Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

"The item is correct, but it's a bit exaggerated." Chu Xunfeng used the wind as a guide to pull out the spirit stone from the array eye, and the array stopped operating. He looked at the Yin Sha Pearl on the ground, which was the size of his fist, and stroked his chin. "But it's not bad either. Such a large Yin Sha Pearl naturally has more impact and persuasiveness."

"Make a move?" Mo Xun's gaze turned to Chu Xunfeng.

"Okay, let's take it down." Chu Xunfeng let out a long breath and turned his gaze to the outside of the mansion. From his high vantage point, he could see that several ghosts had already surrounded the alley, seemingly aware of the movement that had drawn away a large amount of turbid Yin energy when the formation was activated.

Half an hour later, Chu Xunfeng and his group pushed open the gate of the mansion.

Mo Xun's massive disc, reinforced with metalworking techniques, was easily carried on Xue Changyun's shoulder, while Hongzhu led the way, holding a Yin Sha Pearl as large as her two fists together.

Chu Xunfeng followed behind Hongzhu, while Lao Wang and Mo Xun, one human and one ghost, stood at the rear of the group to bring up the rear.

These three people and two ghosts, amidst the curious, awe-inspiring, and greedy gazes of countless ghosts, traversed the entire ghost market as if it were empty, heading straight for the post station where Prince Zou was staying.

Along the way, neither human nor ghost came forward to block the road.

Chapter 51. Using the pretext of offering treasures, but actually converging forces.

In the ghost market, business people are usually low-key; you can tell by the white candles standing outside each shop. But at this moment, the show Chu Xunfeng is putting on is truly high-profile.

In addition, there was the Yin Sha Pearl held by Hongzhu, which should be measured as a "lump" rather than a "piece," and the giant stone with complex formations engraved on Xue Changyun's shoulder.

The demons keenly sensed the omen of something big about to happen.

Chu Xunfeng and his group did not care about the ghost clan following behind them. As long as they were not blocking the way, they ignored them.

With their bizarre cooperation and tacit understanding, apart from the street led by Chu Xunfeng being completely blocked by the ghosts, the rest of the ghost market was almost deserted.

Not far away, the post station where Prince Zou was staying was already within reach. Xie San, whose face was covered with half of a bronze beast mask, was already standing in front of the post station. His three-foot-long sword was pointing diagonally at the ground, and he stared intently at Chu Xunfeng and his party who had walked in front of the inn.

"Halt!" Xie San brandished his sword, pointing the tip directly at Chu Xunfeng. "Chu Xunfeng, as a wanted criminal of our dynasty, you dare to appear before me without hiding or concealing yourself. What is your intention?"

His cold and scrutinizing words and attitude made it seem as if the meeting at the Lanyueke Restaurant the previous night had never happened.

However, this attitude was normal for Xie San and Prince Zou. After all, in the eyes of outsiders, they were on opposing sides. And it was perfectly reasonable for the bronze beasts led by Prince Zou to adopt such an attitude in the face of Chu Xunfeng's display of force.

"The wanted criminal Chu Xunfeng, carrying a priceless treasure and a message, requests an audience with the Prince of Xu." Chu Xunfeng clasped his hands in a fist and bow to Xie San, his eyes crystal clear. "Please investigate thoroughly, Your Excellency."

"A priceless treasure?" Xie San glanced at the Yin Sha Pearl in Hong Zhu's hand, then turned his gaze to the huge stone plate that Xue Changyun had gently placed on the ground. He narrowed his eyes. "Chu Xunfeng, offering a treasure won't wash away your status as a wanted criminal."

“I am not here to clear my name of any fabricated charges. The innocent will clear themselves. I have come to see Prince Zou to deliver a message.”

After Chu Xunfeng finished speaking, he gestured with his hand, and a corpse whose specific appearance was difficult to describe appeared between Chu Xunfeng and Xie San.

"The spies of the Yan Kingdom are contacting the forces of the Westerners in the inner city of the Ghost Market, intending to make a deal with them to open the gates of the Western Kingdom and allow the Yan Kingdom to cross the Black Forest and advance unimpeded into our Xu Kingdom's territory." Chu Xunfeng narrowed his eyes, lifting his gaze from the gruesome corpse to Xie San's face covered in burns. "May I ask if the Bronze Fang Beast is aware of this news?"

Xie San paused for a few seconds, then softened his tone slightly, "His Highness the Prince has this concern."

“I don’t have concrete evidence, but I do have something that I can compete with the Yan people on the spot.” Chu Xunfeng glanced at Xue Changyun. “Something that can directly extract Yin Sha from the turbid Yin Sha in the Black Forest and then purify Yin Sha Pearls. I dare to invite Prince Zou to come out for a chat.”

