Chapter 835: Ghost Secret Realm

"Oh, you fat fool, you dare glare at me?" He Li was greatly displeased by Zhao Ruizhi's gaze. Usually, he was overshadowed by Lu Xiao and Wei Pingyang, and now he couldn't even manage a junior. He was already seething with resentment. "I can't handle them, but I can certainly handle you, you fat fool!"

Zhao Ruizhi said coldly, "It's a miracle you've lived this long."

He was not in a hurry to pursue Zu An and the other person; with the reach of his spiritual sense, they had no chance of escaping.

"How dare you speak to this old man like that? Do you think you're the Emperor?" The other's disdainful gaze gave He Li an inexplicable feeling of unease, which only made him angrier. How could he be intimidated by a mere fat fool?

If Lu Xiao and the others found out, how could I ever hold my head up in the Qi King's Manor in the future? They'd mock me incessantly!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He walked straight over and slapped the other's chubby face. "I gave you too much respect, didn't I?"

To his astonishment, his neck was seized tightly by the other's hand, and he was lifted directly into the air. His legs flailed wildly, but even stretching his toes, he couldn't reach the ground.

He attempted to unleash his cultivation to break the grip, but as soon as his power stirred, it was dissipated by an unknown energy. He felt more feeble and drained than after three days and nights spent in a brothel.

At that moment, the surrounding experts from the Qi King's Manor also sensed something amiss. They drew their blades and surged forward.

Zhao Ruizhi merely cast a cold glance at them, and an overwhelming, unparalleled aura emanated outwards. Each of the elite guards felt their very souls shrivel, and with a series of thuds, they collapsed to their knees, trembling uncontrollably.

"This aura... you are the Emperor!" He Li, being at the peak of the ninth rank and possessing extraordinary insight, immediately realized it. Then, with tears and snot streaming down his face, he cried out, "Your Majesty, this lowly one deserves to die. I unintentionally offended Your Majesty. I am willing to pledge my loyalty to Your Majesty, to go through fire and water and face a myriad deaths from this day forward... Your Majesty, please give me a chance, Your Majesty..."

By the end, there was no longer a hint of his former arrogance; his voice was filled with pure supplication.

Ordinarily, he dared to oppose the Emperor because the Qi King shielded them. They didn't have to confront the Emperor himself, only his subordinates, so there was truly nothing to fear. But now, facing the Emperor in person, he understood the true depth of despair.

"You truly deserve to die a myriad deaths!" Zhao Ruizhi's voice grew cold. Just as he was about to exert his power to end the man, the ground suddenly rippled and rolled like an undulating carpet, causing everyone to lose their balance.

A tremendous rumble emanated from deep underground, and in the distant mountain forest, a series of profound, mysterious sounds echoed, as if some demonic creature was growling softly.

"Huh?" Zhao Ruizhi hovered in the air; he had already ascended before anyone else fell sprawling. He gazed into the distance and murmured, "Space is becoming chaotic. Something is not right with this secret realm."

He retracted his gaze, noticing He Li had turned pale with fright, his body limp as cooked noodles. Suddenly, he frowned, detecting a pungent smell of urine in the air.

He glanced at the man's wet crotch, a flicker of revulsion in his eyes. "Disgusting!"

He casually tossed him to the ground. Instead of being startled, He Li felt a wave of relief. He immediately prostrated himself, frantically kowtowing. "Thank Your Majesty for sparing my life, thank Your Majesty for sparing my life!"

The other elite guards from the Qi King's Manor also begged for mercy. Though rigorously trained, experiencing the Emperor's terrifying pressure up close had utterly destroyed their mental fortitude; not a shred of defiance remained.

Zhao Ruizhi said calmly, "Great changes are about to occur within this secret realm. Perhaps you may still be of some use. Now, prove your value."

"Yes, yes, yes!" He Li trembled like a sieve, yet a wave of relief washed over him internally.

"Where is Wei Pingyang?" Zhao Ruizhi asked.

"This humble subordinate parted ways with him earlier, each pursuing our own targets. He should now be hunting down others from the Crown Prince's Palace." He Li had initially intended to say he didn't know, but fearing it would make him seem useless, he quickly changed his reply. He also took the opportunity to slander Wei Pingyang, ensuring that if the man ever tried to curry favor with the Emperor, it would be impossible.

