Chapter 559: Divine Calculation (Third Update!)
"Axe Venerable feels even better in the hand!" Hu Ling'er said seriously to Qin Mu, the little fox girl having just gone to touch it a couple of times, finding the texture soft and plump.
Qin Mu was a bit worried that this senior brother of his couldn't control his mouth, eating too many Golden Water Mixed Element Pills to the point of growing excess fat.
However, Black Tiger God was his senior brother, having followed the Woodcutter Sage the longest, and was also a deity with a fearsome reputation. As his junior brother, Qin Mu felt it wasn't appropriate to say anything.
Even if he told Black Tiger God to eat fewer Mixed Element Pills, he probably wouldn't listen anyway. Now, Black Tiger God listened more to Dragon Qilin.
"Let the Woodcutter Sage Teacher worry about it."
Qin Mu looked back. Behind them, streams of demonic energy shot straight into the clouds. Some of the demonic energy resembled lotus flowers, some took the shape of gray clouds, and others looked like peacocks or demon gods, always following behind them. These were the phenomena formed by the primordial energy of many demonic path experts.
Those capable of such phenomena were all at the Heavenly Being realm or even stronger!
Yet these powerful demonic cultivators did not attack, as if waiting for something.
"A Divine Bridge realm expert has arrived!"
Qin Mu gazed intently. Suddenly, he saw a divine bridge spanning dozens of miles across the sky. A demon god's primordial spirit walked onto the bridge, above which was a demonic heavenly palace—this was the phenomenon of a Divine Bridge realm expert.
In Eternal Peace, the Divine Bridge realm was essentially considered a leader-level existence, with formidable strength—though that was in the past. After Qin Mu spread the technique for repairing the divine bridge, entering the heavenly palace and becoming a deity was what qualified one as a leader-level expert.
But Divine Bridge realm cultivators were still extremely powerful beings. If these people chased after them, only Black Tiger God's intervention could protect them!
Then he saw a second divine bridge, followed by a third, a fourth...
The number of Divine Bridge realm experts behind them grew. Various primordial spirits stood atop the bridges, their positions on the bridge indicating different levels of cultivation within the Divine Bridge realm.
These primordial spirits looked toward them from afar, streaks of demonic light sweeping past them without restraint.
Even with so many Divine Bridge realm experts arriving, these demonic cultivators still did not attack.
"They are waiting for an even more powerful existence to descend!"
Qin Mu narrowed his eyes, withdrawing his gaze, and thought silently: "Stronger than Divine Bridge—only demon gods who have entered the heavenly palace! I just don't know if the demon god rushing over has crossed the Southern Heavenly Gate..."
He looked at Black Tiger God, who was lying on the box with Dragon Qilin. Since Black Tiger God had found common ground with Dragon Qilin, he had become just as lazy, always lying on the box, whispering something to Dragon Qilin.
A bad feeling arose in his heart: "I hope the one coming hasn't crossed the Southern Heavenly Gate of the heavenly palace..."
Sang Hua's face showed worry. She said softly, "Leader Brother, if we go further ahead, we'll soon reach the demonic front lines. There are many strong cultivators there."
Qin Mu's heart trembled slightly, and he immediately understood what these demonic experts were waiting for.
"With many strong cultivators at the front line, plus the pursuers behind, they'll sandwich us in the middle, making it impossible for us to handle both ends. It seems the pursuers behind aren't waiting for a demon god to arrive—that demon god is already among them, waiting for us to walk into the trap!"
Qin Mu steadied himself and walked over to the box. Black Tiger God and Dragon Qilin were whispering, but they immediately stopped talking when they saw him.
Qin Mu shared his speculation and said solemnly, "Brother Tiger, if we keep advancing, the closer we get to the front line, the more dangerous it becomes! At a certain distance, a demon god will surely lead forces to block our path ahead. Meanwhile, the demon god behind will cut off our retreat! Attacked from both sides, we'll be annihilated!"
