Mountain Patrol Military Officer

"Spread out!"

Accompanied by several bellows from outside.

Then came cries of alarm and the sound of horses neighing, along with the noise of things falling to the ground.

Just outside the inn doors, a group of unexpected guests charged through the lingering morning fog with menace. Merchants readying their departure were startled, their horses panicked and ran amok, and carts lost control, toppling to one side as people and goods tumbled off.

Guards swiftly reacted, brandishing their weapons at the newcomers with fierce glares, but then their expressions turned to surprise and doubt, causing them to retreat involuntarily.

In the inn's main hall, those inside rose at the sound, peeking out, while from upstairs came the sound of windows opening to glimpse the arrivals.

There were seven or eight of them, mounted on steeds that were intimidating, with bodies covered in black-gray serpentine skin, even the heads formed like snakeheads, with long necks, peculiar and strange, as though stitched together.

The newcomers all wore black iron armor, glimmering coldly. The leader held a set of dark chains, others wielded bizarre-shaped weapons, and some carried jars.

Their appearances were as awkward and grotesque as their mounts and weapons. Each feature might be fine alone, but combined on one face, they were incredibly awkward and ugly.

A pair of sword-like brows paired with tiny eyes the size of pea grains.

After emerging from the fog, they left a damp trail, and the fog moved with them, encircling the inn.

Their mismatched eyes flashed with cold, sharp glances, sweeping across those who dared to brandish weapons before settling on the shrine beside the inn.

"Demolish it!"

The leader spoke, shaking the chains as two gill-like slits by his cheeks spread open and closed with his words, creating a muffled sound.

Immediately, two individuals jumped down, rushing towards the small house, kicking over the incense altar in front, scattering ash into the air.

Then, these two directly kicked the clay figure off the shrine, opening the jar they held.

With a sudden dump.

Immediately, a yellow-green filth poured from the jar, accompanied by a nauseating stench that quickly filled the air.

"So foul!"

"It's gold juice!"

"Why would they use such filth to desecrate the Mountain God statue?"

"These are not human..."

At this moment, daylight rose, more people in the inn awoke and came downstairs. Seeing these peculiar people dismantling the local Mountain God's shrine and using excrement as an insult caused a commotion.

But the commotion quickly died down. Some seasoned travelers recognized these individuals, grew unsure, and silently closed their doors and windows, unwilling to cause trouble.

Gradually, the inn became quiet.

A shop assistant who had been flattering Chen Yuan and his entourage just moments ago, upon seeing the iron armor on these individuals, seemed to realize something significant. His eyes widened, mouth trembling, as he rushed back to hide behind the shop counter.

There, the old shopkeeper, possessing Martial Arts Cultivation and having worked in a government office before, crouched with a panicked expression.

"Shopkeeper, could these people be from the Bailong River..." The assistant was anxious, recalling some stories.

"Shut up, who knows how these folks emerged from the water. Don't make a noise, don't provoke them." The old shopkeeper replied in a hushed tone, his beard shaking.

Then, he stealthily peeked at the open door, hurriedly issued a breath of Powerful Energy.

With a "Bang," the door slammed shut!

Outside the inn, the fog seemed to surge in upon the arrival of these individuals. Those who had been bumped were slowly retreating towards the back of the inn within the fog.

Seeing the inn's doors close, their expressions tightened, hastily forming a defensive circle, as if facing a great threat.

At this moment, just stepped out of the inn was Chen Yuan, observing these unexpected guests. His expression remained unchanged, though he subtly adjusted his brows upon hearing the door shut behind him, showing no emotion.

He watched as these "people" toppled the shrine, pouring the foul-smelling liquid over the clay figure.

In his sight, as the filth touched the clay, the surface shimmered like boiling water, creating intense ripples.

It seemed something was about to emerge, breaking free from within.

Soon, a rumbling voice akin to thunder echoed from the clay.

"Who dares disrespect this deity!"

As the words fell, a luminous glow drifted from the clay, revealing a towering figure in a red scarf and green flower robe, robust and face like a heavy date, walking in black boots, holding a black Divine Sword in one hand, and the Mountain Opening Seal in the other.

The leader, whose speech made his fish-gill-like face move, appeared to await this moment. His eyes flashed fiercely before launching the black chain at the glowing figure emerging from the clay.

With a "sizzling" sound, it ripped through the air.

The black chain shot through the void like a Black Snake, aiming at the luminous figure.

Upon seeing the newcomers and chain, the once angry expression of the giant instantly shifted before swinging the black sword at the incoming chain.

"Ding dang clang!"

The sword and black chain battled intensely within a small space, sparks flying, with the energy released equal to the Heavenly Pass Tao Seed's cultivation.

The escaping Powerful Energy scattered wildly, turning the small shed into powder and then whizzed towards the inn.

Each tightly closed door and window riddled with holes from the aftermath, causing noises of turmoil within the inn.