The appointed time had arrived. Deep underground, Shi Chun once again took action, stacking fuel to burn the Death Refusing Incense. Before long, the two-world portal was opened once more.

He slipped inside quickly, soon drawing the attention of Wu Jinliang and Lao Changtai nearby.

Upon meeting, Wu Jinliang immediately asked, "How is it, can it be used?"

"It can be used." Shi Chun nodded, glanced around, and motioned with his head, indicating, "Let's go, it's not safe to stay here. We'll talk later."

Wu Jinliang, however, grabbed his arm, "Chun Tian, we probably can't come back here anymore."

Shi Chun was taken aback, puzzled, "What do you mean?"

Wu Jinliang: "The souls in Langdang River's mechanism have been repeatedly taken away. Lao Xi mentioned that it's happening too frequently to avoid alarming higher-ups. It's beyond his control now. Zhu Yong Palace is already planning to make arrangements here, and he advised us not to show up around here, or it could be very dangerous."

Lao Changtai nodded repeatedly, indicating agreement.

And Wu Jinliang patted a black cloth bag on his waist, "So I had Lao Xi capture an Earth Wolf's spirit as a spare."

Shi Chun pondered briefly and asked, "What about the bodies of those two Earth Wolves?"

Wu Jinliang pointed back to Lao Changtai, "They're all with him, of course."

Shi Chun immediately told Lao Changtai, "Take the two wolf corpses to the soul mechanism site at the 'Qiangyu Palace' in the Netherworld immediately. We'll meet there next time."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jinliang understood instantly. The next time they used Death Refusing Incense to enter the Netherworld, they wouldn't be going after Earth Wolves but killing people directly. According to records in Netherworld-related books they had read, the place where ordinary people's souls gather after death is near 'Qiangyu Palace'.

Lao Changtai nodded, "Alright, I'll remember that."

"Let's go." Shi Chun motioned with his head to Wu Jinliang.

This place indeed wasn't safe for long, and the two quickly left.

Lao Changtai took a glance around and left quickly as well...

In Yao Mountain City, a man wearing a delicate black ring was still pacing back and forth inside a guesthouse room, perplexed as he hadn't met the merchant he was expecting.

A knocking sound came, followed by a familiar woman's voice, "Husband, are you there?"

The man was startled, rushed to open the door, and saw a gentle woman—it was his wife. He looked outside, hurriedly let her in, and then asked, "Why did you come?"

The woman handed him a letter, "I met someone on the road who claimed to be your Dong Family employer. He said the merchant had an urgent matter and couldn't come for the time being. He wants you to cancel the room and go home to wait, and he'll contact you if needed."

The man quickly opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, and saw a thousand-gold money ticket included. Upon reading the letter, he found the content similar to what his wife had said. The money ticket was his payment.

Nothing to fear except lack of payment. With the money in hand and such treatment, there were no more doubts.

The man immediately put away the letter, flaunted the amount on the money ticket, and laughed, "Let's go, and buy some good food on the way home."

Such a large sum? The woman's eyes lit up, and she also became happy.

The couple went hand in hand, canceled the room, and went to buy food, exchanging simple affectionate gestures along the way.

The one secretly tailing them didn't disturb them and merely kept a watchful eye...

In the vast grassland depths, Xiao Sheng had arrived to meet Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang.

In front of Xiao Sheng, Wu Jinliang personally sealed two Soul Capturing Bags into two iron boxes.

Using the Fire Attribute Skill, he made it look like he was refining artifacts.

There was no choice; he had to showcase his skills.

Finally, a completely sealed iron box was handed to Xiao Sheng. Wu Jinliang eagerly asked how well it was done, while Xiao Sheng, looking over it, remained silent.

When pressed, Xiao Sheng finally forced out a sentence, "I didn't expect you to be so versatile."

So Wu Jinliang's mouth widened to his ears, revealing a broad white grin, chuckling complacently. Sometimes, men are just this easy to please.

Shi Chun, meanwhile, handed a sealed letter to Xiao Sheng, "Find someone suitable in the city to deliver this item and letter to East Victory Royal City to our family. Pay them well and tell them that a generous reward awaits after seeing the letter."

There was no need to explain further details. He believed in Xiao Sheng's capability to handle such a minor matter.

"Alright." Xiao Sheng accepted, took his leave, and went off to execute the task.

As for the other letter and iron box, Shi Chun decided to take them himself. He intended to find someone suitable in another city to send them out.

The decision to split was for prudence's sake.

There was no other way. Entering the Netherworld carried great risk. Any mistake and one might be trapped forever in the Netherworld, so immense caution was required.

After both letters and items were delivered by suitable people, the three gathered again, finding a safe place to wait...

In East Victory Royal City, Xiang Laner and Feng Chi got off the carriage and walked into a luxurious clothing shop, spending quite some time selecting items before heading to the inner rooms to try them on.

The shop owner who led them to the inner room suddenly changed her expression, quickly pushed open a back door on the wall, gestured towards an underground tunnel entrance, and after the two entered, she immediately restored the door to its original state and quickly returned outside to guard the shop.

Xiang and Feng reached a room at the end of the tunnel, where the skinny maroon-dressed Mr. Qing was waiting for them.

There was no unnecessary politeness. After nodding to each other, they sat down.

Knowing the two women couldn't stay long, Mr. Qing asked, "Has Shi Chun contacted you yet?"

