In the territory of Western Liang, a great river meanders like a navel cord, surging endlessly and stirring up endless windswept sand, where humans and beasts are rarely seen.

In this desolate land, however, there were a few figures standing by the river.

"Fool! Don't drink anymore! We must hurry on our journey!"

I hefted the Golden-Banded Staff and looked at Zhu Bajie, who was drinking from the river with no enthusiasm.

For some reason, ever since we arrived in this area, although I could not detect any trace of demonic energy, I still felt uneasy in my heart, and even my divine senses, which had never failed me before, seemed to have lost their power.

"You monkey, what's the rush!"

Zhu Bajie lifted his head from the river and still dutifully dipped his bowl to fetch water for Master, saying impatiently, "We've finally arrived here, and I can't wait to rest a while. Even Master is tired!"

Master gazed at the meandering river, and his hand reaching for the bowl hesitated slightly, as if he had lost focus.

"Master?"

Seeing Master's hand pause in midair, Bajie's eyes flashed with an indescribable expression, and he gently reminded him.

"It's nothing."

Master regained his composure, slightly furrowed his brow, took the bowl, and drank the river water in one gulp, then softly said, "Let's just follow what your elder brother said and hurry on our way."

Seeing Master's hesitant demeanor, I couldn't help but scratch my head.

Although Master is now a mortal, he still possesses the attainment of the Dao from his previous ten lives, as well as the great merit he has gained on this journey to the West. Therefore, he has developed a strange divine sense towards certain demonic beings.

Could it be that Master has discovered something just now?

I narrowed my eyes and secretly speculated in my heart.

Seeing us ready to set out, the usually silent Shā Wùjìng also did not say much, but drank the river water in his bowl slowly and carefully, as if it were some celestial elixir.

"How strange!"

I frowned slightly, not wishing to think too much about it, and just wanted to instinctively leave this place as soon as possible.

Soon, we packed up our belongings and left the mighty river, directly heading towards what I had seen from the clouds earlier, a vast mundane kingdom where we could rest.

But before we had taken a few steps...

A cold and faint voice suddenly came from behind me, almost as if someone was whispering in my ear:

"...Drink... Infant essence... Ghosts... Food grains..."

Hiss!

In an instant, a chill ran up my spine to the top of my head!

"Begone!"

I roared angrily, and my immortal power surged like thunderbolts. The Golden-Banded Staff in my hand lengthened in the wind and struck with unmatched force towards the source behind me!

What kind of demon could evade my fiery golden eyes?!

Boom!

The clouds in the sky were completely shattered, and the gale whipped up by the staff swept up a storm of yellow sand!

But... there was nothing behind me!

"Monkey! What are you raving about?"

Zhu Bajie, who was right behind me, looked at the staff that had just brushed past his head, and beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead as he angrily spoke out.

No one?!

How could that be?!

The chilling whisper still lingered in my ear, and my heart was filled with a sense of unease!

To be able to do this, what kind of demon is in this place?

"Let's go! There's something wrong here! Hurry!"

I didn't bother to explain to Master and the others, who were looking at me in confusion, and just spoke in a somber tone.

Seeing my serious expression, Bajie seemed to have some inkling of what was going on, and he quietly glanced at Shā Wùjìng. But he didn't say anything further.

I silently noted this scene in my heart.

Bajie was once a marshal in the Heavenly Palace, and Shā Wùjìng was even known as the Jade Emperor's confidant.

Could it be... that they know the truth about the demon in this place?

After my commotion, we didn't delay on the road anymore and just wanted to hurry to the mundane kingdom, get the documents, and leave this place as soon as possible.

Crossing the windswept sand, a peaceful kingdom suddenly appeared before our four eyes!

Everything in sight was filled with the chirping of birds and the joyful voices of the people!

"The human race has arrived! The human race has arrived!"