Surviving in the Demonic Sect, one begins cultivation by retrieving corpses.

Seeing that it hadn't capsized the large ship, the water beast roared again.

It shook its enormous head, and a beam of magical light suddenly shone from its belly, flowing up its spine and converging on a pair of curved horns on its head.

The next moment, a thick, jet-black beam of malevolent light burst forth from between the horns!

"boom--"

The black light struck the large ship directly, breaking it in two.

The screams of the body retrievers on the boat were deafening, creating chaos.

Gu Zhao concentrated his mind and breath, channeling his Qian Yuan True Qi into his eyes, so that he could see clearly even from a distance.

He murmured to himself, "Is this... the Water Hound's innate magical ability?"

A large ship was blasted open by it.

The water monster then dived back into the water and began hunting, with the corpse retrievers who had fallen from the boat becoming its prey.

Some escaped, but were caught by the water monkeys.

Almost none escaped!

The onlookers who were retrieving the bodies were all terrified. The water beast slowly swam away, eyeing the next body-retrieval boat.

Gu Zhao and the others were far away, so they weren't as nervous.

He asked, "Brother Ma, did you encounter him in the Yinshui River before?"

The stableman's face tightened. After thinking for a moment, he said, "I saw it once. It was during the flood season of the Yinshui River. I witnessed it with my own eyes."

"That disaster killed many people, including two deacons."

His tone grew somber, filled with a sigh: "Who would have thought we'd run into each other again today..."

Gu Zhao understood; it seemed that what was in the lake dam was no ordinary thing.

The appearance of the water beast is illogical.

Or perhaps Gong Yuzhou and the others were just waiting for this water beast.

A ferocious water lion, along with four water monkeys lurking in the shadows, created a formidable sight.

Gu Zhao knew that with this lineup, they might not be able to cause much of a stir at the lake dam.

On their ship alone, there were seven outer disciples of the Qi Refining Sect, including Gong Yuzhou and Ni Shengyan, and the other ships had many outer disciples from the River Suppression Division and the Mountain Patrol Hall.

Gu Zhao looked up at the waters in the distance where the water monster was crashing into the large ship.

It just so happens to be the location of the inner sect leader of Tianzhu Prefecture.

really!

The next moment, a voice resounded across the lake dam:

"You beast, how dare you!"

It was a man's voice, imbued with profound magical power, echoing in all directions, and remained clear even from this distance.

Above the second floor of the ship's side.

Gong Yuzhou, Ni Shengyan, and the others had already stood up, their eyes fixed on the rampaging water beast.

Yuan Shao, the commander of the Zhenhe Division, looked on with a hint of surprise. "This water beast is so huge, yet the corpse retrievers have searched here for three days without finding the slightest clue."

"The Water Hou is a strange creature that is swept downstream by the floodwaters of the Yinshui River during the high tide season. It is extremely rare to see it on ordinary days. It is really strange to encounter it here today."

Chen Mu of the Xunshan Hall chuckled, "Is it possible that someone brought it in today?"

Yang Yueqi of the Zhenhe Division said, "One water lion plus four water monkeys, that's quite a sum."

"Are they trying to take advantage of the chaos, or do they have ulterior motives?"

Ni Shengyan's gaze swept over the four water monkeys, then slowly returned to her. "Senior Brother Gong isn't going to make a move?"

"This water beast capsized the Zhenhe Division's boat."

Gong Yuzhou didn't care at all: "Junior Sister Ni is joking. I'm just a mere guard envoy, I can't interfere."

"Besides... hasn't that commander of Tianzhu Prefecture already made his move?"

He smiled slightly, "A gentleman does not take what others cherish; it's good for him to show off a bit."

Li Wanwan from the Patrol Hall chimed in, "This commander of Tianzhu Prefecture is already in the mid-stage of Qi Refining. To be favored by a Foundation Establishment True Person, he must be practicing a Grade C killing technique."

"A single water beast is unlikely to be able to subdue him."

