Boom!

On the tumultuous Red Water Lake, a giant wave surged skyward. The Immortal Crane, carrying Zhang Kui and Elder Huayan, crashed onto the shore.

After many brushes with death, they finally escaped with their lives.

The lakeside was covered with snow and ice chunks, occasionally revealing withered yellow reeds.

Elder Huayan tumbled to the ground, spat a mouthful of blood, while the Immortal Crane gasped for air. Its feathers were dulled and clung wet to its body, devoid of any immortal aura.

The two had long been gravely injured, sustaining themselves with pills. Now that the effects were fading, they were almost at the end of their ropes.

Zhang Kui, on the other hand, managed better; he took a few deep breaths, rolled over, and got up, vigilant as his Flying Sword circled around him, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

He hadn't forgotten the Dragon Bone stage and the Drought Fiend Divine Statue. Though he didn't know where they were, it was evident they weren't out of danger yet.

In the distance, at the lake's edge, Yin Qi billowed with black mist. The eerie Black Painting Boat was still there, though it seemed unconcerned with them.

Looking up, he saw high above in the sky, the massive Immortal Wu and Locust Demon still fiercely entangled, black and blood-yellow glows colliding madly, with fragments of blue blood and flesh raining down.

They soared higher and higher as gusts of air scattered while thunder rolled, and soon the sky was filled with dense leaden clouds, releasing a hailstorm.

The sight made Zhang Kui's heart tremble. He had already witnessed the ferocity of the Locust Demon, and hadn't expected the Immortal Wu to be equally terrifying.

Although temporarily at a disadvantage, it was due to the Locust Demon's near-invincibility; despite any disintegration, it could quickly recover.

Immortal Wu, evidently an Old Demon, had cultivated its bloodline, unlike its disciples who practiced the Demon Race's Moon Worship Skill in human form. How did this guy survive the Celestial Tribulation Realm?

And what exactly was the "Disaster Beast" that this Old Demon spoke of?

"Fight, fight and perish together!"

The Immortal Crane weakly cursed.

Elder Huayan's face turned pale, shaking his head slightly, "It seems like Immortal Wu is going to be defeated."

He was right. Anyone could see Immortal Wu was in trouble—not only half its tentacles severed, but even pieces of its head were bitten off.

Zhang Kui squinted, looking across at the Black Painting Boat. Weren't these demons on the same side? Why did they also appear as mere spectators?

Just then, his pupils suddenly contracted.

He saw a yellow shadow cut through the water, surging into the black mist, using its six hands to claw open the Black Painting Boat.

The Drought Fiend Divine Statue!

Black mist surged chaotically inside the boat, accompanied by an angry female grunt, and the pavilion atop the boat exploded.

The Drought Fiend Divine Statue was struck flying hundreds of meters away before disappearing into the river, its whereabouts unknown.

A bewitching, sinister eye flashed in Zhang Kui's mind, "Junior, what's inside the Secret Realm?"

"It's an ancient temple, sealing three demons."

Zhang Kui replied expressionlessly.

"There's a third? What bad luck!"

The Banshee muttered, retracting her Divine Sense.

The black mist around the damaged Black Painting Boat thinned considerably, yet it quickly sank beneath the water, vanishing from sight.

At that moment, Immortal Wu bellowed thunderously from the sky, "You beast, courting death!"

The buzzing roar echoed across the heavens.

Immortal Wu suddenly spat out a stone box covered with dense blood-red runes.

As the box opened, a tremendous aura emerged. Inside was a fractured bronze arrowhead, stained with dried, yet vividly golden blood.

This bronze arrowhead, a remarkable treasure unknown to anyone, emitted an aura so daunting that even Zhang Kui and the others on the ground could feel their skin crawl.

"Damn my rotten luck!"

Immortal Wu's roar carried an edge of reluctance as the bronze arrowhead shot out, seemingly crossing space instantaneously to pierce the Locust Demon's head.

The blood flames in the Locust Demon's eyes dimmed rapidly, its surrounding dreadful aura contracting sharply, as if pinned in midair, motionless.

With a cold snort, Immortal Wu, accompanied by rumbling thunder, swiftly disappeared into the sky with its torn body.

