The aliens who were picked up by Superman at the beginning

Below the castle, countless figures dressed in tattered Kryptonian uniforms worked back and forth.

They silently repaired the city walls that had been damaged by the occasional intruding wandering monsters, their movements mechanical and efficient, each one of them expressionless.

Mon El slowly lowered the sailboat's altitude and said in a deep voice.

"The Phantom King is extremely intelligent. We turned back too quickly and couldn't completely hide it from him. Our chances may be slim."

Li Zhen looked down at the group of Kryptonian prisoners toiling numbly below, a hint of familiarity flashing in his eyes, a surge of anger rising within him before being quickly suppressed.

"The habits and attitudes of this group are exactly the same as those guys on Witrum."

Mar and Mia exchanged a glance.

Even now, they are still secretly wondering about it.

I always felt that the instructor's insistence on breaking into the castle was because he hadn't had enough fun fighting earlier and hadn't had his fill of killing.

Of course, these words are not said aloud; they are understood in each other's hearts.

The sailboat landed smoothly, and the prisoners working outside the castle stepped aside to make way for it. They remained silent throughout, each performing their duties with great efficiency.

There wasn't a trace of extra emotion. Li Zhen felt this was all too familiar.

He knew that these people only showed their true colors when they were fighting and killing.

Normally, having one or two cases is no different from having facial paralysis.

This situation is strikingly similar to Wittrum's abnormal militarized system.

Using perfect Kryptonian technology for disguise, the group successfully entered the castle.

Just as I passed through the city gate, a Kryptonian woman wearing a monocle-shaped square lens walked quickly toward me.

Her uniform was tattered, and the family crest, which resembled the Superman logo on his chest, was long worn away, yet it couldn't conceal her strong and sharp military aura.

Her sharp gaze swept over the group, and she began to question them calmly.

"The field team has returned, but the number of members is incorrect. Where are the rest of them?"

Just as Mon El was about to step forward to explain, Li Zhen stepped forward first.

His tone was equally cold, and his speech was crisp and efficient.

"While on patrol, we encountered newly arrived intruders." "The entire group retained their physical forms, and one of them possessed exceptional individual strength. After dozens of exchanges, most of the team members were killed on the spot."

"We left one person behind to hold off the enemy, while the rest of us fought our way back to report to the Phantom King."

The Kryptonian female officer frowned slightly, but did not ask too many questions. Acting swiftly and decisively, she immediately raised her hand to signal.

"Come with me to meet the Phantom King and give him a detailed report on the remaining information of the new intruder."

Mon El, standing behind him, was completely stunned.

He had been lying low under the Phantom King for several years, but he could never adapt to the cold, oppressive, and ruthless atmosphere there.

Every move he made exuded an air of incongruity.

However, when Li Zhen first set foot in this place, her words, actions, aura, and demeanor perfectly matched this area.

It was so natural, more like a native warrior of the Phantom King than someone with 99% Kryptonian genes.

The female officer, as expected, did not suspect anything and immediately turned around to lead the way.

Li Zhen followed casually, as if their conversation had been perfectly normal.

Mal and Mia followed closely behind Mon El's gestures. The group followed the Kryptonian female officer through layers of stone corridors, ignoring everyone else they passed, their expressions tense, until they reached the central hall at the very top of the castle.

The main hall was spacious and majestic, with its dome soaring into the clouds. The surrounding rock walls were inlaid with luminous blue crystals, and a cold light filled the entire hall.

In the deepest part of the hall, a huge black stone chair sat in the center, with the Phantom King standing on it, looking down at the people who came below.

His appearance was extremely bizarre, completely lacking any Kryptonian features.

From head to toe, his entire face and body were wrapped in layers of thick, beige-colored bandage-like fabric, completely airtight, with not an inch of skin visible.

A wide, scarlet cloak draped over the back of the chair behind him.

The Phantom King also wore the standard yellow solar radiation bracelets on both wrists.

In addition, a ring of intricately designed black special devices is tightly fastened around the neck and collarbone area.

The device's patterns flickered with a faint light, continuously pouring massive amounts of yellow solar radiation energy into his body, the energy cycling endlessly.

The abundant radiant energy continued to scorch the bandaged head, so much so that a hazy, reddish-orange glow surrounded the entire head, and the heat wave subtly spread outwards.

This form lacks any regal majesty or orthodoxy; instead, it resembles a bizarre combination of a mummy and a headless horseman from Western folklore, both oppressive and mysterious.

Upon reaching the center of the hall, Mon El's eyes flickered slightly. Under the cover of his position, he subtly gave Li Zhen a knowing look, a silent signal. He wanted Li Zhen to maintain his previous aloof subordinate demeanor, using the pretext of reporting intelligence to get closer to the Phantom King and seize the initiative.

But the next second, Li Zhen completely deviated from the expected pattern.

Ignoring Mon El's hint, he suddenly clenched his fist, and took a step straight towards the Phantom King on the platform.

His steps were crisp and straightforward, without the slightest hint of the restraint and respect one would show when reporting to subordinates.

Even the female officer who had just thought Li Zhen was perfectly normal was astonished.

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Mon El froze, his heart pounding, fearing that this abrupt and unusual action would expose everyone's identities.

Mar and Mia, standing to the side, also held their breath, their bodies tense like bowstrings, subconsciously preparing for battle at any moment, their hearts filled with panic and confusion.

Should we just expose ourselves and start fighting in a place full of Kryptonians?

Wasn't that a bit too reckless?

Everyone assumed that this reckless act would surely provoke the Phantom King's wrath and suspicion.

The anticipated pressure and questioning did not arrive. On the high platform, Phantom King, facing Li Zhen who was approaching directly, did not get up or use his abilities. He simply leaned back slightly and lazily changed to a more relaxed and comfortable sitting posture.

Li Zhen did not continue walking, but stopped after about twenty meters.

Mon El was extremely anxious.

Unable to understand why, given such a good opportunity, Li Zhen suddenly decided not to leave.

At the same time, a mechanical voice, modified by an unknown instrument and devoid of any emotion, slowly echoed in the empty hall.

"You are not my subordinate."

"The original phantoms of the Phantom Zone have no physical form. The physical forms of foreign prisoners are all bestowed by me, but you have never been registered in my system."

His tone was flat and straightforward.

"You're an outsider, what's your purpose?"

Li Zhen also spoke calmly.

"I want to borrow the power of the Phantom King to find a few people."

Well, from the moment Lee Jung saw the Phantom King, her intuition told her that they had been exposed.

As the controller of the Phantom Zone, being given the title of Phantom King speaks volumes about his authority.

Even the 'cloak' that can turn phantoms into physical objects has nothing to do with the great inventor Mon El; it was something the Phantom King invented himself.

So he chose to present the story in a straightforward manner.

As for why they didn't continue...

It wasn't that Li Zhen didn't want to leave; she was being blocked by the other party.

The Phantom King may have used Kryptonite jewelry!

His steps were blocked by an invisible yet powerful mental barrier that was able to contend with him!