The moment Lei Dong thought of Dongfang Fu, he could not help but recall Tantai Bingyun. A woman equally outstanding in every aspect, in no way inferior to Dongfang Fu. He wondered how she fared after returning to the Tianyin Palace? It seemed not a single message had been passed along.

“It is only natural that my husband would not wish to take risks,” Ding Wanyan observed Lei Dong frowning and immediately retracted her suggestion.

Lei Dong gently grasped Ding Wanyan’s tender, delicate hand and said earnestly, “Wanyan, I was merely recalling something else just now. Giving her two peak-grade Spirit Ghosts, I have no objection. But asking her to join us in adventuring into the Underworld Domain—is that not too presumptuous?” Then again, if Dongfang Fu were also strengthened and entered the Underworld Domain with them, the chance of success would be quite high. After all, the three of them could bring six peak-grade Spirit Ghosts.

“Husband, Dongfang is cold on the outside but warm at heart; she is like a sister to me. Helping each other is only reasonable. Moreover, with her rare cultivation talent, her future is limitless. If my husband builds a good relationship with her, it might become an asset for him later on.” Although Lei Dong had not said it explicitly, the intelligent Ding Wanyan had long discerned the ambition hidden in Lei Dong's heart; all his schemes suggested his aims were far from small. As Lei Dong’s wife, Ding Wanyan naturally could only support her husband wholeheartedly, no matter what he intended to do. Proposing Dongfang Fu join this adventure was also her purpose to forge a deeper bond with her.

“Very well, but let us keep the secret of the Soul Devouring Pagoda from Dongfang for now,” Lei Dong decided after a brief thought. After all, Dongfang Fu was a rare talent, and having also consumed the Heart Cleansing Fruit, her soul power surpassed that of ordinary cultivators. Supplementing her with the Ghost Controlling Art would not be a bad thing.

In reality, even if everyone possessed the same soul power and their Ghost Servants were of the same quality tier, Lei Dong’s Ghost Generals would still be superior to those wielded by Ding Wanyan or Dongfang Fu. The reason was simple: the main cultivation technique Lei Dong practiced was the Netherworld Grand Method. The other two did not follow this path.

However, once the three of them were aligned, Lei Dong’s Netherworld Grand Method could also cover and strengthen their Ghost Servants, leading to a total power increase that could not be underestimated.

“Wanyan, do you know Qi Feifei from the Joyful Union Sect?” Lei Dong asked, testing the waters slightly. Having only three people venture out was still not entirely safe, and Lei Dong recalled Qi Feifei, who was currently idle. Qi Feifei’s current cultivation was also at the early stage of the Golden Core realm. Although she could not cultivate the Ghost Controlling Art of the Yin Fiend Sect, she could practice the Demonic Emperor Art Lei Dong created himself. Coupled with her not-weak soul power, her might would not be insignificant if paired with a peak-grade Spirit Ghost.

Speaking of Qi Feifei, a trace of cunning seemed to flicker in Ding Wanyan’s eyes: “You mean that legendary ‘Bewitching Fox’ Qi Feifei, who was willing to betray her sect for my husband? I’ve heard that back in the Heart Demon Hall, their fates were intertwined for three lifetimes.”

Lei Dong’s face flushed with embarrassment at Ding Wanyan’s bluntness. In truth, he had also heard some rumors about himself and Qi Feifei recently, all circulating within the Joyful Union Sect. They claimed that the Yin Fiend Sect’s Ghost Asura, Lei Dong, had long been entangled with Qi Feifei. For Lei Dong’s sake, Qi Feifei had murdered her own sect members and betrayed the sect that raised her since childhood.

Because of this, the Joyful Union Sect had demanded an explanation from the Yin Fiend Sect, at least requesting they hand over Lei Dong and Qi Feifei. However, the Yin Fiend Sect’s Grand Elders, Heavenly Demon and Blood Demon, decided to deflect the responsibility together, claiming the rumors were baseless. As for Qi Feifei being a member of the Joyful Union Sect, for them to demand someone from another sect when they couldn't even manage their own people seemed ridiculous.

Of course, this was merely a polite brush-off on the official front. In private, most people believed the rumors to be true. Yet, those within the Yin Fiend Sect, aside from those who held grudges against Lei Dong, were somewhat smug. After all, Qi Feifei was considered a stunning beauty of the Joyful Union Sect, famous among the younger generation, coveted by countless young cultivators from within and outside the sect. Many sects wished to marry her off, but the Joyful Union Sect valued her too highly to let her go.

Now, she had supposedly eloped with the traitor of their sect, Lei Dong of the Yin Fiend Sect. This made those who had never hoped to "taste the grapes" rejoice, especially some of the younger disciples of the Yin Fiend Sect, who felt Lei Dong was incredibly formidable for having secured Qi Feifei so quietly.

Given all these rumors, how could Ding Wanyan not have heard of them? It was just that the two had never discussed the matter.

Since what Ding Wanyan said was largely true, Lei Dong felt only awkwardness, not denying it. He could only smile bitterly and recount the events in the Heart Demon Hall exactly as they happened, not withholding even the details of his dual cultivation with Qi Feifei through the union. After finishing, he felt a significant portion of the unspoken matters weighing on him were finally lifted.

