As was uncharacteristic, Lei Dong took the lead, striking swiftly and proactively. His mastery over the laws of space had reached a state of flawless perfection; though not yet comparable to a Void Refinement (Lianxu) level expert, few at the Spirit Transformation (Huashen) stage could match him now.

His figure flickered, ghost-like, weaving through the violent Yin Wind and Baleful Aura. In a flash, he had closed the distance on several enemy Spirit Transformation experts. Without hesitation, he hurled the prepared Yin Sha Ji Thunderbolts.

Boom boom boom! In a chain of explosions, seven or eight Yin Sha Ji Thunderbolts detonated simultaneously. The resulting chain reaction completely shredded the protective spiritual treasures shielding the three Spirit Transformation experts, leaving them heavily wounded.

The Yin Sha Ji Thunderbolts, meticulously refined by Ding Wanyan, were truly terrifying implements of war. Especially in this locale, already saturated with dense Yin Sha Qi, they were like adding wings to a tiger. Lei Dong fully understood the wisdom of severing one limb rather than wounding ten fingers. Seizing the moment while the three were reeling in shock, he spread both arms and unleashed a barrage of palm strikes. The profound Yin true essence within his body rapidly transformed into Netherworld Ghost Qi, manifesting several large, spectral hands, deep black yet emanating an eerie aura, which slammed down heavily.

The Netherworld Palm, in Lei Dong’s hands, was not a particularly draining spell, nor was its raw power immense. But against targets whose defenses were utterly shattered and who were already critically wounded by the Yin Sha Ji Thunderbolts, it served perfectly as a finishing blow.

Pa-pa-pa! The three Spirit Transformation experts, now controlled by heart-devouring demons, were pulverized before they could even utter a final scream.

Lei Dong swiftly gathered the escaping primordial spirits, feeling an immense satisfaction. Engaging three enemies at once, though not an instant kill, he had wiped them out within just a few moves. These were three initial-stage Spirit Transformation experts—beings worthy of reverence in the Six Domains and Nine Continents.

Of course, the speed of Lei Dong’s success was largely indebted to Wanyan’s Yin Sha Ji Thunderbolts. Those single-use explosives, refined from the essence of Yin Sha Qi, were peerless tools for slaughter.

With Lei Dong securing the first victory, the others did not remain idle. Bi Risi, now a mid-stage Spirit Transformation expert, activated her Totem Scepter, unleashing countless fierce beasts and malevolent spirits that assisted her four arms, which wielded various weapons, in the fray. At this moment, Bi Risi resembled a four-armed War God. Her sharp cries and roars echoed continuously as she single-handedly tied down four initial-stage Spirit Transformation opponents.

The three Void Refinement experts in Lei Dong’s contingent naturally targeted their respective rivals. The Purgatory Demon King wielded a great blade wreathed in roaring flames, his aura domineering and startling. His rock-like physique and soaring, pronounced wings made him look like an unparalleled fiend from the deepest purgatory—which, in fact, he was.

Lei Dong had assigned him the Night Emperor as an opponent. The Night Emperor hailed from the Abyssal Demon race, another exceptionally potent lineage. Externally, the Asura Clan, the Abyssal Demon Clan, the Purgatory Demon Clan, and even the High-Tier Demons shared some superficial resemblance. However, these four were entirely distinct species. The latter three were subordinates and minions that the High-Tier Demons had subjugated during their countless conquests across myriad worlds.

Theoretically, the Asura Clan appeared stronger overall. Yet, the other races were not far behind. Their perceived inferiority in overall collective power stemmed mostly from issues of reproduction and war potential; their individual might was certainly not lacking.

The Night Emperor’s aura was equally magnificent. His tall, imposing frame, clad in ink-black armor, with faintly shadowed skin, was encircled by a murderous, savage malevolence. Confronting the Purgatory Demon King’s provocation, the Night Emperor met the challenge with a bestial roar: “Good, good. I never imagined that after ten thousand years of slumber, the Purgatory Demon Clan would produce a Void Refinement expert. Let me test you. We shall see which is superior: my Abyssal Demon Clan or your Purgatory Demon Clan.” His spiritual treasure weapon was a strangely shaped scythe, dark brown and imbued with an air of profound cruelty.

The Abyssal Demons, despite being steeped in treachery, cruelty, and betrayal, were undeniably formidable in combat. Otherwise, in the vast Abyss Domain, a realm teeming with powerful beings, the Abyssal Demons could not have maintained the position of the Abyss Lord for the majority of time.

The Purgatory Demons were no less capable; in the similarly harsh environment of the Purgatory Domain, they reigned supreme, suffocating the other clans.

The two great fiends clashed violently, engaging in a pure contest of strength. Each impact unleashed a ferocious shockwave, preventing anyone from approaching and violently sweeping the surrounding Yin Wind and Baleful Aura aside.

The Netherworld Ghost Emperor faced Ba Chong of the Asura Clan. Although Ba Chong was unremarkable within the Demon Realm, he was a Void Refinement general who had clawed his way up from the lowest rungs. His current predicament—being utterly routed due to the poor command of Du Ya and subsequently becoming a puppet controlled by a high-level heart-devouring demon—was unfortunate.

