Mei Xiang, the artifact spirit of the Soul Devouring Pagoda, once possessed the disposition of a fierce and arrogant young girl. However, compared to the domineering ferocity of the Underworld Banner’s spirit, she was far outmatched. Startled by a mere threat from the Underworld Banner, she trembled uncontrollably, activating the protective measures inherent to her spiritual treasure. Shivering, she flew out from Lei Dong’s divine soul, hurtling toward the ninth heavenly lightning strike that was about to descend.

Seeing her plan succeed, the Underworld Banner felt a surge of smug satisfaction, musing that the little girl was easily frightened. It was fortunate that she had gone out to take the blow, thus saving the Banner from the risk of leaving its master.

Yet, the Underworld Banner failed to realize that although it was one of the most exceptional spiritual treasures in history, there was a vast disparity in both design and grade when compared to the Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda. Furthermore, the primary function of the Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda was to consume all spirits, breaking them down into Chaos Spiritual Qi and Chaos Origin.

In the act of consumption alone, the gap between the two was immeasurable. Unfortunately, the inexperienced Mei Xiang had been so thoroughly intimidated by the Underworld Banner’s demeanor—like some terrifying underworld matriarch—that she was in a daze, vaguely feeling that she ought to go out and intercept the lightning to save her master.

Boom—The final heavenly lightning strike arrived right on schedule.

The power of the ninth strike had multiplied several times over compared to the previous eight. Such fierce and terrifying might made Ji Shuangshuang, suspended mid-air, tremble with cold fear. This was no joke; when did a Tribulation of the Void Refinement stage become this powerful? If she herself descended to block this ninth bolt, her chances of survival would be less than fifty percent. Remember, Ji Shuangshuang was already at the peak of Void Refinement, one step away from ascending to the Integration stage.

In short, for anyone undergoing the Void Refinement Tribulation, encountering heavenly lightning of this magnitude meant a terrifyingly slim chance of survival.

But the most drastic reaction came from Ji Ziyan, the Palace Master of the Vermilion Bird Divine Hall. Today, her expression had already shifted numerous times. However, she never anticipated that as Lei Dong faced his final heavenly trial, her face would change drastically—a mix of anger, sorrow, and overwhelming shock.

The Chaos Pagoda. This was undoubtedly the Chaos Pagoda.

How could the Chaos Pagoda possibly be in the hands of this insignificant junior? Could it be... could he be...?

The lightning descended so swiftly that even a supreme powerhouse at the peak of the Integration stage, like Ji Ziyan, could not intervene in time. She could only watch helplessly as the final heavenly strike slammed into the Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda. The rampaging destructive energy turned the Pagoda incandescent white.

The Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda was indeed one of the most magnificent spiritual treasures since antiquity, but it was an artifact overwhelmingly dedicated to support, not attack or defense. Its strangeness and greatness lay entirely in its attributes of consumption and decomposition. Such an ability would drive even the Supreme Beings of the Three Realms into a frenzy.

But to use it to block a heavenly lightning strike was truly exasperating. Only the oblivious Underworld Banner could commit such an act.

Crack—Even though the Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda was forged from many special materials, it was not primarily a defensive artifact. No matter how strong the material, explosion was its inevitable fate. The entire Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda was blasted into powdery dust by the destructive lightning. And Mei Xiang, its artifact spirit, was critically injured, nearly erased from existence.

Her residual instinct for survival, coupled with her sense of belonging to Lei Dong’s divine soul, compelled her to desperately gather every last particle of the shattered Pagoda and retreat into Lei Dong’s nascent spirit.

The last vestiges of the heavenly tribulation’s power struck Lei Dong’s body, once again nearly shattering his nascent spirit and physical form. It was only thanks to the immense vitality he possessed now—surpassing even some divine beasts of the same rank—that he avoided immediate annihilation.

The Underworld Body Tempering Art continued to churn frantically within Lei Dong. The foundation of the Art, the rebirth principle within the Law of Immortality, was continuously reshaping every single life factor and his utterly broken divine soul.

Void Refinement, as a stage, meant that both the nascent spirit and the physical body achieved a state of 'virtualization.' Neither was strictly substantial; instead, there was solidity within the void, and void within the solid. The nascent spirit could dissolve into countless particles, integrating into every cell of the flesh.

Of course, this described the peak state of Void Refinement. The entire stage was about continuously breaking through and realizing this process. This level of existence was naturally far more powerful than the Spirit Transformation stage.

At this moment, every part of Lei Dong’s body was undergoing constant reorganization. As the nine bolts of destructive lightning subsided, the tribulation clouds dispersed, leaving behind an atmosphere saturated with spiritual energy.

Above, the mother and daughter wore contrasting expressions. Ji Ziyan’s eyes were shadowed with gloom and complex emotion. Ji Shuangshuang, however, looked immensely relieved, a flicker of joy in her gaze. Lei Dong had shaken her profoundly. Moreover, these events were ultimately instigated by her. Deep down, she did not wish for Lei Dong to perish during this tribulation. Among the current generation of young cultivators, few made Ji Shuangshuang feel such pressure, yet also a creeping sense of admiration—and he was a human being she had always despised and rejected.

