Hundred Ghosts Night Parade, Underwater Despair

In the middle of the Nu River, black waves churned.

A large boat, bearing official lanterns, struggled to stay steady in the strong current.

At the bow, Lu Chen, clad in a tight-fitting fish-skin water robe, his muscles taut.

He carried the Hundred Refinements Steel Saber on his back and the Water Splitting Dagger at his waist, wearing a specially made waterproof mask. The entire figure exuded an intimidating aura.

Behind him were Zhao Gang and a group of yamen runners, as well as the elites of the Black Water Gang led by Wang Xiaoliu.

Everyone stared nervously at the dark river water below.

This was the edge of the "Ghost's Worry" whirlpool.

The current was terrifyingly fast, and the enormous whirlpools resembled gaping mouths, their roars painfully loud.

"Hall Master Lu, is it down there?"

Zhao Gang gripped the ship's railing, his face pale.

He was skilled on land, but here in the middle of the river, looking at the bottomless whirlpools, his legs felt weak.

"According to the clues, that dried corpse was washed down from this area."

Lu Chen's voice was calm. "Besides, the fishy smell is strongest here."

He pointed to the water's surface.

Everyone took a sniff and indeed, a strong, foul odor wafted through the air, like dead fish and shrimp left to rot for a long time.

"Prepare to enter the water."

Lu Chen gave the order without further ado.

"This..."

Several members of the Water Ghost team, summoned by Zhao Gang, exchanged glances, hesitant.

Entering the water under these conditions was practically suicidal.

"Fifty taels of silver for each of you as hazard pay," Lu Chen said calmly. "Another fifty taels if you come back alive. For those who die, one hundred taels in compensation, delivered to their families."

Generous rewards attract brave souls.

The eyes of several Water Ghosts lit up. Gritting their teeth, they began to put on their gear.

"Wang Xiaoliu, you and your men will provide support on the boat," Lu Chen instructed, turning back. "No matter what happens below, the boat is not to leave without my order."

"Boss, I want to go down too!" Wang Xiaoliu protested, "My swimming skills aren't as good as those old ghosts, but they're decent..."

"This is an order." Lu Chen's gaze turned cold. "The situation below is unknown. You guarding the escape route above is more useful than going down to your death."

Wang Xiaoliu shrunk his neck, not daring to argue further. "Yes, Boss."

Having made all the arrangements, Lu Chen took a deep breath.

His chest puffed out high, like a bellows filled with air.

This was a skill honed after mastering the Iron Cloth Shirt, allowing him to hold his breath underwater for a full fifteen minutes.

"Go!"

Lu Chen leaped into the water.

Splash!

Water sprayed everywhere as he instantly disappeared into the dark river.

Immediately after, Zhao Gang gritted his teeth and, along with several elite yamen runners and Water Ghosts, jumped in.

The moment they entered the water, the icy river embraced them with immense pressure.

An ordinary person would likely have their eardrums burst and struggle to breathe.

But Lu Chen felt nothing.

A faint, dark iron sheen rippled across his skin, a sign of his Thick Skin trait automatically resisting the water pressure.

He opened his eyes underwater.

The water was murky, allowing him to see only a few yards around.

He made a gesture, signaling for everyone to follow.

The group began to dive towards the riverbed.

The deeper they went, the darker it became, and the greater the water pressure.

Zhao Gang and the others had to hold special "breath-holding pearls" and rely on their internal energy to resist the pressure, slowing their movements.

Only Lu Chen, like a nimble black shark, darted through the turbulent currents.

Suddenly.

Lu Chen stopped, raising his hand to signal a warning.

A group of dark shadows appeared in the murky water ahead.

A school of fish.

But not ordinary fish.

Each of these fish was half a person long, covered in sharp spines, their mouths filled with jagged fangs, and their eyes glowed with bloodthirsty red light.

Mutant Piranhas!

These creatures were uncommon in the Nu River, usually only active in deep waters. When they appeared, they always came in schools, capable of reducing even crocodiles to bare bones in an instant.

"Careful!"

Zhao Gang couldn't speak in the water, only gesturing anxiously.

But the school of fish had already discovered them.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

More than a dozen piranhas shot towards them like arrows, filled with malice.

"Seeking death."

Lu Chen snorted coldly in his heart.

