Ruthless and Merciless

Bang, bang, bang! The Profound Yin Shield shuddered violently, ripples surging and warping across its surface.

The result of the master and his two servants joining forces was that, in just seven or eight breaths, Zhou Minghua's Profound Yin Shield was viciously punctured and burst apart. Its scattered energy whipped up gusts of cold wind. The two half-transparent Ghost Soldiers circling him looked so hideous that Zhou Minghua could almost feel a chill creeping up his neck. His despairing face twisted with pain and regret. Why had he provoked Lei Dong? Why had he signed a Life and Death Contract? Why was Lei Dong so ruthless? He couldn't accept it. He couldn't accept it. His aptitude was better than Lei Dong's...

Amid the Bloodthirsty Ghost Soldier's ghastly Ghost Howl, a huge head tumbled through the air, rolling toward the sky. The two Ghost Soldiers let out excited, shrill cries, then turned into clouds of mist and swept up Zhou Minghua's corpse along with his scattered, ethereal Living Soul.

Squeak, squeak—crackle, crackle. The two Ghost Soldiers greedily devoured the flesh and Living Soul. A cultivator at the fifth level of the Qi Refining Stage, after undergoing Marrow Cleansing and Hair Washing several times, was already worlds apart from an ordinary person or beast. This was nourishing fare for the Ghost Soldiers. Even without Lei Dong's order, their instincts would drive them to devour their enemy's flesh and Living Soul after a battle.

Some of the onlookers below the arena went pale. Zhou Minghua had spent the final seven or eight breaths of his life pleading and begging for mercy, and the Living Soul being devoured seemed to still bear the shape of his anguish. One moment, he had been a Personal Disciple of lofty status; the next, he had become a delicious meal in the belly of monsters. A chill crept through everyone as they marveled at how unpredictable the world could be. Zhou Minghua's few lackeys, in particular, trembled uncontrollably and ground their teeth as they looked at Lei Dong, standing cold-eyed and proud with his hands behind his back, a Flying Sword beneath his feet. The disdainful looks they had given him before the match had turned to fear.

The Ghost Soldiers devoured him quickly. In just a few dozen breaths, the flesh and bones had been completely digested. All that remained was a set of clothes, a Cold Yin Flying Sword, and a Storage Belt. Lei Dong unceremoniously collected the Flying Sword and Storage Belt. He had read about life-and-death duels in the sect rules. The victor had the right to claim everything belonging to the loser—not just their worldly possessions, but even their status as a Personal Disciple.

In a sense, as long as the Ancestor did not object, Lei Dong was now the new Personal Disciple. Of course, being a Personal Disciple meant receiving abundant resources, but it also meant attracting plenty of envy. If someone coveted his position and thought himself stronger, he might challenge him to a life-and-death duel. Lei Dong had the right to refuse, but if he repeatedly turned down such challenges from ordinary disciples, his reputation would suffer, and the Ancestor might take offense.

In truth, this was also a way to spur and motivate them. A Personal Disciple with abundant resources had to advance faster and grow stronger than ordinary disciples. Otherwise, the law of the survival of the fittest would inevitably take its course. That was why Zhou Minghua, after becoming a Personal Disciple, had reacted so fiercely when people mocked him for being useless.

Certainly, Personal Disciples enjoyed many advantages, but the pressure on them was all the greater.

"Thirteenth round, second match on Arena No. 1: Zhou Minghua versus Lei Dong. Lei Dong wins and earns one point." The Foundation Establishment Referee seemed accustomed to such scenes. He patiently waited for the Ghost Soldiers to finish devouring Zhou Minghua before announcing the result.

Only then did Lei Dong recall the two Ghost Soldiers, now crimson from devouring flesh, and continue strolling slowly off the arena.

"Senior Brother Lei! Senior Brother Lei!" The men and women of his cohort who had rarely spoken to him now crowded around, respectfully addressing him as Senior Brother. Many more simply watched from a distance, looking at Lei Dong with awe.

Lei Dong gave a slight nod and walked over to Chen Ge and Wei Hua. The two looked at him with unconcealed delight. Though they had known he was no ordinary cultivator, they were still deeply moved when he actually killed Zhou Minghua.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lei," Chen Ge said, suddenly turning solemn and addressing him as Senior Brother.

