The girl was petite and charming, her smile radiant. She wore a plain white short robe that was clean and neat, as if she were a flower reflected in water, lovely and adorable.

"Senior Brother Zhu Sheng, it's been a year since we last met, why did it take you so long to come see me?"

Zhu Sheng felt awkward immediately, "Uh... I was practicing swordsmanship."

Zhang Kui watched from the side, amused.

The girl was innocent and lively, her affection barely concealed, making the bold sword cultivator avert his gaze.

"Junior Sister Kui Ling, what's the matter with these refugees?"

Zhu Sheng diverted the conversation.

"Oh…"

Seeing that Zhu Sheng didn't dare to look at her, Kui Ling pouted and said, "Pingkang County nearby was breached by evil spirits, these are the escaped townsfolk."

"What?!"

Zhang Kui's face darkened, "What happened?"

Perhaps his voice was a bit loud, Kui Ling was startled and playfully retorted, "You're so fierce, old man!"

Zhang Kui almost spat out a mouthful of blood and snorted, "Then, niece, tell me what evil spirits are around."

Kui Ling blinked her big eyes,

"You're taking advantage of me."

"I…"

Zhang Kui covered his forehead with one hand and patted Zhu Sheng's shoulder, "You ask."

Zhu Sheng asked directly, and the little girl recounted the events in detail, though it was a chaotic retelling from the refugees' perspective.

They said that the skies turned dark, chaos erupted in the city, corpses attacked people, and the dead rose...

Zhang Kui knitted his brow, having a feeling it was like a zombie outbreak, perhaps caused by zombies again?

After Kui Ling finished, she tugged at Zhu Sheng's sleeve, "Senior Brother Zhu Sheng, come to my house as a guest, don't worry, Senior Sister Qiu is already there."

"Oh, Taoist Friend Qiu is there…"

Hearing this, Zhu Sheng visibly relaxed. Seeing Zhang Kui's confusion, he quickly explained:

"It's Ling Qiushui, the head disciple of Senior Gu from the Celestial Water Palace, whose mastery of Five Elements Taoist Skill is far superior to mine."

He looked at the insistent Kui Ling and said helplessly, "Brother Zhang, why don't we visit Senior Gu first, we'll naturally understand the cause and effect once Taoist Friend Qiu returns."

Zhang Kui thought for a moment and agreed.

For one, there were already cultivators handling the situation, saving them from running back and forth, and secondly, he wanted to see the Celestial Water Palace, this cultivation sect.

Kui Ling was overjoyed, notified her fellow sisters, and took the two away.

They didn't enter Qu City but instead took a small path towards the back mountain, shrouded in mist.

The mountain path was rugged, with occasional cliffs and gullies, or narrow paths clinging to steep cliffs, while clouds and mist roiled on the other side.

Kui Ling skipped lightly as if walking on flat ground, and Zhang Kui and Zhu Sheng were even more at ease.

Along the way, Zhu Sheng briefly introduced Celestial Water Palace.

This sect had a history of over four hundred years; its founder acquired several Taoist Skill texts at a Water Mansion, mastered them, and then established Celestial Water Palace, where all disciples were female.

However, like many sects, Celestial Water Palace had few disciples with enlightenment potential; most merely practiced mortal martial arts.

As they spoke, they heard a tremendous sound of water ahead. Turning a corner, their view suddenly opened up to a magnificent sight.

Between two mountains, a massive dammed lake suddenly appeared, its waters azure, with pavilions and towers scattered and nestled on a central island, ancient and exquisite.

On the adjacent cliffs, numerous waterfalls cascaded down as if descending from the sky, with a rainbow in the water mist, like entering an immortal realm.

"What a blessed land!"

Zhang Kui couldn't help but exclaim.

There were no boats on the lake, but a winding stone bridge connected the central island, though the bridge was ancient and rugged, and not of this dynasty's style.

Noticing Zhang Kui's curiosity, Zhu Sheng explained:

"This place used to be a relic of a previous dynasty sect, discovered by the Celestial Water Palace's founder, who took years to transform it."

Indeed, Celestial Water Palace, being a women's sect, was exquisitely and elegantly arranged. Women in plain robes were everywhere, though their expressions were tense.

"Senior Sister Wang, what's going on?"

Kui Ling quickly grabbed a woman to ask.

"The Palace Master suddenly went into seclusion to undergo Fire Tribulation,"

The woman replied worriedly.

