Lei Dong stared intently at the Heavenly Spirit Ghost sealed within the Soul Nurturing Pagoda. Under the appraisal technique, the golden light emanating from it was dazzling, brilliant enough to hurt the eyes. Tiny specks of white spiritual light glittered within, like radiant stars in the dead of night—utterly captivating. The mere name, Heavenly Spirit Ghost, sent a thrill of excitement through Lei Dong’s core. This feeling intensified when he realized he couldn't catalyze one using the Soul Devouring Pagoda, confirming its profound rarity.

If one considered the Top-Grade Spirit Ghosts a treasure measurable by exorbitant amounts of spirit stones, the Heavenly Spirit Ghost was, quite simply, priceless.

But what moved Lei Dong even more deeply was that his wife, Wanyan, upon obtaining a Heavenly Spirit Ghost, had gifted it to him without a flicker of hesitation or reluctance. The expression on her face suggested she was handing over a Low-Grade Spirit Ghost, not an artifact of such immense worth.

Lei Dong knew that in this world, even among married couples, countless people turned against one another over wealth, survival, and myriad other factors. Wanyan’s action clearly demonstrated that Lei Dong held the paramount position in her heart, surpassing even her own self-interest by a vast margin.

Without refusing his beloved wife’s kindness, and without uttering a single word of thanks, Lei Dong pierced his finger, forcing out a drop of vital essence blood to refine this peerless Heavenly Spirit Ghost. After a long while, the ghost seemed sated and replete with blood, coalescing into a blood-red cocoon.

Looking somewhat pale and having strained his foundational energy, Lei Dong gently took Ding Wanyan’s small hand. As they nestled close, Lei Dong summoned the Soul Devouring Pagoda from within his soul and slowly began explaining its incredible efficacy to Ding Wanyan.

Ding Wanyan listened quietly, only a slight expression of astonishment coloring her eyes. It was likely she had never imagined Lei Dong possessed such a heaven-defying treasure. This, perhaps, explained why he had already acquired a Top-Grade Spirit Ghost so early on.

“Wanyan, it is my fault,” Lei Dong said, his gaze brimming with apology. “We, husband and wife, are meant to be one entity. Yet, I…”

“Lei Dong, say no more; I understand.” Ding Wanyan showed no trace of blame. Instead, she reached out her delicate hand to cover his lips, her eyes shining with an unusual brilliance. She murmured softly, “The world is treacherous, and I can only imagine how complex and uneasy your heart must have been after acquiring such an anomaly when you were so young. Still, thank heavens for your caution; possessing such a treasure and letting even a whisper of it escape would have ensured your demise. Instead, I must thank you, my husband, for sharing this monumental secret with me. I can feel the absolute, unconditional trust you place in me. Thank you, my husband; I feel profoundly blessed.”

In that moment, Lei Dong felt the complete fusion of their spirits, as if their two hearts had been inextricably linked.

“Wanyan, I actually have another colossal secret,” Lei Dong stated, his eyes clearer than ever before. “The truth is, your husband is not entirely from this world.” Lei Dong began to slowly recount portions of his past life, down to his reincarnation and the retention of his previous memories, laying everything bare before Ding Wanyan.

As she listened to this tale, Ding Wanyan’s eyes sparkled with even greater wonder. She covered her small mouth, her almond-shaped eyes wide with fascination. “Could it be that my husband was an immensely powerful cultivator in his past life? Otherwise, it would be impossible for the soul to retain memories after traversing the boundless void.”

“Heh, back then, your husband was just a mortal man, living a very ordinary life,” Lei Dong replied. After revealing this life’s greatest secret, countless heavy burdens seemed to dissolve instantly, as if an immense weight had been lifted, leaving him utterly relaxed. When a person carries a secret too heavy to share, their spirit can only grow increasingly weighed down.

Lei Dong felt immensely fortunate to have found one person in this world with whom he could share everything without reservation. That feeling was genuinely wonderful and comforting.

In reality, Lei Dong was not at all an outsider to this world. Quite the opposite—having grown up and lived here for so many years, he had long since integrated fully into its fabric.

“There are many secrets in heaven and earth that we cannot comprehend,” Ding Wanyan mused, recovering from her slight shock. “Though our knowledge is vast compared to mortals, the world is truly immense. Even if we exhaust our entire lifespan, we could barely explore even one or two percent of it.”

Lei Dong was also filled with contemplation. Now, both he and his wife had advanced to the Core Formation stage. Compared to mortals, or even ordinary cultivators, they were akin to deities walking the earth, capable of commanding local events. However, only upon reaching this level did they truly grasp their own insignificance against the might of the formidable Nascent Soul cultivators, the invincible Soul Transformation experts, and the boundless expanse of the Three Realms, Six Domains, and Nine Continents. Furthermore, given Lei Dong’s past insights and his experience of traversing worlds, he suspected this very universe might be infinite.

“My husband, why don’t you tell me more about your previous life? Was there any girl in that life who left an indelible mark upon you?”

