Understanding roughly what she meant, Lan responded, "Yes."

Then followed the planned execution.

When the eight people arrived in Yao Mountain City, Lan assigned a portion of them around the inn as usual, while placing another part of them directly in the inn where the ring was, renting two adjacent rooms for close surveillance.

Shi Chun, who was stationed in one of the rooms, continuously observed the area around the inn where the ring was located. Since the city was inhabited by both humans and demons and he was not familiar with the original living conditions, he couldn't get the desired results.

Once the eight demon cultivators were in place, Shi Chun had a clear understanding and knew his judgment was correct, indeed the ring had issues.

He didn't linger long and left the inn, exiting the city.

The Red-clothed Woman, who was meticulously sensing with her eyes closed, quickly noticed his departure from the city and abruptly opened her eyes, filled with doubt, "How did he know the people were already in position?"

Lan, waiting by her side, was puzzled and asked, "Mistress, what's the matter?"

The Red-clothed Woman said, "Shi Chun has left, probably exiting the city."

Lan was surprised, "So soon? Our people just got into position, and he has already found out?"

The Red-clothed Woman pondered, "That's exactly the issue. I have sensed the surroundings here; his eyesight shouldn't directly observe the arrival of those eight. It appears there's indeed a collaborator nearby assisting with observation. Someone probably informed him, which might also be why we were exposed last night."

Lan immediately reminded, "Mistress, if someone did notify him, the accomplice must be observing near the agreed inn too. With your mana, can you discern them through sensing? If you can identify them, our people can follow up on them."

The Red-clothed Woman pondered, "Let's give it a try. Anyway, that guy left the ring, and can't be located, catching him again is basically impossible."

After those words, she closed her eyes and personally conducted a meticulous identification of the area around the ring...

Shi Chun, having exited the city, directly flew away riding the Wind Riding Scale, temporarily landing in the endless green fields, where he met with Wu Jinliang.

Upon meeting, Wu Jinliang asked, "How's it going, confirmed?"

Shi Chun nodded, "Right, fell into that woman's trap, it's indeed the ring, capsized in the gutter."

Wu Jinliang patted his chest, "Close call, fortunately, your eyes have superpowers..." he suddenly paused, his expression turning serious, "Chun Tian, since they can locate our whereabouts, wouldn't the people from Granny Qi during the Reversing Soul Tree transfer be targeted? We must contact Granny Qi immediately to put their actions on hold, and find a way to discard the Reversing Soul Tree we worked so hard to find, I'll contact Bai Qiru now."

As he spoke, he reached for the Mother-child Talisman, intending to send a message.

Shi Chun, however, held his hand down, gesturing with a shake of his head, "Don't terminate it, being targeted is being targeted, don't let Granny Qi know, let them continue. If the Reversing Soul Tree transaction is indeed exposed, we must also pretend to be unaware."

Wu Jinliang exclaimed in doubt, "Over a hundred, it's the largest batch of Reversing Soul Trees; with A Xun's remaining manifest substances from Reversing Soul Trees basically gone, who knows if more can be found. Since they already discovered it, why should we still put on airs?"

Shi Chun released his hand, pointing at his chest with an unusually serious expression, "The damage to the Reversing Soul Trees is no longer important, I am more concerned about whether the Netherworld entry issue has been detected, that's the real big trouble.

Why is the other side only observing and not taking action? What are their intentions? We have no clue.

We need time to figure out their intentions, to determine if that woman's actions against us are personal or official, to see if we're overthinking or if there's room for compromise or collaboration.

If the Reversing Soul Tree side is truly exposed, then don't retract our tail; only if they feel like they're still grasping our tail and can pull us out anytime, will they have the patience to keep observing.

Once they notice we're showing signs of breaking free, the situation might not hold together.

Should we be hiding for a lifetime? Even if we have to hide, at least we should wait until we complete the experiment of crossing to the Netherworld, confirming we can escape through it, then it won't be too late to show ourselves."

Wu Jinliang sighed after hearing this, "If the Reversing Soul Tree is truly targeted, not letting Granny Qi make timely separations now, if they follow the trail all the way down, I'm afraid Granny Qi would be exposed."

Shi Chun said, "We're still unclear on how much the Red-clothed Woman knows. If things indeed reach a point where a price must be paid, the Bai Family must face it, no one deliberately wanted to harm them, and Granny Qi should've known this before deciding to get involved, knowing they must face it if there's no stopping."

Wu Jinliang asked, "Will it drag down Huang Yingying, and further implicate the entire Golden-haired Rat clan?"

Shi Chun looked around at the Heart-wrapping Grass swaying in the wind, "We ourselves are like leaves blowing in the wind, even preparing to be trapped in the Netherworld for a lifetime."

Wu Jinliang sighed, "Forget it, let's first find a place to continue experimenting, damn it, this time there won't be another follow-up, right?"

Shi Chun said, "Still not sure if it's personal or official for that woman, the ring might still be useful, you go back and discuss with Xiao Sheng about the aftermath."

With that, he deployed the Wind Riding Scale, wrapping Wu Jinliang and a large bag, flying into the sky.

The old place for experiments was too dangerous to return to, so they moved further this time, out of the Divine Mountain's influence area.

Finding a remote and sparsely populated place, after ensuring it was safe, Wu Jinliang once again used the Earth Escape Technique, taking them underground.

In the underground depths, another unfortunate Earth Wolf died, the only favor being given a whole body.

