Chi Creek naturally refused to hand over Ben Coates as a blood sacrifice for the blade, snorting coldly: "You can keep the God-Slaying Headsman's Blade for now, but if it ever turns on you, don't come crying to me. You'll bear the consequences yourself."
Quinn Shepherd put away the casket, his eyes flickering. "Since you're the Monitor-Executioner of the Chiming Era and have held this artifact for hundreds of thousands of years, you must know how to dispel the resentment clinging to the box, right?"
Chi Creek nearly exploded with rage: "You stole my treasure and now you want me to teach you how to use it? Why don't you just rob me outright? Oh wait, you already did!"
Quinn glanced at the First Ancestor, hinting that he should beat up Chi Creek again to force him to reveal the method for removing the box's curse.
The First Ancestor understood, but looked troubled and shook his head. "I've already hit him hard enough. We can't go any further. At most, just don't use the blade inside the box. This kind of vicious artifact only grows fiercer the more blood it drinks, and it's never satisfied. If you ever kill too few people and it goes hungry, it'll start drinking your own blood."
Quinn was startled. If the First Ancestor was right, keeping such a murderous blade was incredibly risky. In the Chiming Heavenly Court, they probably executed plenty of gods and demons on the God-Slaying Platform every day—enough to keep the blade fed.
Even so, Chi Creek's words showed he was deeply afraid of the little casket—clearly, he couldn't fully control it.
Back when he piloted a foreign star and ran into the demon race at Loulan Heaven, it was because he was wounded in battle that the God-Slaying Platform and the God-Slaying Headsman's Blade drained all his blood and qi, nearly killing his physical body. He had no choice but to seal himself and turn into a mummy.
So even if you know the right techniques, the murderous blade is still extremely dangerous.
Still, Quinn couldn't bring himself to just throw away the little casket.
The First Ancestor turned to Chi Creek and said, "Daoist Brother, we should join forces. Please discuss the details with Human Emperor Quinn and work out the terms together."
Chi Creek looked at Quinn Shepherd, recalling all the times Quinn had poisoned him, and suddenly said, "Forget it. This kid's too devious—I'd get the short end of the stick if I teamed up with him."
"My teacher's absolutely right!"
From a distance, Ben Coates revealed himself and shouted, "If you team up with him, you'll get sold and even help him count the money. I know from experience!"
Quinn was furious. He pulled out the casket, ready to open it and offer Ben as a sacrifice to the blade, but Chi Creek said coolly, "If you can't kill him, the blade will kill you instead."
Quinn hesitated and put the casket away, mumbling, "Grand Venerable and I have fought side by side through life and death so many times—he's like my own brother. How could I possibly harm him?"
Ben Coates was outraged. "Who the hell is your brother? Don't slander me like that!"
The First Ancestor rubbed his temples, clearly not wanting to negotiate an alliance with Chi Creek himself.
Quinn suddenly smiled. "Since Senior Chi Creek doesn't want to negotiate with me, how about talking to the emperor of the Everpeace Empire instead? This is the Everpeace era, after all. As a Chiming envoy, it would be proper for you to meet with the Everpeace Emperor personally."
Chi Creek's eyes flickered and he nodded. "Fine. But before I meet the emperor, you must hand over your creation technique."
The First Ancestor was about to nod, but Quinn Shepherd shook his head, and the First Ancestor immediately fell silent.
Quinn's eyes flickered. "I've heard there's a Chiming Divine Son from your era. He's the real decision-maker, isn't he? Let's talk terms first. As for the creation technique, the First Ancestor can help treat your people and see if he can restore their memories. But until I meet the Chiming Divine Son, I can't hand the technique over."
Chi Creek reluctantly agreed. "No time to waste—let's go see the emperor right now!"
Quinn glanced at the Chiming Heavenlock Tower. Down below, piles of divine weapons were stacked like mountains. He sighed to himself, "If only I could grab a few pieces... And that Creation Divine Wheel—if I could reverse its function, it could seal flesh and spirits, even alter someone's species. If I got my hands on it, it'd be the perfect tool against my enemies..."
The people of the Chiming Era only used the Creation Divine Wheel as an unsealing tool, but to Quinn, it was a terrifying weapon. Reverse the wheel, imprint its runes on an opponent, and even mighty gods and demons could have their bodies and souls rewritten, turning them into other species—rendering them powerless.
Even more crucial, the wheel's attack radiates in all directions—its runes could cover hundreds of miles. On a battlefield, it wouldn't take long before every god and demon turned into giant fish or sea monsters, ready for the slaughter.
That's the true marvel of the Creation Divine Art!
Chi Creek and his people only used it for unsealing—what a waste of such a powerful tool!
Once we reach the capital, I have to make sure the emperor gets his hands on that divine wheel! Quinn thought to himself.
Chi Creek forcefully summoned his magic. Divine weapons soared up from beneath the Heavenlock Tower, hanging themselves across the thousand-story building, glittering and dazzling.
Chi Creek roared, channeling his power. The towering thousand-zhang divine tower shrank rapidly, floated up, and landed in his hand. It radiated ten-colored treasure light, with halos swirling around the miniature building.
Quinn could barely hide his envy.
Chi Creek summoned Ben Coates. The group left the underwater god-city and immediately set out for the Everpeace Empire.
The First Ancestor and Chi Creek flew so fast with Quinn Shepherd and Ben Coates that even Brahma Yunxiao's swift ship couldn't keep up—the mountains below blurred past in a rush. In just a few hours, they reached the capital of Everpeace.
Quinn had planned to find a chance to kill Ben Coates and feed him to the blade, but never found an opening.
I really want to kill someone... The young man stroked the little casket in his Glutton Dragon Pouch, thinking to himself.
