Ji, the leader of the five grains.

The Astronomical Bureau's report once mentioned, Elder Huayan said there was a temple within the Ancient Secret Realm. Could it be the Ancient Ji Temple?

Zhang Kui calmed his mind, and those distant ritualistic sounds gradually faded away. In front of him was a hazy mist, even the Cave Abyss Skill was obstructed, making it difficult to see clearly.

He wasn't surprised. The Ancient Secret Realm is isolated from the outside world, usually preserving the environment of that time. Plus, this place is evidently strange, so it's normal not to be able to investigate.

After hesitating for a bit, Zhang Kui decided not to enhance the Cave Abyss Skill.

Although he gained twenty points by slaying the Turtle Demon and an additional three points by rescuing civilians and clearing Water Demon lackeys, this place is fraught with danger, so it's best to save them for emergencies.

Looking around, the place was astonishingly large. The ground was exceptionally flat, yet slightly rough. It seemed like it was polished from a massive block of sandstone.

The strange pale yellow mist slowly drifted around, only allowing visibility within twenty paces.

Zhang Kui squinted his eyes, his figure gradually fading away, while suppressing all his Qi mechanism, using the Golden Light Body Protection to silently begin his investigation.

The situation here was unclear. Though the Invisibility Skill was too low-level and redundant, being cautious was the right choice.

Along the way, discoveries gradually emerged.

This seemed to be a plaza passage, with massive bronze cauldrons neatly arranged, but they were ordinary objects, their patterns blurred by thick green corrosion.

Suddenly, Zhang Kui's Protective Golden Light flared up.

Amidst the hazy mist, several strands of blood-red evil Qi drifted up from the ground, twisting and snaking toward him like fine serpents.

Zhang Kui frowned slightly, waving his hand to unleash a Sword Qi.

To his surprise, his Geng Metal Evil Light, known for vanquishing evil and obliterating souls with sharpness, only scattered the evil Qi, which quickly reconvened and moved in other directions.

The source was indeed here...

After walking several hundred meters further, a vast architectural complex emerged from the mist. With roughly-hewn sandstone as bricks, bronze beams, and a double-layered octagonal shape, their archaic style left it unclear which era they were from.

A bronze gate over five meters high had collapsed, before which lay a Fish Demon corpse, clad in Lock Armor, with a large bloody hole in its head.

A creature of the Celestial Tribulation Realm!

Zhang Kui thought for a moment, understanding now why he hadn't encountered other Celestial Tribulation Realm old demons except for the Turtle Demon, they were likely all sent in here...

What treasure was the Jingjiang Water Mansion after to cause such a commotion?

Suddenly, Zhang Kui's eyes sharpened as he strode forward to pick up something from afar: a white feather tough as a steel plate.

The Crane Immortal!

Zhang Kui glanced ahead, a hint of anxiety flashing in his eyes as he promptly quickened his pace to explore.

Despite the expansive area and the visibility-blocking yellow mist, after a round of exploration, he confirmed it was indeed an ancient temple.

The grand old hall had a collapsed corner, an overturned incense burner, a shattered divine statue, and a dusty floor covered in chaotic footprints.

What happened here was unknown, but it was obvious someone had investigated the place and then chose to leave.

Without hesitation, Zhang Kui swiftly bypassed the main hall and headed to the rear.

Behind the hall was another not-so-small space, but the surrounding buildings had collapsed or tilted, leaving bloodstains on the ground.

Suddenly, faint sounds came from the left, making Zhang Kui concentrate and proceed cautiously.

An open-air structure appeared abruptly before him, resembling the kind of stage found in town temple grounds, with a brick foundation and bronze trim, only all these bricks were black as ink, exuding an ominous aura.

Shadows vaguely moved on the stage.

Zhang Kui slowly approached, and upon seeing clearly, his scalp tingled as he quickly retreated.

On the stage were two Red-skinned Yakshas and an Octopus Head Demon covered in tentacles, all of the Celestial Tribulation Realm.

If they were mere enemies, he could just fight them with swords.

However, these three old demons, who were at the level of National Guardian True Man outside, had vacant expressions, slowly performing some bizarre dance.

As if they were performing a Nuo opera...

The ancient stage seemed ordinary with no sign of leaking Yin Qi, which was precisely its strangeness.

While the Cave Abyss Skill could be blocked by certain powers, like the Black Painting Boat of Jingjiang Water Mansion outside, where the Yin Qi was thick outside but could not be probed inside.

