Lu Xuan and the others knew nothing of the "plot among fellow disciples" on either bank of the great river.
At that moment, they stood aboard the great vessel, continuously advancing along the river.
To prevent the Ape Demons from fleeing in advance, they slightly restrained their auras and stowed away the Ape Demon corpses. Rather than making a grand display, they merely had Uncle Yuan stand at the prow.
"Who goes there?!"
"How did you enter Lockmist Ferry?!"
The great vessel moved swiftly. Before long, it charged into a stretch of river that carried a faint fishy stench.
The river churned as a shadow more than a zhang tall rose from beneath the water. Its emerald eyes were filled with alarm and suspicion as it questioned Uncle Yuan at the bow.
"Bang!"
The only reply was a dazzling white streak of ruler-light.
With a sweep of Shen Jingyuan's sleeve, the ruler-light fell. The Ape Demon's skull split open at once, and it died on the spot.
"This is bad!"
"Mystic sect cultivators have come to kill us!"
There was more than one Ape Demon patrolling beneath the water. Their faces changed drastically at the sight, and they cried out in panic as they swam desperately, trying to dive into the river and escape.
"Clang!"
Yet at some unknown moment, the entire stretch of river had become as solid and unyielding as cast iron. The demons struggled frantically, but they were pinned fast within it, with no way to escape.
"Screech!"
"Bang!"
Several spells descended in flashes of spiritual light, and the demons were slaughtered instantly.
The Treasure-Gathering Boat continued onward without pausing for even a moment. Only a great net fell, gathering up the demons' corpses.
By then, there were no longer any patrolling Ape Demons anywhere in Lockmist