Dragon-Qilin wagged his tail, trying to please: "I'm much more imposing than it is."
Quinn Shepherd was speechless. How could riding a giant ball of meat with a tail possibly look imposing?
He ate more and better than anyone, yet not only could he not outrun the Azure Ox, now he couldn't even keep up with a dog!
"Cult Master, are you disappointed in me?"
Dragon-Qilin turned his head, eyes brimming with tears: "You must be disappointed in me, right?"
Quinn snorted softly, a gentle look in his eyes: "No. New Year's is just a few months away—how could I be disappointed in you? What if I gave you two bushels of Scarlet Fire Spirit Pills every day? Eat more, get even fatter."
Dragon-Qilin shuddered. Kira Bear clambered onto his head, clutching a tuft of mane behind his ear to keep from falling. She whispered in his ear, "Don't eat anymore, or you'll get slaughtered for New Year's!"
Dragon-Qilin's voice trembled with tears: "I know! But I just can't control myself..."
Little Jade Capital was far from Dao Gate, and it floated in the sky. At Dragon-Qilin's pace, it would take ten days or so to reach it. Quinn set up a rocking chair on Dragon-Qilin's broad back and placed Village Chief in the chair. Though Dragon-Qilin was fat, he had one advantage—his running was so steady that there was no risk of Village Chief falling off.
Sometimes Raina Bear would join Village Chief for tea, while Quinn would stop in cities to buy spirit herbs and continue treating her injuries. She kept her promise and taught Quinn True Heaven Palace's signature All-Gods Natural Art.
The All-Gods Natural Art is founded on the true principle that all things have spirit, all things have gods. The cultivation method of True Heaven Palace in the Western Lands differs from that of the Central Plains, and its path is somewhat similar to Dao Gate, both seeking closeness to nature. But Dao Gate pursues mathematics and natural law, while True Heaven Palace emphasizes resonance among all things and the manifestation of souls.
True Heaven Palace's arts cultivate extraordinarily powerful sensitivity, while also bestowing souls upon all things.
Quinn pondered for a while and found this art indeed suited for women—women's minds are more delicate, their perceptions keener, naturally surpassing men. For himself, it could increase his sensitivity, but held little real benefit. Its true value lay in the creation methods it contained.
Bestowing souls upon all things is itself a creation method. Compared to the Seven Creation Chapters in the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra, the All-Gods Natural Art is more direct and exquisitely subtle—there are useful insights to be drawn from it.
"This True Heaven Palace art doesn't really feel like something from this era."
When Raina Bear taught him the All-Gods Natural Art, Village Chief listened as well, contemplated, and said, "Palace Master Bear, your True Heaven Palace's arts are rather ancient, quite different from those of the Pioneer Age. When did True Heaven Palace originate?"
Raina Bear shook her head, "I don't know either. I had only just become Palace Master when the Yu clan rebelled and seized power, so I never had the chance to review True Heaven Palace's records. But our sect is extremely ancient, with a long lineage. I once heard my Princess Mother say our True Heaven Palace is even older than the holy lands of the Central Plains..."
Her expression grew somber, but she quickly rallied: "If you can help me reclaim True Heaven Palace, and I regain control, all the sect's classics will be open for you to read!"
Village Chief yawned and dozed off with his eyes half-closed. Raina Bear looked at Quinn, who was entertaining Kira Bear—he sketched a few birds, and the little birds flew from the paper, chirping around the girl, making her giggle with delight.
Raina Bear sighed and fell silent.
Quinn and Village Chief clearly had no intention of helping her return to the Western Lands to reclaim power—seizing control of True Heaven Palace would be a muddy business, and she couldn't offer enough benefit to entice them.
"My only option now is to take a post at the Imperial Academy in the Everpeace Empire and hope for a chance to speak with the Imperial Preceptor."
Her eyes flickered as she thought, "Yet judging by the Imperial Preceptor's actions, after conquering the grasslands, he likely won't stop expanding— even the northern snowfields may not hold him back. If he annexes the snowfields, will the Western Lands be next? Negotiating with him will be like bargaining with a tiger over its skin..."
She hesitated, then remembered that only she and her mother remained of the Bear clan. Her resolve hardened: "The Yu clan drove my family to extinction. No matter what, I must avenge this blood feud—even if it means inviting a wolf into my home! This grudge must be repaid!"
Quinn glanced at her. In the Western Lands, women rule, but judging by her methods, Raina Bear wasn't suited to be the princess of True Heaven Palace—she lacked the decisiveness and capability.
The reason Quinn hadn't helped her was simple: she lacked ability. Even if she regained True Heaven Palace, she probably wouldn't hold it for long. Though Raina Bear was strong enough to open the Divine Bridge Treasury, running a holy land requires far more than personal strength.
Raina Bear had only just become Palace Master when the Bear clan was utterly defeated and wiped out by the Yu clan, unable to mount any resistance. Clearly, she was not a qualified Palace Master.
Quinn had recommended her for a teaching post at the Imperial Academy precisely so she could meet the Imperial Preceptor. The Imperial Preceptor has ambition and ability; if Raina Bear wants his help for revenge, she'll have to pay a steep price.
But all that had nothing to do with Quinn.
Suddenly, Village Chief opened his eyes and looked into the distance in surprise.
Quinn felt a stir in his heart. "Village Chief, what's wrong?"
"Someone is challenging me. An old rival."
