This ox’s abilities rival those of a demon king. It glides across water even more smoothly than land, and can command wind and thunder—its speed is astonishing. At this pace, it could easily travel three thousand li in a single day.
Libationer Barrett skimmed through the scriptures chosen by Quinn Shepherd and Lynn Ling, feeling a headache as he pinched the scrolls Quinn handed over. Lynn Ling’s picks were sword arts and spell techniques, all perfectly normal. Apart from the Falling Sun Sword Art, Quinn’s other two choices truly stumped him.
The two were called Soul-Calling Rite and Spirit Command Seals.
Any sword art or spell technique has fundamental skills to follow—by analogy, one can infer many things from one. With Barrett’s deep foundation, he could instruct them all.
But the two manuals Quinn chose were the rarest of the rare. Normally, even if Barrett saw such obscure arts in the Heavenly Records Tower, he’d glance at them and put them aside, never bothering. Asking him to explain them was truly making things difficult.
From his level, Soul-Calling Rite and Spirit Command Seals seemed weak and unimpressive—Barrett genuinely couldn’t fathom why Quinn had chosen these arts.
Sitting atop the ox, Barrett tossed the two scriptures back to Quinn Shepherd, telling him to study them himself, then began explaining the scrolls Lynn Ling had brought from the Heavenly Records Tower.
As a royal, Lynn Ling could enter the second floor of the Heavenly Records Tower. This time, she brought out a high-level Daoist thunder art known as Azure Firmament Thunder Descent.
Just the name alone was leagues more orthodox than Quinn’s Soul-Calling Rite and Spirit Command Seals.
Daoist orthodox thunder arts live up to their reputation. Barrett’s explanations were precise and insightful—many things Lynn Ling found confusing became perfectly clear with his guidance.
Quinn Shepherd listened intently, suddenly realizing that Azure Firmament Thunder Descent could be cross-referenced with Thunder Chant Eight-Form. Maybe, by combining the two, he could unlock unexpected power.
His thoughts drifted away; he lost track of what Barrett was saying, immersing himself in his own calculations.
Lynn Ling asked Barrett about a few confusing points, then immediately began testing the technique. A series of hand seals flashed—suddenly, a bolt of lightning cracked from the clear sky, striking the river and blasting several huge fish into the air!
Lynn Ling was both shocked and delighted, thoroughly satisfied.
Barrett shook his head and said, "Princess, your foundation is far too weak. You haven’t mastered the basics. Azure Firmament Thunder Descent’s true power is much greater than this."
He sealed his own cultivation, leaving only the Spirit Embryo Treasury and Five Luminaries Treasury—matching Lynn Ling’s realm. Then, he activated Azure Firmament Thunder Descent, his middle fingers moving as if threading a needle through invisible strands before him.
Lightning and thunder erupted over the river—dozens of bolts crashed down, each precisely targeted, fierce and unstoppable. In an instant, thunder rained everywhere!
The river turned white with stunned fish blasted to the surface.
Lynn Ling was completely convinced by Barrett’s expertise. Even though it was his first time cultivating Azure Firmament Thunder Descent, his skill was astonishing—no one could help but marvel.
Barrett smiled and said, "Your royal family’s Nine-Dragon Emperor Art is fierce and domineering. If your foundation were solid, channeling Azure Firmament Thunder Descent through it would make your thunder even stronger than mine. Seventh Princess, these next few days I won’t teach you any other arts—I'll only help you build up your basics."
Lynn Ling quickly agreed.
Libationer Barrett himself was a sect leader-level figure, broad in knowledge. After experiencing Imperial Preceptor Rowan’s reforms, and spending years at the Imperial Academy studying the arts of all major sects and clans, his foundation was now among the deepest in the Everpeace Empire.
The Jadehide Ox trotted toward the border. Along the way, Barrett lectured on dao and scripture for everyone, reviewing the scrolls they’d brought from the Heavenly Records Tower. After two or three days, they finally neared Qingmen Pass.
Qingmen Pass marked the border between the Everpeace Empire and the Wild Di Kingdom—and also between the Great Ruins and the Wild Di Kingdom.
Here, Qingmen Pass and the Wild Di border fortress were separated by over a hundred li. In the middle stretched a forested ridge, more than ten li long, extending from the Great Ruins—its territory. Every night, darkness would flood in, cutting off the two great fortresses.
The Great Ruins became a natural barrier between the Wild Di Kingdom and the Everpeace Empire. Armies on both sides couldn’t launch night raids, only attacking by day—so the war was locked in stalemate.
Soldiers on both sides nicknamed this stretch of Great Ruins land ‘the Duck-Tongue Strip.’
Quinn Shepherd and the others entered Qingmen Pass. Barrett handed over their border passes to the frontier officer, who counted heads, suddenly spotted Quinn, and froze—then hurriedly ran into the city.
No one understood what was happening. Barrett wondered aloud, “Did you get into trouble?”
The Jadehide Ox gloated, "Trouble? More than that! Master, did you forget? Your junior is an abandoned one from the Great Ruins. Frontier troops have divine orders to kill any abandoned one who dares enter Everpeace. I bet your junior will be executed—or sold as a slave."
