Quinn Shepherd smiled and said, "I didn't expect we'd meet again here. Is this an ill-omened place?"
"It certainly is an ill-omened place. But now it's become a sea of magma—the ill-omened land is gone. We originally planned to guard this place and sink into the magma below, but the Book of Life and Death woke us. Only then did we learn our benefactor was in trouble, so we came to help."
Marshal Lyle Wei's gaze swept past them, looking toward the battlefield. He laughed, "A mere rabble can't stop my South Dipper Star Department army! Rest easy, benefactor—just give us a moment and we'll break the enemy!"
Quinn turned to Village Chief and said, "This is the Seven-Kill Star Lord from the Kaihuang era, Governor-General of High-Emperor Heaven. He fell here during the demon invasion."
Village Chief nodded lightly, a bit numb. "Governor-General of High-Emperor Heaven, and the Seven-Kill Star Lord... How do you know each other?"
Quinn scratched his head. "I got caught by Furylo, escaped from Demon City and passed through here. I woke him up, and that's how we met."
"Just like that?" Village Chief's eyes widened in disbelief.
A Governor-General who died in battle in High-Emperor Heaven was still a Governor-General, right? And he called Quinn his benefactor, rushing to save Quinn and his group even after death—all because they 'just met'? Could a single encounter really build such deep friendship?
Village Chief didn't believe it.
Quinn replied honestly, "That's all there is to it."
"And this army of skeletal gods and demons...?"
"I woke them up when I woke him, just as a side effect."
Village Chief was stunned. "Just like that?"
Quinn replied breezily, "That's all. Though the Youdu underworld officials almost dragged me to Youdu for punishment, but Marshal Wei blocked them."
Village Chief sighed, sounding a bit desolate. "I shouldn't have stayed in Nether City so long—I missed out on so many interesting things. Next time something like this happens, make sure you bring me along."
Quinn nodded. "Next time I get caught, I'll definitely bring Grandpa Village Chief!"
Marshal Wei’s bone legion quickly shattered their opponents. A group of skeletons charged over, excited, but at Marshal Wei’s shout, they immediately straightened up and stood in perfect formation.
Butcher, True God Pang Yu, and the other gods wandered over in a daze, surveying these skeletal gods and demons, minds full of suspicion and awe.
Lou Yunqu had used the Book of Life and Death to awaken the dead gods and demons of High-Emperor Heaven for battle, but who would have thought that Quinn also had a bone army of gods and demons fighting for him!
If Marshal Wei’s South Dipper Star Department army hadn't arrived in time, they would have already suffered casualties by now.
Still, standing among these bone gods and demons, it was hard not to feel uneasy.
Marshal Wei let out a booming laugh: "This doomsday world may be dangerous for you, but for us dead folks, it's no threat at all. Lord Quinn, we'll escort you out of here."
Quinn hurriedly said, "My enemies have a Book of Life and Death—they can resurrect the dead, which is terrifying. If that book can revive the dead, it could also kill the living. Everyone should stay hidden in this unlucky place..."
He’d just gotten this far when suddenly the Book of Life and Death appeared again, hovering high above in the sky. It spread out like a crystal-clear mirror, casting beams of light down toward them.
Quinn’s face changed drastically. He quickly pulled out several mirrors, pouring his vital energy into them. With a shout, each mirror expanded, forming a shield above Marshal Wei and the others.
"Grandpa Apothecary, where’s your mirror?"
Quinn called out, "Everyone, activate your mirrors—block the light from the Book of Life and Death!"
Apothecary scrambled to activate dozens of large and small mirrors. The other cultivators responded in kind; in a flash, tens of thousands of mirrors floated into the air, their sizes ranging from huge to tiny, blocking out the sky and sun so tightly that not a single ray could get through.
The Book’s beams poured down, but were bounced right back by those mirrors, unable to touch Marshal Wei and the others.
Of the tens of thousands of cultivators, nearly forty percent were women. Many had reached high levels in their training, but it was hard to avoid their love of beauty—so most carried one or two mirrors on them. Still, no one had more mirrors than Apothecary.
Some cultivators practiced unique arts, turning mirrors into spirit weapons. Once refined, these mirrors could transform into squares or circles, spanning dozens of acres—truly a spectacular sight.
Quinn saw that the Book’s light couldn’t break through, but he still didn’t dare relax. He said gravely, "The Book of Life and Death moves incredibly fast—we can’t adapt quickly enough. If it shifts directions, it could still catch you. Best to stay hidden for now."
Marshal Wei gripped his halberd and said solemnly, "The Book of Life and Death can shine even into the Nine Nether Yellow Springs—where could we possibly hide? Besides, every last one of those Mingdu folks is our mortal enemy! We’ve already died once; dying again is nothing to us."
Quinn frowned. "Marshal Wei, if Lou Yunqu sends you all to Youdu, I can still drag you back. But if he sends you to Mingdu, there’s nothing I can do. Live to fight another day—think it over!"
Just then, everyone saw the light and shadows above start shifting rapidly—the Book of Life and Death was moving at incredible speed. Apparently, Lou Yunqu and the others had seen the Book’s power reflected and changed tactics.
"Nowhere to retreat—so why bother running?"
Marshal Wei was about to step out from the mirror shield when suddenly a familiar voice rang out: "No need to throw your lives away, Marshal. Quinn, don’t you have a Book of Life and Death? If you activate yours, you can counter theirs directly."
Quinn’s heart leaped with joy. He turned to see the Imperial Preceptor of the Everpeace Empire striding toward them across the sea of fire—still as calm and unhurried as ever, looking every inch the master strategist.
"Junior Brother, you made it out? You didn’t die in Luofu Heaven?"
Seeing him, Quinn suddenly felt all his panic vanish. He hurriedly took out his own Book of Life and Death and asked, "Where’s Village Chief? Why hasn’t he shown up? If he were here, he could activate the Book’s power himself..."