Chapter 1332: Preparing to Leave

Qiu Baiyi curiously looked at Ye Zhangqing's portrait, a spirit chef who could make the Viper and Li Xue, two Emperor Sovereign Realm powerhouses, care so much.

After a moment, Qiu Baiyi said to the woman seated below.

"Go find this person."

"Yes."

Hearing this, the woman seated below respectfully nodded and replied, then withdrew.

Qiu Baiyi really wanted to see what was so special about Ye Zhangqing.

Meanwhile, Ye Zhangqing brought Li Tie Niu and Li Tie Dan into a small town, where they temporarily settled.

In a tavern, Ye Zhangqing drank alcohol listlessly.

These past few days, the system points hadn't increased at all, and his cultivation hadn't improved much.

There's no way; under the current circumstances, he certainly couldn't reveal his cooking skills, nor could he earn good review points.

His cultivation had almost stalled, but he still needed to find a way to leave the Heavenly Martial Realm as soon as possible; in the Heavenly Martial Realm, it was truly impossible to take a single step.

He had also tried contacting Yun Xiantai and Hong Zun, but neither the transmission jade tablet nor the transmission talisman could reach them.

It was probably because the distance was too great, making contact impossible.

Just as Ye Zhangqing was pondering, Li Tie Niu knocked and entered.

"Boss, I've inquired; the safest way to leave the Heavenly Martial Realm is to go through the merchant association."

"In three days, a Xingkong Ship of the Heavenly Union Merchant Association will depart; we can try to get aboard."

The Heavenly Union Merchant Association spans several worlds around, and it does not belong to the Heavenly Martial Realm.

Leaving via the merchant association is the best choice.

As for places like Bai Song Gu, Ye Zhangqing hadn't even considered them; the Viper would surely not give up, and he didn't dare to gamble on what attitude Bai Song Gu might have toward him.

Therefore, relying on the merchant association's power is the safest and most secure option.

Hearing Li Tie Niu's words, Ye Zhangqing nodded.

"Hmm, go make the arrangements; it doesn't matter how much it costs."

Wanting to use the merchant association's power definitely requires money; Ye Zhangqing didn't care about that.

As long as he could safely leave the Heavenly Martial Realm, that's enough; spirit stones—Ye Zhangqing wanted them, and he could earn them quickly.

Hearing this, Li Tie Niu nodded in agreement and then turned and left.

All four of them were hiding their identities.

As for the Viper's side, they had indeed not given up; they had mobilized all the forces of the Blood King Palace in the Bai Song Gu region, conducting an all-out search for Ye Zhangqing.

However, since this was the Bai Song Gu region, the Blood King Palace's agents faced many restrictions in their operations.

Previously, they failed to intercept Ye Zhangqing's group; now trying to locate the four of them is undoubtedly even more difficult.

At the same time, the people of Bai Song Gu were also searching for Ye Zhangqing's traces.

Inside the Blood King Palace, the Viper learned that Bai Song Gu was also searching for Ye Zhangqing, and he said through gritted teeth.

"That woman Qiu Baiyi simply deserves to die."

"If it weren't for this woman's obstruction, Ye Zhangqing couldn't have escaped; now she still wants to find him."

Seeing the Viper's grim expression, Li Xue beside him said in a low voice.

"That woman Qiu Baiyi is just like that; however, if she finds him, it would also be a good thing, as at least we could then confirm Ye Zhangqing's whereabouts and think of other ways."

Li Xue's consolation was utterly useless to the Viper.

"If someone falls into that woman's hands, can you even get them back?"

"Qiu Baiyi isn't a fool either; perhaps she'll hand him over? For now, she doesn't know Ye Zhangqing's cooking skills, yet she's already acting like this."

"Once she tastes the dishes Ye Zhangqing cooks, won't she regard him as a treasure? What could you use to exchange for him?"

"His injuries haven't healed yet; otherwise, the Viper would truly want to rush to Bai Song Gu, forcefully compel that woman Qiu Baiyi to bow her head, and bring Ye Zhangqing back."

Ye Zhangqing also noticed the actions of the Blood King Palace and Bai Song Gu.

Therefore, these past few days, he has kept a very low profile.

Bai Song Gu was also searching for his whereabouts, which Ye Zhangqing found unsurprising.

Let alone Bai Song Gu; even the spies of the Soaring Heaven Pavilion are likely searching for him.

While hiding his identity, he waited for the day the Heavenly Union Merchant Association would depart.

Li Tie Niu had already handed over the spirit stones, and the Heavenly Union Merchant Association side also promised that, when departure time came, they would bring Ye Zhangqing and his group along.

Three days passed quickly; on this morning, Ye Zhangqing brought Li Tie Niu, Li Tie Dan, and that spirit chef, arriving early at the location of the Heavenly Union Merchant Association.

The person in charge here at the Heavenly Union Merchant Association is an elder with Shèngjìng cultivation.

This time, coming to the Heavenly Martial Realm, they were also transporting a batch of heavenly treasures and earthly riches.

Now that the matter is concluded, the merchant association's people also plan to leave.

At the Heavenly Union Merchant Association branch, Ye Zhangqing's group entered through the back door, and under the guidance of a member, he saw the responsible elder.

"There's still half a shíchén until departure; please wait a moment."

"Okay."

Without further ado, after stating the time, the elder left, and Ye Zhangqing's four waited in the room.

Seeing that they could finally leave the Heavenly Martial Realm, the spirit chef's face revealed an undisguised look of excitement.

He had finally managed to escape; along the way, he had been nervous and fearful.

He had been happily working as a cook in a tavern, when inexplicably a band of space pirates captured him; this journey has been thrilling, and he never could have predicted what would happen the next second.

In contrast, Ye Zhangqing remained relatively calm.

However, as his divine sense swept over, Ye Zhangqing's brows furrowed slightly.

Around the room, many hidden posts had been set up, all of them members of the merchant association.

These people have tightly monitored the entire room.

We're about to set off—what's the point of monitoring ourselves? Even if uneasy, assigning one or two people would suffice.

With so many people, something feels off.

Suddenly realizing something, Ye Zhangqing sprang to his feet and said to Li Tie Niu and the others.

"Go."

The Heavenly Union Merchant Association has a problem—we four have likely already been betrayed.

As for who betrayed us, the Blood King Palace and Soaring Heaven Pavilion are unlikely; it's probably Bai Song Gu.

Ye Zhangqing quickly figured out the problem; hearing this, Li Tie Niu and the others, though doubtful, still rose and followed Ye Zhangqing out of the room briskly.

But just as the four stepped out of the room, a member of the Heavenly Union Merchant Association blocked their path.

"Gentlemen, the Xingkong Ship is about to depart; where are you headed?"

"We suddenly remembered we have something else to do, so we're not going."

"Not going? But you've already paid the fee."

"We don't want it anymore."

Ye Zhangqing didn't want to waste words; he was about to step away, but the next second, this Heavenly Union Merchant Association member blocked their path again, smiling as he spoke.

"How could that be? Our Heavenly Union Merchant Association still has integrity; since you're not going, we'll refund the spirit stones you paid earlier—just wait a moment, I'll go fetch them."

"Refund spirit stones? Ye Zhangqing didn't believe a word of it—bullshit refund, this is clearly a stall."

As he spoke, four more members of the Heavenly Union Merchant Association appeared, cutting off all retreat for Ye Zhangqing and his companions.