Chapter 199: How Could There Be an Evil Yin Presence in the Feng Shui Land of Mount Tai
Nighttime.
The cargo ship gradually sailed from a calm stretch of river into a turbulent section.
Ahead, the river's surface began to reveal some exposed, pitch-black reefs.
This place was known as Black Sand Reef.
Before long, a group of cultivators, including Mei Haihe, gathered on the deck.
The shipowner, Guo Long, nodded and bowed, prompting Guo Yi to quickly serve them cold tea.
The four cultivators chatted jovially, discussing everything from the southern skies to the northern lands.
One had to admit, Mei Haihe, who had traveled far and wide, was indeed knowledgeable.
Shen Mo, standing nearby, listened with great interest.
"I hope that water demon doesn't show up… Otherwise, we're in for a tough battle," Guo Yi murmured, hands clasped together and eyes tightly shut in prayer.
After a few whispered prayers, he suddenly shivered.
"Hiss… Why has it suddenly turned so cold?"
Shen Mo heard him and chuckled lightly. "What would you do if the water demon did appear?"
In a low voice, Guo Yi replied, "I'm not strong enough to be of any help to you, Daoists. I'd tie myself to the mast and not let go for a second."
Shen Mo nodded with a smile. "Not bad, that's exactly what you should do."
"You'd better go find some rope now. I have a feeling that water demon is about to appear."
Guo Yi was taken aback.
Although the river ahead was turbulent, it didn't seem particularly dangerous.
There was no sign that a water demon was about to show itself.
Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he gasped. "Daoist, is it because of the sudden chill?"
Shen Mo smiled faintly. "You're quite perceptive."
Guo Yi sprinted to the cabin, hurriedly grabbed a rope, and firmly tied himself to the mast.
Mei Haihe and the others looked on in astonishment.
After hearing Guo Yi's explanation, Mei Haihe burst into laughter.
"It's just a bit colder than usual. Don't be so jumpy."
"I have a spiritual artifact that can detect the presence of nearby beasts."
Mei Haihe pulled out a mirror.
The mirror was dull, not reflecting any image even when brought close to his face.
"Look, if this thing lights up, it means there's a powerful beast nearby. The brighter it glows, the stronger the beast."
"But right now, there's no reaction at all. You can rest easy."
Mei Haihe waved dismissively. "You all, untie him."
He glanced at Shen Mo and added, "Young friend, I can tell this lad is easily frightened. There's no need to scare him."
The three Foundation Establishment cultivators nodded in agreement. "Exactly, Senior Mei's artifact isn't reacting, so there's no need for such talk."
Shen Mo smiled slightly. "Senior Mei, your artifact can indeed sense beastly auras, but what if it's not a beast in the water?"
Mei Haihe froze.
That… could indeed be possible.
There were certain malevolent entities that could stir up trouble in the water as well.
"No way, those who barely escaped said it was a water demon."
"And cultivators at the Core Formation stage from nearby sects also concluded it was a water demon after their investigation."
The three Foundation Establishment cultivators shook their heads repeatedly.
After careful thought, Mei Haihe also shook his head firmly. "Young friend, you're overthinking it. Mount Tai's feng shui lands rarely see the presence of evil Yin spirits."
As he spoke, the chill in the air grew more intense.
Guo Yi exhaled a breath that turned to frost.
His eyes widened in shock.
Mei Haihe and the three Foundation Establishment cultivators immediately sensed that something was amiss.
"It's here."
Shen Mo gazed ahead and said calmly.
Roar!
A raspy, inhuman roar suddenly echoed.
A moment later, a figure about ten feet tall burst from the turbulent water and leaped straight toward the cargo ship!
With a loud crack.
The sturdy deck of the ship splintered instantly!
The shipowner, Guo Long, stared in disbelief. "My deck is made of ironwood; it shouldn't be damaged even by a fourth-rank beast's attack. This…"
Mei Haihe and the others turned to see a terrifying figure.
It was covered in black fur, each strand over half a foot long.
Yet, even with such dense fur, it could not hide the blood-red eyes and razor-sharp fangs.
Around it, a thick, icy aura emanated.
In the blink of an eye, the water splashed onto the deck had frozen into solid ice!
"A… Yin Corpse!"
One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators screamed.
He turned and tried to run.
However, the Yin Corpse was faster, reaching him in an instant. Its claws plunged into his chest as if through tofu, easily extracting the cultivator's heart and devouring it in one bite!
The other two Foundation Establishment cultivators had no chance to react.
They, too, were slain on the spot by the Yin Corpse.
Mei Haihe's eyes widened.
Such speed and power—this was no ordinary Yin Corpse.
It had to be at least at the peak of the fourth rank!
Even cultivators of the same level were no match for a Yin Corpse.
Now, faced with a peak fourth-rank Yin Corpse, how could they possibly fight it?
Yet…
He glanced at Guo Long and Guo Yi.
He had accepted this commission and could not abandon the clients.
He had lived for over three hundred years, traversing the world, and had earned his reputation not just through strength but through integrity.
"You must leave now."
"Take this spiritual artifact. With it, you two can move underwater. Use the time I'll buy fighting the Yin Corpse to get to shore!"
Mei Haihe threw a strange-looking spiritual artifact to them.
Then, he charged straight at the Yin Corpse!
"Damn you, vile spirit!"
Mei Haihe roared, and a string of copper coins appeared in his palm.
In an instant, they formed the shape of a sword.
He channeled his spiritual energy, connecting with the surrounding aura, and the copper coin sword was soon engulfed in fierce flames.
Mei Haihe thrust it forward.
The flames shot out.
Though it did not harm the Yin Corpse, it forced it to retreat, roaring in fury.
On the other side, Guo Long looked at the spiritual artifact, realizing it was a thin, wing-like object.
As it touched the river water on the deck, it expanded like an inflated balloon, turning into a sphere about ten feet in diameter.
"Thank you, Senior Mei!"
Guo Long, filled with gratitude, quickly pulled Guo Yi into the sphere.
But before they could submerge,
The Yin Corpse let out an enraged bellow.
It spat a foul, icy blood arrow from its mouth.
Mei Haihe's fiery sword aura shattered like a paper window.
The icy blood arrow didn't stop and struck Mei Haihe's chest, pinning him to the ship.
The Yin Corpse then lunged toward Guo Long and Guo Yi.
Mei Haihe, barely clinging to life, gasped for breath.
The blood arrow's poison was evident; even with his antidote, he could only temporarily stave off its effects.
"Damn… it really is a Yin Corpse…"
Mei Haihe muttered through gritted teeth.
"Who would have thought that after all my travels, I'd meet my end here? What a shame for all those lovely women I cared for…"
He felt a pang of regret.
At that moment, he sensed a surge of spiritual energy.
A black-clad figure appeared at incredible speed before Guo Long and Guo Yi.
The Yin Corpse's claws slashed down fiercely.
But the black-clad figure deflected them effortlessly!
Mei Haihe's eyes widened.
Didn't that young man claim to be only at the Foundation Establishment stage when he boarded?
How could he repel a peak fourth-rank Yin Corpse?
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