Quinn and his group walked down Heavenly Avenue, then turned onto another street—this one was also deserted, not a soul in sight.
Elaina Cloud praised, "Heavenly Venerable, you’re truly majestic—wherever you go, not even grass dares to grow, and babies stop crying!"
Quinn burst out laughing, "After all, I am a Heavenly Venerable—of course my presence commands awe wherever I go!"
Little Earth Sovereign poked his head out of Dragon-Qilin’s ear, surveying the surroundings with great dignity. Dragon-Qilin, worried he’d cause trouble, hurriedly flattened his ears and stuffed him back inside.
From inside, Little Earth Sovereign pounded on his ear, but Dragon-Qilin endured it, refusing to let him out.
Elaina Cloud noticed Little Earth Sovereign, her expression turning to surprise—whatever crossed her mind, she suddenly broke into laughter.
They arrived at Jadecrest Divine Palace. Though not as expansive as Jade Pool, it was still a vast and magnificent complex within Heavenly Court, its palaces layered upon palaces.
Here, everything glittered with gold and jade. The palaces floated, shrouded in clouds and mist, with no walkways connecting them—you had to fly to cross from one to another.
In fact, most of Heavenly Court’s architecture was like this—each domain stood apart, not fully connected. For instance, Jade Pool floated in the sky, surrounded by clouds, and only a branch of the Celestial River linked it to the pool; the Jade Terrace where Jade Pool sat had no direct contact with the rest of Heavenly Court.
The Heavenly Market was also suspended in the air—you had to fly from elsewhere to reach it.
Most of Heavenly Court’s buildings weren’t originally connected either. Back in the early Dragon-Han era, when the Heavenly Court was first founded, it was far smaller—just thirty-six Heaven Palaces and seventy-two Treasure Halls, each a self-contained complex.
Only by piecing all these structures together did they form the Heavenly Court, which is why so many palaces and halls remain unconnected to this day.
Later, many of the original thirty-six Heaven Palaces and seventy-two Treasure Halls were relocated to other corners of the cosmos to serve as regional strongholds.
Then, as the Chao-Han, Dragon-Sky, and Dragon-Han Heavenly Courts merged and expanded over time, the patchwork grew ever larger, creating the sprawling Heavenly Court seen today.
Yet the tradition of keeping each domain independent has survived to this day.
Jadecrest Divine Palace had already received word that Shepherd Heavenly Venerable was heading their way. The disciples of God-Emperor Jadecrest didn’t dare slack off—they reported it immediately. The one in charge was Chang Xiting, Jadecrest’s First Senior Disciple, and when he heard Quinn was coming, he instantly felt a headache coming on.
"Shepherd Heavenly Venerable is really coming?" he asked again and again.
"Senior Brother, he’s already outside the palace!"
Chang Xiting sneered, "What’s he doing here? Isn’t he afraid of dying?"
The disciples exchanged nervous glances. One finally mustered the courage to say, "Senior Brother, who would dare kill him? Just a few days ago at Jade Pool, even the Heavenly Venerables attacked and he still survived. If he dies here in Jadecrest Divine Palace, we’ll be in deep trouble! Other factions will jump at the chance, saying we killed Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, and we’ll all be buried with him!"
Chang Xiting’s headache grew worse. He waved his hand and said, “I know what’s at stake. From what I’ve heard, he’s lost his soul and is only surviving on Indestructible Divine Sense—he won’t last much longer. We can’t kill him outright, but we can make him suffer setbacks and hasten his death.”
His eyes glinted as he smiled, “If the famous Shepherd Heavenly Venerable gets defeated by Jadecrest disciples—not just once, but ten, a hundred times! What would that do to his confidence and faith? Maybe he’ll die even faster.”
The disciples’ eyes lit up.
Chang Xiting smiled, “We’re Heavenly Venerable disciples, personally trained since childhood, cultivating the best arts and divine techniques. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable is just a bumpkin from the lower world who borrowed Venerable Skysoar’s arts to travel back to the Dragon-Han era and snatched a Heavenly Venerable’s title. Beating him isn’t hard, as long as he doesn’t die in Jadecrest Divine Palace—then it’s not our problem.”
A young disciple frowned, “Senior Brother, I heard that Prince Jaden and others went to challenge him at Jade Pool, planning to humiliate him, but he killed them instead. Prince Jaden ranked high on the Divine Splendor List. If Quinn could kill him and the others, his strength must be extraordinary!”
