Return Imminent

"Was the message delivered?"

After one disciple made a trip to Niu Youdao's side and quietly returned, Yan Li asked in a low voice.

He was asking about how they had failed to kill Yan Baoru and let her escape. They had specifically sent word to Niu Youdao in the hope that he would make preparations early.

The disciple replied softly, "It was delivered. He said it was fine. He asked me to pass word to Master that he has already obtained the item."

Yan Li raised his brows. Naturally, he knew what "the item" referred to. Niu Youdao had already succeeded on the Jin Kingdom side.

The disciple continued, "He said that first place is no longer a problem with what he has in hand. He said we can keep ours and compete for the rankings ourselves; there is no need to give them to him anymore. He has too many on hand, and it would be inappropriate."

Yan Li was dumbfounded. "What kind of joke is this? We have to be searched before we can leave Heaven Valley. These things cannot be taken out of Heaven Valley at all. I said we didn't have many Spirit Seeds here. If we suddenly produce some more, how are we supposed to explain that to everyone else?"

The disciple said, "He had already considered that. He asked this disciple to remind Master that the Four Seas people would be breaking out through our side. It would be perfectly reasonable for us to seize a few while intercepting them."

Yan Li pondered this, then nodded slightly. Unable to help himself, he muttered and spat, "That bastard has one scheme after another, all linked together without so much as a seam. I truly have to hand it to him."

The disciple said, "He