Jia Ren heaved a sigh of relief when he saw the Insect External Incarnation leaving Linyuan City.

His attention shifted from the departing Insect External Incarnation to focus on the Demon-Sealing Tower Treasure.

Compared to five years ago, the Demon-Sealing Tower had not changed much; its body was pitch-black and lusterless, making it impossible to see what was sealed within.

Besides advancing to the late-stage of Soul Transformation, the biggest change to the Demon-Sealing Tower Treasure was the addition of two new "tenants."

One was a piece of green human skin, known as the Blue Skin Bizarre.

This Bizarre Demon could parasitize both cultivators and magical beasts, possessing considerable intelligence.

This foolish creature actively sought out the Insect External Incarnation, which was hunting for Bizarre Demons, unwittingly walking into a trap.

The second Bizarre Demon was the Drowned Bizarre, hailing from a deathly silent black lake.

The Drowned Bizarre would seize its target and forcibly drag them into the lake.

Cultivators found it difficult to break free from the Drowned Bizarre's bindings, being dragged into the lake and drowned alive.

The drowned victim would turn into a new Drowned Bizarre.

They were merely imitation Bizarre Demons; if burnt to death by Wicked Flame, they could not be revived.

The Blue Skin Bizarre and Drowned Bizarre became the new tenants of the eleventh and twenty-third floors, filling the 'tenant' vacancies for merged Bizarre Demons.

Additionally, the Insect External Incarnation discovered a third Bizarre Demon: the very lake of deathly silence where the Drowned Bizarre had been found.

The Bizarre Lake could suppress Spiritual Power, and once one entered the Bizarre Lake, one would be at its mercy.

It had a symbiotic relationship with the Drowned Bizarre, which it controlled.

The Insect External Incarnation attempted to seal the Bizarre Lake several times, but all attempts ended in failure.

The Bizarre Lake's area of influence was too vast. If any of its water was left behind outside the Demon-Sealing Tower during an attempt to seal it, the Bizarre Lake could regenerate in the outside world from that remnant.

The Bizarre Lake's water inside the Demon-Sealing Tower would also fail to revive after being "killed."

After several fruitless attempts, the decision was made to put it on hold for the time being.

"The number of Bizarre Demons has increased?" Jia Ren mused.

The Bizarre Lake and the Blue Skin Bizarre were Bizarre Demons that had only appeared in the last two years.

When Jia Ren first arrived in Linyuan City, he had not discovered a single Bizarre Demon.

Linyuan City was situated on the fringe of the territories of three top-tier sects and received attention from the Town Demon Alliance and various other forces.

The movement of Bizarre Demons would rattle the nerves of these forces.

All major forces worried that Wish Bizarre would merge with other Bizarre Demons, giving birth to an even more powerful Bizarre Demon.

The cleanup of Bizarre Demons was performed with particular diligence, yet three had still managed to slip through the net.

The greatest concern was...

With less than five years remaining until the once-in-ten-thousand-years major disaster, the number of Bizarre Demons was increasing at an abnormal rate.

In areas that required urgent attention, Bizarre Demons could not be sealed quickly enough.

This glimpse, like seeing a spot on a leopard, indicated the Bizarre Demon problem was undoubtedly extremely severe.

A disaster loomed, and a storm was approaching.

The Demon-Sealing Tower had sealed twenty-five Bizarre Demons, and nine floors remained vacant.

At least nine more Bizarre Demons could be sealed.

With Bizarre Demons merging, multiple Bizarre Demons could be imprisoned on a single floor, replacing weaker and unproductive ones like the Fire Demon Child.

The number of Bizarre Demons he had to capture would only increase.

"First, let's try to seal the Bizarre Lake!" Jia Ren decided.

The Bizarre Lake was a known Bizarre Demon, and critically, it possessed great strength.

The stronger the Bizarre Demon, the more Sacrificial Fire it could provide.

Sealing the Bizarre Lake would also allow it to be confined with the Drowned Bizarre, saving space in the Demon-Sealing Tower.

This point was crucial.

Jia Ren waited for less than two days before the Insect External Incarnation, controlling the Silver Flash Wings, returned to the Cave.

"It's time to go!"

The main body entered the Mountain and Sea Pearl to refine the Profound Vein Spirit Pill.

The Insect External Incarnation headed towards the location of the Bizarre Lake.

After traveling more than ten thousand li in two days, a deathly silent black lake emerged in the distance.

The surface of the lake was calm, without a ripple.

Divine consciousness probed but was blocked by an invisible force, unable to penetrate further.