But regardless of others’ perceptions, a world-altering transformation was taking place within Lei Dong. Constantly being annihilated during the tribulation and then being reborn and recovered by the Underworld Body Tempering Art, both his body and divine soul grew infinitely more formidable and potent.

Yet, the greatest and most bizarre change occurred at the very last moment. After the Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda exploded and returned to Lei Dong’s soul in a free state, under the effect of his Underworld Body Tempering Art, the dispersed fragments of the Pagoda began to reassemble. This was not just the reconstruction of the tower body; the fragments were actively integrating themselves into Lei Dong’s very life factors.

This was a process no one could have anticipated; even astonishingly powerful beings like the original Underworld King or the Demon Emperor could never have imagined such an outcome. Yet, this mysterious and wondrous event was unfolding in Lei Dong due to a chain of coincidences and transformations.

It was unclear how long passed before Lei Dong slowly awoke.

The agony brought by the Peerless State, and the living hell experienced during the Underworld Body Tempering Art, had vanished without a trace. In their place was a sensation of boundless, inexhaustible power coursing through him; every life factor seemed infused with an explosive force capable of shattering heaven and earth.

Crack~

Lei Dong slowly rose from the crater of the shattered sacrificial altar. His Black Emperor Armor seemed to have benefited immensely from the heavenly tribulation. Not only had its grade apparently risen, but all damaged areas had been restored to pristine condition by its inherent profound self-restoration array. It shed some of its bright superficiality, replaced by a weighty, ancient patina.

The transformation of the Black Emperor Armor mirrored Lei Dong’s own evolution. Beneath the Black Emperor Battle Helm, his eyes held none of the frenzy, anger, or anxiety that characterized negative emotions. What remained was only coldness—an endless, pervasive coldness.

Silently, an inexplicable power lifted him gently into the air. He floated there, gazing down upon the Ji mother and daughter with an indifferent, icy stare.

“Give me back my wife,” Lei Dong stated flatly. “Otherwise, death.”

“Hmph, try me,” Ji Shuangshuang had been intending to congratulate him on surviving the nearly fatal heavenly lightning and breaking through to the Void Refinement stage. But Lei Dong’s supremely cold and arrogant words choked her. Immediately, the pride and fury simmering within her flared up.

However, the moment her voice fell, she saw a faint black shadow flash before her with unbelievable speed. A punch landed squarely on her chest.

Struck unprepared, Ji Shuangshuang was sent flying like a cannonball into the ruins of the sacrificial altar, sending countless fragments of the solid jade scattering. Yet, she was, after all, a late-stage Void Refinement master with considerable personal strength. Her momentary surprise and misjudgment of Lei Dong’s true power had cost her dearly.

Her form slightly disheveled, she burst forth wearing a magnificent battle armor that resembled the Flowing Fire Celestial Garment, her eyes burning with rage and impatience: “You scoundrel! Do you think I, Ji Shuangshuang, am a sick cat when I don’t show my power?”

“Both of you, stop,” Ji Ziyan commanded sharply. “Shuangshuang, I will handle this. Step back.”

Although Ji Shuangshuang strongly desired to clash swords with Lei Dong, she noticed her mother’s grave expression. Knowing better than to defy her, she retreated swiftly and landed beside Ji Ziyan.

“Return my wife,” Lei Dong remained icily indifferent, staring directly at Ji Ziyan. “Otherwise, death.”

“Young man, let us put this matter aside for now,” Ji Ziyan, a powerhouse at the peak of the Integration stage and one of the foremost experts in the Three Realms, was hardly going to be suppressed by Lei Dong’s aura. She spoke calmly as before. “First, I must ask you a question: how did the Chaos Pagoda end up in your possession?”

“Death,” Lei Dong coldly spat out a single word, his form shooting forward. Black Qi saturated his entire being, resembling a roaring black flame. He threw a punch, and Netherworld Ghost Qi exploded outward with vibrant force, the sheer momentum capable of shattering stars.

Clap—Ji Ziyan waved her hand, manifesting a semi-circular shield of flowing, incandescent starlight. It not only easily blocked Lei Dong’s strike but also sent him reeling backward.

No matter how much Lei Dong had advanced, there was still a vast gulf between him and a cultivator at the peak of the Integration stage.

Ji Ziyan delicately pinched her fingers and flicked a single stream of concentrated energy. Snap—it struck Lei Dong’s Black Emperor Battle Helm, knocking it away and exposing his face—not overly handsome, but utterly resolute and chillingly emotionless.

The most striking feature, aside from his eyes as cold as ice, was the perfect crystal embedded perfectly in his forehead. Inlaid there as if naturally grown, it resembled a third eye—alien, yet radiating an evil allure.

“The Emperor Demon Seed, Chi Xing.” Ji Ziyan was stunned, her eyes glazed over as she stared at Lei Dong. Even with prior psychological preparation, seeing this reality made her cry out involuntarily: “Chi Xing, I am Ziyan!”