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

Gu Zhao glanced back in the direction of the black coffin.

Deep within the dark river, a violent surge of magical energy had already begun. Strands of powerful true energy intertwined and collided fiercely in the still water, causing the current to surge endlessly.

The black coffin they had just retrieved had become the target of everyone's struggle.

Gu Zhao composed himself, turned around and continued swimming forward, with only four shaken corpse retrievers following closely behind him.

A series of roars came from ahead, and a chilling power was surging there.

"A water beast!?"

The corpse retriever was pale-faced; the water monster was not far ahead.

What should we do now?

Should we continue swimming forward, or what?

The stable followed Gu Zhao without stopping, continuing to swim forward, its heart pounding like a drum.

He knew perfectly well what awaited them, the group of corpse retrievers still stuck in the water, once the dust settled on the struggle for the black coffin.

They might become people who vent their anger and have a hard time surviving.

The only chance of survival right now is to escape the water completely before the various forces determine a winner.

Moreover, we must not go out now, because that yellow bamboo basket is still hanging above the water.

We must wait for the right opportunity!

As they get closer to the Water Hound, danger looms ahead. What should they do now?

The people in the stable were in a state of utter confusion.

The icy, bone-chilling Yinshui River is like a ferocious beast that preys on its prey; one wrong step and you're in a dead end.

Looking at Gu Zhao, who remained calm, the stableman thought to himself, "Zhao-ge, do you have any ideas?"

"Let's escape."

On the surface of the river.

Yuan Shao stared intently at the oversight mirror in his hand. "Those corpse retrievers have already headed towards the center of the lake dam."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu smiled faintly, "They're quite clever; they've chosen the only way out right now."

The battle raged fiercely on the water above the black coffin.

Gong Yuzhou wielded his natal magic weapon, with three powerful streams of precious energy flowing and rising behind him. He was fiercely fighting with Sun Chan, Zhuo Sheng, and a Qi-refining puppet. The surging true energy kept exploding, causing the entire river to tremble and surge violently.

No one would give way to the other, allowing others to get their hands on the Black Coffin.

Gong Yuzhou turned his gaze to Ni Shengyan beside him and said with a smile, "Junior Sister Ni, it's your turn to make a move."

The woman in white, with her aloof demeanor, nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Her slender, jade-like fingers were held upright, and a wisp of pure magical power swirled around her fingertips, shimmering brilliantly.

"Buzz—"

A low hum echoed from the deep water, and the flying swords that had been hidden in the water suddenly shot out.

Like a silver fish darting through the water, the sword flashed white and cold, shooting straight toward the water beast lurking in the center of the lake.

This commotion has once again attracted attention.

Sun Chan, Zhuo Sheng, and the others frowned, puzzled.

Now, why is Ni Shengyan's magic sword heading straight for the Water Hou?

However, the four were already entangled in a fierce battle, their true qi intertwined, and they had no time to spare for anything else.

Sun Chan had a vague feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it!

On the large ship, Chen Qian slowly walked to the railing and quietly watched the surging waves below the dam.

A tall, alluring woman, her clothes fluttering in the strong wind on the lake, a smile playing on her lips, whispered:

In this chaotic situation, who will ultimately emerge victorious?

Beneath the surface of the lake.

The group of corpse retrievers got closer and closer to the center of the lake dam.

A dense, malevolent aura surged towards them, chilling their very soul.

The water beast is almost in sight!

This was a genuine Qi Refining Realm spirit, and with the meager cultivation of these corpse retrievers, their fate would have been sealed if they had faced it head-on.

They would be torn to shreds in an instant by the water beast and become its meal.

Getting closer.

The four body retrievers were already terrified.

A vast, menacing shadow looms across the blue water.

Even a wounded water beast is not one they can easily provoke.

The stableman nervously swallowed, his heart pounding in his chest.

A heavy sense of malevolent oppression enveloped the area, and suddenly two dim yellow lanterns lit up in the dark water.

What were those lanterns were clearly the cold, cruel eyes of a water beast.

Despite the deep-seated fear, the four body retrievers gritted their teeth and swam forward with all their might.

The young man in front of them never stopped moving from beginning to end.

The stable nearly had a mental breakdown several times and almost couldn't resist turning around and running away.

But the words Gu Zhao had said to him before going into the water kept popping into his mind.

"You won't die."

"You won't die, and neither will I."

The water monster ahead had already detected the five corpse retrievers and roared, stirring up layers of surging undercurrents.

The group gritted their teeth and swam forward, now only three or four zhang apart.

The stables could now clearly see the water beast's full appearance: its scales were mottled and broken, and the two hard horns on its head had been broken in half, clearly indicating that it was already seriously injured.

However, this oppressive feeling of being so close made them feel as if they had encountered a small mountain at the bottom of a lake.

The stableman felt short of breath; he had never been so close to life and death.

It seemed as if he was about to tear them apart; his heart was pounding uncontrollably in his chest.

The corpse retriever's face was tense, and his hands and feet were ice-cold.

But they all mustered their courage and kept swimming forward.

Just then!

Gu Zhao felt a sudden heat in his hand, and his eyes narrowed.

He turned around, looked at the stables and the others, and pointed in an upward direction.

The group of corpse retrievers immediately understood.

The stable was preparing to go upstream when it noticed that Gu Zhao hadn't moved.

The boy waved again and said to him, "The distance is far enough."

The stableman looked at the shape of the mouth; it seemed to say four words: "I will not die."

Without further hesitation, he abruptly turned around and rushed towards the water's surface.

The water beast's fierce and cold eyes were already locked on the people in front of it, its killing intent fully revealed.

next moment!

A magical sword that had been waiting for a long time pierced through the water and descended upon this place with surging waves, its radiance illuminating the dark waters.

Ni Shengyan circulated all her magical power, her fingertips surging with power, and a golden mountain pattern faintly appeared between her brows.

She snapped, "Open it!"

The magic sword and the dagger in Gu Zhao's hand echoed each other.

Gu Zhao no longer hesitated, mobilized his Qian Yuan True Qi, and his internal energy circulated wildly, pouring into the "Ming Hua Water Escape Talisman" on his left leg, and runes appeared one after another.

He was completely enveloped by the water, and his body moved forward at lightning speed.

The boy gripped the dagger in one hand, his eyes clear and bright.

The "Jade Pivot Thunder-Descending True Qi" that had been residing in his dantian was instantly summoned, and azure arcs of electricity danced on his left palm.

The magic sword had caught up with the boy and was emitting a soft hum.

A bolt of lightning, a gleam of sword light.

They traveled side by side underwater, heading straight for the enormous water beast ahead.

The boy seemed to be standing on a flying sword.

I carry a sword, which will accompany me wherever I go.

next moment.

A colossal wave erupted from the water's depths, accompanied by a deafening, piercing roar.

The water rippled.

Attracting everyone's attention—

~