If the Nether Ghost Domains ceased their mutual warfare and coalesced into an alliance first, Lei Dong would not only gain immense resource benefits but also secure a powerful ally. This would provide him with substantial leverage for his future path, offering extremely strong support.

Of course, Lei Dong was not the sole beneficiary. If the three races of the Nether Ghost Domains could unite, it would bring immense advantages to them as well—a chance to rest, recuperate, and grow stronger, rather than pointlessly depleting vast resources and combat strength in internal strife.

However, numerous problems remained. If the various powers in the Nether Domain formed an alliance, what chain reaction would this trigger in the other domains and provinces? Could this ignite a fuse leading to war between the domains?

Lei Dong did not shy away from war; indeed, with his capabilities, he could reap enormous benefits from conflict. The only reason Lei Dong was temporarily opposed to chaos was that his preparations were incomplete, and his current focus was entirely on obtaining the Water of Life to revive Tian Mo.

Frowning slightly, he solemnly reminded them, "Seniors, forming an alliance is certainly imperative. However, this junior also worries that the other domains might initiate a chain reaction due to the unification of the Nether Domain. Perhaps we should establish a secret alliance, while supporting the already weakened Corpse Insect Clan to maintain the appearance of ongoing conflict. But privately, we could form a three-clan alliance army to jointly explore resources within the Nine Nether Abyss, thereby developing and strengthening ourselves in secret."

The Evil Phoenix and the Nether Ghost Emperor, both sovereign figures of their generation, immediately grasped the immense benefit in Lei Dong’s proposal with only a moment’s thought. Of course, it wasn't that they hadn't considered it; perhaps they would have thought of it themselves sooner or later. Lei Dong raising the point now naturally increased his standing in their estimation further.

"A three-clan alliance? No, I believe it must be a four-clan alliance," the Nether Ghost Emperor said, gazing at Lei Dong with appreciation before laughing. "The benefits within the Nine Nether Abyss must include a share for you. Lei Dong, I know you are cultivating a direct force in private. Dispatch some representatives to jointly enter the Nine Nether Abyss."

Lei Dong had not anticipated such a benefit! While the profits of the Nine Nether Abyss were tempting, he was not inherently a member of the Nether Ghost Domain. It was acceptable for individuals to seize some advantages privately. But for an affiliated force to attempt to interfere—Lei Dong hadn't even considered it. No territory willingly allowed external forces to meddle, no matter how fierce the internal struggles.

For a moment, Lei Dong grew apprehensive. "Senior Nether, this junior is indeed cultivating some direct subordinates, but those forces are still very weak and may not be qualified to share the fruits of exploration with your noble clans, right? Even if you have no objections, will your clansmen object?"

"Right, and wrong," the Evil Phoenix agreed with the Nether Ghost Emperor's suggestion. "Indeed, your direct lineage force is currently weak, but your high-end strength is not insignificant. For one, you, Lei Dong, are already a peak-level expert, and you have a sworn brother, Lei Long, who is also a peak expert. Having two peak experts in one faction is enough to silence everyone."

"I am grateful that both seniors do not disdain me. This junior respectfully accepts the arrangement." After careful consideration, Lei Dong no longer hesitated or refused. Often, benefits maintained alliances better than friendship. Moreover, Lei Dong was keenly aware that given his potential for growth, he would inevitably clash with others from the Three Realms sooner or later. At that time, having allies would prevent him from being isolated.

On the journey back to the Nether Palace, a series of detailed plans were slowly hammered out, completely excluding the Demon Dragon Clan. The rationale was simple: if the Demon Dragon Clan refused this alliance, the first order of business would be to eradicate that Spirit Transformation Demon Dragon.

Lei Dong first returned to the Nether Palace with the Nether Ghost Emperor and immediately had the Emperor dispatch men to gather a large batch of low-grade ghosts. Such low-level ghosts were ubiquitous in the Nether Ghost Domain. As for why he used low-grade ghosts, Lei Dong passed it off with a simple excuse.

After obtaining the Heaven Spirit Stones from the Nether Ghost Emperor, Lei Dong entered seclusion for a time, frantically urging the birth of Supreme Spirit Ghosts one after another. Just as he delivered one batch, the Evil Phoenix arrived stealthily, bringing another fifty Heaven Spirit Stones. In the end, through this exchange, Lei Dong acquired a total of one hundred Heaven Spirit Stones.

The price paid was ninety Supreme Spirit Ghosts, yet these ghosts cost Lei Dong not a single spirit stone. Upon receiving the ninety Supreme Spirit Ghosts, the Nether Ghost Emperor’s morale soared. He gathered ten more from other sources, completing the hundred, and began personally training the personal guard—a guard force whose loyalty was pledged to the young You, who was currently in life-or-death seclusion.

Since Young You was in closed-door cultivation to face life or death, Lei Dong also felt a longing for the home he had not visited in years. Thus, he temporarily bid farewell to the Ghost Emperor, taking the Mò Yá sword, which had already accepted his blood sacrifice, and the Black Serpent borrowed from the Evil Phoenix, setting off again on a dusty journey back to Kang Province.