Ben Coates was on edge the whole way, terrified Quinn might suddenly attack him. Luckily, Chi Creek protected him tightly.
When they arrived at the capital, the First Ancestor and Chi Creek landed right in front of the imperial palace. Quinn Shepherd summoned a palace guard to announce their arrival. Moments later, Minister Yates hurried out from the palace, smiling, "Human Emperor Quinn, sirs, His Majesty is already waiting in the throne hall for the envoy from the Chiming Era! Please, come in—"
Quinn replied solemnly, "Minister Yates, please lead the way."
[Omit: Irrelevant webnovel system message.]
Minister Yates led the way, glancing back at the three-headed, six-armed Chi Creek with a shiver. He whispered, "Envoy from the Chiming Era? What's his background?"
Quinn Shepherd replied quietly, "Three hundred fifty thousand years ago, the Chiming Era founded the Heavenly Court. Later, it sank beneath the South Sea, and only a handful of gods and demons escaped. Chi Creek here was the Monitor-Executioner of that Heavenly Court—he's got true-god or heaven-god strength."
Minister Yates felt a chill run down his spine.
When they reached the throne hall, Emperor Evan was already seated on the dragon throne. Chi Creek entered, bowed, and said, "Chi Creek, envoy of the Chiming Heavenly Court, greets the lord of Everpeace!"
Emperor Evan smiled and gestured, "Rise and speak. As an envoy of a former dynasty, you will be treated with respect. Please, have a seat. First Ancestor of the Human Emperor Hall, I salute you as well!"
He stood and greeted the First Ancestor, who returned the gesture. "Human Emperor is just an empty title. Your Majesty is the true Son of Heaven—no need for formalities."
Emperor Evan instructed, "Please, Human Emperor, take a seat."
A guard brought chairs. Chi Creek sat down, Ben Coates stood to his left, and the First Ancestor also took a seat.
Emperor Evan's gaze drifted to Quinn Shepherd, looking a bit weary. He smiled, "Minister Quinn, come closer. I haven't seen you in ages—stand by my side and speak."
Quinn stepped onto the Golden Throne Hall, came to the dragon throne, and stood at the emperor's right hand.
Emperor Evan beamed, his voice barely above a whisper: "What's going on? What's his background? What exactly was the Chiming Era—and how long ago was all that?"
Quinn Shepherd sent a subtle mental wave, using the Featherfolk's psychic communication to explain the whole story. "Your Majesty, Chi Creek needs something from us. We can drive a hard bargain."
Emperor Evan relaxed, laughing heartily: "I already knew the Chiming Heavenly Court sank into the South Sea—I've often mourned the loss of that glorious divine dynasty. I sometimes visit the South Sea to pay my respects to the sages of old, and seeing those three-headed giant fish swimming there brings tears to my eyes. I never dreamed I'd meet a master from the Chiming Era in person! Mr. Chi Creek, you're a guest from afar, and if you wish to ally with Everpeace, that's wonderful. But my empire is weak, beset by demons in the Supreme Heaven, and at home, the Heavenly Court's stone statues threaten to revive at any moment. We're beset on all sides, and sorely lack treasures to steady our nation's fortunes..."
Quinn coughed. "Your Majesty, the treasure Chi Creek is holding is the Chiming Era's palace-guarding artifact—a thousand-tiered tower hung with hundreds of thousands of divine weapons, called the Chiming Heavenlock Tower."
Chi Creek's expression shifted. He stuffed the Chiming Heavenlock Tower up his sleeve. "Your Majesty, I'm just an envoy. I didn't bring any treasures for this visit..."
Emperor Evan leaned in and whispered, "Minister Quinn, the envoy came to see me—did he bring no tribute at all?"
Quinn hesitated, lowering his voice: "Broke."
Emperor Evan suddenly understood. "So this alliance isn't all that sincere."
Chi Creek frowned, gritting his teeth, about to offer up the Chiming Heavenlock Tower as tribute. Ben Coates quickly whispered, "Don't let them provoke you, Teacher! That emperor and Quinn are two of a kind—full of tricks! Just give them what they want and move on."
Chi Creek held back, then pulled out a dragon-shaped jade pendant from the Chiming Heavenlock Tower. "A humble token for Your Majesty!"
A court official presented the jade pendant. Emperor Evan examined it, and suddenly the pendant split into six, transforming into six true dragons that soared through the throne hall. When their dance ended, each dragon coiled around a pillar.
Emperor Evan was overjoyed. Quinn Shepherd tugged at his dragon robe and secretly slipped him a note, whispering, "Your Majesty, that's just a drop in the bucket! I made a shopping list on the way—use it to negotiate with him."
Emperor Evan discreetly unfolded the note, his dragon eyes wide. "Minister Quinn, are you kidding me? Even if I sold off everything in Everpeace, we wouldn't have this much money!"
Even as emperor, he couldn't help but gasp at the list.
"The envoy has come a long way. Please, rest for now."
Emperor Evan composed himself. "Minister Yates will handle the details of the alliance. Court dismissed." He quickly rose and strode toward the back of the hall, then turned to Quinn and waved vigorously, twisting his head.
Quinn hurried after him. When they reached the back, Emperor Evan lifted his dragon robe and stomped. "They're really that rich?"
Quinn quickly replied, "They'll be broke soon enough."
Emperor Evan danced with excitement, nearly flying down the corridor, laughing, "The Imperial Preceptor's war in Supreme Heaven emptied my treasury, but at last, money's flowing in again!"
Quinn was speechless. "The emperor's gone completely mad from poverty... Hmm, I wonder if the Holy Saint Sect still has any money. Maybe I should let him have a cut?"
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