Barrett frowned slightly. Moments later, the clash of armor echoed from within the city, and a deep voice called out: "Divine Physician—where is Divine Physician Quinn?"
A hundred or more soldiers escorted a white-haired veteran general out from the border gate, scanning the group. "Which of you is Divine Physician Quinn?" he asked.
Quinn Shepherd smiled and replied, "I’m here. I wouldn’t dare call myself a divine physician. General, you are...?"
Clang—
Before him, the soldiers all knelt, and even the old general dropped to one knee, raising his clasped fists high above his head. "Divine Physician Quinn, your medicine has saved countless lives at the frontier. I was ordered to guard this pass and never made it to the capital to thank you. I never expected you to come in person—please accept our respects!"
Quinn Shepherd hurriedly raised his hand. "Please, General, rise. Has my Pure-Yang Bug-Refining Pill been effective?"
The general rose, his white hair swaying, and nodded. "It’s effective. Even when the Wild Di great witches strike again, our troops remain unharmed. Divine Physician, everyone at Qingmen Pass is deeply grateful for your kindness!"
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"You’re exaggerating—it was nothing."
Quinn Shepherd smiled and said, "General, this is Libationer Barrett from the Imperial Academy, and this is the Seventh Princess."
General Bian Zhenyun laughed, "I’ve long heard the name Libationer Barrett, and now that I see you, you truly live up to your reputation. As for the Seventh Princess..."
His face darkened and he sneered, "What’s a princess doing in this remote borderland? If anything happens, who will take responsibility?"
Barrett smiled, "I’m the one bringing them here to train, General. Please make an exception for us."
General Bian’s expression eased slightly, and he reluctantly said, "For the divine physician’s sake, I’ll make an exception. Is Libationer Barrett planning to train at Qingmen Pass this time?"
Barrett shook his head. "The Wild Di Kingdom."
General Bian was startled and cried out, "You want to enter the Wild Di Kingdom? Are you trying to get yourselves killed? The two nations are at war—if you cross now, you’ll be dead for sure! And you’re bringing the princess—if anything happens, the whole Imperial Academy will be executed!"
Barrett laughed, "With me here, nothing will go wrong. I have my own contacts in the Wild Di Kingdom."
General Bian sneered, "Why should I care? It’s the Academy’s business. Whatever happens, it’s your problem. Divine Physician Quinn, please enter the pass."
Lynn Ling grew uneasy. Barrett had told them this trip was for frontier training—she’d thought they’d only visit the border, but now realized he meant to enter the Wild Di Kingdom!
Still, she’d always been bold and reckless—she’d once followed Claire Yu into the Great Ruins. Now, hearing they were headed for the Wild Di Kingdom, she felt a little nervous, but mostly excited.
That night, General Bian held a grand banquet at his manor, leading the officers in inviting Quinn Shepherd to feast. Barrett and the others attended as well, though mostly as foils.
At dawn the next day, General Bian saw them off at the gate, presenting a tray of gold ingots. "The Wild Di Kingdom doesn’t accept Everpeace currency—only gold. Divine Physician, take this as your travel funds."
Quinn Shepherd thanked him.
They all climbed onto the ox’s back, and the Jadehide Ox strode out beyond the pass.
They crossed the Duck-Tongue Strip of the Great Ruins and reached the frontier. In the distance, dust clouds rose as strange beasts with bone spurs on their heads thundered toward them, ridden by tall, burly foreign warriors shouting, "Yiso—!"
Barrett stepped onto the Jadehide Ox’s huge head, planting his feet on its horns and suddenly flinging open his sable cloak.
The charging warriors saw the tattoo on his chest, quickly reined in their beasts, stopped, saluted from their mounts, then wheeled away with a howl.
Barrett closed his cloak and stepped down from the ox’s head. Quinn Shepherd and Lynn Ling were both puzzled, not understanding why the barbarians saluted him.
When they reached the Wild Di border fortress—a towering city with strict defenses—Barrett led them to the gate. It opened, and rows of Di warriors lined up respectfully to welcome them inside.
Quinn and Lynn were even more bewildered.
Just then, a general guarding the Wild Di border strode over, laughing heartily: "Unmatched Martial Khan—the king of our grasslands! Long time no see. Ever since you took office in Everpeace, your reputation here has gone straight to hell!"
Barrett laughed, "I was never a native of the grasslands—just happened to defeat your warriors there and got honored as Martial Khan."
"Martial Khan?"
Quinn Shepherd and the others exchanged glances. Fox Ling’er asked in confusion, "Libationer, what’s that tattoo on your chest? Why do they salute you when they see it?"
Barrett opened his chest with a grin. "Take a look."
Quinn looked and saw a strange, bone-spurred head embroidered on his chest.
"That’s the tattoo of the Wild Di Khan, blessed by the sacred Witch Lord of the Wild Di holy land. Not everyone gets one."
Barrett closed his robe and said, "I was once Khan of the Wild Di. Years ago, I traveled with my master, came to the Wild Di Kingdom, and challenged the strongest warriors of the grasslands—never losing a single fight. So they honored me as Martial Khan. In Everpeace, Martial Khan means Martial Emperor."
(Third chapter today—first day on sale, more updates at noon and night. Please support with your monthly votes!)