Guo Jing took out her phone and transferred money via Alipay.

Once the driver confirmed receipt of the funds, he started the boat and sailed out to sea.

It took a full half hour before they saw the edge of the sea, where several islands were situated.

Each island was as big as several football fields.

"We've arrived, the island in the center ahead is Haihua Village. Find your own way over there; I won't go any closer!"

The driver stopped the boat.

He refused to move even one step further no matter what.

"You stop here, how are we supposed to get to the island?" Wu Yue said unhappily. "I'll give you another half a million now, take us to the shore immediately!"

"Even if you gave me five billion, I wouldn't do it; my life is at stake!" the driver said coldly. "I advise you to head back with me; anyone who goes onto the island never meets a good end!"

"Fine."

Yang Tian activated his Spiritual Breath, and with Guo Jing, Wu Yue, Liu Shi, and Wang Ying, flew towards the island ahead.

"My goodness, what's happening?"

The driver's face changed dramatically, staring in horror at Yang Tian and the others.

"You can go back now."

Wu Zetian cast a cold glance at the driver, waved her hand, and followed Yang Tian towards the island.

Soon, Yang Tian and the others landed on the island's beach.

As they approached the island, Yang Tian smelled a strong scent of blood. Looking at the beach, he saw many sea birds and fish.

These sea birds and fish were already dead, piled up continuously here, emitting a foul stench.

As they walked forward, they saw some sea birds and fish that hadn't died long ago. It was clear the island's residents were killing fish and birds here every day.

But these sea birds and fish weren't for eating. It seemed they were offerings to the Water Demon?

"These islands are at least over twenty kilometers away from the mainland, truly isolated from the world. The island's residents might not be civilized yet, probably still stuck in a society of feudal superstitions!"

Liu Shi remarked.

Next to her, Wang Ying quickly took out her phone, searched for Haihua Village on Baidu, and found a bunch of legends about the Water Demon: "These islands are recorded on Baidu. It says people die here every year and that the Water Demon roams freely, using this place as a communication ground with humans."

"All feudal superstitions!"

Guo Jing said dismissively.

But Wu Zetian shook her head: "Ling Ying and Eliza were really taken by the Water Demon. They are cultivators, capable of contending with Earth's martial artists, but before the Water Demon, they were no match."

Hearing this, Guo Jing, Wu Yue, Liu Shi, and Wang Ying fell silent, exchanging glances.

"The Water Demon must be real! I'm well aware of the power of my master's wife, and Yingying and Shasha should have already been able to dominate on Earth!" Yang Tian's face was somewhat serious. "It seems there are still unknown entities living in Huaxia!"

"Yang Tian, let's go in first."

Wu Zetian looked at Yang Tian and said.

Yang Tian nodded, seeing Guo Jing, Wu Yue, Liu Shi, and Wang Ying excitedly taking photos of the surroundings with their phones. To protect them, Yang Tian crafted Divine Talismans with Divine Breath and attached them to the four women.

Then he waved his hand and headed into the island. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

After crossing the beach, they entered a village.

But the village was hidden in the woods, surrounded by towering trees, giving the whole place a very chilly feel.

Yang Tian looked ahead and saw modern brick buildings, three to four stories high, built on the hillside, giving the village some scale. A cement road led to the other end of the island.

The island had electricity and a signal tower, seemingly more developed.

But every corner of this village was covered in red Divine Talismans, and every household had Divine Paintings of Zhong Kui hanging on the windows and walls.

"Are the people here extremely superstitious?"

Guo Jing said, taking a photo of a three-story building with her phone, planning to post it on Weibo.

But soon, she screamed, "Ghost!"

"What's going on, Jingjing, what are you yelling about?"

Wu Yue shouted, coming closer. When she saw the photo on Guo Jing's phone, she was shocked, "Oh my God, why are there two extra heads?"

As she spoke, Wu Yue looked at the three-story building again. It was empty, with no one living there.

"Are you saying you captured people in your photos?"

Liu Shi and Wang Ying quickly came over.

They glanced at the photo on Guo Jing's phone, then at the buildings across: "Yang Tian, come take a look. Jingjing really captured two figures in the second-floor window, but isn't there supposed to be no one inside?"

"The whole village is dead silent, making it seem like no one is here."

Yang Tian used his Divine Sense to explore the buildings, discovering each male and female sitting motionless in the halls, listening intently to the voices of Yang Tian and the others.

He chuckled coldly, waved his hand, and ignited the big locust tree at the village entrance.

The raging fire quickly engulfed the locust tree, spreading to the surrounding trees.

Yang Tian refused to believe the villagers would remain inside, but gradually, Yang Tian frowned.

The entire village was silent; all villagers hid inside the buildings, unaffected by the spreading fire.

Yang Tian used the Spiritual Breath to extinguish the fires, cursing: "Darn weird people!"

"Yang Tian, are you saying the villagers are all hiding inside the buildings?"

Wu Yue stared intently at Yang Tian.

"They're like mice hiding within, silent, yet sneakily watching us when we aren't paying attention." Yang Tian shook his head. "It seems they've been terrified. Our presence frightened them into hiding."

"They must be fearing the Water Demon!"

Wu Zetian said solemnly.

"Even if they're afraid of the Water Demon, they wouldn't all hide when we arrived, right?" Liu Shi paused and suddenly said: "Could it be that our arrival will attract the Water Demon, which is why they hid?"

Hearing Liu Shi's words, Guo Jing, Wu Yue, and Wang Ying all trembled.

Even Wu Zetian began to look tense.

Yang Tian used his Divine Sense to probe the surroundings quickly and coldly declared, "Since you've come, come out!"

"It's been ages since outsiders visited this village, quack quack..."

A sound resembling a duck's quack echoed.

Soon, a figure emerged from the woods, charging towards Guo Jing, Wu Yue, Liu Shi, and Wang Ying...