Chapter 1252: Who Is the Prey

Wu Qingcheng and the others wanted to follow, but Zhuge Feiyu stopped them.

"It's already good enough if he can protect himself! If you go, you won't protect him at all; instead he'll have to protect you!"

Hearing that, the group finally let Ye Liuyun leave on his own.

As soon as Ye Liuyun left Chengzhu Fu, someone immediately produced a Transmission Talisman to relay the news.

The Demon Cultivator dispatched by Tuomu Hai, upon receiving the message, began muttering excitedly to himself.

"Ha ha, truly a chance from Heaven! If you had stayed in Chengzhu Fu, I couldn't have done anything to you. But now that you're out, you can only blame your own short life!"

"Lord Di Mu, who is this referring to?" a Martial Cultivator who looked like a merchant asked beside him.

This merchant is named Peng Yunhai, a small trader in Feiyun City. He usually deals in everyday goods and pills; though not a large operation, his life is far better than that of ordinary people.

He is the covert operative that the Foreign Tribe pre‑hid inland. Demon Cultivator Di Mu always lodges here, commanding all hidden personnel and carrying out the tasks assigned by Tuomu Hai.

Di Mu's nominal identity is a distant relative of Peng Yunhai.

The last time the two went together to a merchants' guild, the pretext for buying a Warship was that after Di Mu returned from abroad, he spotted a business opportunity and wanted to organize a long‑range trade fleet.

Ye Liuyun's target this time happens to be them, because the information Liang Xue gave him indicated that only here a Demon Cultivator appears.

As long as Ye Liuyun faces a Demon Cultivator, he is not worried. The Sealing Demon Tablet and Nine Nether Prelude can fully suppress them.

Actually Demon Cultivators now often travel across Zhongyang Dalu, and everyone has become accustomed to it; it normally wouldn't attract the merchants' guild's attention.

Moreover, these people go to different merchant houses, so there's no worry of being discovered.

The only thing they don't know is that most merchants' guilds are actually run by Liang Xue, and Warship production is monopolized by Du Yan.

Thus Liang Xue and Du Yan both noticed a huge demand for Warship orders.

When this information was compiled, Di Mu's suspicion naturally grew larger.

After arriving in Feiyun City, Ye Liuyun moved into a Side Courtyard that Xia Tianqiong had arranged for him in advance.

To avoid ambushes, he also released Xuanwu and Huo Wu, who was wearing an Invisibility Cloak.

Xiao Lanbing, like a child, concealed his realm and hovered around Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun originally wanted Xiao Lanbing to wear the Invisibility Cloak and protect him, but Xiao Lanbing refused.

Since others can't see her, she feels very awkward. She would rather appear openly and stay by Ye Liuyun's side.

Ye Liuyun didn't force her, and gave the Invisibility Cloak to Huo Wu. Huo Wu's illusion art might help at a crucial moment.

At the same time, several Earth Sovereign mid‑stage, even Tianzun Realm early‑stage Martial Cultivators, quietly entered Peng Yunhai's residence.

Peng Yunhai's dwelling has already been put under surveillance by agents sent by Xia Tianqiong.

Xia Tianqiong promptly used a Transmission Talisman to inform Ye Liuyun of the other side's information.

"Five early‑stage Tianzun Realm Martial Cultivators, eight mid‑stage Earth Sovereign Martial Cultivators. Clearly, this is a hidden nest of the Foreign Tribe. Those people are probably out to hunt you!"

"Then let's see who is the hunter and who is the prey!"

After learning the enemy's numbers, Ye Liuyun was actually not worried.

The mid‑stage Earth Sovereign Martial Cultivators can be dealt with using Monster Beasts and ferocious beasts. And the early‑stage Tianzun Realm Martial Cultivators can be handled by Xiao Lanbing and Xuanwu.

It seems the opponent is preparing an assassination rather than an open assault.

And dealing with such underhanded tactics, Ye Liuyun is, of course, confident.

He directly set up Formation Flags around the Side Courtyard, waiting for the prey to take the bait.

Meanwhile, at this moment, Di Mu, Peng Yunhai, and some Martial Cultivators were also discussing.

"Ye Liuyun suddenly came here; did he discover our secret?" Peng Yunhai said cautiously.

"Very possible! But now that he's come, he can't leave! With so many experts among us, killing him is definitely no problem!" Di Mu said confidently.

He thought Ye Liuyun's battlefield achievements relied only on tricks and Warships, and that his own strength was not great.

This is truly an excellent chance to eliminate Ye Liuyun.

He summoned Martial Cultivators, and one said very cautiously: "If Ye Liuyun discovers anything, he'll be ready! We mustn't try to steal the chicken and end up losing the rice!"

That Martial Cultivator's words have some merit.

So Di Mu didn't dare act unilaterally.

Finally he told everyone, "Alright, let Peng Yunhai go observe for two days to understand Ye Liuyun's intentions here, then we'll decide. After all, if he discovers us, we can't escape, and staying together is safer."

"If he indeed has other business, then we'll strike together, a single blow to kill. Killing Ye Liuyun would be a great achievement for us!"

This suggestion was also agreed to by the other Martial Cultivators.

So Peng Yunhai was sent out to scout near Ye Liuyun's residence.

And once Peng Yunhai left, Ye Liuyun's side received the information.

"It seems that having Xia Tianqiong set up an intelligence network was truly foresighted! Not only did it uncover such a big secret, but it also lets us monitor the opponent's movements at any time!"

Ye Liuyun chuckled inwardly; this operation shouldn't be particularly difficult.

He sent Huo Wu out, using illusion to lure Peng Yunhai in. Peng Yunhai is a Martial Cultivator of the Fifth Rebirth, and Huo Wu can easily handle him.

He wouldn't even realize he's been caught by the illusion.

So when Peng Yunhai arrived near Ye Liuyun's residence, Huo Wu, cloaked in the Invisibility Cloak, used illusion to seize him and led him into the Side Courtyard.

Ye Liuyun also immediately launched a Soul Search, learning their information.

"That Di Mu is the key; he holds the list of all hidden operatives!"

After receiving the information, Ye Liuyun immediately contacted Xia Tianqiong, explained the situation, and asked her to keep a close watch on Di Mu.

"I need a plausible pretext to make them act. At least eliminate three Tianzun Realm strongmen first, then we'll have a better chance of capturing Di Mu alive!"

"Five Tianzun Realm strongmen—can you handle them?" Xia Tianqiong asked concernedly.

"Don't worry, it's no problem!" Ye Liuyun reassured Xia Tianqiong.

After contacting Xia Tianqiong, Ye Liuyun had Huo Wu weave an illusion. He made Peng Yunhai mistakenly think he saw an Elder of the Demonic God Sect, accompanied by several disciples, reporting to Ye Liuyun about nearby Mineral Vein matters.

Ye Liuyun's search for Mineral Veins is known throughout Zhongyang Dalu, so this excuse is fairly plausible.

Afterwards, Huowu sent Peng Yunhai out.