Just as that sword was about to reach Raina Bear and her daughter, another sword-light suddenly flashed in, blocking the attack with a ringing clash.
"Imperial Preceptor?"
Princess Father smiled: "I've known you arrived in the Western Lands long ago, but your nature is sly, always hiding in the shadows. Still, you never found a chance to strike at me, did you? This time, I've forced you out."
The Imperial Preceptor strode forward, walking on air as if on solid ground. This middle-aged man showed no emotion, dressed in blue robes, wielding a sword, left hand behind his back, fingers forming a sword seal, ready to intercept.
Princess Father wore white, also with one hand behind his back, fingers forming a sword seal.
The two figures darted through the thunderstorm, their sword clashes ringing out clear and sharp, like pearls striking a jade plate, never stopping even amid the deafening thunder.
Beneath the Five-Thunder War Gourd, Quinn Shepherd was pulled upward by the overwhelming power of the lightning, he and Bruno the Dragon-Qilin drawn toward the thunder. Even Bruno, usually so heavy, now seemed weightless, flailing helplessly but unable to grasp anything.
Quinn felt himself growing impossibly light, his hair standing on end in every direction, lightning crackling and darting between the strands, snapping and sparking everywhere!
He even felt every hair on his body charged with tiny bolts of lightning, the terrifying power hammering his flesh.
It was as if silver needles pierced every inch of his body, pain everywhere.
Quinn desperately activated the Ninefold Heaven Eye Art, his eyes filled with lightning, crackling and buzzing.
He could just barely make out Bruno; Bruno's mane stood on end, even his dragon scales bristled, lightning flashing between every scale, clattering and ricocheting.
Quinn pulled out the True Dragon Nest, its weight forcing a grunt from him as he finally countered the thunder's pull, dropping from the air and landing on Bruno, pressing him down as they both fell.
He hugged the Dragon Nest, using its weight to escape the thunder's suction, then looked up at the sky.
The Five-Thunder War Gourd floated ever higher, his eight thousand flying swords suspended around it, each drawing lightning through them.
The flying swords were now glowing red-hot from the terrifying lightning, making him worry if they could withstand the divine thunder.
As Quinn broke free from the thunder's pull, a sudden green light lit up the sky; he looked up to see the Azure Dragon Pearl detonating the thundercloud.
"The Yu clan is finished..." he murmured.
But the thunder was so loud, he couldn't even hear his own voice.
He saw Princess Father slash forward with his sword, only for the Imperial Preceptor to intercept, the two figures—one in blue, one in white—battling amid the thunderclouds.
"Old snake!"
Quinn spat and watched the duel between the two masters. Neither used sword techniques or divine arts; they simply held their swords, left hands behind their backs, fingers forming sword seals.
Their movement was impossibly fast, bodies shifting between stillness and motion, left hands behind their backs constantly changing sword seals, as if calculating something.
Quinn was stunned; their sword seals changed so quickly he could barely follow, frantically memorizing their gestures, sensing their importance.
As for the sword duel between the Imperial Preceptor and Princess Father, it had reached utter simplicity: barely any sword technique changes, just a dozen basic moves, but each thrust shook the space around them, their divine arts hidden in the vibrations, sword-dao far beyond Quinn's understanding.
No wonder he's the once-in-five-centuries monster—his sword-dao has advanced so quickly!
Quinn barely memorized a few sword seals when suddenly the god-statues, battered by divine thunder, charged into the storm, unleashing terrifying power. Eight statues joined forces, shattering the thunderclouds, sending lightning pouring down everywhere.
The eight statues were battered, nearly all broken, yet their power remained overwhelming as they attacked the Imperial Preceptor together.
The Imperial Preceptor, unfazed, continued battling Princess Father, while Raina Bear led Kira Bear forward, raising the Azure Dragon Pearl. Azure light burst forth, instantly petrifying the eight statues in midair.
Suddenly, one petrified statue twisted its neck, a sinister smile on its face. It beckoned, and the Azure Dragon Pearl flew from Kira Bear's hand into its grasp: "Thank you, little girl!"
Kira Bear was stunned, losing all control of the Azure Dragon Pearl. Raina Bear shuddered, shouting, "Careful! That's a god from the True Heaven Palace—"
Before she could finish, radiant light erupted above the Imperial Preceptor, a flying bridge piercing the sky, connecting to a hazy Heavenly Palace. Divine light flooded the heavens.
The Imperial Preceptor's Primordial Spirit burst from the Heavenly Palace, striding the Divine Bridge, sword flashing. Space itself seemed irrelevant as his sword pierced the statue's brow the instant it seized the Azure Dragon Pearl.
Blood streamed from the statue's brow and skull—less a statue now, more a living being.
For the first time, the Imperial Preceptor smiled, his Primordial Spirit rising, one hand behind his back, sword in the other, joining his true body to besiege Princess Father: "You were never my true target."
Shing, shing, shing!
Together with his Primordial Spirit, the Imperial Preceptor slashed, severing Princess Father's limbs, then decapitated him with one more strike.
Divine Bridge!
Quinn gasped, his heart finally at ease.
No wonder the Imperial Preceptor is a once-in-five-centuries sage; since Quinn and the others built the Divine Bridge Treasury model, it's been less than half a year, and he's already mastered the Divine Bridge!
Old snake, once he completes the Divine Bridge and enters the Heavenly Palace, he'll be a god. Yet he still lurks in the shadows, scheming...
Quinn thought to himself, hearing the shouts of countless women behind him as all the noble houses, led by their chiefs, charged True Heaven Palace.
Mina Frost passed by, whispering, "Little man, while the Imperial Preceptor lives, never rebel. You'll never outwit him!"
Ivy He rushed past, whispering, "If you rebel, you'll die fast! The Imperial Preceptor is too cunning!"
Quinn couldn't help but laugh and cry: "I've never wanted to rebel. But the Preceptor really is cunning..."
Quinn couldn't help but laugh and cry: "I've never wanted to rebel. But the Preceptor really is cunning..."