The universe clears, and the bright moon merges with the sea.

Zhang Kui gently landed on the sea surface, his upper body in tattered clothing revealing a steel-forged physique. He twisted open the wine jug and took a few gulps, coldly gazing toward the East Sea Water Mansion.

"Hahaha... Taoist Friend Zhang's art is miraculous, Heichi Lie has sought his own death."

Accompanied by a clear laugh, the blue-robed high-crowned illusion on that side slightly cupped its hands.

"However, what you have done, Taoist Friend, has provoked the Hundred-Eyed Demon Monarch. This demon is arrogant and ruthless, with a violent disposition. The East Sea Water Mansion is irreconcilable with him and will surely join forces with you against the enemy."

Before Zhang Kui could speak, a woman's lazy voice came to his ear, "That black fishman is loathsome, it's fine to kill him. This man named You is sneaky and not a good thing, be careful not to be dragged down by him."

Zhang Kui immediately understood, his expression remained calm as he cupped his hands, then turned and flew towards the dock.

By not speaking, he had already shown his stance.

The Mansion Master You over there was taken aback, but did not care, smiling slightly, "When you have time, Taoist Friend, do visit the Water Mansion as a guest."

After speaking, wrapped in dark clouds, he led the great army of East Sea Water Mansion and gradually disappeared into the deep sea.

Zhang Kui waved away the fog formation, arrived at the dock, only to find Fatty Tiger lying on the ground snoring, while "hee hee" laughter came to his ears.

"Don't forget our appointment tomorrow..."

Zhang Kui chuckled carefreely, awakening Fatty Tiger, and leisurely made his way to the Astronomical Bureau.

Due to the obstruction of the fog formation, the entire city's residents were unaware that a major battle had taken place on the sea surface, with only sparse lonely lights, serene and harmonious.

Returning to the backyard of the Astronomical Bureau, Zhang Kui did not rest but instructed Fatty Tiger to keep watch outside, while he sat cross-legged in the courtyard, focusing his mind and concentrating.

Soon, the evil qi from the battle dissipated from his body, his mana restored, his spirit harmoniously integrated, reaching the optimal state.

Last time, after annihilating five Divine Travel Realm Sea Demon Race, he had two hundred fifty points remaining. After upgrading "Fog Formation" and "Borrowing Wind," he was left with one hundred forty points.

Just now, he completely exterminated the Sea Demons, earning two hundred ninety points for the seven Divine Travel Realm beings.

And this old demon was clearly much weaker than the Black Flood Dragon Demon Monarch, granting only over eighty points upon being slain.

Remaining: five hundred ten points.

The Golden Core Seventh Transformation, it shall happen today!

What East Sea Water Mansion, what joint resistance, Zhang Kui had never considered.

As they say, relying on others makes them flee, relying on mountains makes them collapse; the world changes regardless of one's desires, human hearts are even more fickle, and in any time or place, the only reliable thing is oneself.

The stronger the power, the more upright the stance, the more resolute the speech, turning bad things into good, difficult things into easy.

With this thought, Zhang Kui smiled slightly, spent three hundred ten points, and upgraded the advanced skills of "Borrowing Wind" and "Fog Formation," "Wind Control" and "Cloud Summoning," to full level.

In his mind, twenty-nine stars twinkled.

Wind Control (Max Level): Riding the wind, a skill of flying elevation.

Cloud Summoning (Max Level): Mastering auspicious clouds, capable of soaring through clouds and mist.

Countless information flashed in his mind, heaven and earth's spiritual qi flooded in, causing gusty wind in the courtyard.

The gusty wind subsided, Zhang Kui grinned.

This skill seemed insignificant but made his body and Divine Soul increasingly clear, naturally allowing the Golden Core Seventh Transformation to come to fruition.

Zhang Kui glanced at the bright moon in the sky, feeling playful. With a wave of his hand, dense fog gathered in the courtyard, instantly forming a white cloud, gently lifting him upwards.

