Two hours later, they arrived at the new fishing village.

The Fifth Elder controlled the shuttle from a distance, landing it some distance from the new fishing village. Then, everyone disembarked and headed towards the new village.

The village looked somewhat desolate; the grass and trees were withered and yellow, and fallen leaves carpeted the paths. The autumn wind howled, rustling the barren weeds and swirling up the dry, yellow leaves. Every door and window was tightly shut, and there was hardly anyone on the streets. Sparse wheat seedlings grew in the surrounding fields, and almost no birds could be seen in the village. The environment was eerily quiet.

When Shu Lan and her group arrived, they sensed a very strange atmosphere. The villagers only dared to peek at them through cracks in the doors and windows, their eyes fixed on them warily, like frightened animals, filled with unease.

A disciple went up and knocked on the door of a farmer's house. The "thump, thump, thump" sounded very jarring in the quiet environment.

After a long while, a wary voice came from inside the house: "Who?!"

"We are cultivators from the Star River Sect, sent by our sect leader to investigate."

After the disciple finished speaking, a series of noisy clattering sounds of furniture colliding filled the room. Soon after, footsteps echoed in the courtyard.

Immediately afterwards, the villager's somewhat excited voice came from behind the door: "Excuse me, are you really the immortal?"

The disciple glanced back at Shu Lan and the Fifth Elder, and after they nodded, he turned back and replied, "Yes, we are."

Upon hearing his disciple's affirmative answer, the villager shouted at the top of his lungs, "It's the immortals! The immortals have arrived!"

"The immortal has arrived?"

"It's the Immortal Master! We're saved!"

Upon hearing the villager's shout, the other villagers opened their windows and poked their heads out. Some even opened their doors and walked towards Shu Lan and the others.

"Please, Immortal Master, save our new fishing village!" The villagers who came over knelt down one after another, begging Shu Lan and the others for help.

"Please rise quickly." Shu Lan used a spell to make them stand up. "Who can tell me what has happened in the village recently?"

Just as a villager was about to speak, he was interrupted by a loud voice: "If you want to know what has been happening in the village recently, come and find me, Immortal Master."

"It's the village chief!"

"The village chief is here!"

As the words fell, an old man, surrounded by villagers, walked towards Shu Lan and the others.

The old man had a ruddy complexion and a brisk pace. Although his face was covered with wrinkles, he looked very energetic. Despite his advanced age, he did not appear old.

He looked at Shu Lan and the others with his bright eyes, "I am the village chief of Xinyu Village. You immortals can ask me anything."

Shu Lan and the Fifth Elder exchanged a glance. Shu Lan nodded, and the Fifth Elder stroked his beard to indicate that he understood.

The Fifth Elder then spoke up: "I am the Fifth Elder of the Star River Sect. I have been ordered by the Sect Leader to investigate the matter of the demonic villains in the New Fishing Village. I hope you will provide detailed information."

"Just six months ago, our new fishing village was peaceful and safe. But in the past six months, countless strange things have happened in our village."

“In the past six months, many villagers have disappeared without a trace. Some could never be found, and others were found as mummies.” The village chief said, his voice tinged with horror. “All those who became mummies died with their eyes wide open. Their expressions were utterly terrified, as if they had suffered something extremely terrible in life.”

"Did you find any clues on them? Like wounds or something?" Shu Lan interrupted the village chief and asked.

"No, they didn't have any wounds on their bodies. It's as if all their blood was drained in an instant." The village chief said, still somewhat frightened.

“We understand,” the Fifth Elder said. “We will stay here tonight and be prepared to capture any demonic scoundrels at any time.”

"That would be wonderful." The village chief was very happy. "With the help of all the immortals, I believe our village will soon be able to return to peace."

"Where are those outer sect elders who came to check earlier? Do you know where they are?" At this moment, Shu Lan suddenly spoke up, asking about the thing he cared about most.

"Are you referring to those immortals who came last time?"

“That’s right.” Shu Lan nodded.

"Alas!" The village chief sighed. "Those immortals from last time said they discovered traces of the demons. They went to track them down, but they haven't returned yet."

"I'm worried about them..." They're probably in grave danger.

Just then, Shu Lan raised a hand in a gesture of restraint, stopping the village chief from speaking. "I understand the situation, we will be careful."

Afterwards, the village chief arranged for Shu Lan and her companions to stay at the homes of several villagers.

That night, Shulan met with the Fifth Elder and the others.

"How is it? Have you found anything?" Shu Lan asked the Fifth Elder.

The Fifth Elder shook his head. "Everything is normal. We haven't found anything strange."

“Everything being normal is the biggest abnormality.” Shu Lan pondered. “It seems we still need to go and check on the places where the accidents happened.”

"It's too late to ask now. We'll investigate tomorrow," the Fifth Elder said, looking at the moon hanging in the sky.

So all the disciples settled down to rest.

"Brother Master, something's not right." After returning to his room, Qin An said to Shu Lan.

"I know something's wrong. If it were the demons, they wouldn't have left no trace." Shu Lan frowned, looking troubled.

"Then, Master Brother, you mean..."

"It was man-made." Shu Lan said this with absolute certainty, not in a questioning tone.

"Who exactly did this?"

"This is what's giving me a headache right now." Shu Lan rubbed her temples. "We'll have to wait until tomorrow to make a decision."

The night passed, and nothing happened in the village.

The next morning, the Fifth Elder inquired with the village chief about the location where the villagers had previously encountered trouble.

After finding out the location, the Fifth Elder led Shu Lan and the others to check it out.

Through a series of observations, the disciples did not find anything strange at the scene of the incident.

"That's strange." Zhang Keke kicked a small pebble. "It's impossible that we can't find anything."

"Sigh!" Wang Lin plopped down under a big tree. "Are all demons this cautious these days?"

“That’s right, that’s right!” Zhang Keke also sat down next to Wang Lin.

Just then, Zhang Keke felt that the place she was sitting in was a little strange.

"Huh? What's this?" At this moment, Zhang Keke suddenly stood up and then squatted down where she had just been sitting.