The winter lead clouds layered upon each other, yet even through the clouds, a faint shadow could be seen, let alone those long, dangling, twisted tentacles.

Anyone with a fear of giant creatures would probably be scared out of their wits if they saw this.

Of course, the ordinary people at the dock couldn't see it, and even the people from the Astronomical Bureau, like them, could only crane their necks to look at the frozen river surface.

Zhang Kui pressed his lips tightly together, his face stern.

No matter what it was, it was something he could not possibly handle.

"Taoist Zhang, have you discovered anything unusual?"

Helian Wei had already made a round along the riverbank and walked up to him, frowning and asking, as Zhang Kui's expression gave her a bad feeling.

"Where is the National Guardian True Man of Lai State?"

Zhang Kui took a deep breath, "Quickly inform them, I'm afraid something major is about to happen..."

Helian Wei's breath caught.

Although she couldn't see the phenomenon in the sky, the entire river frozen solid could hardly be the work of an ordinary evil spirit?

Thinking of this, she didn't hesitate, taking a palm-length redwood cylinder inlaid with bronze evil beast patterns from her waist.

Zhang Kui keenly perceived an explosive aura swirling within it, evidently some kind of signaling device.

But just as Helian Wei was about to unscrew the lid and sound the alarm, a murderous aura surged rapidly from afar, landing on the ground with a thundering sound.

The newcomer was as tall as Zhang Kui, with a square face and sword-like eyebrows, a stern expression, graying temples, clad in an ancient set of bronze armor exuding a dark aura.

Helian Wei and the guards from the Astronomical Bureau immediately knelt on one knee, "Greetings, National Guardian True Man!"

......

The high-end forces of the Qian Dynasty in the open included seven State Preceptors and thirty National Guardian True Men.

This National Guardian True Man from Lai State was somewhat special, having studied ancient military family techniques since childhood, and he was also a general of the court, stationed at the Flying Bear Army camp near Changyun City, so he came immediately upon sensing something amiss.

Even more surprising to Zhang Kui was that he was actually Helian Wei's family elder, named Helian Boxiong.

A cultivation family,

Zhang Kui was encountering them for the first time.

Helian Boxiong looked up at the sky, his face as dark as water, clearly seeing the phenomenon as well.

"Senior Helian, what is that in the sky?"

Zhang Kui cupped his hands and asked.

Helian Boxiong turned his head to look at Zhang Kui, a hint of surprise in his eyes, "Who are you?"

Beside him, Helian Wei quickly gave an introduction.

"The token of True Man Yuhua..."

Helian Boxiong's face slightly softened, he glanced at the sky, his voice heavy, "That is the Jingjiang Water Mansion, Immortal Wu."

Jingjiang Water Mansion?!

Zhang Kui's heart trembled, indeed a big trouble.

"Three Mountains, Four Caves, Five Water Mansions", among which the Five Water Mansions were: Lanjiang Water Mansion, Jingjiang Water Mansion, Celestial River Water Mansion, Black River Water Mansion, and Yunmeng Water Mansion.

Although they ranked behind, excluding the mysterious "Three Mountains", the "Four Caves" and "Five Water Mansions" were not much different.

The Jingjiang Water Mansion was located at the border between Lai State and Bozhou, connected to the tributaries of the North-South Canal, situated in the wild marshes, with no one daring to approach.

Beside him, Helian Wei also listened in shock,

"Granduncle, why has the Jingjiang Water Mansion come to Changyun City?"

Helian Boxiong stared at the sky, his brows tightly knit,

"It's rather sudden, this Immortal Wu hasn't appeared for nearly thirty years, I don't know."

Saying this, he tossed out a token.

"Quickly take my Tiger Talisman and mobilize the army, arrange for the entire city's populace to evacuate immediately, I will personally go to the Capital City for reinforcements!"

With that, the ancient armor on him emitted a faint blood-colored glow, and with a swoosh, he flew off towards the Capital City.

Zhang Kui suddenly felt his scalp tingle.

To become a National Guardian True Man, one must have reached the Celestial Tribulation Realm, yet even Helian Boxiong unhesitatingly went to the Capital City for aid, demonstrating the terror of the so-called "Immortal Wu" in the sky.

Helian Wei's face turned pale, but she still orderly gave commands, "Hu Liang, Zhao Kang, quickly go and mobilize the City Guard, inform Lord Wang, arrange for the populace to evacuate."

"Someone, bring a fast horse, I need to go to the Flying Bear Army camp..."

"No need."

