"Your Majesty, Lei Dong treats Xiao You exceptionally well, just like a biological sister. Indeed, Your Majesty just witnessed how Lei Dong was willing to fight desperately against the powerful Ghost Emperor Tian Gui just to prevent him from harming Xiao You." Xiao You became anxious: "If Lei Dong's wife or companion dies, Lei Dong will surely be devastated. Then, Xiao You will also feel unbearable guilt, leaving a permanent knot in her heart, making any hope of advancing to Ghost Emperor nearly impossible. I beg Your Majesty Brother to grant this wish, please."

Perhaps it was the utterance of "Your Majesty Brother," or perhaps because the Nether Ghost Emperor genuinely valued and held high hopes for Xiao You, he found it difficult to dismiss her earnest pleading. Thus, he reluctantly agreed. At worst, this would only delay his recovery by a few years. After all, an heir had already been found this time, one whose marrow had been cleansed and body reforged using Nether Essence early on. Between the Celestial Spirit Ghosts, there had always been an inexplicable attraction, though not one born of romance. It was a feeling akin to kinship, an overwhelming sense of familiarity. In his youth, the Nether Ghost Emperor had also committed many errors.

Driven by ambition, the desire for hegemony, and a profound fear, he had personally ended the life of his predecessor, the Ghost Emperor who had found him, raised him, and educated him—a figure like a teacher and father. To prevent history from repeating itself, he acted against the special affinity shared between Celestial Spirit Ghosts; he sought out the next generation of Celestial Spirit Ghosts only to destroy them.

Only in his later years did he become deeply haunted and filled with regret over these deeds. But what was done was done, irreversible. This was also one of the reasons why he treasured the current generation's Celestial Spirit Ghost, Xiao You, so much, even to the point of risking his life for her.

Meanwhile, Ghost Emperor Tian Gui, after expending great effort to trap Lei Dong, was then driven by fury to turn his demonic claws upon Lei Dong's wife and others. It seemed as if slaying everyone close to him was the only way to cover up his recent actions and mask the immense injury inflicted by Lei Dong’s explosion. He had lived for over two thousand years, and since reaching the Ghost King stage, this was the first time he had been forced into such a corner by a group of Golden Core realm cultivators. Just as Ghost Emperor Tian Gui teleported several times, preparing to strike them down, the Nine-Faced Formation Flags quietly materialized. On the flags, the monstrous beasts of the Netherworld appeared, each one terrifying and ferocious.

"Old Nether Ghost," Ghost Emperor Tian Gui hastily stopped, flying backward in utter terror, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the Nether Black Evil Formation. Even at his peak strength, Ghost Emperor Tian Gui would never dare force his way into the Nether Black Evil Formation, let alone in his current weakened state; once caught, death would be certain.

Ghost Emperor Tian Gui sought to provoke the Nether Emperor into emerging, but without Xiao You as a threat, how could the cunning and sly Nether Ghost Emperor be baited? He merely upheld his agreement with Xiao You, protecting the women within the Nether Black Evil Formation. However, he did grant the kindness of informing Ding Wanyan that Lei Dong was not dead, but was currently cultivating alongside Xiao You and would emerge from seclusion in three months.

This assurance allowed the women to remain within the Nether Black Evil Formation to recuperate from their injuries.

In the battle against Ghost Emperor Tian Gui, although they couldn't play a decisive role due to their lack of understanding of spatial laws, every one of them was severely wounded. Ghost Emperor Tian Gui was unwilling to concede, so he stationed himself before the formation. Relying on his millennia of experience, he erected a simple array outside, its function equally straightforward: it isolated the Nether Ghost Qi within a radius of tens of miles. This prevented the extremely weak Nether Ghost Emperor from utilizing the Nether Ghost Qi to heal and recover. Consequently, the Nether Black Evil Formation would gradually weaken. Ghost Emperor Tian Gui could even estimate that if things continued this way, it would only take a few years to exhaust and kill the Nether Ghost Emperor. Once the old ghost died, the Nether Black Evil Formation would become masterless, thus benefiting Ghost Emperor Tian Gui entirely, wouldn't it?

Furthermore, the Nether Vortex still contained a substantial amount of Nether Essence. Yet, with his current power, he couldn't guarantee a safe entry and exit, especially with the Nether Ghost Emperor lurking nearby. Now, only after completely eliminating the Nether Ghost Emperor and those women, and recovering half his strength, would he dare enter the Nether Vortex to absorb that Nether Essence.

Alas, Ghost Emperor Tian Gui had drastically underestimated the probability of Lei Dong being swept into the Nether Vortex and dying. His current weakened divine sense was incapable of piercing the violent vortex to scout the center. As a result, he overlooked the most crucial element.

Turning to Lei Dong’s situation, after Xiao You misled the Nether Ghost Emperor away, she imprinted the Nether King Body Tempering Art directly into Lei Dong’s mind through their telepathic link. She then held Lei Dong tightly, ceaselessly injecting pure Nether Ghost Qi into his body, using this auxiliary method to help Lei Dong operate the Nether King Body Tempering Art.

