Just as Ye Qingshan was hesitating, a figure began leaping swiftly across rooftops from afar towards the county magistrate office.

Then, the newcomer landed right in front of Ye Qingshan without any concealment.

Upon seeing the stranger, Ye Qingshan immediately became wary, his internal energy starting to surge.

"Who are you?"

"Why have you trespassed into the magistrate’s office."

The newcomer was none other than Li Daren, who had hurried over from the Lu Family, while Qian Hao stayed behind there.

"Yellow-level Profound Bird Guard, Li Daren!"

Upon meeting Ye Qingshan, Li Daren took out his own identity token from his pocket.

After arriving at Qingyun County with Qian Hao, Li Daren briefly acquainted himself with the situation there.

Thus, Li Daren knew that the county magistrate of Qingyun County was Ye Qingshan before him.

Li Daren looked at Ye Qingshan with some surprise, not expecting the county magistrate of Qingyun County to be a martial artist of the Blood Refining Realm like himself.

"Profound Bird Guard!"

Upon seeing the Profound Bird Guard token, Ye Qingshan’s previously solemn face revealed a hint of joy.

Could it be that the city mansion’s Profound Bird Guards have already discovered this ominous entity?

"I greet Mr. Li!"

Li Daren, sensing that Ye Qingshan was also a martial artist of the Blood Refining Realm, dared not act superior and reciprocated the gesture.

"There’s no need for formality, Mr. Ye. I’m here to inform you of an urgent matter."

"However, I didn’t expect you to be a martial artist of the Blood Refining Realm as well."

"I believe you already know the purpose of my visit to the magistrate’s office."

"An eerie presence has appeared here!"

"To be honest, this eerie Yin energy is the strongest I’ve ever encountered in my lifetime."

"Mr. Ye, remember to organize your staff at the magistrate’s office. From now on, we must calm the citizens in the city and prevent it from falling into chaos."

Li Daren’s words stunned Ye Qingshan, leaving him a bit puzzled.

"Didn’t the city mansion’s Profound Bird Guards already know?"

It sounds like even this Profound Bird Guard in front of me isn’t aware of this ominous presence.

Why would a Yellow-level Profound Bird Guard appear in this small Qingyun County!

"Mr. Ye, what are you saying?"

"I was entrusted by the prefects to secretly come to Qingyun County for another mission."

Realizing that the city mansion’s Profound Bird Guards know nothing of Qingyun County’s situation, the joy on Ye Qingshan’s face gradually faded.

"Your Profound Bird Guards don’t know this is an ominous entity?"

"Ominous entity!"

Upon hearing these words, a few drops of cold sweat trickled down Li Daren’s forehead.

Though he didn’t know how Ye Qingshan determined its level, Li Daren had already accepted Ye Qingshan’s judgment.

Because, during his journey here, he felt that pervasive Yin energy, seemingly enveloping the entire county. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Yes, Mr. Li, the ominous entity has indeed created a sinister domain, incorporating the county within its bounds, allowing entry but no exit!"

"No one inside the county can leave the sinister domain, including both of us!"

"The ominous entity hasn’t acted yet, Mr. Li, do your Profound Bird Guards have any means to notify the city mansion’s Profound Bird Guards?"

With hopeful thoughts, Ye Qingshan spoke up; he couldn’t afford to die.

Li Daren calmly replied: "Don’t worry, Mr. Ye, we’ve already released the Black Messenger Bird to head for the city mansion to notify the prefects."

"With the Black Messenger Bird’s speed, it won’t take more than four hours to reach the city mansion and inform the prefects of Qingyun County’s situation!"

"Now, what we must do is to keep the county’s citizens calm and wait for the prefects’ arrival."

The Black Messenger Bird, a precious creature belonging to the prefects, is known for delivering messages.

Ye Qingshan naturally knew about the Black Messenger Bird.

"Black Messenger Bird!"

"How do you possess a Black Messenger Bird?"

"Alright, I’ll immediately proceed to summon all the major officials from the magistrate’s office and shut the city gates under the pretext of mutant man-eating beasts appearing outside."

With hope in sight, Ye Qingshan’s earlier sense of despair dissipated, easing his anxious heart.

Since the city gates couldn’t be exited, the truth would be concealed by the pretext of closing the gates.

To prevent the citizens inside the city from discovering the terrifying truth.

Otherwise, before the prefects arrive, the citizens would be scared half to death.

As Ye Qingshan finished speaking, Li Daren’s figure had already vanished.

After learning about the existence of an ominous entity, Li Daren was deeply shocked and hurried back to the Lu Family to inform Qian Hao of this news.

"It’s about two hours until dawn; we must quickly close the city gates."

Ye Qingshan muttered for a while and then vanished as a fleeting shadow.

At the break of dawn, the sky gave a dismal illusion; the sunlight was not as bright as usual.

"What’s this!"

"Have the magistrate’s office people closed the city gates?"

"Has something serious happened?"

"Did you not see the notice?"

"Outside the city lies a man-eating beast, so the county magistrate has decided to close the gates temporarily for safety reasons."

"Once the government officials hunt down the man-eating beast outside, the gates will reopen."

"But how can the gates be closed? We need our goods to leave urgently."

"If you intend to force the gates open, why not give it a try."

"Do you see those people over there? They’re notable figures from inside the city."

"They tried to force the gates open and were captured by the magistrate’s office people, being displayed over there like monkeys."

At the city gate stood hundreds of well-equipped soldiers and dozens of government officials, guarding the entrance vigilantly.

Beside the gates, several men were tied to stakes, with multiple wounds on their bodies, seemingly after a fierce battle.

Seeing this scene, some ill-intentioned individuals planning to incite others to force the gates open reluctantly abandoned their plans.

In the distance from the gates, Ye Qingshan had disguised himself so as not to be recognized.

After witnessing the spectators leave the gate area, Ye Qingshan felt a mix of emotions.

"Alas, I only wish for the prefects to arrive swiftly."

Earlier today, before dawn, Ye Qingshan led the magistrate’s officials to the city gates.

He found that the night guards at the gates had met untimely deaths.

However, the guards’ deaths weren’t caused by the ominous entity.

Evidently, someone had forcibly entered last night and killed them.

The appearance of the ominous entity and the mysterious individual who forced the gates and killed the guards.

These occurrences heightened Ye Qingshan’s anxiety and unease.

White Dao Prefecture City Mansion!

Lu Xuan, seated cross-legged in his practice chamber, suddenly looked towards the rooftop.

In the sky near the Profound Bird Guards’ mansion appeared a black spot, the Black Messenger Bird.

"The Black Messenger Bird is the one I gave to Qian Hao!"

Bang!

Perceiving that this Black Messenger Bird was the one he gave Qian Hao, Lu Xuan’s eyes lit with a crimson glow.

In the next moment, a streak of light burst through the door, soaring towards the heavens.

In mid-air, Lu Xuan, with his right hand, grasped the flying Black Messenger Bird.

Quickly, he reached out with his left hand to retrieve the note tied to the bird’s leg.

"Qingyun County danger!"

The note bore just these four simple characters.

Yet these words were enough to make Lu Xuan tense up.

Landing on the ground from mid-air, Lu Xuan released the Black Messenger Bird.

An aura of crimson Gang Yuan enveloped his body.

Lu Xuan’s body flickered like stepping on flowing light, leaping towards the roof.

"Inform He Yan’s deputy, I’m going to Qingyun County!"

Lu Xuan left the Profound Bird Guards’ mansion in haste, leaving only a brief message!