There was no sign of life in the Bizarre Lake; it was dead water where living creatures could not survive.

The Insect External Incarnation stopped in front of the Bizarre Lake; the lake water was pitch-black, like flowing oil.

So dark that no light was visible, it failed to reflect any face.

The Bizarre Lake had dealt with the Insect External Incarnation a few times before. Hundreds of streams transformed into chains of water, greeting the familiar visitor.

"Stay away from that lake!"

A delicate shout came from a distance as a Jade Comb flew out, revolving around the water streams.

The chains of water, influenced by the Jade Comb, divided into smaller streams and returned to the Bizarre Lake.

"Liuli, why do you care about this guy?"

Four figures landed at the edge of the lake, eyeing the Insect External Incarnation warily.

All four were Golden Core Stage Cultivators, each wearing the Taoist robes of the Red Fire Palace, Seven Seas Tower, or Profound Heaven Sword Sect, with the sole exception of the female cultivator, whose affiliation was unknown.

"Another person is another helper. Resolving the Bizarre Lake together would be fortunate," said Yu Liuli, the only female among the four and a member of the Town Demon Alliance.

Unlike the other three, her only desire was to resolve the Bizarre Lake.

A cultivator in the Middle Stage of the Golden Core was also a significant help and should be assisted if possible.

Yu Liuli had a premonition that this person had come for the Bizarre Lake.

If they could unite, they stood a better chance of resolving the Bizarre Lake issue.

"Hmph, what use is this guy without an Evil-Repelling Magical Treasure to contend with Bizarre Demons?"

Evil-Repelling Magical Treasures were exceedingly precious, and not every Golden Core Cultivator in a Sect necessarily possessed one.

Lu Wuming of the Red Fire Palace had a face as pale as jade, with a striking red dot on his forehead.

His perception was acute, and he could vaguely sense enmity from the newcomer.

The Insect External Incarnation glanced at Lu Wuming indifferently. "The True Fire Palace finally dares venture out? I thought you all preferred to be shrinking tortoises."

"You slander my sect! You're looking for death!"

The red cinnabar between Lu Wuming's eyebrows pulsed as a three-colored Samadhi True Fire Sword suddenly slashed down.

This person was a Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivator, yet not as strong as Lu Wushuang, whom the Incarnation had battled in earlier years.

If it had defeated Lu Wushuang back then, it had even less to fear from this weaker individual.

As the Insect External Incarnation raised its palm, an invisible wind moved with the gesture.

With a palm strike, the Samadhi True Fire dancing on the sword was extinguished, and its luster dimmed as it plummeted from the sky.

"How is that possible?!"

Lu Wuming's face was filled with disbelief. His Samadhi True Fire Sword, infused with Spiritual Power, was tremendously powerful; how could it have been knocked to the ground by a palm strike from a cultivator of the same rank?

What kind of Divine Skill was this?

"The Wuding Stormwave of the Heavenly Feather Gate!"

"It is said that only Elder Qi Chunan from Heavenly Feather Gate is still alive. Fellow Daoist, are you Elder Qi's disciple?"

Yue Zun from Seven Seas Tower and Zong Chong from Profound Heaven Sword Sect were both astonished.

No wonder this person was clashing head-on with the True Fire Palace; the True Fire Palace had a hand in the annihilation of Heavenly Feather Gate in the past.

Word gets around. Though True Fire Palace's actions were secretive, they were not unknown to some.

A disciple of Qi Chunan? the Insect External Incarnation thought. Sorry, but I have already sent him on his way.

"Remnant of the Heavenly Feather Gate! Today I will send you..."

Lu Wuming did not finish speaking before a surge of killing intent assailed him.

Before they knew it, the Insect External Incarnation was clad in feathers of red, blue, and gold, its eyes cold.

"Fellow Daoists, could you do Yue Zun a favor?" Yue Zun interjected, wanting to play peacemaker.

Who do you think you are? Why should we give you face?!

Both ignored him.

"Divine Fire True Body!"

BOOM!

Flames erupted from Lu Wuming's body; pale red flames burned, and his hair had also turned a fiery red.

He was like a god wreathed in flames, an arbiter of fire's judgment.

"You're overestimating your abilities! Let me..."

BOOM!

Lu Wuming felt an indescribable pain all over his body as it scattered into uniformly sized chunks of flesh.

How is that possible? Wasn't he still standing right there...?

In Lu Wuming's dying eyes, Jia Ren was still standing in the original spot, while he himself was dead.

"Don't you know villains die from talking too much?" the Insect External Incarnation said.

