The first to react was not those two High-Rank Ghost Kings, but Lei Dong. As the Heavenly Ghost King suddenly changed his expression, unleashing a powerful and suffocating aura, Lei Dong’s face shifted. Black mist erupted from his body, enveloping Wan Yan and the other women, as well as Xiao You. With a heavy flap of his wings, he flashed outward.

Having been around the Heavenly Ghost King for a considerable time, Lei Dong knew that the aura of a Mid-Rank Ghost King could never be this suffocating. Seeing the King’s sudden display of supreme, self-aggrandizing confidence, and hearing him utter the name of the Netherworld Ghost Emperor, Lei Dong reacted with lightning speed and bolted. Every sign indicated something was amiss here—most likely a trap. Though Lei Dong couldn't fathom why the Heavenly Ghost King had lured them here or what his scheme was, even using his toes to think, he knew it couldn't be good.

Lei Dong’s incredibly swift reaction momentarily stunned even the Heavenly Ghost King. But in the next instant, he merely looked toward the space where Lei Dong vanished and let out a contemptuous sneer. With a flick of his long cloak billowing in the wind, the Heavenly Ghost King suddenly strode forward, vanishing into the void as well.

Almost instantaneously, Lei Dong, carrying the others, reappeared several miles from the origin point, his form flickering indistinctly. The Netherworld ghost energy around him writhed unstably. His face was deathly pale, and with a soft plop, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Nephew Lei, where do you think you are going?” The Heavenly Ghost King, whose form seemed vastly larger now, stepped casually out of the void, his eyes bearing a look of mockery tinged with a smile. “We have known each other for quite some time. To leave now without so much as a word—do you truly hold me, your senior, in such low regard?”

Lei Dong’s face showed no panic or anger, only cold composure. He dispersed the Netherworld ghost energy, releasing the stunned and uneasy group. Only then did he exert his power to dispel the residual blood at the corner of his mouth. He bowed respectfully to the Heavenly Ghost King, his expression tinged with a plea. “Senior Heavenly Ghost, forgive my dim sight; I failed to recognize that you have already attained the rank of Ghost Emperor. However, I beg you to remember our association with the Yin Sha Sect, and the sincere respect I have always held for you deep in my heart. Please spare us juniors.” During the spatial teleportation just now, he had been struck out by the Heavenly Ghost King. Combining this with his earlier judgment, Lei Dong guessed that the Heavenly Ghost King absolutely could not merely be a Mid-Rank Ghost King; he must already be an Emperor-level existence. Only at the Ghost Emperor level would he possess such a profound grasp of the laws of space, allowing him to shatter Lei Dong's Asura Wings so easily.

Lei Dong’s ability to employ spatial arts stemmed from the spatial power carried by the Asura King’s wings, not from his own profound comprehension of the laws of space. But a Ghost Emperor’s grasp of spatial laws was entirely his own achievement. The two were not comparable.

Facing an existence of this caliber, Lei Dong knew that he and his companions possessed absolutely no power to resist. Since escape was impossible, begging for mercy was mandatory. Lei Dong saw no point in charging forward in grief and despair just to meet a certain death.

“Hahaha, Nephew Lei is indeed a perceptive individual, one who understands the times.” The Heavenly Ghost King—no, the Heavenly Ghost Emperor—stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking exceptionally high-spirited. He made no attempt to conceal his admiration for Lei Dong. “You are the most outstanding young man I have ever met. Not only is your strength unparalleled among your peers, but more importantly, you lack the arrogance and instability of youth; you know when to advance and when to retreat, and you understand the situation. Moreover, you have always shown me sincere and heartfelt respect. Tell you what, I will give you a chance: swear your fealty to me, and I can ensure that from this day forward, you will command the winds and waves, thriving everywhere you go.”

The girls were also exceptionally bright. Realizing something had gone terribly wrong, they made no sound, but clustered obediently behind Lei Dong, ready to follow his lead in all matters.

Lei Dong adopted an expression of deep contemplation. After a brief pause, he cupped his hands solemnly and said, “For a Ghost Emperor of your stature to personally extend an invitation to recruit a junior like myself, I am naturally deeply honored. How could I possibly refuse?”

“Good, good. Nephew Lei, you truly know how to read the signs,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor said. Having interacted with Lei Dong for some time, he knew the young man was a rare talent. He had initially felt a pang of regret at the prospect of having to eliminate him during this affair. But Lei Dong’s understanding of the situation led him to practically beg for surrender, which brought the Heavenly Ghost Emperor a wave of relief. In his future endeavors for supremacy, he desperately needed talent like Lei Dong to assist him, not to mention that his companions were all remarkable and held immense potential. This realization filled the Heavenly Ghost Emperor with pride. “Nephew Lei, as long as you pledge your sincere loyalty and assist me, I certainly will not fail you. The Nine Nether Ghost Flame you desire, I will find it for you.” Seeing how he had reacted to flee without hesitation the moment the situation turned, the Emperor knew this person was no ordinary figure. Recognizing the rarity of talent like Lei Dong, the Heavenly Ghost Emperor spoke words of appeasement.