From this point on, unlike others with dark wind and black mist, he would have auspicious white clouds, exuding a sense of grandeur.

Outside, Fatty Tiger's mouth was agape, staring at the elevating Zhang Kui.

"Taoist, you've become immortal, quickly take me with you!"

"Nonsense, it's far from that. I'm just going to play in the sky for a while and be back..."

Zhang Kui soared on clouds, naturally unable to evade the observant, whose eyes were full of astonishment.

Mastering auspicious clouds seemed simple, but its significance was profound.

It should be known that even Mahayana Realm experts, when flying, either break through the air with their bodies or are accompanied by billowing dark clouds.

Those ancient murals show immortals, all stepping on clouds, exuding ease and elegance.

In ancient times, there were legends of someone achieving the Dao and ascending in mere years, and Zhang Kui, by full calculation, had taken no more than three years.

Innate Divine Being,

He truly is an Innate Divine Being!

Some were shocked in their hearts, developing fear, while others had mysterious eyes, starting to scheme.

Zhang Kui naturally noticed those gazes but didn't care at all, because in the end, all conspiracies and calculations are resolved through strength.

Thus, let everyone guess, touch not, and dare not act rashly.

At this moment, Zhang Kui suddenly understood something; the Path of Transformation is not only in arts and divine powers; heaven and earth, all things, in every move, can change.

To change is to connect, to connect is to change, the Dao has no permanence.

Divine travel in all directions, riding winds and clouds, unconsciously, a sea of clouds surged before his eyes, and a huge bright moon crossed the night sky.

Golden Core... Seventh Transformation!

In an instant, the night sky changed dramatically, with myriad phenomena, a divine being manifested in the sea of clouds, drinking alone to the moon...

...

"Is it all true, what you said?"

On the high mountain near the Lanjiang Water Mansion, listening to the excited voice coming from the Tongsheng Shell, Yuan Huang was first shocked, then confused.

"Taoist Friend Bao has always been wise, yet behaved so unusually this time, clearly convinced, an Innate Divine Being... Innate..."

Yuan Huang felt his mind in turmoil, "Could there truly be someone destined to attain the Dao in this world?"

"Then what are we..."

He recalled meeting Zhang Kui, initially happy to acquire another tool, observing his past, thinking he was someone with a promising future, hence he was cordial...

Now, before he could react, he had already reached such a realm...

Indeed, very much like an Innate Divine Being!

A hint of excitement flashed in Yuan Huang's eyes, "An unexpected stroke of luck, who would've thought there was an opportunity..."

He began to reminisce about the past, fortunately, because of matters concerning the Underworld, he had been accommodating in every way.

In the past, it was mutual exploitation, both sides knew it well, but now this relationship was about to go further.

"Red Lotus Karmic Fire... to think this item in Taoist Friend Zhang's hands has such power, it truly is a fine gift..."

With this thought, Yuan Huang said nothing, a dark shadow flashed by, and he swiftly returned to the Lanjiang Water Mansion.

Inside the Water Mansion, it was still a landscape of frozen Talin, Yuan Huang's figure flickered as he headed straight for the deepest part, quickly reaching the center of the Water Mansion.

A massive pit appeared in front of him, pitch black and dark, leading to who knows where, the surroundings devoid of even water plants, completely still and dead.

Without any hesitation, Yuan Huang's figure flickered and disappeared into the darkness...

Not long after, Yuan Huang suddenly found himself in an empty space, appearing in a giant cave, river water hovering above, the surroundings completely dry.

No one would ever guess that beneath the Lanjiang Water Mansion, such a place was hidden.

The inside of the cave was scarlet red, with clusters of burning Karmic Fire Red Lotuses, blood-red and eerie, like Hell.

Yuan Huang held a box in his hand, stealthily looking around, quickly finding a richly blood-colored lotus, its petals almost solidified.

His eyes lit up, tossing the stone box into the air, immediately starting a spell to harvest it.

"What... are you doing?"

