Evelyn, Adams, and Marisha looked grim. Seeing Shi Yan emerge, the three forced thin smiles and offered a greeting.

Shi Yan noted something—a shadow flickered past the entrance of the stone cave just then, seemingly tailing the three of them.

“Did you gain anything?” Marisha sat down, poured herself a glass of water, downed it in one gulp, and then finally asked Shi Yan.

“Yes, we certainly did gain something,” Shi Yan replied with a smile.

As soon as the words left his mouth, his expression shifted, and he suddenly looked toward the cave entrance.

A member of the Dragon Lizard tribe, only possessing the cultivation of the Second Heaven of the Origin God realm, suddenly flashed over, murmuring near the door, “May we enter?”

The expressions of the three Heavenly Eye tribe members tightened, and they instantly condensed their divine power, appearing grave.

“Come in,” Evelyn said cautiously, discreetly exchanging a look with Shi Yan, signaling him to be careful.

The Dragon Lizard tribesman was nearly three meters tall, his entire body a tangle of rock-like muscle, a tail bristling with thorns dragging on the stone floor, producing a grating sound with every movement.

After entering, his face was heavy, and he addressed the trio: “I suggest you leave as soon as possible. The members of the Earth Ghost tribe have figured out your location and are likely ill-disposed towards you.”

“This is your Dragon Lizard territory; surely your tribe cannot even guarantee our safety? We came at your invitation, only to run into minor trouble, and this is your attitude?” Marisha’s lovely face filled with anger as she couldn't help but cry out.

Shi Yan was bewildered, not understanding what had happened, and quietly asked Evelyn.

“It’s like this: we brought some items for trade on this trip. We were trying to trade at a lively spot earlier when someone from the Earth Ghost tribe took a fancy to something. But he didn’t have materials suitable for us, so he tried to force an exchange using things we wouldn't need. A small argument broke out,” Evelyn explained.

“The Earth Ghost tribe?” Shi Yan frowned.

After acquiring Tu Shiqi’s Celestial Illusory Star Compass, he had briefly surveyed the nearby territorial situation. Information regarding the Earth Ghost tribe happened to be recorded on that compass.

He knew the region closest to the Dragon Lizard tribe was precisely where the Earth Ghost tribe nested. The Earth Ghost tribe was a second-rate race in the sea of stars; their chieftain, the Earth Ghost Ancestor, was at the Third Heaven of the Immortal realm. While not as formidable as the Dragon Lizards, they held considerable prestige nearby.

Most importantly, the Earth Ghost tribe were staunch lackeys of the Soul Race. It was rumored that the Earth Ghost Ancestor was once a servant to a Domain Ancestor powerhouse of the Soul Race, only breaking through to the Third Heaven of the Immortal realm after cultivating an esoteric technique bestowed by the Soul Race. Upon returning to the Dragon Lizard tribe, he styled himself as the Ancestor.

Because of this, the Earth Ghost tribe clung tightly to the Soul Race banner. It was rumored that the Earth Ghost Ancestor’s return to the tribe carried the heavy responsibility of monitoring the nearby Dragon Lizard tribe and persuading them to ally with the Soul Race.

The Heavenly Eye tribe was merely a third-rate minor race, less powerful than the Earth Ghosts and lacking such strong backing. Clashing with members of the Earth Ghost tribe naturally would not end well for them.

“That Earth Ghost tribesman, after parting ways with you, immediately went to another area; he must have gone to report to a high-level expert from the Earth Ghost tribe. The Earth Ghost tribe is tightly linked to the Soul Race, and Chief Xinge of the Soul Race happens to be here this time—it makes things difficult for us. You either trade that ‘Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion’ to him, or you leave quickly. Otherwise, even our Dragon Lizard tribe will struggle to protect you.”

The Dragon Lizard tribesman offered those few helpless words of advice before hastily departing, leaving them to their own devices.

“The Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion? What is that?” Shi Yan frowned. “Why is that Earth Ghost tribesman so fixated on your Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion?”

“It’s this eye,” Marisha suddenly produced an eye in her palm. The eye resembled a prismatic pink crystal, incredibly gorgeous and peculiar, emitting waves that could enchant the mind. “This is the third eye of an ancestor from my tribe. After she perished, the third eye remained. This eye can bewitch the heart, compelling people to involuntarily reveal their innermost secrets. That Earth Ghost tribesman said he wanted to present this eye to the great commander of the Soul Race, claiming it had a grand use, and forcefully pushed for the trade.”

Smack!

Audrey’s tightly closed stone door suddenly burst open. She had regained her haughty indifference, changed into a plain white dress, and suddenly flashed out, crying out sharply, “That Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion—that Earth Ghost tribesman wants to offer it to Xinge to deal with our ancestor, Ming Hong! That must be it!”

Shi Yan’s heart stirred. Connecting the dots, he immediately understood. Audery was indeed sharp to link it so quickly.

Xinge had refined Ming Hong into a fierce soul, but because Ming Hong’s cultivation method was also related to the soul, he possessed a unique method to protect his memories from being searched. If targeted by soul-capturing techniques, he would immediately self-detonate his soul and perish, leaving Xinge with nothing.

Of course, Ming Hong’s method was not foolproof. As long as Xinge could bring Ming Hong before a Domain Ancestor powerhouse of the Soul Race, the subtleties of the Domain Ancestor realm would surely yield various means to extract his memories without harming Ming Hong’s soul.