“Senior, having interacted with me for so long, you should be clear about my character. Once my word is given, there is no possibility of retraction. Once I pledge loyalty, it will be unwavering. Regarding my personality, surely with your meticulous planning, you have already investigated it.” As he spoke, Lei Dong bowed with equal gravity. “As the saying goes, a fine bird chooses its tree to nest in. To be able to pledge allegiance to a reigning Ghost Emperor is indeed a monumental honor for me. However, please forgive me for speaking frankly before I swear my oath; I ask for your permission.”

The first half of his statement truly struck the Heavenly Ghost Emperor’s heart. Indeed, when Lei Dong first arrived in the Heavenly Ghost City, the Emperor had already dispatched men to investigate the past deeds of Lei Dong and his entourage. He learned of Lei Dong’s integrity in keeping his word, his reputation for honoring elders, and certainly, his cautious and meticulous nature.

It was precisely this nature that made the Heavenly Ghost Emperor value him even more highly. If the youngster were rash and capricious, the Heavenly Ghost Emperor would have lost all interest in conversing with him, let alone recruiting him. Even if Lei Dong were kneeling and begging for his life, killing him would have been done without hesitation.

“Speak,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor wanted to hear what frank words this 'Nephew Lei' he so admired had to say.

“Respecting the strong is, by rights, what should be done. In this world, I am merely a small figure struggling desperately, striving to climb upward to secure a sliver of survival. To gain the protection and backing of a peak-level figure like a Ghost Emperor means a clear path ahead. How could I fail to understand the times? However, as I mentioned before, a fine bird chooses its tree to nest in. Before I pledge my fealty, I implore the Senior to see this current arrangement through to completion. When that time comes, I will offer my most solemn oath of allegiance to you, with no possibility of reversal.”

The Heavenly Ghost Emperor, hearing this, did not get angry but laughed instead. “Hahaha, Nephew Lei means you want me to first settle the score with the Netherworld Ghost Emperor and determine the victor before you pledge fealty to me? A cunning calculation, I must say. What if I refuse?” An overwhelmingly powerful aura pressed down upon Lei Dong.

“Please allow me one more measure of seriousness. Consider this: if I were to hastily swear allegiance now merely to save my own life, what if I betrayed you when you found yourself in a disadvantageous position? Would you admire such conduct? I have already stated that pledging allegiance is the most solemn matter in one’s life. Once decided, I will remain loyal until the end. This concerns not only me but also my wife and family. I implore the Senior to permit me this additional prudence.” As Lei Dong spoke, his demeanor was profoundly serious, and his eyes conveyed sincere conviction. He struggled fiercely against the pressure emanating from the Heavenly Ghost Emperor.

In truth, this was precisely his plan. If the Heavenly Ghost Emperor successfully schemed against the Netherworld Ghost Emperor and replaced him, under those circumstances, the options would be surrender or death. As for escape, Lei Dong had already tried; there was almost no chance of breaking free from the Heavenly Ghost Emperor.

In such a situation, it was better to take the initiative willingly than to be forced into submission. If the Heavenly Ghost Emperor truly possessed the ability to destroy the Netherworld Ghost Emperor, then pledging allegiance to him would be acceptable.

An entity of the Heavenly Ghost Emperor's level, with intent, could surely discern the sincerity in Lei Dong’s words. But regardless of his judgment, he could feel the truth within Lei Dong’s speech, that there was no element of pretense involved. It made sense: if Lei Dong were the type to casually swear fealty and then plot betrayal the moment circumstances turned unfavorable, the Heavenly Ghost Emperor would have slapped him dead long ago, not wasted time talking to him. It was precisely this quality that made the Emperor admire him so much. Instantly, he retracted the imposing pressure he exerted, laughing loudly with uninhibited heartiness. “Well said, ‘allow me one more measure of seriousness.’ Very well, I shall grant you a chance for prudence. Watch closely how I supplant that old ghoul of the Netherworld. By then, you will be grateful for your choice.”

“Your junior shall wait and see,” Lei Dong replied, bowing respectfully.

“Then follow me. If anyone attempts to flee this time, I will not show mercy again,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor warned briefly before tearing open space and stepping into the void. The strike he used to intercept Lei Dong earlier had indeed been a show of mercy. The gap between them was too vast; as a Ghost Emperor, dispatching Lei Dong with a single blow would have been effortless. It was the same principle as Lei Dong facing a Qi Condensation cultivator—the latter would have no room to resist.

Lei Dong glanced back at the calm-faced girls and sighed. “This time, I was careless, and I have implicated you all. If the Heavenly Ghost Emperor wins, then we shall truly dedicate our entire hearts to his service.”

“Husband, Wan Yan follows where the chicken goes; I leave all decisions to you,” Ding Wan Yan looked at Lei Dong with soft, tender eyes.

“Master said that once we enter the Nether Domain, we are to listen to whatever Lei Dong decides. I have no objections either,” Dongfang Fu stated calmly.

“Lei Dong, whatever decision you make, I will support you unconditionally,” Qi Feifei murmured with affection.

Lei Dong glanced at Xiao You, who seemed somewhat disgruntled. He gathered the ghost energy around his body, enveloping everyone, spread his wings, and flew in the direction of the Heavenly Ghost Emperor.

……RO