Black Tiger God stood up like a big cat and said seriously, "Good strategy! But they underestimate me, Tiger Venerable! I followed my master in campaigns across the land, through countless battles, earning my fearsome reputation through bloodshed! After my master fell silent and turned to stone, I also fell into slumber. It seems the little demon whelps have forgotten Tiger Lord's might! Don't worry—when we're a thousand miles from the front line, call for me!"
Qin Mu opened his mouth but said nothing.
Black Tiger God lay back down, looked up, and said, "Do you still have any spiritual medicine? The spiritual medicine you gave me, I used to refine pills and ate them all. Give me some more. I need to be full to fight well."
Qin Mu took some spiritual medicine from his Gluttonous Bag, measured out the amount for one furnace of spiritual pills, and handed it to him, saying, "Brother Tiger, don't eat too much, or you'll end up as fat as Dragon Fatty."
Black Tiger God laughed heartily, quite arrogantly, "You underestimate me. A few spiritual pills, refined in an instant, won't add half a pound of fat to me. I know my limits. Later, I'll show you my might!"
Qin Mu asked, "Sister Hua, how far are we from the front line?"
Sang Hua took out a geographical map, searched around, then took out a ruler to measure, saying, "This is... Gathering Cloud Mountain. It's still four thousand miles to the front line."
Qin Mu looked at the scale markings on the map, measured it himself, and shook his head, "Four thousand two hundred and sixty-one miles."
Sang Hua laughed, "Why be so precise?"
Qin Mu shook his head, thinking to himself: "It's precisely because the mathematics of your Grand Imperial Heaven is so poor that even your sun is built crooked and unsightly."
Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.
Sang Hua was called over by Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang. The three girls chattered away, delving into and exchanging the techniques and divine powers of Grand Imperial Heaven and Eternal Peace. Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang humbly sought the cultivation methods of the young true god, and Sang Hua shared everything she knew. Sang Hua, in turn, asked them about Eternal Peace's spells. The two girls taught her the recently created divine powers and also imparted the Primordial Spirit Guidance technique.
"Primordial Spirit Guidance requires dual cultivation. This technique should only be practiced by husband and wife," Sang Hua said in surprise.
Ling Yuxiu laughed, "Nonsense! As long as the primordial spirits can resonate, it can be cultivated. Many monks and Taoists in Eternal Peace have practiced it!"
Sang Hua was dumbfounded. After a moment, she asked doubtfully, "Monks and Taoists can practice it too? Have you two practiced it?"
"I practiced it with the cowherd," Ling Yuxiu said.
Sang Hua felt a pang of loss and bitterness. She looked at Si Yunxiang and asked, "And Sister Xiang?"
Si Yunxiang smiled, "I also practiced it with the Leader. The Leader's primordial spirit is very strong. Dual cultivation with him advances the primordial spirit quickly!"
Sang Hua's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "How can you... two... No, that's not right! Primordial spirit dual cultivation should only allow one Dao companion!"
She was almost going crazy. Si Yunxiang tempted her, "Try dual cultivation with the Leader, and you'll see. The Leader's primordial spirit is very strong!"
Sang Hua blushed and said softly, "The rules for primordial spirit dual cultivation in our Grand Imperial Heaven are different from yours in Eternal Peace. Here, it's taboo—only husband and wife can practice it. Even being engaged isn't allowed."
Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang exchanged a glance, understanding each other: "Grand Imperial Heaven's rules are too outdated. But then again, every place has its own customs. For example, in the Western Lands, women are all little vixens. The State Preceptor opened the path and brought over a thousand female demons from the West. I heard it caused quite a stir!"
Qin Mu climbed to a high vantage point and looked into the distance. About a thousand miles away, demonic energy rolled thickly, like a continuous wall stretching ten thousand miles.
"The demonic front line camp!"
He observed with his Nine-layered Heavenly Eye. Within the demonic energy, various phenomena appeared in a riot of colors—the phenomena formed by experts at the Heavenly Being, Life and Death, and Divine Bridge realms within the demonic army!
"Sister Hua, give me the geographical map!"