The old method, Wu Jinliang burns while Shi Chun traps the smoke and guides it to the Earth Wolf's corpse.

In no time, the black hole in the void opens again, and Shi Chun once more flashes and escapes into it.

Upon landing, he finds himself in that eerie world of chill and shadows, surrounded by pitch blackness and emptiness.

Shi Chun quickly pulls out the mother-child talisman to contact Lao Changtai: Where are you?

Lao Changtai promptly replies: Master, I've been waiting for you at the same spot you entered last time, never left.

Shi Chun understands that Lao Changtai has been waiting for him until the second day, and he isn't sure where they are now, as the lighting conditions make it difficult to discern.

However, with his right eye superpower, he vaguely senses a silhouette on the mountain diagonally opposite him, and replies immediately: Make some light so I can see.

Soon, a glow of Sandal Gold Flame Energy appears in the vision of his left eye, emanating from the silhouette on the opposite mountain.

Shi Chun immediately transmits: I see you, look at the light from my side.

He then puts away the mother-child talisman, and takes out a piece of Sandal Gold Flame Energy for lighting.

The light on the opposite mountain head rapidly extinguishes, and the figure swiftly flies toward him.

When the person lands in front of him, it's none other than Lao Changtai, dressed all in white.

Seeing him again, albeit after only a short separation, Lao Changtai shows some excitement, bows with clasped hands, and says, "Master..." Noticing the glaring flame light, he urgently advises, "The Netherworld Envoys have been quite sensitive to this area recently; this light may attract them."

Shi Chun: "No worries, come with me first."

This method cannot sustain here for long, so it's not a place for conversation.

As he speaks, he intends to grab the other's arm to take him along.

Lao Changtai instead grabs his wrist and solemnly asks, "Master, are you coming back in? If so, I should inform Lao Xi first to arrange at a suitable time to avoid encountering the Netherworld Envoys searching here. I'm sure the Envoys will come searching since you've come in, just like how I encountered them before."

Shi Chun understands his implication, glances around, and says, "How about in three two-hours?"

"Alright." Lao Changtai quickly pulls out the mother-child talisman, sends a message to Lao Xi, and, after receiving a reply, nods, "Done."

Shi Chun dares not linger, promptly pulls him along as they fly away and together dive into the void's two-realm passage.

Returning to the other side of the cave afterward, Shi Chun effortlessly draws a sword, slicing through the tangled golden thread, which instantly dispels the void's rift.

Then, using his right eye superpower, he swiftly examines the surroundings for any problems, worried about being targeted again.

"Hehehe." Wu Jinliang's cheerful voice rings out as he examines Lao Changtai from head to toe, "Granny, why dress like this, like you're in mourning?"

This nickname is a private moniker among familiar acquaintances, derived from the homophonic of 'Old Lao.'

Lao Changtai stretches his limbs, enjoying the comfort of the mortal world, and laughs in response, promptly removing his headscarf, "This is no ordinary cloth; it blocks the invasion of Yin energy as much as possible."

Shi Chun, having tidied up the scene, gestures for them to sit. After sitting down, he inquires, "Judging by your words, is Lao Xi still useful?"

Lao Changtai immediately nods repeatedly, "Very useful, Master, you indeed have keen eyes. The person you introduced has been extremely helpful. As long as the money is right, he truly dares anything; I've never seen someone more sincere than him in the Netherworld."

Thinking of that black face, Wu Jinliang chuckles and curiously asks, "Do you mean others are not greedy, only him?"

Lao Changtai: "Not that others aren't greedy, but he's the boldest. Yet, there's a reason—his family of nearly twenty faced a great calamity, leaving him as the sole survivor who was out working. To prevent his family's souls from hastily reincarnating, he had to spend money to keep the souls detained, borrowing a lot for this purpose."

Wu Jinliang wonders, "What does it mean that family members die but aren't allowed to reincarnate?"

Lao Changtai tightens the headscarf with both hands and explains, "Exactly as it sounds—not forbidden, just not wanting them to reincarnate hastily. He said the family never enjoyed a good life with him, so he wants them to reincarnate into good families next life to enjoy fortune. But this truly costs money. Imagine, even in the Netherworld, it's a fate-defying act, not for everyone to play with easily. Didn't Master give him a million last time?"

Shi Chun nods, "That's right."

Lao Changtai can't help but shake his head and laugh in dismay, "You guys really are something—one dares to give, one dares to take. Meeting Master was certainly his stroke of luck.

They call such money 'liang' here. Lao Xi's pay is already considered high, just over a thousand liang monthly, but arranging for a good reincarnation roughly needs a hundred thousand liang. With his pay, it's understandable why he scrambles everywhere. Getting lucky encountering Master helped him solve ten family members' reincarnation issues instantaneously.

Thus, he likes Master very much, often asking when you'd come again, asking if there's anything you need his service for. He even asks for a message to relay to Master, not to be polite, to feel free to instruct him. No choice, seven more family souls are still there, waiting for him to resolve."

This left Shi Chun a bit speechless. From Lao Xi's reaction, he could see how valuable those Six Realms Exchange tickets were, but didn't expect them to be so priceless—a Netherworld Envoy of Earth Immortal Level earning merely a thousand liang a month, giving away eighty years' worth of salary in one go was indeed exceedingly generous.

Wu Jinliang can't resist a chuckle, asking again, "To our knowledge, Six Realms Exchange funds are all ancient coins. The Netherworld didn't use these before the closure; so why are they using ancient coins again now?"

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