As far as the eye could see, there were nothing but gnarled old tree roots, black river water, and corpses strewn everywhere. Vaguely, there were vultures circling in the sky.
Where was this place? Zhao Shuning had never seen it before.
The next moment, a roar echoed in her world.
"Get out! All of you, get out of here!"
The voice was so familiar.
Following the sound, Zhao Shuning drifted to a place that resembled a palace. The construction style of this palace was somewhat similar to that of the Loulan palaces.
From the innermost room came the sound of things being thrown. Zhao Shuning drifted towards it. Only then did she realize that what she had thought was a room was actually a large palace.
On the throne in the palace sat a man in black. His face was full of hostility, and the ferocity on it seemed to never fade. However, Zhao Shuning recognized him at a glance.
It was Mo Bai.
How could Mo Bai have become like this?
Below, a beautiful woman walked over leisurely. It was Xia Wanning. After all these years, she was still as beautiful as ever.
"Lord Ghost Sovereign, after all these years, why are you still so persistent?"
Did Xia Wanning know Mo Bai? How did they meet? Had they known each other for a long time?
Mo Bai looked at Xia Wanning gloomily.
"What are you doing in the Ghost Domain? You, a respected elder of the Sect, come to my Ghost Domain so openly. Aren't you afraid that your beloved will find out?"
Beloved?
Hearing this, Xia Wanning sneered.
"Don't mock me. If it weren't for Zhao Shuning's meddling, how could the Emperor Sovereign have suspected me? You know very well that since Zhao Shuning disappeared, I can no longer return to the Sect. We are both fallen people in the world. Why does the Ghost Sovereign have to mock me like this?"
Mo Bai was furious and let out a cold snort.
"I've never been on the same path as you."
"How are we not on the same path? Oh, right. When it comes to being ruthless, I'm indeed not on the same path as the Ghost Sovereign. You went so far as to imprison Zhao Shuning's family just to force her out. But what's the use of doing this?"
Zhao Shuning was shocked. She looked at the man sitting on the main seat in disbelief. Others couldn't see her, and even Mo Bai and Xia Wanning didn't notice her presence at all.
Mo Bai had imprisoned her family? So, were all the things she had heard before true? And what the young man had said about her brother's death?
The Ghost Domain? The Ghost Sovereign was Mo Bai. If, as people said, the place where her brother died was not far from the Ghost Domain, was her brother's death really related to Mo Bai?
"Elder Xia, you have an agreement with my father. You are a guest in the Ghost Domain, and I naturally won't drive you away. But you should understand that you are just a guest. The master of the Ghost Domain is the Mo family."
"Of course."
Xia Wanning smiled slightly. The current situation was exactly what she wanted to see. Although she didn't know why, at the time when Zhao Shuning should have been at the height of her glory, she suddenly disappeared, and no one could find her during this period. Even the Emperor Sovereign couldn't find her. In that case, there was only one possibility.
That was that Zhao Shuning was no longer in this world. Her disappearance was the best news for Xia Wanning. Since she couldn't have the Emperor Sovereign, neither could Zhao Shuning.
As for the Ghost Sovereign, Mo Bai, with his help, she had eliminated Zhao Huai, who was a great threat. Now, with the interference of the Ghost Domain, the Nine Provinces Continent, especially the Eastern Wilderness, had become extremely turbulent. By the time everything was over, she just needed to reappear and take control of the regime. This was what Mo Bai's father had promised her. She was a member of the Ghost Domain, and they would surely not abandon her. She didn't want much. Being the female emperor of the Eastern Wilderness would be enough.
"Get out after you've said what you wanted to say."
Mo Bai covered his chest. Blood slowly trickled down from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it away casually.
Xia Wanning said, "Although this has little to do with me, I still have to remind the Ghost Sovereign that although you are powerful in the Nine Provinces Continent and the Emperor Sovereign is seriously injured, it is simply impossible for you to swallow the Nine Provinces in one go."
Was Master injured?
"It's none of your business what I do."
"Yes, it's naturally not my place to interfere in the Ghost Sovereign's affairs. But since it concerns the future of the Ghost Domain, please think twice before you act."
"Get out!"
Xia Wanning smiled lightly and finally retreated.
Zhao Shuning was now in a state of turmoil. All she could think about was what they had just said about Master being seriously injured. But she couldn't control her consciousness.
Another figure appeared in the palace. The figure was hidden under a black robe, and Zhao Shuning couldn't see his face. But when Mo Bai saw this person, he restrained some of his temper.
"Father."
The man let out a soft grunt.
"Mo Bai, you were too hasty this time."
"Father, I was reckless."
"Father knows that you like that girl, but you shouldn't have attacked Qingyun Peak just because of a little clue. You don't know enough about Yan Ruyu. Even though you are now a ninth - level spiritual pharmacist and your spiritual power has reached the ninth rank, it's still not enough to fight against Yan Ruyu."
"Father, I know."
"If you know, why are you still so reckless?"
"I just heard—"
"You just heard that Yan Ruyu had news of Zhao Shuning, right? For a woman, you mobilized all the people in the Ghost Domain to force him to submit? Mo Bai, is a woman really worth it?"
"Father, then is what you've done worth it?"
The figure in the black robe moved. He looked at Mo Bai on the high platform.
"What did you say?"
"Father, in your palace, there are piles of portraits of the same woman. You've recorded every frown and smile of hers, all her expressions, and even the words she's said. Is what you've done worth it? Why did you cooperate with that person? Isn't it just for her to come back?"
The man in the black robe roared angrily.
"It's not your place to interfere in father's affairs."
"Father, I don't want to interfere. I just hope that father can understand me. My feelings for Ningning are definitely no less than your feelings for that woman. I just miss her so much and want her to come back."
"Forget it. You've grown up now, and there are many things that father can no longer control you. But you should understand that no matter how important that woman is, you can't risk the lives of our entire clan."
"I know, father."
The man in the black robe nodded. Then, he let out a long sigh.
Zhao Shuning frowned more and more tightly. She always felt that the voice of the man in the black robe was very familiar. But since she couldn't see his face, she didn't dare to make a hasty judgment.
In the palace, Mo Bai's face suddenly turned pale. Then, he spat out a mouthful of filthy blood and fainted.