He didn't draw his saber in the water; it was a heavy weapon, creating too much resistance.

His hands flipped, and two Water Splitting Daggers slid into his palms.

Facing the piranha charging at the very front, Lu Chen didn't retreat but advanced.

He pushed off hard in the water, his body shooting out like a cannonball.

Squelch!

The Water Splitting Dagger precisely pierced the piranha's eye socket, directly penetrating its brain.

The fish didn't even have time to struggle before its belly turned white.

Blood dispersed in the water.

The scent of blood stimulated the remaining fish, making them even more frenzied as they attacked from all directions.

"Form up!"

Zhao Gang drew his saber and, with several yamen runners, stood back-to-back, resisting with difficulty.

But in the water, their movements were greatly hampered, and they were soon wounded.

"Ah--!"

A Water Ghost had its thigh bitten by a piranha, blood gushing out.

At this moment, a black shadow flashed past.

Lu Chen.

He was like a ruthless killing machine.

The Water Splitting Daggers in his hands became afterimages.

Every strike was guaranteed to kill a piranha.

He weaved through the school of fish; the sharp teeth biting at him only produced "ding ding" crisp sounds, unable to break his skin.

The defensive power of the Iron Cloth Shirt was displayed to its fullest at this moment.

In just a few breaths.

More than twenty Mutant Piranhas turned into corpses, slowly sinking to the riverbed.

Zhao Gang and the others stared in shock.

They could barely stand steady in the water, yet this Lu Chen killed fish like chickens?

Was this the strength of "Lu Iron Skin"?

Lu Chen ignored their stunned reactions, shook the blood off his Water Splitting Daggers, and pointed downwards.

Below, a massive shadow vaguely appeared.

Everyone's spirits lifted, and they quickly followed.

They passed through a patch of dense water weeds and skirted around several large reefs.

The scene before them made everyone hold their breath.

In the silt of the riverbed stood a vast ruin.

Broken stone pillars, thick enough for three people to embrace, were carved with blurry dragon patterns.

Collapsed walls were built from massive bluestones. Although covered in moss, they still showed the grandeur of the past.

In the center of the ruins was a relatively well-preserved palace.

The massive stone doors were shut tight, each several yards high. Carved onto them were two ferocious, monstrous spirits, staring coldly at any intruders.

"Dragon Palace!"

Though they couldn't speak, those two words flashed through everyone's minds.

This was the legendary Dragon Palace of the Nu River!

And also the forbidden land the blind old man had spoken of.

Lu Chen gazed at the palace, the light in his eyes brighter than the surrounding luminous pearls.

He could feel it.

The beast-skin map in his embrace was growing warm.

This was the location where the Profound Nether Hand inheritance resided!

Furthermore, the black stones scattered in the silt around the palace were emitting a faint, chilling glow.

Netherworld Stones!

Lu Chen's heart pounded.

He had searched high and low, only to find it when he least expected it.

He made a gesture, signaling everyone to approach.

However, when they were still dozens of yards away from the palace...

An unexpected change occurred.

The previously calm water suddenly turned violent.

A cold, chilling current swept from the direction of the palace, instantly dropping the surrounding water temperature by more than ten degrees.

Zhao Gang and the others couldn't help but shiver, a thin layer of frost forming on their eyebrows.

Immediately after.

Countless pairs of red eyes suddenly lit up in the shadows surrounding the palace.

Dense, like will-o'-the-wisps.

"Woooo—"

A chilling groan echoed through the water.

Dark shapes darted out from the ruins.

Not fish.

They were people.

Or rather, they were Water Ghosts with gills, webbed hands and feet, and mouths full of fangs!

There were hundreds of them!

They surrounded Lu Chen and his group, their eyes greedy and bloodthirsty.

It was as if they were looking at a readily available feast.

Zhao Gang's face turned ashen.

With so many Water Ghosts, even filling the entire County Yamen with people wouldn't be enough to satisfy their hunger!

He looked at Lu Chen, his eyes filled with despair.

This wasn't a treasure hunt; it was a suicide mission!

But Lu Chen showed no panic on his face.

He slowly drew the Hundred Refinements Steel Saber from his back.

The blade cut through the water, leaving a cold glint.

He let out a cold laugh.

Good.

Perfect timing to test the quality of my perfected Iron Cloth Shirt!

If you find this book to your liking, be sure to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.