With such an astronomical sum, it was no wonder Evil Phoenix cursed aloud. Even the seemingly indifferent Nether Ghost Emperor sucked in a sharp breath, glancing sideways; he was now quite curious as to what treasure Lei Dong had acquired that forced the Purgatory Demon King to bleed so profusely.

It was understandable; while both were sovereign existences of their era, this particular amount of wealth was utterly preposterous.

Lei Dong, however, could only manage a wry smile and a shake of his head. "As for the specific item, I have an agreement with the Purgatory Demon King, so I cannot disclose it. I can only reveal this much: for the vast majority of people, this item is worth perhaps billions in spirit resources. However, Senior Demon King was in desperate need of it and found himself cornered by me, compelling him to pay such an exorbitant price."

"In that case," the Nether Ghost Emperor mused with a grave expression, "the Purgatory Demon King’s strength might see a significant surge soon. Otherwise, being held at ransom again would certainly never warrant such an expenditure for a mere purchase."

"That is merely your own conjecture, Senior. I didn't say so," Lei Dong smiled faintly. While he seemed to be shifting the responsibility, his words were practically a confirmation in the Nether Ghost Emperor's ears.

This realization caused the Nether Ghost Emperor to frown. "Lei Dong, since you knew this item could drastically enhance the Old Demon's power, why trade with him at all? What if this old devil, empowered, harbors ambitions that disrupt the peace of the Six Domains and Nine Continents? If you are lacking in Sky Spirit Stones, you only need to ask me."

Lei Dong shrugged with a bitter smile. "Senior, while I hold the key to the Demon King's life force, if I flatly refused the transaction, would I even make it out alive? However, please rest assured, Senior. Although this item can significantly boost the Purgatory Demon King's personal strength, uniting the Six Domains and Nine Continents based on this alone is far from achievable. Speaking of which, I also have a few matters for trade with you two Seniors."

The Nether Ghost Emperor was an exceptionally shrewd being. If there were an item capable of drastically increasing one's own power, he would never allow the possessor to refuse a trade. Unless the other party's strength had already surpassed his own, one would risk life and limb for it. He nodded in agreement with Lei Dong’s assessment and stated coolly, "From what I know of the Purgatory Demon King, although his ambition might swell with a great surge in power, he is a man of his word, hearty and forthright—he won't cause too much trouble. However, Lei Dong, are you addicted to making deals? You intend to trade with us two as well? Could it be that you possess something that can substantially boost our strength?"

This statement instantly energized Evil Phoenix. It should be noted that previously, Evil Phoenix and the Ghost Emperor were bitter rivals, especially since Evil Phoenix had long been suppressed by the Ghost Emperor, nursing deep resentment. However, thanks to Lei Dong, and with Little You acting as a mediator, relations between their two races had significantly eased, subtly hinting at a potential alliance.

"Indeed, Lei Dong, what excellent things do you have to trade with us?" Evil Phoenix suddenly grinned widely. "Thanks to your good deed in eliminating that old thief, the Insect Emperor. When I return, taking advantage of their unpreparedness, I launched a massive offensive and seized quite a bit of Insect Clan territory. I am quite flush with Spirit Stones now."

"If that is the case, then nothing could be better," Lei Dong replied. Having obtained the Soul Transformation Puppet, his confidence had increased substantially. Facing peak powerhouses like the Nether Ghost Emperor and Evil Phoenix no longer caused him significant psychological disadvantage. Theoretically, Lei Dong himself was now operating at the peak level. Even calling them 'Fellow Daoist' instead of 'Senior' would be entirely appropriate.

Pausing, Lei Dong then transmitted a message through mental fluctuations: "We are near a teleportation array. To avoid idle chatter, it is best if the few of us find a more secluded spot to discuss this. I can guarantee that this transaction will be no less significant than the one with the Purgatory Demon King; perhaps even more advantageous."

Lei Dong's words naturally piqued the curiosity of the two powerhouses. The Nether Ghost Emperor took the lead. "Very well. This area falls within the territory of our Nether Ghost Clan. There is a secluded spot tens of thousands of li ahead; we can discuss matters there." The matter was weighty, and his words resonated directly in their minds.

Without further ado, their speed was immense. After barely an hour, they had covered tens of thousands of li, landing in a desolate canyon devoid of life or beasts. The Nether Ghost Emperor immediately deployed his powerful array methods. After a full hour of effort, he finally established a defensive formation, then stated with a hint of pride, "Though my formation is simple, within it, our discussion is completely secure. Unless an opponent is a Void Refinement stage expert, our words cannot be eavesdropped upon."

At this, Lei Dong was completely reassured. Void Refinement experts did not exist within the Six Domains and Nine Continents; they were only found in the Three Realms. Furthermore, experts from the Three Realms could not descend to the mortal plane with their full Void Refinement power. In other words, this was an utterly secure place to talk.

Perhaps sensing the gravity of the situation, Evil Phoenix even sent Xuan Snake outside the formation. Along with the Nether Ghost Emperor, all four eyes stared keenly at Lei Dong, full of expectation.

