In the grand hierarchy of the Underworld, the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld held absolute, unquestioned authority. Yet, throughout his long existence, he had never experienced a moment so tender. Though slightly embarrassed by Little You's affectionate clinginess, he repeatedly agreed, "Yes, yes, your father will give it to you, isn't that enough?"

His demeanor towards Lei Dong, however, was far less accommodating. He snorted, "You brat, you got lucky this time. I finally managed to acquire a Nine Nether Ghost Flame, and I hadn't even managed to refine it yet." With a wave of his sleeve, a small cluster of azure-blue spectral fire drifted lazily toward Lei Dong.

Lei Dong was overjoyed beyond measure. Originally, he had only allowed Little You to intercede because he wished to leverage the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld's influence, hoping merely to glean some intelligence about the Nine Nether Ghost Flames. He never imagined the Ghost Emperor possessed an unrefined Nine Nether Ghost Flame. It was no wonder the Ghost Emperor of the Heavens had previously stated the flame resided deep within the Nine Nether Abyss.

It now seemed clear that the Ghost Emperor of the Heavens had learned through an insider source that the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld had just recently obtained a Nine Nether Ghost Flame.

Ordinary flames could, of course, be described in terms of quantity—one cluster, two clusters. However, some truly powerful flames possessed a measure of sentience, existing almost like independent life forms. Even the standard Nether Ghost Flame was a rare treasure with nascent awareness. How much more so the Nine Nether Ghost Flame, which existed as an evolved form.

Under the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld's control, the Nine Nether Ghost Flame remained outwardly docile, showing no hint of its true nature. But the moment Lei Dong activated his spiritual sense and enveloped it, the flame erupted violently. The blue fire writhed and flickered, desperately trying to wrench itself free from the spiritual restraint. Deep within the azure body of the flame, a face resembling a vicious fiend could vaguely be discerned, baring its teeth at Lei Dong in a display of fierce defiance.

"Hmph."

Lei Dong dismissed it with a low, disdainful sound. His immense, peerless spiritual sense acted like a solid wall, locking down the Nine Nether Ghost Flame and relentlessly squeezing inward. Poor Nine Nether Ghost Flame, it had chosen the wrong target for its outburst. Under the pressure of Lei Dong's divine sense, it shrank smaller and smaller, eventually being compressed to the size of a small fist, barely clinging to existence, on the verge of extinguishment.

Squeak, squeak, squeak—a series of plaintive pleas for mercy rang out. The tiny phantom face contorted into a pitiable expression, begging for release. This entity was clearly a bully that picked on the weak. It had sensed Lei Dong’s initial presence and thought it an opportunity to escape, never anticipating that the spiritual power of the person before it would be so terrifying.

Strike while the iron is hot; Lei Dong certainly understood this principle and continued to compress the flame relentlessly. His incredibly potent spiritual sense formed an unbreakable shackle around the flame, completely ignoring its desperate pleas.

After a long while, when the Nine Nether Ghost Flame seemed truly unable to endure any longer and was about to vanish entirely, Lei Dong withdrew his spiritual sense and beckoned the flame toward him with a curled finger.

Having endured such suffering, the Nine Nether Ghost Flame dared not slight Lei Dong any longer. Ignoring its weakened state, it scurried over to him eagerly, its flickering flame wiggling and making exaggerated expressions in an attempt to curry favor. Judging by its immediate obedience, it was indeed sentient, perhaps no less so than a common demonic beast.

The Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld nearby was slightly taken aback. Lei Dong truly managed to bring considerable shock to even a well-traveled Ghost Emperor like himself. A cultivator merely at the peak of the Core Formation stage possessed a spiritual sense so powerful it surpassed that of a typical peak Core Formation master, nearing the Nascent Soul level. This was exceedingly rare among human cultivators, even stronger than some races specializing in spiritual cultivation.

Considering his age made the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld, a native of the Celestial Spirit Ghost race, feel a twinge of embarrassment. In truth, it was Lei Dong's myriad unbelievable qualities that finally convinced him to offer the Nine Nether Ghost Flame. Firstly, it served as a measure of gratitude for Lei Dong eliminating the Ghost Emperor of the Heavens; secondly, it was certainly an attempt to invest in a favorable future connection. The women surrounding this young man were all exceptional figures with limitless potential. And Lei Dong himself? His future was immeasurable. With Little You bridging the relationship, when she eventually inherited the Netherworld, she might just secure an incredibly powerful ally for the Ghost Race.

This was, after all, a harsh and pragmatic world. If Lei Dong were a talentless wastrel, no matter how deeply the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld cherished Little You, he would never have surrendered such a rare, world-shaking treasure as the Nine Nether Ghost Flame. His immediate surrender of the infant flame was also partly a test of Lei Dong's capabilities. Had Lei Dong failed to control even this mere young flame, he would have faced the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld’s other, more tyrannical and unreasonable side.

