The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Zhao Douan remained extraordinarily calm: "We need to leave a few people behind to hold them off."

Gongshu Tianyuan said arrogantly: "Just now I was ambushed by that Ren Kun, this time watch me handle him."

Jin Jian looked at the unreliable, over-indulgent fifth senior brother and sighed softly: "I'll stay too."

Although the young priestess seemed a bit naive, she felt mature inside, well, at least more reliable than the fifth senior brother.

Although the two had profound foundations, they had recently advanced...they might not be able to withstand the furious Kuangfu Society experts... Zhao Douan's mind was turning, he said:

"Lang Shiba, you stay too."

The two down the mountain paired magic with martial arts; it wouldn't do to send only two priests from their side.

"Drunkard" Lang Shiba grunted, took the wine gourd from behind him, and tossed it to Ji Yue, fully committed.

"Let's go." Zhao Douan wasted no words, immediately leading Ji Yue, Haitang, and Zhang Han further up the mountain.

They were gone.

Only three "World" beginners were left halfway up the mountain, to hold back the Kuangfu Society duo quickly gaining on them, whose cultivation was far superior.

"Whoo whoo—"

The winter mountain wind swept past the withered yellow trees, the forest, brushing against the three faces.

"The opponent is strong, fortunately we have the terrain advantage, later I'll do my utmost to block in front, you two cast spells from behind." Lang Shiba spoke steadily, this former Assistant General in the army, undoubtedly had rich combat experience.

Sweat beaded on his palm gripping the scimitar, his weathered face full of solemnity.

In the battle at Hut Ting, he had personally experienced Qi Yuchun's spear skills, knowing he could hardly resist, but if allowed to break through and close the distance to the two "priests," they would be in a passive position.

"Ha! With this priest here, do you really need to risk your life as a human shield?"

Gongshu Tianyuan raised his chin, sneering, with an air of superiority.

Then, under the surprised gaze of the two, he pursed his lips, revealing a sinister smile:

"Do you really think, Artisan Gods aren't good at combat? Back then, in the Buddhist Tao magic duel, it was not that I couldn't beat you, but outsiders simply don't know how overpowered a well-prepared Artisan God can be. Hmm, this term was taught by Brother Zhao."

"You two, just protect me!"

After speaking, Gongshu Tianyuan ripped open his robe, grabbed a handful of disposable storage talismans, and scattered them on the mountain path.

Bang bang bang...

Each piece, dark and heavy, made of wrought iron and high-quality steel mechanical parts, fell to the ground, the most prominent of which was a brass cannon barrel thick as a man's waist.

When Zhao Douan had hand-drawn the blueprint, he and Divine Machine Camp's "Chen Huoshen" developed new firearms, and they had conveniently built a magic artifact only Magicians could operate.

At this moment, Gongshu Tianyuan lifted the "Artisan God Hammer" and quickly assembled a Divine Might Cannon exuding a powerful pressure on the mountain path.

It had a seven-foot-long, three-foot-high wrought iron base, supporting the dark, extraordinarily thick barrel engraved with Array rune symbols.

Gongshu Tianyuan rotated the cannon to aim at the approaching Qi Yuchun and Ren Kun, who were carried by the phantasmal "Earth God" and closing in.

The little fatty laughed crazily, his eyes lit with mad ferocity, and he stomped heavily on the trigger.

"Your Artisan God grandpa is here!!"

"Buzz—"

The cannon mouth of the [fantasy version Divine Might Cannon] quickly charged, the patterns lit up successively, and spherical electric light frantically compressed inside the dark cannon chamber.

Then, a small sun-like spherical light mass whistled out, rapidly enlarging in the Earth God's suddenly contracting pupils.

"Boom————"

...

...

Listening to the abrupt rumbling from the mountain below, Zhao Douan did not look back: "Quick!"

The four of them had already crossed the arch of the "Forbidden Mountain Villa" and rushed into the ancient architectural complex built on the mountain.

"Who goes there?"

Two gatekeeping Kuangfu Society members rushed out, knives in hand, expressions alarmed.

Haitang flicked her wrist, throwing knives spun forth, piercing the throats of the two with a puff, and they fell limply.

At this moment, the rest of the people in the villa, drawn by the cannon fire, came running, but the already undermanned villa, how could it withstand the assault of four fierce individuals?

Zhao Douan hardly needed to make a move, as the other three cut down bodies like slicing melons and vegetables.

"Speak, where is Zhuang Xiaocheng?" Zhao Douan stepped on one man who was begging loudly for mercy.

This person was clearly not a determined society member, probably a servant from the villa, and immediately pointed to a distant pavilion:

"Over there..."

Zhao Douan looked up, gazing toward the building at the highest point by the cliff.

...

...

"Sixteen, eighteen."

Yun Xi picked up a chess piece and placed it in the corresponding position.

Zhuang Xiaocheng admired the game and said:

"According to the hour, there should already be results in the city by now."

Just as he finished speaking, the cannon's roar startled the birds in the villa.

Everyone in the pavilion was stunned, Yun Xi abruptly twisted around, looking toward the mountain direction, her eyes flashing with light.

"What's going on? Old Five, go check it out." Zhuang Xiaocheng exclaimed, standing up in shock, and instructed.

The Kuangfu Society member referred to as "Mr. Wu" rushed out wildly, but shortly after turning the corner of the building, a scream was heard.

In Zhuang Xiaocheng's vision, four figures approached from afar.

The most conspicuous was a red-clothed, white-eyed woman drifting like a ghost in mid-air, streams flowing from the wine gourd behind her, forming two long "water whips" under her slender fingers' control.

Zhang Han and Haitang flanked left and right, their blades stained red, dripping thick blood.

The two escorted, led by a young man in splendid attire, with a longsword hanging at his waist, yet unsheathed, striding forward, the four pairs of eyes meeting.