Zhao Ruizhi closed his eyes, releasing a wave of spiritual sense. He Li felt as if something had swept over his soul. Though tense, he also secretly admired it. The Qi King had always claimed that the entire Imperial Palace was under the Emperor's spiritual sense, and nothing could escape his discerning eye. At the time, everyone had been somewhat dismissive, but now He Li understood the true meaning of his words.

Alas, formidable as the Qi King was, he still paled in comparison to the Emperor.

He dared not inquire why the Crown Prince, who had been well, had now become the Emperor. He knew deep down that the less one knew, the better one's chances of survival.

But he understood that the Qi King's elaborate schemes had ultimately been within the Emperor's control. Defeat and ruin were inevitable, and it was truly wise for him to change allegiance sooner rather than later.

After a moment, Zhao Ruizhi opened his eyes. "I don't sense the aura of any other Grandmasters. It seems Wei Pingyang is already dead."

"Dead?" He Li was stunned. Who else in this secret realm could possibly kill Wei Pingyang, a Grandmaster himself? "Could it be Zu An? That kid truly is formidable."

Zhao Ruizhi cast a cold glance at him, and He Li's hair stood on end. His mouth truly was... Zu An had just abducted the Crown Princess, and he was actually praising him. He really was tired of living. He quickly corrected himself: "That scoundrel is full of dirty tricks. Wei Pingyang must have fallen victim to his scheme."

Is the Crown Princess the Emperor's daughter-in-law or his woman? Ugh, the imperial family is truly a mess.

Only then did Zhao Ruizhi hum. He casually pointed west. "All of you, go in that direction and apprehend Zu An. Notify me at the slightest sign of him."

"Yes!" He Li's heart swelled with joy. The fact that he had been assigned a task proved he wouldn't die anytime soon.

He promptly led his subordinates into the mountain forest in pursuit.

After only a few steps, a question suddenly occurred to him: Why had His Majesty only inquired about Wei Pingyang and not Lu Xiao?

Could it be that...

Considering that possibility, he couldn't help but glance back.

He saw Zhao Ruizhi standing there with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing blankly at the distant mountains. He dared not look longer and quickly departed.

Zhao Ruizhi stood there, his thoughts churning. He had been in a position of power for too long; personally engaging in such a pursuit was beneath his dignity. Furthermore, he now had more pressing concerns. The secret realm had experienced several unusual natural phenomena recently, and considering that the fierce beasts within seemed to have significantly increased in strength compared to previous reports, he immediately realized that great changes were unfolding.

"The Phantom Realm?"

His eyes gleamed as he gazed at the distant sky, where primordial energy seethed. Distinct architectural landscapes shimmered into view like a mirage.

The so-called Phantom Realm was actually two secret realms whose spaces overlapped due to various coincidences. Normally, only one secret realm would manifest, but under specific times and conditions, the hidden realm would appear in place of the main one. However, its duration would not be long. If this opportunity was missed, one might have to wait hundreds or even thousands of years for the Phantom Realm to reveal itself again.

Even with the Emperor's vast knowledge, he had only seen similar accounts in ancient texts. Such realms often signified immense, heaven-sent opportunities.

It was also easy to understand: many secret realms today had been frequently explored, and any heavenly treasures or inheritances had long since been plundered. A realm that appeared only once every few millennia meant everything within it was brand new, mysterious, and dangerous, yet also brimming with tremendous opportunities.

Given the Emperor's cultivation, he no longer truly needed any inheritances or special fortunes. However, he harbored a deep-seated obsession: longevity.

Possessing the Crown Prince's body for his own use was a last resort. If it were possible, who wouldn't wish to live forever in their original body?

This type of Phantom Realm, which existed only in legends, might truly hold the secret to eternal life.

Could it be that Heaven knew my desire and specially granted me this opportunity?

Hahaha, truly, the strong are blessed with great fortune!

As he thought this, Zhao Ruizhi's eyes instantly gleamed with a long-absent fervor.