grabbed my hand in return, although his touch was icy cold, it sent a flurry of pink bubbles fluttering in my heart.Suddenly, a haughty female voice rang out beside me: “ … You actually have the abili...I turned back to look, and the dark clouds in the sky were drawn together by the air currents, piling up layer upon layer like gigantic black meteorites hanging at the edge of the horizon.

The wind howled like a dragon, and dark clouds gathered like a looming fortress.

The outline of the Yinglong slowly changed within the black clouds, appearing and disappearing like a phantom hidden among the layers of mist.

Mu Wanchen is over there! He must have discovered the Dragon King's whereabouts.

"That's the altar of the snake spirits," the soldier beside me explained. "Your Majesty, please hurry and take refuge in the mountains. Now that the myriad insects are emerging from their holes, there are startled venomous creatures everywhere. Be very careful!"

"Ah, alright, you guys be careful too! If the Gushi invade, don't confront them head-on. Remember, as long as the mountains are there, there's firewood to be found. Retreat first and then figure out a plan." I urged anxiously.

The soldier paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Perhaps I am not suited to be a leader. At times like this, one should rally the troops, inspire them to fight with their lives, to defend their families and clans to the death.

But I don't want to see such casualties. If the corpse puppets are too difficult to deal with, then we should think of other ways and not gamble with our lives.

Life here is dwindling, there should be no more sacrifices.

"Be careful!" Fu Zhu suddenly spoke, reminding him.

I heard a tearing sound, and Fu leaped forward with me on his back. A gust of bloody wind whipped up, stinging my face painfully.

The Dragon King's serpent spirit found me, it was familiar with my aura and precisely targeted me as it surged forward.

All those with agile forms and spirits evaded the tree that was struck by the snake spirit, and rushed straight into the maze at the mouth of the cave.

The so-called labyrinth, besides its intricate and similar environments, also has some confusing miasma.

The fog was strange, as if it were rising from the mountains like steam, or perhaps some poisonous gas being exhaled.

"Hiss…" The Serpent Spirit was incredibly reckless, smashing the wooden tower that Yamaguchi had erected and charging in headfirst.

A tongue suddenly shot out from the mouth, soft yet powerful, sending the spirit snake flying. Then it slowly trailed across the grass, coiling around a child's corpse —

That was one of the children who had just run in.

I followed the familiar tongue, its path to the maw blocked by a "hill" in the throat. The toad with eyes narrowed like autumn leaves used its tongue to fling the child's corpse into the ravine behind it.

"......You, hello." I swallowed.

With this person here, the snake spirit probably won't be able to get in.

But this Cu Qiu is very grumpy, and she's also a jealous person! She seems to dislike me. Suddenly, she lashed out her tongue at me —

All I thought was to dodge, but I sat right on its back and got rolled up by its tongue!

This tongue, both icy and terrifying, lifted me upwards and placed me atop its own head.

I stood on its peak, equivalent to three stories high. Behind me was a mountain stream and a cable car leading to the inner mountain. Cu Qiu standing here had an imposing air of one man defending the pass against ten thousand.

But its head was so slippery! I could only hug it with both hands onto a protruding... what is this thing It's just an uneven bump on the wart toad's skin,

"Cui Qiu, big shots, big shots, let's talk about any grievances we have later. We can't cause trouble for the Great Shaman King now, right" I timidly tried to make amends with it: "Look at that big snake, it came from the barbarian land and doesn't know how high the sky is or how thick the earth is. Can you teach it how to be a snake"

These foolish words are just to bolster their courage.

Height gives you a wider view.

Tianbian Muwanchen and Yinglong didn't know what kind of tough opponent they had encountered, they were actually carrying billowing dark clouds and preparing to unleash them. I've never seen Yinglong so ferocious before.

A rift tore open in the void before them, black energy seeping from the crack, as if ready to burst forth.

Yinglong's majesty shook heaven and earth, Mu Wanchen seemed to be thinking of a way to seal the fissure.

"...Old monster" I suddenly thought of this possibility.

Bang!

