In this world where cultivation is prevalent, the construction and location of cities are naturally quite particular about Feng Shui.

For example, it should be surrounded on all sides, with neither side empty. If there's a mountain on the left, there should be water on the right. If one side is lacking, a tower should be built to compensate. The best is to lean on the mountain and face the water.

Red Water Lake is the "water" beside Shanyang City.

Every year when the peach blossoms bloom, tiny red shrimps appear densely in the lake, even dyeing the entire lake red, hence the name "Red Water".

Upon receiving the news, Captain Yang, though afraid, still led a band of Black-clothed Profound Guards out of the city on horseback.

His uncle, the cultivator Yang Qing, leapt up swiftly, stepping on the city gate tower, and shot into the sky like a hawk.

Although cultivators of the Grain Avoidance Realm cannot fly, they can still travel by controlling Qi, appearing like immortals to ordinary people.

Below, the Black-clothed Profound Guards rode madly, while in the air, Yang Qing traveled with his hands behind his back, the wind whistling past his ears. Seeing the expanse of Red Water Lake filled with shattered ice in the distance, his brows furrowed immediately.

When he came earlier, he hadn't sensed it. How, in a short while, could this vast Red Water Lake become so filled with surging Yin Qi?

Upon reaching the shore, the snow was patchy, with withered grass everywhere, the cold wind howling, and the sparkling lake surface appeared desolate.

Yang Bai looked around, muttering, "It seems so quiet here. Where's the strange event you mentioned?"

The Black-clothed Profound Guard scratched his head,

"Strange, I could have sworn I just saw..."

Plunk!

Before he finished speaking, a gigantic five-meter-long black fish leapt out of the lake, spewing a long plume of black smoke skyward, before crashing back into the water.

The black smoke shot skyward and exploded with a thunderous boom.

Yang Bai turned pale, "A demon...demon entity..."

Suddenly, a thick black mist rose from the lake, and within the whistling wind, it seemed like the screams of countless people could be heard, vaguely revealing the silhouette of a ship...

Yang Qing, who had remained silent beside him, suddenly had his pupils contract, his scalp tingling as veins popped on his forehead. He shouted:

"Run!"

Saying so, he left everyone behind and sped away.

Seeing even a Grain Avoidance Realm cultivator scared to flight, the people, already terrified by the strange sight, dared not look closely, and quickly turned their horses.

With a crash, the sound of water arose as a few monster crabs, each the size of a round table, jumped out from the shore, their claws gleaming with icy knives.

With a squelch, blood splattered everywhere.

Two Black-clothed Profound Guards who moved slowly had their horses' legs clamped off by the monster crabs.

The monster crabs swarmed upon the fallen men and horses, shredding them into pieces and devouring them madly.

Scared out of their wits, the people dared not look back, desperately urging their horses to flee for their lives.

Luckily, the monster crabs showed no intent to pursue.

Yang Bai led the Black-clothed Profound Guards into the city gate, only to suddenly find the ground beneath him disappear, as he was lifted by his uncle Yang Qing onto a rooftop.

"Disaster is upon us, let's go quickly!"

Yang Qing said with a grim expression.

Yang Bai, pale and gasping for breath,

"Uncle, that... that was..."

Fear flashed in Yang Qing's eyes, and he gritted his teeth, "I've seen that ship before, it's the Jingjiang Water Mansion!"

"Jing... Jingjiang Water Mansion!"

Yang Bai nearly bit his tongue, feeling his entire body go cold from head to toe.

The Jingjiang Water Mansion, located at the border between Lai State and Bozhou, has long loomed over this land like a nightmare for centuries.

Yang Bai really wanted to run away immediately, but looked down at his subordinates, who were staring at him in confusion and terror.

Although these guys were idle, they respected him very much, living carefreely with drinks and gambling.

He then looked at the distant citizens who were still bustling around, oblivious to the impending disaster, and suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: "No, I must inform everyone to evacuate. Please, uncle..."

"Fool!"

Yang Qing shouted angrily, then turned without looking back, flying away swiftly until he disappeared.

"Captain, what should we do?"

A Black-clothed Profound Guard shouted from below.

Yang Bai felt a chill in his heart, realizing he truly was a fool, and cried out with a weeping face:

"What are you standing around for? Go notify everyone immediately..."

"Evacuate the whole city!"

What Yang Bai and the black-clothed Profound Guards did not know was that at this moment, beneath the ground by the shore of Red Water Lake, a surge of blood-yellow smoke suddenly emerged and seeped into a monster crab through the gaps in its shell.

