"Brother Qin, Brother Shepherd!"
Prince Umbral appeared behind the young man, smiling as he said, "And Senior Ben Oxley! You three have stirred up a colossal disaster! This Jade Pool is the Empress's domain, and you've wrecked it—there's no way she won't make things difficult for you. Heaven-Guide Venerable, these are the three I mentioned earlier: Senior Brother Kai Keane, Senior Brother Mark Shepherd, and Senior Ben Oxley."
Only now did Venerable Skysoar realize that these were Mark Shepherd and Kai Keane’s 'names'—and that they were fake.
Her mind was always absorbed in research, making her slow to notice other things. She saw Mark Shepherd and Kai Keane as kindred spirits and simply forgot to ask their names.
Mark Shepherd looked at the young man, thinking, "So he’s Heaven-Guide Venerable? The first to open the Spirit Embryo Treasury?"
Heaven-Guide Venerable was the one who established the Divine Treasury cultivation system, and might even be the founder of the Heaven Palace system. Opening the Spirit Embryo, and even ascending with the Primordial Spirit to the Heaven Palace, are commonplace for later generations—though ascending is still difficult. Yet countless gods have managed it throughout history.
But for people of the ancient era who knew nothing of cultivation, this was no less than a world-shaking creation!
For Heaven-Guide Venerable to create the Divine Treasury system from nothing—he truly deserved the title of Heavenly Venerable!
Mark Shepherd studied Heaven-Guide Venerable. He was like jade—gentle, serene, standing there like a blossoming qiong tree, eyes bright as dew, mind full of color and wonder.
Mark Shepherd saluted him with a smile. "I've long heard of Heaven-Guide Venerable’s great name. Today I finally meet you—your reputation is well deserved."
Heaven-Guide Venerable said, "Brother Shepherd and Brother Qin, your divine arts are grand and dazzling. Your duel just now shook the Jade Pool and made us realize there are always greater heights. Senior Ben Oxley’s skills stunned the Heavenly Court itself—truly enviable. Forgive my ignorance, but I had never heard of the three of you before. May I ask where you hail from?"
Mark Shepherd and Kai Keane exchanged glances. Kai Keane replied politely, "We’re from a small place. Heaven-Guide Venerable’s fame reaches everywhere, and when we heard about the Jade Pool Grand Assembly, we came to see it for ourselves. It’s just that we both have bad tempers—whenever we meet, we end up fighting. We were rather reckless, so please forgive us, Heaven-Guide Venerable."
Heaven-Guide Venerable smiled, "It’s no trouble. The place is damaged, but I’ve already called people to repair it. This isn’t the best spot for conversation—why don’t you three come with me to the Jade Pool Little Lodge? It’s the Empress’s auxiliary palace, and much sturdier than this."
Venerable Skysoar looked reluctant and was about to protest, but Heaven-Guide Venerable smiled gently, "Venerable Skysoar, your own palace was destroyed as well. This isn’t a place to stay—let’s all go to Her Majesty’s auxiliary palace."
Venerable Skysoar considered it, then nodded in agreement.
Heaven-Guide Venerable led the way, eyes glinting. "Brother Qin, Brother Shepherd, I see your divine arts are extraordinary—far beyond the ordinary. Your mastery is so high even I can’t fathom it. May I ask who your teachers are?"
"Just blind fumbling," Mark Shepherd answered gruffly.
Kai Keane smiled, "We both have bad tempers—whenever we meet, we fight. The more we fought, the better our divine arts became. Heaven-Guide Venerable is the true genius, founding the Divine Treasury and benefiting future generations. Truly admirable."
Prince Umbral looked puzzled, thinking, "Back on the giant kun, they seemed to be meeting for the first time and didn’t know each other. Why is Kai Keane now saying they improved by fighting each other? That doesn’t sound true."
He thought of this but said nothing.
Heaven-Guide Venerable frowned slightly but smiled. "If you two don’t wish to talk about it, I won’t press. There are many divine arts users at this assembly—talent as plentiful as fish in the river—but only three are truly worth noticing. Up ahead, once we cross this floating bridge, is the Jade Pool Little Lodge. It wasn’t destroyed."
