"Not a top-grade Dharma Treasure?" Even the mentally steadfast Lei Dong felt a surge of excitement. "Could it be that you intend to refine a...", "...That's right. Refining a Xiantian Lingbao with Xiantian materials is the most fitting approach." Wang Lei stated it as a matter of course, his expression suggesting he was casually forging a farming hoe rather than attempting a Xiantian Lingbao.

It was true, then. Lei Dong couldn't help but feel a bit dizzy. Over the past few years, he had dabbled in artifact refining, even at a beginner's level, and he knew exactly how difficult it was to forge a Xiantian Lingbao. For the vast majority of Refinement Grandmasters, let alone a Xiantian Lingbao, the success rate for even a peak-grade Dharma Treasure was terrifyingly low.

One had to understand that forging a Xiantian Lingbao wasn't just about possessing the requisite Xiantian materials; the Refiner's skill had to reach a divine level for success to even be a possibility. It was much like the ancient era: Xiantian materials were abundant, yet how many Xiantian Lingbaos were ultimately forged?

As far as Lei Dong knew, the Cultivation World fell into decline after the Great Calamity of antiquity. Tens of thousands of years had passed since then, yet the rumored number of successfully forged Xiantian Lingbaos was minuscule—fewer than twenty. While the scarcity of Xiantian materials played a part, the greater reasons lay in the fractured lineage of refining techniques and the lack of experience among Refinement Grandmasters.

In ancient times, Refinement Grandmasters had countless Xiantian materials to practice with; even if they ruined the attempt, it wasn't a significant loss. If they succeeded once in ten tries, they could be hailed as Divine Craftsmen. But now, how many Xiantian materials were available for a Grandmaster to squander in practice? Many Refinement Grandmasters lived their entire lives without ever seeing a single Xiantian material.

Because of this, Lei Dong’s heart hammered violently. Wang Lei was certainly an extraordinarily skilled Refinement Grandmaster in his perception, but to attempt refining a Xiantian Lingbao? He likely lacked the necessary depth. Not to mention the priceless Chaos Essence Iron—the three primary auxiliary materials he had practically exchanged his life for; they couldn't be wasted so carelessly.

"Hey, what's with that expression?" Wang Lei’s life had been overwhelmingly bitter. His only benefactor was the Heavenly Demon. Because of her, he had interacted with Lei Dong many times, and his relationship with Lei Dong had gradually improved through Lei Dong’s habitual flattery. Having lived in solitude on the island for so long, Wang Lei felt more animated after Lei Dong’s arrival. He chuckled, "Do you truly mistrust me that much?" This world, after all, was one where strength reigned supreme. When Lei Dong was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, Wang Lei treated him courteously, perhaps out of respect for the Heavenly Demon, but he certainly wouldn't joke so freely.

"No, I trust you completely," Lei Dong replied, shrugging easily. "Just refine it with confidence. It’s no big deal even if you fail."

Wang Lei paused. Setting aside whether Lei Dong's trust was genuine or feigned, his nonchalant attitude alone was impressive. Every single material needed to forge this Xiantian Lingbao was a treasure beyond measure, especially the Chaos Essence Iron, which was nearly extinct in the world now. Any person with even rudimentary knowledge of refining knew that the current success rate for Refinement Grandmasters forging a Xiantian Lingbao likely wouldn't even reach ten percent.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Wang Lei's expression gradually grew serious. He took a deep breath. "Lei Dong, since you are so generous, I, Wang, cannot be stingy. To be frank, the reason I reached the level of a Refinement Grandmaster at such a young age is because, during my Qi Refining stage, I obtained an extraordinary inheritance. It belonged to a renowned Divine Craftsman from the ancient era. It is with this that I have surpassed everyone else on the path of refining. Now," Wang Lei continued without boasting, "ordinary Refinement Grandmasters are mere novices before me. And the vast majority of that inheritance concerns the methods and countless insights for refining Xiantian Lingbaos. For years, I have dedicated myself to this desolate island, continuously researching the forging of Xiantian Lingbaos. I believe I have fully absorbed the theory; all I lack is practical application."

Lei Dong was genuinely moved, not just by the shock that Wang Lei possessed an ancient inheritance, but because Wang Lei trusted him enough to reveal such a secret so frankly. Were he a greedy man, he might already be harboring malicious thoughts. He took a deep breath, his face solemn and earnest: "Thank you for your trust, Brother Wang. I, Lei Dong, swear here and now that I will never divulge a single word of what you told me today. If I do, may I be struck by the Five Thunders and have my soul utterly destroyed."

Wang Lei waved his hand dismissively, replying calmly, "My life was saved by Senior Heavenly Demon, and even my vengeance was settled by her assistance. And you and the Heavenly Demon..." Wang Lei did not finish the sentence, but it was clear he knew of the connection between the Heavenly Demon and Lei Dong. It remained uncertain whether he had deduced it himself, or if the Heavenly Demon had proactively revealed their relationship to elevate Lei Dong's status, knowing Lei Dong sought to recruit Wang Lei.