Zhang Kui frowned, "Fatty Tiger, take her along."

Fatty Tiger, sensing a series of changes, also felt something major was amiss and roared lowly, "Woman, get on, and lead the way."

"Thank you, Taoist Zhang!"

Helian Wei didn't stand on ceremony, flipping up onto the tiger's back, and in an instant, billowing black smoke sped towards the city outskirts.

It was as if the sky was falling, the once prosperous and peaceful city immediately plunged into chaos.

Countless people wailed, lamented, stumbled, and were driven out of the city in queues by soldiers.

Changyun City had been peaceful for a long time, the populace had only heard rumors of something strange happening with the canal, never expecting to be told to abandon the city and flee, naturally feeling resentful.

Some lingered to pack personal belongings, some wealthy families' large carriages clogged the roads, and some even led pigs and sheep, the entire city was in chaos.

Zhang Kui ignored all this and leaped atop the highest building at the dock, watching the river as he uncorked a gourd of wine and took a sip, the Lu Li Sword behind him vibrating with a hum.

That thing in the sky was high among the clouds, though a faint oppressive force emanated, it didn't seem to intend to make a move.

Instead, beneath the river's frozen surface, the demonic aura grew more intense, the waters ever more turbulent, the ice surface subtly trembling.

"Hmm..."

Zhang Kui suddenly frowned and looked down.

At that moment, amidst the panicked escaping crowd on the dock, one person was running against the flow, heading for the shore.

It was the crazy beggar Li Jun.

Zhang Kui suddenly descended from above to block him, his eyes narrowing, "What are you doing?"

Li Jun clapped his hands and shook his head with a foolish grin,

"A strange and curious cow, ears bigger than its head, the head walks ahead, ears follow behind..."

"Stop pretending to be an idiot!"

Zhang Kui shouted angrily.

Li Jun paused for a moment, then fell silent, his eyes gradually regaining clarity, he said nothing, just stared blankly at the frozen river surface.

Zhang Kui suddenly sensed something, quickly turning around.

Boom!

The ice surface exploded violently, countless huge ice shards flew hundreds of meters into the air, the waves surged, a boat covered in aquatic plants and shells, pitch-black as ink, floated to the surface.

The surrounding area roared with a chilling wind, countless swirls of yin qi spiraled underwater, pale, rotten arms reaching from the water, seemingly trying to grasp something.

And on the deck of that boat crouched several green-skinned yakshas, with hideous features, red whiskers, and fangs, each aura no weaker than the Blue Yaksha Zhang Kui had once fought.

Cre-eek~

The door of the boat pavilion opened softly, a dense black smoke emerged and flowed onto the ice surface like a living thing.

Zhang Kui felt a surge of foreboding, this black smoke could obviously conceal its qi mechanism, the Cave Abyss Skill could only reveal a tall and graceful silhouette.

Beside him, the beggar Li Jun suddenly turned pale, stumbling onto the ice, running towards the boat.

Zhang Kui, with a dark expression, didn't stop him, as within the black fog, a powerful aura locked onto him.

Thud!

The beggar Li Jun slipped and fell heavily on the ice, his mouth bloodied from the impact.

Yet he seemed indifferent, pulling a bronze shell from his bosom, raising it above his head, proceeding while kneeling, screaming hoarsely:

"The item is here, Qing'Er said you would come looking sooner or later, asked me to hand over this item in exchange for my life, I am willing to die, just seek revenge for Qing'Er!"

With this, he placed the bronze shell down, continuously kowtowing, leaving blood marks on the ice.

From the dense black smoke, a jade-like hand slowly extended, beckoning the bronze shell which suddenly rose and fell into the hand, then the rolling black smoke retracted into the boat.

Thud!

A green-skinned yaksha on the boat suddenly jumped down, speared Li Jun with a steel fork through the abdomen, carrying him back onto the deck.

Li Jun bled profusely but acted deranged, laughing loudly, "Thank you, thank you, the monk who killed Qing'Er is in Chongming Temple, I want them dead, all dead, haha..."

Before his words fell, the pitch-black boat had submerged into the water once more, a stream of dim yin qi swiftly moving downstream.

Zhang Kui did not give chase, maintaining a dark expression.

No matter what story or personal grievances existed, they were no longer important; he was unable to cope and only hoped it would not extend to the city behind him.

Suddenly, a chill ran down his spine, and he looked up to see a red light ascending into the sky from the direction of the Capital City, turning the leaden clouds crimson.

Zhang Kui was dumbfounded, "National Guardian Divine Artifact..."

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