Chapter 1054 - 883: Secret Letter

No need for him to shout; everyone already felt the sense of withdrawal from the array and sprang into action. Without considering other matters, they all rushed into the previously defined array area, rapidly extending their mana to search.

The group temporarily felt as if they were in chaos.

Despite their rapid interweaving search, they failed to immediately track Wu Jinliang's group's whereabouts. By the time the cloaked person trained in the Demon Eye located their direction and caused commotion by blasting through the sand layers, they gathered a group to pursue them further, only to be once again blocked by the expanded array barrier.

They bombarded it for a while but still couldn't break through, confirming that it was indeed the previous array. Still, they dared not relax and began searching around the array again.

Spectating, Li Hongjiu watched as the consolidated space shrank slightly when a group of people left. In plain view of Yu Yifu, he unfurled a cloak and wrapped it around himself, drawing sideways glances.

Another cloaked figure signaled to Yu Yifu to speak privately.

The two slipped into the sand layers, avoiding others' sight. The cloaked man produced a few pieces of Sandalwood Gold emitting Flame Energy and whispered a spell: "Mr. Yu, within that previous array, we discovered a large mix of dense auras with a diameter of over ten miles. Judging by the situation, they should be mining Sandalwood Gold. This is a recent small discovery."

Finding sporadic Sandalwood Gold beneath the sea of sand was normal. Yu Yifu's eyes slightly narrowed, "Are you certain they're not hiding to evade danger?"

The cloaked man said, "Under normal circumstances, a hundred people couldn't mix such a large area of auras; it's only possible with frequent back-and-forth activity. You can imagine it."

Yu Yifu turned to look in the direction of the recently discovered array and said in a deep voice, "If they continue mining this time, it would indicate they have an efficient method of detection, which might prove that their mounts are indeed with them."

The cloaked man thought for a while, "That seems a reasonable judgment direction."

Yu Yifu frowned, "I was wondering how they dared to be so bold, knowing there's someone watching them. They still dared to change locations suddenly, which means similar sudden relocations might happen again..."

With that, he turned and walked back to Li Hongjiu, effectively returning to Luo Yuanfeng's side as well.

He pointed Li Hongjiu out to the following cloaked people to keep an eye on him, then took Luo Yuanfeng into another sand layer to converse, "Brother Luo, the current situation is that breaking this array isn't the main concern. The real problem is that the area covered by this array is too vast. We're deep underground with many obstacles; our spell detection range is also limited. With just a few of us dispersing to wait and watch, it's easy for them to exploit gaps and escape like they have repeatedly. If we keep this up, it won't achieve anything but exhaust us and become trouble when others arrive to intervene. I have an idea: set numerous obstacle arrays around this main one and have our people cover the remaining gaps, achieving twice the result with half the effort."

Luo Yuanfeng hesitated, "The idea is good, but the region is vast. Plus, the instability underground greatly damages the arrays and consumes Gathering Spirit Stone. If we don't know how long they'll be holed up here, the Gathering Spirit Stone I have won't last long. I suggest reducing the array's layout area to maintain operation duration. Lin Wuxiang is skilled with poisons, and Brother Lin can fill the voids."

Yu Yifu clapped his hands and laughed, "Great minds think alike. That's precisely what I intended. Alright, let's do it, ensuring they have nowhere to escape to, either to the heavens or underground!"

Under the brilliant starry sky, several people from the Heavenly Domain Dingnan Prefecture were searching everywhere for Wu Jinliang's group.

They were unaware of the earlier incident because they were under Wu Jinliang's orders to scatter and search for traces of Sandalwood Gold veins, missing the battle where Huang Yingying intervened. Not just them, Wu Jinliang himself didn't witness it either.

The real issue is that after the incident, Wu Jinliang had already abandoned them, leaving with the Golden-haired Rat Clan, not caring about their survival, nor did he meet them at the agreed location. After regrouping, they waited a long time without seeing the main force, forcing them to roam around like headless flies searching aimlessly...

Outside the Yanfu Continent exit, within an attic where the Heavenly Court's guards were stationed, a young officer hurried inside, found the guard general, and reported, "Sir, people from the Heavenly Domain Dingnan Prefecture have arrived to see Shi Chun, but they were blocked by a few other families and were not allowed to enter."

The guard general turned back with surprise, "Didn't all the families already block the news? How did they know Shi Chun had come out? Even if Miao Dingyi secretly leaked the news, he would still keep them from coming over. Who are these people?"

The young officer said, "Feng Chi, the City Lord who came from the brothel, and that person known as the 'God of Wealth,' Young Master Nan."

The guard general pondered while stroking his beard, then stood up, "Let's go and have a look."

At the narrow mountain pass, Young Master Nan and Feng Chi, who were blocked, had already seen Shi Chun's figure within the Protection Array behind the barrier, but the guards wouldn't let them in. The array had its quirks; the Mother-child Talisman couldn't establish contact with Shi Chun inside.

After shouting from afar, Shi Chun also saw them, eagerly anticipating behind the barrier, wondering why these two had come.

They undoubtedly came for a reason.

