The Bestiary Hall Master tensed, about to notify the magistrate, when Qin Mu suddenly stopped and turned his head. "Wait," he said, "don't have everyone leave just yet."
The Bestiary Hall Master was slightly taken aback. Lina the Spirit Fox and Serena Yunxiang immediately understood Qin Mu's meaning. Serena said, "Even if we let them leave, it won't help. If a Celestial Phenomenon Weapon erupts, no one can escape. Even if they flee to the capital, they likely won't survive its attack. These weapons can unleash their power across hundreds or thousands of li in an instant. If the full force erupts, it could engulf all of Everpeace."
The Bestiary Hall Master couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
The capital was still tens of thousands of li away—could it be that even fleeing that far wouldn't save them?
So what kind of weapon was that colossal gourd at the Fragrant Well?
Qin Mu straightened his robes and walked toward the Fragrant Well, his pace slow and measured. Just moments ago, he'd been racing in panic, but now he was calm, quietly saying, "We can't let the city's commoners leave."
Serena Yunxiang was momentarily stunned.
"The city's people are this god's hostages. If they leave, he'll lose his leverage and immediately activate that gourd, bringing disaster down on us!" Qin Mu whispered.
Serena Yunxiang couldn't help but shiver, glancing at him.
The power of a Celestial Phenomenon Weapon was overwhelming. During the test at Granny Sue's manor, the Quake Cauldron hadn't even unleashed one percent of its force, yet it injured the Everpeace Imperial Preceptor, the Village Chief, and other top experts—its shockwaves spread for hundreds of li, shaking the land for miles around!
Rather than letting the city's people flee, it might be kinder to have them at the very center when the Celestial Phenomenon Weapon erupts—at least their deaths would be quicker, less painful.
"Cough, cough!"
He coughed twice—not for effect, but because his body was truly weak. Just then, coughing echoed from near the Fragrant Well, and a voice came with it, sneering through the coughs: "Little brat, you chased me all the way here—aren't you afraid I'll activate this Five-Thunder War Gourd?"
"Five-Thunder War Gourd?"
Qin Mu strode toward the Fragrant Well, climbing the steps with the Flood-Dragon King and others at his side. He smiled, "So this treasure is called the Five-Thunder War Gourd? May I ask—what are the five thunders inside?"
The Flood-Dragon King glanced at the courtyard ahead, frowned, and his body began to shrink, transforming into a youth in a sapphire-blue robe. His face was fierce, but not unattractive.
The Dragon-Qilin gave a shake as well, but only managed to suck in his belly before it popped right back out. Lina the Spirit Fox quickly covered her face in embarrassment, "Fat Dragon, don't call me Sister Lina anymore, you'll shame me to death..."
The other flood-dragons bared their fangs and roared, swaying back and forth, but none could take human form; they just sucked in their bellies like the Dragon-Qilin, and then let them bounce back out.
"These guys have gotten so much fatter since following Young Master—their bellies are all bulging!"
Lina the Spirit Fox scrutinized the dragon herd with a serious face, thinking, "I really should tell Young Master to put them on a diet!"
These flood-dragons had never learned the art of transformation. The Dragon-Keeper Lord raised them for battle, not as disciples, so he never taught them to speak human language.
Qin Mu led the group up the steps and into the courtyard—a vast estate, with the famed Fragrant Well of Purple Thorn City at its center.
The Fragrant Well was a historic landmark of Purple Thorn City. Legend said this place was once barren, and long ago, a band of refugees fleeing pursuers arrived here, dying of thirst. They prayed to the heavens, and miraculously, the earth split and a vast deep well appeared, its waters fragrant. Thus, it became known as the Fragrant Well.
A large courtyard was built around the Fragrant Well, with heavy guards stationed outside. There were many spell-casters, forming layers of defense—but now, every one of them lay unconscious on the ground, not a single one awake. Clearly, the god here had intervened.
"The five thunders are divided by direction: east, south, west, north, and center—five great thunderclouds."
Inside the courtyard, Qin Mu saw the Fragrant Well had vanished. The great well had split open, and out of its depths rose a colossal gourd—though "gourd" was only an approximation. It resembled a jade vessel over five zhang tall, covered in swirling rune marks that looked like clouds, dragons, and thunder all at once.
Beneath the gourd stood a one-horned man, disheveled and wounded, with several broken bones piercing through his skin—white and ghastly.
His leg was shattered—flesh mangled, bone crushed, most of his foot ruined.
Qin Mu couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. He asked with concern, "Brother, how are your injuries?"
"You did this—how do you think I'm doing?"