Chapter 542: New Courtyard

Ghosts were entities created purely from energy. However, their core was a soul, and it longed to belong in a body.

Even if the body did not belong to them, they had an instinctive urge to forcefully occupy any available body. Still, due to the previous disguise that Xue Wei had used, he was not releasing the alluring temptation that ghosts had a hard time withstanding.

Even now, when his body was severely injured, and wounds were adorning his skin, the temptation was not there, and the guards only felt that something was wrong.

"I will send someone to check his identity, and see if we can intercept him before he leaves the city."

Xue Wei nodded his head when he heard the words of the branch leader, but he did not believe it was possible to catch the ghost.

The young-looking ghost had not been the average ghost. The power he wielded proved that he had been considered a member of the upper class within the Ghost Realm, and he seemed to have taken all things into consideration when he fled before.

It was not that Xue Wei doubted the branch leader; he was just realistic. No matter how strong one was, it was not an easy task to locate a specific ghost within the sea of souls.

If the branch leader made use of all his connections and subordinates, it was possible to locate this traitor. However, if he did this, then the protection of Xue Wei and Lan would become chaotic, and he might return to fish in troubled waters.

It was not only Xue Wei who was aware of this, the branch leader could easily guess the outcome, but he still wanted to show his attitude by sending someone out to search.

"Someone, clean up the courtyard next door, and prepare for Young Master Xue and Mister Lan to rest there in the future."

The branch leader waved his hand as he gave the order. He had rushed here, as he had felt that something was wrong, but he still had many things he needed to clean up after the battle he had just won.

Many ghosts had turned into nothingness during this battle, and the soul power that was lingering in the city was dense, causing many opportunistic ghosts to try and benefit.

The branch leader was someone who cared little for the death of his followers. They had followed him for the sake of benefits, and it was well known to them that they would have to risk their lives in his service.

Even the betrayal of the young-looking ghost was not something that caused him much distress, as he never held much anticipation or trust towards his subordinates, but he still felt rather angry for having someone trying to act out on his turf.

Xue Wei and Lan did not ask any questions about the outcome of the battle. By seeing the branch leader, they knew that he had emerged victorious. What the price for this victory was, or what power shuffles would be needed to stabilize the city afterward, they did not care.

Although the two of them had indirectly been the fuse that ignited the battle, they were aware that this battle would have happened either way.

The Overlords within the city had long since been eager for success, and tried to get a higher position in the realm, but they had forgotten that although the branch leader was usually calm and carefree, he was indeed a ghost through and through.

He was not a kind figure, nor was he good at showing forbearance. They had misunderstood his disinterest in getting involved in their matters as a show of weakness.

Everyone in the Ghost Realm knew of the Whispering Oak Inn. While not many had been honored to see the true display of power that these branch leaders wielded, legends had been flourishing for millennia of their overwhelming and domineering strength.

Not many could rival them, and legend had it that when a branch leader fell, chaos would reign in the Ghost Realm for many years to come.

Even so, it was not easy to believe in this. As long as they had not seen the bottom line of the branch leaders, they did not know the true horror they could bring to the unknowing citizens.

It was precise because of this that these Overlords dared to move. They had lost their minds when thinking of overtaking the position of a branch leader, but unfortunately, the greed had brought them their doom.

After the branch leader left the courtyard, Xue Wei and Lan quickly examined their new residence, before once again throwing their minds into cultivation.

They had tasted the bitterness of being suppressed, and they were deeply aware of their weakness.

The days went by in silence. Xue Wei and Lan did not exit the courtyard, but the heaven and earth essence slowly dissipated in the surrounding areas, showing how much Xue Wei had absorbed and refined.

Lan had also managed to unravel quite a few levels of cultivation, and his strength was now back at the very edge of the Emperor Realm. Only one more step was needed for him to step into the realms of the Deities.

Xue Wei was still on the verge of breaking into the King realm, but he could sense that no matter how much he absorbed, there was no upper limit.

Previously, when he was breaking through from one rank to another, it had been enough to just fill up his current capacity of energy, and then forcefully press more energy into his body before it slowly exploded, and reached a new realm.

However, although he was aware of the fact that he had long since reached the threshold for breaking into the King Realm, he still could not sense any method on how to do so.