On top of Taishan, ominous clouds surged like ink, swallowing the last glimmer of daylight.

The entire mountain range sank into an eerie darkness.

The mountain wind carried a bone-chilling cold, sweeping up dry leaves and stones to twist and whirl in the air.

Li Yan looked up and saw the outline of Taishan being devoured by the writhing black fog, making it difficult to discern human figures just a few yards away.

"The Earth Energy is all messed up!"

Wang Daoxuan glanced at the Turtle Shell Compass in his hand.

This treasure was trembling madly, the magnetic needle spinning like a headless fly.

He said gravely, "The Earth Vein is surging with yin energy; the spiritual acupoints are now imbalanced in Yin Yang."

"Daoist, can you discern what method this is?" Li Yan asked in a deep voice.

Wang Daoxuan was equally puzzled, "I've never seen it before; perhaps it's beyond human capability."

The accompanying Mr. Zhao from Mingde Academy, and the Chief Historian from Prince De Mansion, were all stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.

They initially thought they were coming to handle chaos in the city, not expecting such events.

The entire Taishan enveloped in Yin Fog had already surpassed their understanding.

As soon as the words were spoken, strange rustling sounds arose from the forest.

On the mountain path, a dozen garrison soldiers suddenly rushed out, rolling and crawling.

They were panicked, covered in blood, faces pale as if they had encountered something terrifying.

Boom!

A few wild boars smashed through dead trees, charging behind, their tusks dripping with foam, eyes veined with blood. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Even more horrifying was the Yin Wind howling behind them, stirring leaves with swirling dust.

Several figures appeared among them, each in tattered clothes, faces full of rotten flesh, exuding a nauseating stench.

They not only pursued the garrison soldiers but also targeted the wild boars.

Whenever they knocked one down, they would desperately scratch and bite.

In an instant, the screams of the wild boars and humans merged into a chaotic roar.

Among them, a few of the zombie-like creatures seemed drawn by the human blood and lunged towards them with roars.

Bang! Bang bang!

Sha Lifei directly raised his gun and pulled the trigger.

A few of the zombie-like creatures were immediately shattered, pus and blood splattering everywhere, the blue stone pavement sizzling corrosively.

"Such deadly poison blood!"

Everyone's face changed drastically upon seeing this.

The leading Little Flag Officer was clearly more lucid, his armor shattered, left ear bloody, kneeling desperately upon seeing the officials:

"Report! Master, they've... they've all died! The stone steps eat people!"

"Explain clearly!"

The accompanying Commander of the Guard grabbed his collar angrily and scolded.

This Commander was already somewhat desperate.

Matters from the government office could be explained as obeying orders, helplessly so.

But so many soldiers dying was not merely a matter of losing office.

The Little Flag Officer swallowed hard, gesturing incoherently, "Returning to Master, we were ordered to guard the mountain, when suddenly the earth shook, Yin Wind rose, Captain Wang led the patrol but just past the Mid Heaven Gate... the ground suddenly collapsed, the brothers were immediately scattered..."

"What happened next?"

"We encountered a Ghost Wall, the beasts went mad on the mountain, and people were cursed..."

He spoke more excitedly, his eyes becoming bloodshot, black lines spreading beneath the whites.

Wang Daoxuan frowned slightly, immediately drawing a talisman, sticking it on his forehead, while chanting: "With orders from the emperor, sweep the universe, Twenty-Eight Stars, Horizontal Seven Stars, activate the dipper, Feitian Wolf of Heaven, master of Kan and Li, array the Heavenly Soldiers, left for Heavenly Contract, right for Megrez, thunder soldiers and generals, make no delay, swift as the law dictates!"

This was the Soul Calming Spell, and it specifically countered evil energy entering the mind.

Black air rose from the Colonel's head, eyes rolled back, and he fainted.

At the same time, the ominous clouds over Taishan thickened.

Whoosh!

The wind roared angrily, the air oppressed as if ready to drip water.

Mr. Zhao from Mingde Academy looked grim, his beard trembling slightly as he suddenly looked at Chief Historian Xiao Chengyou from Prince Mansion, with a trace of anxiety: "Xiao Changshi! Such celestial phenomena are by no means ordinary!"

"The people below the mountain are in danger! We must urgently send word to Jinan Prefecture, ask the Prince and the Governor to mobilize more elite garrison soldiers, request Mystical Sect experts to come and oversee this matter!"

To speak truthfully, he was quite wronged.

Originally, the message was intended for Mr. Zhao Tong from the Academy to handle, since he was responsible for the stabbing case of Yan Sheng Gong.

But coincidentally, he was embarrassed by Li Yan, and Lu Hongyuan ordered friendly relations, no retaliation, so he invited Mr. Zhao from the Academy to come and avoid trouble.

Did not expect such a big matter upon arrival.

He was a teacher but had ordinary martial prowess, more skilled in Confucianism.

In such situation, he could only quickly absolve himself of responsibility.

Chief Historian Xiao Chengyou from Prince Mansion also lost composure, cold sweat streaming down his forehead, "What Mr. Zhao said is indeed true, I will use the Prince Mansion Seal immediately! Besides the Jinan Prefecture office, we must quickly invite Master Xu Cangsong from Jinan Prefecture City God Temple... he is the City God under Taishan, matters of the Divine Path rightly should be shouldered by him!"

When mentioning the name "Xu Cangsong," Li Yan's brow instinctively furrowed.

That one from Jinan Prefecture City God Temple...

He had met once in Jinan Prefecture.

He was known for incompetence, evading responsibility, fearing authority.

Expecting the City God Temple from Jinan Prefecture to handle such a calamity was akin to fool's talk!

Even if Lu Hongyuan were invited, the distance being far, by the time he arrives, Taishan might already have turned into a dead zone, with nothing left to do!

A strong sense of warning surged in his heart.

On top of Taishan, it was absolutely not merely a case of landslide or wild beasts going berserk.

It was very likely that the remaining two Earth Immortals had already acted!

They dared to plot for the Lord's position... could this be the reason?

"No time!"

Thinking of this, Li Yan directly spoke to everyone in a deep voice, "Distant water cannot quench near thirst; while the two of you go for reinforcements, I will lead people up the mountain first!"

Having said that, he looked at his companions with a solemn expression:

"This time could be dangerous..."