Elder Li, in high spirits, took the jade slip. As his divine sense probed within, his imposing aura gradually grew heavy. After a long pause, Elder Li muttered, "The Lord of the Abyss? This Lei Dong actually intends to form an alliance with the Lord of the Abyss? Everyone knows that the lot from the Abyss Domain are mostly untrustworthy. Isn't forming an alliance with them like seeking favors from a tiger?"

Gui Ci remained calm. "Elder Li, since the Master's message is within the jade slip, he couldn't elaborate on the situation. However, the Master always acts with absolute certainty. Although the Lord of the Abyss is formidable, the Master is not easily provoked. Moreover, this time, the Master has not only invited Elder Li to join a grand plan but has also invited the Phoenix Emperor, the Ghost Emperor, the Demon Dragon, and the Black Serpent from the Underworld Domain, the Flame Demon King and the Purgatory Demon King from the Purgatory Domain, and the Yaksha King from the Yaksha Sea. Added to this are the Master's sworn brother, Lei Long, the Netherworld Demon Venerable from the Yinsha Sect, and the Master's Spirit Transformation Puppet, Mo Ye. If Elder Li is willing to join this grand undertaking, our side will have a total of eleven Divine Transformation realm existences."

Hearing this, the eyes of Elder Li's golden puppet widened. Ten, eleven Divine Transformation beings? Even though he himself was included in that count, Elder Li felt an overwhelming urge to curse. Was this a joke? Eleven Divine Transformation powerhouses—this young fellow surnamed Lei certainly had an astonishing momentum!

Just moments ago, he was saying Lei Dong’s plan to cooperate with the Lord of the Abyss was akin to seeking favors from a tiger. But now, it seemed more likely that the Lord of the Abyss was the one seeking favors from a tiger. What was this young man surnamed Lei planning? To flatten the entire Abyss Domain? The golden puppet’s highly anthropomorphic mouth twitched; this young man surnamed Lei always liked to cause earth-shattering disturbances with his actions.

Respect. Elder Li could only offer the word 'respect.' To be honest, if Lei Dong had invited him alone to do something concerning the Lord of the Abyss, Elder Li likely wouldn't have agreed, no matter how eloquently Lei Dong might have described it.

But with him included, there were eleven peak powerhouses, the majority of whom were masters of influential factions. Figures like the Netherworld Ghost Emperor and the Purgatory Demon King were among the most astonishing individuals under heaven. Although Elder Li was the true master of the Myriad Puppets Gate, he still had to look up to them. Those beings were at the peak of the mid-stage Divine Transformation realm, merely a hair's breadth away from the high stage.

He was in. What was there left to hesitate about? If beings like the Netherworld Ghost Emperor and the Purgatory Demon King were participating, why should he hesitate? Fortune favors the bold. Furthermore, after his previous transaction with Lei Dong, Elder Li's trust and goodwill toward him had reached their zenith. He was certain that any operation hosted by Lei Dong would not maliciously harm Old Li.

With that thought, Elder Li slapped his thigh and laughed heartily: "Since it is so, I've grown weary of lingering in the Great Qian Continent anyway. I might as well answer Fellow Daoist Lei's call and go have some excitement in the Abyss Domain."

"Since that is the case, I shall return to report. Elder Li, please arrive on time according to the date specified in the jade slip," Gui Ci said, having completed his mission, and then rose to take his leave.

……

Almost simultaneously, in Kang Province, within Lei Dong's Fragrant Nest residence, Lei Dong was feeding batch after batch of various beast souls and demon infants into the Chaos Devouring Pagoda. The vortex’s devouring power was immense; even a high-stage Nascent Soul, once thrown in, would struggle for mere moments before vanishing without a trace.

Moreover, even among Nascent Souls, there were differences in strength. A high-stage Nascent Soul could generate more than ten times the chaotic spiritual energy produced by a low-stage one. This result greatly pleased Lei Dong. At least, with the mixture of demon infants across different stages, Lei Dong no longer needed a full thousand Nascent Souls; a few hundred sufficed overall. Furthermore, a large number of Golden Core level divine souls were being incorporated and absorbed.

While Lei Dong was engaged in this near-frenzied act of plundering life force, Lei Dong's first Chaos Crystal was formed as promised.

That transparent, spherical object was filled to the brim with pale golden chaotic spiritual energy. Following this, the artifact spirit, Mei Xiang, manipulated the formation within the Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda, refining that abundant chaotic spiritual energy into a perfect, pale gold crystal resembling a gemstone.

Holding it in his hand, the pale gold shimmer was indescribably magnificent, as if containing the most mysterious and profound patterns between heaven and earth. Even just holding this Chaos Crystal, Lei Dong could feel the vast, vital chaotic spiritual energy seeping into his palm, flowing into his meridians.

"What a fine thing, truly a fine thing," Lei Dong passed the Chaos Crystal to Ding Wanyan, who stood nearby, and the Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei for viewing. Both women were utterly shocked. They never expected that Lei Dong's Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda could actually refine such an object, the Chaos Crystal, which existed only in legends across the Six Domains and Nine Continents.

"Husband, let you use this first Chaos Crystal," following Mu Yanmei, Ding Wanyan also praised the object before passing it back to Lei Dong.

