Has something happened to Elder Huayan?

Zhang Kui's heart skipped a beat, "Speak clearly!"

Since arriving in this demon-infested world, he had seen many deceitful souls, but there were also those with righteousness and shared ideals.

Elder Huayan treated him like a younger generation, and Zhang Kui respected him greatly. Hearing this news, he was naturally anxious.

Taoist Master Buxu's expression was grave, "During the New Year, Master received a message from Elder Qiu Canzi, the National Guardian True Man of Bozhou, saying he found an Ancient Secret Realm and flew off immediately."

"I didn't think much of it initially, but a week ago, the Astronomical Bureau sent a message saying that the Ancient Secret Realm suddenly closed, trapping many inside."

"This kind of thing is usually common, but today, there are new developments from Bozhou..."

As Buxu spoke, he took out a roll of parchment from his bosom, marked with the insignia of the Astronomical Bureau.

This was an emergency message from the Astronomical Bureau, and Zhang Kui quickly opened it, his brow furrowing more and more.

"Serial cannibalism... annihilated families... eerie evil aura... over thirty incidents in one night... Do you think it's related to the Ancient Secret Realm?"

Buxu nodded, "In terms of timing, it's very possible, and I have a bad premonition that Bozhou might encounter a major disaster!"

Zhang Kui's face darkened, "What does the Astronomical Bureau say, have they arranged for a rescue?"

Buxu gave a wry smile, "I went to Grand Profound Lake today but was stopped outside the Lake Heart Island. I heard many National Guardian True Men had returned and were arguing fiercely inside; I couldn't even see them."

"I am obsessed with alchemy and not good at confronting people. I truly regret it now. I plan to go to Lai State to seek help from Elder Helian Boxiong. However, to prevent accidents, I can only shamelessly ask Taoist Friend Zhang to head to Bozhou first."

"What nonsense are you saying!"

Zhang Kui's eyes widened first, then he turned around and instructed Old Liu, "I'm leaving immediately. If there's any urgent matter, you can go to the Astronomical Bureau and ask Eunuch Yin for help."

With that, he glanced at the Nether Soil stone coffin hidden in the corner, brow slightly furrowed.

If he were to hurry, traveling underground with the stone coffin would be slightly faster, but the waterways in Bozhou crisscross, limiting the stone coffin's speed.

"Fatty, let's go!"

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui no longer hesitated. He mounted Fatty Tiger's back. Fatty Tiger, understanding the urgency, immediately unleashed its demon Qi, flames of azure rising in its eyes, and disappeared into the snowy night in a swirl of black smoke...

...

Bozhou is located in the eastern part of the Qian Dynasty. The central region is mostly hilly, the southeast borders the sea, and it is rich in natural resources. Combined with a developed inland water system, its wealth rivals that of the south.

In Shanyang City, the capital of the state, the snow was less than in the Capital City, but upon partially melting and then refreezing, it turned into solid ice, making the cold even more biting.

The usually bustling crossroads were now silent. Government officials had closed the streets, keeping people far away, and curious citizens peered with their hands clenched, eyes filled with fear.

"Damn it..."

Yang Bai looked up at the dim white sun, cursed under his breath, and covered his nose with a handkerchief as he walked toward the grain and oil store.

A few government officials and his subordinates greeted him hurriedly.

"Captain Yang."

"Captain, this way..."

Upon entering the grain and oil store, a gruesome scene met his eyes. Two men lay on the ground, covered in blood and flesh, their faces gnawed to the bone.

"Who are they?"

"The shopkeeper and another staff member. The perpetrator is dead, right here. Please follow me, Captain..."

Following a subordinate of the Black-clothed Profound Guards, Yang Bai arrived at the granary, his chest churning at the sight.

A man, eyes rolled back, lay atop an unpeeled heap of grain, his mouth stuffed with raw grain, his belly burst open, intestines spilled across the floor.

Gulp...

Yang Bai felt something surge up his throat, but with a stoic face, he swallowed it back down with effort.

As the Captain of the Astronomical Bureau in Bozhou, vomiting on the spot would invite ridicule; losing the Yang family's face would be troublesome.

Indeed, he was a noble family descendant, who had learned some Taoist skills and been maneuvered into this position.

Originally a prestigious post, but now Yang Bai deeply regretted it.

He truly wasn't suited for this.

At this moment, a figure gently descended on the street, dressed in a gray fur robe, face white without a mustache, eyes slender, with an air of arrogance between the brows.

He glanced around casually and then strode into the store.

"Uncle, you finally arrived!"

Yang Bai let out a sigh of relief upon seeing this and quickly approached with nods and bows.

