Everything just now had been an illusion!
An unparalleled illusion that even Li Chen had failed to see through!
Shadow Fiend and Soul Butcher had killed the wrong person!
What they had brought back to claim credit was the head and corpse of Li Chen's own great-grandson—the one in whom he had placed such high hopes, painstakingly nurtured, and planned to place upon the throne of an Immortal King's disciple!!
"Tian... Qing..."
Li Chen staggered back a step as though struck by heavenly lightning. The blood drained from his once-ruddy, imposing face in an instant, leaving it pale as paper.
He stared at his grandson's face, frozen in its final terror. His pupils dilated, and what they reflected seemed not to be an image, but his own world collapsing.
Why had he pulled so many strings in secret?
Was it not all to pave the way for his great-grandson!
But now, his great-grandson was dead!
And had been assassinated by his own hand!
Even more laughable, to prevent resurrection through an Immortal Venerable's divine abilities, he had specifically studied assassination weapons that destroyed both body and soul—methods from which even an Immortal Venerable could not revive someone!
He had completely cut off every possible retreat!
Could he ask an Immortal King to revive his great-grandson?
"No... impossible..."
Shadow Fiend and Soul Butcher also saw the head's true face. The two men felt as if they had fallen into an icy abyss, their blood seemingly freezing solid in an instant.
Boundless chill shot from the soles of their feet straight to their crowns, making them tremble violently.
They had not succeeded.
They had fallen, utterly and completely, into a meticulously prepared trap!
They had become executioners who had personally buried the Branch Hall Master's closest bloodline!
"Branch Hall Master! This subordinate...