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Back then, the Emperor had led the Imperial Guard on a campaign against the Void. Initially, they were unstoppable, cutting through enemy lines with ease. 

The Emperor personally slew over a dozen Void Lords and nearly reached the outskirts of the Void King’s court. But then, in a single night, the Emperor’s imperial camp was reduced to ruins. The entire Imperial Guard was annihilated, and the Emperor himself vanished without a trace.

To this day, the incident remains an unsolved mystery, shrouded in countless unanswered questions. 

The event had shocked the entire human world, especially since the Emperor was the foremost human warrior, a Level 99 powerhouse akin to a deity. The Imperial Guard, though small in number with only 300 soldiers, consisted entirely of professionals above Level 50. 

Besides the Emperor’s camp, several other Imperial legions and numerous elite fighters from major noble families were present.

Among them was Qin Ming, the head of the Qin family, who had led a group of Qin family elites in following the Emperor’s campaign. 

Lu Ji found it hard to believe that with the Empire’s and humanity’s greatest military might concentrated in one place, the Emperor could have faced any accident. Yet, the Emperor had vanished all the same.

For years, Lu Ji had been quietly investigating this matter, but progress had been slow. The Imperial Guard was disbanded quickly, and records from that time were either destroyed or went missing. Many of those who knew the truth either died or mysteriously disappeared. 

However, the search for the Emperor’s whereabouts had yielded some progress. At least now, they could be certain that the Emperor was not dead. From various clues, they deduced that the Emperor was likely trapped in some kind of dimensional prison.

A dimensional prison is an eerie space that exists deep within the Void, isolated from the main world and even from the Void itself. These prisons are hidden within dark matter planes, surrounded by countless cryptic runes, and are extremely difficult to locate.

Lu Ji nodded slowly, his voice firm. “Continue the investigation.”

Ren Xun nodded in acknowledgment. “I have been searching for artifacts that allow travel through the Void. Once we make progress, I will organize a search party.”

However, his face showed a hint of hesitation. “While investigating the Imperial Guard’s archives, I encountered resistance from some noble families… My lord, do you think…?”

Lu Ji glanced at him but remained silent. Ren Xun understood the unspoken message.

—

The uproar over the invasion of Donghai City finally came to a conclusion. The Empire classified the incident as an accidental event. The Imperial Police Department and the Security Council, in coordination with other departments, launched a nationwide campaign to root out Void Followers.

Soon after, the decision regarding Chen Beiguo’s fate was announced. Effective immediately, Chen Beiguo was removed from his position as Governor of Donghai Province and reassigned as Chief of Staff of the Northern Army. 

Although the Chief of Staff position in the Northern Army, especially on the frontlines of the Void, holds a higher status than similar positions in other military districts, it was clear to everyone that Chen Beiguo had been demoted.

A provincial governor wields absolute power over their territory, a “local emperor” with the power of life and death. In contrast, as Chief of Staff in the Northern Army, Chen Beiguo would report to the Northern Army Commander and the military high command above him, a significant drop in authority.

Yu Feng, the Speaker of the Donghai Provincial Assembly, was appointed as the new governor, a move that was both expected and legitimate. 

With this change, a series of personnel shifts followed. Having served as governor for many years, Chen Beiguo had built up a network of loyal subordinates. 

With his fall, Yu Feng was certain to purge these individuals, sparking a new wave of political conflict in Donghai Province.

However, Qin Xian was no longer concerned with these developments. The relatively lenient handling of Chen Beiguo’s case did not surprise him. 

After all, Chen Beiguo had the backing of the Imperial Regent, and he was a Level 68 national deterrent-level powerhouse, a key asset of the Empire. As long as he did not commit a grave offense, severe punishment was unlikely.

Chen Beiguo’s daughter, Chen Lingxi, was not as fortunate. Regardless of the circumstances, she had vouched for Lin Feng, leading to the destruction of the Divine Revelation Temple in Donghai City. 

The Surveillance Department detained her and conducted an interrogation. Given the charges against her, she was likely facing at least twenty years of imprisonment.

Such is life: a single misstep can lead to severe consequences…

—

Accompanying Qin Xian as he left Donghai was Su Keqing. Qin Xian was pleased with her obedient and gentle nature. Moreover, Su Keqing’s profession provided him with an experience buff, something he had no intention of wasting.

Su Keqing had also learned that both Lin Feng and Lin Yu were Void Followers. Although she initially found it hard to believe, given the official reports and the seemingly irrefutable evidence, she eventually accepted it.

After all, the Empire’s credibility was still quite high.

Seeing that Su Keqing had fully accepted the official narrative, the murderous intent in Qin Xian’s eyes gradually faded. 

If Su Keqing had shown any doubt or harbored any resentment toward him, Qin Xian would not have hesitated to eliminate her, despite her status as a rare beauty. Qin Xian would never tolerate any disloyalty, even from someone so close to him.

Fortunately, the Su family had moved away several years ago, and Su Keqing’s feelings for Lin Feng had long since cooled. She now saw him as nothing more than a neighbor’s little brother…