Fragrant Hall hung high above the ninth layer of Dao-fire. This bronze hall, wrapped in heavy layers of talismanic seals, remained completely untouched by the sacred flames of the Southern Forbidden Zone, even after crossing into its depths.
It was an ancient bronze hall, weathered by a million years, radiating a simple yet solemn majesty.
The seventy-two Treasure Halls of Heavenly Court were each a mighty artifact in their own right. This hall floated in the sky, making Quinn Shepherd feel a deep sense of powerlessness.
It was a place his Soul-Calling Rite and resurrection arts could never reach.
A towering, flame-wreathed figure strode out of the fire toward Quinn, growing ever larger as the blazing light poured into his body.
And behind him, an even more colossal silhouette towered overhead.
Standing behind him was an Artifact-Class Heaven-Guide Venerable.
At this moment, Flame-Venerable was absorbing the Dao-light of the Southern Forbidden Zone, strengthening his own power. At his level, further progress was almost impossible.
To advance, aside from cultivating up to the Heaven Court realm, he could also absorb the world’s Dao that matched his own attributes—and the Southern Forbidden Zone, birthplace of Southern Emperor Vermilion, was the best treasure land for him.
While Southern Emperor Vermilion lived, he could not seize this power by force—after all, this was her lair. But now that she was dead, he could claim all its might for himself.
Quinn gazed at Flame-Venerable striding out of the fire—so tall, so imposing, he could only look up in awe.
This Heavenly Venerable now felt utterly unfamiliar to him.
"Back when you became a Heavenly Venerable, the Four Emperors bestowed their blessings upon you—granting longevity and disaster-warding."
Quinn suppressed his anger and asked, "Now you've killed one of the Four Emperors—does that make you happy?"
Behind Flame-Venerable, his blazing halo grew ever brighter. His gaze fell on Quinn, and its sheer intensity made Quinn feel as if his very soul might ignite.
"The Four Emperors' Blessings were nothing but surveillance and control."
Flame-Venerable said, "In fact, I dissolved the Four Emperors' Blessings as early as the mid-Dragon-Han Era. After Heaven-Guide Venerable died, I realized my fate had to be in my own hands—not in the hands of ancient gods!"
He bent down, looming over Quinn, and clenched his massive hand in front of him. Coldly, he said, "Heaven-Guide Venerable believed ancient gods could coexist equally with humans and postnatal beings—he trusted them, and that's why he died! I followed that elder for so many years, and the only thing I learned was: never trust an ancient god. Not a single one!"
He straightened up and said coolly, "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, you're lucky. After earning your title, you left without receiving the ancient gods' blessings. How many Heavenly Venerables blessed by ancient gods met a good end? You're fortunate—you didn't suffer through the Dragon-Han Era. I did. The Four Emperors' Blessings were just another leash. Rebelling and killing Southern Emperor was only right."
His eyes grew cold. "I know why you've come: you want to use ancient god power to resist Heavenly Court. But did you ever consider that the Four Emperors themselves once accepted postnatal blood-and-flesh sacrifices? They were terrifying beings. Compared to those days, things are much better now!"