Threads of clues, stirring at the first whisper

Star Luo City, Imperial Study.

Emperor Xu Jiawei of the Star Luo Empire sat behind his desk, laying out Secret Operatives urgent order slips copied by his undercover agents from several major merchants in Shrek City, one by one, on the table.

"Nearly a hundred top-grade Sealed Medicine Cold Jade Box, Living Plant Cultivation Container of plants that have existed for ten thousand years, and a full five custom-made large-capacity Storage Soul Tool..." Xu Jiawei tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Shrek Academy suddenly placed such a huge order, are they planning to empty a mountain of medicine from somewhere?"

Princess Jiujiu Xu Jiujiu, standing to the side, handed over another secret report:

"Brother, that's not all."

"I had someone check the merchant guild's freight routes. The final delivery point for the last batch of goods wasn't actually in Shrek City, but rather outside the Heavenly Soul Empire's Heaven Dou City. In addition, they also acquired a large quantity of antidotes locally."

Heaven Dou City? Antidote?

Xu Jiawei had only been routinely checking on Shrek Academy's movements, but upon hearing the two words together, he suddenly stopped.

As a member of the Star Luo Imperial Family, he suddenly remembered the several volumes of Dai Family Old Records archives from ten thousand years ago stored in the Royal Secret Vault.

Back then, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing followed the Sea God Tang San and consumed Immortal-Grade Medicinal Herb that rivaled the creation of heaven and earth to cleanse their marrow and improve their aptitude. In the old records, there seems to be a mention of a treasure land shrouded in deadly Extreme Poison.

Xu Jiawei immediately got up, personally opened the hidden compartment of the Imperial Study, and retrieved the yellowed, old file.

He quickly flipped through the list for a moment, comparing it with the items on the delivery slip, and his expression gradually became serious:

"So it wasn't just baseless speculation... Could it be that Shrek Academy and their crew have rediscovered that legendary Herb Garden from ten thousand years ago?"

Seeing that his elder brother's expression was strange, Xu Jiujiu quickly moved closer, his gaze falling on the handwriting in the old file:

"Brother, does such a place really exist in the world?"

"Better safe than sorry!"

Xu Jiawei decisively closed the yellowed old file, pressed his finger on the cover, and gave a deep order:

"Pass down the order: have the people lurking in Heaven Dou City immediately go to the outskirts of Sunset Forest to investigate and see if any high-ranking members of Shrek have been active there recently."

"Remember, everyone disguise yourselves as herb gatherers going into the mountains. Only track their whereabouts; do not alert them before you have a clear understanding of their situation."

"Yes!" Xu Jiujiu accepted the order and withdrew.

Within just two days, several large merchant firms of the Star Luo Empire located within the Heavenly Soul territory secretly began to recruit hunters who regularly ventured into the mountains and guides familiar with the forest terrain at high prices around Heaven Dou City.

With various powerful forces deeply entrenched in Heaven Dou City, the unusually frequent actions of the Star Luo Trading Company quickly reached the ears of the Sun Moon Empire and the Holy Spirit Cult through various channels.

Ming Capital, the Mingde Hall Main Hall.

After listening to his subordinate's secret report, Jing Hongchen turned around and rummaged through the pile of files on his desk to find the Shrek procurement document that had been delivered two days ago.

"Shrek Academy was just making a big purchase of Herb-Sealing Jade Box in the city, and now the Star Luo Imperial Family's Secret Operatives are rushing into Sunset Forest?" Jing Hongchen narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the number of containers on the document.

"What exactly did Xu Jiawei and his gang discover?"

The Black-Clad Scout standing in front of the table shook his head:

"The Star Luo Empire side is keeping their mouths shut, and the specific reason hasn't been found out yet. So far, all we've known is that both Shrek and Star Luo Empire forces have been converging on the area around Sunset Forest these past two days."

Jing Hongchen snorted coldly and casually pushed the copy back to the edge of the table.

"Shrek just suffered a setback with me, and then they turned around and spent a fortune buying so many High-Grade Living Plant Container. They're definitely not going to use them to store ordinary Medicinal Herb."

"Send a team of skilled men from the hall to keep an eye on them and see what treasures they're planning to bring back from that forest."

At the same time, at another Holy Spirit Cult Headquarters in Ming Capital.

Feng Ling also held a nearly identical secret report in her hand. She lowered her eyes to look at the Map marking the movements of the Star Luo Trading Company and Shrek personnel, and lightly tapped the four words "Sunset Forest" with her fingertip.

"No one gets up early without a reason. A place that both of these families are eyeing must hold something good." Feng Ling raised her head and instructed the Cultist standing in the shadows.

"Send a message to the Branch Altar of the Heavenly Soul Empire, instructing them to send people into the mountains to locate Shrek's hideout. If they spot any teams gathering or transporting medicinal herbs, don't rush into action; report back immediately."

Compared to the other parties who were closely monitoring Shrek Academy's movements, the Body Sect, which was busy selling everything it owned to raise compensation, received the news later.

Heavenly Soul Empire, Body Sect Main Hall.

Elder Lang Ya strode into the hall and handed a receipt bearing the Bright Red Seal of the Mingde Hall to Du Busi:

"Sect Master, the second payment we scraped together has been delivered to Ming Capital on time. However... regarding the remaining disputed Rare Metal accounts on the list, Mingde Hall has suddenly changed its mind and says it will be rescheduled for verification."

Du Busi Man, who was drinking tea with a dark expression, frowned upon hearing this:

"Just a few days ago, that fat guy Jing Hongchen was chasing me with three letters a day, demanding money like it was his life. Now that I've actually sent the money, they're not in a hurry to settle accounts?"

Lang Ya shook his head and said, "I also found it strange, so I specifically asked someone to inquire about it."

"The level Level 8 Soul Engineer was originally responsible for checking the Warehouse Losses with us was temporarily transferred away last night by Jing Hongchen's orders. The new person in charge doesn't know the details and only said that the specific number can only be decided after that person returns."

"Transferred?" Du Busi slammed his teacup on the table.

"At this critical juncture, where can we transfer him?"

"They said they went to Heaven Dou City," Lang Ya said in a low voice.

"And he wasn't the only one; several High-Level Soul Engineer from the Mingde Hall, skilled in concealment and detection, accompanied him. I heard they left Ming Capital overnight, in a very hurry."

Du Busi paused, slowly putting down the receipt in his hand, a ruthless glint flashing in his beady eyes:

"What are those Soul Engineer from the Sun Moon Empire doing, ignoring their own messes at home and rushing to the heart of my Heavenly Soul Empire?"

He raised his head and stared at Lang Ya in front of him:

"Send someone to follow them and find out!"

"That old bastard Kong Deming just threatened me with a cannon. If they dare to take this opportunity to infiltrate Heavenly Soul territory and cause trouble or start a war, I'll risk all my old bones to twist Jing Hongchen's head off and use it as a football!"

On the edge of the Scorching Yang Spring, a huge plant, fiery red in color and shaped like a cabbage, stretches out its leaves.

The Infernal Delicate Apricot swayed its vibrant crown at the top, and a crimson root gently stirred the boiling spring water.

With a splash, a stream of scalding red spring water was drawn out from the air, quickly twisting and shaping on the shore, and in the blink of an eye, it condensed into a tall Flame Woman wielding twin Flame Twin Blades.