Send the Empress's Disciple to Kill the Blood Demon!

Three days later, at noon.

The blazing sun scorched like fire, causing vast amounts of water vapor to rise from Lishui Lake under the intense heat. The air could faintly be seen trembling and warping.

Large schools of dead fish floated to the surface, giving off wave after wave of overwhelmingly fishy stench.

Buzz, buzz, buzz—

Green blowflies gathered over the dead fish like a droning black cloud, enough to make one retch.

"All members of Team Three, guard the southeast direction. Team Four is responsible for the northern corner..."

A steady voice issued orders.

The Commander stood by the shore, distributing commands in an orderly manner.

Multiple squads of fully armed guards moved at the command, gripping rifles loaded with full magazines as they sealed off every corner of Lishui Lake. All of them stared tensely at the lake's surface.

Several dozen Acquired Realm Star Warriors hovered above the guards.

Powerful Star Power radiated from them, almost forming tangible pressure.

Using that stellar pressure, they blanketed the area around Lishui Lake, instantly forming the unique sensory domain of Star Warriors.

Any movement beneath the water would be detected immediately.

The situation was critical now. It had reached the point of utmost urgency!

"Old Li, Library Director."

By the shore, the Commander nodded in greeting to the two men who had just arrived.

"Tsk, this smell is so strong..."

The Library Director covered his nose and mouth lightly, frowning. "Just how many fish has that Bloodthirsty Demon Worm beneath the water eaten?"

"I'm afraid the entire ecosystem of Lishui Lake has been destroyed."

The Commander shook his head bitterly as he looked toward the lake. "Judging from the bloodwater floating up and the density of the fish corpses, we've already preliminarily identified several areas.

But the problem is, underwater isn't our human territory after all. Once we fall into the water, even Star Warriors at the Acquired Realm Late Stage will have difficulty fighting effectively."

"The Commander is absolutely right."

Old Li nodded slightly, understanding the Commander's predicament.

Fighting underwater was by no means a wise decision.

It would be extremely disadvantageous for them.

For one, the environment beneath the water was unpredictable and strange.

Even Star Warriors skilled in water dared not venture too deeply.

Secondly, aquatic star beasts received special enhancements underwater.

Home-field advantage and affinity with water... those two factors alone could multiply the strength of those beasts several times over, making them far more dangerous than on land! Even with the advantage of Innate Realm experts, Old Li and the others did not dare dive directly into the depths.

One wrong move, and they might end up with a watery grave!

"Old Li, you've seen and experienced much. Do you have a way to lure that beast out?" the Commander asked gravely, his face full of worry.

"Rest assured, Commander. Since this old one has come, I'm naturally not here to watch the show."

Old Li stroked his white beard and looked at the bloodstained lake in the distance. "The method of baiting it out is actually very simple. The answer can be found right on this lake's surface."

"The lake surface?"

The Commander and the Library Director both froze, utterly confused.

What did that mean? Could the answer really be found in the thing itself?

Following Old Li's gesture, they looked toward the lake.

The surface of Lishui Lake was covered in floating carcasses, its waters stained red with blood like a crimson mirror.

But... what did that have to do with baiting the creature out? Seeing their puzzled expressions, Old Li smiled faintly and continued, "Have either of you considered something? Leeches are naturally bloodthirsty, greedily devouring all blood... yet now, it is only slaughtering fish without absorbing their blood?"

"Hm? You mean..."

Upon hearing this, the Library Director suddenly understood and slapped his forehead.

"This leech is no longer satisfied with ordinary blood?"

"Correct. The Library Director is well-read indeed, and truly perceptive."

Old Li nodded approvingly. "Now that the leech is slaughtering fish without taking their blood, it means it desires stronger blood to nourish itself.

What we need to do is simple. We only need to find a few low-tier star beasts, cut their throats and bleed them by the shore, and we can lure this creature out!"

"A fine method. Thank you, Old Li, for enlightening us!"

The Commander of the Star Police Department nodded and cupped his hands in thanks.

He then immediately turned and dispatched guards to carry out the task of capturing star beasts.

Old Li and the Library Director remained where they were, watching the busy figures along the shore with grave expressions.

After all, using blood to lure the monster out was only the beginning.

How they would deal with the Bloodthirsty Demon Worm afterward—

That was the real main event!

At the same time.

The library.

"Lao Qin, say, why haven't you been going to Jianghai Martial Arts Academy lately?"

Xia He and Qin Yang leaned against the first-floor railing, skillfully slacking off together.

As he spoke, Xia He turned to look at Li Zixuan, who had appeared not far away. Quiet and composed, she sat at a round table reading a classic with intense focus.

Yet Qin Yang showed little reaction to her appearance this time. He did not even glance in her direction.

This left Xia He puzzled.

Not long ago, Qin Yang had been following her around like a madman... so why had he suddenly lost all interest today, as though he did not care at all?

"Why would I go running off to the Martial Arts Academy for no reason?"

Qin Yang rolled his eyes and casually brushed aside Xia He's probing.

"You're the one who's always adding drama to my story. When have you ever seen me inside the academy?"

"You... Hiss, I..."

Xia He sucked in a breath, immediately rendered speechless by the retort.

Thinking it over carefully, that really did seem to be the case!

He had indeed never personally seen Qin Yang enter the academy.

That time he blocked her path, it had only been halfway there. There was no evidence at all.

"I... damn it, you win."

Xia He snorted and turned his head away.

The two continued bickering.

In the distance, Li Zixuan, who had been reading, raised her head at the sound and glanced over.

"Is that the administrator from last time?"

Li Zixuan frowned slightly. She still remembered Qin Yang.

After all, he had abruptly come up to ask her name last time. It was difficult to forget.

"Forget it. It has nothing to do with me."

Li Zixuan shook her head and lowered it, returning to her reading.

The book in her hands was the True Explanation of Clear Wind Sword Technique.

Li Zixuan would not even have given such a simple, easy-to-understand introductory book a second glance in the past.

But now, she was reading it with great interest.

"It really does have so many points of overlap with One Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate!"

Li Zixuan's gaze swept over the annotations in the book, and she felt increasingly astonished.

The sword technique Teacher taught me really was derived from these introductory sword arts! Teacher truly deserves his reputation. He can create such exquisitely brilliant Sword Skills using only basic sword arts found everywhere!

Li Zixuan's heart pounded as her admiration for her teacher's talent deepened.

I wonder when I'll see Teacher again...

Just then.

In the distance, Qin Yang finished his break and was about to return to work.

Suddenly, a terrifyingly bloody aura surged in from outside the library! "Is that... from the direction of Lishui Lake?"

Qin Yang's expression shifted as he looked toward the window.

Then, the system's prompt sounded in his mind:

"Ding! Blood Demon detected. Extreme danger!"

"Host, please flee as soon as possi—no, please immediately send the Empress's Disciple to kill the Blood Demon!"