity, as if wishing to tear a piece of flesh from him.

"Yes, Commander," the Hidden Dragon soldiers replied, preparing to escort the captives.

Just as they moved, Baile immediately objected: "Commander Lei, what is the meaning of this?"

"General Baile? What is your meaning?" Lei Dong looked back at him with feigned bewilderment, acting genuinely curious. "Did you not hear me just say I intend to savor the flavor of these two fresh catches?"

Baile froze, a surge of anger rising in his heart: "Commander Lei, don't play dumb with me. Those two are the prey I targeted; I have been chasing them for three days."

"Hahahaha." Lei Dong burst into roaring laughter, then his expression suddenly turned icy: "Baile, what nonsense are you spewing? These two catches were clearly seized by my Hidden Dragon Army, so they are naturally mine. You admitted you chased them for three days and couldn’t catch them. Now that I have them, am I supposed to hand them over to you?"

... (To be continued)