However, the Insect Emperor’s long-windedness played right into Lei Dong’s hands; he gained precious time to recuperate more True Essence. Every sliver of True Essence he recovered meant one more thread of insurance for his life and another opportunity for survival. Moreover, Lei Dong was constantly observing the Insect Emperor. Just half a day ago, Lei Dong had gravely wounded the Emperor using the Great Belly Cannon Ghost—at that time, the Emperor’s injuries appeared far more severe than Xie Feng’s were now. Theoretically, it was impossible for the Insect Emperor to recover this rapidly; even a Deity Transformation stage expert couldn't heal so fast, even after consuming the most supreme healing elixirs.

This wasn't like the games Lei Dong used to play in his past life, where popping a pill instantly refilled the health bar.

Quite the opposite was true: the more profound the injury, the slower high-tier cultivators recovered compared to those of lower tiers. Low-level cultivators, even when near death, might only need a few months of rest to be mostly recovered.

The stronger a cultivator, the harder they were to injure, as not everything could harm them. But when they were severely wounded, recovery took years, sometimes decades, because the forces capable of inflicting such damage were far from ordinary. For instance, the trace of Annihilation Law contained within Lei Dong’s Immortal Slaying Finger was immensely powerful and actively inhibited wound regeneration. Furthermore, the mightier the life form, the stronger and more complex its individual cells, leading to an excruciatingly slow metabolism. Despite Xie Feng currently appearing unfazed, she was merely using secret arts to temporarily suppress her injuries; full recovery would take years, perhaps even more than a decade.

When Lei Dong obtained the Demon Emperor’s inheritance, he recalled the Demon Emperor boasting of taking on three opponents simultaneously and severely wounding the three Sovereigns of the Three Realms, grounding their recovery time in the very principle just mentioned.

Even beings like the Three Realms Sovereigns, possessing countless celestial treasures, could not instantly recover from catastrophic wounds. From this, it could be inferred that while the Insect Emperor might use secret arts to temporarily suppress his injuries, he absolutely could not have healed in a mere half-day. If this rapid recovery was due to a racial talent, it was terrifying beyond measure—who could possibly stand against such a species?

As Lei Dong pondered these internal musings, Xie Feng’s fury began to boil over. She had always held dominance over the Insect Emperor; how could she tolerate him now riding roughshod over her? With a face etched in cold disdain, she let out a sharp, cold snort: “Insect Emperor, you are far too arrogant, too dismissive of others. So what if you command the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm King? With you added, that’s just two insects—what is so special about that? The Underworld is vast; do you truly intend for the Corpse Worm Clan to rule supreme?”

“Hee hee, Phoenix Emperor, you guessed correctly. I do intend to dominate the entire Underworld.” The Insect Emperor’s smile suddenly twisted into one of grief and indignation: “How can you invaders understand the suffering of our Corpse Worm Clan? If I hadn’t accidentally acquired the inheritance of our ancestors, I would never have known that we Corpse Worms are the true natives of this realm. From the moment our clan was born here, we have survived within the Underworld. It was those damned Demon Race who, not only seizing control of the entire Underworld back then, but also enslaving our ancestors, using our clan as frontline cannon fodder in their endless wars. Over countless years, countless ancestors of my clan perished in the conflicts instigated by the Demon Race. When the Demon Race launched their great war against the Myriad Spirits Realm, they established numerous teleportation channels between the Underworld and the Myriad Spirits Realm, continuing to use us as expendable vanguard troops. Fortunately, the Mother of Myriad Spirits was overwhelmingly powerful, and in that final great battle, she shattered the Myriad Spirits Realm into ten fragments, lifting the largest landmass fragment to float in the endless void, forming the Spirit Realm. With her supreme divine power, she sealed the Immortal, Demon, and Fiend Realms, permitting entry but forbidding exit. Only then were we able to cling to survival, continuing as the Corpse Worm Clan to this day. Xie Feng, your Nether Phoenix Clan has indeed thrived in the Underworld for many years, but inherently, you are still invaders. My ambition is to drive out and destroy every race not native to the Underworld, and then obliterate all teleportation channels, restoring the peace the Underworld knew eons ago.”

“Hmph. What proof do you have that your race are the masters of the Underworld?” Xie Feng scoffed coldly: “It seems our Nether Phoenix Clan arrived here even earlier than your Corpse Worm Clan!”

“Proof? Hee hee, this is the proof.” The Insect Emperor abruptly threw back his black robe, revealing the grim, ugly face of a middle-aged man. But instantly, his features contorted terrifyingly and irregularly; within mere breaths, the Emperor’s face became monstrously hideous, warped with serpentine tentacles and an imposing set of large pincers for a mouth. His appearance bore a striking, chilling resemblance—about five or six parts—to the head of the nearby Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm King, causing anyone who saw it to feel their blood run cold.

Even Lei Dong was momentarily stunned. Could it be that the Corpse Worm Clan and the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worms were indeed related?