Young Master Nan, usually well-informed, heard the news from Feng Chi about Shi Chun maintaining a state of neither exiting nor entering the Yanfu Continent exit, unaware of how Feng Chi got hold of this information.

The source of the information was not crucial; what mattered was understanding the strange situation Shi Chun was in. Upon hearing about Shi Chun's mount being able to locate veins, he was quite pleased, realizing Shi Chun held a wealth-making card, justifying his encouragement for a considerable bet.

Later, when several major forces entered, he began to panic, cursing the person who leaked the information countless times. Now with Shi Chun showing up in this situation, he was even more flustered, unable to resist confirming it, as it was not a matter of losing everything but a risk of being killed.

And Feng Chi coming personally had important circumstances to report to Shi Chun face-to-face. She received an unsigned secret letter revealing a plot by some bigwig's grandson to secretly hire an assassin to kill Shi Chun.

This made her realize that it might be related to Shi Chun's current situation.

She was unsure of its truth, dared not tell anyone, nor did she dare to verify it with others. Moreover, she learned about Shi Chun's situation from the Demon Path, prompting her to seek an audience in person.

After the Heavenly Court Guard General came out and verified their identities, he truthfully informed them: "Go back. If he doesn't want to come out to see you, we can't let you in here."

Young Master Nan respectfully said: "Sir, as far as I know, only at Yanfu Continent's entrance, you must not intrude without the Gold Collection Order. Inside this pass, aren't we able to enter based on the situation?"

The Heavenly Court Guard General waved his hand and said: "Since you know Shi Chun came out, you should understand the current situation is different from before. Orders have been issued to control strictly, and we are executing them."

Such amicable speech showed a stance of being on the same side.

But this made Feng Chi anxious. The background of the person involved in the secret letter was no small matter. Yet, unsure of its truth, recklessly leaking it could cause a huge uproar. She was unsure if the guard in front of her could relay the message for her.

After much hesitation, she still dared not disclose it, leaving her anxious.

Young Master Nan was also quite anxious, but there was nothing they could do, leading both to retreat obediently.

Shi Chun watched from afar standing at the barrier, merely thinking the two had come out of concern.

This caused him to be puzzled further; even with Young Master Nan and Feng Chi present, why hadn't the Four Great Royal Courts or the Heavenly Court sent anyone notable to inquire about the situation? He had prepared a string of explanations.

On the cliff shrouded in fog, the red-clothed woman meditating cross-legged once again waved her sleeve to open the mirror image linked to the outside world.

After Dao Zhen saluted within the mirror image, he reported: "Madam, there's been some unusual activity on Gong Shaoci's end. The people we've been secretly monitoring have increased in number, focusing on Gong Shaoci and Lei Ying. My detailed investigation uncovered people from East Victory Royal Court, Beijulu Royal Court, and even Nanshan Royal Court, and our Royal Court has also joined in."

The red-clothed woman resembled a stone sculpture as she slowly opened her eyes, revealing a perplexed gaze. Then, she swiftly swung her sleeve, tearing open the void, and disappeared instantly into it.

Watching the mirror image vanish before him, Dao Zhen silently turned to attend to his affairs.

However, not long after, he saw the woman's figure appear on a nearby high pavilion, prompting him to hastily visit.

Upon reaching the high pavilion, he walked behind the red-clothed woman, who was gazing far into the distance, with his hands folded in front of his abdomen, awaiting orders.

Suddenly, the red-clothed woman gently spoke: "I visited the Saint King, who said a secret letter was received mentioning Gong family's confidant secretly hiring an assassin to kill Shi Chun. Consequently, the Royal Court sent people to investigate relevant whistleblowing clues."

Dao Zhen's expression was rarely stunned, "Judging by the movements of the four families, could all four have received the same secret letter?"

The red-clothed woman pondered: "We were coincidental; the assassin just happened to bump into us. How did the person leaking the information know?"

Dao Zhen remarked in surprise: "Logically, unless Gong Shaoci himself spoke carelessly, the information shouldn't have leaked. Could it be that the 'Blood Shadow Pavilion' left a hidden hand, leaking the news?"

The red-clothed woman replied: "Let's not discuss whether the 'Blood Shadow Pavilion' knows or not. Even if they do, leaking such information at this critical juncture can hardly be called a coincidence. It hints at casting suspicion on Shi Chun's mount rumors, helping Shi Chun to dispel rumors. Can Shi Chun influence that mysterious 'Blood Shadow Pavilion'?"

Her clear eyes swept afar, quietly muttering, "Could it be that the figure behind that individual has acted? Could the mysterious 'Blood Shadow Pavilion' relate to that figure? But it doesn't resemble that figure's style. With that figure's foresight, they should know the matter of Shi Chun's mount isn't solved by explanation. No matter how true the solution provided, it can't prevent these families from verifying themselves. That figure wouldn't be so naive. Who could it be..."

After Dao Zhen observed in silence for a while, seeing her lost in long contemplation, he tentatively asked, "Madam, should we continue with the marriage prospect for Gong Shaoci?"

The red-clothed woman gazed back, saying: "We haven't done anything wrong, why not continue? Facilitating a marriage is a good thing."