As soon as Chu Xunfeng finished speaking, Xie San hadn't even moved yet. The ghosts who had been following Chu Xunfeng's team were the first to erupt in excitement. After all, the pure Yin Sha Pearls that had been circulating in the Ghost Market before were now a currency with greater purchasing power than ordinary Yin Sha Pearls in the Ghost Market.

It even consumes a lot of resources, since the Yin Sha Pearl is still a cultivation resource for the Ghost Clan. Many Ghost Clan members who have absorbed the Yin Sha Pearl have testified that the Yin Sha Pearl has very few side effects on Ghost Clan cultivation.

Apart from some fragmented flashback scenes, there was no substantial memory to infuse into the soul, making it truly a great tonic.

Although many ghosts had speculated that the stone disc inscribed with array formations that Xue Changyun was carrying was the kind of thing they suspected, now...

It has indeed been confirmed.

"Wait a moment, I'll go report to His Highness the Prince." Xie San let out a long sigh, seemingly somewhat unwilling, yet also relieved.

As soon as Xie San turned and walked back to the post station, the ghosts behind Chu Xunfeng began to get restless and seemed to be getting ready to make a move.

However, before the bolder ones could even think of something to say and approach Chu Xunfeng and his group, dozens of black-clad men with bronze masks filed out of the inn and silently dispersed, separating Chu Xunfeng and his group from the ghost clan. They seemed to be protecting them, but they also subtly surrounded Chu Xunfeng and his group in the encirclement formed by their positions.

Since it's a play, it naturally needs to be performed meticulously. Xie San knows everything, but he can't show it. As for the bronze beasts, who are of lower status than Xie San, the arrangements Xie San makes for them must conform to the information that everyone can know.

This is where the so-called information gap comes from.

Surrounded by the bronze beasts, Chu Xunfeng showed no concern. Instead, the eyes of those intently watching them interpreted this as a sign that they were indeed confident and capable.

Chu Xunfeng and his group didn't have to wait long before the middle-aged man they had seen the night before, dressed in simple clothes, walked out of the inn.

His gaze shifted, sweeping over the corpse in front of Chu Xunfeng, then over the two from Baidi City, and finally over the excited ghost clan behind Chu Xunfeng's group. Prince Zou frowned. "You are Chu Xunfeng?"

"This humble subject, Chu Xunfeng, greets Your Highness, the Prince." Chu Xunfeng clasped his hands in a fist and bow to Prince Zou. "May I ask Your Highness, the Yan Kingdom people are already trying to pry open the gates of the Black Forest to the Foreign Council, allowing them to advance unimpeded into the Xu Kingdom's territory? This humble subject dares to ask, Your Majesty, or Your Highness, do you have any countermeasures at this time?"

"So, you think I have no solution, which is why you wanted to offer this treasure?"

"One chip might be enough to fight, but two chips are enough to tip the scales." Chu Xunfeng's answer was neither humble nor arrogant.

“Since you are offering a treasure, you must have some requests. What do you want?” Prince Zou squinted at Chu Xunfeng’s composed and unyielding expression.

To be honest, this wasn't part of the plan we discussed last night, but Chu Xunfeng just went ahead and made a big show of it, bringing his stuff to our door. It's not easy to act in a play without a script.

"I am but a humble commoner, and I dare not presume to ask for favors or power. My blood relatives in the Chu family are either dead or scattered. In this world, perhaps I am the only one left of the Chu family. However, when the disaster of my fathers occurred, I was just a child of four or five years old. I hope that Your Highness will plead with His Majesty to intercede for me before His Majesty and spare my life."

“Xie San…” Prince Zou turned to look at the deputy commander following behind him, “Take the things.”

Prince Zou turned his gaze to Chu Xunfeng, "As for you... come with me into the post station and we'll discuss the details."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Chu Xunfeng bowed slightly.

However, he did not bow deeply.

Chapter 52, Performing a Play

The group, carrying the treasure, entered the inn where Prince Zou was staying.

Before they could even go any deeper, Prince Zou waved his hand, and several bronze beasts immediately stepped forward, moving and piecing together all the tables and chairs in the main hall to form a large square table, and then removing all the extra tables and chairs.

Afterwards, these masked men in black spread out throughout the hall, guarding every window tightly.

[There are still dozens of auras upstairs, a few at the Human Profound Realm, and most at the Earth Profound Realm.]

Chu Xunfeng remained silent until Prince Zou gestured for him to sit down, at which point he led his senior brother and sister to their seats.

As for Old Wang and the other two ghosts, they were aware that they couldn't sit at the table, so they stood quietly behind the three of them.

Meanwhile, Prince Zou led Xie San to his seat.

"Chu Xunfeng, then tell me everything you've gathered," said Prince Zou, his expression arrogant and his voice authoritative.

This attitude is naturally a businesslike approach revealed by concealing the relationship that developed after last night's meeting.

Having established the tone set by Prince Zou, Chu Xunfeng naturally understood how he should respond.