Lei Dong suspected the latter. By the standards of his previous life, Wang Lei was a classic tech enthusiast who wouldn't understand reading subtle social cues or gauging relationships. This realization brought a faint wave of emotion to Lei Dong. The Heavenly Demon, it seemed, had always been devoted to him selflessly, willing to sacrifice even her dignity.

"What about the Nascent Soul-level Demonic Dragon Beast Soul and the Netherworld Ghost Flame? Bring them out quickly so I can appraise them." Wang Lei was indeed a technical specialist. After a few pleasantries and reaching a consensus, he grew impatient to see the other two items. As an expert obsessed with refining, he was naturally most interested in those truly rare materials. Both the Demonic Dragon Beast Soul and the Ghost Flame were objects rarely seen in the world, impossible to acquire even with Spirit Stones.

Lei Dong made no excuses. He first produced the beast soul of the demonic dragon, sealed within a crystal sphere. It looked like a miniature, semi-transparent black young dragon, perpetually swimming and roaring within the soul-sealing orb, baring its tiny fangs. However, such fierce posturing, coupled with its diminutive appearance, made it oddly endearing.

"Excellent, excellent, truly the soul of a Netherworld Demonic Dragon." Wang Lei stared at the beast soul, his eyes shining like a child encountering the most amusing toy. This caused the beast soul, which still retained some intelligence, to cease its arrogance and instead cower in fear, shrinking into a ball with a look of pleading in its eyes.

"Brother Wang, I did not obtain the Netherworld Ghost Flame; I only have this." Lei Dong waved his hand casually, and a patch of azure blue ghostly flame materialized out of thin air. Having previously suffered under Lei Dong, it had learned its lesson, now circling Lei Dong playfully and attentively. Within the flame, the features resembling a ghostly face constantly contorted, emitting small, silly noises.

Wang Lei was initially stunned, but then his eyes bulged wide. His face contorted as he pointed at the azure flame, stuttering, "Th-this, this, this is..."

"Indeed, this is the evolved form of the Netherworld Ghost Flame: the Nine Nether Ghost Flame." Even Lei Dong couldn't hide a touch of pride in his expression. Obtaining this Nine Nether Ghost Flame had been a truly heart-stopping, life-risking endeavor. Even if he didn't use it as refining material, merely absorbing it would elevate the power of his Netherfire-series spells to a terrifying degree.

Wang Lei drew a sharp breath. In his life, he had seen the Netherworld Ghost Flame once, but regarding the Nine Nether Ghost Flame, he had only encountered it in documentation. He had assumed Lei Dong would have to pay an immense price and spend vast amounts of time just to acquire one Netherworld Ghost Flame. To have gathered all three items in a mere two or three years already seemed incredible to Wang Lei. Yet, he had even managed to bring back this—the Nine Nether Ghost Flame.

Tremblingly, he reached out a hand as if to stroke the Nine Nether Ghost Flame.

WHOOSH—a searing stream of azure flame leaped skyward. The Nine Nether Ghost Flame, which had been acting cute and pitiful before Lei Dong, instantly revealed its ferocious nature, hissing and transforming into an azure giant of flame, seeming ready to devour Wang Lei whole.

"Insolence!" Lei Dong, whose injuries were not yet fully healed, had been able to suppress the Nine Nether Ghost Flame. Now, with his injuries mostly mended, he unleashed his imposing aura, bearing down upon it fiercely.

The cowardly Nine Nether Ghost Flame instantly lost its ferocity and obediently reverted to the form of a small flame.

But Wang Lei seemed completely unbothered, his face etched with maniacal joy. "Good, good! To think that you, Lei Dong, managed to obtain the Nine Nether Ghost Flame! This is a peerless treasure that even a Deity Transformation expert would fight to the death for. With this, not only will the success rate, but also the power of the Ten Thousand Ghost Banner we refine, increase by more than double." Lei Dong felt a stirring of emotion; one Nine Nether Ghost Flame could yield such an effect?

"Lei Dong, be my assistant. I guarantee that the Xiantian Lingbao-grade Ten Thousand Ghost Banner we forge for you will rank among the upper tier, even within that grade." Wang Lei seemed to burn with fervor, his eyes alight with passion. "Don't bother looking for the other auxiliary materials; I have them all stored here."

Lei Dong's spirit soared, and he began assisting him.

One month, two months. A full four months passed.

In the sky above, dark, dense storm clouds suddenly gathered, and lightning began to coalesce and brew within them.

"Lei Dong, this is the final juncture. It seems the treasure we are forging has attracted Heavenly Jealousy, triggering the primordial destruction rule of the Heavens. I will perform the final step; you must block the Heavenly Thunder and protect the treasure. Otherwise, all will be for naught." Lei Dong had heard that the emergence of exceptionally powerful inverted treasures or elixirs would invoke Heavenly Tribulations, much like a cultivator's advancement. He never expected his Ten Thousand Ghost Banner would warrant such treatment.

BOOM—

A bolt of azure Heavenly Thunder, as thick as a water-bucket, crashed down mercilessly, aimed directly at the nearly completed Ten Thousand Ghost Banner.