When Yang Qing was young, he entered the deep mountains to learn skills from an alien and inherited the family's magical arts. Now, he is a powerful Grain Avoidance Realm cultivator and has become a Guest Minister of the Astronomical Bureau. The Yang family's prestige relies entirely on this second uncle.

The elite of the Astronomical Bureau and the National Guardian True Man were trapped in the Ancient Secret Realm, and now such a big case has arisen. Captain Yang had no choice but to seek help from his family.

Seeing his nephew's appearance, the cultivator Yang Qing shook his head slightly, "Where is the person? Take me to see."

Upon arriving in front of the corpse with a shattered abdomen, Yang Qing's eyes suddenly focused, "What a peculiar evil spirit!"

As he spoke, a talisman suddenly appeared in his right hand, flying through the air, and stuck to the head of the corpse.

Those around craned their necks to take a closer look.

Suddenly, the corpse's eyes turned blood red, and it began to struggle with hoarse roars, scaring the nearby people.

"It's rising! It's rising!"

"Quick, use the talisman arrow..."

"Stop shouting!"

Yang Qing immediately reprimanded, and after seeing everyone quiet down, he sneered, "It's just the evil spirit provoked, what a fuss!"

The crowd looked closely, and sure enough, the corpse was only howling miserably and struggling, with its movements growing smaller.

Yang Qing shook his head slightly. His nephew was good at building connections, but poor at leading troops. These black-clothed Profound Guards are poorly trained, nowhere near the level of the Capital City headquarters.

Just then, the corpse suddenly stopped moving, and a plume of blood-yellow smoke appeared like drifting clouds from its mouth and nose, whirling on the ground, then drifting toward a government official.

The official backed away in fear, while Yang Qing's brows furrowed, and a flame suddenly appeared out of nowhere, roaring towards the strange smoke.

The flame exploded with a bang, and an ear-piercing shriek rang out, causing those nearby to grit their teeth and cover their ears.

The smoke dispersed, and the yellow smoke disappeared.

"Second Uncle is indeed formidable!"

"A True Man's move is extraordinary..."

"I admire you immensely."

Led by Yang Bai, praise poured in from the crowd.

The cultivator Yang Qing remained expressionless, nodding slightly, "You all handle this, Yang Bai, come with me for a moment."

After the uncle and nephew entered a secluded room and closed the door, Yang Qing's expression turned serious.

"That evil spirit is strange. My Taoist skill didn't destroy it; it burrowed underground. Now, recount the entire incident without omitting a single detail!"

Yang Bai's face changed, and he quickly lowered his head:

"It was near the end of the year when the solid ice of the Red Water Lake outside the city suddenly shattered, and a wooden divine statue without a head emerged. The villagers by the lake thought there was treasure and went down to salvage it, but found nothing at the lake bottom."

"The matter reached the ears of the National Guardian True Man Qiu Canzi. After some investigation, he guessed it was an Ancient Secret Realm and summoned True Man Yuhua from the Capital City."

"Later, an entrance was indeed opened. Initially, it seemed fine, only rumors of temples inside. But a few days ago, a sudden chill wind swept across the river, ghosts wailed and howled, and then everyone vanished without a trace."

"Soon after, over thirty cannibalistic cases appeared in the city overnight, all involving ordinary folk. The murderers all ended up bursting to death..."

As he spoke, Yang Bai couldn't help but turn pale, "Second Uncle, do you think they accidentally released some powerful demon?"

The cultivator Yang Qing sneered, "Isn't it obvious? I reckon there's an eighty to ninety percent chance."

Yang Bai swallowed, unable to resist grasping his clothes and wiping the cold sweat off his hands, "Then... what should we do? Should I go tell Lord Li and have the city evacuated immediately?"

The cultivator Yang Qing cast a nonchalant glance, "What if it isn't? With ten thousand households in Dangyang City, displacement would certainly cause harm. If it's just ordinary evil spirit leakage, your position as Captain might come to an end."

Yang Bai's mouth opened, "Then... then..."

"What are you afraid of!"

Yang Qing sneered, "The mess made by the National Guardian True Man, naturally, they'll bear the responsibility. Even if something happens, they can deflect it. You just stay put and go about your business. At times like this, don't stick your neck out."

He slightly raised his chin.

"Go on, if anything significant happens, I'll take you away."

"Uh, alright..."

Yang Bai nodded compliantly but felt a chill in his heart at the thought of abandoning the whole city and running away.

Just then, a black-clothed Profound Guard suddenly rushed in, panic-stricken, "Captain, you must come quickly, something strange happened at Red Water Lake!"

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