An elderly voice suddenly sounded from behind, making Yuan Huang's scalp tingle; he quickly turned and knelt on one knee.

"Greetings, Great King."

Accompanied by an ancient sigh, an elder clad in tattered monk robes, covered in scales, slowly emerged from the darkness.

He seemed very weary, coughing weakly as he walked.

"Cough... cough... Yuan Huang, I know you have other intentions, but this Karmic Fire has great use; if you take it like this, if that thing below revives, this king might kick the bucket."

Yuan Huang was taken aback, exclaiming, "Isn't that thing just a pile of bones now, especially with your true form suppressing it..."

The elder shook his head slightly,

"Do you think last time that Little Drought Fiend really came on its own?"

Yuan Huang felt a chill in his heart, smiling awkwardly, "Then I won't take it."

"This Red Lotus Karmic Fire is of no use to us, I'm curious, why do you want to take it..."

The elder said, looking over with his murky round eyes, making Yuan Huang's mind go blank; when he regained consciousness, he found the elder frowning in contemplation.

It's over...

Yuan Huang's scalp tingled.

Unexpectedly, the elder didn't get angry but sighed at him, "I always thought, among the Water Mansion's people, only you had exceptional talent, yet I didn't expect you to be a fool too..."

"As beings, we endure countless tribulations for a sliver of opportunity, which is why I'm trapped here; compared to my hardship, how different is your concealed matter."

Yuan Huang lowered his head, remaining silent.

The elder shook his head as he continued, "And this Innate Divine Being, who can be sure it's true, who can be sure it's false."

"But if you truly think it's an opportunity, why are you so hesitant?"

Yuan Huang was taken aback, "Great King, what do you mean?"

The elder extended a dry scaly claw, speaking slowly and solemnly:

"Learn how to place your bets!"

...

The next day, Mid-Autumn.

The sun was high, Zhang Kui leisurely drank a bowl of osmanthus porridge in the courtyard.

After achieving the Golden Core Seventh Transformation yesterday, he was intoxicated, as if seeing through the clouds, his true nature revealed, sweeping away the accumulated dust in his mind.

Though the road ahead remained rugged and dark, there was a carefree sense of having a bamboo staff and shoes that easily surpassed horses, living freely in the misty rain.

Suddenly, he smiled, looking westward, seeing a flash of lightning streaking across the sky, descending with a crash.

White clothes pristine as snow, sword-like brows and starry eyes, a bronze sword entwined with lightning behind him.

"Hahaha..."

Zhang Kui laughed heartily, standing tall, "People say my Old Zhang descends with a celestial power above the clouds, Brother Zhu, you're not bad either, in the future we'll form a dual thunder alliance, thundering endlessly..."

Zhu Sheng smiled wryly, "Tao Brother, your cultivation progresses rapidly, your state of mind is even more admirable, I am impressed,"

"Cut the crap!"

Zhang Kui waved his hand broadly, "Let's drink!"

Just then, he suddenly frowned, summoning the Divine Court Bell.

"Tao Brother, what's going on!"

Zhu Sheng's sword-like brows furrowed.

Zhang Kui narrowed his eyes slightly,

"There's something happening at Helian Castle..."

Meanwhile, Helian Castle was bustling, as if facing a formidable foe.

Behind Helian Boxiong hovered a blood Weng Zhong, Elder Huayan summoned three Demon God Puppets, surrounding Rune Crossbow Arrows creaked into place, and the other National Guardians wore grim expressions, their Qi Mechanism erupting.

On the horizon, dark clouds rolled in, a howling ominous wind, seven towering figures indistinctly within, quickly spreading towards them.

"Seven Mahayana Realm..."

Taoist Puyang looked despondent, "Could this truly be the day for the downfall of humanity!"

Yet at that moment, the dark clouds stopped, a chilling voice resounded through the sky: "The Lanjiang Water Mansion seeks an alliance with humanity, does anyone oppose?"

"What?"

Everyone at Helian Castle was left bewildered...

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