Zhang Yuanqing's loud shout was accompanied by a terrifying, overwhelming aura of Yin Coldness surging from the Celestial Secrets Tower, like a breath from the depths of Hell, rapidly polluting the magnificent and imposing structure.

Being on the eighth floor, he was the first to bear the brunt, directly impacted by the swelling, rampant Yin energy. In an instant, he felt the Taiyin power within him turn chaotic and uncontrollable, just like when he was stared at by the Demon Eye Heavenly King's forehead eye.

His complexion began to turn pale, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, the rationality in his gaze receded, and a bloodthirsty brutality emerged. Like the disciples in the tower, he was transforming into a Yin corpse due to the Taiyin power running amok.

The next second, the fierce and domineering Solar Divine Power burst forth, suppressing the Yin energy and curbing the body's transformation.

Zhang Yuanqing quickly flew out of the Celestial Secrets Tower, escaping into the air. He saw the entire tower shaking violently, like a building in an earthquake, teetering and on the verge of collapse. All the candle flames inside swayed, transforming into ghostly green fire.

The once brightly lit tower turned into a ghost tower in the night, emitting a ghastly, eerie light. And the disciples in the tower, whether awake or asleep, whether Extraordinary or Saint, were all transformed into Yin creatures under the invasion of the Yin Cold aura.

Their consciousness vanished instantly, their throats emitted bestial "hoarse" sounds, the rationality in their eyes receded, leaving only pure brutality and bloodlust.

"Fuck!" Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but curse.

His prediction was correct. The Imperial Preceptor was indeed refining Yin corpses, not trying to refine himself into a Level 9 Yin creature. Based on his earlier experience, the Imperial Preceptor was now in a Weak Level 9 state, surpassing the peak of Level 8, but not truly advancing to Level 9. This was because of his failure to contend for the Dragon Qi, leaving him with no choice but to prematurely break through.

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

The noise of helicopter propellers arrived. Little Yuan, the Bee Woman known for her speed, arrived first. Although she had already advanced to "Foul Spirit", she was still accustomed to using her Gu body to travel.

The advantage of the Gu body would not disappear with advancement to the Lord realm. Then a streak of fire arrived rapidly, erupting outside the Celestial Secrets Tower, revealing the dark red-haired, burly Duan Gangzhu.

His body was covered in bloodstains, with injuries that were neither light nor severe. The Lord-level Yin corpse he had fought was already reduced to charred remains in the scorching flames.

Finally, the Palace Mistress in a red dress arrived, gliding like a celestial being on a silk ribbon.

The three Lords stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Yuanqing, floating in the air and gazing at the Celestial Secrets Tower. The entire tower seemed to have added terrifying special effects, emitting ghostly green light, revealing an eerie and terrifying aura, as if a tower from the underworld had appeared in the human world.

Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice, "As I expected, the Imperial Preceptor has refined himself into a Yin creature, wanting to break through to the Grandmaster realm. Although his plan has been disrupted by me, he still has half a foot into the Grandmaster realm."

This was mainly said for Duan Gangzhu's benefit. This Jianghu roughneck wouldn't understand the concept of Weak Level 9, but he would instantly understand Half-step Grandmaster.

Duan Gangzhu was startled, but what shocked him even more was the Emperor beside him. He sized him up, finding it hard to believe, "What Wang Beiwang said was all true?"

Wang Beiwang had told him that His Majesty the Emperor possessed a talent comparable to a demon, and was therefore envied by the heavens, fearing that his earth-shattering cultivation would be sealed, so he was disheartened, indulging in wine and women, and living a decadent life.

Duan Gangzhu and Elder Xu didn't believe it at all, thinking it was Zhao Shunzhou's bewitching words.

There had been similar events in history. Many heroes would fabricate some sensational legends for themselves before starting their careers, in order to awe the people, such as cutting the white snake, or proclaiming themselves Celestial Masters, and so on.

Unexpectedly, what Zhao Shunzhou said was actually true. The fact that he had entered the Grandmaster realm was right before his eyes, so he couldn't help but believe it.

"A ruler does not jest." Zhang Yuanqing stood with his hands behind his back, "Since ancient times, emperors have been sons of heaven, but Zheng is a human king, envied by the heavens."

Gangzhu was greatly shocked, then looked at Little Yuan and the Palace Mistress, uncertainly, "Are you two also human kings?"

Little Yuan and the Palace Mistress still had some sense of shame and did not answer.

At this time, the four of them felt a chill in their hearts, a feeling of being watched by a terrifying creature. Their hairs stood on end, and a chill ran down their spines.

From within the Celestial Secrets Tower, where ghostly fires flickered, a deep darkness suddenly surged out, instantly plunging Zhang Yuanqing and the others into pitch blackness and silence.

They couldn't hear a single sound, and even the stars in the sky had disappeared. Zhang Yuanqing had encountered a similar situation before, that was during his trip to the capital when he was pulled into a hidden domain by Ling Tuo.

He didn't hesitate to use the "Sun Rise" skill, condensing Solar Divine Power above his head, forming a miniature, concentrated sun.

Golden light burst through the darkness, dispelling the hidden domain and restoring the real world.

At the same time, the Palace Mistress's urgent cry came from his ear, "Your Majesty, be careful behind you!"

A tall and burly black shadow appeared behind him, and a pair of shiny black claws stabbed towards his heart.

Zhang Yuanqing quickly opened his inventory and took out the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and the Violet Thunder Shield.

Because he didn't have time to wear the "Artisan's Ring", the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon transformed into a dragon form, and then fell headfirst onto the street below, making a deafening snore.

The Violet Thunder Shield faced the ghostly claws alone.

"Squeak!"

Amidst the tooth-aching sound of metal twisting, the shiny black claws pierced through the Violet Thunder Shield and inserted into Zhang Yuanqing's chest and abdomen. Taking advantage of the breathing room provided by the item, Zhang Yuanqing condensed a golden spear in his right hand and stabbed it into the tall black shadow's chest.

At this time, he could finally see the true face of the tall black shadow.

This was a Yin creature wearing a Taoist robe, with dry, grass-like white hair draped over its head, and a jade-like Pixiu lying on top.

Its skin was dark black and keratinized, with two emerald green eyeballs, snow-white fangs protruding from its lips, and a thick, mist-like Yin Qi permeating its body.

The golden light that pierced into the opponent's chest was like a red-hot branding iron immersed in iron water, making a "sizzling" sound, and bursts of illusory black smoke rose.

And Zhang Yuanqing's chest was frozen by Yin Qi, which invaded his body and froze his vitality.

"Zhao Shun, you ruined my grand plan, forcing me to break through prematurely, with no hope of advancing to the Grandmaster realm. Today, I will use your life and the lives of the creatures in the city to atone for my sins." The Imperial Preceptor spoke human words, his voice no longer ethereal and majestic, but with a hoarse rasp from phlegm in his throat.

"Awoo!"

The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon was finally awakened by its master and rushed into the sky. Its neck swelled, and it spat out pure Yang Flame towards the two of them. The jade Pixiu on top of its head opened its mouth.

The air currents rolled, and the fierce and domineering Yang Flame was instantly sucked into the Pixiu's mouth. A dark golden light lit up in the Pixiu's abdomen, as if it was about to swell and burst open, but the next second, it was refined into nothingness.

The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon's eyes bulged out, as if it was shocked.

"Bang!"

Zhang Yuanqing kicked the Imperial Preceptor in the chest, knocking away the claws stuck in his chest.

Then he switched to Mount Mode, riding the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and fleeing out of the city, shouting, "Follow me."