Chapter 587: Snake Shadow and Rat Eye Builds Another Achievement

The Ice Sculpture Capital.

Wisteria shop.

A spy posing as a store clerk was inspecting the goods.

A massive wooden crate was pried open with an iron bar, revealing it filled to the brim with stones.

The inspecting secret agent immediately covered his nose and exclaimed, “Volcanic itch stones again!”

These stones varied in size, ranging from grayish white to black in color.

Inner and outer layers alike were riddled with countless minute, densely packed cavities.

Submerging the stones in water caused it to boil instantly, reaching a rolling boil within seconds.

Left exposed to air for extended periods, the stones emitted an overpowering, persistent stench.

Unprotected skin touching the stone's surface would cause unbearable itching, scratching until bleeding offered no relief.

"Count them carefully. This is a strict order from above. Don't say I didn't warn you, if you mess up and the higher-ups find out, you're dead meat!" warned the cargo-handling spy.

“Of course, of course!” The inspection clerk nodded frantically, his face etched with seriousness and caution.

While meticulously counting, he chatted casually, “Did you hear?”

"Just a few days ago, this place was attacked. Three silver level group leaders were killed!"

“Though the enemy was dealt with, who knows if any accomplices remain?”

“If enemy allies come seeking revenge, we'd be finished!”

The delivery agent's expression darkened instantly: “Keep your voice down! Is this something we should be discussing?”

“Can't you just focus on the inspection?”

“Shut your mouth. I don't want to get punished for listening to your nonsense.”

After being scolded, the inspector pouted but ultimately said nothing more.

This caused Zi Di, observing from a distance, to frown slightly in disappointment.

The silver level ice gargoyle she controlled stood silently beside the deliveryman. Even at such close range, neither of the two living people could see the ice gargoyle.

The combined effects of Deceptive Disguise spell and Anti-investigation and Prophecy spell made the ice gargoyle's comings and goings in the Wisteria shop as effortless as drinking water for an ordinary person.

“Ever since their ambush failed, the enemy has replaced nearly all the shop staff.”

“The old hands vanished through teleportation.”

“The new recruits are highly skilled too. This inspector is the most accessible source of intel I've found.”

After infiltrating the vicinity of the Wisteria shop, Zi Di's primary task was directing the ice gargoyle to conduct surveillance.

But her gains were meager.

The undercover agents were highly skilled and discreet, maintaining silence that made it difficult for Zi Di to uncover any secrets.

The shop manager and others only handled the surface-level business operations.

With the shop's dismal sales, the tasks assigned to the manager and other higher-ups were equally unremarkable.

Any truly confidential matters were relayed directly through communication devices.

Interactions among shop staff were minimal. Even work-related exchanges strictly adhered to confidentiality protocols.

"The only clear thing is that the enemies behind the Wisteria shop have been secretly transporting volcanic itch stones. This is already the sixteenth crate I've seen."

As a magician who had dabbled in alchemy, Zi Di possessed basic knowledge despite her limited skill level.

As far as she knew—volcanic itch stone was a common ingredient for bomb-making.

This made Zi Di vaguely sense: the enemies lying in wait for her were quietly brewing something, and it was likely to be big!

After the inspection was complete and the signature obtained, the deliveryman left.

The inspector struggled to carry the wooden crate toward the depths of the warehouse.

Zi Di immediately commanded her ice gargoyle to follow close behind.

A metal door swung open. The inspector stepped inside, and as his second foot crossed the threshold, the door slammed shut.

But the ice gargoyle had already squeezed through.

Though the inspector stumbled and nearly fell during the squeeze, he remained completely unaware.

Zi Di also directed the ice gargoyle to steady the wooden crate in his hands, preventing the entire load of itch stones from spilling onto the floor.

Of course, even if that had happened, Zi Di’s ice gargoyle would never have been detected.

The inspector would simply have blamed it on his own carelessness.

Struggling under the weight of the crate, the inspector descended to the first basement level, where he encountered yet another metal door. The difference was that, alongside the metal door, there was also an inspection device.

Basement 1, Basement 2, Basement 3...

The barriers set up by the Imperial Secret Spy Agency along the way grew increasingly numerous, and the inspection procedures became ever more stringent.

Metal doors were merely standard equipment. There were five or six different types of manual password responses, and elemental suppressors of various types appeared one after another. What Zi Di found most troublesome was the mental wave counter device.

This alchemy device severely interfered with Zi Di's control over the ice gargoyle.

Magicians controlled alchemy puppets by channeling their own spirit power. Zi Di's manipulation of the ice gargoyle was no exception.

Spirit power manifested as mental fluctuations.

This principle also applied to the long-distance communication between the duelists.

The mental wave counter device emits mental fluctuations at various frequencies to counteract external mental waves, preventing enemies from remotely controlling alchemy puppets to infiltrate this area.

Each mental wave counter device continuously alters its countering frequency bands over time.

Therefore, even if the frequency of Zi Di's mental fluctuations was unknown to the enemy, it was still suppressed by this defensive measure.

