Almost simultaneously, tens of thousands of miles from the core battlefield, another army was silently garrisoned within a remote Abyss Canyon.

Within the Abyss Domain, while it wasn't as extreme as the Purgatory Domain or the Rime Ice Domain among the Six Domains and Nine Continents, the topography here was undeniably the most gloomy and peculiar. Gaping chasms and abysses, often reaching heights of over ten thousand zhang and bottomless, were commonplace across the land.

Because of this geography, concealing an army within the Abyss Domain was effortlessly simple.

While this host remained utterly still, within the floating palace they carried, the straightforward yet rather impatient Demon King of Purgatory burst into boisterous laughter. "Xiao Lei's wife finally sent word of the full offensive! Excellent. After holding back for so long, it’s high time for some action. Blast it, this Abyss Domain is permeated with such chilling Yin energy; it's enough to rust this old demon’s very bones. Nether Old Ghost, why the hesitation? Give the order to move out! You are the commander appointed by Lei Dong."

"What's the rush?" The Nether Ghost Emperor replied lazily. "It’s only a distance of several hundred thousand li. At our marching speed, we can reach the destination within one day and one night if we press forward rapidly. Do you think this Saint Radiance King and his ilk can escape? Tell me, are you the commander, or am I?"

"Heh, yes, you are, you are! Isn't it obvious? I'm just eager for a fight! That old boy Saint Radiance has always been arrogant, looking down on everyone, and this old demon has been itching to get at him for years." The Demon King of Purgatory rubbed his hands excitedly. "I now possess a Divine Transformation avatar expert! Coming to the Abyss Domain isn't just for watching a show. This old demon needs to put on a performance. I’ll start by dealing with that sanctimonious, fair-faced Saint Radiance!"

The Saint Radiance King was, without question, immensely powerful, ranking among the absolute peak echelon within the Six Domains and Nine Continents. However, the Demon King of Purgatory, being equally at the pinnacle, certainly held no fear of him. Usually, in terms of raw strength, the two were nearly matched. The difficulty was that the Purgatory Demon Race was significantly inferior to the Winged God Race in overall numbers—they possessed true popular might. This disparity was why Saint Radiance King could afford to be arrogant toward him; the Demon King had no choice but to endure it, lest he spark a war against the powerful Winged God Race.

Now, with their side holding the superior position, the Demon King of Purgatory naturally had an outlet for his pent-up frustration.

"We will attack, but we must not be too rash. It’s not that I wish to harm Lei Dong, but rather to ensure the Abyss Lord and Saint Radiance King are drawn deeper in," the Nether Ghost Emperor stated calmly. "Although the armies of the Abyss Lord and Saint Radiance King have engaged in slaughter for many days, resulting in countless casualties, most who died were cannon fodder. Their vital essence remains largely intact. If they are alerted prematurely, even if they don't escape, our victory will come at a heavy price in troops and losses. Therefore, since we are striking, we must do so by completely catching them off guard. We will march slower, ensuring our movement is stealthy and steady. I will speak to Wan Yan personally and ask her to hold out for a few more days."

"That is wise. One must strike the snake at its vital point," the Demon King of Purgatory agreed. "That Saint Radiance brat looks outwardly righteous, but he is cunning. If we fail to capture him this time, he will surely remain a future menace. Old Ghost, issue the order. We will follow your command."

The allied forces of the various domains, after a long period of submergence within the Abyss Domain, finally began to stir slowly and advance. As the flying vessels of various shapes emerged from the shadows of the Abyss, they resembled monstrous beasts unleashed, revealing fangs that were savage and ferocious.

...

Over there, Ding Wanyan, upon receiving the message from (ShuShuWu Bookstore)...

However, with her husband’s very foundation and security in her hands, Ding Wanyan naturally had to consider his well-being. If the allies arrived within the stipulated few days, all would be well. But what if...

When people face immense benefits—especially advantages too overwhelming to resist—friendship often fails the test. If the Nether Ghost Emperor and the Demon King of Purgatory were to harbor selfish intentions, it would be difficult to guarantee they wouldn't maneuver against Lei Dong. In that event, her husband's losses would be catastrophic, as he would have to bear the brunt of attacks from two super-elite forces commanded by the Saint Radiance King and the Abyss Lord alone.

Just as Ding Wanyan was gripped by a slight hesitation, Lei Dong, having just emerged from seclusion, appeared silently behind her. He gently embraced her and whispered softly, "Wan Yan, you've worked hard during this time."

"Husband, we cultivated and grew up together, sharing hundreds of years of marital affection; why be so formal?" With Lei Dong's arrival, the slight anxiety in Ding Wanyan's heart eased, as if a heavy stone had been lifted. Without turning around, she asked with concern, "Your aura is so restrained this time? Did you successfully break through to the Divine Transformation realm?" Lei Dong's Zhou Tian Suppressing Breath Art originated from Tantai Bingyun, an ancient inheritance of profound mysteries. Seeing him contract his aura down to the peak Nascent Soul level, even Ding Wanyan could not judge whether his advancement was successful.

