"I am not demanding that you necessarily confront the Supreme of the Three Realms. It is just that for someone like the Supreme of the Three Realms, who has weathered one grand cycle of calamity, the most feared entity is the Chosen One conjured by the Will of the Universe. Once you advance to the Supreme level, regardless of whether you are a Chosen One or not, the Supreme of the Three Realms will certainly join forces to eliminate you; survival will be impossible."

Regarding this point, Lei Dong rather agreed. After all, the tragic precedents of the Death God, the King of the Underworld, and the Demon Emperor were all clearly displayed before them.

"My lifespan is nearing its end. The only thing I can do now is to pass on the experience and insights from my entire life to you," the Death God sighed. "I do not expect you to proactively confront the Immortal Supreme and the Demon Supreme. My only request is that you look after the few remaining Nether Giants and Mothmen. They are all my children, and I do not wish to see them completely wiped out by the Immortal, Demon, or Spirit races."

"Great Ancestral God, you..." the emotional Moth Empress could not help but weep. "You cannot just leave us like this!"

"Moth Empress, my child," the Death God said gently. "My time is short; you are all aware of this. Rather than continuing to languish for tens of thousands of years until you dissipate into nothingness, it is better to use the capabilities I still possess to aid my sole grand-disciple. In the future, your Mothman Clan and the Nether Giant Clan must respect and cherish him as they do me."

"Yes, Great Ancestral God, we shall obey the Young Master, respecting and cherishing him," the Moth Empress knelt in the void, sobbing, while the Nether Giants and Mothmen also began to weep.

Those present were the last vestiges of strength for both races, illustrating just how severely the coalition armies of the Three Realms had suppressed the Barbarian race.

Lei Dong also fell silent, sensing the faint sorrow marking the final path of a peerless powerhouse whose legends were countless. To deny that Lei Dong coveted the Death God's experience and insights would be false. Whether driven by his own thirst for power or the need to eventually rescue Wan Yan, he could not refuse this gift.

After instructing the Mothmen and Nether Giants, the Death God spoke softly to Lei Dong, "Child, open your mind. My consciousness will temporarily enter your Divine Soul and transfer to you all the experience of my lifetime and my comprehension of the universal laws of heaven and earth."

Lei Dong complied, relaxing his will, yet he maintained a sliver of vigilance in his heart. This was Lei Dong's long-honed method of survival. Although this Death God was his ancestral grand-master, this was effectively their first meeting. His understanding of the Death God was limited to myth-like legends, only knowing that the Death God had perhaps originated as human.

As for the old man's temperament and character, he knew absolutely nothing.

But Lei Dong did know one thing: the human survival instinct. Unless absolutely forced, no one willingly gives up their own existence to fulfill another's.

However, Lei Dong was merely taking a precaution. All signs indicated that his grand-ancestor truly intended to pass on his insights and experience to him.

A vast consciousness, brimming with oppressive power, detached itself from Tai Ming and instantly enveloped Lei Dong. The sensation was warm, as if wrapping around him.

A soft, deep voice resonated, "My child, relax your consciousness a little. I shall now begin guiding you to receive my experience and comprehension."

That voice seemed to possess a mysterious, seductive force. Lei Dong truly did gradually loosen his consciousness, his entire being sinking into a hazy state.

The Death God's consciousness pierced into Lei Dong's Divine Soul, manifesting as the image of a pale-faced middle-aged man. He greedily inhaled a draught of pure Chaos True Essence, his spirit instantly invigorated, and he could not help but muse internally, "My distant disciple and grand-disciple possess considerable skill to have truly forged the complete Chaos Art. Grand-disciple, grand-disciple, what I told you was true: I have suffered fundamental injury and can survive for only tens of thousands of years more. It is a pity—who would willingly choose death while living well? I had prepared dozens of excellent bodies for seizing, but unfortunately, I never found one perfectly satisfactory. If I were forced to possess a body, it would have immeasurable consequences for my cultivation and strength, which is why I delayed until now. Grand-disciple, I am very satisfied with your body. Your Body Tempering Art cultivation is excellent, and it is a Nether Body—splendid, truly splendid."

Just as Lei Dong had anticipated, this Death God harbored ill intentions toward him. Regrettably, his art of seduction and hypnosis was overwhelmingly powerful. Supreme-level powerhouses were deeply versed in this area. Thus, even though Lei Dong held a shred of vigilance in his consciousness, he could not resist such a potent hypnotic technique and fell into a trance.

At this moment, Lei Dong’s consciousness had slipped into slumber, the surrounding feeling being warm and utterly comfortable. He sensed nothing of the Death God's consciousness invading.

