"Kill!"

"Use the power from your waist and back, your horse stance must be steady!"

The shouts of killing echoed to the heavens. A group of young boys, clad only in shorts, lined up holding long spears, faces contorted in ferocity, intent on killing steadily rising.

Beside them, a burly man glared at them fiercely. If he noticed anyone's movements were incorrect, a whip was immediately swung over.

Looking from afar, a mottled stone fortress stood halfway up the mountain, with many more teams like this training, scattered across the sandy fields, people of all ages present, and in the midair, a faint blood-red evil Qi rising…

"The Helian family indeed lives up to its reputation..."

Zhang Kui withdrew his gaze. Although he had a good relationship with them, this was his first time at Helian Castle, and what he saw and heard was a real eye-opener.

These were children selected from the entire Lai State, mingled with Helian family members, being educated together, provided with food and drink, and trained to death.

Those with the talent for enlightenment might either join the Helian family or the Astronomical Bureau, while those without talent would be assigned to various local defenses, the family members the same.

This place was essentially a military camp.

"True Man Zhang, you're too kind..."

The Helian family elder, Helian Boyi, was also a robust old man, even though he was of the same generation as Helian Boxiong, yet his hair was already white.

This elder had long seen through worldly matters, speaking casually and freely, "In this world, it is easy to be born, and easy to die; it's the in-between that's difficult. If ordinary people want to barely survive, or even live a decent life, if they're not harsh on themselves, how can they do it?"

"That makes sense..."

Zhang Kui nodded slightly, then frowned slightly,

"Is Senior Helian okay?"

"Boxiong won't die that easily!"

Elder Helian Boyi waved his hand nonchalantly, laughing heartily, "True Man Zhang, with your esteemed presence at Helian Castle, Boxiong ordered us to ensure you are well taken care of. You'll see him tomorrow. Come, let's go drink!"

Zhang Kui could only follow along helplessly to attend the banquet.

He had just arrived in Lai State and heard that an evil spirit from Jingjiang Water Mansion had come ashore to harm a small town, and Helian Boxiong had used the Blood Weng Zhong to contend with it for an entire night.

Zhang Kui immediately came over to visit, only to find that he was healing at the moment, and thus this Helian elder was entertaining him.

The Helian family's manner was military from top to bottom, the hall decorated in a rough and simple style, and the elders coming to accompany the drinks spoke decisively, their bodies exuding a rising blood evil.

They were all military cultivators, emphasizing combat on the battlefield, refining their bodies with blood evil, then entering Dao.

Even drinking here was like going to war.

"True Man Zhang, Helian You toasts you with a bowl!"

A one-eyed man raised a sea bowl and drank it all in one gulp.

"True Man Zhang, Helian Hao toasts you with a bowl!"

Another muscular man offered a toast.

Was this a drinking contest...

Zhang Kui was inwardly amused, accepting every challenge, fighting against the many with the few, the more he drank, the more spirited he became.

Everyone here was a cultivator, so naturally, there was no trickery, but Zhang Kui's Swallowing Knife Skill was perfected, he could drink boiling hot copper juice without a problem, so even the strongest liquor was just for taste.

Drinking without getting drunk was truly a pity.

However, he could see that Helian Boyi seemed intentionally trying to get him drunk, with ulterior motives.

Indeed, after a while, Elder Helian Boyi waved his big hand, "Wei'Er, come out and join True Man Zhang for a couple of drinks."

As soon as the words fell, a woman dashed out from the back courtyard, wearing a palace dress, with hair like black clouds and skin as smooth as jade, brows and eyes picturesque, smiling charmingly, then...

She came striding briskly!

Helian Boyi's expression immediately changed, glaring hard, Helian Wei suddenly realized, hurriedly lowered her head, took small steps, and walked coquettishly over, slowly sitting down.

Zhang Kui watched, dumbfounded.

Undoubtedly, Helian Wei was a first-class beauty, tall and slender, mixing charm with valor, unforgettable at first sight.

But as the only female captain in the Thirteen Provinces Astronomical Bureau, Zhang Kui was used to her decisive and valiant demeanor; seeing her in women's clothing was awkward no matter how he looked at it.

And what was this old fox, Helian Boyi, up to, seeking a son-in-law?

The drinking became awkward at once, and Helian Wei soon showed her true nature, sitting colossally, raising her sea bowl with a hearty smile,

"True Man Zhang, Helian Wei toasts you with a bowl!"

With that, she tilted her head back and emptied it all, expertly lifting the bowl upside down to show it was drained.

"Good!"

The men around clapped in applause.

Helian Boyi covered his head with a look of helplessness.

This matchmaking ended in failure.

Leaving aside Elder Helian Boyi's little schemes, Zhang Kui finally met with Helian Boxiong the next day.

This valiant National Guardian True Man, once brimming with energy, had unexpectedly turned completely white-haired in such a short time.

"Senior Helian, what's happening?"

Zhang Kui's face slightly darkened.

"It's nothing..."

Helian Boxiong waved his hand, "The Jingjiang Water Mansion originally blocked the river, and now they've unleashed Water Ghosts to wreak havoc. I must show a willingness to fight to the death, but I didn't expect the cost of using a Divine Artifact to be so great."

