Chapter 45: Protecting the Short Elder Ancestor

  ……

  After driving away the evil spirits, Wan Gui Lao Zu again exchanged a few bland greetings with Tu Chang Lao. And after witnessing Wan Gui Lao Zu's nine-level ghost general, he was also exceptionally polite to him. Knowing that he would think of comforting his direct disciple, he didn't bother him much and made an appointment for tea before leaving in a flash of light.

  Wan Gui Lao Zu then invited the three disciples into the main hall, where he comforted them with warm words. He then called for them to return, but left Lei Dong behind alone.

  After everyone left, Wan Gui Lao Zu sat upright in his seat, his face solemn and silent, staring at Lei Dong. Lei Dong was also being stared at by the old ancestor, sweating profusely, his face pale.

  After a long time, Wan Gui Lao Zu finally let out a cold hum and raised an eyebrow, saying: "Lei Dong, you really have a big nerve. You even dare to kill the son of Gui Sha, what else can't you do?"

  A thunderstorm raged in his mind, and he secretly wondered if this was the Old Ancestor of the Ten Thousand Ghosts testing him. Just as he thought of speaking to deny it, his heart suddenly moved without reason, and he immediately knelt down, sweating profusely, saying: "Reporting to the Old Ancestor, I killed that ghost's son because I had no other choice. Although I am of humble origin, I also want to live."

  "Speak." Wan Gui Lao Zu's face turned iron-green with rage, his anger extraordinary.

  A sudden movement in his heart, he was afraid that Laozu would not give himself the opportunity to explain. However, the words came back again. If Laozu really didn't want to maintain himself and couldn't have forced the Gui Sha back before, why bother making an enemy of a Golden Elixir Laozu? From the essence, Laozu was still maintaining himself.

  "Yes, Old Ancestor. It's like this..." Lei Dong explained the whole story to the Old Ancestor, from beginning to end. He only made a slight modification in one minor detail: that at the time, he had several mid-grade spirit ghosts and one high-grade spirit ghost stored in his Soul Tower. This was also why he hadn't let that ugly youth snatch it away. After all, this was extremely reasonable - even a Golden Dan Old Ancestor would be exceptionally tempted by a high-grade spirit ghost, to the point of killing someone to steal their treasure.

  Gradually, Lao Zu's face also slightly relaxed, and he grumbled in discontent: "That Gui Sha is arrogant, that's nothing, but even his son is extremely arrogant. Lei Dong, why did you pretend to be a person from the Extreme Yin Cave at that time? Is this seat's reputation really so worthless?"

  "Reporting to the ancestors, I just wanted to cause less trouble for the sect." Lei Dong's heart had already completely relaxed, but his whole body felt wet and he was sincerely fearful: "Ancestors forgive me, it was my fault for not thinking things through."

  "Trouble, heh heh. Does Lei Dong think I'm a coward who fears trouble? Or does he think that his master's personally taught disciple was bullied outside and his master would just tuck his head in like a turtle?" Wan Gui Lao Zu's face was very displeased:

  "The disciple knows his mistake, the disciple is willing to accept punishment." Although he heard Wan Gui Lao Zu scolding himself, he didn't have a single bit of resentment in his heart, but instead felt some warmth. When saying this, he was indeed sincere and genuine.

  "Since you know your mistake, after this little trial, go to the back mountain's small yin cave and reflect on it for a year. You are not allowed to go out." The old ancestor of Wan Gui saw that Lei Dong admitted his mistake in time, and his face slightly eased up, with some anger: "This seat is not punishing you for killing the son of Gui Xiong, but punishing you for underestimating this seat too much. If this seat can't even protect its own personally taught disciple, what's the point of opening a cave or establishing a mansion? Get out!"

  "Yes, disciple takes leave." Lei Dong bowed again and then turned around to leave with a dejected look.

  Not yet halfway out, but heard Wan Gui Lao Zu coldly shout: "Wait, come back."

  Lei Dong immediately stopped and walked back, standing with his head bowed.