The eyes of this monster crab suddenly turned blood-red, and it waved its giant claw, pouncing onto the monster crab beside it in an instant…

...

"There's sunny weather, yoo-hee, and there's rain, yoo-hee…"

Along the rushing riverbank, dozens of cables dragged large boats in the river. The boatmen were shouting cadences, and the linen ropes twisted their worn cotton-padded jackets out of shape as they lowered their bodies and trudged forward, sometimes stepping deeply, sometimes shallowly.

Along the North-South Canal, there were often stretches with countercurrents or undercurrents. Many locals made their living here, with no rest during the four seasons.

On a large boat, a nobleman in brocade robes held a brass hand warmer and gazed into the distance, sighing with emotion:

"Life is hard for the people, as fleeting as duckweed..."

The servant beside him lowered his head with a smile and said:

"The young master truly has a compassionate heart."

The nobleman in brocade robes laughed heartily, "Bring me my brush and ink. I have sporadically gained some insights and wish to compose a poem that will surely earn the headmaster's praise."

The servant nodded, about to speak, but suddenly his eyes widened, pointing shakily at the riverbank, unable to speak.

Only to see a large tiger suddenly spring out from the mountain forest by the riverbank, black smoke billowing as it moved.

And on the tiger's back sat a ferocious Daoist, as burly as a bear, with a sombre expression and an astonishing evil aura.

"De... Demon!"

The servant was so scared his face turned white, his legs trembling.

Though the nobleman was also afraid, he forced himself to maintain composure, "What are you so scared of? That's clearly an alien, riding a tiger down the mountain, galloping along… My goodness!"

The boatmen were also startled, suddenly letting go of the ropes, and the boat shook violently.

Zhang Kui was in a hurry to travel and couldn't bother explaining, but he casually glanced over, his leopard-like eyes widening instantly.

"Hmm... There's demon qi!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, the surface of the river exploded with a thunderous roar, and a tall red figure leapt onto the boat, opening its bloody mouth and biting off the scholar's head in one snap.

This demon had a humanoid shape, standing three meters tall, with red skin, muscles bulging like rock, red whiskers and fangs, a single horn on its head, and water dripping all over its body.

"Yaksha!"

The boatmen were so terrified their hearts nearly burst, and they abandoned the ropes and scattered in escape.

Anyone making a living on the river had surely heard chilling tales of water Yakshas since childhood.

The red-skinned Yaksha didn't mind, jabbing a steel trident onto the boat and starting to devour the nobleman's corpse.

The servant beside him had long lost his wits in terror, his legs trembling, his pants wet with a foul stench.

"Demon, meet your death!"

A voice rumbled like thunder, and just as the Yaksha prepared to turn, its huge head was sent flying, splashing into the water with a plop, and the headless body toppled over the deck.

Zhang Kui descended from the sky, his brows full of evil qi, and his Lu Li sword hummed fiercely in hand.

Urgh~

The servant rolled his eyes and fainted from fear.

Zhang Kui grunted, ignoring it, and looked down with a frown at the Yaksha's corpse underfoot.

This Yaksha hadn't even reached the Grain Avoidance Realm, it was just a matter of a casual sword stroke. What puzzled him was that Yakshas rarely traveled alone, and seldom revealed themselves in front of people.

What were they doing coming out in such a rush to eat people in broad daylight?

Just then, Zhang Kui's expression suddenly changed.

As the river surface suddenly darkened, black mist began to rise, as if the sky had dimmed in an instant.

Under the water, strands of floating black hair and ghostly pale faces loomed, as the boat began to sway gently.

And farther away, the river surface gurgled with bubbles as a towering colossal entity began to rise slowly.

It was a bizarre giant turtle, with wide jaws and tusks, its golden eyes topped with blood-red eyebrows standing bolt upright, and a bronze helmet covered in verdant spots on its head.

The more horrific aspect was its shell, teeming densely with fear-stricken human faces and arms, as if they were alive, fused into the shell, screaming and struggling to break free.

The giant turtle exhaled a plume of green gas, and the river surface hissed instantly, spewing toxic white smoke.

Zhang Kui's face turned somber, his grip on the Lu Li sword causing his knuckles to turn white.

This unknown breed of Demon Turtle, with the air around it sizzling and occasionally sparking, was evidently of the Celestial Tribulation Realm…

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.