The Yin Wind Valley spanned roughly a thousand li in a narrow, elongated depression. Eons ago, it became saturated with the chilling, malevolent winds sweeping in from the wilderness, rendering it a place of profound Yin energy. The frost here pierced down hundreds of zhang into the earth, so cold it bit the bone; any cultivator whose protection was insufficient would instantly freeze into an ice statue upon arrival.

Notably, despite the extreme cold, a long, slender stream persisted, winding its way along the complex topography before finally pooling into a vast, frigid mere.

One should not underestimate the water in this stream. To remain liquid under such frigid conditions suggested it was no ordinary substance, possessing peculiar efficacy for artifact refinement.

Originally, the Yin Wind Valley teemed with life unique to the Nether Domain. However, after the arrival of the two Profound Nether Ice Silkworms, the entire valley had become eerily deserted. Intelligence gathered from scattered clues suggested the two Ice Silkworms had chiefly occupied the vicinity of the cold mere, as only that region of lowest temperature was truly suitable for their survival.

Lei Dong, clad in a set of menacingly styled black armor, hovered in the churning sky with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing towards the seemingly endless, pale white world and the cold mere, which appeared no larger than a copper coin.

Xiao You, dressed in classical green, stood obediently beside Lei Dong like a docile maid. Those unfamiliar with her true nature would easily mistake her for an innocuous girl next door. None would suspect her actual identity was that of a Heavenly Spirit Ghost, a rare sight once in a millennium. Compared to the high-tier Ghost General standing at Lei Dong’s right—a fierce, green-faced, tusked specter—the contrast between Xiao You and the General was that of an angel versus a demon.

Curiously, a flag, dark and profoundly sinister, floated before Xiao You, snapping sharply in the wind. Anyone familiar with the Yin Sha Sect would recognize it as a Mid-grade Magic Treasure, the Myriad Ghost Banner. Yet, this was not Lei Dong’s; it was one secretly equipped specifically for Xiao You. Strangely, Xiao You could also cultivate the Ghost Controlling Arts from the Netherworld series, allowing her to wield the Myriad Ghost Banner. With the strength of her peak Ghost General cultivation, her soul power was not inferior to Lei Dong’s; in fact, it held a slight edge. The number of cannon fodder fierce ghosts she could command reached an astonishing sixty thousand.

The only minor pity was that due to the peculiarity of Xiao You’s body, she could not perform a crucial step in the Ghost Controlling Arts: Blood Sacrifice. This prevented her from commanding Ghost Servants like Lei Dong. Had she been paired with two Supreme Spirit Ghosts, Lei Dong’s overall strength would have reached an unbelievably exaggerated level.

Even so, Lei Dong was immensely satisfied, as Xiao You had already brought him more than enough surprises.

“Young Master, Xiao You is going now.” Since becoming Lei Dong’s Ghost Servant, Xiao You had rarely left his side. Due to the compatibility forged by the Blood Sacrifice, she held an ineffable sense of reliance on him. With reluctance in her expression, she said, “Young Master, you must be exceedingly cautious while you single-handedly contain one Nascent Soul demon insect.”

The Ghost Controlling Arts of the Yin Sha Sect were such that once the Blood Sacrifice was complete, not only did the bloodlines merge, but the very souls fused to a degree. For a Ghost Servant, Lei Dong was the master and everything. For Lei Dong, the Ghost Servants were those he trusted most, akin to extensions of his own body. Should a Ghost Servant fall in battle, Lei Dong’s soul and body would suffer grievous harm.

“Rest assured, little one. Even during my Foundation Establishment stage, I escaped pursuit from a Nascent Soul cultivator using the Asura Wings. Xiao You, you must also be extremely careful when dealing with the other Ice Silkworm.” Lei Dong affectionately brushed her forehead, the gesture reminiscent of how one treats a beloved younger sister.

Although Lei Dong held affection for his other Ghost Servants, Xiao You was different; he favored her dearly.

“A’Chou, let’s go.” As if resolved, Xiao You called out the new name for Lei Dong’s Supreme High-tier Ghost General. Her petite, delicate form dissolved into a wisp of chilling wind, speeding away swiftly. She knew well that the faster one Ice Silkworm was eliminated, the safer their Master would be.

The Supreme Ghost General, after bowing respectfully to Lei Dong, revealed an ugly yet concerned expression beneath its savage green face and tusks, before blasting off in a flash of murky black light, pursuing rapidly with formidable speed and power.

The Violent Hit Ghost General, which had accompanied Lei Dong for a long time, had recently been upgraded by Lei Dong to the quality of a Supreme Spirit Ghost. This not only caused its strength to surge dramatically but also granted it extraordinary intelligence; in terms of sheer wisdom, it was comparable to a normal human. However, being accustomed to silence for so long, it rarely spoke even after achieving Supreme Spirit Ghost status. Furthermore, an increase in IQ did not equate to an increase in accumulated knowledge.