Xiang Laner shook her head, "We haven't heard anything for a long time, no news at all, we don't even know if he's dead or alive."

Mr. Qing asked again, "No signs of contact from those Mingshan Sect people either?"

Xiang Laner: "They either vanished without a trace or stayed home cultivating; we're observing from the shadows but have seen no signs of contact."

Feng Chi sensed something else, and asked back, "Mr. Qing, do they up there know where Shi Chun is?"

Xiang Laner was taken aback, not knowing why she was saying this.

Mr. Qing calmly replied, "If we knew, why would we ask you?"

But Feng Chi insisted, "No, recently there have been frequent connections, frequently asked similar questions, indicating there's definitely something related to him going on. Since something has happened, there must be a relevant location. Mr. Qing, we are primarily targeting him, yet you conceal related matters from us. How can we continue exercising discretion?"

This tone displayed rare assertiveness, especially in front of Mr. Qing.

Hearing this, Xiang Laner also suddenly realized, staring at Mr. Qing, "Mr. Qing, you've kept us in the dark for so long, leaving us clueless and waiting, what's your intention?"

Mr. Qing could understand their point, considering anyone would be frustrated after scrambling around like a headless fly for nearly two years, only to suddenly discover they had been deceived by their own people all along.

He thought for a moment and said, "Things are not as you think; before, even those up there didn't know where he was, nor did they care much, but some recent happenings have made them realize his whereabouts."

Something happened? Feng Chi immediately asked, "Where's the person, what happened?"

The Cultivation World is vast and boundless, with countless secluded corners. Any incident in a random corner could be like a ripple in the ocean, the likelihood of them detecting such with their 'eyesight' is slim.

Mr. Qing calmly said, "It should still be over at Juku State across from West Niu."

"In the Demon Realm?" Feng Chi was surprised.

Xiang Laner was also surprised and said, "Why did they go to the Demon Realm?"

Mr. Qing replied, "Who knows, initially they were doing odd jobs at a horse field outside Dazhi City in Juku State, later Shi Chun went to do odd jobs in a bookstore in the city, during the time he was missing, he was mostly hiding in that bookstore."

"Bookstore? He does like to read, suits him well, but staying away for a year or two just to read seems a bit unreasonable…" Feng Chi muttered hesitantly, then asked, "Mr. Qing, is there anything special about the bookstore?"

Mr. Qing: "If anything is special, the bookstore has a large collection of books, plus the owner of the bookstore has three beautiful daughters."

Three beautiful daughters? Xiang and Feng exchanged a look, both having somewhat wayward thoughts.

Especially Xiang Laner, remembering vividly the time Shi Chun behaved beastly toward her.

But it was after she rejected him that Shi Chun gradually became cold towards her, eventually disappearing without a trace, even her master, their sect's Holy Master, expressed disappointment with her.

The hint being, no such things should happen in the future, if reconciliation was possible, then giving herself shouldn't be an issue.

Mr. Qing continued, "The reason he was found hiding there was that something happened at the bookstore that even startled the Demon Queen, drawing attention from those above. During the investigation, it was discovered that those two guys were also there, possibly even at the center of the storm."

Feng Chi's expression twitched, "What could possibly alarm even the Demon Queen?"

Xiang Laner was also in disbelief, unable to comprehend that those two guys had quietly caused such a big stir again.

Mr. Qing: "I don't know the specifics, and those above want to know what he's up to as well, and want him found. The issue now is that if our sect is aware, the other two sects will surely be aware too, who knows how many eyes are on them now. Significant resources from above have been deployed to search over there, considering the information at hand, numerous parties are searching for him, yet haven't found even a trace."

Xiang Laner questioned, "So you came to us because you suspect he's returned?"

Mr. Qing pondered, "He likely can't return easily now; the messages from that side have been tightly controlled, indicating the extent of power involved. With so many eyes glued to Xun Gate, there's no slipping through. Even with full support from above, it's tough. Unless someone with the power to Shatter the Void aids, but no one in the Demon Path Three Sects has such strength.

I sought you out to see if they've contacted you, to try and help those above locate their hiding place. Since they can't get out, his remaining value must be fully extracted, not falling into the hands of others."

Feng Chi's face twitched fiercely, responding decisively, "They above underestimated him; he will definitely come back alive."

"..." Mr. Qing and Xiang Laner both stared at her, having a sense of déjà vu.

Xiang Laner let out a soft cough with her hand covering her mouth, "Our contact Mother-child Talisman is still functional, we should personally take a trip."

Mr. Qing: "You can't go; going is walking into a trap, and might expose your identities within the Demon Path. Do you know why the place you contacted once is never used again? You're probably closely monitored, and going there would be futile.

Based on the clues you provided, coupled with Shi Chun's destination, those above have combed the vicinity of Xun Gate on the related paths, and identified the few from Mingshan Sect responsible for conveying messages layer by layer. These individuals have been detained by us; since the big incident at Juku State, that guy distrusts even his own and hasn't contacted anyone, no one knows where they are stashed, what makes you think you can be of use? You'd potentially be detained yourself, causing complications above."

Xiang Laner was slightly shocked, "Those above have detained Mingshan Sect people, how will they explain this to him eventually?"

Mr. Qing: "He won't know who did it, furthermore, if he's unable to escape, would an explanation be necessary?"

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