Black Tiger God crouched low, and Quinn quickly tossed the chest onto his back, scooped up Lina the Spirit Fox, and together with the three girls and Dragon-Qilin, leapt onto the tiger’s back.
Black Tiger God exploded into motion, tearing across the mountains with unmatched speed.
Quinn pressed close against the tiger’s back, listening to Black Tiger God’s heavy breathing. As the breaths grew faster, Quinn thought, "I was right. Tiger Senior spent a lifetime cultivating, only for Fat Dragon to ruin it all—he broke his cultivation. Hopefully he won’t get too fat, or the master won’t recognize him… Hmm, even breaking through the enemy lines to get back to the City of Departure might be a challenge…"
Just then, a roar like a dam bursting thundered ahead—deafening, hurricane winds blasting Quinn’s face. He looked up and saw sword-light ripping through the demon camp’s spell-walls, tearing a massive breach.
Trailing the sword-light came towering thunder-gourds, floating in midair, surrounded by divine-ability users channeling thunder into the gourds, unleashing torrents of lightning like a downpour onto the demon camp.
Behind the thunder-gourds spun thousands upon thousands of sword pills, whirling madly. As the thunder crashed, a rain of swords shot down into the demon camp from above.
Further back, rows of tower-ships advanced, their true-yuan cannons plowing the demon camp, blasting it to rubble!
“It’s the Everpeace army!”
Quinn’s spirits soared. "That sword art that just tore open the camp? That’s the Everpeace Imperial Preceptor’s swordsmanship! That guy’s a schemer—when that demon god burst out to attack us, he must have been the camp commander. The moment the commander left, the Preceptor spotted the opening and broke the formation! Only the Preceptor is that cunning!"
The Imperial Preceptor had forged his sword path into a true dao, his sword-heart unshakable. No enemy flaw could escape his eye or dodge his sword-light, not even their formations. He’d turned swordsmanship into the art of battlefield breakthrough—unmatched in war.
Quinn relaxed. Even if Black Tiger God was panting, he could still carry them through the chaos, back to the City of Departure.
Ahead, the Everpeace Imperial Preceptor and State Duke Wei led the charge, with tower-ships following behind. Soldiers dropped down from the sky with thunder-gourds, landing atop the ships.
Further back, a vast army of exotic beasts and divine-ability users surged forward.
Black Tiger God barreled into the battlefield, gave a mighty shake and launched everyone into the air. He rose to his full height, grabbed his twin warhammers, and spun them like windmills, smashing into the enemy with a storm of blows.
Boom—
Black Tiger God slammed a hammer into the ground, a shockwave blasting out in all directions, sending countless demons flying.
He rampaged through the enemy ranks, roaring, “You go on ahead! I’ll burn off these pill calories and melt down my belly fat—don’t want the master to mistake me when I get back!”
Quinn stared, then glanced at the round, airborne, and hopelessly fat Dragon-Qilin, feeling a pang of melancholy: "The master’s mount is still the best—even if he overeats, he keeps up his cultivation and stays fit, never letting it slow him down…"
Dragon-Qilin was just as stunned. He glanced at Quinn’s gloomy face, deep in thought.
A tower-ship swooped by, nearly brushing past them. On its prow stood a young general, who waved and conjured golden lotus flowers beneath each of their feet, lifting them up and delivering them onto the ship.
Quinn was startled. "Quentin Shaw, Young General Qin!" he exclaimed, quickly bowing in greeting.
Quentin Shaw, clad in armor, nodded slightly in return. "Cult Master Quinn. Princess Lynn. Forgive my formal attire—I cannot bow deeply."
Another youth appeared behind him—it was Ethan Qin, with a young dragon coiled around him. He also greeted Quinn and the others: "Ethan Qin greets Cult Master Quinn, Princess Lynn, and Saintess Yunxiang."
These two brothers were born into the distinguished Qin military family, disciples of the Imperial Preceptor. After training with him, they achieved success and now serve in the army.
The Imperial Preceptor has many disciples, most of whom enter the army and hold high rank. Lynn Ling is bold and sociable, and many of her friends are also disciples of the Preceptor.
The first time Quinn met Lynn Ling, she was traveling with Quentin Shaw, entering the Great Ruins to map its geography and plan its conquest.
The young dragon on Ethan Qin’s body raised its head curiously and studied Quinn. Suddenly, it slid down from Ethan and crawled onto Quinn, rubbing its horns against his cheek and softly murmuring, “Maha…”
Ethan Qin froze, quickly pulling out a dragon pearl to try and call his young dragon back, but the little dragon clung to Quinn, unwilling to leave.
Ethan Qin grew uneasy: "I couldn’t match him at the Imperial Academy, and he beat me several times. Now he’s the Cult Master, and I fall even shorter. Is he going to steal my dragon too?"
Quinn gently removed the little dragon, examining it closely. Surprised, he asked, "Isn’t this the true dragon from the Yong River Dragon Palace?"
Quentin Shaw nodded. "The Imperial Preceptor invited Poison Prince Warren Foyne to revive it, and then gifted it to my brother."
Quinn’s eyes lit up and he smiled. "Junior Ethan, could I borrow your little dragon for a few days?"
Ethan hesitated, but Quentin Shaw laughed. "Cult Master Quinn’s status is extraordinary, and as Grand Rector of Heavenly Saint Academy, he’s raised countless dragons. He wouldn’t cheat you."
Ethan could only nod. Quinn smiled, "I won’t borrow it for nothing—I’ll give you some benefits. Once I return your little dragon, you’ll understand what they are."
The little dragon shrank down, crawled onto Quinn’s earlobe, and hung there like a dangling earring.