"It seems the rumors are true, only those in the Mahayana Realm can control the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to wield a Divine Artifact."

Zhang Kui's eyes narrowed slightly, with a mysterious glint flashing in his pupils.

Helian Boxiong sensed something was off but said nothing, allowing Zhang Kui to investigate.

Zhang Kui initially intended to see the consequences of using the Divine Artifact, looking for any Pill that might compensate, but instead made an unexpected discovery.

"Senior Helian, your Military Family Blood Evil Body Refining Technique seems to severely damage the flesh. Continuing like this, you may find it difficult to step into the Divine Travel Realm."

Helian Boxiong shook his head slightly,

"Taoist Friend Zhang is right, but this Magic Technique has been passed down since ancient times. Longevity is but an illusion; with demons rampant, the Attack and Destruction Skill is the true path."

"Hmm..."

Zhang Kui did not argue but instead took a deep breath, sat upright, and maintained a serious expression,

"I have a Magic Technique I am willing to offer to the Helian Family."

Helian Boxiong's expression changed dramatically, his demeanor equally solemn, bowing deeply: "Please, True Man Zhang, pass down the technique."

Zhang Kui was not courteous; having stepped into the chaotic world of the present, he relied heavily on the protection of the Celestial Gang and Earthly Fiends and had benefited greatly, no matter who created it, respect was due.

"Evil Qi, a variation of Heaven and Earth, rushes to the six directions and disperses to the eight directions..."

As Zhang Kui spoke, the light in Helian Boxiong's eyes grew increasingly bright.

Zhang Kui was thoroughly adept in the use of Evil Qi, having mastered the Demon-slaying Skill, and had various Magic Techniques committed to memory.

What he was now reciting was the "Six Sins Meridian Technique," a small segment of the Demon-slaying Skill specifically designed to prevent injury from cultivating Evil Qi, perfectly complementing the Helian Family's Magic Technique.

This transmission of the technique continued unnoticed until deep into the night.

After Helian Boxiong performed the exercise, he was overjoyed. Having accumulated in the Celestial Tribulation Realm for a long time, once he compresses the Evil Qi and adjusts with Pills for a while, he would certainly advance smoothly to the Divine Travel Realm.

"The great favor of True Man Zhang, the Helian Family will remember forever..."

Helian Boxiong offered another solemn bow.

"It's no trouble."

Zhang Kui smiled and waved it off. He had long thought of passing on the technique, but the human race was so pitiable that he feared they wouldn't preserve it, inadvertently allowing evil spirits to become even more rampant.

"Senior Helian, there's something I need your cooperation with."

"Please speak, True Man Zhang."

"Tomorrow, issue a command for the people along the canal to retreat inland..."

......

Changyun City Dock.

Since the destruction of Haojing City, the city had lost its former prosperity; with the Jingjiang Water Mansion closing the river, no ships dared to leave the shore.

Three days ago, Water Ghosts first began to harass nearby towns, and subsequently, the National Guardian True Man Helian Boxiong ordered the people along the shore to move inland.

Though the mobilization was great, and families were displaced, grumbling as they went, everyone understood they would at least be much safer.

Now, the dock was deserted, broken baskets and basins were casually discarded, and the river wind rattled the window frames, sounding like a ghost realm.

A wisp of black smoke dispersed, revealing Zhang Kui, who looked up at the canal.

The river water lapped against the shore, waves churning, and above the river hung a mist of Yin Qi, occasionally revealing the pallid, slick form of Water Ghosts among the rocks.

These minor ghosts were naturally easy to deal with, but after the Helian Family led a group to clear them out, it incited retaliation, resulting in the massacre of a small town.

"What is the Jingjiang Water Mansion doing..."

Zhang Kui furrowed his brows in some puzzlement. According to the current intelligence, the Evil Spirits' Forbidden Land was surely established at a passage to the Underworld, which was also their main objective.

To them, humans were like ants around their house—ignoring them at times, and occasionally crushing a cluster for amusement.

But amid the chaos, the actions of the Jingjiang Water Mansion were the most widespread; given their location at the junction of Lai State and Bozhou, their complete sealing of the two states' waterways clearly indicated ulterior motives.

This must be clarified!

With this in mind, Zhang Kui disappeared with a wisp of black smoke, maneuvering the Nether Soil Stone Coffin along the river to investigate.

The area around Changyun City was just the periphery, occasionally beset by incompetent Water Ghosts and River Demons.

Along both banks, sunken cargo ships appeared every so often, Yin Souls entrenched within wailing in despair, while onshore, the ruins of fishing villages sat, bones scattered everywhere, with rotting limbs and viscera hanging from the branches...

Zhang Kui's expression grew increasingly grim.

Several hundred meters downriver, a thick swath of Yin Qi suddenly loomed ahead, where a small Black Painting Boat, encrusted with seaweed and shells, prowled the water like a ghostly patrol.

On the deck of the boat, a few grim-faced Yakshas, in grass skirts and wielding steel forks, and from within the decayed ship's cabin, the faint sound of a woman's song echoed.

Zhang Kui's eyes narrowed; his killing intent could no longer be restrained. He applied the Invisibility Skill and silently jumped aboard the Painting Boat...

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