As the anomalous transformations became more and more drastic, the entire Qingyan Town began to feel corresponding effects.
The buildings had already disappeared, replaced instead by all kinds of demon lairs, as if one had arrived at Shituoling in Journey to the West, the mountains and fields filled with demons and ghosts.
Although Morning Street was in a sealed environment, it still could not escape.
When the nearest mountain spider underwent a drastic transformation, a demon cultivator climbed into Morning Street along a wall that seemed virtually constructed.
Now inside, the dense residential areas were covered with a thick layer of spider silk, and from time to time half-human, half-spider demon cultivators could be seen appearing.
The people of Morning Street all hid in cellars, surviving on the few remaining supplies.
They did not know what was happening outside, but occasionally they could hear screams, likely someone who could not resist leaving their home.
The proportion of female spider demon cultivators was extremely high.
They were not in a hurry to kill prey, instead enjoying the despair of mortals in the web, letting out bell-like, pleasant laughter.
Three-Wood Alley no longer had its original bustling activity; the dilapidated alley piled with all kinds of bones, with a few broken coffins.
A rat quietly crawled out from a wall crack; before it could reach the corpses, it was entangled in a web, soon transforming into a pupal shell.
Inside the coffin shop, shadows of people moved, and one could hear suppressed curses.
At least dozens of people crowded inside the shop, all cultivators above Foundation Establishment stage, the atmosphere extremely oppressive.
Coffin Elder lay calmly against the wall, light snoring coming from his mouth and nose.
The other cultivators did not dare offend him; after all, Coffin Elder was said to have reached Nascent Soul stage, the most important support for escaping Morning Street.
They all vented their anger on the boy in the corner, their eyes constantly appraising him.
The boy's cultivation was only newly at Foundation Establishment stage, but his courage far exceeded normal, slowly polishing a seemingly ordinary iron sheet.
Du Cun had a coarse appearance, his gaze subtly scanning the surroundings, then he quickly walked up to the boy, his voice low: "Han Li, don't you know what the situation is now?"
"The only feasible way is for us to escape Morning Street together."
As soon as his words fell, the other cultivators responded.
Du Cun's expression showed slight pride. If not for Coffin Elder, he could have abandoned Han Li and sought escape on his own.
In recent days he had secretly accumulated reputation, all to completely isolate Han Li.
Han Li put down the iron sheet, in a tone leaving no doubt said: "Don't hinder me from dealing with the anomalies. Get away."
"You've truly lost your mind."
Du Cun's face changed drastically, his clenched fist almost falling.
Han Li didn't bother with the others, continuing to polish the iron sheet outwardly, in fact forging an artifact to restrain the anomalies.
Both he and Coffin Elder had Netherworld Heavenly Insect Method, supplemented by Shadow Ghost Technique, so leaving Morning Street was indeed not difficult.
But they originally came for the Night Watchman, they could not return empty-handed.
When Han Li sharpened the iron sheet, he was ready, just waiting for the "meat chicken" to recklessly leave Morning Street, and then seize the Night Watchman.
Du Cun squinted, murderous intent radiating from his body: "Han Li, if you die, no one can stop it, but don't block our way of life."
Han Li replied: "If you want to leave, go ahead, the gate is there."
The cultivators were enraged. If it weren't for the mountain spider demon cultivators outside watching, they would have drawn their swords immediately against Han Li.
Seeing the others, Du Cun's mouth revealed a barely noticeable smile: "In that case, our ways differ, we shall depart the shop another day."
He looked at Coffin Elder respectfully: "Coffin Elder, what do you think..."
Coffin Elder opened his eyes, shaking his head in refusal: "My lifespan is near its end, I never thought to live. Escape Morning Street yourselves."
Du Cun's expression darkened. If he didn't know Han Li and Coffin Elder were unfamiliar, he might think the two had hidden hands.
Coffin Elder reminded: "You can choose noon with good daylight, at least you won't touch the spider silk on the ground."
"We plan to go later; cultivators' eyes can already see in the dark."
Du Fang hesitated not at all, choosing to refuse, even feeling Coffin Elder was setting a trap, his vigilance clear.
Silence returned in the shop.
Han Li took out a fishing net, carefully hanging the iron sheet on it.
Unknowingly, dusk arrived; Morning Street was silent, only faintly hearing the demon cultivators moving in the webs.
Du Fang and the others were ready. Without artifacts, they held crude swords and knives, their blades flickering cold light.
They dug a hole in the corner of the wall, preparing to crawl out of the shop.
Han Li looked at the youngest cultivator, hesitating a moment: "Ah Jin, the road ahead is fraught with death. Have you thought it through?"
"Han Ge..."
Before Jin Hui could speak, Du Cun and the others drew their blades, approaching Han Li.
Coffin Elder coughed a few times, barely suppressing Du Cun's anger; Du Cun waved, leading the group to crawl out of the shop.
Jin Hui hesitated but ultimately followed Du Cun.
After they went far, Coffin Elder sighed: "Han Li, why speak too much, it almost affected the overall plan."
