Teleportation divine art is, in truth, a technique built upon numerology. Different directions, locations, distances, and spaces all require calculating the proper arrangement and sequencing of runes and formation patterns.
Each time a teleportation point is established, it demands a massive amount of calculation.
As for the word 'calculation,' what does 'operation' mean?
'Operation' refers to the sequence, evolution, transformation, and patterns of runes and formations. Only with these evolving, changing patterns can one calculate. The abacus is the most basic tool—moving the beads up and down represents the simplest formation sequence.
To refine teleportation divine art into a treasure, one relies on the branded rune and formation changes within the artifact to drive calculation. This is thousands of times more complex than the abacus, and can be considered a massive, three-dimensional, heteromorphic abacus.
If one wishes to cast this divine art independently, they must be able to adjust algorithms on the fly and extract the secrets of teleportation from all sorts of chaotic, complex runes.
With only ten volumes of calculation classics, it’s impossible to deduce such complex formulas.
Therefore, Quinn Shepherd feels he needs far more advanced numerology texts before he can truly master teleportation divine art.
“For higher-level calculation classics, the Imperial Academy’s Formation Hall should teach them. Formation Hall teaches formations, which always require numerological calculation. Perhaps Dao Gate also has such classics—and theirs may be even more advanced…"
Quinn suddenly recalled Dao Heir Lucas Lin—when Lucas unleashed his One Point Piercing the Flow, reversing yin and yang within the Two Forms, he used extremely sophisticated numerological calculation techniques.
Within the Two Forms, reversing yin and yang requires countless numerological calculations. Without powerful computational ability, it’s nearly impossible to quickly work out the changes in techniques and pinpoint Quinn Shepherd’s precise weakness.
"Without advanced calculation texts, there’s no way I can master teleportation divine art right now. I only know that it works, not why it works. I’d better start by refining a teleportation artifact instead."
Quinn steadied himself and focused on artifact refining. Whether making a teleportation flag or robe, he needed cloth, and all he had left was a single brocade garment—so that’s what he’d have to use.
To make a teleportation robe from his own Six-Winged Gold Silkworm brocade, he had to draw out dozens of goldsilk threads, weaving formation patterns into the cloth and branding it with runes using his yuanqi.
He’d learned tailoring from Granny Sue since childhood, even dabbling in embroidery, so this was hardly difficult for him.
"Do you think the Holy Cult Master can leave Sacred Descent Mountain by his own power?"
The three Town-Sect Heavenly Kings hadn’t left Sacred Descent Mountain yet, just in case Quinn got stuck there. The three old men looked toward the Floating Light Hall; Lu Heavenly King stroked his goatee and said, "Refining a teleportation artifact is no simple matter. Our Holy Cult’s teleportation method is notorious for being a headache."
Yu Heavenly King nodded in agreement. "Teleportation arts demand extremely high numerology. If your arithmetic isn’t strong, you’ll never master it. The Holy Cult Master is still young—he probably hasn’t studied much numerology yet."
"Let him meditate a few days first. If he doesn’t know how hard it is, he won’t know how to push forward. Only by facing difficulty and striving can you truly learn the dao."
Shi Heavenly King, ever the steady one, said, "The Holy Cult Master has faced too few setbacks—he’s sailed straight to the top. Without some tempering, he won’t grow. That’s exactly what the Patriarch intends."
The other two Heavenly Kings nodded repeatedly. "Should we maybe create a few setbacks for him on purpose?"
"No need. Just letting him struggle with teleportation is more than enough. The Patriarch’s plan is, once he’s truly stuck here, we’ll hand him a teleportation flag."
Shi Heavenly King smiled faintly. "Every move the Patriarch makes has deep meaning. You know how hard teleportation divine art is to learn. Why do you think he left the Holy Cult Master here to study it?"
Lu and Yu Heavenly Kings’ eyes lit up—they clapped their hands in praise. "Brilliant!"
Teleportation divine art is right there in the Floating Light Hall, and disciples aren’t forbidden from studying it, but hardly anyone can master it. Every Hall Master in the Holy Cult may have a teleportation flag, but those flags aren’t made by the Hall Masters themselves—they’re crafted by the Four Town-Sect Heavenly Kings.
Only a handful in the entire Cult of the Heavenly Demon can truly master the teleportation method and refine an artifact. Even the previous Saintess, Si Youyou, never learned it—her numerology skills just weren’t up to par.
The Patriarch’s plan is simple: let Quinn study teleportation in the Floating Light Hall. Once he realizes how much numerological skill it takes, ten days will pass in a blink.
Then, after another ten days, Quinn will find he can’t master the divine art and will try making a teleportation artifact. Another ten days, and he’ll discover he can’t even make the artifact.
That way, the young Holy Cult Master’s unruly streak gets sanded down a bit—he’ll learn some humility and won’t keep causing trouble like he owns the place.
By then, Quinn will settle down and start comprehending the Grand Unification Art of the Cult of the Heavenly Saint. At that point, the three Heavenly Kings will appear as kindly elders, hand him a teleportation flag, and the Holy Cult Master will leave Sacred Descent Mountain safe and sound—everyone happy.
That’s the deeper meaning behind the Patriarch leaving Quinn Shepherd on Sacred Descent Mountain to study teleportation divine art.
Yu Heavenly King’s face grew serious. "What exactly happened to Qian Heavenly King? Have you heard any news?"
