But he didn't expect the reputation of the Ghost Theater Troupe to be so notorious.

The Ghost Theater Troupe came with five people, and the leader slowly stepped forward.

He was dressed as a Daoist in theatrical costumes, with a thin and angular figure. The wide black Daoist robe made him appear even more hollow, carrying a Soul Banner on his back. The night wind blew his sparse dry hair, revealing his withered face.

"Yellow Springs Wanderer!"

"Thunderbolt Hand" Xu Zhenshan roared: "So it was you messing around here. This is Yangzhou City, Community Order Soldiers can be deployed at any time, making your souls scatter!"

Though he spoke harshly, his voice trembled, clearly putting on a brave front.

"Woo woo~"

As soon as the words were spoken, the Artist driving the Cat Demon sang tearfully: "I sent my cat servant into the city~ precisely for the Community Order Soldiers, the matter is done, but oh, pity my cats~"

After speaking, she looked at Li Yan, "You, you, you, what a cruel heart~"

Xu Zhenshan's face changed immediately upon hearing this.

He wanted to organize people to break out, but looking around, he didn't know when the entire house was shrouded in thick fog, realizing the place had fallen into an Illusion Array, he retreated quietly, thinking of countermeasures.

The leading Yellow Springs Wanderer, however, ignored him and looked at Li Yan:

"You are Li Yan, we have been waiting for you for quite some time..."

"Oh."

Li Yan's lips curved slightly, jokingly saying: "Interesting, we're traveling in secret, not making a fuss, yet everyone knows about it, tut tut."

Though his face carried a smile, his eyes were cold as a blade.

He had already seen through the appearances of the five people and secretly used Divine Skills to investigate.

When he was in Shu, he had already clashed with the Ghost Theater Troupe and knew plenty of their information.

The so-called "Ghost Theater Troupe" is not a single troupe, but a large organization that absorbs many Evil Dao experts, using "Sheng, Dan, Jing, Mo, Chou" as markers to form small troupes for activities.

The nervous woman driving the Cat Demon is undoubtedly the "Dan".

This leading "Yellow Springs Wanderer" is the Sheng.

The remaining three all exuded an evil aura.

That "Chou" was hunched in height, wearing oversized tattered clothes, his limbs twisted and clumsy, with a wooden carved crying-smiling mask face, carrying an old camphorwood box on his back, not knowing what it contained.

Another person, also a Sheng, was lean and withered, his face as yellow as an old shopkeeper's, an old long shirt starched stiffly yellow, wearing a small cap, with an oily old abacus hanging from his waist, emanating a corpse oil smell.

Finally, the other was also a Chou, short in stature like a seven or eight-year-old child, with a red bellyband and white pants, a skyward braid, a deathly white powdered face and bright red blush, with hollow eyes displaying an eerie smile.

Li Yan wasn't surprised at this sight.

This small troupe of the "Ghost Theater Troupe" wasn't necessarily complete, they were divided according to individual characteristics.

What made him shudder inwardly was that these people's Qi was strange, their Dao was about the Fifth Layer, much stronger than those he defeated in Shu.

This was just one team.

How did the Ghost Theater Troupe gather so many experts in such a short time?

"Hahaha~"

Upon hearing Li Yan's self-mockery, the Yellow Springs Wanderer laughed hoarsely, "Do you know how much the reward offered for you is? Not just us, even those Earth Immortals would be tempted."

"Today you walk into the trap by yourself, saving us some trouble."

The words were aggressive, yet no movement was made.

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, "You're stalling for time... no!"

His heart tightened, abruptly flinging out the Soul-breaking Flying Blade.

The Flying Blade whistled downward, spinning in the air, sweeping directly at everyone.

But strangely, the five of them dispersed like smoke.

"Hahaha~"

"Want to kill us, try finding us first..."

The old, strange laughter grew farther and vanished into the mist.

"It's an Illusion Technique!"

Xu Zhenshan's face turned white, then quickly flushed red.

At this moment, he no longer pretends to be deep, directly turning to bow and say: "Young Hero Li, the Ghost Theater Troupe's mischief in the city must have a plot, forgive my old eyes for not recognizing, can you tell what kind of Array this is?"

Li Yan frowned slightly, "I don't recognize it."

He had already figured out the oddity earlier.

The Ghost Theater Troupe's demons must have collected a lot of information if they knew about him.

He wasn't afraid of a siege, by summoning Yin Department Soldiers, not many people could withstand them.