Ahead, a flying bridge spanned the sky, unsupported, floating over the sea. Many divine arts users were crossing, heading toward another island.
Mark Shepherd glanced back. The Jade Pool island had been left in tatters by the three of them. Countless demigods were flying in, repairing the shattered palaces.
Heaven-Guide Venerable walked on, watching the sparkling waves. In the distance, two ancient gods were pulling another ancient god out of the sea—the one Old Ox had knocked unconscious, his head driven into the seabed.
Old turtles were surfacing from beneath the waves, sacred mountains rising from their backs. Water streamed down the slopes in waterfalls.
All this destruction was the result of Old Ox losing his temper.
"The Heavenly Emperor has a broad heart—he won’t hold this against you three."
Heaven-Guide Venerable gave a half-smile. "But Her Majesty the Empress might throw a bit of a tantrum, so you three should be careful... Nether-Venerable!"
He called out to a young boy, who was also heading toward the Jade Pool Little Lodge, idly tossing talismans into the sea as he walked.
Mark Shepherd’s heart stirred. The talismans Nether-Venerable threw resembled the script of Youdu. When they hit the water, they exploded, sending big fish flying.
"Nether-Venerable, the one who pioneered the Life-and-Death Treasury? Why does he act like such a child?" Mark Shepherd wondered.
Nether-Venerable wore his hair in a spiky topknot, snot bubbles puffing from his nostrils, and a ghost-face mask strapped to the back of his head—a smiling face, but with tear tracks beneath each eye.
This Venerable was unlike the others Mark Shepherd had seen—he seemed withdrawn and solitary. Even when Heaven-Guide Venerable greeted him, he barely responded, only glancing at the group before resuming his bored tossing of Youdu-script talismans.
Mark Shepherd studied Nether-Venerable with curiosity. Since he pioneered the Life-and-Death Treasury, it was natural he’d be skilled in Youdu script—he must excel at underworld divine arts.
In this ancient era, mastery of Youdu arts meant mastery over life and death—a truly remarkable achievement.
"Nether-Venerable..." Mark Shepherd called out.
Mark Shepherd took out his notebook and smiled, "Could I get your autograph?"
Nether-Venerable glanced at him, then at his brow, suddenly intrigued. "There’s something strange about the eye at your brow," he said.
Mark Shepherd was startled, but smiled, "You noticed. My power is too strong—I have to keep my eye sealed, or it would cause trouble."
Nether-Venerable reached out, trying to peel off the willow-leaf seal at Mark Shepherd’s brow. Mark Shepherd quickly blocked him.
Nether-Venerable immediately grew upset, leapt off the floating bridge, and huffed, "If you won’t let me see, then forget it—I don’t care!"
Mark Shepherd looked down and saw Nether-Venerable didn’t fall into the sea. Instead, he produced a tiny paper boat that grew larger beneath him. He landed on the boat, which drifted toward the Jade Pool Little Lodge.
"That paper boat..." Mark Shepherd murmured, surprised.
Mark Shepherd stared in astonishment as the ghost-face mask on the back of Nether-Venerable’s head suddenly opened its mouth and stuck out its tongue at him.
Mark Shepherd jumped, startled. The mask made a face, then fell still.
"Don’t take it to heart—Nether-Venerable has always been childish," Heaven-Guide Venerable said.
Heaven-Guide Venerable continued, "He lost his father very early and was raised by his mother, who was always sickly and bedridden. When I first met him, he was a quiet ten-year-old caring for his paralyzed mother. He told me he wanted to invent a method so she would never die. A few years later, he opened the Life-and-Death Treasury."
Kai Keane said, "He’s a filial son, but opening the Life-and-Death Treasury couldn’t save his mother’s life."
Prince Umbral added, "I heard his mother died before he opened the Life-and-Death Treasury. That made him even more withdrawn. Last time, he even said he wanted to go see Tu Bo and snatch his mother’s soul back. What nerve!"