Yuanhui was also quite shocked in his heart, but upon second thought, even though the Ghost King was injured, he was still a formidable mid-level powerhouse in the Infinite Realm. In every aspect, he was a step above Yuanhui himself. Even though Yuanhui made a breakthrough, he was still far behind the Ghost King.

It was only a moment ago when the Immortal made a move to dissipate one of the Ghost King's hands. If it weren't for his master, Yuanhui would have found it very difficult to even scratch the Ghost King.

The Ghost King's Ghost Shadow Phantom Step had been cultivated for more than ten years, and his speed and agility were outstanding. However, due to excessive blood loss, even with the enhancement of his spiritual armor, he couldn't avoid his retreat speed slowing down significantly.

"Damn it! Damn it! Why hasn't that monster caught up?" he roared incessantly in his heart. He was the chief steward of the palace, yet he was returning in such a sorry state.

"I will never forgive that old bastard, this grudge shall not be..."

Just as he was retreating, a trace of confusion he caused was keenly noticed by the Immortal. Suddenly, the scroll in his hand burned to ashes. Before the Ghost King could react, the Immortal reshaped the scroll in his hand and unleashed the Hidden Sect's Fast Script!

"Complete!" The Immortal slightly opened his mouth.

Instantly, those faded runes imprinted one by one on the Ghost King's body emitted a dazzling white light. After seeing various degrees of injuries on his body and legs, the Ghost King let out a more pitiful cry, sounding utterly desolate.

"...Ugh, ahhhhh!!!" Clutching his abdomen in agony, he was on the verge of collapse both mentally and physically.

The runes acted like miniature bombs, rendering him unable to take a step. With his mobility gone, he was weakened and powerless, unable to evade the Immortal's pursuit.

At this moment, the Immortal stood before the incapacitated Ghost King, his face cold and devoid of emotion.

"Tell me... why was my Xiao family exterminated?!" The weakened Ghost King inquired.

But all he received in return was a scornful glance from the Immortal. As the Ghost King lay on the ground, his excessive blood loss forming a pool beneath him...

"Your Xiao family was too strong back then..."

With just a few words, fine as a mosquito's wing, the Ghost King couldn't help but shiver involuntarily.

"Because they were too strong?"

"Your Xiao family ancestors were powerful due to practicing forbidden techniques. It was quite a miracle you survived, although no one knows the exact reason. You are lucky to have survived that era, but isn't it heartbreaking to witness your entire clan slaughtered? Haha!" The Immortal spoke a few seemingly mad words, his expression, however, was stern.

This revelation left Yuanhui somewhat bewildered. The Immortal was once feared to such an extent.

The Immortal lifted the Ghost King, now devoid of strength, and then interrogated him.

"Since I have answered your question, it's time for you to tell me, was the person who came tonight Liao Xiuer?"

"A beast is a beast after all. All of you are a bunch of brainless animals, unable to even guess this much? Were you not once the notorious Empress on this continent, not even aware of the Immortal Emperor? How pitiful!" The Ghost King disdainfully smiled, then cursed with blood in his mouth.

"My father died at your hands, such a deep-seated blood feud will not be forgotten by me!"

The Immortal suddenly recalled, the Xiao family had a member named Tian Ji, the Dark Emperor's descendant!

"You're the Dark Emperor's son?!"

The Immortal was astonished, never expecting the roots of everything would lead to this son of the Dark Emperor!

"Hehe..."

The Ghost King gave a bleak smile as his consciousness began to blur. The Immortal knew there was no saving him, so he revealed the truth.

"Your father was never worthy of becoming one of the Four Emperors. What a pity that he resorted to such dark and twisted ways to become stronger, rather than relying on his own continuous cultivation efforts. What's regrettable about someone who used such a method to ascend to the realm of mortals and immortality, is it not beautiful?"

"Beautiful my foot! Mortals should look like mortals. Even if they step into the Infinite Realm, what difference does it make?" The Immortal's expression displayed anger, perhaps due to seeing the son follow in his father's footsteps.

"These rabbits who seem to have obtained Chi, after forcibly cleansing their bodies with drugs, are unable to unleash even seven percent of the Infinite Realm's power. Even a mere Nine-Heart can easily punish them; they are nothing but trash in the realm!"

Yuanhui had obtained the top-tier technique bestowed by the Dark Emperor: Ghost Shadow Phantom Step! However, he didn't immediately delve into it, instead choosing to keep it and leave the place.

"Sigh, your disciple doesn't even let go of dead men's possessions, I..."

