Blue skies, white clouds, the rippling azure waves, suddenly like a spring breeze in the night, the forests lining both banks of the Capital City's dock were tinted green, the river above was bustling with countless boats and sails.

Bang!

Zhang Kui gently placed the massive stone coffin down, causing the deck to tremble.

Cui Yebai smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "I've heard of officials carrying coffin to their posting, vowing to purge corruption. I never expected Master Kui to make such a grand gesture."

"Go away, what do you know!"

Zhang Kui waved his hand, somewhat frustrated.

His Pot Heaven Skill was only at level two, about two cubic meters in size. To fit this Nether Soil stone coffin comfortably inside, he would have to reach level ten.

The so-called Pot Heaven, the Grotto Heaven in the pot, yet its name and effect were completely different.

But there's no help for it, opening up a Grotto Heaven isn't as simple as imagined, unless one learns the Six Jia Qimen of the Thirty-Six Celestial Gang Skill, integrating Pot Heaven, Array Formation, Talisman, Moving Scene, and other mystic arts together.

On this trip to Jiangzhou, he might very well use this item, so Zhang Kui could only leave it on the boat for now, along with the Eight Trigrams Furnace, temporarily storing them at Elder Huayan's Jade Flower Temple.

That's right, everyone from Iron Blood Manor had to leave.

Old Liu and Cui Yebai, however, first needed to visit Li Dong'Er at the Celestial Water Palace in Qingzhou, then head to Bozhou to meet with Yang Bai to jointly gather and prepare provisions.

Of course, being the National Guardian True Man had its perks. Given the long journey to Jiangzhou, Zhang Kui requisitioned a government ship, and Eunuch Yin specially dispatched twenty black-clothed Profound Guards to serve.

The large ship slowly departed from the dock, when suddenly, bells tolled within Haojing City, a total of twenty-seven times.

"The sound of great mourning!"

Cui Yebai's expression changed, "The Emperor has passed away..."

The surrounding black-clothed Profound Guards immediately faced the Imperial Palace, lowered their heads, and knelt on one knee, as did those at the riverbank dock and on the ships, causing a commotion.

Zhang Kui turned to look toward Haojing City.

To be honest, he didn't care much for royal power, and his impression of that Emperor Li Geng was merely of an old lecher who couldn't discipline his sons.

However, the Emperor was reputed to be well-regarded among officials and the populace, likely because he governed stably and didn't stir up trouble...

Thinking of this, Zhang Kui shook his head lightly, turned around and shouted, "Let's go, set sail!"

...

Inside the Imperial Palace.

The Crown Prince Li Shuo, having received the news long ago, was hastily dressed in mourning attire by the servants. He fell to his knees and began weeping loudly: "Father... "

A white cloth quickly wrapped around each of the palace's columns, with court ladies, guards, and arriving officials all kneeling. The "fox maid" favored by the late Emperor Li Geng was immediately executed...

Outside the palace, the Fourth Prince Li Fu, clad in mourning robes, was seething with anger, "Why am I not allowed to enter?!"

The palace guard appeared troubled,

"Um, the Crown Prince has ordered..."

"Fine, fine!"

Fourth Prince Li Fu laughed in fury, cast a fierce glance at the Imperial Palace, turned and strode away with his entourage.

...

Astronomical Bureau, Grand Profound Lake Heart Island.

In a guest room, the Yellow Eyebrow Monk gazed silently in the direction of the Imperial City. Besides him, there were seven other National Guardian True Men in the room.

Imperial Uncle Li Xuanji entered with a gloomy face, followed by Elder Huayan and Helian Boxiong.

Li Xuanji scanned the room coldly, the oppressive aura causing the whole house to groan, "Yellow Eyebrow, why seek death alone and drag so many others with you?"

Childlike in appearance yet with a Greatsword strapped to his back, Xiao Qianchou picked his ear and laughed, "Imperial Uncle Li, don't be angry. To be honest, I've long been sick of living!"

Ignoring the mischief-maker, Li Xuanji fixed his gaze on the Yellow Eyebrow Monk.

The Yellow Eyebrow Old Monk sighed,

"This humble monk just wanted to find a path of survival for you fellow Taoists. There's little hope, but it's a hope nonetheless."

Li Xuanji took a deep breath, glancing at the unchanged faces of those around, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.

Elder Huayan cupped his hands,

"Brother Yellow Eyebrow, we've known each other for two decades..."

He trailed off, unsure of what to say, sighed deeply, and slowly left.

"Tch!"