Recently, after some tutelage from Xiao You, A’Chou’s various actions had become noticeably more lively, gradually acquiring the bearing of a high-tier Ghost General and becoming much more anthropomorphic.

Once Xiao You departed, Lei Dong began aggressively pushing his Golden Core cultivator aura upwards. The turbulent air waves were forcibly contained and repelled by the pressure radiating from his presence. Simultaneously, his divine sense, comparable to a late-stage Golden Core expert, began to probe arrogantly toward the cold mere, steeped in brazen provocation.

Although the two Profound Nether Ice Silkworms possessed Nascent Soul level strength, this did not imply they possessed high intelligence. These ancient vestiges were not descendants of any highly intelligent species, unlike, say, the Dragon or Giant races, which possessed decent intellect. Consequently, the Ice Silkworms were categorized as demon insects.

The more primitive and brutal the societal structure of a powerful life form, the more territorial it tends to be. Lei Dong’s unrestrained actions naturally enraged the formidable demon insects. Acting almost purely on instinct, they responded to the invader’s provocation. True to their nature, the male Ice Silkworm soared into the air, enveloped in swirling ice mist, letting out a sharp shriek as it lunged at Lei Dong.

A demon insect was, after all, just an insect. It was no wonder the Profound Nether Ice Silkworms, despite their great power, were hunted by Golden Core cultivators. Strength is crucial, certainly, but without commensurate intelligence, even immense power yields little utility. Insect-type creatures possessed even lower IQs than beast-type demons.

Nevertheless, this insect still possessed Nascent Soul level strength. Its sharp cry scattered the roiling clouds, the sonic wave stinging Lei Dong’s eardrums and causing his floating posture to waver precariously. Even though they were not naturally flying insects, the Ice Silkworm’s speed far surpassed that of a Golden Core cultivator. Once accelerated, it closed the distance of ten li with terrifying velocity.

Lei Dong dared not treat it lightly. Spreading his Asura Wings, he retreated slightly backward. At the same time, he condensed his considerable divine sense into sharp needles, constantly provoking and harassing the Ice Silkworm. Lei Dong was now a figure on the path of the Golden Core Great Dao, incomparable to his Foundation Establishment days. His execution of the Asura Wings was fluid and precise, a smooth flow like running water.

In no time, Lei Dong had lured it several hundred li away. He stopped running further out, instead beginning to circle it. The provoked Ice Silkworm madly spewed freezing air; whatever rock or plant it touched immediately cracked with ice. It was believed that even Lei Dong, despite his power, could not withstand a direct blast of its frigid breath for long.

Meanwhile, the members of the Extermination Squad had officially begun their operation. Over one hundred thousand cannon fodder fierce ghosts, like a dark, sweeping cloud, surged forward to attack the female Ice Silkworm one after another. The Ice Silkworm continuously ejected masses of freezing air. How could the cannon fodder fierce ghosts withstand it? They froze like hailstones, plummeting down only to dissipate into dust upon impact.

Unfortunately, the sheer number of fierce ghosts was overwhelming. A considerable number managed to break through the Ice Silkworm’s cold barrier, assaulting its protective aura with their sharp claws and fangs.

Of course, attacks of that magnitude could only slightly drain the Ice Silkworm’s power. Once an attack concluded, those fierce ghosts were instantly frozen to death.

As the Ice Silkworm displayed its might, its energy reserves were rapidly depleted. After five or six thousand fierce ghosts were destroyed, the Ice Silkworm’s chilling aura began to thin noticeably. Dongfang Fu and the others immediately summoned their respective Ghost Generals and cherished pets, charging in to attack. Bei Ye Na, unwilling to be outshone, also led Tu Lei and others of considerable strength to assault the Ice Silkworm.

After a mere fifteen minutes, relying on sheer numbers, the heavily depleted Ice Silkworm finally perished, its body, ten zhang long, crashing heavily onto the frozen surface.

Gazing upon the ravaged battlefield, even knowing the outcome beforehand, the group felt a surge of elation. After all, they had eliminated a Nascent Soul level demon insect. Discounting losses such as injuries and the sacrifice of over eighty thousand cannon fodder ghosts, the group suffered almost no significant casualties.

This result, coupled with the terrifying combat prowess displayed by Dongfang Fu and the others, left Bei Ye Na and Tu Lei simultaneously horrified and somewhat relieved. These women were truly terrifying. Tu Lei, known as the foremost Ghost General under the Heavenly Ghost King, possessed some renown. Yet, he felt he was inferior even to Qi Feifei, the weakest among the women. Not to mention the two named Dongfang Fu and Ding Wanyan.

Furthermore, the masked girl in green robes possessed extremely formidable power. Tu Lei, a high-tier Ghost General, felt an inexplicable fear and heartfelt reverence toward her, a feeling even he couldn't quite fathom.

The battle thoroughly subdued the several renowned experts from the Heavenly Ghost King’s faction. This paved the way for Lei Dong’s future maneuvers.

However, just as everyone prepared to move to assist Lei Dong and proceed with the plan, the unexpected occurred—