Chapter 814: No secret skill, and you dare call yourself a holy land disciple?

It looked dilapidated, and inside there were only Mao San and a few people; the inn's waiter was even more listless.

However, Xu Jie and the others didn't mind, strode in, and seeing this, the boy said weakly.

"What would you gentlemen like to eat?"

Besides, they had no appetite, and moreover there was nothing in the inn; it really didn't look like a place open for business.

In the end, Xu Jie and the others merely asked out of curiosity.

After hearing the boy's explanation, the group then left.

On the way, Xu Jie and Zhao Zhengping walked in front, discussing.

"It turns out it's the ghost king's wedding, and he's marrying the prefect's daughter."

"The Diyan Dynasty really is outrageous—a ghost king runs rampant here, yet the court pays no heed."

Although the Diyan Dynasty is now riddled with holes, even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse.

With the strength of the Diyan Dynasty, eliminating a mere Black Mountain Ghost King would be a piece of cake.

But strangely, they just ignore it; perhaps it's because the distance is far and Haoyang Prefecture lies at the border of two countries, so they don't want to bother.

No matter what, the Black Mountain Ghost King has become a true local emperor on this tiny plot of land.

Just think, the prefect can't even protect his own daughter—it's indeed pitiful.

Just as the two were speaking, a Shadow Peak disciple stepped forward and spoke.

"Senior brothers, I have a plan."

This Shadow Peak disciple is usually quiet and unassuming; although her looks are decent, she gives off an icy, unnoticeable vibe.

Since she doesn't speak, Zhao Zhengping and Xu Jie almost forget there's such a person in the group.

But such a person is undoubtedly perfect for Shadow Peak—its disciples need a low presence; otherwise, wherever you go you'd be blazing with light, making concealment pointless.

It seems this is the first time this disciple has spoken up voluntarily; hearing that, Zhao Zhengping asked curiously.

"Junior sister, go ahead."

"Since the ghost king wants to marry, why don't we turn his scheme against him?"

"Oh? Junior sister, elaborate."

"We could pose as the bride, infiltrate the Black Mountain Ghost Palace, catch him off guard—junior sister could launch a sudden ambush on the ghost king, and with the two senior brothers' cooperation, it's not impossible to slay him."

"Once the ghost king is dead, the remaining evil spirits will be nothing to fear."

Hearing this, Zhao Zhengping and Xu Jie exchanged a glance and had to admit the plan was quite bold.

However, given Xu Jie's and his companion's nature, they wouldn't be afraid—there's just a small problem.

"Junior sister, your plan is not bad, but how can we deceive the ghost king? We can disguise ourselves, but fooling only minor spirits is no issue."

"But if we pose as the bride, we'd be in close contact with the ghost king, and we have no full confidence."

After all, he's a ghost king; ordinary disguises might fool minor spirits, but to deceive a ghost king at close range is extremely difficult—at least Zhao Zhengping and Xu Jie lack confidence.

However, hearing this, the junior sister smiled faintly and said.

"This point I can handle, senior brothers, rest assured—I have confidence I can deceive the ghost king."

Huh???

"Can this guy fool the ghost king?" Xu Jie eyed the junior sister before him with suspicion.

As a Shadow Peak disciple, what matters most? Concealment and disguise.

Although this junior sister is merely an Inner Door Disciple, speaking purely of disguise technique, she could rank among the top five even in Shadow Peak.

Mainly, this junior sister once by chance obtained a profound disguise secret art.

Relying on this method, she has previously completed many extremely difficult tasks, even earning praise from Jueying.

If not for her slightly lacking talent, she could likely have entered the ranks of the Inner Disciples.

After hearing the junior sister's explanation, Xu Jie and Zhao Zhengping were stunned.

Nice fellow, I didn't expect there to be such a trick.

On the contrary, this junior sister has remained calm; as a disciple of the holy land, how could she survive without a secret skill?

Within Dao Yi Shengdi, isn't it normal to hide a secret skill?

"Junior sister, are you really confident?"

"Absolutely."

Xu Jie confirmed again; hearing this, the junior sister nodded without hesitation.

Seeing this, Xu Jie no longer hesitated and immediately decided.

"Let's go to the prefect's office; this matter still requires the prefect's cooperation."

With a plan in hand, the group headed straight for the prefect's office.

Meanwhile, inside the Haoyang Prefecture office, a middle-aged couple wore sorrowful expressions.

The man was silent, his gaze dull, while the woman beside him had red eyes, obviously having just cried.

"Sir, really there's no other way?"

Holding back tears, the lady asked the middle-aged man beside her; hearing this, the man remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.

"It's my inadequacy."

His words full of self-reproach and resentment, the man is the prefect of Haoyang, Yu Ming.

As the governor overseeing a prefecture, Yu Ming's eyes were filled with despair.

Originally, Yu Ming started as a lowly county magistrate and gradually entered the court, but due to his own character and conscience, he could not collude with the petty villains above.

In the end, he was assigned to this remote Haoyang Prefecture.

Nevertheless, when he first took office in Haoyang Prefecture, Yu Ming was full of vigor, vowing to eradicate the Black Mountain Ghost King and bring clarity to the locals.

But while his ideals were lofty, reality dealt Yu Ming a harsh slap.

The court showed absolutely no concern for Vast Sun Commandery, as if the people of Vast Sun Commandery were not at all subjects of the Earth Flame Dynasty.

And only after Yu Ming took office did the entire Vast Sun Commandery discover that Human Race cultivators with cultivation were almost completely slaughtered by the Black Mountain Ghost King.

What remained were merely ordinary people without cultivation, and in the eyes of the Black Mountain Ghost King, these ordinary people were nothing more than livestock raised for blood food.

On one hand, they received no help from the court; on the other hand, the Black Mountain Ghost King had occupied the area for years, and there was essentially no one usable within Vast Sun Commandery.

By now, he could not even protect his own daughter.

Once full of vigor and ambition, now only a heart like dead ashes remains.

Once brimming with lofty aspirations, they have long since vanished like smoke.

Having said that, Yu Ming's withered lips trembled slightly; he wanted to say something, but in the end he couldn't utter a single word.

"Sir."

Just then, an old servant hurried in and spoke respectfully.

"Outside the gate there is a group of cultivators who wish to see you, sir."

"Cultivators? Did they state their purpose?"

"No, they only said they have something to discuss with you, sir."

"A discussion?"

He murmured softly, but soon gave a self‑mocking smile and shook his head.

"Things have come to this; what is there left to talk about? No matter their purpose, just forget it—go tell them that Vast Sun Commandery is beyond saving, and urge them to leave as quickly as possible, or else they won't be able to get out."