The moment he devoted himself to the Buddha, he seemed to forget something else, moving step by step toward the dais. Soon, he reached the steps, and just as he lifted his foot to ascend the first step, the Star-Shining Stone beneath his feet underwent a sudden, drastic transformation. Countless skeletal, thin hands, clad in tattered sleeves, shot up from below, seizing Lei Dong’s ankles and desperately pulling him downward.

Simultaneously, piercing, mournful shrieks, brimming with resentment, assailed his ears. It was as if this step wasn't leading to the platform but plunging him into the Netherworld, teeming with wronged souls and hungry ghosts. Under such circumstances, anyone with a less steadfast mind would likely have been terrified into losing their soul entirely. However, Lei Dong had seen countless bizarre scenes since joining the Yin Sha Sect in his youth. Furthermore, as a cultivator who specialized in the You Ming Da Fa (Netherworld Grand Technique) and the Yu Gui Jue (Ghost Controlling Art), he felt not an ounce of fear at this sight resembling the Asura Hell; his heart remained utterly calm. A layer of dark, ghostly mist emanated from his body, the tendrils of ghost energy swirling violently in a small radius, tearing apart every spectral hand that dared to grasp his ankle.

Lei Dong nodded in satisfaction. Since entering this Heart Demon Hall for tempering, his command and comprehension of the You Ming Da Fa had significantly improved. The You Ming Da Fa was one of the supreme techniques of the Yin Sha Sect, but mastering it did not instantly transform one into an invincible powerhouse. In fact, even Lei Dong’s master, the Old Ancestor of Ten Thousand Ghosts, could only claim rudimentary proficiency in its study and understanding. The deeper one delved, the more profound and ocean-like the technique revealed itself to be. Yet, Lei Dong had only scratched the surface so far, his application of the technique remaining quite elementary.

As the ghostly hands were shredded, the pulling force that held him firmly to the ground vanished. He successfully stepped onto the first riser. Just as he raised his foot toward the second step, countless bone-white, horrifying vengeful spirits suddenly materialized, so numerous they nearly filled the entire hall. A cold, eerie wind swept through, accompanied by the low, beast-like growls and roars of the spirits, who began to surge forward to ensnare him. A timid observer would have likely fainted immediately from fright.

Lei Dong merely snorted coldly. The Netherworld ghost energy surrounding him surged dramatically; thin wisps of energy coalesced into strands, which then merged into currents. These currents condensed into streams, and these streams formed distinct torrents. Organized by these torrents, the ghost energy began to flow and weave dynamically around Lei Dong. Thick as a child's arm, serpentine and dark, the streams of energy acted like blades and arrows, piercing and slicing the encroaching vengeful spirits into fragments that dissipated into the air, their wails and screams echoing in his ears. Lei Dong’s resolve remained steadfast and unmoved. Soon, the vengeful spirits completely vanished.

Lei Dong took another step. This time, it was a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, which he trod upon with unwavering willpower.

Step after deliberate step, Lei Dong pressed forward toward the throne on the dais, drawn by what felt like a fatal attraction. With every stride, various bizarre phenomena manifested, yet not a single vision could halt Lei Dong’s advance.

Finally, having crossed countless piles of withered bone and trampled through mountains of dead and seas of gore, he ascended to the dais. The opulent and majestic throne stood before him, and a surge of pure elation washed over Lei Dong’s heart. He turned and sat down with a decisive thud. The immediate sensation was faintly cool, but otherwise, nothing remarkable. Just as Lei Dong felt a twinge of disappointment, the rows of statues representing the kings of various races below the dais began to creak and tremble incessantly. Immediately afterward, immensely powerful auras erupted from them—each possessing the ability to shatter heaven and earth, each capable of destroying everything in this place with a casual gesture.

The formerly vacant eyes of the statues suddenly became intensely alive, and rigid muscles tore with fissures of movement. The oddly shaped, varied eyes all fixed upon Lei Dong.

They were alive.

A profound horror seized Lei Dong. How was this possible? Was it an illusion? Or perhaps these were mere puppets? Facing the assembled figures below, any one of whom could effortlessly tear him apart with a mere glance, a chilling cold shot up from the base of Lei Dong’s spine directly to his skull. He felt utterly chilled, thinking, This is the end.

Even an ant clings to life, and Lei Dong was certainly one who valued his own. Just as he considered attempting a desperate escape—even if there was only a sliver, a faint hope of survival—he might try to flee. Perhaps these beings were just empty shells.

However, what happened next left him utterly dumbfounded. The two rows of peerless kings turned in unison toward Lei Dong, bent one knee, and bowed down. In a single, resounding chorus, they proclaimed, “We, your humble existences, pay respects to the Great Emperor…” The sound vibrated throughout the entire hall, nearly knocking Lei Dong off the throne.

It was this sudden shout that made him instantly abandon the idea of immediate flight. A strange expression crossed his face; he thought he must have misheard. He muttered softly, “What did you call me…”

“The Great Emperor…” A figure standing slightly forward, a bull-headed being whose body was a mass of rippling muscle, holding a massive axe, looked up and rumbled at Lei Dong.

