With Kevin leading the charge, Huanlong found himself overwhelmed, unable to properly counterattack.
Kevin had entered a berserker state, his mind clouded with battle fervor. Wielding the Judgment of Shamash, he became a whirlwind of destruction all over.
Huanlong spotted an opening and lunged at Kevin, but before he could land a blow, a massive water dragon surged forward, knocking him back.
Or perhaps Welt's gravity-infused attack would disrupt him next. Even worse, March 7th stood vigilant, casting protective shields over everyone.
"How dare you!" Huanlong roared in fury.
His form grew heavier, his body surging with unstable energy. With one devastating swing, Kevin and the others were repelled. Seizing the opportunity, Huanlong reached into the void, tore an asteroid from its orbit, and hurled it toward them.
Kevin's eyes widened at the sight of the massive rock descending from the heavens. "Whoa! This is insane! I need to figure out how to do that later!"
March 7th grabbed his collar and yanked him aside. "What are you gawking at? Dodge!"
The asteroid plummeted at alarming speed. Just as Welt began manipulating a black hole, as a familiar voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!"
March 7th turned toward the source of the voice and gasped. "Look! It's Yuri! And Zhongli!"
Kevin took notice of Dan Heng also hurrying in from nearby.
"Dan Heng is here as well!" Kevin yelled out.
Suspended in the air, three figures stood, surrounded by an ocean of glimmering swords. Yuri gripped the Freedom Oath, a weapon he had bartered from Venti in exchange for wine.
"Go!" he commanded, and the swords shot forward like a raging tempest.
Each blade hummed with devastating energy, carving through the asteroid and shattering it into harmless debris. As rubble rained down, Zhongli extended his hand.
"As solid as a rock."
A golden barrier materialized, shielding Kevin and the others. Meanwhile, Venti nocked an arrow, swirling with concentrated wind energy.
"The Poem of the Wind, awaken the sleeping creatures!"
A single shot, imbued with divine wind, swept the debris away as if it had never existed.
Kevin stared at the three with awe. "Frog fun!!! This is incredible! I wanna learn that!" He flailed his arms excitedly. "This too! And that! And that rock thing!"
March 7th cheered alongside him, while Venti's attack left a profound impression on her—just for a moment, she connected the bard's power with the very concept of divinity.
Huanlong, already struggling, felt his heart sink further. "What the hell? More masters?!"
Before he could react, another voice rang out behind him.
"The magnificent and powerful spirit, obey my command! Kill! No mercy!"
[Jing Yuan has summoned the Divine Arbiter!]
A colossal blade, controlled by Jing Yuan, cleaved through Huanlong's back, drawing a roar of pain from the dragon. Seeing an opportunity, the others unleashed their strongest abilities to end the battle.
"Judgment of Shamash: Unsheathed, Annihilation!"
"Let me show you my power!"
"The Azure Dragon Washes the World!"
"You have no idea how heavy this power is!"
"The sky shakes all!"
"Don't even think about running~"
"Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!"
Huanlong barely had time to register the sheer devastation coming his way. Meteors, black holes, hurricanes, sword rain, searing flames, roaring water dragons, crystalline ice formations, and the Divine Arbiter above—it was too much. His body, composed of Jianmu, began to disintegrate.
This time, there were no last words. No desperate threats. Just surrender. His form collapsed, and his essence fled, unwilling to endure further humiliation.
As the dust settled, Yuri, Zhongli, and Venti descended. Kevin and March 7th rushed up to them excitedly. Kevin wasted no time, grabbing Yuri's sleeve with pleading eyes.
"Yuri, teach me Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect!"
Yuri smirked. "Go buy the Sword Control Technique from a store."
Kevin immediately nodded in understanding.
As the dust cleared, Jing Yuan and Dan Heng approached, offering respectful bows. "Thank you, my friends, for your timely assistance."
Yuri waved off the gratitude. "No need. We just came here for some practice. You could've handled it eventually. It just would've taken longer."
Jing Yuan chuckled. "Nonetheless, I am in your debt. May I ask your names?"
The three answered in turn. "Yuri."
"Venti."
"Zhongli."