"Your Highness, when I designed the formation, I was unaware of the Yan Kingdom's affairs. The formation was only intended to enter the inner city of this Black Forest, to fulfill my agreement with that lord of the ninth seat of the Foreign Council..."

Chu Xunfeng's account was completely businesslike, devoid of any thought or judgment. He simply recounted the purpose, process, and outcome of his actions after entering the Ghost Market.

But Chu Xunfeng talked about what he had done in less than ten days for more than half an hour.

This time, not only did Prince Zou hear all of Chu Xunfeng's plans and feel that he was no ordinary person, but even Xie San and the bronze beast in the hall were shocked by Chu Xunfeng's actions.

"So, you created that formation that the Ghost Clan has been seeking for centuries just to attract the attention of the Ghost Council?" Prince Zou stared at Chu Xunfeng. Even though he already knew roughly what had happened, now that he knew the whole story, Prince Zou still found it outrageous.

"Since the Chu family was separated, I have been living under the roof of others. This time, I have made up my mind that if I am going to do something, I will be the one in charge." Chu Xunfeng said this casually.

Knowing the hardships Chu Xunfeng had endured, Prince Zou pondered briefly before making a decision. "I will not comment on your intentions, but since you are willing to offer this treasure, I will not treat you unfairly. This formation originated from you, and without you, it would be difficult for the Foreign Council to trust us in subsequent transactions. Since that is the case, I will reciprocate. If you want to enter the inner city, I will naturally take you in as well. I also agree to what you said at the entrance of this inn."

"Although I dare not say what the outcome will be after I pleaded with His Majesty, at least in this Black Forest, you are no longer a wanted criminal of the court."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Chu Xunfeng stood up and bowed, still not deeply, but at least he bowed his head.

"However, since you've provided the technology, I expect you to only provide the technology to me. As for the details of the transaction with the Western Council..."

"This humble subject naturally understands. This matter concerns the nation and its people, and this humble subject dares not say more. Everything is left to Your Highness's decision." Chu Xunfeng sat down, looking at Prince Zou. "I wonder when Your Highness plans to contact the Foreigners' Council?"

"I wish to enter the inner city tonight, is that alright?" Prince Zou looked up at Chu Xunfeng.

"I have no objection, but I have some things to take care of."

"Then you shall take care of it. The carriage shall depart from the inn at 7:00 PM tonight. Do not be late." Prince Zou stared at Chu Xunfeng.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Chu Xunfeng stood up. "My senior brother and sister are free today. They know a little about this formation, and I have explained some of it to them. If Your Highness has any questions, you can ask them."

"Yes, go ahead." Prince Zou nodded.

"Hongzhu, Lao Wang, you two go find Yazai and sort out the compensation matters for that villa. Senior brothers and sisters, I'm entrusting His Highness the Prince's affairs to you."

After giving his instructions, Chu Xunfeng got up and, accompanied by Old Wang Hongzhu, left the inn under the watchful eyes of the bronze beast.

At a glance, countless eager and even greedy eyes of the ghost race were all fixed on Chu Xunfeng, who walked out of the inn safely.

Among them were some familiar faces.

Jiang Zhou, the scholar who shatters bones; Jiang Ni, the representative of the first seat; Ya Zai, the representative of the fifth seat; and several powerful ghosts hidden among the crowd, as indicated by the system notification.

All sorts of monsters and demons gathered in front of the inn's gate.

"I, Chu, have presented the Yin Sha Refining Array to Prince Zou. Please return now," Chu Xunfeng said loudly, then stepped forward.

However, unlike when no one blocked his way before, this time, not a single ghost made way for Chu Xunfeng.

"Lord Jiang Ni." Chu Xunfeng's gaze swept over the stubborn ghosts blocking his way, then shifted to Jiang Ni in the midst of the ghost horde. "May I... clear a path for myself here?"

"How do you plan to pave the way?" Jiang Ni, who had been called out, had no choice but to speak up. To some extent, he guessed that Chu Xunfeng was fearless, and in order to avoid the worst situation, he had to step forward as well.

"Naturally, we'll have to use some brutal methods." Chu Xunfeng exhaled, and this breath brought with it a crackling sound of electric arcs, like a thunderclap about to strike.

“This…” Jiang Ni hesitated for a moment, but in an instant, he suddenly calmed down. After a brief silence, Jiang Ni’s voice was no longer hesitant when answering Chu Xunfeng. It was as calm as a frozen lake. “By order of Gui Yi, Chu Xunfeng, you may act as you please. But if you make this choice, the Foreign Council will no longer guarantee your personal safety.”

"It doesn't matter. That formation will wear and tear, and it will need to be replaced after a period of time. Once I'm dead, you'll have to figure it out yourselves using the one I left behind." Chu Xunfeng didn't care that this was more of a reminder than a threat. He looked at the ghost clan member who was blocking his way, whose expression had already wavered.