"Uh..."

Chu Pengshan was drenched in cold sweat.

As the saying goes, "only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches," and although he appeared prestigious before others, he was always cautious and respectful towards demons, never daring to offend any.

Even though he found the man's speech strange, Chu Pengshan didn't think much of it, just felt a wave of panic and immediately prostrated himself on the ground.

"Please... please, my lord, enlighten me!"

Zhang Kui felt a pang of sorrow at the sight; when you're on your knees for too long, you can't stand up anymore. Yet, his expression remained unchanged as he nodded and spoke in a deep voice:

"Do you know that there are robbers outside the city planning to rob?"

"Robbers... planning to rob..."

Chu Pengshan was first in a daze, then felt it was somewhat amusing but could only say awkwardly and softly:

"Rest assured, my lord, I still hold some influence in Fu City; I doubt any petty thieves would dare come."

"Hehe..."

Zhang Kui sneered, making Chu Pengshan's hair stand on end, "What if I tell you that the ones planning to rob are five Celestial Tribulation Realm cultivators?"

"What?!"

Chu Pengshan was utterly shocked.

Zhang Kui continued to laugh, "What if I tell you their target is the Insect God Temple?"

The news had emptied Chu Pengshan's mind in shock, "How could it be... five Celestial Tribulation Realm cultivators... what are they going to the Insect God Temple for... the Divine Strange Pearl!"

Seeing that the man finally reacted, Zhang Kui revealed that he had inadvertently overheard their plan and described the appearance of the five individuals in detail.

Chu Pengshan finally believed him and was filled with panic, "That person must be Yellow Eyebrow Monk, heard he defected with a group... This is bad, my Chu Family can't withstand it, my lord..."

He was about to ask further, but Zhang Kui, fearing he would slip up, promptly exited the dream.

In the chamber, Chu Pengshan, sitting cross-legged on the bed, opened his eyes drenched in cold sweat and looked around uncertainly.

He jumped off the bed, anxiously pacing around the room, "No, if it's real, my Chu Family faces doom; if it's false, at worst, I'll accept the blame!"

With this thought, Chu Pengshan hesitated no longer, immediately taking a thumb-thick incense stick from a secret compartment on the wall. After lighting it, he activated a secret skill, and the incense immediately emitted a dim light.

Zhang Kui watched curiously below.

This incense seemed to be some kind of communication treasure, like the Spirit Child Skull used by the Demon Star Pavilion last time, but the skill used was unknown.

Communication in this world was too inconvenient, but various methods could be utilized; it seemed he should pay more attention in the future.

Soon, the blue smoke from the incense condensed and lingered in the room, gradually forming the face of a man with antennae on his cheeks, who asked coldly:

"What is it?"

Not daring to neglect, Chu Pengshan detailed the situation, speaking carefully with his head low.

"Hmm..."

The evil spirit was first somewhat shocked, then after a long silence, suddenly reprimanded sternly:

"Disturbing me with such unfounded rumors, useless thing!"

With that, the blue smoke immediately dispersed.

Chu Pengshan was stunned, at a loss of what to do.

Below, Zhang Kui smiled slightly; indeed, those rebellious evil spirits wished for the Divine Strange Pearl's disappearance to shirk responsibility.

And given Chu Pengshan's low status, he clearly wasn't privy to the hidden truth, becoming more anxious instead. He took out a small black basin, placed it on the ground, changed the hand seals with both hands, and slowly exhaled a mouthful of black smoke into the basin.

Zhang Kui could clearly see that within the small basin was an odd black giant cicada, about the size of an adult's palm. Once awakened by Chu Pengshan's black smoke, it immediately flapped its wings and emitted a piercing chirp.

Soon, the sharp chirping abruptly ceased, and the black giant cicada exuded a black mist of Yin Qi, from which the impatient voice of the Fourth Princess emerged.

"Didn't I say, unless the locust is well nurtured, do not bother me with trivial matters!"

Chu Pengshan wore a bitter expression, "Reporting to the Fourth Princess, the Chu Family faces grave trouble. Please, Fourth Princess, help us..."

With that, he recounted the situation in detail.

"What!"

A startled cry came from the other side, followed by an angry voice:

"Celestial Tribulation Realm, how dare any riffraff try to cause trouble for the Divine Strange Pearl, the Prime Minister's group... hummph, wait right there, I will come over immediately with my people..."

Chu Pengshan's face filled with joy, "Thank you, Fourth Princess!"

Before long, in the Chu Family's backyard, an onslaught of vicious winds and black mist descended, and the Fourth Princess suddenly appeared. From the underground, two bucket-thick centipedes emerged, their eyes flashing with eerie red light, shrouded in black smoke.

The Fourth Princess cultivated in human form; under the Tongyou Skill, Zhang Kui could only see a cicada-like shadow in the Yin Qi behind her, while the two centipedes clearly cultivated their bloodline.

The Fourth Princess was in the Divine Travel Realm, and the two centipedes were in the Celestial Tribulation Realm.

Zhang Kui watched with interest below; the Fourth Princess, despite her status, brought only two bodyguards, suggesting her plight wasn't favorable.

But this matter seemed to be settled...

...

A crescent moon gradually became obscured by dark clouds; within the quiet Insect God Temple, only the eternal lamp in front of the Divine Statue flickered dimly like a bean; the night wind blew, and the lantern outside the door swayed slightly.

In the darkness, five figures suddenly broke through the sky.

The Yin Witch in mid-air no longer had her usual kindly appearance; her white hair billowed, and her eyes were jet-black, eerie like a ghost.