“Husband, now that you’ve told me, how should I punish you for this?” Ding Wanyan glanced at him with a knowing half-smile in her eyes.

“This, however you wish to punish, Wanyan, I accept it all,” Lei Dong broke out in a sweat under her gaze. He knew that although his wife usually presented the image of a gentle, virtuous wife and loving mother, when she chose to be mischievous, Lei Dong felt a lingering sense of dread.

“Fine, you said it yourself.” Ding Wanyan did not appear angry; instead, she gave Lei Dong a seductive glance, a cold smile touching her lips: “Aren't you good at coaxing young girls? Aren't you skilled at seducing disciples from other sects into betraying their masters? Then here is your task: go and seduce Tantai Bingyun from the Tianyin Palace back here.”

At the mention of Tantai Bingyun’s name, Lei Dong’s hair stood on end, but immediately, he deflated like a frost-bitten eggplant. With a pained expression, he raised his hands in surrender. “Senior Sister, I concede, I submit, alright? Beat me, scold me, kill me, slice me—I accept it all.”

“Oh? Isn't my husband quite formidable? Why doesn’t he even dare to go and seduce Tantai Bingyun?” Ding Wanyan looked puzzled, feigning incredible surprise.

“I surrender, I surrender.”

“We haven’t even started the torture yet? You’re already giving up…” Ding Wanyan began to sneer incessantly: “Let me guess, perhaps you have some history with Dongfang as well?”

“Absolutely not on that matter.” On this point, Lei Dong stood firm and correct, immediately denying it with a solemn face.

“Then you have something going on with Tantai Bingyun?”

“This, uh…” Lei Dong wilted again, hanging his head with a look of utter misery. His own wife truly had the fiery golden eyes of a sage; he couldn't tell where he had slipped up to be guessed to have some connection with Tantai Bingyun.

“Are you trying to find out where you exposed yourself? So you can take it as a lesson next time?” Ding Wanyan peered at Lei Dong’s face and chuckled again.

Lei Dong quickly shook his head like a rattle drum: “No, no, I wouldn't dare.”

“Actually, it’s fine to tell you.” Seeing Lei Dong’s demeanor, Ding Wanyan found it quite amusing: “When you recount your experiences in Zhao State to me, every time you mention Tantai Bingyun, your words become evasive, and you change the subject unintentionally. Clearly, there’s something fishy going on there. Are you feeling guilty towards Tantai Bingyun?”

Ah, Lei Dong was also annoyed; it turned out that was where he’d slipped up. But, it was too late for regrets now. He could only smile bitterly, “Senior Sister, you can punish me however you see fit. However, it’s best not to publicize this matter, lest it tarnish Bingyun’s reputation.”

“Bingyun? Hmm, you call her quite intimately,” Ding Wanyan’s eyes curved into another cunning smile. “I can tell you still care for her deeply. But can you really bear to leave her to suffer alone in the Tianyin Palace until she grows old in seclusion?”

In truth, Ding Wanyan came from the royal family of the Grand Stability Kingdom. And among the royalty, which man did not have a harem of wives and concubines? Even her father, the King of Suppressing the South, had many consorts, though her mother, the Queen of Suppressing the South, was gentle and virtuous, possessing extraordinary means. Not only did she firmly secure the position of the main wife, but she also completely captured the King of Suppressing the South’s heart. More importantly, she got along so harmoniously with the other consorts, all treating each other like sisters, ensuring that no one could ever shake her status.

Having been exposed to this since childhood, coupled with the frequent admonishments from the Queen of Suppressing the South, Ding Wanyan naturally understood how to handle such matters. If a powerful man among mortals could take so many wives and concubines, how could a mighty cultivator, comparable to an immortal, possibly have only one woman?

In fact, among cultivators, this aspect was even more exaggerated than in the royal family. Cultivators often established massive harems for themselves; having a hundred was not uncommon. Many cultivators didn't even regard women as true people, sending away their beloved concubines like mere goods.

Therefore, Ding Wanyan had never considered monopolizing Lei Dong for herself, especially since Lei Dong was so outstanding in her eyes. Undoubtedly, under the meticulous guidance of the Queen of Suppressing the South, Ding Wanyan was a very traditional woman in this regard.

The truth was, Lei Dong was overthinking things himself. The "traditional" ideology of monogamy had not yet fully shifted in his mind. In this world, even the cultivation world, it was a patriarchal society. Men could have multiple partners, while women were expected to be fiercely loyal—this was the real tradition of this world, a logical framework shared by both men and women. Of course, there were also alternative women who advocated for female supremacy, but since they were called alternatives, they were naturally a very small minority.

In fact, Ding Wanyan’s mother, the Queen of Suppressing the South, often procured concubines and secondary wives for the King of Suppressing the South. Yet, were they not still devoted to each other, deeply in love, and growing old together?

When Lei Dong's fearful expression, as if he had committed some egregious offense, appeared in Ding Wanyan's eyes, she secretly smiled inwardly. The arts of managing a husband taught by her mother truly had their merits.

…… (Second update today, please cast your recommendation votes.)RO