At this moment, Lei Dong’s body was on the verge of collapse, his consciousness completely clouded. Vaguely, he perceived mysterious, esoteric patterns, meridians for internal energy circulation, and various profound characters appearing in his mind. Lei Dong couldn't understand these characters in the slightest; he had never seen anything like them in his life. But just as he vaguely wondered about them, Xiao You’s faint voice echoed in his mind, explaining the meaning of each symbol.

However, Lei Dong was already too weak to mobilize the Nether King Body Tempering Art. In fact, even if he had the strength, cultivating this technique would be difficult. After all, this manual was an esoteric technique specifically designed for the Ghost Race, requiring the unique aptitude of a Celestial Spirit Ghost to practice.

Xiao You felt sorrow and helplessness. Others might not know, but she was aware that her Master’s Demonic Emperor Transformation had reached its extreme, draining him of all his power. Combined with the devastating damage from the Nether Vortex, he was in a near-death state. Infusing him with Nether Ghost Qi through conventional means would no longer allow Lei Dong to use it to nourish his body and restore his strength.

She gazed somewhat blankly at Lei Dong’s blood-streaked, unrecognizable face. She could not forget every moment spent with him since they met. More vividly, she could not forget how he unhesitatingly stood before her when threatened by Ghost Emperor Tian Gui, willing to fight such a powerful entity. If not for his steadfastness, his sense of right and wrong, she, Xiao You, would likely have already bid farewell to this world. Being protected by him, being treated as his sister—it felt truly wonderful. Just as Lei Dong had said, he had never truly treated her as a mere ghost servant, but rather as his own sister. Moreover, their connection was already extraordinary; the blood sacrifice had made them, in a sense, a single entity.

It was precisely because of all these factors that Xiao You defied the Nether Ghost Emperor’s command, sparing no effort to give the Nether King Body Tempering Art and the Nether Essence to Lei Dong. Pitifully, the Nether Ghost Emperor was enduring hardship, still hoping Xiao You would break through her limits through this and inherit his great legacy.

At this moment, Xiao You, whose face was undeniably pale like a human's, flushed faintly. Her eyes closed tightly, and her small lips pressed against Lei Dong’s purple ones, pouring mouthfuls of pure Natal Ghost Qi into him. To outsiders, Nether Ghost Qi represented the power of death. But in reality, anyone deeply familiar with it knew it was a force representing vitality.

The reason Celestial Spirit Ghosts were named as such was not merely due to their excellent innate aptitude; a breath of pure Natal Ghost Qi was the very foundation of their existence in this world. And this Natal Ghost Qi was one of the finest healing elixirs in the heavens—mysterious and teeming with life force.

After an unknown amount of time, Lei Dong finally began to stir awake. The shattered meridians within his body had miraculously recovered slightly under the nourishment of Xiao You’s Natal Ghost Qi. His nearly vanished consciousness and lingering soul gradually cleared. Blinking sluggishly, the first thing he registered were Xiao You’s cold lips, and the continuous flow of cool energy pouring into his body.

"Natal Ghost Qi?" Having diligently cultivated the Ghost Taming Arts, Lei Dong knew exactly what this life essence, most critical to the Ghost Race, represented. Of course, an Upper Grade Spirit Ghost General could only expel a very small amount of Natal Ghost Qi; even offering it sincerely, their reserves were quickly depleted. Only High Grade Spirits possessed a significant amount, as it was fundamental to their continued survival and evolution. If a High Grade Spirit used its Natal Ghost Qi to save someone, it could barely keep a dying person alive, but the consequence would be the complete dissipation of that High Grade Spirit.

Recalling the nature of Natal Ghost Qi, Lei Dong was greatly alarmed. He urgently pushed Xiao You away, chiding her somewhat reproachfully: "Xiao You, what are you doing?"

"Master." The massive transfer of Natal Ghost Qi had left Xiao You's spectral form extremely weak and blurry.

Now, she resembled a semi-transparent silhouette, completely lacking the appearance of the pure, vibrant young maiden she had been moments before. Her face was pale and haggard, and she smiled weakly, "You're finally awake."

"Enough, stop talking." Lei Dong was also sharp; he immediately grasped the preceding events. Seeing Xiao You in a state close to extinction, he felt both heartache and a surge of guilt. He gently pulled her into his embrace, pricked his finger, and let a drop of blood drip near her lips: "Here, suck some of my essence blood."

His Master's essence blood was the finest medicine for a Ghost Servant to recover vitality. But essence blood was more than mere blood; it contained the Master's near-half essence, spirit, and energy. After one ingestion of essence blood, the Master would require at least a month of intensive recuperation to barely regain his vitality. Xiao You, who had just managed to save Lei Dong, was unwilling to draw it, nestling coquettishly in his arms: "No, Master, don't force Xiao You to drink blood." Her expression suggested a profound aversion to blood.

No matter how Lei Dong tried to persuade her, she adamantly refused, pouting and acting petulant. Lei Dong understood this was Xiao You’s way of showing concern for him, and a soft sigh escaped him.

...