"What was that?"

Zhang Kui and Elder Huayan exchanged glances. Though they couldn't see clearly, they could sense the eerie aura.

Boom!

The Locust Demon's giant body suddenly exploded, and the blood-yellow mist flooded the sky before gradually dissipating.

"Ha... hahaha..."

Elder Huayan was first stunned, then lay on the ground laughing, tears streaming from his eyes.

"These demons, how true that those who bring misfortune upon themselves must perish. The Locust Demon is destroyed, and that Immortal Wu seems heavily damaged; it won't trouble the world for at least a century..."

Zhang Kui also breathed a sigh of relief, "This victory came quite confusingly."

"But, elder, we'd best leave at once. The Dragon Bone stage and Drought Fiend Divine Statue might still be around."

"Indeed..."

Elder Huayan slowly stood up, "That Demonic Artifact is a menace; we must request the State Preceptor's intervention... Hmm, what's this?"

Countless tiny yellow light particles fell from the sky like snow, gently drifting down onto mountains, rivers, and fields before quickly vanishing.

Zhang Kui immediately activated the Cave Abyss Skill to probe, and saw the soil teeming with countless tiny insect eggs.

Elder Huayan obviously noticed it too.

The two exchanged silent glances, a chill seeping into their hearts...

...

Early spring, with lingering snow and persistent chill.

A breeze caressed the land, urging forth eager hints of green.

"Master Liu, why did our business stop so suddenly?"

"Indeed, you should at least give us an explanation..."

"I was planning to save some silver to send my child to school..."

In Iron Blood Manor, a group of men surrounded Old Liu, clamoring in confusion.

Liu Mao'Er sighed, looking haggard, "Everyone, it's not just us; soon, all taverns will likely stop business. You... just wait for the court's decree."

Seeing Liu Mao'Er's resolute stance, the tavern workers could only pack up and leave helplessly.

Watching their departing figures, Old Liu's eyes showed a hint of reluctance as he sighed and slowly closed the manor gate.

In the backyard, Fatty Tiger lay snoring under the eaves, its ears twitching occasionally.

Zhang Kui leaned against Fatty Tiger, idly playing with a wooden sword, deep in thought.

Upon returning from Bozhou, the anxious Elder Huayan immediately went to the Astronomical Bureau, summoning all the National Guardian True Men for discussion and reported to the Court.

"What exactly is the 'Disaster Beast'?"

"How should we respond?"

They scoured through ancient texts left by humankind across the ages, yet couldn't find a single record.

They only learned the name from Immortal Wu, yet demons are sworn enemies of mankind. Not causing harm would be fortunate; why would they disclose anything easily?

The Qian Court has already begun various preparations to face the impending calamity.

Zhang Kui, however, remained skeptical.

Eunuch Yin visited, stating the court's atmosphere was extremely strange.

Emperor Li Geng had mysteriously fallen ill since the Lantern Festival and had issued a Holy Decree, formally appointing the Eldest Prince Li Shuo as Crown Prince.

The Eldest Prince, overjoyed, gradually revealed his true nature. Although he regularly visited the palace to pay respects and demonstrate filial piety, as soon as he left, he hosted grand banquets with officials coming and going, arousing dissatisfaction among some court members.

Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince became silent, staying indoors and seeing no one. This, however, made things all the more intriguing.

Several State Preceptors hadn't shown themselves, nor had they dealt with the Dragon Bone stage or Drought Fiend Divine Statue; it was unclear what they were up to.

Old Liu entered, his face full of bitterness, "Master Kui, is there any hope for this world?"

"If people's hearts unite, they can change the world."

"What if they're not united?"

"Human purgatory, even immortals can't save it."

Old Liu's expression turned even more sorrowful,

"Master Kui, then what should we do?"

"Haha..."

Zhang Kui stood up, grabbed a nearby wine jar, and drank deeply, "Though I'm no immortal, I will strive to save this world!"

With that, he flicked his right hand, launching the wooden sword into the ground, causing countless insect eggs deep within the earth to quickly shatter and wither over a radius of several hundred meters...

"Master Kui..."

"What is it?"

"We're not making wine anymore, so you'll have to drink sparingly."

"Damn it!"

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