"This Mirror-Sky Firmament above Little Jade Capital is truly extraordinary."
Quinn Shepherd gazed at the Mirror-Sky Firmament beneath Dragon-Qilin's feet, marveling at its strangeness. From below, it looked like a clear blue sky by day and a deep starry vault by night, but standing atop it revealed a whole other world.
The Mirror-Sky Firmament held Little Jade Capital aloft, completely isolated from the world. Standing here and looking down, he could see wisps of white cloud drifting above endless mountains and rivers, clouds gathering and dispersing, occasionally revealing the contours of the peaks below, with long rivers winding like dragons.
"What treasure was the Mirror-Sky Firmament refined from?"
Suddenly, Quinn leapt down from Dragon-Qilin and reached out to touch it. To his surprise, it really felt like water. He scooped up a handful, and it actually stayed in his palm, only to slip through his fingers like liquid.
He stood up and stomped his foot. Ripples spread across the surface of the Mirror-Sky, undulating outward in all directions.
"Strange, it's not water, nor is it air—what on earth was it refined from?"
He grew more and more amazed. "Are there still refining materials in this world that I don't know about? No way, I have to get to the bottom of this!"
He was utterly fascinated. After so many years learning forging and treasure-refining under Mute Smith, Quinn had long since developed the habit: whenever he encountered a new refining material, he had to study it thoroughly—just his nature.
He opened his Bixiao Heaven Eye and carefully examined the structure of the Mirror-Sky Firmament, trying to find rune brands that would reveal its composition. But to his disappointment, he couldn't spot a single rune brand.
"Impossible! The Mirror-Sky Firmament is clearly a treasure. If it's a treasure, it should have rune brands to enhance its power. How could there not be a single rune brand anywhere?"
Quinn was stunned. He'd seen gods' sealing techniques before—like the hive seal in the underground cavern of Nethergloom Ravine, which flickered with rune brands. The forging techniques used for the Mirror-Sky Firmament shouldn't surpass those of the gods, right? So how could he not find a single rune brand?
Dragon-Qilin had already reached Little Jade Capital, climbing onto one of the floating immortal mountains. Raina Bear glanced back, seeing Quinn still 'playing with water' atop the Mirror-Sky Firmament, and couldn't help but smile: "This Cult Master Quinn Shepherd looks mature, but inside he's still just a child."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil and the others hurried forward, holding the Human Emperor Seal aloft. They looked toward Dragon-Qilin's back, seeing a mother and daughter and a Village Chief who had been cut down to a human stump, and all hesitated for a moment.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil smiled, "Human Emperor, please accept the seal!"
Village Chief, rocking chair and all, flew down from Dragon-Qilin’s back, but he didn’t take the Human Emperor Seal, shaking his head: "I am no longer the Human Emperor. I have already abdicated."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil quickly looked at the mother and daughter, hesitating: "Is the current Human Emperor a woman? Well, it's not impossible—she seems strong, already at Cult Master level, quite remarkable. But she doesn't look like someone from the Central Lands, more like she's from the Western Lands..."
There had been female Human Emperors in history, but since Raina Bear was clearly a Western Lands foreigner, it struck him as odd. Still, Western Lands foreigners were also human, so it was possible she could be the Human Emperor.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil and the other Little Jade Capital elders were just about to salute Raina Bear, but she quickly smiled, "I'm not the Human Emperor, please don't scare me, I really can't bear that title!"
Sage Nicholas Tranquil looked at Kira Bear, troubled.
Raina Bear quickly realized their misunderstanding and smiled, "The Human Emperor is behind us."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil and the other Little Jade Capital elders looked toward the Mirror-Sky Firmament, seeing a youth 'playing with water.' Their expressions darkened.
"This boy as Human Emperor? I'd sooner choose the little girl..."
Quinn checked again and again, still unable to discern the structure of the Mirror-Sky Firmament. He discreetly took out a small jade vial, filled it with some 'water,' sealed it, and tucked it away in his Glutton Dragon Pouch, planning to study it later. This treasure-refining technique was far more than mere smithing—it resembled Mute Smith's Formless Treasure Method and was well worth investigating.
Mute Smith's Formless Treasure Method could refine profound gold and iron to the point where they had no set shape or state, able to shift at will. Quinn was still far from reaching that level.
"Taking just a little water—surely no one will notice..."
The youth looked up and saw a group of immortal-boned elders staring at him in shock. Quinn's face froze, then he broke into a wide smile, strode over, and bowed deeply: "Quinn Shepherd, current Human Emperor, greets all my senior brothers and sisters. Sorry for disturbing your peace—I'm feeling quite anxious."
The elders all returned his salute.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil rose and said, "Human Emperor, please reclaim the seal. By the way, about Little Jade Capital's Mirror-Sky Firmament..."
"Old Dao Lord, Elder Buddha, you two are here too!"
Quinn grabbed the Human Emperor Seal and casually stuffed it into his Glutton Dragon Pouch, laughing as he strode over to greet Old Dao Lord and Elder Buddha. "So you two have become immortals now? Not bad—not bad at all. No more worldly troubles to worry about!"
Old Dao Lord and Elder Buddha quickly returned his salute. Elder Buddha smiled, "The old Daoist and I have nothing left to do in the world and not much life left, so we've come to this peaceful place to spend our final years. It's a good place to settle down."
Old Dao Lord laughed, "Quinn Shepherd, are you also thinking of becoming an immortal who doesn't meddle in worldly affairs? If you did retire to the mountains, it would be a blessing for the world."
Quinn shook his head. "Duty is mine to bear—how could I shirk it?"
Old Dao Lord and Elder Buddha saluted Village Chief, smiling: "Senior brother, you've resigned the Human Emperor's seat and left the Great Ruins—are you planning to become a carefree immortal here in Little Jade Capital too?"
Village Chief shook his head, looking lonely. "Quinn was afraid I'd be lonely in the village, so wherever he goes, he takes me with him."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil stepped forward, smiling: "Old Human Emperor, new Human Emperor, and these three honored guests—please, this way."
Quinn followed him to one of the immortal mountains. Looking around, he saw scenery of great beauty and unique charm. The floating immortal mountains in the sky were connected by rope bridges, forming a marvelous array that kept the peaks aloft.
"Borrowing the laws of heaven and earth—this method is not something mortals could achieve!" He was shaken to the core.
(End of this chapter segment. Please click next page to continue reading the exciting story!)