Having settled matters, Lei Dong respectfully bowed and offered salutations to the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld, "Thank you, Senior, for this magnificent gift. I shall engrave this kindness upon my heart and will spare no effort, wading through fire and water, if you ever require my services." Although young, Lei Dong was far from simple. He had not missed the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld's subtle calculations. While he admired the Emperor's strength, he also found a flicker of amusement within himself: how could such a powerful Ghost Emperor possess such petty tendencies? It was no wonder that one of the Emperor’s subordinates had harbored rebellious thoughts. Lei Dong’s philosophy was always to commit fully to a favor—if he intended to repay one, he would do so completely. If he did not wish to incur an obligation, not even coercion would make him yield. Never leave things halfway, lest you incur a debt while still leaving a sour impression.

Once again assured of Lei Dong’s exceptional nature, the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld’s expression softened slightly. Seeing Lei Dong remain consistently respectful only increased his favorable opinion. He waved his hand, saying, "In terms of value, this Nine Nether Ghost Flame is only slightly inferior to the Essence of the Netherworld, yet it remains a supremely rare marvel. Now that both the Essence of the Netherworld and the Nine Nether Ghost Flame have been granted to you for your use, the Hidden Dragon Pendant obtained from the Ghost Emperor of the Heavens shall remain with me. Consider this a personal favor I now owe you."

"Even if Your Excellency had not mentioned it, this item was intended for you," Lei Dong replied without hesitation, producing the Hidden Dragon Pendant and respectfully handing it over.

This time, it was the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld who was astonished. His tone shifted slightly as he questioned, "Lei Dong, the Hidden Dragon Pendant is a primeval Innate Spiritual Treasure, possessing the power to conceal one's aura against heaven itself. Even a Qi Refining cultivator using it would be invisible to a Divine Transformation expert trying to discern their true strength. Are you truly willing to give it to me?"

Lei Dong maintained an open and honest demeanor. "The Hidden Dragon Pendant originated in the Netherworld; I cannot keep it with a clear conscience. Furthermore, if Your Excellency had not disregarded your injuries to cast a divine spell and save my life in the Netherworld Vortex, I would not be standing here speaking to you now. As for favors, please allow me to retract that offer. For a junior like myself to receive a boon and then demand another favor in return would invite ridicule."

This young man was truly no ordinary figure. His words were seamless, leaving the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld feeling petty for having suspected him, inducing a measure of shame. His good impression of Lei Dong deepened further. He nodded subconsciously, revealing the truth, "In reality, I do not seek the Hidden Dragon Pendant entirely for myself; it is meant for Little You in the future. Judging by the planning displayed by that Ghost Emperor of the Heavens, it is highly likely that individuals from the other three Emperors of the Netherworld were involved, perhaps all three. In my prime, those petty clowns could not have stirred up much trouble even if they allied. However, in my current weakened state and diminished aura, I worry I cannot hold things together."

"So, Your Excellency intends to use the Hidden Dragon Pendant to create an illusion, masking your injuries from others," Lei Dong replied, nodding with feigned realization, deliberately knitting his brows as he pondered before offering counsel, "Please forgive my bluntness, but Your Excellency has ruled the Ghost Race for millennia; it is inevitable that there is a second Ghost King of the Heavens, perhaps even a third among your subordinates. In a large forest, all manner of birds will appear. In my humble view, it would be better to turn the plot against them, using this opportunity to purge internal threats."

The Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld jolted slightly. After a prolonged silence of contemplation, he finally sighed faintly, "You humans are indeed adept at strategy. Very well, turning the plot against them—I wish to see precisely how many jumped-up clowns reveal themselves this time."

In truth, Lei Dong’s counsel was not offered out of genuine concern for the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld. Ever since he decided to lift the binding on Little You, he had already placed his bet on her eventually becoming the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld. Keeping her by his side would first mean owing her a debt, second, offending the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld, and third, it would bring him far less benefit than her accession to the imperial throne.

From every angle, dissolving the Blood Sacrifice Vow with Little You was the most advantageous move, allowing him to secure profound goodwill from both her and the Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld simultaneously. Why not seize the opportunity?

While his raw personal strength might lag slightly, Lei Dong's cultivation had already surged to the mid-Core Formation stage, and he was positioned at the higher end of that tier. A few years of quiet cultivation might propel him to the advanced stage. What satisfied Lei Dong even more was that his spiritual sense now surpassed that of ordinary peak Core Formation cultivators, lagging only slightly behind that of a typical Nascent Soul master.

With such powerful spiritual acuity, Lei Dong was confident he could manage even the transformation of Ah Chou into an early-stage Ghost King. Although Ah Chou might be slightly inferior to Little You, she would be more than sufficient for a mere mid-Core Formation cultivator like Lei Dong.

Reflecting on this, Lei Dong felt a surge of immense satisfaction. This trip to the Netherworld had been incredibly worthwhile, overwhelmingly so. Not only had he successfully gathered all three rare artifacts, but his own power had also increased substantially. Lei Dong believed that once his top-grade magical treasure, the Myriad Ghost Banner, was successfully forged and Ah Chou advanced to Ghost King status, he would no longer need to fear facing an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator alone.