Chang Xiting laughed, “The Divine Splendor List and Azure Glory List are just toys to fool children. How many true Heavenly Venerable disciples do you see on those lists? The Heavenly Venerables guard their arts jealously—none of their real disciples would reveal their true skills. The ones who make the lists are just decoys, using fake techniques to mislead the other Venerables. If you use our master’s genuine arts, beating him won’t be hard. I want to see him cough up blood from frustration, to the point that he dies of pure depression!”
The disciples all breathed a sigh of relief, grinning. “With Senior Brother’s words, we can rest easy. But what if he refuses to accept the challenge?”
Chang Xiting smiled, “Isn’t he supposed to be the legendary Overlord Body? I hear the Overlord Body never backs down. Use that to provoke him—if he has any pride at all, he’ll accept. He’s only in his twenties or thirties, not that deep or cunning yet. Go get ready—I’ll report to Master.”
The disciples hurried off to prepare.
Inside the God-Emperor’s Hall, Chang Xiting stood respectfully and reported, “Master, is my plan appropriate? Do you wish to meet him yourself?”
God-Emperor Jadecrest’s features were striking and ancient. He was the world’s first demigod; both his parents were ancient gods, granting him eternal life.
His cultivation was unfathomable—older even than the likes of Venerable Yu and Venerable Hao. Some say he fought in the infamous Bloodrust War Zone, though no one knows for sure.
The identities of his parents remain a mystery to this day.
Most of his disciples were also demigods. Among the demigods, Venerable Hao, God-Emperor Jadecrest, and Ancestor God King were the three great leaders, wielding immense influence and power.
“You’ve handled things well—just be careful not to kill him.”
God-Emperor Jadecrest frowned in puzzlement. “He dares come here? That’s a headache. The Heavenly Court’s already in chaos thanks to him—the Ten Heavenly Venerables are all suspicious of each other, nearly at each other’s throats. He’s bold, stirring up trouble with the other Kings and Emperors, but now he dares provoke me? These are extraordinary times…”
He paced back and forth, pondering. “I won’t meet him. The Celestial Alliance was his creation—he’s one of the founding elders, and his status there is even higher than Venerable Skysoar’s! Of the Five Founders, Moon Venerable is crippled, Cloud and Skysoar are dead, Qin Venerable is in hiding, and only he remains. He’s now the highest authority in the Alliance; if I see him, I’d have to defer and call him Brother!”
Chang Xiting was secretly shocked and dared not speak, thinking, “If I handle this well, I’ll earn great merit before my master—he’ll surely reward me handsomely.”
God-Emperor Jadecrest’s gaze was deep and measured. “That kid has had all the luck. Back in the early Dragon-Han era, the Heavenly Emperor invited me to the grand assembly, but I attended the Heavenly Court’s summit while he went to see Venerable Yu at Jade Pool. That’s how the Celestial Alliance was founded, and now his position is higher than mine… Xiting, I’m going traveling for a while. After you’ve humiliated him, send him away—don’t let him die here. One more thing!”
(Line omitted: This chapter isn’t over yet ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!)
He said gravely, “Guard Shepherd Heavenly Venerable with utmost care—nothing must happen to him! If he dies in Jadecrest Divine Palace, I’ll have a scandal I can never wash off. Some Heavenly Venerables already dislike me and would love to see me gone—they’re just waiting for a chance. If something happens to him, they’ll seize it. Someone might even make a move to kill Shepherd Heavenly Venerable!”
Chang Xiting shuddered and hurried away.
God-Emperor Jadecrest drifted off, chuckling, “At the Heavenly Court’s grand assembly, my rank was above some ancient gods, but that event didn’t determine the future order—the real turning point was the Jade Pool summit, which shaped the next million years. Luckily, I joined the Celestial Alliance early, or I’d have missed my share of the spoils…”
Quinn was gaunt and frail, coughing incessantly. Many Jadecrest disciples crowded him, making sarcastic remarks about seeking guidance from the famed Overlord Body.
Quinn remained silent, his blood and energy clearly unsettled, betraying his inner turmoil.
Cyrus Qi couldn’t stand it and snapped, “Jadecrest disciples, what are you doing? Shepherd Heavenly Venerable came to pay respects to God-Emperor Jadecrest, not to bicker with you! If you want a fight, come at me!”
A young woman laughed, “Cyrus Qi, we’ve heard of you, but you’re just a disciple of the Four Emperors—nothing special. No need to embarrass yourself. We’re asking Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, the Overlord Body of Yan Kang, for guidance. You don’t qualify.”
Cyrus Qi flared up. “So you need qualifications just to challenge someone?”
The others just laughed and said nothing.
Liam Cloud smiled gently, “Then do I qualify? I’m a descendant of Cloud Heavenly Venerable—may I accept the challenge on Shepherd Heavenly Venerable’s behalf?”
