Ghost Stinger, now a peak-tier Ghost King, with no immediate prospects for breakthrough, was focusing on honing his various spell abilities and accumulating combat experience. This left him considerable free time to mentor Ghost Nether. Although Ghost Nether had rapidly advanced to the Ghost King realm and gained significant sentience due to his inherent Ghost Tribe physiology, he remained fundamentally young and immature. Not only did he hold deep reverence for his master, Lei Dong, but he also looked upon Ghost Stinger with utter admiration, diligently practicing all manner of sorcery.

One considered that even without deploying the Nether Flame Eerie Ghost Banner, Lei Dong's cohort of subordinates was already terrifyingly potent. The early-stage Ghost King, Ghost Nether, with his exceptional and devastatingly powerful Netherworld-series spells, was more than capable of handling a Nascent Soul initial-stage cultivator. As for the peak Ghost King, Ghost Stinger, his combat experience was immeasurable, and he excelled at striking from the shadows; even the Soul Transformation Puppet manifested by Elder Li suffered damage under its shadow strikes. Clearly, an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator would stand no chance against its ethereal and unpredictable slaughter.

Meanwhile, the Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger, which Lei Dong had painstakingly helped advance its bloodline through immense hardship, had continuously increased its strength after consuming quite a number of Nascent Souls, finally reaching the mid-Nascent Soul stage—matching Lei Dong’s current level. Looking back, the existence of the Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger was quite an anomaly, capable of rapid advancement merely by devouring various souls, much like the Ghost Tribe members. If not for the constraints of its bloodline, perhaps the Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger could have evolved into an exceedingly powerful species.

It was plausible that the entity named 'God of the Nether' drew inspiration from a species akin to the Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger. Yet, the world was vast and filled with all manner of bizarre and peculiar species. For the Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger to evolve such an ability along its long evolutionary path was not entirely extraordinary.

Consequently, with Lei Dong's array of powerful summoned minions, as long as they did not face a Soul Transformation expert, several additional ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators would simply be courting death. Not to mention the folly of those foolish Golden Core cultivators who dared to challenge them.

Lei Dong's pace of movement was extremely swift; upon reaching any location, he would typically conduct rapid purchasing and selling operations. One day, within the vast market known as Tianji City, he successfully sold an exquisite high-grade Spirit Ghost for six hundred million spirit stones and simultaneously amassed high-grade goods valued at nearly the same amount. This was the fifth high-grade Spirit Ghost he had sold. The only reason he dared to trade so openly here was that Lei Dong had already ascertained that the City Lord of Tianji City was a peak Nascent Soul expert, supported by only a few Nascent Soul level subordinates and hangers-on, totaling no more than ten Nascent Souls altogether.

In reality, the strength of Tianji City was already considerable. Even in the highly competitive Great Qian Continent, Nascent Soul cultivators were not commonplace commodities. It was only because the human-inhabited regions here were so extensive and the base population so large that talents emerged frequently. If judged strictly by the ratios of population, cultivators, and Nascent Soul cultivators, the proportion of Nascent Soul experts in the Great Qian Continent was not necessarily greater than in regions like Kang Province or Zhao Province.

And Soul Transformation experts were even rarer, mostly remaining hidden within their strongholds. As long as one did not arrogantly march into their lairs or behave with excessive ostentation, it was difficult to encounter a Soul Transformation expert. Lei Dong had been in the Great Qian Continent long enough to form a tangible grasp of its landscape. The top sects, including the Myriad Puppet Sect and the Taiyi Sect, numbered only four on the continent—two orthodox and two demonic. However, the total Soul Transformation level strength amounted to only six entities, including the two Soul Transformation Puppets under the Myriad Puppet Sect and one Soul Transformation demonic beast belonging to the Beast King Sect.

The Taiyi Sect, originally representing the orthodox path, also boasted two Soul Transformation experts, but one of them had the misfortune of being eliminated by Lei Dong. Now that the news had reached the Great Qian Continent, the prestige of the Taiyi Sect had plummeted. Considering the vastness of the Great Qian Continent, having only six visible Soul Transformation entities clearly demonstrated that Soul Transformation experts were far from being common.

Thus, with Lei Dong's current might, establishing a sect and dominating a region within the Great Qian Continent would not pose a significant problem. The leader of Tianji City, being a peak Nascent Soul cultivator, likewise commanded considerable authority in that domain. Soul Transformation experts, well, even on this Great Qian Continent, they were figures of legend, individuals who would rarely surface.

After such extensive trading and selling of high-grade Spirit Ghosts, it was inevitable that certain individuals would develop greedy designs. In fact, Lei Dong’s brazen plundering upon arriving at any location had an element of baiting. This was because Lei Dong consistently conducted transactions presenting himself merely as an initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

Inevitably, after traveling only a few thousand li, the same old script unfolded. The leader turned out to be Wan Liyang, the City Lord of Tianji City, a name renowned and respected within a radius of ten thousand li. He wore a plain white long robe, presenting the appearance of a middle-aged man, fanning himself with an air of detached grace as he blocked Lei Dong’s path. He cupped his hands in greeting with a nonchalant tone: "Fellow Daoist, I am Wan Liyang, paying my respects here. It is not that I lack propriety, but wealth moves the heart. If you are sensible and willingly hand over your belongings, I shall certainly grant you a path to continued life." He acted as if Lei Dong were already captured.