Village Chief raised his eyebrows, unconcerned. "Ignore them. We're almost at Little Jade Capital Sect. Let's go there first."
"A challenge?"
Quinn was stunned. "Challenging Village Chief? Aren't they afraid he'll kill them?"
At that moment, in Little Jade Capital Sect, Victor Bloom suddenly stood up, looking into the distance, puzzled. The old Dao Lord and Old Buddha were also present, sensing something and turning toward Qingmen Pass.
"These auras are strong."
A blind man leaning on a bamboo staff asked in surprise, "Butcher, did you sense it?"
Butcher was cleaning his nails with a pig-slaughtering knife. He raised his brows. "These people have some skills. I'm curious about their origins."
Butcher was cleaning his nails with a pig-slaughtering knife. He raised his brows. "These people have some skills. I'm curious about their origins."
Jade and the other women didn't sense anything unusual and asked, "Young Master, what's wrong?"
"My masters have descended to the mortal realm."
Victor Bloom exclaimed, "So many gods descending—could something have happened in High Heaven?"
Old Buddha laughed, "Lord Bloom, they're revealing their auras as a challenge, not because something happened in High Heaven."
Victor Bloom pondered, "Challenging someone? Then it can only be the Old Human Emperor or a master like the Imperial Preceptor. The Imperial Preceptor may be called the greatest beneath the gods, but he isn't qualified for this. It must be the Old Human Emperor. Sage Nicholas Tranquil, I've disturbed you for so long—thank you for your hospitality. I must take my leave."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil tried to persuade him, "Lord Bloom, won't you stay a few more days? Our Little Jade Capital Sect may not be as grand as High Heaven, but it's a rare and peaceful place."
Victor Bloom replied, "I've learned much from Little Jade Capital Sect's techniques these days. But since my master is here to challenge the Human Emperor, I must go."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil did not try to stop him again.
Victor Bloom led Selena, Jade, and the other two women down the mountain to a painted barge. They boarded, and the barge glided across the sky like a mirror, ripples spreading as it sailed off. Once they left Little Jade Capital Sect, the mirrored sky disappeared, leaving only the real sky above.
The painted barge sailed off into the sky, gradually vanishing from sight.
Butcher gave Grandpa Blind a look. Grandpa Blind laughed, "You can give me looks all you want, but I'm blind. Sage Nicholas Tranquil, Old Daoist, Old Buddha, the two of us are heading down the mountain."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil hurriedly said, "Both of you are enlightened masters, why not stay in Little Jade Capital Sect? The mortal world is filthy—why wade into muddy waters?"
Butcher shook his pig-slaughtering knife, which grew to the size of a door panel as he slung it over his shoulder. He laughed, "I'm a butcher. Would you let me open a meat shop here? If I can't sell meat and make money, I'll have to live on air."
Sage Nicholas Tranquil's face froze. He was about to try again when Grandpa Blind cupped his hands, "Spring fills the garden, but can't be contained; why must acquaintances have met before? A night of spring is worth a thousand gold! Sage Nicholas, farewell!"
Sage Nicholas Tranquil was stunned, pondering the meaning of those three lines, but Butcher and Grandpa Blind had already left Little Jade Capital Sect.
From the mirrored sky came Butcher's voice: "Blind, your first line means we're leaving, right? So spring can't be contained, Little Jade Capital Sect can't keep us. Second line is polite talk—just chance acquaintances, talking about dao and magic, making friends. Third line is urgent—we've got important business, so every moment counts. Am I right?"
Grandpa Blind's voice came, proud, "Old Butcher, you really get me! That's exactly what my three lines meant. Deaf always says I'm sentimental, but he doesn't understand my talent."
Butcher admired him, "You're really getting more talented—your emotions are like poetry! Sage Nicholas was speechless! The Old Daoist and Old Buddha were dumbfounded too!"
Sage Nicholas Tranquil was dumbfounded, and the Old Dao Lord and Old Buddha were equally stunned.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil was dumbfounded, and the Old Dao Lord and Old Buddha were equally stunned.
Not long after Butcher and Grandpa Blind left, a distant voice rang out: "The Human Emperor of this era comes to visit Little Jade Capital Sect!"
Sage Nicholas Tranquil was greatly shocked and quickly struck the bronze bell. Its melodious sound echoed as elders with immortal airs flew from each mountain of Little Jade Capital Sect, gathering around him.
Everyone looked toward the mirrored sky and saw a large, pitch-black seal flying over, sending ripples through the sky as it passed.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil shook his sleeves as if to dust them off, though Little Jade Capital Sect was a sacred place—there was no dust.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil stepped forward, raising both hands above his head. The plain black seal landed in his palms. He stepped back and lowered his arms, while the other elders of Little Jade Capital Sect came forward to look, their faces solemn.
"Human Emperor Seal! The Human Emperor himself is here—welcome!"
Suddenly, a big-bellied Dragon-Qilin carefully walked across the mirrored sky, his stomach making ripples as it pressed against the surface.
A cute little girl leaned over the Dragon-Qilin's ear and whispered, "Fat Dragon, tuck in your belly."
The Dragon-Qilin tried to pull in his belly, strutting proudly. But soon he lost control, and with a thud, his stomach hit the mirrored sky.
Sage Nicholas Tranquil was dumbfounded, and the Old Dao Lord and Old Buddha were equally stunned.