Each time the ice gargoyle advanced further, Zi Di's control over it weakened incrementally.

By the time the ice gargoyle reached the fourth underground level, Zi Di's connection to it had faded to a faint, indistinct trace.

Meanwhile, the inspector accompanying Zi Di arrived at the warehouse carrying wooden crates.

The warehouse door stood wide open.

Two secret agents addressed the inspector: “You're just in time. Help us carry these stones down.”

“Yes, sir!” The inspector nodded immediately.

This turn of events delighted Zi Di.

Previously, when she followed them here, the inspector would always abandon the wooden crates and head straight back.

Without his lead, the ice gargoyle couldn't pass through the metal door. Zi Di didn't want to rashly blast an opening either.

The inspector and the other two carried the wooden crates as they continued onward.

Zi Di immediately commanded the ice gargoyle. Its chest suddenly burst open, releasing several snake shadow ghosts and rat eye ghosts.

The mental wave counter device could disrupt conventional alchemy puppet control, but it couldn't fully counter a necromancer's summoned ghosts.

Though these ghosts also operated under a magic power's mental control, their bond with the necromancer was far deeper—a soul-level connection had already formed.

Much like how Jian Gui in the White Hair Trench secretly communicated with Cang Xu, Xiao Wang Zi, and others through their soul ties. Zhou Zhang was mere inches away yet remained completely unaware.

The snake shadow ghosts and rat eye ghosts continued their pursuit.

Moments later, they followed the three secret agents to the fifth underground level, where they saw the teleportation formation at the far end.

One by one, wooden crates were carried to the center of the formation.

Guarding the formation was none other than a gold level fighter.

“That's one of the two gold level fighters who attacked us before!” Zi Di recognized him immediately.

The rat eye ghosts climbed onto the gold level fighter's shoulders, scrutinizing his face closely.

The snake shadow ghosts coiled around the gold level fighter's thigh, clinging tightly to memorize his aura and probe deeper secrets within him.

Enhanced by the Deceptive Disguise spell and Anti-investigation and Prophecy spell, the gold level fighter sensed nothing amiss.

He sternly urged his subordinates to work faster.

Once all the wooden crates were moved, he teleported away amidst a cloud of volcanic itch stones.

“They've entered an alchemy laboratory.”

“It should be somewhere within the Ten Millenia Ice Lake.”

Moments later, a sharp gleam flashed in Zi Di's eyes: “Indeed. This is where they ambushed me before.”

Moments later, Zi Di's snake shadow ghosts and rat eye ghosts observed two gold level figures conversing.

“The Thirteenth Prince will return soon.”

“Besides him, there's also Lord Qi Ci Lang.”

“You mean the one called the Beloved Child of Seven Gods?”

“Precisely!”

“Excellent. He truly is the most suitable candidate for this Ice Sculpture Kingdom Tournament.”

"Long Meng is the top duelist in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom. But Lord Qi Ci Lang possesses the blessing of immortality. Who among the gold level on Ice Sculpture Island could defeat him?"

"Once this mission is complete, I can retire. To be honest... I've truly had enough of the Ice Sculpture Kingdom's bitter cold. Lately, I've been dreaming of the red bean banana trees back home night after night..."

…

The status of these two gold levels was worlds apart from those shop clerks.

Though their casual conversation didn't touch on Imperial Secret Spy Agency's secrets, Zi Di overheard enough sensitive terms to raise alarm bells.

For instance, their reference to the “Thirteenth Prince,” and the mention of “red bean banana trees”, a fruit unique to the Empire's southern regions.

“So, they really are imperial secret agents?”

Half an hour later, Zi Di confirmed this suspicion.

She told herself to stay calm, but her heart sank nonetheless.

All along, the survivors had pursued their goal of atoning to the Sheng Ming Empire. The hostile relationship with the Imperial Secret Spy Agency undoubtedly clashed violently with this objective.

In a way, the weight of antagonizing the Sheng Ming Empire's Secret Spy Agency felt even heavier and more oppressive than opposing the Ice Sculpture Kingdom.

“Why is the Imperial Secret Spy Agency targeting us?”

“The Mystifying Monster Island incident is unlikely. The most probable target... is the Wisteria Cache!”

"Sister Qing Xin told me about it, that's how I learned of the Wisteria Cache. The Wisteria shop in Ice Sculpture Capital has already been infiltrated by the secret agents. The letter from Two Eyes Island never made it out. That means Two Eyes Island is likely compromised too. The most suspicious figure is the shopkeeper, Yan Yi."

"My identity was exposed while I was on Two Eyes Island, drawing the secret agent's attention. At the time, I attended the auction using the identity of a Wisteria elder. Then, during the naval battle, Cang Xu exposed his necromancer abilities."

"My ambush at the Wisteria shop was likely a follow-up from Two Eyes Island. They've been waiting for me."

Zi Di's thoughts scattered as she comprehensively analyzed her situation.

According to her reasoning, nothing had happened on Mystifying Monster Island, and the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps' identity remained undiscovered for now. Otherwise, the secret agents could have easily struck them at sea.