Upon thinking this, Zhang Kui quickly left.

With his current level of Tao cultivation, facing this group, he didn't stand a chance, not even to escape with his life.

However, now he had found a good opportunity.

After controlling the stone coffin to leave the Jingjiang Water Mansion, Zhang Kui began to scout along the canal.

To find that man, the Peach Blossom Lady dispatched numerous Black Painting Boats, appearing chaotic yet with some order.

Typically, one Celestial Tribulation Realm Insect Woman oversaw a section of the river, surrounded by Grain Avoidance Realm Insect Women leading River Demons and Water Ghosts for the search.

If calculated by distance, there would be around twenty Celestial Tribulation Realm Insect Women, and this was merely under one faction of the Water Mansion's power, almost rivaling the entire Qian.

There were no Divine Travel Realm ones, but Zhang Kui saw behind the black stone boat, three enormous Black Painting Boats, heavily shrouded in mist, with obscure auras, likely belonging to the Divine Travel Realm Insect Women.

He now only gained skill points by slaying Celestial Tribulation Realm entities. If he disposed of these wandering evil spirits, at over twenty points each, it would total four hundred points.

Enough to reach the Golden Core Sixth Transformation.

Previously, he wouldn't dare provoke a forbidden land, but now he hit upon a good chance.

Indeed, sowing discord, simple and effective.

With this in mind, Zhang Kui opened the interface, selected a long-desired skill, and applied all the remaining twenty-some points, advancing it to level six.

Within the underground stone coffin, Zhang Kui pinched a spell, closing his eyes and mumbling a few words, then a tentacle shot out from beneath his chin, squirming slowly.

Zhang Kui shook his head, and instantly more tentacles emerged, his skin gradually becoming slick, transforming into an Octopus Head.

Illusion Skill (Level 6): Active Skill

Skill Description: Change form, as man, woman, large, small, as divine beasts, mountains, stones, plants, endlessly variable.

Curiously, Zhang Kui tugged at his own tentacles,

"Hiss... it actually works..."

Unfortunately, not reaching the maximum level, there were still flaws, as clothes couldn't change, and some details lacked perfection.

However, this was easily remedied by taking down two more!

Thinking this, Zhang Kui looked at the Black Painting Boat above the river, and instantly leaped out...

...

In the river, a Black Painting Boat hung silently.

Countless Water Ghosts shuttled beneath, their bodies bluish-gray and slippery, eyes hollow and blue, clothes tattered and worn, nails pitch-black.

These Water Ghosts were the weakest of the evil spirits, akin to laborers. If by fortune they survived, after many years of cultivation, some would become strong Fierce Ghosts, though most would turn into Yakshas.

The rivers and lands were perilous, but despite daily deaths during shipping, there would never be so many. Thus, there was only one source.

On the banks of the North-South Canal, sometimes ghostly singing would be heard at midnight, and by the next day, entire fishing villages would vanish, transforming into Water Ghosts...

In the ship's cabin, a large and a small Insect Woman were present, the larger one had fleshy threads extending from her abdomen into the entire boat, while the smaller one attended to her.

This was the inheritance method of the Jingjiang Water Mansion's Black Painting Boat lineage. Each time a new Insect Woman was born, a Celestial Tribulation Realm Insect Woman would teach, and upon reaching adulthood, they would acquire their own boat.

The two Insect Women chatted out of boredom.

"Miss, we've been at this for days, what exactly are we looking for?"

"Hehe... this matter may be secret, but it's fine to tell you, the young master has escaped."

"What!"

"Hmph, relax, although he escaped, he instinctively won't stray too far, though this year is peculiar, managing to hide for so long..."

"Just don't delay this year's breeding..."

Just then, thick black fog surged from the bottom of the river, instantly enveloping the entire boat.

Out of the black fog stretched an Octopus Head, its face full of wriggling tentacles, loudly proclaiming:

"Immortal Wu's mana is boundless, the Water Mansion reigns supreme!"

Having spoken, it retracted its head.

The surrounding River Demons and Water Ghosts were stunned.

Within the "Longevity" domain, Zhang Kui scratched his head. He still wore a Taoist robe, a human body, fearing exposure he only dared poke his head out.

Across, the Yaksha at the ship's bow had been shredded by vines, while the Celestial Tribulation Realm Insect Woman struggled desperately, the Black Painting Boat even ignited green demon fire, fleeing manically within the "Longevity" domain.

Unfortunately, if she were Divine Travel Realm, there might be a chance, but as Celestial Tribulation Realm, even in a lifetime, she couldn't escape.

The Insect Woman stared at Zhang Kui's Octopus Head and human Daoist body, first bewildered, then shrieked sharply: "You're not one of Immortal Wu's men, you dare..."

"Too noisy!"

Zhang Kui casually released a Heaven-Piercing Geng Metal Sword Qi, instantly shattering the entire boat along with the Insect Woman.

Seeing the newly appeared twenty-one points in his mind's interface, Zhang Kui nodded in satisfaction, then a black smoke retracted into the riverbed.

Watching the now completely vanished boat, the River Demons and Water Ghosts fell into instant chaos.

A few minutes later, ten miles away another Celestial Tribulation Realm Black Painting Boat was similarly swept away by the black fog.

In no time, over forty points were gained, Zhang Kui immediately raised the Illusion Skill to max level, deep in his mind, eighteen stars glimmered brilliantly.

Zhang Kui chuckled, his body shook, first the Taoist robe transformed into mottled bronze armor, then stout tentacles extended from his sleeves and cuffs.