But here, nothing seemed abnormal.

If those three Celestial Tribulation Realm old demons hadn't been trapped here, he might have been caught too.

What the heck is this ghost place!

Zhang Kui felt his hair stand on end; even though he had entered several Ancient Secret Realms before, this kind of eerie situation was a first.

Suddenly,

A hand emerged from the fog and suddenly rested on his left shoulder.

Zhang Kui's hair stood on end, but just as he was about to react, a familiar voice came to his ear.

"It's me, don't move!"

Zhang Kui turned around and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

It was Elder Huayan.

His expression was clearly a bit haggard, his hair was disheveled, his clothes tattered, and there was blood at the corner of his mouth.

Just as Zhang Kui was about to speak, Elder Huayan put a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence, and then pointed to the stage behind him.

Zhang Kui quickly turned around, only to see three old demons performing an exorcism dance on the ancient stage. Black blood began to flow from their seven orifices as their bodies gradually disintegrated.

Despite being mangled and bloody, their faces bore eerie smiles.

Zhang Kui watched as the three Celestial Tribulation Realm demons turned into heaps of rotten flesh, then merged into the black stone slabs, as if being devoured by something...

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The ancient black stage suddenly trembled softly, then gradually faded, reappearing slowly in another location.

Zhang Kui felt a chill rise in his heart.

This thing, damn it, is alive!

Elder Huayan patted his shoulder again, giving him a meaningful look, and Zhang Kui quickly followed.

The two navigated through corridors and collapsed structures, making turns left and right. Upon entering a side hall, Elder Huayan finally exhaled deeply, only to suddenly cough up a mouthful of blood.

"Senior!"

Zhang Kui was startled and quickly helped Elder Huayan to sit down.

Elder Huayan took out a pill from his bosom, signaling that he was fine while beginning to refine it for healing, his complexion noticeably improving.

Zhang Kui breathed a sigh of relief and began to survey the side hall. The walls were covered with various mottled murals, and on the ground lay a creaky long table and a bronze cauldron, pushed aside to reveal the Crane Immortal and a white-browed old man.

The Crane Immortal's eyes were closed, blood oozed from the corners of its mouth, and its feathers were disheveled, but its breathing was still steady.

The white-browed old man, however, was covered in wounds, his eyes vacant, long devoid of life.

This should be Qiu Canzi...

Zhang Kui shook his head slightly. The National Guardian True Man held a prestigious position, yet died here like a rag doll. Such is the fickle nature of fate.

After a while, Elder Huayan finally exhaled a breath of black air. A trace of color returned to his pale face as he turned and asked, "Zhang Kui, my young friend, how did you come here?"

"Senior, chaos has erupted outside..."

Zhang Kui said with a wry smile and recounted the situation, "Senior, time is short. We should leave soon."

Elder Huayan's lips trembled slightly, "I never imagined this place would be so perilous, with that malevolence..."

"No, we can't leave!"

An idea suddenly struck Elder Huayan, his eyes filled with astonishment as he struggled to get up.

"This is the Ancient Ji Temple. I don't know what the demons of the Jingjiang Water Mansion are searching for, but we absolutely cannot let them release the sealed demons here!"

"There are demons sealed here?"

Zhang Kui was somewhat shocked.

"Indeed, look here..."

Elder Huayan stumbled, guiding him to the side mural, pointing and speaking in a trembling voice:

"This is the Water and Land Hall. It depicts the story of the ancient divine spirits of the human race teaching the cultivation of grains and subduing demons. Look at this!"

Zhang Kui focused intently, only to find these murals bizarre and fantastical, with figures clad in ancient garb. Whatever pigments were used, they remained vivid despite the passage of time.

The mural first depicted a massive figure, its features obscured by a golden glow, emerging from a great chasm to teach innumerable people how to farm.

Then, various calamities began to appear...

Zhang Kui grew increasingly astonished,

"This Ji Temple, it actually sealed three demons!"

Meanwhile, in a grand hall behind them, a red-skinned yaksha clad in fish scale armor with three horns on its head was panic-stricken, clutching a steel fork and glancing around nervously, baring its fangs and complaining, "They only mentioned an Emerald Bamboo Cage, where is the cage?"

Opposite it, a toad demon remained silent, its eyes wide with fear and hands trembling.

"Th-That divine statue... it came to life!"

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