“Pah!” The sight disgusted Xie Feng, her brow heavy with contempt: “I knew the true forms of your Corpse Worm Clan were too ugly for public view, but I never imagined they could be this revolting? Did your Corpse Worm Clan evolve from the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worms?”

“Hmph. In the eyes of our Corpse Worm Clan, your Nether Phoenix Clan is hardly beautiful either,” the Insect Emperor sneered dismissively. “Since you are about to die anyway, I will enlighten you before your end. Although our Corpse Worm Clan did not transform from the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worms, we share the same lineage. Back then, the Underworld was reportedly not called the Underworld, but the Primordial Worm Realm—while perhaps not as blessed as the Myriad Spirits Realm, it was still a place rich in chaotic spiritual energy and teeming with thriving species. Nurtured by this chaotic spiritual energy, our clan developed sapience early on. After gaining consciousness, we continuously thrived in the Primordial Worm Realm, specializing in commanding all manner of worm species, especially the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worms. However, our clan and the Soul Devouring Worms, being of the same root, always treated the Devouring Worms as uncultured brethren. This continued until the Demon Race arrived and plundered all our resources. The Demon Race was mighty; our worm race was no match and was conquered. You likely know what happened next. You should now understand my actions, shouldn’t you? Very well, given the years of acquaintance, the period of preferential treatment is over. Willingly hand over your primordial spirit, and serve as a small interest payment for the years your Nether Phoenix Clan has occupied our Underworld.”

As the Insect Emperor spoke, a brutal expression flashed across his Soul Devouring Worm-like face. With a mere flick of his divine sense, the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm King moved first, letting out a piercing shriek. Like a giant flying centipede, it coiled and twisted its way to Xie Feng. Its strange oral appendage sucked forcefully, and Xie Feng felt an immense power grip her, making her body feel light, her primordial spirit threatening to tear free.

“Insect, do you truly believe the Nether Phoenixes are so easily bullied?” Xie Feng swiftly formed a hand seal, locking her primordial spirit firmly in place. Immediately, changes swept over her body: pitch-black plumes unfolded, transforming in the blink of an eye into a colossal black phoenix, boasting a wingspan of dozens of feet. Majestic and awe-inspiring, it let out a clear, piercing cry to the heavens before diving down. With a beat of its wings, a monstrous demonic wind erupted. Spreading its talons and snapping its sharp beak downwards, its target was aimed directly at the Soul Devouring Worm King’s head.

Xie Feng’s pounce and peck carried significant weight. The Phoenix Clan has always occupied the apex of the food chain since antiquity. Over countless years of hunting, these seemingly simple moves had been honed to their absolute peak and integrated into instinct, allowing them to prey upon many powerful beings, passing this predatory heritage down through generations.

Now, the Nether Phoenix Clan lived in civilized society and naturally did not need to hunt for sustenance. But in combat that involved reverting to their true forms, the most primitive, straightforward techniques often demonstrated the greatest power. How could the bloodline of a Divine Beast Phoenix be underestimated?

Yet, the Nine Nether Soul Devouring Worm was also a rare, strange demonic insect in this world. Facing the overwhelming, crushing aura, it showed no sign of fear. It seemed to draw a breath, and its initial body length of over ten feet swelled with the wind, instantly reaching fifty to sixty feet long. Its entire body sprouted several-foot-long sharp spines. It whipped its long tail, and a scorpion-like stinger lashed out viciously towards Xie Feng. There was no finesse, only a life-or-death clash. If Xie Feng dared to grapple it head-on, she would be pierced by that stinger. The consequences of being stung by an insect of this caliber were unimaginable.

The Insect Emperor watched from the side, calm and composed, certain that Xie Feng, given her noble status, would never resort to a mutually destructive tactic.

“Kid, it’s all up to you. I don’t have the strength for a second strike,” Xie Feng transmitted a message to Lei Dong via mental fluctuation, then let out a fierce cry. Instead of retreating, she accelerated, her several-foot-wide phoenix talons fiercely seizing the Soul Devouring Worm King’s back. The spines covering the worm’s back immediately stabbed densely into Xie Feng’s claws; the pain Xie Feng endured was immense. Yet, she seemed completely unaffected, driving her razor-sharp beak toward the worm’s head.

In virtually the same instant, both Xie Feng and the Soul Devouring Worm let out tragic screeches. Xie Feng’s sharp beak pierced the worm’s head, and she snatched a black orb, the size of a fist, from within. Simultaneously, the worm’s tail needle struck Xie Feng with pinpoint accuracy, fiercely injecting its poison.

“Impossible.” Seeing his beloved pet sustain such a desperate, heavy injury, a trace of panic and tension flickered across the Insect Emperor’s grim face. He charged forward madly. However, halfway through his charge, he noticed a dark wind drifting lazily past, followed by small, black spheres raining down upon him like hailstones.

Being within the Underworld, the Insect Emperor instantly recognized what those black orbs were, and terror flooded him as he scrambled backward. But retreating now was a fatal half-step too late.

The sky full of Yin Sha Heavenly Lightning roared into explosion, its shockwaves constantly radiating outwards, sweeping across a range of dozens of miles in a short span of time.