"The Axe Venerable feels even better now!" Lina the Spirit Fox said to Quinn with a solemn face. The little fox spirit had just gone over and patted him twice—he was noticeably softer and squishier to the touch.
Quinn couldn't help but worry that his senior brother might not be able to control his appetite, and that eating too many Gold-Water Mixed-Origin Pills would end up making him fat.
But Black Tiger God was his senior brother, the Woodcutter Sage's longest-serving disciple, and a god with legendary renown. As the junior, Quinn felt it wasn't his place to say too much.
Even if he tried to persuade Black Tiger God to cut back on the pills, the tiger god probably wouldn't listen. These days, Black Tiger God listened more to Bruno the Dragon-Qilin than to him.
"Better let the Woodcutter Sage worry about it instead."
Quinn glanced back. Behind them, columns of demon qi shot up into the sky—some shaped like lotus flowers, some like dark clouds, others like peacocks or demon gods—all trailing after the group. These were the strange visions formed by the yuanqi of powerful demon cultivators.
Only experts at the Heaven-Man Realm or above could create such phenomena!
Yet these demon elites weren't attacking—they seemed to be waiting for something.
"A Divine Bridge expert has arrived!"
Quinn narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, a Divine Bridge spanned dozens of li across the sky, and a demon god's Primordial Spirit strode onto it. Above the bridge hovered a demon palace—a vision unique to Divine Bridge Realm experts.
In Everpeace, the Divine Bridge Realm was basically considered the cult master level—immensely powerful. But that was before. After Quinn spread the method for repairing the Divine Bridge, only those who entered the Heaven Palace and became gods counted as true cult master-level experts.
Still, Divine Bridge Realm cultivators remained extremely formidable. If these people chased after them, only Black Tiger God would be able to protect the group!
Then he saw a second Divine Bridge, then a third, then a fourth...
More and more Divine Bridge experts appeared behind them, each bridge occupied by a different Primordial Spirit. The exact position of each spirit on the bridge marked their cultivation level within the Divine Bridge Realm.
From a distance, those Primordial Spirits swept the area with beams of demon light, scanning recklessly all around.
Even with so many Divine Bridge experts present, the demon cultivators still hadn't attacked.
"They're waiting for an even stronger presence to arrive!"
Quinn narrowed his eyes and looked away, thinking silently to himself, "Stronger than Divine Bridge means only a demon god who's entered the Heaven Palace! I just hope the one coming hasn't crossed through the South Heaven Gate..."
He glanced at Black Tiger God, who was lying on the chest with Bruno the Dragon-Qilin. Ever since Black Tiger God and Bruno found common ground, the tiger god had grown just as lazy, always sprawled out on the chest, whispering with Bruno about who knows what.
Quinn felt a growing sense of unease. "Let's hope whoever's coming hasn't crossed the South Heaven Gate..."
Sabrina looked worried and whispered, "Cult Master Quinn, if we keep going, we'll reach the demon front lines soon. There are countless elites there."
Quinn's heart skipped a beat—he instantly understood what the demon experts were waiting for.
"With so many elites at the front and pursuers behind, we'll be caught in the middle—unable to defend either end. It looks like the rear pursuit isn't waiting for a demon god to arrive; that demon god is already among them, just waiting for us to walk right into their trap!"
Steeling himself, Quinn walked over to the chest. Black Tiger God and Bruno the Dragon-Qilin were still whispering, but clammed up as soon as he approached.
Quinn shared his suspicions in a low voice: "Senior Tiger, we need to keep moving. The closer we get to the front lines, the more dangerous it becomes! Once we're close enough, a demon god will surely block our path up ahead. And behind us, another demon god will cut off our retreat! We'll be caught in a pincer attack and wiped out!"
Black Tiger God stood up like a giant cat and said gravely, "Good plan! But you underestimate your Tiger Venerable. I've followed my lord into countless bloody battles—my fame was earned in the thick of war! After my lord faded into legend, I slept for ages. Looks like these little demon cubs have forgotten what Tiger Grandpa can do! Don't worry—when we're a thousand li from the front, just call me!"
Quinn opened his mouth, but said nothing.
Black Tiger God flopped down again and looked up. "Got any more spiritual medicine? The last batch you gave me, I already used up making pills and eating them. Give me some more—gotta be full to fight!"
Quinn took some spiritual medicine from his gluttonous pouch, measured out enough for a batch of spirit pills, and handed it over. "Senior Tiger, don't eat too much—watch out or you'll end up as fat as Bruno."
Black Tiger God burst out laughing, utterly self-assured. "You underestimate me. A few spirit pills are nothing—I refine them instantly, not a scrap of extra meat! I've got it under control. Just wait and watch me show off!"