Howl～

The Gray-toothed Lynx that had just landed on the ground flicked its tail and let out a deep growl.

Conveying its displeasure to Zhang Yuan.

This fierce beast possessed a relatively high intelligence; it did not enjoy slumbering in the nest. It preferred the vast world outside.

Zhang Yuan rubbed the furry head of the big cat.

Of course, he knew the nature of the Gray-toothed Lynx well, but previously, there was no choice. Bringing it into a populous city like Yong’an was very inconvenient and would cause unnecessary trouble.

After all, the Gray-toothed Lynx now resembled a tiger or leopard, taking it to the street would cause chaos.

He took a large piece of beef from his Storage Space, feeding the beast to its fill, then Zhang Yuan activated its ability.

The ability derived after the Gray-toothed Lynx advanced to Level 4!

Roar～

Accompanied by a deafening roar, the big cat’s body quickly expanded, its limbs becoming thick and powerful, its back sagging to form a saddle-like shape.

Moments later, the Gray-toothed Lynx ceased its gigantification.

At this moment, its size was no less than a fully grown tiger, its fangs bared in an extremely imposing manner, its long tail gently swaying behind as if ready to launch a deadly strike at any moment.

Zhang Yuan leaped and landed on its back.

The next moment, the Gray-toothed Lynx shot forward like an Arrow Leaving the Bowstring, its speed comparable to a galloping horse!

Facing the rushing wind, Zhang Yuan felt elated.

In its gigantified form, the Gray-toothed Lynx was definitely a top-tier war steed, unparalleled by any majestic horse.

Its strength, speed, endurance, and combat power were all significantly enhanced.

Although its Qi Blood consumption increased greatly in its gigantified form, Zhang Yuan could completely bear such a cost now.

After galloping with the Gray-toothed Lynx for over ten miles, Zhang Yuan took out the "Yongzhou Geomancy Map" purchased from Yong’an City, and continued towards Qingshui County according to the diagram on it.

Qingshui County, one of the Upper Counties in Yongzhou, was four or five hundred miles away from Yong’an.

It was said that the drought was particularly severe there.

Zhang Yuan decided to go there to check the situation, possibly finding clues about the Drought Fiend.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, cloudless for miles, and the ground temperature kept rising. Looking out, the plains were a desolate yellow, countless fields abandoned, with no farmers working anywhere.

Racing along his journey, Zhang Yuan found no signs of human life in the rural villages and farmhouses he passed by.

Everywhere along the roadside, dead, dehydrated corpses could be seen.

Exposed bones lay in the wild, no chicken crowing for a thousand miles, only one out of a hundred people remained; thinking about it can break one’s heart!

The poetry Zhang Yuan had only read in books in his past life now vividly unfolded before his eyes.

Even with his strong and resolute mind, he couldn’t help but secretly sigh.

From morning to afternoon, resting for half an hour in between, Zhang Yuan reached Qingshui County Town by sunset.

As an Upper County, Qingshui County Town had a considerable scale and layout. Normally, this should be a time bustling with brightly lit festivities and vitality.

However, what Zhang Yuan saw was an empty city.

A City of Death!

The city gate was wide open, several carriages overturned in front of the gateway, scattered items everywhere, dilapidated under the blazing sun, with the wind stirring up yellow sand and dust.

The river near the city was completely dry, dozens of fishing and merchant boats lay sprawled on the cracked riverbed, looking particularly desolate.

Crow, crow～

A crow perched atop the city tower let out a feeble caw.

This was the only living thing Zhang Yuan had seen!

Zhang Yuan dismounted at the city gate, then retracted the Gray-toothed Lynx back into the Divine Nest.

Unlike the Red-eyed Crow, the Gray-toothed Lynx had endurance limits; as long as Zhang Yuan’s Qi Blood didn’t exhaust, the crow could keep flying in the sky.

Trotting against the scorching sun for four or five hundred miles while carrying Zhang Yuan, the big cat’s Physical Strength was greatly depleted.

Hence, it needed to return to the nest to rest and recover.

Zhang Yuan entered the county town on foot.

The main street connected to the city gate was deserted, littered with fallen leaves and broken items everywhere. Most shops along the street had smashed doors, evidently plundered and destroyed.

Rows of houses stood closely together, but not a person could be seen.

Zhang Yuan switched his perspective to the Red-eyed Crow, overseeing the county town from on high.

But found nothing either!

The masses of commoners and nobility, as if vanished into thin air, leaving the entire city of utmost deathly silence.

Had they fled to escape famine, or met with disaster?

Crack!

Suddenly, Zhang Yuan’s boot stepped on a dry bone, producing a crisp cracking sound.

He paused his steps, directing his gaze towards a nearby alley.

The next moment, a dark shadow darted out, surprisingly a gaunt black stray dog.

It stared at Zhang Yuan with scarlet eyes, emitting a low growl from its throat, its tail raised high.

Immediately after, one after another, wild dogs charged out from the dark alley.

The number was actually over ten!

Relying on their numbers, these wild dogs, seemingly driven mad from hunger, simultaneously began to circle Zhang Yuan.

Drool dripped from their mouths, their eyes filled with ravenous lust.

Zhang Yuan shook his head.

He could see those wild dogs had been tainted by a strange aura, becoming deceitful monsters.

Howl!

One of the wild dogs finally couldn’t hold back, suddenly speeding up to charge forward.

It leapt high, its bloody mouth aiming at Zhang Yuan’s crucial throat.

Squelch!

The next thing, the glint of a blade flashed, and the impatient wild dog was instantly split in mid-air.

Dog blood mixed with entrails splattered everywhere.

However, the other wild dogs were not frightened; instead, they became even more frenzied, each howling and launching an attack.

What greeted them, however, was a dazzling Sword Aura as vast as curtains.

In a breath, over ten wild dog bodies lay scattered.

To Zhang Yuan, these creatures weren’t even an appetizer; altogether, they contributed only a few dozen points of Source Material, not enough to fill any cavity.

By now, the sky was completely dark, the moon slowly ascended into the firmament, casting its chilling light onto the deathly silent county town.

Zhang Yuan stood in the middle of the street, gripping his Profound Soldiers, scanning his surroundings.

His keen intuition told him that in the nearby dark corners, certain presences were silently awakening.

The time for a deceitful revelry had come!

And Zhang Yuan was undoubtedly an unwelcome presence, he could sense the malicious hostility emanating from the shadows like invisible needles piercing him, filled with chilling venom.

Come on!

Zhang Yuan smirked coldly, his Taowu Saber resonating with his will to fight, letting out a buzzing hum.

This Fierce Soldier also craved battle and bloodshed!

Zhang Yuan didn’t have to wait long; black mist suddenly surged across the county town’s streets, spreading silently and swiftly.

Within the fog, faint sounds of ghostly wailing and wolf howls echoed!