Lei Dong’s trip to the Great Qian Province had been relatively smooth, yet it still took approximately ten years. Upon returning to the territory of the Yin Sha Sect, he was immediately enveloped by a strong sense of nostalgia. Since the great battle thirty years prior, the Yin Sha Sect, having annexed the other three great evil sects, cemented its status as the premier sect in Kang Province.

Under the rise and oppression of the Yin Sha Sect, the four renowned orthodox sects—the Heavenly Sound Palace, Lang Ya Mountain, Vajra Temple, and Dao (Free and Unfettered Dao)—had united, calling themselves the Orthodox Alliance, to resist the Yin Sha Sect.

The Yin Sha Sect, leveraging the power of the Ghost Clan and the Yaksha Clan, had utterly crushed the three major evil sects, resulting in the death of even a Spirit Transformation cultivator from the Grand Unity Sect in Kang Province. This battle was legendary, sending the entirety of Kang Province into an uproar. Countless sects and families that had previously attached themselves to the three evil sects promptly changed allegiance and threw their support behind the Yin Sha Sect, causing its prestige and influence to skyrocket overnight.

Of course, although the Yin Sha Sect presented the appearance of unifying the evil sects and rising to dominance, it was far from capable of annihilating the entire Orthodox Alliance on its own. Furthermore, regarding this internal matter of eliminating the Orthodox Alliance, the Ghost Clan and the Yaksha Clan found it inconvenient to intervene—not just because of pre-existing relations, but because the Orthodox Alliance had, at some unknown point, colluded with the Winged God Clan.

If the Ghost Clan and Yaksha Clan were to again meddle in Kang Province's internal affairs, it would risk sparking an inter-racial war.

However, the Orthodox Alliance also dared not provoke the momentum-filled Yin Sha Sect at this juncture. Not only was the current Yin Sha Sect formidable, but its backing was also very strong. Moreover, although the Yin Sha Sect had managed a comeback victory by eradicating the three evil sects this time, the members of the Orthodox Alliance were dissatisfied that the now-destroyed evil sects had first colluded with the Grand Unity Sect.

No matter how bitter the fighting, these were internal matters of Kang Province; involving powerful external forces was incorrect. If conflict flared up again, Kang Province risked becoming the main battleground for a racial war. Therefore, the Orthodox Alliance preferred to maintain the status quo.

The Yin Sha Sect, too, took the opportunity to rest and recuperate, striving to digest the fruits of its victory. Yet, having acquired territory nearly equal to half of Kang Province and amassed such extensive resources, its rise to a first-rate sect among the Nine Provinces was merely a matter of time.

With such tremendous momentum and ample resources, the Yin Sha Sect not only significantly improved the welfare and status of its disciples to accelerate the growth of the younger generation but also opened its doors wide to recruit disciples.

Previously, the Yin Sha Sect did not accept rogue cultivators, but now, they began recruiting low-level rogue cultivators or family members with decent aptitude to join the sect. Naturally, this group had to start as Outer Sect Disciples, a status far below that of Inner Sect Disciples.

Even so, countless individuals coveted the Outer Sect Disciple positions in the Yin Sha Sect. Low-level cultivators who felt they possessed some aptitude and strength flocked from all corners of Kang Province into the Yin Sha Sect.

Flying high above, Lei Dong scanned with his divine sense, especially near the headquarters of the Yin Sha Clan, detecting many batches of rogue cultivators or disciples from minor families with low cultivation levels who were eager to join the Yin Sha Sect.

This approach would certainly bolster the Yin Sha Sect’s strength in the short term, but in the long run, it would make the sect diluted and impure. Lei Dong chose not to offer an opinion on the merits for the time being, as this return marked the moment for him to detach from the Yin Sha Sect and establish his own power base.

Admittedly, if Lei Dong wished, he could gradually seize control of the Yin Sha Sect, transforming the entire organization into his sphere of influence. However, having grown up within the Yin Sha Sect, Lei Dong held deep affection for it. He was unwilling to drag this sect, which he considered his home, into endless conquest.

The Hidden Dragon Army, the Fierce Ghost Army, the Giant Army, and even the Barbarian Army—these were to be his primary future forces.

As Lei Dong leisurely descended before the main gate of the Yin Sha Sect, his figure still shrouded in condensation and concealment techniques, he overheard an interesting dialogue. It was a group of young, vibrant Qi Refining stage cultivators. Observing their varied and distinctly different clothing styles, it was clear these low-level cultivators originated from different families or were rogue practitioners.

As this group of low-level cultivators hurried toward the main gate of the Yin Sha Sect, they conversed along the way. One young woman, looking about twenty years old, displayed extreme excitement on her face: "What? Gu Hao, are you serious? The one presiding over the entrance examination for new disciples this time is truly the legendary 'Pretty Rakshasa,' Senior Ding Wanyan, Old Senior Ding?"

The four words 'Old Senior Ding' caused Lei Dong's mouth to twitch, nearly making him spew blood from laughter. How had his wife, who was more beautiful than any flower, suddenly become 'Old Senior Ding'?