In the days that followed, the three of them began a hard flight through the wilds.


    The path Evelyn chose was as remote as she''d said, taking them through barren mountains and empty backcountry where almost no one ever went.


    Sometimes they had to climb along sheer cliffs.


    Sometimes they had to push through dark, dense woods while avoiding attacks from demon beasts.


    The pursuers from the Celestial Basilica and the Hallowmere Order stayed on their heels. More than once, the three of them came close to being found.


    One time, they had barely left a vale when people from the Celestial Basilica arrived behind them.


    If Evelyn hadn''t set up a warding array in advance, the three of them likely would have been trapped inside.


    Another time, they ran into a squad of patrol disciples from the Hallowmere Order in the mountains.


    Lydia had been about to make a move, but Jared stopped her. The three of them hid in the brush, holding their breath as they watched those people pass right by them.


    That short stretch of time felt longer than a year.


    Evelyn''s injuries kept getting worse, but she gritted her teeth and pressed on, never once saying she was tired.


    Jared saw all of it. It sat there in front of him, and there was nothing he could do. All he could do was rest whenever he had the chance, recover his strength as fast as possible, and get them out of danger sooner.


    Lydia barely spoke the whole way. She simply stayed by their side and kept watch over the two of them.


    Whenever pursuers got close, she always sensed them ahead of time and led the other two away before they could be caught.


    Her presence became the one thing the other two could lean on most.


    That day, the three of them finally arrived in front of a city.


    The city wasn''trge, but its defenses were tight. Formation markings covered the walls, and soldiers stood guard at the gate, checking every person who went in or out.


    Evelyn pointed at the city and said weakly, "Young Master Jared, this is the ce. There are Teleportation Arrays here that lead all across the Fourteenth Firmament. As long as we can get inside, we can teleport back to Cloudhaven City."


    Jared looked at the city, his brow tightening.


    Getting into the city would be easy enough, but the moment they used the


    Teleportation Array, they would be exposed.


    People from the Celestial Basilica and the Hallowmere Order had definitely nted watchers near it.


    Lydia seemed to catch his concern. "I''ll draw them away."


    Jared froze for a beat and looked at her.


    Lydia''s face didn''t change, and her voice stayed even. "You already owe me twice. One more won''t matter. After you get into the city, go straight to the Teleportation Array. Don''t waste any time. I''ll do what I can to hold them off."


    Jared was quiet for a moment, then slowly nodded.


    "Take care."


    The corner of Lydia''s mouth lifted slightly as she said it.


    "You too. After we leave, you cane find me in Cloudhaven City. That friend of mine from the Ghost n is there too," Jared said.


    "All right..."


    As soon as the word left her mouth, her figure shed and turned into a streak of ck light, flying off in another direction.


    A momentter, startled cries and the sounds of fighting rose from the distance.


    Jared drew in a deep breath, steadied Evelyn at his side, and walked her toward the city gate.


    The guards at the gate only gave them a brief inspection before waving the two of them through.


    Still supporting Evelyn, Jared hurried across the streets and made straight for the Teleportation Hall in the center of the city.


    Outside the Teleportation Hall, there were indeed disciples of the Celestial Basilica watching from the shadows.


    But right then, all of them had their attention pulled by themotion outside the


    city, and every one of them was looking that way.


    Jared took the chance and brought Evelyn into the Teleportation Hall.


    Inside, a white-haired old man sat there in meditation.


    When he saw the two of theme in, he opened his eyes.


    His gaze settled on Jared, and something strange flickered through his eyes.


    "You two are here to use the Teleportation Array?"


    Jared nodded, took out 500 bottles of celestial elixir from his Storage Ring, and set them in front of the old steward.


    "Cloudhaven City."


    The old steward nced at the celestial elixir.


    It was far more than the fee the teleportation required.


    Without changing expression, he put the celestial elixir away and gave a small nod.


    "Follow me."


    He led the two of them to the Teleportation Array and began activating the formation.


    The formation slowly lit up, and golden light spread over the two of them.


    Just then, a burst of noise came from outside the hall.


    "Seal off the Teleportation Hall! Don''t let anyone get away!"


    Jared''s expression shifted, and his hand mped tight around Evelyn''s.


    The old steward looked at them and said evenly, "Don''t worry. The formation


    cant stop it


    is already active. The line


    As soon as the words fell, the light surged.


    In the next second, the two of them vanished from the Teleportation Array.


    The doors of the hall were mmed open, and a group of Basilica disciples rushed


    in.


    But the Teleportation Array was already empty.


    The man in front had a dark, ugly look on his face as he barked, "Search! Find out


    where they teleported to!"


    But the traces left by the Teleportation Array had already faded.


    There was nothing left to track.


    *****


    Cloudhaven City.


    The Teleportation Hall.


    A sh of light ran across the formation, and two figures appeared inside the hall.


    It was Jared and Evelyn.


    The Warden in the hall jolted, then hurriedly bowed the moment he recognized


    Jared.


    Jared ignored him and helped Evelyn out of the Teleportation Hall.


    Outside, the sunlight was bright, and the sky was a clear blue.


    In the distance, the shadow of a giant dragon could be seen circling faintly.


    Jared drew in a deep breath.


    The air here was familiar, and the tight strain hanging onim finally t belongs


    loosened a little after everyte


    had just escaped.


    "Finally... we''re back."


    He turned and looked at Evelyn.


    Evelyn''s face was pale.


    Leaning weakly against him, she still forced out a faint smile.


    Behind them, the doors of the Teleportation Hall slowly closed.


    they


    Far away, giant dragons circled, and their roars rolled across heaven and earth.


    It was as if they were weing the Dragon Emperor''s return.