Lei Dong stood with his hands clasped behind his back, observing this performance with interest. With the keenness of his divine sense, how could he fail to notice the two other Nascent Soul cultivators stationed several li behind him, sealing off his retreat? Based purely on outward appearance, Wan Liyang was indeed handsome and debonair.

Yet, in Lei Dong's view, he was utterly and completely despicable. This was not the first time Lei Dong had set a trap. Those Nascent Soul experts who attempted robbery previously would at least conceal their appearance and mask their identities, fearing ruin to their reputations should the robbery fail or if they were witnessed. Every individual who reached the Nascent Soul stage on the immense landmass of the Great Qian Continent was certainly known by name and reputation; they always had some consideration for appearances.

But this Wan Liyang fully exposed his true face and introduced himself to the intended victim—a display of extreme narcissism. However, the reason Lei Dong deemed him hypocritical was that this man was known for valuing his reputation above all else. Yet here, he repeatedly stated that Lei Dong would be spared if he simply surrendered his possessions. Was this not empty talk and utter nonsense? It would have been more direct and forthright to simply yell for a fight from the outset.

Lei Dong never considered himself a good person, but he always operated within his own principles and boundaries. Even toward an enemy, he disliked deceiving with false words. If he said he would kill, he would kill; if he said he would spare, he would spare. Setting a trap was certainly unethical, but if the fish were greedy enough to try robbing him, who could they blame? Furthermore, Wan Liyang was likely a stingy sort, only bringing two initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivators as a precaution. Evidently, he did not wish to share too much of the potential spoils.

Too lazy to waste words on such a hypocrite, Lei Dong dared to set a trap because he possessed the skill to catch the fish. Without a sound, Lei Dong summoned his Nether Flame Eerie Ghost Banner.

As wisps of Nether Ghost Qi surged out like clouds and mist, the Great Belly Cannon Ghosts began to stream forth, arraying themselves before Lei Dong. Almost simultaneously, the two initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivators behind him unleashed powerful surges of energy. But the one on the left sputtered out only halfway before falling silent—evidently, Lei Dong's capable general, Ghost Stinger, had dealt with him via a sneak attack, instantly killing the man.

The other let out a terrified shriek: "City Lord Wan, save me!"

Lei Dong didn't even have the interest to glance back at such a character. A mere initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivator might dominate a small region, but his opponent now included the mid-Nascent Soul stage Soul Devouring Shadow Tiger and the formidable Ghost Nether. Either one of them could likely defeat him without too much difficulty; facing both combined was another matter entirely.

This Wan Liyang was certainly no fool. Under such drastic changes, how could he not realize he had been counter-trapped? He had pulled off similar schemes himself in the past. He never expected that after becoming a regional power, a moment of carelessness would lead to him being fished in return. Immediately, his expression changed, and casting aside any concern for his companions, he transformed into a streak of white light, intending to flee using the speed he prided himself upon.

Lei Dong, having anticipated this, certainly wouldn't allow him the chance to escape! With a cold sneer, he mused, "Trying to run? Too late." His figure flickered; his Ghost Shadow Evasion Technique, fused with the laws of space, moved with breathtaking speed, as if constantly weaving through the fabric of space itself. In just a few breaths, he blocked Wan Liyang’s path and unleashed a Netherworld Immortal Slaying Finger strike.

The finger energy, laced with black mist, hissed forward. Wan Liyang, witnessing Lei Dong’s terrifying speed—a movement technique that seemed to dart through space—immediately recognized it as stemming from the Laws of Space. His face instantly became ashen: "Laws of Space? Are you a Soul Transformation cultivator?" As he spoke, a rather impressive silver shield materialized before him, seemingly intended to block Lei Dong’s attack.

Clang—

With a sharp sound, the silver shield shattered into pieces. Lei Dong’s Immortal Slaying Finger, imbued with annihilation properties, could inflict injury even on a Soul Transformation expert upon impact. While Wan Liyang’s shield was formidable, it could not withstand the might of the Slaying Finger. However, as the silver shield exploded, it managed to partially offset the power of the Netherworld Immortal Slaying Finger.

Such terrifying finger energy naturally shocked his very soul. He became utterly convinced that Lei Dong was a Soul Transformation powerhouse and cried out in terror, "Senior, Senior, spare my life! This junior was blind and failed to recognize true stature. I implore the Senior to spare me. This junior will repay you by serving as ox or horse, if necessary. Furthermore, all my accumulated wealth can be surrendered to the Senior…"