"Heh, naturally," Lei Dong replied with a placid smile. "The Chaos Origin is worthy of its name. I only used a few wisps, and my spiritual root aptitude was greatly enhanced. From now on, your husband is no longer trash, but rather a top-tier talent." Top-tier aptitude meant being comparable to figures like Qing Niangzi. Yet, though he spoke lightly, his heart ached inwardly. To refine even a single wisp of the Chaos Origin required a soul resource expenditure of astronomical proportions. And to refine an entire Chaos Origin? According to Mei Xiang's estimation, it would likely require sacrificing the souls of every powerful cultivator who had achieved success across the Six Domains and Nine Continents.

The Chaos Origin was a marvelous thing, but also terrifying. It had the power to subtly and inevitably lead one toward depravity.

"Congratulations, Husband," Ding Wanyan murmured, smiling sweetly as she turned to gaze at Lei Dong, an indescribable allure blooming between her brows. "Not only have you achieved Divine Transformation, but you’ve finally shed the stigma of poor aptitude. Now, it seems, your future is boundless."

"Wan Yan, you dare mock your husband?" Lei Dong chuckled wickedly. "We'll see if you beg for mercy tonight. I toiled away for a whole year in the Grotto-Heaven Paradise." Yet, his heart still ached. Even with top-tier aptitude, Lei Dong had to absorb two full Chaos Crystals to break through to Divine Transformation. Consider that Wan Yan and the other two only needed one crystal shared between them for their success. The gap between them remained vast. In fact, Lei Dong dared not contemplate how many Chaos Crystals he would have needed if he still possessed only mid-to-upper aptitude—Six? Ten? In any case, he certainly wouldn't risk finding out.

Lei Dong's words made Ding Wanyan blush, and she lightly chided him with feigned annoyance. "Junior Brother Lei, you only dare bully me. Nevertheless, I won't let you succeed. Go ahead and find Sister Mei; see how she deals with you." But secretly, a wave of happiness washed over her. Should she tell him about this matter? No, she would wait. The current situation was at its most critical juncture; she shouldn't distract him and risk an error amid the chaos. Once things stabilized in a while, telling him might just make him deliriously happy.

The mention of the Heavenly Demon made Lei Dong's spirit falter momentarily. He knew the Heavenly Demon was harboring a deep well of frustration over this matter. He glanced around. "Um, where is Sister Mei?"

"There, she’s on the battlefield, currently locked in a fierce contest with that Berris," Ding Wanyan said, vaguely pointing toward the clamorous battle raging in the distance.

"I'll go take a look," Lei Dong chuckled lightly, then turned back to Wan Yan. "Oh right, I'm already aware of the Ghost Emperor and the Demon King's situation. Don't worry; both are men of their word and value camaraderie; they won't act against us. Just proceed according to Senior Nether Ghost Emperor's plan. Furthermore, even if we take the most extreme view, our current strength is far from ordinary. If anyone truly lets greed cloud their judgment, I wouldn't mind dealing with them too."

"Mhm, I understand. While you’re out, keep an eye on Dongfang; she’s been sparring fiercely with that One-Eyed King from the enemy ranks for nearly an hour now," Ding Wan Yan's anxiety had completely dissipated, replaced by a slightly mischievous smile. "It would be best if you could perform a heroic rescue and take Dongfang in."

Lei Dong nearly stumbled and fell from the city wall, staggered by his wife’s extraordinary benevolence—actually encouraging her husband to court another woman. This would have been unthinkable back on the Earth he once knew.

Gathering his focus, Lei Dong’s form almost vanished, weaving fluidly through the spatial fissures like a carefree cloud. Although restricted by the anti-flight formation, with his current cultivation and power, resisting the formation's constraints and forcing his way through the air was no significant problem.

Lei Dong’s breakthrough to Divine Transformation, though costly, yielded immense rewards. His comprehensive capabilities far surpassed the Nascent Soul stage, a change that could truly be described as earth-shattering. The Nascent Soul hidden within his Zifu had matured into a life form nearly identical to Lei Dong himself.

But the greatest change lay in the intensity of Lei Dong's spiritual sense. Following such a life-form leap in evolution, his divine sense strength had skyrocketed. Even the formidable Nether Ghost Emperor, measured strictly by spiritual sense intensity alone, lagged a step behind Lei Dong.

Moreover, his comprehension and control over the laws of space had advanced to a new level, allowing him to drift through the spatial dimensions with ease, making him eerily unpredictable.

His incomparably powerful divine sense clearly mapped the battlefield situation within his consciousness, detail by minute detail. While observing with spiritual sense differed significantly from visual feedback received by the eyes, when the sense was potent enough, it proved far more useful, yielding feedback that was truer and finer.

As expected, Lei Dong "saw" the Heavenly Demon locked in combat with a four-armed Naga. Amidst flashing lightning and chaotic surges of vital energy, the cannon fodder troops had already scattered as far as they could run.