Han Li gripped the wooden table, nails sinking into the surface: "I just feel it's a pity. They all deserve to die, but Ah Jin..."
"Not every good person can survive."
Han Li said in a deep voice: "That's why the Immortal opened the Immortal Market, providing endless food, and giving everyone equal opportunity to cultivate."
He became more agitated; this long-hidden inner side of the boy was still inevitably emotional.
Coffin Elder shook his head.
He felt the Immortal's purpose was not pure, but the merits were real.
In the silence, a shrill scream came from the mouth of Three-Wood Alley.
Morning Street immediately erupted, like hunters approaching hunting season, surrounding exposed cultivators.
Coffin Elder took out a jar of Peach Wine, drank to warm himself, then gently opened the door, walking out with Han Li in tacit coordination.
The two already memorized nearby details, moving through the residential area using hands and feet.
Han Li looked back at Three-Wood Alley, smelling faint blood, unsure how many cultivators had died just a few meters from the shop.
His state of mind affected, his right foot accidentally stepped on a nearly invisible web, causing surrounding webs to ripple.
It seemed a demon cultivator was rushing over.
Han Li calmly stabbed his brow with a needle-like artifact, coldness covering his body; the demon sensed it was not a living being and went away.
Coffin Elder reminded: "Be careful."
"Okay."
They reached a relatively open space, skillfully taking out a copper gong to strike.
Before Han Li arrived at Morning Street, Coffin Elder had already investigated the Night Watcher's taboos; one was the sound of the copper gong at midnight.
"Dry season, be careful of fire."
A strange tone sounded.
But the anomaly was obviously weakened, and words of resentment could still be heard.
"I'll deal with him first. Han Li, be ready to act anytime."
Coffin Elder snorted coldly, hair covering his face, revealing sharp teeth at the back of his neck.
Then his body emitted sounds of bones colliding, limbs forcibly twisted 180 degrees, as if he were a different person.
Insect shells covered his skin, joints sprouting sharp bone spikes, looking very hideous.
Although Coffin Elder's cultivation fell to Golden Core, he could barely use Nascent Soul techniques. This method was Nascent Soul possession.
The Night Watcher appeared as if teleporting within half a meter of Coffin Elder, demon qi becoming solid to strike.
Coffin Elder dodged nimbly, seizing opportunities to leave marks of damage on the Night Watcher.
But the anomaly, after all, was an anomaly; its recovery far exceeded imagination, quickly gaining the upper hand.
Han Li gripped the fishing net, the aura of the Demonic Embryo Artifact fully revealed.
He knew he had only one chance; failure could kill Coffin Elder, his palm sweating coldly.
Coffin Elder did not add pressure, desperately maintaining Nascent Soul possession.
Han Li took a deep breath, soon finding the Night Watcher's exposed flaw, legs gathering strength to throw the net artifact.
At this moment, heavy footsteps sounded.
Du Cun carried the small Jin Hui, rushing into the residential area, followed by several pursuing mountain spider demon cultivators.
He continuously cut Jin Hui's flesh to throw to the demons, trying to escape, but was clearly completely insane.
"I cannot die, why should I die here, why..."
Jin Hui, twisted in pain, saw Coffin Elder and Han Li, muttering: "Han Ge, save me."
Han Li focused half a breath, then accurately threw the fishing net.
The net enveloped the Night Watcher; the Demonic Embryo Artifact immediately merged with flesh, the iron sheets cutting through the tough skin.
Coffin Elder struck the Night Watcher several times, finally storing it in a specific artifact.
The mountain spider demon cultivators noticed them, hissing; the tops of Morning Street buildings echoed with crawling sounds.
"Let's go."
After speaking, Coffin Elder hid in shadows with Shadow Ghost Technique; Han Li followed, biting his lip.
The number of mountain spider demon cultivators was too many, webs covering Morning Street; Coffin Elder also was unsure if they could escape.
The demons carried Jin Hui's broken body, enjoying the thrill of pursuit.
But they did not notice that, under the moonlight on the city wall, a ghost wolf clad in bone armor appeared.
Awoooo~~~
The wolf howl seemed like venting something; the massive figure leapt down.
Coffin Elder and Han Li stopped, looking up at Ren Qing, not caring about the increasingly numerous mountain spider demon cultivators.
"No light."
Morning Street became completely dark, even sound vanished.
Moments later, light returned.
All mountain spiders froze; all buildings and cellars floated in midair, forcibly lifted by the ghost shadow.
Several dozen anomalous mouths appeared on the ground, directly swallowing the Morning Street populace.
The ghost wolf stood in the empty Morning Street, Dragon-Snake Spine whipping the air.
"Are you the Rabbit-Toad Immortal?"
The ghost wolf instantly disappeared.
Like a cut scene in a movie, in a blink only corpses remained; the ghost shadow as if had never moved.
Ren Qing walked toward Qingyan Town, Dragon-Snake Spine flicking.
Cracks appeared on the city wall, the upper portion slowly sliding down, the cut perfectly smooth.
The demon cultivators were no threat; the pseudo Yang God realm anomalies were his true opponents on this trip.