In the Ji Temple Secret Realm, he had seen the appearance of Immortal Wu's underlings, now after achieving Great Success in the Illusion Skill, he transformed with perfect accuracy, then without pause, drove the stone coffin swiftly along the riverbed.

If feasible, silent assassination would be best, but along the border of the two states, the whole river stretch was filled with dispersed River Demons and Water Ghosts, impossible to fully conceal, so swift and decisive measures were taken.

One boat,

Two ships,

Three ships...

The bizarre disappearance of the Daoist women from the Celestial Tribulation Realm's painting boats quickly caused chaos in the entire water area.

The low-level River Demons and Water Ghosts were at a loss, while the Yakshas were thrown into disarray. Could it be that Immortal Wu's people were slaying the painting boat women in a complete fallout?

The news swiftly reached the Water Mansion.

"Immortal Wu!"

A piercing scream shook the entire underground lake, causing massive rocks to fall from the surrounding stone walls.

Boom!

An enormous shadow rose from the Black Stone Boat, and a pair of slender woman's hands struck out, causing the massive 200-meter shell to be covered in cracks.

Mud splashed everywhere, slowly collapsing.

"Are you crazy, woman!"

Immortal Wu's true form appeared in disarray— a massive squid over a hundred meters long, covered in bronze armor and enveloped in a deep black light like ink.

Buzz!

The deep black light instantly transformed into a barrier, blocking the attack of Peach Blossom Lady's Illusionary Dharma Aspect.

"Crazy woman, do you think you can bully me!"

Immortal Wu fumed, her two giant eyes turning completely blood-red, as a brocade box suddenly flew out, revealing a broken bronze arrowhead when it opened automatically.

In Peach Blossom Lady's eyes flashed a hint of dread, and she said harshly, "If it weren't for your brother, I would have swallowed you whole long ago!"

"You dare try!"

Immortal Wu's whole body turned red, roaring ominously.

"What are you doing!"

The Two-headed Yaksha Monarch also appeared, face ferocious and spewing Demon Fire from his mouth, "If you damage the Dragon God Hall, everyone will die when the Great King returns!"

Peach Blossom Lady and Immortal Wu were startled simultaneously, quickly glancing at the central Stone Hall, then restrained their aura.

"Immortal Wu, why did you order people to slaughter my Daoist women!"

Peach Blossom Lady's forehead insect eye flickered greenly, and her cherry-red mouth sprouted sharp fangs.

"Heh, if I wanted to kill them, would I let you know?"

Immortal Wu sneered mockingly.

The Two-headed Yaksha felt a headache brewing as he looked at both sides and growled grimly, "Peach Blossom Lady, there's definitely something strange about this. Summon your people back first and then discuss."

Peach Blossom Lady cast a venomous glance, her giant Illusionary Dharma Aspect turning away and shouted sternly:

"What are you standing still for, go rescue them immediately. The opposition must be someone in the Divine Travel Realm. If captured, beat them to death first and then seize the Divine Soul!"

In the back, three giant painting boats suddenly emitted three black mists, enveloping the pitch-black like ink small boat Magical Treasures, disappearing instantly.

For those in the Divine Travel Realm, guiding the Divine Soul Ruling Artifact, tracking a thousand miles, was clearly faster.

Immortal Wu's expression shifted between cloudy and clear, with a hint of doubt in her eyes, followed by a fierce look as she turned and ordered, "You go too. Wu Liqing has been out training for days without returning. If it's him, make sure to protect him!"

"Yes, Patriarch!"

As soon as the words fell, two black shadows appeared instantly, all with octopus heads, covered with bronze armor all over, and disappeared with a flash of black light.

"Immortal Wu, you court death!"

"I'm not afraid of you!"

Peach Blossom Lady and Immortal Wu once again began to build up momentum simultaneously, glaring venomously at each other.

On the other hand, as the three Divine Travel Realm Daoist women wrapped their Divine Souls around the painting boat Magical Artifacts and rushed out of the Water Mansion, they happened to see a large group of River Demons and Water Ghosts frantically pouring back in, accompanied by two Black Painting Boats.

"How many are left?!"

A Divine Soul Realm Daoist woman shouted harshly.

"None, all are gone..."

The Daoist woman in the painting boat was pale, "In a short time, over a dozen sisters lost contact, leaving only the two of us."

"What!"

Another Divine Travel Realm Daoist woman was instantly furious, "Let's split up to search, and send a signal immediately once found."

Three strands of black smoke immediately dispersed, searching in the upper, middle, and lower directions.

The downstream Daoist woman quickly made a discovery.

At this point, all the River Demons and Water Ghosts in the river had dispersed, while on the shore, there were a large number of shattered black planks, and a Daoist woman lay dying in the mud, her life or death unknown.

"A survivor!"

The Divine Travel Realm Daoist woman was instantly overjoyed, the Black Painting Boat Magical Artifact flickering with green fire, and the injured Daoist woman slowly floated up, drifting to her Divine Soul.

The other party made their move without leaving a trace, outsiders might have assumed no survivors if not for her, this was clearly unusual.

However, this Daoist woman happened to be her former apprentice, and she had already thoroughly inspected her Divine Soul, finding no anomalies inside or out.

A stream of pale white mist was sprayed by the Divine Travel Realm Daoist woman into the comatose Daoist woman's nasal cavity; she hummed softly and gradually regained consciousness.

"Idiot, if you're not dead, wake up quickly. Where are Immortal Wu's men?"

"You tell me..."

From behind, an Octopus Head figure appeared out of thin air.

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