In the interstice of the void eight hundred li away, the three trailing auras abruptly faltered.
Shadow Three, the Great Chu shadow guard responsible for surveillance, snapped his eyes open, his expression grave. "Something's wrong. The Shushan Warship has changed course."
Beside him, True Lord Xuan Ming of the True Martial Immortal Sect snorted. "Changed course? In which direction?"
"Southwest, straight toward the Netherworld Trench." A trace of disbelief crept into Shadow Three's voice. "Almost no one takes that route. That place is shrouded in netherworld energy year-round. Even Heavenly Lords feel uncomfortable down there."
A flicker of hesitation crossed Shadow Fiend's face. "Should we follow?"
"Follow," True Lord Xuan Ming said decisively. "Whatever route they take, our mission is to keep watch. Increase the distance. Follow from a thousand li away."
The three figures adjusted their course within the interstice of the void, carefully trailing the Shushan Warship.
Two thousand three hundred li away, the crimson-gold image on the Myriad-Mile Mirror of Shared Hearts in the Ji Clan Grand Elder's hand suddenly veered off course.
"They changed course?" The black-robed Heavenly Lord frowned slightly.
"No matter." A cold smile curled the Ji Clan Grand Elder's lips. "The ambush sites at Falling Star Gorge and the Soaring Heavens Mountains were bait to begin with. After that little bastard Chen Changqing's soul transformed, his perception soared. It was only to be expected that he would sense something amiss."
He took a pitch-black Communication Jade Talisman from his robes and crushed it.
"Execute the backup plan. Spread the news."
The black-robed Heavenly Lord took the second jade talisman and hesitated briefly. "Elder, once this news spreads, who knows how many forces across the Jiuzhou Continent will set their sights on Chen Changqing? If Shushan flies into a rage—"
"So what if they