Suddenly, Chu Qiu leaped up, its immense weight causing the surrounding rocks to rumble and fall. The loose soil, already shaken by the earthquake, tilted downwards, forming a protective trench behind it, barring the iron-chain bridge.

Is this a battle against the spirit snake with no way out

The snake, with a wild gleam in its eyes, opened its mouth wide, poised to strike from above and swallow its prey whole.

The poison sacs on either side of Qiu's cheek puffed up, and with a *poof*, a cloud of venom shot out—my god, am I going to be poisoned

"Don't be afraid, you have the Xi Gu, these poisonous mists won't hurt you." Fu Zhu jumped to my side and reminded me.

"The Fèngu, the Fèngu, what exactly is this thing that everyone's so desperate for Even old monsters are fighting over it! He's already become an immortal monster, why does he still need a Fèngu" I held my nose and said helplessly.

Fu choked back a sudden, light laugh. I thought I'd misheard!

"I know what it is, but I can't say..."

"Don't say anything then! You'll find out sooner or later!" I stamped my feet angrily.

The poison gas spewed by Qiu churned the sky. It had actually caused the small hill behind it to collapse, a ploy to block the wind current and prevent the poison gas from being blown into the only entrance by the mountain wind, which would have harmed the soldiers on guard.

It still seems quite merciful, doesn't it!

The snake spirit was blinded by the poison mist, charging blindly. Qiu didn't flinch, lowering her head to meet it head-on, unyielding as a mountain.

Its shell resembled rock, and the serpent was utterly helpless against it.

When they came face to face, I caught a glimpse of a scale on the great serpent's head that shimmered with a faint crimson glow.

"Eh... what's that thing" I reached out to tug on Fu Zhu's fur.

Who knew that he suddenly raised his head to look at the sky, and then bent forward with his front limbs, making a kneeling motion.

What's up

A biting cold wind pierced through, sharp and chilling.

Just now I was so nervous that my whole body was tense, and I didn't notice the atmosphere around me changing quickly.

The large snake seemed afraid, its body slowly retreating.

A person hung in mid-air, slightly drooping their gaze and looking at me.

His robe billowed in the night wind, the black dragon pattern on it coming alive as if about to soar into the sky.

His hair was a mess, a head of ink-black strands floating like silk.

Dressed in plain robes, with bare hands unstained by worldly dust.

After Mu Wanchen and I parted ways by the lake, he actually left without tying up his hair.

Just moments ago, he was far in the distance, riding clouds and dragons. Now, he suddenly appears here, with a hint of moisture clinging to him, his face as cold as ice, his eyes deep and unreadable like still water.

Why should the feudal lords bow down to him

Even the giant snake began to retreat in fear, what's going on...

"Wan, Wanchen" I whispered carefully.

He stood beside me, answering softly, "It's me."

Phew… I let out a silent sigh of relief.

He looks so menacing, with that icy aura that made me shiver involuntarily.

A gust of cold wind swept past, and the specter from our previous night's revel appeared not far off. He cackled wickedly, "Great Shaman King, the Emperor has sent a message: If these ghosts continue to seep through the gate, the Underworld cannot remain indifferent. Will you handle this yourself, or shall the Underworld take care of it Make your decision promptly."

Mu Wanchen coldly glared at him: "Who authorized you to come in"

Touguang was stunned for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "The earth shook and the heavens trembled, the Buddhist scriptures were overturned, and there have already been souls escaping from the Dharma gate. Now, because of the second palace ghost rising due to the natural disaster, His Majesty has ordered me to deliver this message: if you cannot end this chaos here, then only Hades will intervene. Please weigh your options carefully!"

He spoke with a touch more deference, and Mu Wanchen didn't pursue the matter further. He said calmly, “Reporting to Master, I’ll handle it myself.”

"Humph, fine." Yu Guang's cloak covered him, and he vanished.

"... Wanchen, the bronze mirror is broken. Are those souls trapped inside now homeless" I asked softly.

Mu Wanchen let out a barely perceptible sigh, his gaze fixed on me with a heavy intensity. now, Xiao Qiao is the most important person in our family. We can't let her travel far. Even if there's no danger, the journey would be a major risk for a pregnant woman. We can't let her take risks...