"Senior Brother Chen, must you really stand on ceremony with me?" Lei Dong shook his head and laughed. To be honest, Zhou Minghua had not been weak. If Chen Ge and Wei Hua hadn't schemed earlier and tricked him into wasting most of his true energy and one of his shields, Lei Dong would have had a very difficult fight. He might even have had to reveal his third Ghost Soldier. He was quite grateful to the two of them. From the beginning, they had set aside some of their limited Spirit Stones for him. It had clearly been an investment, but it still showed their goodwill and courage. Even a hero needed a helping hand; those who stood alone were easiest to bully.

"I knew it," Wei Hua said, looking relieved. "Senior Brother Lei isn't the kind of man who turns his back on people once he gets ahead."

Lei Dong looked relaxed on the surface, but inside he was extremely nervous. After all, he had killed the Ancestor's Personal Disciple in front of everyone. Who knew how the Ancestor would react? As the saying went, Heaven's will was unfathomable. How could anyone easily fathom the mind of someone on the Golden Core Path?

Just as he was fretting, the Ghost Servant's faint voice reached his ear. "Lei, you're getting more and more ruthless."

Those few words made every hair on Lei Dong's body stand on end. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Judging by the Ghost Servant's strength, he had to be a Foundation Establishment cultivator. In other words, the Ghost Servant wouldn't even need the Ancestor to act; a flick of his finger would be enough to scatter Lei Dong's soul. Forcing down his terror, Lei Dong turned around, his face pale, and gazed fearfully at the Ghost Servant hovering in midair.

"Now you know how to be afraid? You've got quite some nerve. Come with me to pay your respects to the Ancestor tomorrow morning." After the Ghost Servant delivered this message, he drifted away, leaving Lei Dong drenched in sweat.

Chen Ge and Wei Hua noticed something was wrong with Lei Dong. They glanced at the Ghost Servant flying away, their expressions turning grave.

"Don't worry. It probably isn't bad news." Lei Dong let out a breath and patted them on the shoulders. "I'll go back and get some rest. I have to pay my respects to the Ancestor tomorrow."

After saying goodbye, Lei Dong returned to his quarters, swallowed a Qi Condensing Pill, and meditated until his true energy was fully restored. Only then did he calmly go over everything that had happened. He thought tomorrow's audience with the Ancestor probably wouldn't be bad news, but how could he not feel uneasy before he knew the outcome?

He spent the night awake, reading all sorts of miscellaneous books until dawn. Then he bathed, burned incense, and composed himself before heading to the entrance of the Ancestor's residence to have someone inform the Ghost Servant.

Before long, the Ghost Servant came out and led Lei Dong to the Side Hall. He didn't say a word to him the entire way, making Lei Dong even more uneasy.

After Lei Dong had been left waiting in the Side Hall for nearly half a day, word finally came that he could pay his respects to the Ancestor. He immediately drew a deep breath and steeled himself, then went straight into the main hall. He glimpsed Myriad Ghost Ancestor, dressed in a black robe, seated at the head of the hall. Daring not to be the least bit negligent, Lei Dong hurried forward and bowed solemnly. "This disciple Lei Dong pays his respects to the Ancestor. May you ascend to the Indestructible Nascent Soul Realm soon, enjoy a lifespan as long as Heaven's, and live forever, imperishable."

"Rise." Myriad Ghost Ancestor waved a hand, his voice even. Lei Dong couldn't tell whether he was pleased or displeased.

"Thank you for your grace, Ancestor." Lei Dong felt slightly relieved as he stood, but he didn't dare look up at the Ancestor's expression. He could only remain standing in respectful silence.

"Lei Dong, you were truly bold this time." Myriad Ghost Ancestor's voice turned cold.

"This disciple wouldn't dare." Lei Dong hurriedly dropped to his knees again. His back damp with sweat, he forced himself to remain calm. "This disciple knows he was in the wrong." He knew the Ancestor had likely already reached a verdict on the matter. If it was a blessing, it would come; if it was a disaster, there was no escaping it. Arguing would only risk angering the Ancestor, so it was better to admit his fault obediently.

After giving Lei Dong a warning, the Ancestor saw that his response had indeed satisfied him. His voice softened again. "Our Yin Sha Sect is one of the great demonic powers of the Cultivation World. We are no charitable institution. What's more, the strong prey on the weak—that is the fundamental law of the Cultivation World. Zhou Minghua had decent aptitude, but he was impetuous, rash, and incapable of achieving great things. You took his place, and that accords with the rules of our sect. Rise. From today on, you are one of my Personal Disciples."