Yu Liuli, Yue Zun, and Zong Chong saw a different scene: the Insect External Incarnation had already rushed in front of Lu Wuming when he belatedly tried to use his Divine Skill.

Just as the Divine Fire True Body manifested, the tricolored Peacock Feathers had already dismembered him.

He died too quickly! Is this really a battle between cultivators of the same level? Why does it feel as though a Nascent Soul Cultivator is bullying a Golden Core Cultivator?

The three of them were stunned. The Bizarre Lake issue had not been resolved, and they had lost a strong fighter.

"Fellow Daoist, don't you think you've gone too far?" Zong Chong couldn't help but frown.

"I think Liuli is right! An additional person is an extra hand..."

Yue Zun pulled at Zong Chong and shook his head, indicating for him not to meddle.

The power of a Heavenly Feather Gate cultivator was terrifying, instantly killing a Golden Core Cultivator.

They weren't close to Lu Wuming; they had just come together to deal with the Bizarre Lake threat and had no obligation to seek revenge for him.

Zong Chong weighed his own strength and, taking the advice, chose to remain silent.

"Fellow Daoist, you've killed a True Fire Palace cultivator. It's best you leave quickly," Yu Liuli advised Jia Ren.

Golden Core Cultivators were high-ranking members in all the Great Sects.

More than twenty years ago, the True Fire Palace had lost a Nascent Soul Cultivator and more than a dozen Golden Core Cultivators, making Golden Cores even more precious to them.

"No worries."

Times had changed; there was no need to worry about cultivators sent from the True Fire Palace.

Apart from the True Fire Palace Master, other cultivators posed no threat.

The Bizarre Mirror had copied third-rank Leaving Fireball Talisman Pills and Azure Gang Thunder Talisman Pills, enough to give the True Fire Palace Master a very hard time.

If the fight turned sour, escaping wouldn't be a problem.

"What do you all know about the Bizarre Lake? Let's share information," the Insect External Incarnation suggested.

"All I know is that the Bizarre Lake can affect Spiritual Power. I've tried to seal it several times, but each time it has managed to escape."

The Insect External Incarnation wasn't as well-informed as the Sects and the Town Demon Alliance.

One must understand the Bizarre Lake to seal it.

The looks the three others gave him were as if they were looking at a monster; this person had already come close to sealing the Bizarre Lake several times.

Could he really do it all by himself?

They definitely could seal the Bizarre Lake!

With Bizarre Demons appearing more frequently, if they didn't nip them in the bud, within a few years, the Great Sects would lack the strength to resist.

Ninety-nine percent of Sects and powers had no means of escaping this world to take refuge; if they wanted to survive the coming tide of Bizarre Demons, they had no choice but to fight with their backs against the wall.

The more Bizarre Demons they could seal, the fewer they would face during the great catastrophe, and the safer they would be.

"The Bizarre Lake isn't large on the surface," Yu Liuli began to explain, "but in fact, its influence extends far beyond what is visible. It's connected to underground rivers, and the lake waters affect an even larger area. A recent localized downpour was influenced by the power of the Bizarre Lake. If it continues to spread, it will become a Bizarre Demon affecting the entire region."

The Bizarre Lake's influence was extremely detrimental and had to be addressed. It wasn't that the Town Demon Alliance and the major powers undervalued this threat by assigning only Golden Core Cultivators to handle it. The reality was that Bizarre Demons were becoming increasingly numerous. Those with far greater impact than the Bizarre Lake had already appeared, and top experts were all occupied dealing with these more pressing threats.

"I brought Water Dividing Banners inscribed with Town Ghoul Inscriptions, specifically designed for the Bizarre Lake," Yu Liuli proclaimed. "We cut off its appendages and tributaries first, then deal with the main body last."

Yu Liuli, hailing from the Town Demon Alliance, had extensive experience dealing with Bizarre Demons.

Before departing, the Town Demon Alliance had sent investigators to confirm the abilities and characteristics of this Bizarre Demon.

Only with the right remedy for the specific ailment could it be cured.

"Great! We prioritize cutting off the Bizarre Demon's branches, then focus our energy on sealing the Bizarre Lake," the Insect External Incarnation agreed.

Yu Liuli took the lead. One hundred and eight Water Dividing Banners contained the Bizarre Lake, preventing its waters from spreading further.

Using her Jade Comb, she collected some water from the Bizarre Lake and placed it onto a disk.

"Following this disk will lead us to anything infected by the Bizarre Lake's waters within a hundred li," she explained.

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