At Heavenly Peace Ancient Stockade, the night was black as ink.
After leaving the secluded courtyard, the Third Elder's ingratiating smile vanished completely.
A gloomy expression took its place.
He hurried through the alleys, his fingers rapidly working through calculations inside his sleeve.
Pack our belongings? Hmph... what belongings do we even have to pack?
He sneered inwardly.
The two-day delay was merely a stalling tactic.
That Daoist was powerful-powerful enough to slay the Rat Demon-but that only made him more uneasy.
Even a mighty dragon could not overcome the local snakes.
Where were they?
In a gathering place for countless demons!
An unknown human expert, dragging hundreds of thousands of burdens with no cultivation across the Star Sea to escape alive?
It was nothing but a fool's dream.
If the attempt failed, that Daoist might simply walk away.
But for natives like them, whose families had lived here for generations, it would spell utter annihilation!
Staking their lives and fortunes on a stranger's kindness-what an absurd joke...
A ruthless glint flashed through the Third Elder's cloudy old eyes.
In his view, all he needed to do was report this man's whereabouts and background to the Heavenly Ox Beast Venerable.
Not only would that absolve the ancient stockade of the crime of a Demon General's death, but his meritorious report might even earn them an exemption from the next few tribute payments!
Now that was a deal with everything to gain and nothing to lose!
At that thought, his steps grew even more hurried.
Yet just as he rounded the corner and returned to the gate of his own residence,
a familiar figure emerged from the shadows like a ghost, blocking his path.
"Who?!"
The Third Elder jumped, his immortal power instinctively surging.
Only after recognizing the newcomer's coarse hemp