Daring to reveal himself to delay time, he relied on this wondrous Illusion Technique.

Seeing that Li Yan was also unfamiliar with this Array, Xu Zhenshan could only lead the Law Enforcement Hall disciples to charge out, but they hadn't gone a street before they found themselves returning, dazed and confused.

The others, including Li Yan, encountered the same result.

"What a powerful Array!"

Xu Zhenshan's eyes were full of disbelief, "It seems this Array has already enveloped the entire Yangzhou City... This is bad, they are in collusion with those pirates!"

Thinking of this, he suddenly turned around, grabbing Wang Maode and roaring in anger: "You fool, you've brought the wolf into the fold. Tell me, what else do you know?"

By now, everyone realized they'd been duped.

What was all that talk of dealing with the pirates.

It was probably just to gather them here, making it convenient for the pirates to act.

Wang Maode, at this point in utter despair, didn't need to be forced to explain the reason.

As expected, he recruited that Immortal merely because she could control the Cat Demon, possessing uncommon skills. Once she entered the city, she helped him secretly eliminate a few rivals.

His actions against Yu Hailin's son were also to distract him, preventing him from competing in business.

"You've got some nerve!"

Xu Zhenshan was so angry his face turned red; he never expected this guy would dare to use Evil Skills to harm people right under his nose. Remembering the benefits he received previously, he was both anxious and angry.

"What did she do in the city?"

Li Yan asked in a deep voice.

Wang Maode replied, "I'm no Magician, I don't understand these things, but that demoness often bewitched my wives and concubines, having them tie dolls at the City God Temple, claiming it could grant children..."

Everyone realized that the City God Temple had likely been tampered with.

"That's right!"

Wang Maode suddenly remembered something, speaking up: "She also had me offer a big reward to find a family with the last name Cui. From that family, I bought a bronze mirror broken in half..."

"It's the 'Jade Mirror Platform', no wonder!"

Xu Zhenshan blurted out, shocked: "That thing was still here!"

Seeing Li Yan's confusion, he explained: "The 'Jade Mirror Platform' is an ancient Spiritual Treasure from Yangzhou. According to the 'Collection of Strange Tales', the Cui Family of Yangzhou possessed the Jade Mirror Platform, from which a woman's image would occasionally appear within. Cui spoke and laughed into the mirror, and the woman responded. Later, the mirror shattered, and the woman left, weeping."

"This treasure is most adept at Illusion Technique, but to envelop all of Yangzhou with a Great Array, this alone is not enough."

"I think I know what it is..."

A flash of inspiration struck Li Yan's mind as he gazed at the misty night sky.

"We're trapped inside the 'Netherworld Stage'!"

......

In the inner courtyard of Yu Hailin's mansion on the other side.

Wang Daoxuan flicked Finger Techniques with Yellow Talismans, chanting incessantly.

As the spell was recited, visible unclean black air slowly floated out from the unconscious Yu Qing's nose and mouth. His pained expression gradually eased, and the pungent fetid smell began to diminish.

"Succeeded!" Wang Daoxuan said with a low shout, collecting his technique and focusing his mind.

On the bed, Yu Qing coughed violently, vomiting a clump of sticky black filth entwined with sparse cat hair. His complexion shifted from bluish-white to sallow, and his breathing became steady.

Yu Hailin exhaled with relief, tears streaming down his aged face, hurriedly bowing in gratitude:

"Thanks to the two Immortals! Such immense kindness..."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard with a smile, "Brother Yan has dealt with the demon, only then could we succeed here."

He was speaking when he suddenly frowned and glanced outside.

Both he and Lv San could feel a cold yin energy suddenly appearing outside.

With no time to explain to Yu Hailin, the two leaped out, landing on the rooftop.

They saw the night wind rise abruptly, with thick, gloomy fog spilling out from the city's north at great speed, engulfing every lamplight along its path as if darkness was descending.

Just as the Yu Family was about to be enveloped by the fog in the final few breaths, they noticed the port and docks blazing with fire, the sound of battle cries piercing the sky.

It was then completely obscured by the fog.

"Something's happened!"

The two exchanged glances, both with solemn expressions.

"Why has such a thick fog arisen?"

Yu Hailin, with his servants holding lanterns, ran out with a joyful expression and said to the two: "Rest assured, Immortals, no matter how dense the fog, I will help you obtain the pass order."

Wang Daoxuan heard this and smiled wryly, "I fear we won't be able to leave..."