After several rapid teleportations, Lei Dong burst from the void, tracking the Heavenly Ghost Emperor, only to find a shadowy sphere, several meters in diameter, floating in the space beneath his feet—glowing faintly, utterly inscrutable. Above this sphere stood the Heavenly Ghost Emperor, cloaked in black, emanating an extraordinary presence.

Two towering, frightful-looking Ghost Kings stood opposite him, their expressions tense.

Arriving at this location, Lei Dong chose silence. He had managed to secure some concessions for his group, namely being exempt from the maelstrom of the Ghost Emperor succession. Having spent considerable time in the Nether Domain, Lei Dong was somewhat aware of the traditions and rules governing the Nether Ghost Clan’s lineage. As the saying went, one mountain could not house two tigers; typically, only one true Ghost Emperor could exist among a clan.

“Old Ghost Nether, you certainly have the patience for this,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor sneered, as if everything was already grasped firmly in his hand. “Don't think I don't know: once you begin the Nether King Body Tempering Art, if you are interrupted, your essential energy will surely be devastated. Today, you have fallen right into my grasp. The cycle of Heaven's way ensures that retribution is inevitable, Old Ghost Nether.”

“Heavenly Ghost King, how dare you show disrespect to His Majesty?” Ao Ming roared, though he knew he was no match for the Heavenly Ghost Emperor, he could not abide the insult directed at the Nether Ghost Emperor he revered above all others.

“Silence, Ao Ming. The age of Old Ghost Nether should have ended long ago,” the other high-ranking Ghost King, Ao You, suddenly changed his tune. “According to the traditional rules of our Ghost Clan, His Majesty, the Heavenly Ghost Emperor, is the rightful new leader of our clan.”

“Ao You, you…” Ao Ming stared at him in utter astonishment. “You—you betrayed His Majesty?”

“This isn't called betrayal; it’s simply knowing where opportunity lies. Ao Ming, think about it: we followed our sworn brother for a thousand years—what did we ultimately gain? Empty words. He constantly promised to find wondrous treasures of Heaven and Earth for us to help us break through to the Ghost Emperor realm. But what was the result? The moment he acquired that essence of the Netherworld, he hoarded it for himself.” Ao You’s already greenish, tusked face twisted into an exceptionally vicious and savage mask. “With that old ghost around, we brothers would never see the light of day. The Heavenly Ghost Emperor has promised me that the remaining Nether Essence will be split three ways—one portion for each of us. With this essence, we finally have a fighting chance to reach the Ghost Emperor level.”

“Ao You, you’re insane!” Ao Ming roared, a mixture of rage and despair flooding him. “His Majesty treated us brothers very well!”

“So what if he treated us well? The Nether Essence is our final chance to ascend to the Ghost Emperor level! Furthermore, His Majesty the Heavenly Ghost Emperor has promised me that regardless of whether we break through to the Emperor level, he will yield half the territory for the two of us to govern, granting us parity with him!” Fierce green flames burned in Ao You’s spectral eyes. “He’s not like Old Ghost Nether, who treated us brothers like slaves for all this time. When will that end?”

“Ao You, regardless of what you think or do, I, Ao Ming, will never betray His Majesty!” Ao Ming shouted. “Ao You, turn back quickly! I will plead your case to His Majesty; I believe he will show leniency based on our years of association. Otherwise, don’t blame me, Ao Ming, for discarding our brotherhood.”

Not far away, Lei Dong watched in silence, witnessing this common display of selling out one's master for glory, a familiar sight in the cultivation world. Lei Dong had every reason to believe that in such a vast world, such events happened incessantly, nothing surprising. Everyone had the right to choose their own path; it wasn't a matter of right or wrong. However, Lei Dong didn't hold a high opinion of Ao You. Having interacted with the Heavenly Ghost Emperor for some time, even though the latter wore a veneer of deceit, there had to be moments when the pretense dropped during their dealings. Lei Dong could sense that while the Heavenly Ghost Emperor had orchestrated today’s events, at his core, he was rather magnanimous and valued loyalty. He fully believed the Heavenly Ghost Emperor would never tolerate such a turncoat.

Foolish creature. No new master ever favored those who betrayed their former one, even if it offered temporary advantages. Today, you betray your old master for profit; but who is to say you won't sell out your new master for even greater gain tomorrow?

“Ao You, my agreement with you was that you and Ao Ming would both pledge allegiance to me. You assured me you could persuade Ao Ming. But alas, it seems you have failed,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor remarked, hands clasped behind his back, chuckling coldly. It seemed he had anticipated this very scene, setting a trap for Ao You within their agreement.

A trivial trap, perhaps, but one that gave the Heavenly Ghost Emperor the pretext to sever ties with him.

“Heavenly Ghost Emperor, you…” Ao You choked, his grand ambitions instantly curdling into fury and terror. He realized immediately that this was no time to challenge the Heavenly Ghost Emperor. He transformed into a wisp of black mist, resembling a fiercely burning black flame, and darted away in a flash.

“Hmph—trying to leave? Too late now!” Since the Heavenly Ghost Emperor had decided to kill him, he certainly wouldn't allow him to escape and cause future trouble. His figure flickered slightly, vanishing from sight as if dissolving into thin air. Only a few breaths had passed.