Chang Xiting strode in from outside, laughing, “Sickly Prince, your grandmother and great-grandmother are both too formidable—why get involved yourself? Don’t worry, my junior brothers just want Shepherd Heavenly Venerable to give them some pointers. I heard Shepherd Heavenly Venerable reformed the lower worlds and is famous as one of Yan Kang’s Three Geniuses, and the peerless Overlord Body. Let him show my junior brothers and sisters a thing or two—it’ll open their eyes.”
The disciples all bowed. “Senior Brother!”
Quinn struggled to his feet, saying, “If you all want to witness the power of the Overlord Body, and Yan Kang’s supreme arts, then I…”
Suddenly, he broke into a fit of coughing, his body swaying as he reached out for support.
Yun Chouxiu quickly stepped forward to help, quietly scolding, “You really shouldn’t keep pushing yourself—take care of your health. I told you we shouldn’t come, but you insisted…” She pinched him discreetly under his arm as she spoke.
"Did Her Majesty the Empress just tease me?"
Quinn’s heart raced. He quickly pushed the girl away and panted, “A man can be killed, but not humiliated—I can still stand! I came to see God-Emperor Jadecrest, not to be mocked. As the Overlord Body, I must defend its honor! Come on!”
He straightened up, took out the Core of Primal Wood, and leaned on it like a staff, his pride and defiance on full display. “The Overlord Body of Yan Kang has never lost! And never backed down!”
Cyrus Qi sighed inwardly, thinking, “Every time we go out, more people end up dead. First Jade Pool, now Jadecrest Divine Palace—is Quinn really set on tearing the Heavenly Court apart?”
Yun Chouxiu glanced at the staff and thought, “The Core of Primal Wood from the original world! Earth Mother Yuanjun really went all out to please this guy. Hmm, Jadecrest’s little brat just snuck away—he’s not here. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable can’t use the Core’s full power, but if I help him a little, tearing this place apart should be easy…”
Excitement flashed in her eyes.
Quinn hefted the Core of Primal Wood and said coldly, “Who wants my guidance?”
He was making his own calculations: “After I’ve stirred up trouble with God-Emperor Jadecrest, I’ll visit the other Heavenly Court bigwigs and raise hell—then I can go to the Dao Gate and meet the Dao Ancestor…”
Chang Xiting shot a look at a young man, who stepped forward with a faint smile and bowed. “Shen Wanzhou, disciple of Jadecrest, asks for your guidance, Heavenly Venerable.”
Chang Xiting coughed and reminded, “Wanzhou, don’t hurt Shepherd Heavenly Venerable—we’re hosts, we must treat our guest well.”
Quinn replied stiffly, “No need! Go ahead and hurt me!”
Shen Wanzhou laughed softly, “I’ll let you strike first, so I can see the power of the Overlord Body.”
Quinn flew into a rage, channeling his energy wildly into the Core of Primal Wood, activating its power. He thought, “Should I kill him with one blow? If I do, maybe no one else will dare challenge me…”
Just as the thought crossed his mind, an unimaginably vast force surged into the Core—so powerful and profound it dwarfed his own cultivation, thousands or tens of thousands of times stronger!
Quinn was shocked. The Core of Primal Wood transformed into a colossal pillar in his hands, sweeping out with a thunderous crash—Shen Wanzhou was instantly pulverized!
Not only Shen Wanzhou—even the other disciples of God-Emperor Jadecrest were caught in the blast, all crushed to dust by the Core of Primal Wood!
Chang Xiting realized things were going wrong and raised his hand to block, but the overwhelming force slammed into him, making him cough up blood and sending him flying.
He stared in horror as the gigantic pillar swept through Jadecrest Divine Palace, shattering space itself and smashing palace after palace to pieces.
The halls and chambers of Jadecrest Divine Palace were swept away by the terrifying power, falling from the Heavenly Court—ruined palaces scattered into the starry sky.
With a single blow, Quinn nearly destroyed half of Jadecrest Divine Palace. Shocked and furious, he spun to glare at Yun Chouxiu, his hair bristling, sneering, “You little vixen—I’ve tolerated you long enough!”
Yun Chouxiu was furious too, flying up and shouting, “You think you’re the only one with patience? You think I haven’t been putting up with you?”
Quinn burst out laughing, soaring into the air to confront Yun Chouxiu. “Why bother with Heavenly Venerable disciples—if you want to fight, fight the Heavenly Venerables themselves!”
Cyrus Qi and Liam Cloud stared in shock. Cyrus Qi hurriedly nudged Dragon-Qilin, “Big brother, what’s going on? Explain!”
(Line omitted: Author’s note requesting votes—not part of the novel.)