“That, hah~” Lei Dong immediately laughed and deftly changed the subject. “Wanyan, I cherish my current life far more now. The previous life, the one that led to my rebirth, grows further and further away. This is because, in this world, there are people who are incredibly important to me. My Master, my parents, my friends, my sworn brothers. And, most importantly of all, my wife, Ding Wanyan. Wanyan, you are the most crucial person in this entire life—no, perhaps even in the next life, and the life after that.”

Hearing Lei Dong’s intoxicating words of devotion, Ding Wanyan’s cheeks flushed a soft crimson, and gazing at him with eyes overflowing with affection, she whispered, “My husband…”

At this moment, Lei Dong could restrain himself no longer. He immediately swept Ding Wanyan into his arms and soared away.

……

Life seemed to settle back into a period of quiet ease. Lei Dong endeavored to limit his outings and opportunities for exposure. He deeply understood that while his current strength was growing considerable, various crises and threats still loomed large. The best course of action was to conceal his brilliance and focus intently on augmenting his power. Regardless of anything else, in this world, strength was the single most vital element. Otherwise, forget protecting his family; he couldn't even ensure his own survival. All talk of reputation or dignity was meaningless without a foundation of strength.

Lei Dong meticulously reviewed and analyzed his current situation. Taking the most fundamental aspect—his cultivation base—it stood at the early stage of Core Formation. Progress in this area could not be achieved overnight; it required methodical, step-by-step advancement. While his innate aptitude was merely adequate, the resources Lei Dong commanded far surpassed those available to ordinary Core Formation cultivators; indeed, even the majority of Nascent Soul cultivators could not compare to him in terms of resources.

Therefore, while steadily and rapidly advancing his cultivation, Lei Dong felt it necessary to further bolster his tangible combat capabilities.

Considering his ghost companions, one Heavenly Spirit Ghost paired with two Top-Grade Spirit Ghosts already represented the pinnacle configuration for his current stage. Any further advancement in this area would only come after his own personal strength increased. Thus, the only immediate way to indirectly enhance his individual fighting power was through artifacts.

As for the Myriad Ghost Banner, it currently housed seven Golden Core level fierce spirits, its power being considerable. However, given Lei Dong’s present cultivation, even simultaneously commanding five or six was an arduous task. An increase in spiritual sense intensity wasn't something achievable in a day or two. Therefore, upgrading the quality of the Myriad Ghost Banner itself would yield immediate, tangible results.

This Myriad Ghost Banner was a Top-Grade Magic Tool bestowed by his Master; in every respect, it no longer suited Lei Dong’s current standing. He had considered replacing it for some time, but opportunities had not arisen. After all, an artifact like the Myriad Ghost Banner required synergy with the Ghost Controlling Arts and the specific techniques associated with the Yin Sha Sect’s banner artifacts.

On this matter, Lei Dong had specifically researched relevant texts and consulted authorities, including his Master.

The Myriad Ghost Banner, designed to complement the Ghost Controlling Arts, was a relic of a demonic refinement method inherited from ancient eras. It was said that the Myriad Ghost Banner itself was modeled after the legendary Primordial Spirit Treasure, the Nether King Banner, renowned throughout history via successive users even in the ancient past.

Naturally, that original banner had long been lost. The current Ghost Controlling Arts and Myriad Ghost Banner were merely fragmented legacies that had been comprehended and modified over time.

Obtaining the Nether King Banner was, of course, something Lei Dong dared not even contemplate at this stage.

However, acquiring a Top-Grade or, preferably, a Supreme-Grade Magic Treasure-level Myriad Ghost Banner was a feasible goal for him right now. The sole obstacle was its scarcity. Unlike Top-Grade Magic Tools or even Top-Grade Spirit Artifacts, which were somewhat numerous, the rarity of Supreme-Grade Magic Treasures was terrifyingly high due to the scarcity of materials, the dearth of high-tier Refinement Masters, and the sheer difficulty of forging such items.

Even the Yin Sha Sect, one of the paramount powers in Kang Province, which had accumulated power over ten thousand years, possessed only a handful of such treasures—ones that could be counted on two hands. Acquiring a Supreme-Grade Magic Treasure from the sect was as difficult as ascending to heaven. Yet, seeking one at an auction house was equally improbable. Even the occasional appearance of a Top-Grade Magic Treasure at an auction was a momentous event, often sparking fierce competition among numerous Core Formation cultivators, sometimes even attracting Nascent Soul experts to vie for it.

So, after calculating the odds, the only viable path seemed to be self-refinement. After all, rare materials could be acquired if one was willing to spend enough money. As for finished Supreme-Grade Magic Treasures, they almost never circulated on the open market; anyone who obtained one would guard it with their life rather than trade it for spirit stones.

Lei Dong instantly recalled the Golden Core cultivator who had refined the Asura’s Wings for him, whose craftsmanship he admired profoundly. With a flash in his eyes, he began contemplating how to bring that master craftsman into his circle.

……

(I was out attending to matters all day today, and when I returned, it was already midnight. I pushed myself to finish the chapter I hadn't completed. The update is late, and furthermore, I have another full day out on the third. Updates might still be delayed. Please bear with me, but I assure you, maintaining three updates every two days will absolutely not be reduced in quantity. Rest assured.)RO

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