Gong Yuzhou casually toyed with the white snake on his wrist, a faint smile playing on his lips, and said leisurely, "Then we'll wait and see."

The voice just fell.

On the bow of a large ship in the distance, a young man dressed in a plain white Taoist robe slowly walked out, his figure rising into the air and standing steadily in the void, untouched by any water or dust.

The corpse retrievers were filled with anticipation, their eyes fixed on the figure floating in the void.

Normally, it is extremely rare for a Qi Refining Realm cultivator to personally take action, and such a scene today is even more uncommon.

As Gu Zhao gazed at the figure floating in mid-air, an undisguised envy welled up in his heart.

This was the first time in his life that he had witnessed cultivators flying through the air, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

This is what a true cultivator is like. By refining the myriad energies of heaven and earth, one can ride the wind and roam freely between heaven and earth.

And there it was!

The young man in white rapidly formed mysterious hand seals with his fingertips. In an instant, a gentle breeze arose, sweeping across the entire lake surface. The river water rippled in layers, and the aura of the wind from all directions continuously converged towards him.

He brought his hands together, sword fingers held horizontally in front of his chest, and then suddenly slashed forward!

A massive, chilling wind blade materialized out of thin air.

A sudden surge of wind arose, causing his plain white Taoist robe to flutter wildly, and his clear, cold shout resounded across the lake:

"Swift as the wind!"

The enormous wind blade, accompanied by a howling gale, slashed straight down at the raging water beast below.

Seeing this, the Water Hou's abdomen lit up with magical light once more, gathering all its essence and evil power, and fiercely collided with the wind blade that was tearing through the air.

Two loud bangs erupted, followed by a sudden burst of dazzling light that filled the entire lake dam with white light.

The group of corpse retrievers hurriedly closed their eyes, and many of them, unable to dodge in time, had their eyes burned by the agitated spiritual light, and couldn't help but shed tears from the pain.

Gu Zhao's eyes, however, held a gleam of jade, which did not affect him at all; instead, he observed them closely.

The Taoist technique used by the commander of Tianzhu Prefecture was a mutation of the wood element among the five elements. This person must possess a wind-attribute treasure to be able to activate this technique.

Above the second floor of the ship's side.

Gong Yuzhou and the others also watched quietly as the two spells collided.

Yuan Shao exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually wind-based! Its power is quite formidable even at the Qi Refining stage!"

Li Wanwan revealed the details: "This is the Ming Shu Feng technique from the Class C wind-type Taoist arts."

"One of the eight winds of heaven and earth is the Eastern Bright Wind. The Daoist Canon says that when the Bright Wind arrives, all things sprout and grow, and life and death burst forth, and all things emerge."

With this one move, the water beast will most likely not be able to hold out.

Ni Shengyan's gaze shifted, landing on a corner on the first floor.

A boy was staring wide-eyed at the point where the magical techniques collided.

Just then, the boy closed his eyes again.

She raised an eyebrow slightly.

Logically speaking, only those who have reached the Qi Refining Realm and absorbed a wisp of Qi into their bodies can observe Taoist arts.

The level of fetal movement is impossible to achieve.

Ni Shengyan withdrew her gaze and slowly said, "The battle is over."

Ming Shufeng shattered the Water Hou's innate malevolent aura, and with its remaining force, it crashed down upon its body.

However, after the clash, the power of the wind blade was greatly diminished.

The wind blades struck the water beast's thick scales, and a piercing sound of armor cracking rang out.

Instantly, the skin was torn open, and foul-smelling bluish blood gushed out.

The water beast, writhing in pain, let out a roar, its massive body suddenly plunging into the dark river and disappearing from sight.

Above the second floor.

Yuan Shao frowned slightly and said in surprise, "This water beast seems to be much stronger than the average one."

"Grade C wind-type magic is inherently ruthless and should be able to kill him in one strike."

"It's clear that its scales are no ordinary armor!"