Shi and Lu Heavenly Kings both shook their heads. Shi said, "I fear Senior Brother Qian has met with misfortune. He’s always so warm-hearted, but this time he’s missing—most likely an enemy targeted him to uncover our headquarters and the identity of the new Cult Master. With his temperament, he’d never give in…"
"No matter how high his cultivation, there’s always someone stronger."
Shi Heavenly King said gravely, "Every top official in the imperial court is Cult Master-level, and Dao Gate and Great Thunderclap Temple have their own supreme experts. Other sects and clans also have hidden masters. Plenty of people have their eyes on our Cult of the Heavenly Saint, thinking we’ve grown weak these forty years and hoping to take a bite. The real question is—who’s the enemy?"
The group fell silent.
After a moment, Yu Heavenly King said, "This time, the Cult Master ordered the Left and Right Dharma Envoys to found the Three Hundred and Sixty-First Hall—the School Hall. That’s a big deal. This Cult Master’s ability surpasses Master Li. Such vision and decisiveness—he’s not like a teenager at all, more like a seasoned elder…"
"Most likely the Patriarch is guiding him."
"Could be… Wait, the Holy Cult Master just appeared!"
The three Heavenly Kings looked toward the Floating Light Hall. Quinn Shepherd walked out, his brocade robe hanging open. Suddenly, the young Holy Cult Master flipped the robe up, wrapped it around himself—whoosh!—and vanished.
The three Heavenly Kings froze. A thunderous crash rang out—not far away, half of Phoenix-Landing Pavilion collapsed!
"Not good!"
The Heavenly Kings rushed to Phoenix-Landing Pavilion. Amid the rubble, they saw Quinn stand up, glance around, and—seeing no witnesses—quickly flip his robe and vanish again.
"Phoenix-Landing Pavilion was where the sixth Cult Master welcomed the divine phoenix. The phoenix’s descent on Sacred Descent Mountain was our sect’s greatest blessing…"
Yu Heavenly King’s calves quivered. "Now half of it’s collapsed—how are we supposed to explain this to the ancestors and disciples?"
Shi Heavenly King’s face darkened. He muttered, "Phoenix-Landing Pavilion only had the Chronicle of the Phoenix’s Perch, written by the sixth Cult Master—a biography, not a divine art. I’ve memorized it word for word. We’ll repair the pavilion, have the Scripture Hall’s master imitate the sixth Cult Master’s handwriting, and recreate the Chronicle. No one will ever notice!"
"Looks like the Holy Cult Master has actually refined a teleportation robe—he’s just not very good at controlling it yet."
Lu Heavenly King was stunned. "He actually managed to refine a teleportation artifact? How is that even possible?"
Just then, another thunderous crash echoed—the three Heavenly Kings turned pale as they followed the sound.
The roof of Three Kings Hall had caved in. Their young Holy Cult Master still hadn’t mastered his teleportation robe—he’d sent himself into the air above the hall and crashed straight through, punching a giant hole in it.
Three Kings Hall was built to commemorate three legendary Cult Masters who all lived in the same brutal era. Back then, sect warfare was fierce—Dao Gate, as the righteous leader, rallied the world to attack the Cult of the Heavenly Demon. The old Cult Master fell in battle, passing the sect to Azure Heavenly King, one of the Four Town-Sect Heavenly Kings. Azure Heavenly King transmitted the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra to the Saintess, then led the sect in a last stand and died at Greenwave Pool.
The Saintess succeeded as Cult Master, fought again, and slaughtered the righteous alliance so thoroughly that even Dao Gate had to retreat. She returned to Sacred Descent Mountain, passed on her cultivation, and then succumbed to her wounds.
Later Cult Masters, moved by their sacrifice, built Three Kings Hall in their memory.
Crashing into Phoenix-Landing Pavilion was bad enough, but smashing up Three Kings Hall—now that was truly crossing the line!
Suddenly—whoosh!—Quinn vanished again. The three Heavenly Kings panicked, chasing after him and shouting, "Holy Cult Master, little ancestor! You can’t keep dismantling things!"
All three Heavenly Kings had deep cultivation and had practiced teleportation arts for ages. Shi Heavenly King’s artifact was a flag—unfurl it, and he disappeared. Lu Heavenly King’s was a mirror—shine it, and both he and the mirror vanished.
Yu Heavenly King used a jade pendant at his waist; tap it lightly, and its glow whisked him away.
The three had spent years on teleportation arts. They couldn’t master the pure divine art, but using artifacts was second nature—far easier and more precise than Quinn’s rookie attempts.
The Heavenly Kings predicted Quinn’s next landing spot and rushed to intercept—but they were a heartbeat too slow and all plunged straight into the Fish-Viewing Pond.
Inside, a few fierce fish-dragons had just missed a chance at Quinn when he fell in earlier. Now, with three Heavenly Kings arriving, they seemed like perfect consolation snacks.
But the Heavenly Kings teleported away again, leaving the fish-dragons biting empty water, their steel jaws clashing and sparks flying.
The big fish shook their heads and swam off, grumbling.
The three Heavenly Kings appeared midair, reaching for Quinn—who was already flipping his brocade robe. They grabbed only each other's hands; Quinn had left behind nothing but an afterimage.
"Before the Patriarch left, he warned us: this Young Cult Master has a peculiar hobby—he loves to dismantle things. If we can’t catch him…"