However, being controlled by a heart-devouring demon in body and soul only amplified his power; devoid of pain or fear, his fighting spirit and morale were eternally high. But the Netherworld Ghost Emperor was no lesser figure. Though he had only recently advanced to the Void Refinement stage, his combat instincts and foundation were profoundly deep. Especially his specialty, the Nether God True Word Art, inherited from the legendary Nether God who once challenged the Three Venerables. Now that he was a Void Refinement figure, his divine sense strength far surpassed that of the Spirit Transformation stage, allowing him to wield the True Word Art with flawless proficiency.

He used the True Word Art to control the enemy, while deploying his various Netherworld spells effortlessly, each invocation resembling a piece of art. His handsome face and flowing white hair radiated the charm of a seasoned, world-weary man.

Even with Ba Chong’s formidable strength, he could not gain an advantage against the Netherworld Ghost Emperor. Furthermore, the Ghost Emperor’s mission was merely to restrain him, not necessarily to kill him.

Facing Du Ya, the Asura female whose form was petite and exquisitely girl-like, the Glorious King shouldered the great responsibility. Du Ya was a mid-stage Void Refinement expert whose cultivation and power were immense. While Lei Dong’s three Void Refinement masters were capable, they were still slightly insufficient to fight above their level against her. The Glorious King’s task was simply to hold Du Ya in check as much as possible, preventing her from slaughtering Spirit Transformation experts like Lei Dong.

With the three Void Refinement experts locked in battle against their Void Refinement counterparts, a decisive outcome in the short term was unlikely.

However, in the confrontation at the Spirit Transformation level, Lei Dong’s side held a significant advantage. The most astonishing performance came from the Judgment Queen. Having advanced to the high-stage Spirit Transformation level, her strength was formidable. Especially after activating the Holy Hall, the eighteen Spirit Transformation heroic spirits surrounding her truly allowed her to kill anyone who stood in her way. In a mere few dozen breaths, she had annihilated four enemy Spirit Transformation experts.

Additionally, Xie Feng and the Yaksha King, who had recently advanced from mid-stage to high-stage Spirit Transformation after utilizing resources allocated to them, also performed admirably following their secluded cultivation. Both possessed an extraordinary innate spiritual treasure. Xie Feng’s Phoenix Plumes were extraordinarily potent; when unleashed, the sky filled with tail feathers resembling sharp blades, meticulously slicing enemies to death. As a high-stage cultivator, unleashing her full offensive power, she too eliminated an opponent within those few dozen breaths.

The Yaksha King’s clan-guarding treasure, the Spirit of Lishui, was also a renowned wonder. While its offensive power was moderate, its defense was supreme. When the Spirit of Lishui was fully activated, it enveloped the Yaksha King in a translucent water shield, providing strength as unyielding as water while simultaneously nourishing the Yaksha King, replenishing his depleted strength and fortifying his body.

This allowed the Yaksha King to fight with fierce valor, constantly unleashing major abilities. Soon enough, he too had slain an initial-stage Spirit Transformation expert.

The remaining Heavenly Demons, Dongfang Fu, Xiao You, Thunder Dragon, Demon Dragon King, Flame Demon King, Shadow Demon King, and others were all now mid-stage Spirit Transformation experts. Each had found their opponent and was currently pressing the attack. The others also performed well. Wanyan, in particular, cultivated the Yin Sha Divine Art and possessed the extremely rare Yin Sha physique, which granted her immense amplification in this environment. She effortlessly manipulated the swirling Yin Sha Qi that filled the air, transforming it for her use—either exploding it or sharpening it—with extraordinary might.

Lei Dong’s eighty-plus latent Spirit Transformation Dragon Soldiers were also extremely tenacious. Their training in small-unit tactics gave them not only respectable combat power but also mastery over combined assaults. Two-man, three-man, or even small-squad coordinated attacks generated astonishing power.

This fierce engagement lasted only about one hundred breaths. The enemy’s eighty-plus Spirit Transformation experts, finding themselves at a disadvantage, had already seen over forty eliminated. Meanwhile, Lei Dong’s side had only suffered the loss of three latent Dragon Soldiers, with several others sustaining injuries.

As the battle deepened, the advantage held by Lei Dong’s faction became increasingly apparent. By this point, two or three fighters were engaging a single enemy, accelerating the rate of elimination. Lei Dong had expended all of his hundred-plus Yin Sha Heavenly Thunders, and the number of enemies he personally killed had reached thirteen. This level of destructive power likely rivaled that of a Void Refinement expert.

“Aoo-aoo~” The Night Emperor attempted several times to break through into Lei Dong’s formation of Spirit Transformation experts to exact revenge, but the Purgatory Demon King held him firmly entangled, even if it meant sustaining some injuries.

By the time this fierce battle reached this stage, the Night Emperor was already destined for defeat. Soon after, only a dozen or so of his Spirit Transformation subordinates remained. Lei Dong then extended an offer of surrender: “Night Emperor, I, Lei, respect you as a former overlord and cannot bear to see you perish thus. If you are willing to defect to the Alliance, the Alliance shall treat you with courtesy.” Though he knew the chances were slim, Lei Dong couldn't resist attempting the recruitment.

……(To be continued)RQ