  "Take some time to retrieve those hidden artifacts. Hmph, that Ghostly Evil must have given his son many good things. The Old Ancestor of the Ten Thousand Ghosts paused for a moment, his brow furrowed in concern: "I'll help you re-refine them so they can't be recognized when used. Although Ghostly Evil is not a formidable opponent, if he finds out you killed his son, he won't let it go easily. You're just a small fry at the sixth layer of Qi Refining, how can you defend yourself? However, you should give one to your senior sister Ding, she's taken on a lot of blame and suffered greatly for your sake."

  Lei Dong was overjoyed and hastily knocked his head to the ground again, saying: "Thank you, Master. I'll go get it right away. As for what to give to Dīng Shī Jiě, I'll leave it up to you, Master." With Wàn Guǐ Lǎo Zǔ's help in re-refining, it would definitely be much stronger than if he were to learn how to refine equipment himself and change its appearance.

  He was scolded by Wan Gui again, but Lei Dong left the Wan Gui cave with a heart full of joy and warmth. Although Wan Gui Lao Zu's face was ugly, he was indeed very protective of his disciples, and he took back the treasures that had been hidden away. As for giving one to Ding Shi Jie, although it was a bit painful, he had to admit that Lao Zu was right, Ding Yuanyan had taken on a lot of blame for him, and Gui Sha seemed to have shifted some attention to Ding Yuanyan.

  Wan Gui Lao Zu took the things that Lei Dong had snatched, and was somewhat shocked. Although he knew that Gui Xiao's love for his son had reached an excessive level, the things he gave were really too good. Lei Dong was able to defeat that kid with such a huge gap, and it was hard not to admit that Lei Dong still had some skills. These few artifacts, even among the top-notch ones, were all exceptional.

  "This superior-grade Law Shield will be given to you, Deaconess Ding. It'll help calm your nerves." The Old Ancestor of the Ten Thousand Ghosts made up his mind without another word. He still seemed to hold a grudge against Lei Dong in his heart, and with a wave of his hand, he said, "Scram! Go back and cultivate properly, come back in three days to take it."

  ……

  Lei returned to his own residence, and his heart was also filled with a sense of relief. Recently, the fear and psychological repression caused by killing the ghostly son had been swept away. Especially on Lao Zu's body, he felt a different side of him. Originally thought that Wan Gui Lao Zu would, because the other party is a ghostly creature, once knew it was himself who killed the ghostly son, would definitely hand himself over to the ghostly creature for disposal, so as not to hurt the harmony.

  However, Lei Dong now knows that he has underestimated Wan Gui Lao Zu too much. He can't help but admit that as a Jindan-level master and the head of the cave, Wan Gui Lao Zu's demeanor is quite impressive. What also moves Lei Dong slightly is Wan Gui Lao Zu's protective heart towards his personally-disciplined disciples. In their own home, they can scold or punish them, but if others bully their disciples, that's definitely not allowed. Moreover, when it's time to be tough, he's tough; when it's time to explode in anger, he doesn't hold back. Deep down, Lei Dong really thinks Wan Gui Lao Zu is a pretty good guy, someone worthy of his loyalty.

  Faintly, Lei Dong also grasped some of the subtleties of demeanor. Whether it was a heretic or an orthodox sect, a generation of masters would naturally have the demeanor of a generation of masters.

  But Lei Dong knew that he was only in the sixth layer of Qi Refining, and talking about bearing was simply courting death. Gradually, he also threw this matter to the back of his mind.

  He safely passed the test, took the ritual tool that had been re-refined by Wan Gui Lao Zu, and didn't dare to ignore his words. He packed up his things and went straight to the small yin evil cave in the back mountain.

  That place is a penal colony specifically for punishing the disciples of Wan Gui Ku. The air here is gloomy and eerie, with an aura of death lingering everywhere. Even if one has achieved minor success in their cultivation, they will still be tormented day and night by the malevolent energy here. As soon as Lei Dong stepped into the entrance of the cave, he couldn't help but shiver all over, his skin covered in goosebumps.

  ……