Lei Dong solemnly clasped his hands. "Seniors are the individuals Lei Dong trusts most. Please, do not reveal anything discussed today, or I fear a fate worse than death awaits me."

Upon hearing this, both the Emperor and Phoenix became solemn. The Nether Ghost Emperor spoke first, seriously: "Lei Dong, rest assured. Though I, Nether, cannot claim I have never acted against my conscience in my life, I can guarantee you this: should I utter a single syllable of today's matters, or covet your treasure, may my soul be scattered and the Ghost Clan never see the light of day again."

And Evil Phoenix also made a solemn vow: "Lei Dong, I, Evil Phoenix, swear upon my life..." followed by a string of dire oaths.

Lei Dong understood that powerhouses who had reached their level generally disliked breaking promises or covenants. The reason for such elaborate measures was simply to add weight to his words. After all, even with his own modifications, the subject matter was critically important. In truth, if Lei Dong hadn't genuinely trusted these two to a large extent, he would never have offered such stakes. The aims and significance of this were far-reaching. Firstly, he wanted to use this opportunity to acquire Sky Spirit Stones to open up his Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands, causing his core forces to surge in strength.

Secondly, it was a means of gaining trust and securing these two powerhouses. Since he was willing to share such a world-shaking secret with them, their relationship would naturally become closer and more solid.

Thirdly, Lei Dong harbored a vague worry regarding matters of the Three Realms and wished to strengthen his allies' power sooner through this. This would also provide leverage should he ever need to oppose figures from the Three Realms in the future.

Most importantly, Lei Dong himself had now stepped into the ranks of peak powerhouses by possessing a Soul Transformation level puppet. He was no longer the helpless fish to be manipulated. If not for this, he would never have agreed to use such a method of exchange, even if threatened with death.

Seeing them swear solemnly, Lei Dong then grew exceedingly serious. "Senior Evil Phoenix knows the journey into the Gloomy Void quite well. However, Senior Nether probably doesn't know the details. We experienced some truly unbelievable events within." As he spoke, Lei Dong began to recount the happenings within the Gloomy Void.

The longer the Nether Ghost Emperor listened, the heavier his expression became. The ruins of the Nether King's Palace were already a massive shock to him. And the figure of the Nether King had always been a sacred and divine existence within the Ghost Clan. In the Ghost Clan's lineage, respect for the Nether King was second only to the God of the Underworld.

If that were all, it would have been tolerable, but when he heard that three mighty figures from the Demon Spirit Realm had descended to seek the ultimate treasure of the Nether King's Palace, the Nether Ghost Emperor could no longer hold back. His eyes showed a mix of rage and fierce excitement. "Those people from the Demon Spirit Realm are too arrogant, coveting the sacred relics of our Ghost Clan! Lei Dong, what was the strength of those descending avatars from the Demon Spirit Realm?"

"Strong. Very strong," Evil Phoenix also recalled with lingering fear. "Fortunately, Lei Dong was there, turning defeat into victory with the mystical Ghost Soldiers. Otherwise, we would have been annihilated."

"Indeed, I myself would struggle to defeat even one of them. Ghost Emperor, perhaps any one of those three avatars at the initial Soul Transformation cultivation level could match you evenly. You might barely manage to defeat one, but definitely not two."

The Nether Ghost Emperor grew extremely serious. He certainly didn't believe Evil Phoenix was exaggerating; the esteemed Evil Phoenix was a figure of consequence and would not embellish such a matter. However, when he heard that Lei Dong had commanded the Ghost Soldiers to secure victory from the brink of defeat, he was first curious, and second, he held Lei Dong in much higher regard.

"Let's set aside those three avatars that were annihilated for now," Lei Dong said with extreme solemnity. "Actually, Senior Evil Phoenix should already be aware of a supreme treasure I possess—the object named the Chaos Pagoda."

"The Chaos Pagoda?" Evil Phoenix was astonished. "Could that be the thing you obtained earlier, the one that attracted the artifact spirit to merge with the Chaos Pagoda in the Nether King's Palace? What exactly is the function of that pagoda?"

"The Chaos Pagoda?" The Nether Ghost Emperor was also slightly surprised. Having lived long, he knew many secrets. Treasures were numerous in this world, but anything bearing the name 'Chaos' was invariably a heaven-defying supreme treasure. Curiosity instantly gripped him.

"The Chaos Pagoda has few functions, only one—and it can be called heaven-defying," Lei Dong's eyes shone with excitement. "That is: with just one Sky Spirit Stone, it can refine one Supreme Grade Spirit Ghost. The Nether King, truly a powerhouse capable of shaking the heavens and moving the ghosts, managed to refine such a heaven-defying, strange treasure."

"What?" Even a powerhouse like the Nether Ghost Emperor couldn't help but exclaim, "You mean it can manufacture Supreme Grade Spirit Ghosts?"

"Correct, but the prerequisite is needing one Sky Spirit Stone," Lei Dong stated calmly.