"What?!"

Kui Ling was startled and rushed towards the main hall.

Zhang Kui and Zhu Sheng exchanged a glance and swiftly followed.

Inside the main hall, two elderly women in white were whispering. As soon as Kui Ling entered, she asked loudly:

"Elder Qin, Elder Huo, what happened to my mother?"

"Kui Ling, don't worry…"

One of the women with an oval face said:

"The Palace Master had a sudden realization earlier and said the Fire Tribulation was coming, so she went into seclusion to overcome it and enter the Celestial Tribulation Realm."

"Oh, so that's it."

Kui Ling sighed in relief after hearing this.

Zhang Kui was somewhat surprised; besides Songfengzi, Zhu Sheng's master, there was another cultivator in Qingzhou about to enter the Celestial Tribulation Realm.

If the Grain Avoidance Realm involved immensely absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, then the Celestial Tribulation Realm was a qualitative change. Crossing the Three Disasters and Five Trials led to another level.

The Three Disasters refer to Wind, Thunder, and Fire.

The Fire Tribulation means Yin Fire igniting beneath the Bubbling Spring acupoint, penetrating through to the Mudwall Palace, incinerating the internal organs, and withering the limbs.

The Wind Tribulation refers to Kuafeng blowing into the six organs through the Fontanel, passing through the Dantian, piercing the nine orifices, and eroding the flesh and bones.

The Thunder Tribulation refers to the descent of dry thunder from the sky.

In former Taoism, there was the saying of nine difficulties, while here the Five Trials required overcoming the three disasters of Wind, Thunder, and Fire five times.

Due to personal cultivation skills, the three disasters of Wind, Thunder, and Fire have no specific order. For instance, Songfengzi, Zhu Sheng's master, first underwent the Thunder Tribulation but unfortunately didn't make it.

If the Celestial Water Palace Master successfully withstands the first Yin Fire Disaster, she would formally enter the Celestial Tribulation Realm.

Zhu Sheng, obviously familiar with this place, respectfully said:

"Zhu Sheng greets the two elders."

Elder Qin smiled and nodded, "Zhu Sheng, you came at a bit of a bad time; the Palace Master was mentioning you just yesterday."

Then, Zhu Sheng introduced Zhang Kui, and they exchanged courtesies.

"This sect happens to have matters at hand, so we may be neglectful."

Elder Qin appeared courteous, though her brow was undoubtedly furrowed with worry.

Zhu Sheng frowned and said respectfully:

"Elders, is there any trouble at the Celestial Water Palace? If there's anything I can help with, it's my duty."

Elder Qin hesitated for a moment,

"Zhu Sheng has deep connections with our sect, so I will not hide it from you. The Celestial Water Palace is indeed encountering some trouble."

"Since last month, strange things have been happening in the palace; either disciples hear footsteps late at night or things disappear mysteriously."

"The Palace Master suspects that an evil spirit has sneaked in, but despite several investigations, nothing has been found. However, with the Palace Master overseeing, no big issues have occurred."

"Now that the Palace Master has suddenly gone into seclusion, and Qiushui is investigating the demon in Pingkang County, the Celestial Water Palace is at its most vulnerable."

No wonder...

Zhang Kui suddenly understood. This was a common problem among sects; there were not many highly skilled cultivators, making it difficult to handle when troubles arise.

Zhu Sheng's expression became solemn after hearing the situation,

"Elders, don't worry, though I am not talented, I am willing to stand guard temporarily until Taoist Friend Qiu returns."

Elder Qin's face lit up with joy.

"Thank you, Zhu Sheng."

With someone to assist, Elder Qin became more hospitable, hurriedly arranging rooms and tea for Zhu Sheng and Zhang Kui.

Zhang Kui's room was at a lakeside cottage, where he could see the calm lake surface and waterfalls flowing when he opened the curtain.

After dinner, Zhu Sheng was taken away by Kui Ling, leaving Zhang Kui bored and eventually sleeping soundly.

Unnoticed, night fell, the bright moon reflected on the lake surface, and the night breeze gently stirred the curtains, with the fragrance from an incense burner intermittently wafting inside the room.

Suddenly, a mold spot appeared on the wall inside the room, then quickly expanded, forming a human face with a sinister smile.

Meanwhile, the tea table vase in the room began moving without wind, eerily floating in the air...

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