The rapidly moving black flame exploded violently, scattering everywhere like a garish, brilliant firework. The Heavenly Ghost Emperor reappeared at his original spot, looking as if he had stood there since time immemorial, never having moved. Only his gaze swept coldly over the stunned Ao Ming.

So fierce and tyrannical was the display that even Lei Dong, who had personally experienced the Heavenly Ghost Emperor’s might, couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. The one just eliminated by the Heavenly Ghost Emperor was no ordinary stray cat or dog; that was a high-ranking Ghost King capable of dominating any realm. This clearly demonstrated that the Heavenly Ghost Emperor had indeed shown restraint towards Lei Dong. A Ghost Emperor, truly worthy of the title. Lei Dong felt no pity for Ao You's miserable end; he was merely a ghost consumed by ambition and madness, having lost his true nature.

“Ao Ming, I truly appreciate your loyalty. If you surrender now, I guarantee your life, until your spirit body fades away with the passage of time.” The Heavenly Ghost Emperor had just brutally slain a high-ranking Ghost King, yet he seemed utterly unaffected, as if crushing an ant.

“Thank you for your generous offer, Heavenly Ghost King.” Green flames burned fiercely in Ao Ming’s eyes as well, and his use of the title 'Ghost King' instead of 'Ghost Emperor' revealed his unwavering allegiance to the Nether Ghost Emperor. He spoke with chilling resolve: “But today you not only insulted and betrayed His Majesty, but you also manipulated and killed my best brother, Ao You. Whether I live or die is no longer important to me.” As the words left his mouth, he let out a fierce shout, condensing all his power into a single mass, striking toward the Heavenly Ghost Emperor like a black meteor.

He clearly prepared for a self-destructive final stand.

“I said, return.”

A light, carefree voice echoed out of nowhere. The hurtling black fire-meteor suddenly halted its momentum, then slowly accelerated backward.

“I said, vanish.”

A black ripple burst forth. The 'meteor' shot into it and was immediately and utterly gone.

The Heavenly Ghost Emperor made no attempt to pursue. Instead, hands clasped behind his back, his eyes held an unprecedented gravity. However, he chuckled lightly, “Old Ghost Nether, you finally decided to appear. But in your condition, using the Nether God True Word Art twice in succession—the sensation of spiritual backlash must not be pleasant, right?”

“Heavenly Ghost King? Ghost Emperor? You must be a Heavenly Spirit Ghost, yet I sense very little of the characteristic resonance between Heavenly Spirit Ghosts on you?” The Nether Ghost Emperor’s voice was calm, seemingly untroubled by the betrayal of his subordinate and his perilous situation.

“Heh, guess again,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor seemed to be in extremely high spirits.

The Nether Ghost Emperor pondered briefly, analyzing the situation. “It’s unlikely to be a mere spell capable of concealing a Ghost Emperor’s aura and severely dampening the special connection between Heavenly Spirit Ghosts. Such an extraordinary treasure would also be exceedingly rare. And this is within the Nether Domain… Heh, is this one of the tricks played by that little brat Dragon Emperor? The ‘Hidden Dragon Pendant’! That kid is actually willing to part with it. That is one of the few Innate Spiritual Treasures passed down since ancient times. Little Ghost Tian, you haven't returned it to him, have you?” His tone was relaxed, bearing a hint of teasing—fitting for a supreme ruler who had dominated for millennia. Even Lei Dong was deeply impressed by this composure and bearing.

“As expected of the long-lived Old Ghost Nether; you are knowledgeable and experienced,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor replied with equal grace, offering a compliment. “The other three Emperors of the Nether Domain have long envied you, old man, because you were too powerful, suppressing their chances to rise.”

“But let’s get back to the main point, little Ghost Tian. Why have you gone to such lengths to trouble me? If this is purely about the Ghost Emperor lineage, you must have heard my declaration from a thousand years ago: any Ghost Clan member who advances to Ghost Emperor, I will willingly abdicate.”

It seemed even the Nether Ghost Emperor was slightly bewildered by the situation.

“Indeed, you made a public oath to the entire Nether Domain a thousand years ago. However, you forget your intentions from two thousand years ago. Old Ghost Nether, you know in your heart that during your millennia of reign, because of your ambition, because you were unwilling to be merely an emperor for a thousand years—how many Heavenly Spirit Ghosts at the Ghost General level did you execute? Three, or perhaps four?” As he brought this up, the Heavenly Ghost Emperor’s gaze gradually turned cold, his voice tinged with a slight agitation.

Silence followed. After a long pause, the Nether Ghost Emperor’s voice returned, tinged with melancholy and resignation: “Four. I know that was the greatest mistake of my life.”

“No, it was three,” the Heavenly Ghost Emperor suddenly roared, then erupted into manic laughter, a sound bordering on savage frenzy. “What Old Ghost Nether never expected is that the little Heavenly Spirit Ghost General from two thousand years ago is not dead yet!”

What? Lei Dong and the others jolted, a sudden understanding dawning upon them.