The guard, skilled at concealing his movements, tailed the group of strange people all the way into Heavenheart Lake. He watched them swagger into the Guest Reception Hall, then board a boat with a cultivator from Fushui Island.
The guard waved over a small boat and displayed his guest token. "Follow that group. See where they're going."
The boatman nodded and poled after them without a word.
"Boatman, which island is that? What's it used for?"
The guard tossed the Martial Warrior poling the boat a Spirit Stone and pointed at the island the group had entered.
"That's Lianxin Island, where they keep spirit beasts as mounts. There's also a Little Marsh Prison underneath, specifically for locking up disobedient Demonic Beast mounts and other members of the Demon Race..."
Scarcely had he finished speaking when a thunderous crash rang out from Lianxin Island! Faint roars of Demonic Beasts and the sounds of collapsing buildings drifted over...
"Has something happened?"
The guard froze, then waved at the boatman. "Quick, get farther away right now. We shouldn't linger in a place of trouble..."
The little boat remained motionless. The guard had barely turned his head when he saw a grinning, short, dark, chubby fellow drive a fist straight into his eye!
"Ah..."
The guard's vision went black, and he fell unconscious. Crouching Dragon, the short, dark, chubby fellow, sneered, grabbed the unlucky man, and vanished from the lake in a flash.
Heavenheart Lake descended into chaos...
Several ape Demonic Beasts howled and thrashed through the water, snatching up little boats and flinging them everywhere. The Martial Warriors poling them scattered in disarray.
Even more were members of the Demon Race in the Middle Third Realm who could not yet take human form, predominantly deer, horses, and oxen. Charging in packs like wolves