Lin Ji had imagined countless times beforehand what the notorious Ghost King of Liang City would look like.
But at this moment, the image of the middle-aged man sitting quietly on the throne, vivid and lifelike as a living person, shattered his imagination.
He was dressed in a silk robe transformed from ghostly aura, not much different from what Lin Ji himself was wearing.
With his hair draped behind him, his face obscured, but his eyes alone exuded a dark ghostly aura, quite striking.
Lin Ji took a deep breath, steeling his courage.
"Liangzhou Chief Constable Lin Ji pays respects to the Ghost King."
The Ghost King did not speak, perhaps Lin Ji couldn't see his mouth moving.
But the voice resounded next to Lin Ji's ear.
"Such a young Chief Constable? Cultivation at the Fourth Realm, not bad with the hidden power of thunder in your body. Have you cultivated the Thunder Sword Technique? Your eyes are clear, your primordial spirit solid at the Fourth Realm to achieve this, you must have learned some kind of primordial spirit technique."
With just a brief meeting and a few simple words, the Ghost King had already discerned much about Lin Ji.
Lin Ji silently locked eyes with the Ghost King, saying nothing.
"The Celestial Oversight Bureau sent you. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you, needlessly losing a talented junior?" The Ghost King's tone carried a hint of mockery.
"The matter concerning Liang City has been ongoing. I was sent by the higher-ups to convey a message and bring closure to this matter," Lin Ji pondered and spoke.
"They sent a mere Fourth Realm individual to convey a message? Do they look down on me?"
"Lord Zhang has come several times, only to be sent back by you," Lin Ji, now unafraid, spoke confidently, fabricating, "If the Celestial Oversight Bureau sends someone stronger, at least at the Seventh Realm, you may not be willing to allow such a strong individual into the Ghost King City. Even the weakest, below the Fourth Realm, wouldn't even get to see you. It would be futile. That's why I was sent with the Demon Suppression Staff."
Lin Ji raised the Demon Suppression Staff in his hand.
"This item is not unfamiliar to the Ghost King. As you mentioned, my talents are highly valued in the Celestial Oversight Bureau. Bringing the Demon Suppression Staff also signifies the sincerity of the Celestial Oversight Bureau in negotiations. Therefore, no matter what, my presence here is the most appropriate choice."
Lin Ji was somewhat impressed with his quick wit in explaining.
He could come up with explanations on the spot and still make sense of it all in the end.
If it weren't for the inappropriate location, he would have been quite pleased with himself.
After a moment of silence, the Ghost King nodded slightly.
"What are the conditions of the Celestial Oversight Bureau? Have they found the killer of my son? Without avenging my son, this matter will not be settled!"
As the words fell, a nearly tangible killing intent permeated the entire hall.
Lin Ji stiffened.
Partly from the intimidation of the killing intent, partly from the Ghost King's words.
He had a vague feeling that this killing intent was directed at him.
It wasn't until the killing intent dissipated that Lin Ji breathed a sigh of relief.
"I am not aware of the killer, but the Celestial Oversight Bureau will surely provide an explanation to the Ghost King. I am only here to deliver a message, please do not make things difficult," Lin Ji implored.
The Ghost King waved his hand.
"Speak."
Lin Ji felt as if he had been granted a reprieve.
"First, release the soul of the daughter of the Luo Family and allow her to reincarnate."
"Go on," the Ghost King remained noncommittal.
"Second, restrain your subordinates and cease troubling Liang City."
"Hmm."
Lin Ji wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Third, relocate the Ghost King City."
As the words fell, Lin Ji waited for the Ghost King's response, but there was no reply.
Somewhat cautiously, he raised his head, only to find the Ghost King standing in front of him, just two or three meters away.
Lin Ji instinctively took a half step back, but then stopped his senseless fear.
This was the Ghost King's territory. Besides accepting his fate, he had no other choice.
"Is this how the Celestial Oversight Bureau looks down on me?" The Ghost King suddenly appeared behind Lin Ji.
The eerie voice made Lin Ji hold his breath.
Before Lin Ji could speak, the Ghost King's voice resounded again.
"I was suppressed in the Demon-Sealing Tower for hundreds of years. Do you know what those days were like?"
"No matter how formidable you are outside, once you enter, you face endless nothingness. All you see is emptiness."
"Have you ever experienced the feeling of being burned by the flames of karma every moment?"
"It's a flame that never goes out, slowly burning within you. Not lethal, not even painful, just a simple burning."
Lin Ji fell silent. He had no knowledge of these experiences.
The Ghost King continued murmuring.
"Burning like this for hundreds of years, you would feel yourself gradually being consumed by the flames of karma. If you don't devour other ghosts, you will slowly dissipate in this endless torment."
The Ghost King stood in front of Lin Ji, locking eyes with him.
"On the eighteenth floor of the Demon-Sealing Tower, all imprisoned are ghosts, at least ghost generals."
"I was the last and the only one to survive."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ji felt something was amiss.
The torment of hundreds of years was indeed terrifying. If it were an ordinary person, just being locked in a lightless room for a short time would be enough to scare them witless.
No concept of time, no concept of space.
Eternal emptiness was truly tormenting.
But the burning flames of karma and the need to devour one's kind to survive seemed like nurturing gu.
And the Ghost King before him was the product of centuries of nurturing in the Demon-Sealing Tower.
Just as Lin Ji was lost in his thoughts, he felt the ghostly aura enveloping him.
"The Celestial Oversight Bureau is truly ridiculous. They think that by having me restrain my subordinates, there is still room for negotiation in the current situation?"
Lin Ji widened his eyes suddenly, feeling the naked killing intent emanating from the Ghost King.
"Boy, let me tell you before you die, I'm just waiting for an opportunity."
Lin Ji was speechless as the ghostly aura invaded him.
If he hadn't tightly gripped the Demon Suppression Staff in his hand, helping him resist some pressure, he might have lost consciousness by now.
"Sooner or later, I will personally come to Liang City and have everyone in Liang City bury my son! This matter is non-negotiable!"
A sinister smile crept onto the Ghost King's face, about to make a move.
But at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out in the hall.
"Wait, Ghost King. Killing this boy is inconsequential, but wasting the Demon Suppression Staff on him is a pity."
In the blink of an eye, a figure in white robes emerged from the direction of the throne, standing before the Ghost King.
"You holding the Demon Suppression Staff serves no purpose. Why not give it to me, what do you say?"
Lin Ji was powerless at this moment, only able to stare blankly at this unexpected figure in white robes.
He was not a ghost.
The white robe on him looked familiar.
At the same time, the Ghost King turned his head to look at the figure in white robes.
"Such a trivial matter, just say it, no need to come out specifically."
As the words fell, the raging ghostly aura condensed into a sinister ghostly claw of the Ghost King.
The ghostly claw pierced through the chest of the figure in white robes!
Lin Ji felt the shackles of the Ghost King disappear, falling to the ground, staring blankly at the scene before him.
But the Ghost King's expression suddenly changed.
"Wait!"