Jing Yuan nodded in acknowledgment. "An honor to meet you all. This battlefield is hardly a place for conversation. Let us retire to a more suitable venue. I will have tea prepared, and we can talk at leisure."
No one objected. After Dan Heng sealed Jianmu once more, they all regrouped at the entrance of the Linyuan Realm and made their way back to the capital.
Fu Xuan, upon hearing the matter had been resolved, let out a sigh of relief—only to be thrown into shock upon learning of Huanlong's fusion with Jianmu. Had the Express not intervened, the outcome could have been disastrous.
An hour later, the group arrived at the Shen Ce Mansion. Jing Yuan led them to the backyard, where a tranquil pavilion stood. Here, he often enjoyed tea in peace.
"Please, take a seat. I recently acquired a fine batch of tea. I would love for you to try it."
He poured tea for everyone, and Zhongli took a whiff, nodding in approval. "The fragrance is delicate. This must be a freshly picked variety."
Jing Yuan's eyes twinkled. "Impressive, Mr. Zhongli. You are quite knowledgeable."
Zhongli merely offered a small smile. "I know a little."
Kevin took a sip and immediately frowned. This tea wasn't as good as the one Yuri had given him before.
As they chatted, Kevin and March 7th grew restless. Finally, Kevin stood. "You guys keep talking. March 7th and I are gonna explore. We'll catch up later."
Jing Yuan chuckled. "Enjoy yourselves in Luofu. Any expenses will be covered by the Shen Ce Mansion."
March's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
Kevin merely smiled.
Jing Yuan nodded. "Of course."
"March! Let's go." Kevin got up and went to leave. March excitedly followed behind him.
Watching them leave, Jing Yuan sighed with admiration. The Express team was truly exceptional—each member a powerhouse.
If only Xianzhou's younger generation had someone like that... Maybe, just maybe, he could finally retire.
With that thought, he returned to drinking tea with Yuri, Venti, and Zhongli, enjoying the rare moment of peace.
As twilight painted the skies over Xianzhou Luofu, March 7th and Kevin strolled through the bustling markets, weaving between floating lanterns and fragrant food stalls. The city glowed under the soft hues of lantern light, and the lively chatter of merchants and travelers filled the air.
Kevin, hands in his pockets, turned to March 7th. "Okay, we've fought dragons, defied gravity, and shattered meteors. What's next?"
March 7th grinned, tugging him toward a stall selling candied plums. "How about something sweet? You need to try these!"
Kevin rolled his eyes playfully but accepted the treat. As soon as he bit into it, a surprised look crossed his face. "Okay… not bad."
March 7th laughed. "See? I know good food when I find it."
They continued their walk, stopping by trinket shops and admiring the elaborate calligraphy paintings displayed by local artists. At one point, March 7th picked up a delicate hairpin shaped like a silver crescent moon. She turned to Kevin with a smirk. "Think this would look good on you?"
Kevin scoffed. "You wish. But it'd probably look great on you."
Her cheeks tinged pink as she put it back, suddenly a little flustered. They eventually found themselves at the edge of a tranquil koi pond, where glowing lanterns reflected off the water. The quiet moment settled between them, the excitement of the day giving way to something softer.
March 7th nudged Kevin's arm. "You know… I think this is the most fun I've had in a long time."
Kevin glanced at her, an easy smile playing on his lips. "Same, This place is amazing."
Kevin took his glance towards the stars as he spoke out. "It really is crazy that this all began from a shop ran by Yuri...All of us at this point now...What a journey"
She chuckled. "Now you're stuck with all of us forever now!...You're also stuck with me too forever now so...get used to it!" March had a victorious expression on her face.
He shook his head, glancing back at her. "Yeah, I think I can live with that. Especially the part of it being forever with you."
March 7th bit her lip, hesitating for a moment before leaning her head against his shoulder with a blush. "Y-You..."
Kevin put his arm around her and massaged her shoulder as they looked to the beautiful starry skies of the exotic city.
For once, there were no battles, no impending threats—just the two of them, under the lantern-lit sky filled with many stars and possibilities of Luofu, enjoying a quiet happiness that neither had expected but both wanted to hold onto for as long as possible.