Sang Hua handed him the map. Qin Mu used his primordial energy as a scale, measured it precisely, then looked back at the pursuers. The demonic energy there was also thickening. His eyes flickered: "Another one thousand one hundred miles. Brother Tiger told me to call him at a thousand miles, but he seems to have gotten a bit fatter during this time."
Qin Mu turned around, looked at Black Tiger God on the box, and said solemnly, "Brother Tiger, we're only a thousand miles from the front line."
The little black tiger leaped down from the box, laughing heartily, "Stay here and watch my skill!" With that, he charged toward the pursuers behind.
Qin Mu watched Black Tiger God. The little black tiger ran faster and faster, his body transforming as he ran. In less than a breath, he went from a foot-tall little black tiger to a mountain-like behemoth, majestic and imposing—though his belly seemed a bit large.
As he ran, Black Tiger God shifted from running on all fours to charging on his hind legs. Various runic marks spread across his body like armor. His two front paws clenched, and two large hammers appeared in his hands.
In the span of a breath, Black Tiger God crashed into the pursuers. Countless demonic cultivators had their bones broken and tendons snapped, their bodies tumbling through the air before falling powerlessly.
A demon god was indeed hidden there. A war halberd shot up to meet Black Tiger God's two hammers. Black Tiger God was exceptionally fierce, and the demon god was no weakling either. The moment they clashed, Qin Mu immediately saw a mountain peak suddenly lift up and float away.
"Let's move quickly!"
Qin Mu said rapidly, "Advance a hundred miles! Dragon Fatty, jump off the box!"
Sang Hua didn't understand his intent but still followed him, carrying the box as they hurried forward. Dragon Qilin also quickly jumped off the box and trotted after them.
Behind them, many demonic experts who hadn't died at Black Tiger God's hands immediately abandoned him and chased after them.
Ahead, at the demonic camp, the shockwaves from Black Tiger God's battle with the demon god alarmed the experts there. Demonic energy immediately separated from the mass above the camp and rolled toward Qin Mu and the others—likely demonic strong cultivators coming to intercept, attacking from both ends.
Qin Mu led the group a hundred miles forward and shouted, "Stop!"
Behind them, a deafening roar suddenly erupted. Black Tiger God had killed that demon god and came roaring over. A tiger's roar shook the mountains, sending grass and trees flying and rocks hurtling into the air.
Black Tiger God swept past, his two hammers smashing the several experts chasing Qin Mu and the others.
Seeing this, Qin Mu immediately said, "Fall back a hundred miles."
Sang Hua, Ling Yuxiu, and the others didn't understand but still followed his instructions and ran back. Black Tiger God, having killed the pursuers, leaped over their heads and charged toward the many demonic experts rushing from the front.
Those demonic experts were also led by a demon god. Black Tiger God scattered their formation, and the two deities fought. The other demonic experts bypassed their battlefield and charged at Qin Mu and the others.
Qin Mu led the group back a hundred miles, stopped, and said solemnly, "We should be safe now."
A moment later, ahead of them, the primordial spirits of several demonic experts closed in, their divine powers striking from afar. Everyone's expressions changed. Suddenly, a giant hammer flew through the air, crushing those demonic experts' divine powers and primordial spirits!
Black Tiger God appeared, caught the hammer flying toward the group, shook it, and laughed heartily, "Mission accomplished! Everyone, get on my back. Follow me as I charge the enemy camp. I'll take you back to Li City!"
Qin Mu also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself: "Brother Tiger has indeed gained quite a bit of weight these past two days. His speed has dropped by a tenth, so I left a hundred-mile margin. Looks like my calculation was correct!"
————Third update has arrived!
Happy Birthday to Alliance Leader Jun Mowen!
Wishing Alliance Leader Jun Mowen a happy birthday, and thank you for your continued support, Alliance Leader Jun.
Birthday is the day of birth, the day life begins, the hour of coming into this world. Though separated by the internet from Alliance Leader Jun, Zhai Zhu still offers blessings, sending flowers, wishing you a happy life and a harmonious family!