Xiao Qianchou sneered disdainfully, then said casually, "Yellow Eyebrow, how goes it with Xiahou Ba?"

The Yellow Eyebrow Monk calmly gazed into the distance,

"By now, they should have arrived."

...

Boom!

In a manor on the outskirts of the city, Xiahou Ba, engulfed in a blood-red flame like a meteor, plummeted to the ground, shattering the earth.

At the stone table in the manor, Manzudia, who was sipping tea, smiled slightly, "General Xiahou, why are you here instead of at the border, with such hostility?"

As several steppe warriors slowly surrounded him, Xiahou Ba snorted coldly, the single eye filled with bloodlust.

"Hand it over, and I'll leave your corpse intact!"

Manzudia shook her head slightly, "It's easy to talk about, but don't you find it strange that you suddenly acquired that half map, and now unexpectedly know our hiding place, General Xiahou?"

"After all, they're just the remnants of the Demon Star Pavilion..."

Xiahou Ba's expression remained unchanged, "We only care about the result. The process doesn't matter in the least."

With that, a surge of energy erupted from him, and the entire manor was filled with howling winds, the air thick with bloodlust, as if an intense battle was taking place.

The faces of the steppe warriors turned pale as they knelt, coughing up blood, inexplicable blood streaks appearing on their skin.

Suddenly, a wolf's howl pierced the air, causing various illusions to dissolve, and a giant snow-white wolf crawled forward.

"White Wolf Priest!"

Xiahou Ba's pupils contracted, "I didn't expect you to be here too..."

Manzudia smiled and said, "General Xiahou, hear me out. I have no intention of opposing you. Maybe we're better off working together..."

In a secluded courtyard in the Capital City,

A seductive eight-armed woman leaned against the window, recalling the swallows' return with nostalgia in her eyes...

At Qiongshan Academy on the outskirts of the city,

A scholar held a Small Bronze Cauldron, black flames igniting in his eyes...

Pa!

In the dark depths beneath the Capital City, a pustule on a massive tentacle suddenly burst, revealing the twisted face of Emperor Li Geng, his eyes filled with madness,

"So that's how it is, dead, dead, they all should die!"

...

Rustle, rustle, rustle…

At the break of dawn, when a soft drizzle began to fall unknowingly, the expansive canal merged with the horizon.

The government ship docked at the pier; Zhang Kui watched the black-clothed Profound Guards unloading goods, and instructed Old Liu softly.

"When you reach Tingyun Mountain, deliver those jars of wine to the White Ape, and those mineral stones to Brother Zhu."

"At the Celestial Water Palace, give that box of pills to Master Gu Ziqing, just say… never mind, say nothing."

Old Liu was a sharp man, immediately grinning with a strange expression, "Don't worry, Master Kui, I understand everything."

"What do you understand!"

Zhang Kui grumbled in exasperation.

No sooner had he spoken, Zhang Kui felt his heart racing, and he looked up at the sky.

Despite the drizzling rain, his Tongyou Skill revealed a huge blood-red figure and a lightning-enveloped sword shadow swiftly crossing the horizon.

"Blood Weng Zhong… the other should be Thunder Sword, heading toward Bozhou, how swiftly Huo Yu acts..."

Zhang Kui muttered, frowning.

With the new Emperor ascending the throne, several State Preceptors must retreat to stabilize the nation's fate. But before that, they must first deal with the Drought Fiend Divine Statue and the Dragon Bone stage, it seems they have already been found.

"Master Kui, what are you looking at?"

Old Liu glanced at the sky and asked.

"Nothing much."

Zhang Kui shook his head slightly, "Over in Bozhou, Master Huoyu is guarding now. If you encounter any trouble, seek her help."

"Alright, Master Kui, we're off."

"Take care."

Watching as Old Liu and Cui Yebai's silhouettes gradually vanished in the rain, Zhang Kui shook his head slightly.

Though he dispatched a squad of black-clothed Profound Guards for escort, in such chaotic times, there is no truly safe place, even for himself, this journey to Jiangzhou is bound to be fraught with peril.

Less than a two-hour away from the dock, an old man clad in a raincoat paddled a small boat from the riverbank, humming a tune:

"The rain patters gently, the wind chills, an old bowl of wine to cross the cold river, ghost fires in graves faint as stars..."

Fatty Tiger shook the rain from his fur, grumbling, "What kind of morbid tune is that, such bad luck!"

Zhang Kui laughed heartily, shaking his head and saying:

"He's not wrong, it's truly seeing ghosts in broad daylight!"

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