"Master, you're rambling again. Dead men's possessions are useless to the dead, so why not let me have them?"

Before long, the palace guards who rushed over were shocked to find their Ghost King tragically dead in a pool of blood.

The news of the Ghost King's tragic death that night shook the entire palace. The atmosphere inside and outside the palace was chaotic.

It was only when Wu Yan returned to his palace shortly that he learned of this news, his expression turning somewhat angry. He immediately ordered heavy guards to be stationed in the palace.

"I never expected such a thing to happen after not stepping out of the house for a few days. Issue orders to arrest those who attacked the royal palace that night."

Indeed, the intrusion of the enemy into the palace was a surprising turn of events!

A knock at his door, followed by a response, drew Wu Yan into his chamber.

The man in black knelt half-bowed upon seeing the well-dressed Wu Yan and began to speak respectfully.

A week passed...

"Your Majesty, days ago when you ordered us to investigate the whereabouts of the others, I have gathered the information."

Leaning on the long chair, Wu Yan slowly opened his eyes, his expression stern as he spoke, "Go on."

"After that day, the princess's subordinates and her personal bodyguards showed no signs of injury, even appearing quite at ease. The black-clad figure that night was not the Princess's doing."

Flow Yi Wei reported the information he found to Wu Yan, raising deep mysteries in his mind.

After listening to the report, Wu Yan shook his head in disbelief, waved his hand, and dismissed everyone.

"My daughter should be unaware of my situation with the Ghost King. Based on the information we have gathered, the culprit should not be my daughter's doing. Then who could it be...perhaps that noble family?"

Wu Yan broke out in a cold sweat as he let out a long sigh. He couldn't fathom who could be manipulating this incident. If we consider the most capable person... the Father-President!!!

He was unwilling to believe that the Father-President would be involved. After all, Wu Yan knew that the Father had assisted his father for many years, and there was no reason for the Wu family to hold any grudges. Thus, he couldn't possibly make that connection.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The slow knocking on the door made Wu Yan frown, and in annoyance he exclaimed, "Didn't I say not to bother me?"

"It's me... Your Majesty."

"Oh, it's Father-President, please come in quickly."

The entry of a purple-robed elder into the room signaled the arrival of his Father-President, known as the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Immortal Emperor.

"Father-President, why did you come so late?" Wu Yan was puzzled but still rose with respect to the elder.

The Immortal Emperor slowly closed the door behind him, then approached, lowering his voice.

"I conducted a private investigation into the death of the Ghost King a few days ago. Judging from the signs, it was the work of a single person. From the severed hand, it appears it was not done by a weapon. Despite his focus on the swift speed of the Ghost Shadow Phantom Step, his martial arts were equally impenetrable, unbreakable!"

"Oh, so what do you mean, Father-President?"

"Well, it is impossible for ordinary weapons to easily sever his hand. So, the other party must be a cultivator, and judging by the young age, I did not sense the Chi fluctuations that night. However, based on the hiding angles, their strength should be on par with mine."

With this revelation, Wu Yan's frown deepened. If what the Father said was true, then the killer of the Ghost King must be no ordinary mortal, narrowing the scope of suspects to the Four Tower Masters.

But what could be done about it? Wu Yan's scalp began to tingle just thinking about it; this complication involving the Four Tower Masters was indeed troublesome!

Although the Wu family reigned supreme in the Central Continent, spanning two vast continents as a super empire and dominating the central part of the continent, there were still some gaps between them and the other three Tower Masters. Moreover, with the occasional provocations by the Star Empire on the border, the Wu family, if the slightest discrepancy were to occur, would easily attract the attention of the Han family from the Western Province.

"Things have gotten quite troublesome," Wu Yan muttered under his breath, massaging his temples to alleviate the heavy burden on his mind.

Thinking this, he immediately summoned the attendants outside his door.

"Inform them to increase the guards in the palace these days to ensure the security of the inner palace," Wu Yan ordered in frustration.

"Yes, sir!"

As the attendant left, Wu Yan, seeing the worried look on his face, left the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Immortal Emperor at a loss for words on how to console him.

"I'll go down now and not disturb Your Majesty's rest."

With those parting words, the Immortal Emperor respectfully bowed and slowly left the court.

Before leaving, he glanced at the headache-stricken Wu Yan and shook his head in disapproval. Indeed, among his father's several sons, this Wu Yan was the most intelligent.

"Too bad if he hadn't hindered my plans, the Wu family would surely unify the entire continent because of him."