Though Lei Dong couldn't decipher the expression on a bull’s face, he could read the creature’s mood from its eyes, which were the size of washbasins. Fear, awe, but overwhelmingly, boundless worship. That worship carried the scorching, manic heat of fire. Lei Dong had an instinct that if he commanded this peerless, ferocious bull to crawl before him and lick his toes, it would do so without question, and even with relish. Lei Dong further felt that if he ordered it to commit suicide, it would obey without hesitation.

The intensity of its gaze made Lei Dong’s blood feel as if it were igniting; every pore on his body seemed to open, exulting in a sensation of profound satisfaction. This unknown, peerless savage beast, Lei Dong felt, was no less powerful than a Heavenly Demon. That meant…

His thoughts began to drift, becoming untethered…

Lei Dong looked again at the Asura King, kneeling among the assembly of monstrous rulers, seeking further confirmation. He spoke with a deep voice, “Asura King…”

“Your subordinate is here…” The Asura King raised his head sharply, his ferocious and ugly face wearing an expression of deep piety, yet also unusual excitement. “What are the Great Emperor’s orders? Are you perhaps preparing to dispatch me to lead the Asura legions to sweep over a certain realm or domain? Has my turn finally come? I have awaited this moment eagerly…”

“Asura King. I merely wished to ask you, what is my title…” Lei Dong was slightly bewildered. This Asura King appeared to be an extreme warmonger. However, his devout demeanor sparked another wave of spiritual resonance within Lei Dong. The great Asura King was merely one of his subordinates, and perhaps not even the most powerful one, given his position slightly toward the rear.

The Asura King looked disappointed but then seemed to realize something, adopting a solemn expression. He shifted from one knee to both knees, bowing deeply, and spoke in a muffled voice, “Your subordinate begs leave to offer a desperate suggestion, may the Great Emperor forgive my presumption. The Great Emperor should refer to himself as Zhen [The Royal We]. Furthermore, I implore the Great Emperor to continue addressing me by my diminutive name, Xiao Lu. In the presence of the Great Emperor, how can there be any talk of kingship…”

“Li-little Lu?” Lei Dong slapped his forehead, feeling somewhat dizzy. But at this moment, Lei Dong could only acquiesce helplessly, “Alright, Li-er, ah, Xiao Lu. That… um… what is Zhen’s external title…”

“Your subordinate dares not presume to speak the Great Emperor’s title directly…” The Asura King, Xiao Lu, lowered his voice.

“Zhen commands you to speak, so speak,” Seeing the Asura King’s deference, Lei Dong’s own courage grew. He immediately put on a stern face and reprimanded him.

“The Demon… Demon Emperor…”

“Demon Emperor? Ugh, that sounds a bit simplistic…” Lei Dong felt both exasperated and amused. How could he have such a title? He expressed dissatisfaction, “What’s so good about being an Emperor? There are too many Emperors in this world.”

“Why does the Great Emperor bring up old matters again…” The bull-headed giant chuckled with simple honesty. “Hasn’t the Great Emperor already issued orders to annihilate nine-tenths of those who dared to claim the title of Emperor?”

“What…”

Lei Dong was utterly astonished. Had he really done such a thing? He found it hard to believe for a moment, yet felt that something was amiss. His brain throbbed painfully. He waved his hand hastily, “You all, exit for now…”

Upon Lei Dong’s gesture, everyone vanished instantly. No one dared to object.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Lei Dong blinked, and his heart suddenly leaped. He saw Chen Ge and Wei Hua, the two brothers, manifesting before him as translucent souls, drifting in the air. Blood streamed ceaselessly from their eye sockets as they spoke in cold, trembling voices, “Lei Dong, we died such miserable deaths; you must avenge us…”

Lei Dong’s blood instantly began to boil, his eyes turning blood-red. His face contorted into a vicious snarl, and his voice cracked hoarsely, “Who killed you…”

“It was her, it was her…” Their voices were ethereal and piercing as they pointed distantly and shrieked, “She killed us…”

Lei Dong looked where they pointed and froze, stunned. In the distance, Ding Wanyan floated gently, holding a flying sword suspended in the void. Her attire was the same as when they were by the Peach Blossom Cold Pool—she looked like a pure, gentle, yet undeniably enchanting and seductive sprite. As she floated toward Lei Dong, she cast him a captivating glance with her eyes, saying alluringly, “Junior Brother, these two held ill intentions toward you; I have already killed them for your sake…”

Lei Dong was speechless, roaring in disbelief, “That’s impossible…”

“Why…” Ding Wanyan instantly transformed, appearing heartbroken and wronged, gazing at Lei Dong with pitiful, watery eyes. “Junior Brother, you don’t trust me…”

Lei Dong’s mind felt sluggish and heavy; he stood frozen. Could it be that Chen Ge and Wei Hua truly harbored malice toward him?

“We were framed, we didn’t… we didn’t…” The ghostly forms of Chen Ge and Wei Hua began to scream their pleas again.

“You did, you betrayed Junior Brother…” Ding Wanyan also cried out with indignation.

Lei Dong felt a headache coming on, confused and unsure of whom to believe. Yet, something felt profoundly wrong. Suddenly, a flicker of insight struck him, and he asked, “Senior Sister, do you know where I came from?…”