Xinge wished to monopolize the profound secrets of the Barren Domain and rely on the fragmented body of the Barren One to break through to the Domain Ancestor realm, so he concealed this fact, forcing him to find his own solutions.

The Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion of the Heavenly Eye tribe was extremely peculiar and mysterious—it was a form of soul enchantment. It might indeed yield miraculous effects and become the breakthrough point against Ming Hong. That Earth Ghost tribesman must have pledged allegiance to Xinge, which is why he was ecstatic upon discovering this eye and insisted on buying it by force.

A series of thoughts flashed through his mind. Shi Yan realized the strangeness of the situation: “What was the cultivation realm of that Earth Ghost tribesman? If he brings reinforcements, what realm might they be?”

“That Earth Ghost tribesman was only at the Third Heaven of the Origin God realm; his cultivation wasn't deep. That’s also why he was only qualified to operate around here. However, the Earth Ghost tribe on Dragon Lizard Star has more than just him. The fact that he dared to be so presumptuous means he must know that the reinforcements arriving from the Earth Ghost tribe will certainly surpass us.”

“Coupled with their relationship with the Soul Race, even if the Earth Ghost tribe causes trouble, the Dragon Lizard tribe might choose to turn a blind eye. It wasn’t easy for that person to warn us of the danger. Ah, I never expected such bad luck to be targeted by the Earth Ghost tribe.”

Evelyn was deeply troubled, already contemplating whether they should withdraw from Dragon Lizard Star.

“Shi Yan, we can also ask…” Audrey called out softly.

Because this matter concerned Ming Hong and the Domain Gate of the Barren Domain, she was extremely anxious and immediately thought of the Xuan Tian tribe members, believing that with Tu Shiqi and Yanyun’s help, annihilating the Earth Ghost reinforcements would be effortless.

Shi Yan’s expression grew solemn.

He knew this matter was indeed of great importance. If Xinge learned the entrance to the Barren Domain Gate through Ming Hong, the Barren Domain might suffer relentless harassment from the Soul Race forevermore. Even if Xinge failed, more Soul Race powerhouses would follow in succession.

Since the Barren One was in a severely wounded and fragmented state, and because the Barren One possessed two Primordial Artifacts, any Soul Race Domain Ancestor-level expert who discovered this would certainly not let the matter rest.

The current situation in the Barren Domain, following Hui’s awakening and escape, was unknown. Coupled with the Soul Race, would the billions of living beings in the Barren Domain have any chance of survival?

“Can the Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion confuse the soul and mind of an Immortal realm martial artist?” Shi Yan suddenly asked.

“Yes!” Evelyn and Adams immediately nodded in unison. “At least, the two of us couldn’t withstand it; we would both fall victim and couldn’t resist for long.”

“Try it on me,” Shi Yan urged Marisha.

Marisha hesitated for a moment before saying, “You must keep your eyes fixed on the eye yourself. I will channel my soul power into it, and then you just need to maintain your gaze.”

“Good.”

Marisha then brought the pink crystal-like Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion close to Shi Yan’s eyes. She circulated her soul power, and the eye suddenly emitted an intoxicating pink halo. A dreamlike scroll seemed to unfurl, drawing Shi Yan directly in.

Shi Yan was instantly lost, as if he hadn't awoken from the intensely beautiful moments he had just shared with Audrey. His breathing grew heavy, and clarity gradually faded from his eyes.

As if sinking into a beautiful dream, subjectively unwilling to wake, unwilling to return to reality.

Audrey’s expression immediately became unnatural. At this moment, Shi Yan’s complexion and breath mirrored his state just moments ago, especially since Shi Yan’s movements suggested he was intimately engaged with a beauty, even showing a look of urgency, his hands and feet seeming to be fumbling obscenely over something, causing her expression to become strange and exceedingly peculiar.

“Enough!” she suddenly cried out sharply.

Marisha quickly shielded the light from the Bewitching Eye of Divine Delusion. Only then did Shi Yan look up like one waking from a dream, his pair of blazing eyes intensely fixed on Audrey.

Audrey’s face flushed, and she shot him a fierce glare. “You fell for it.”

Shi Yan froze for a moment, then his rational mind returned. He inwardly gasped at its power. “This thing absolutely cannot fall into the hands of the Earth Ghost tribe. Ming Hong is only a soul now; even if his realm is higher than mine, a pure soul state probably won’t last long. We must be fully prepared.”

“If the Earth Ghost tribe really comes, they must be confident, and we might not be able to handle them,” Marisha said bitterly.

“It’s fine, let them come,” Shi Yan took a deep breath, his expression turning cold and sharp. “If they dare to come, I have a way to kill them all. Unless they reach the Third Heaven of the Immortal realm; even then, we have strong allies to rely on. Hmm, once I kill the Earth Ghost tribesmen, I will immediately contact the Dragon Lizard tribe and claim I have insight into dark energy. I don’t believe the Dragon Lizard Ancestor would dare not protect me!”

Audrey’s eyes lit up. “What are you planning to do?”

Shi Yan looked around the stone chamber. “We have Illusory Realm Stones. They allow us to know their intentions in advance. We can set a trap; I doubt they won’t walk right into it!”

“Can the Illusory Realm Stones kill a Second Heaven Immortal realm expert?” Audrey asked in astonishment.

“I don’t know; we can try. But severely wounding them should be no problem.”

“Then that’s settled. We’ll wait for the Earth Ghost tribesmen to come and flaunt their power, and then we’ll teach them a bloody lesson!”

…(To be continued)RQ