She was the first to land on the roof, scooping out a handful of black ash with her withered hand, and blew fiercely after puffing up her cheeks.

Buzz!

A faint black mist instantly enveloped nearly half the city near the Insect God Temple, causing all mortals, including the guards within, to fall into a nightmare.

The Yellow Eyebrow Monk waved his hand, throwing out the prayer beads in his hand, which grew larger with the wind, turning into a huge circle that smashed the roof of the Divine Temple's main hall and ensnared the Insect God's statue.

However, the trapped Insect God's phantom only looked coldly outside the temple without a word.

The Yellow Eyebrow Monk suddenly sensed something amiss, but with the bow drawn, the arrow must be released.

Xiao Qianchou and Xiahou Ba had already leaped out.

In the body of a child, Xiao Qianchou's eyes were filled with madness as he wielded the Greatsword, while white Sword Light, like a snowstorm, swept down overwhelmingly.

"Roar!"

Even more fierce was Xiahou Ba, whose whole body was shrouded in Blood Evil, breaking apart the main hall roof like a human meteor.

Their sole target was the Insect God.

With five Celestial Tribulation Realm experts working together, there was, of course, a strategy.

The Yin Witch was responsible for using Curse Skills to clear the area, while the Yellow Eyebrow Monk used an Ancient Artifact prayer bead to trap the Insect God.

Xiao Qianchou and Xiahou Ba launched the assault.

The last senior Taoist was responsible for support.

This Insect God Chongyan, albeit barely stronger than the Lanjiang River God, was at the level of a Celestial Tribulation Realm.

To deal with him, the five including the Yellow Eyebrow Monk used measures like a lion attacking a rabbit, evidently set on securing victory.

Their aim was the Divine Strange Pearl, and as long as the Power of Incense Fire was present, they could find a way to open the path to the Underworld. Having the Insect God alive was clearly a substantial risk.

However, just as they were about to kill the Insect God in the main hall, Xiahou Ba and Xiao Qianchou's pupils suddenly shrank as they twisted in mid-air.

Boom!

The ground on either side of the Divine Statue suddenly exploded, and two shadowy massive forms as thick as barrels emerged, their tusked mouths opening to spew two streams of green smoke.

From the moment the Yin Witch began casting Curse Skills to the moment two Celestial Tribulation Realm Centipede Demons under the command of the Fourth Princess obstructed them, all this transpired within mere seconds.

Xiao Qianchou and Xiahou Ba dodged, but the entire hall suffered, as the green poisonous mist corroded everything with a sizzle, even causing bricks and stones to dissolve rapidly.

The Yellow Eyebrow Monk outside let out a cry of alarm,

"The intel has leaked, you two leave quickly, don't get entangled!"

Of course, Xiao Qianchou and Xiahou Ba were no fools. The two Celestial Tribulation Realm demons on guard undoubtedly hailed from the Chai Kingdom.

They were willing to risk life and limb seeking opportunities in the Underworld but were not willing to senselessly lose their lives here. Instantly, they tapped the tips of their toes to the ground and shot out from the main hall entrance.

It was at this moment that the sound of ringing bells was heard.

A ripple visible to the naked eye spread quickly, and then a string of bells, made from unknown animal bones and steeped in dense Yin Qi, spiraled upwards.

Everyone felt a piercing pain in their heads like a buzzsaw.

"Ah!"

Xiao Qianchou, whose Divine Soul was already unstable after soul possession, let out a scream, rolled on the ground, and shattered a series of stone bricks.

Two centipedes lunged forward, one in front, one behind.

Their sharp legs pierced Xiao Qianchou's flesh, and as they bit down, they began injecting venom with a stinging hiss.

Soon, Xiao Qianchou's entire body turned green, his skin bubbled with pustules, and he slowly melted like a candle.

It is lamentable that a grand master of Sword Skills, who miraculously succeeded in soul possession, ultimately perished here.

Xiahou Ba, without even a glance, endured the headache and dizziness, stumbling and staggering to escape.

A large mass of black smoke suddenly rose, the Fourth Princess emerged with a grim face, glaring at everyone, with white light flashing in her eyes, "Such gall, to even covet items from the Chai Kingdom!"

"In the Divine Travel Realm, quickly run!"

The Yellow Eyebrow Monk's face showed terror; after a high shout, a black shadow flickered instantly, spitting blood as he fled out of the city.

The Yin Witch also let out a shrill scream, transforming into rolling black smoke, fleeing in the opposite direction.

In an instant, the four scattered and fled, without a shred of hesitation.

"Hmph, today not a single one will escape!"

The Fourth Princess, eyes full of ruthlessness, turned and instructed, "You two stay here and guard the Insect God, I'll be back shortly."

With that, she turned into black smoke, chasing in the direction of the fleeing Yin Witch.

In the Divine Temple, the two centipedes quickly retreated, coiling around the Divine Statue on either side, standing upright like snakes, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

The Insect God Chongyan let out a sigh of relief.

Earlier, the Fourth Princess had come to say someone had ill intentions, the Insect God got a shock, five Celestial Tribulation Realm experts, indeed, without the Fourth Princess, his Divine Soul would have shattered today.

However, he immediately sensed a change in his surroundings.

He and the two Centipede Demons somehow arrived in a place unknown to them.

The world was dim, all around were twisted shadows, and ahead, thick black fog under a black parasol obscuring half the sky, a green-skinned woman was staring at him, red light flashing in her eyes, her face full of greed…

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