Lei Dong solemnly shook his head. "No. This time we spent another one hundred and eight Celestial Spirit Stones. We all entered secluded cultivation for ten years, which equates to a full century within the Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land. Despite my efforts, I am only at the peak of the high stage, still quite a distance from the true peak of the Nascent Soul realm. Given my aptitude, even using this Chaos Crystal might not allow me to break through to the Divine Transformation realm. Instead, it would be better for you, Wanyan, and Sister Mei to use it together. Perhaps with two peerless geniuses like you two breaking through to Divine Transformation, wouldn't that be even better?"

What Lei Dong said was true. After successfully reviving the Heavenly Demon this time, Lei Dong had gathered another set of Celestial Spirit Stones required for secluded cultivation and then summoned his direct subordinates for a ten-year session of cultivation in the real world. Within the Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land, however, a full century had passed.

Although Lei Dong also cultivated diligently, he ultimately failed to advance past the high stage of the Nascent Soul realm to reach the Nascent Soul peak. Meanwhile, Dongfang Fu, Mu Yanmei, and Ding Wanyan had all smoothly advanced to the true peak of the Nascent Soul realm, entering that nigh-impassable, peerless bottleneck.

If they could successfully cross it, they would become Divine Transformation beings—the pinnacle experts of this world. However, no matter how powerful a peak Nascent Soul expert was, they could never guarantee their entry into the Divine Transformation realm. After all, countless geniuses throughout history had been stuck at this barrier, unable to progress, ultimately dying in frustration.

The three women were all rare, heaven-defying talents, yet even they dared not claim certainty of breaking through to Divine Transformation. But in the presence of the Chaos Crystal, achieving Divine Transformation was no longer a mere distant hope.

Legend had it that even a pig, given an unlimited supply of Chaos Crystals to temper itself with endless chaotic spiritual energy, could eventually break through to the Divine Transformation realm. How much more so for those three women, who were exceptional beings?

"Lei Dong is right. With his current level of cultivation and aptitude, the probability of him breaking through to Divine Transformation using just one Chaos Crystal isn't very high," Mu Yanmei stated very seriously. "Ten years from now is when we will make our grand entry into the Abyss Domain. If even one more Divine Transformation realm expert emerges between us two, it will be of immense help to Lei Dong. Moreover, Lei Dong possesses the heaven-defying artifact, the Chaos Pagoda; as long as his soul essence is sufficient, Chaos Crystals won't be too scarce in the future. Wanyan, you should not refuse this; maximize its utility."

"Since that is the case, Sister Mu, you should use it first," Ding Wanyan was also an extremely intelligent woman and naturally understood the need to maximize the object's efficacy. However, as the primary wife, she maintained her composure and yielded the opportunity to the Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei first. "Sister Mu, please don't decline. You gave your life to save Husband last time. If the Netherworld Ghost Emperor hadn't arrived precisely then and used Time Reversal to pull you back, Husband would likely have been steeped in depression for the rest of his life. Furthermore, Sister Mu, your combat power is the strongest among us sisters. If you can achieve Divine Transformation first, it will be highly beneficial for everyone, and for Husband too."

Since Lei Dong resurrected the Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei, following Wanyan's generous encouragement, the relationship between the two had become semi-public within their small circle. Especially during that century of seclusion in the Grotto-Heaven and Blessed Land, as time wore on, such a relationship could hardly be concealed.

However, this situation had unfortunately wounded one person: Dongfang Fu. Dongfang Fu had always revered her master as a mother figure. She had never imagined that her own master would have such an unspeakable relationship with Lei Dong. As a result, she was extremely angry—not only angry at the Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei but also angry at Lei Dong.

Just as Mu Yanmei was about to speak, Lei Dong intervened. "Wanyan is correct. Sister Mei, you have suffered much over the years. You deserve to use it first. As for me, I have Mo Ye by my side, so I don't need to rush to advance to Divine Transformation. During this journey to the Abyss Domain, I will still need Sister Mei's assistance to maintain face."

The Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei also had a straightforward nature. Seeing that the matter was settled, she ceased her polite refusal, merely casting a glance at Lei Dong. "If you aren't afraid of being suppressed and bullied by me forever because your strength lags, why should I, the Heavenly Demon, be afraid? Tell me, Lei Dong, do you enjoy that dynamic? Are you trying to boost my strength exponentially to conceal your own perverse desires?"

Lei Dong felt a sweat break out. How could such a thing be true? Besides, how could bedroom matters be spoken of so crudely? Moreover, was being in the dominant position really so perverse?

Ding Wanyan’s cheeks flushed, and she covered her mouth, chuckling at Lei Dong. However, she dared not engage with the Heavenly Demon Mu Yanmei’s retort, knowing full well how many embarrassing things the Heavenly Demon could utter if she started arguing.

Nevertheless, the decision was made. The Heavenly Demon would attempt to break through to Divine Transformation first. With her aptitude and cultivation level, an entire Chaos Crystal dedicated to her advancement was more than enough. It was likely that more than half would remain, enough for Ding Wanyan to attempt a breakthrough to the Divine Transformation realm as well.

…… (This is the third update today, intended to compensate for one of the previously owed chapters. As stated before, sixty updates are guaranteed this month.) (To be continued)