A demon tide descended upon Muddy Bay.
None of the martial artists gathered there had expected the real slaughter to begin before the Dragon Palace even opened.
Countless water demons burst through the waves across the river.
Demonic aura surged into the sky.
They formed a dark, teeming mass, as though every aquatic creature in the Qu River had been roused.
Boom!
A Black-Scaled Fish Demon smashed a small boat apart, sending shattered planks flying as several martial artists screamed and plunged into the water.
A moment later, red spread across the river.
Before those martial artists could even struggle, demonic shadows lurking underwater dragged them down.
"Hold steady!"
Martial artists from every major faction drew their sabers and swords.
The water demons were already upon them. They had no choice but to fight with all their might!
Aboard the He Family's tower ship, Xue Ping's gaze turned cold.
He stepped forward, and the long saber on his back flashed from its sheath.
Shing!
The saber's ringing cry resounded over the river.
A fierce streak of saber light slashed through the air like a thunderbolt cleaving the night.
A Red-Armored Crab Demon lunging toward the tower ship was split down the middle.
Its hard shell burst apart in an instant.
Demon blood splashed through the air.
"Disciples of the Southern Sky Saber Hall, heed my command."
Xue Ping stood at the bow, saber held in one hand, his voice cold and stern.
"Slay any water demon that comes within ten zhang of the ship!"
"Yes!"
The Southern Sky Saber Hall disciples answered in unison.
Saber light wove into an unbroken blaze, fierce and domineering, forcibly driving the charging water demons back into the river.
Elsewhere.
Aboard the Pinewind Martial Hall's green tower ship, Meng Tingxue wore robes as white as