The threat posed by these individuals held little fear for Lu Wuming. Having been captured by them, he had no intention of escaping. Especially now, at the threshold, he was more curious to see what this so-called Ghost King was than to flee.
So, with a calm affirmation, he raised his leg and walked towards the palace.
After taking just two steps, Chu Wu called out to him from behind, "Once you go in, tell His Majesty that the brat with the divine sword is dead. The divine sword is now without an owner. Have His Majesty decide what to do about this matter."
Lu Wuming let out a scoff.
He was entering obediently because, apart from obedience, he had no other choice.
But to expect him to relay a message was a pipe dream.
Without responding to Chu Wu, Lu Wuming strode into the palace without hesitation. He had initially thought the world inside might be as dark as the outside. However, upon entering, he discovered that the palace was illuminated by countless ever-burning lamps, making it as bright as day. Separated by a heavy iron door, it was a stark contrast to the lightless ghost city outside.
Yet, contrary to his expectations, the grand hall was empty, with no sign of the Ghost King.
Lu Wuming glanced around, too lazy to venture further.
He stopped directly in the center of the hall and said, "You've always wanted me to come here, haven't you? Now that I'm here, you don't want to see me anymore?"
As his voice fell, Lu Wuming expected that he wouldn't see anyone and might have to wait a while for a response.
To his surprise, in the very next second, a deafening sound boomed through the hall. The sound was incredibly loud, and it was impossible to pinpoint its origin. It was as if it emanated from all directions, converging into Lu Wuming's ears.
It said, "I am right here. Haven't you already seen me?"
Upon hearing the voice, Lu Wuming was certain it was the Ghost King.
But his gaze swept over his surroundings again.
No matter where he looked, there was no sign of any living creature.
Lu Wuming couldn't help but frown.
What was he seeing?
Apart from this empty hall, he saw nothing.
No…
A thought suddenly struck him, and Lu Wuming scanned the entire room once more. After confirming that he truly saw nothing, he gritted his teeth and asked word by word, "Is this why you never leave the Ghost Realm?"
The Ghost King's response confirmed his suspicion.
His voice, filled with laughter, said, "That's right. I have become one with this palace, and even with this entire ghost city. Therefore, I cannot leave. Perhaps in time, I will even become one with the entire Ghost Realm."
Lu Wuming didn't understand how this was achieved. However, from the Ghost King's calm and serious tone, Lu Wuming felt that his words were likely not a deception.
Furthermore, the source of the voice indeed supported his claim. After all, if he hadn't become one with the palace, the sound wouldn't have come from all directions.
His mind, not accustomed to strenuous thought, churned for a few moments. Lu Wuming ultimately decided to abandon trying to figure out the reason behind it.
He could admit that his brain wasn't particularly sharp. He couldn't fathom such bizarre matters, so it was better to focus on the answer to the question he most wanted to know.
With this conclusion in mind, Lu Wuming looked forward again. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Since you are so powerful, what do you need me for? If you can control the entire Ghost Realm, you can control all the creatures here, right? In that case, I don't see how I can help you. I'm not as strong as you, nor can I provide any assistance. So, instead of capturing me, you might as well let me go."
This was indeed his most genuine thought.
He could feel the Ghost King's ghostly energy permeating the entire palace. If his power had truly expanded to such a degree as he claimed, then Lu Wuming wasn't even considering whether he was a match for him; the fact that he was unqualified to offer any help was undeniable.
However, the other party ignored his statement, not even offering a useful response. Maintaining his victorious posture, the Ghost King asked, "I heard rumors that when you fought against that divine sword, your head was cut off once, and your chest was blasted with a large hole. Your heart was gone. Is this true?"
Lu Wuming scoffed and did not answer.
He knew that even if he remained silent, the Ghost King wouldn't hesitate to try it himself, as it was something that could be verified with a simple attempt. It was precisely because he understood this that Lu Wuming obediently unbuttoned his clothes, revealing the still-present hole in his chest. He said, "Can't you see for yourself? The wound on my chest hasn't fully healed. As for the wound on my neck, if you want to try again, I can't stop you, can I?"
After speaking, Lu Wuming tilted his chin up decisively.
Honestly, he didn't want to cooperate at all.
But what choice did he have if he didn't? Things had reached this point, and he could only take it one step at a time.
To his surprise, upon hearing his words, the Ghost King chuckled. He said, "You are my child. How could I not believe what you say? There's no need for any further experiments, because I can confirm that you are the child I've been looking for. I haven't made a mistake."
His words were incredibly affectionate, sounding truly like those of a father doting on his child.
However, Lu Wuming vividly remembered the teachings of Liu Buli. He knew that no matter how loving the Ghost King appeared, his pretense was likely the dominant factor. If he truly believed the other party's words, he would be a complete fool.
With these thoughts in mind, Lu Wuming spoke again, "So, can you answer my previous question now?"
"Of course, my child," the Ghost King said with a smile. "You don't need to do anything for me. You are right, you truly cannot do anything for me. So, I brought you here simply because I want you to inherit my position. I also want to experience the joy of raising offspring, just like humans. Is that so hard to understand?"