"Grand-disciple, grand-disciple, do not worry; this God will inherit everything you have and help take good care of your family and friends," the Death God was genuinely overjoyed by encountering such a perfect body for possession. Even the usually cautious Death God could not help but become somewhat giddy, letting a few casual words slip. His expression suddenly turned somewhat ferocious: "Immortal Supreme, Demon Supreme, and that bitch of Ten Thousand Spirits! This God once swore I would return for revenge. You wait well. Once I elevate the cultivation in this body, it will be your doom! I will let you taste the power of the complete Chaos True Essence and the Annihilation Law."

Saying this, the Death God placed his hands behind his back, opened his mouth, and inhaled. Instantly, Lei Dong's life consciousness began to be drawn away, separating from his Nascent Soul.

Consciousness is the foundation of a person's life, and the soul is the vessel that carries it, responsible for nourishment and energy supply.

If the Death God were allowed to draw out and devour Lei Dong's consciousness, then implant his own consciousness into Lei Dong's Divine Soul, he would naturally replace Lei Dong's body and Nascent Soul.

If one judged identity based on the Nascent Soul, then no one could discern that Lei Dong had been possessed. This method of possession was quite similar to when Mo Yi possessed the Divine Soul of that War Giant.

However, because the Death God specialized in Nether Laws, his research into souls and consciousness had reached the utmost level. Executing such a task was second nature, entirely without awkwardness.

Clearly, he had practiced how to possess a consciousness countless times. The reason he had delayed until now was simply that he had not found a body truly satisfying to the extreme.

Being so pleased with Lei Dong's body and Nascent Soul, the Death God, in his excitement, lost some of his vigilance. Since entering Lei Dong's consciousness, his mind had been filled only with the fervor of extracting and devouring Lei Dong's consciousness. He forgot to check whether there were any other entities residing within Lei Dong's Divine Soul.

During the process of weathering the Void Refinement Heavenly Tribulation, after being ravaged by Ming Ji, Lei Dong's Divine Soul had become considerably empty. On the surface, only the Nether King Banner remained.

The Death God had sensed the existence of the Nether King Banner, but it was forged by his distant disciple, the King of the Underworld; he did not know what the object actually was. He carelessly failed to check if there was a life consciousness residing within the Nether King Banner.

Just as Lei Dong's consciousness was being drawn away, floating blissfully as if in the clouds, gradually separating from his Nascent Soul, Ming Ji, hidden within the Nether King Banner, panicked. That old, immortal Death God was trying to covet the Master's body and Nascent Soul!

If that old wretch managed to seize control, wouldn't it mean she would have to change masters again? Although this old wretch seemed to be the previous master's master and was quite powerful, if she had to choose between the two as her future master, Ming Ji preferred Lei Dong. The reason was simple: Lei Dong was young and cool. While he was usually fierce, he was deeply protective of his own people, and his words carried weight—what he said was done. Unlike this old monster, whose words contradicted his deeds, a classic honey-tongued deceiver.

Thinking of this, Ming Ji acted, transmitting a wave of energy to awaken Lei Dong: "Master, wake up quickly! That old immortal Death God is seizing your Nascent Soul!"

Lei Dong's consciousness trembled slightly, showing faint signs of awakening. How could the Death God fail to sense such a distinct change? Instantly, his sinister expression shifted: "Who? Who dares sabotage this God's endeavor?"

He grasped at the void and ripped Ming Ji out of the Nether King Banner, his face contorted with displeasure. "So, it's just a little artifact spirit with rudimentary sentience. Hmph, do you think this action can save your master? My Great Hypnosis Art is not so easily broken! I will erase you first."

"Master, help! Your dear, sweet Ming Ji is about to be eaten!" Ming Ji struggled and shrieked madly.

However, all her transmitted fluctuations were sealed by the Death God's immense consciousness, unable to reach Lei Dong in the slightest.

"Scream until your throat breaks, your master will not awaken," the Death God sneered maliciously. "Let me swallow you first as an appetizer."

The Death God made another mistake, assuming that Lei Dong's Divine Soul contained only the Nether King Banner, and therefore, only one artifact spirit.

In reality, deep within Lei Dong's Divine Soul resided another long-suffering artifact spirit, Mei Xiang. Her true form, the Chaos Soul Devouring Pagoda, had been utterly destroyed amidst the celestial lightning strike.

She had recently been slowly recovering nourishment within Lei Dong's Divine Soul. At this moment of life-or-death crisis, the usually silent Mei Xiang took action, condensing her fluctuations into a needle and stabbing fiercely into Lei Dong's conscious form.

...To be continued)