Slaughter Cauldron, Ugly Ox (Tu Bo’s reincarnation), Earth Sovereign's True Body.
This experience was hidden within the Slaughter Cauldron’s memories. Quinn had once ‘lived through’ those grueling years as Earth Sovereign’s reincarnation, Ugly Ox, in an unusual way. In that memory, he became Ugly Ox, carried the horned girl Nannan on his shoulder, dragged the heavy chains forged from the Netherworld Dao, stormed Heavenly Court, and plunged it into darkness.
Because these are the Slaughter Cauldron's memories, Quinn had essentially relived Ugly Ox's (Tu Bo’s reincarnation) life, which left a deep impression on him.
He and Fenix Greenwood Keane were tied by blood, once sharing a single body and soul. There was a mysterious resonance between them.
"Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, Flame-Venerable, the three of us should be enough to cross the Void Bridge and reach the Other Shore."
She ignored the Slaughter Cauldron and looked to Flame-Venerable, who was maintaining the Other Shore Ark, suggesting, "As long as we work together sincerely, the mysteries of Carefree Haven can be unraveled!"
Flame-Venerable's voice rang out: "I've long intended to cooperate with you—it's just that you refused."
Venerable Void looked at Quinn and asked, "What do you think, Shepherd Heavenly Venerable?"
Quinn put away the Slaughter Cauldron and smiled, "I've also long planned to seek out Carefree Haven."
Venerable Void sat down to heal her wounds in silence—she had crossed the Void Bridge alone and was gravely injured.
Quinn frowned slightly. Venerable Void's attitude made him suspicious; logically, she should recognize the Slaughter Cauldron, but despite remembering it, she didn't seem particularly stirred.
Venerable Void is the daughter of Ugly Ox (Tu Bo’s reincarnation), but as a newborn she was seized by the Ancient-God Emperor and raised in Heavenly Court as a hostage. The Heavenly Emperor used her as leverage to control the Earth Sovereign.
Quinn was startled. "Those three houses are traps left by the Creators?"
Quinn had no idea what Venerable Void had gone through all these years, or what kind of education she received.
Back then, Venerable Void was just a newborn girl—a blank slate. Her sense of morality and right or wrong were shaped entirely in Heavenly Court; what kind of person she became depended on what Heavenly Court instilled in her.
"Flame-Venerable told me to be wary of her. Looks like I really do need to be careful," he thought to himself.
The scene inside had completely changed. Now, the sky of the Earth-Mother Origin World appeared, and outside the door stood the Origin-Root Tree, its trunk layered with palaces, many gods standing guard before them.
At last, they reached the three houses at the end of the Void Bridge. Quinn took down the Star-Disc and, together with Logan Cross, leapt off the Other Shore Ark, landing in front of the three houses.
Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void also jumped down. As soon as they landed, the Other Shore Ark shattered in the void storm, dissolving into surging divine sense and vanishing into the void.
All three houses glowed with lamplight—bright and steady. Though suspended in the void, not even the void storms could destroy them; the lights didn’t flicker at all, which was truly astonishing.
Even beings like Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void couldn't cross the Void Bridge alone, yet these small houses stood firm here—truly strange.
Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void exchanged a glance and walked straight into the central house.
Quinn hesitated, choosing not to follow them in. Instead, he reached out to Fenix Greenwood Keane.
"It's Shepherd Heavenly Venerable peeping at us!"
In the Grand Void Expanse, he couldn't sense Fenix at all and deduced that Carefree Haven wasn't there. But here, as soon as he reached out, he instantly received a response!
Within his Spirit Embryo Treasury, butterfly-winged light suddenly spread wide, growing larger and larger. Soon, the light parted, revealing a huge demonic eye, which rolled twice before settling its gaze on Quinn's Primordial Spirit. Delighted, it said, "Naughty little brother! What are you doing here?"
Quinn's face flushed red, his mind full of pale backsides. He quickly shut the door and opened it again—the scene changed: now a colossal Azure Dragon Emperor hugged a magnificent mountain, grinding his teeth on it.
Fenix's projection sat in the void, arms crossed over his chest. His earlier joy vanished; turning his head away, he snorted, "What do you want? Don't think that just because it's been so long, I'll forgive you! You dug me up and threw me into Youdu, then gave me a soul and made me cry for days! Now I'm living great—fighting every day, eating gods and demons every day! I'm telling you, you can't sweet-talk me anymore!"
Quinn looked up and laughed, "Big brother, I missed you."
Fenix beamed, turning back around, "I missed you too! So you've arrived in Carefree Haven? Where are you? I'll come find you!"
Quinn explained his location, "I just want to confirm you're in Carefree Haven. There are two Heavenly Venerables right next to me—I won't lead them into Carefree Haven. No need to come over; I only need to know Carefree Haven is here, then I'll leave."
Fenix looked a little disappointed. After a moment, he said, "You mean the three houses? Those are really dangerous—the big fellows left those traps. Don't go in."
Quinn saw a crowd of furious, flamboyantly dressed girls rushing toward him. He hurriedly shut the door, thinking, "Why is it always the Heavenly Emperor's bedchamber?"
A chill ran down his spine. The Creators left traps at the end of the Void Bridge—anyone who braved the bridge and survived would surely check those houses!
Just by entering the houses, you'd fall into the Creators' trap—there's no way to avoid it!
If Quinn hadn't been cautious and contacted Fenix first, he'd have walked right into those houses himself!
"They're Creators?"
Fenix was startled too—he clearly didn't know the big fellows' true identity. He scratched his big head, "They taste pretty good though... Those big fellows are nasty, always attacking us. Carefree Haven isn't so carefree—there's fighting every day and lots of people dying. But since I got here, I've been eating well..."
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Just then, a violent shock erupted from the central house ahead of Quinn. An incredibly terrifying aura burst out—Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void were in danger, fighting inside the house against some unknown enemy!
The strength of two Heavenly Venerables is unmatched; even ancient gods like Earth Mother, Earth Sovereign, or Heaven Duke can't easily claim victory over them. Yet their opponent inside the house was so powerful it could withstand both their attacks!
Beside Quinn, Logan Cross was shocked and tried to rush into the house, but Quinn raised a hand to stop him, signaling not to act rashly.
Fenix said, "Once you're trapped in the house, it's hard to get out. I heard our old ancestor was stuck inside once—it took him years to escape. Those Creators are nasty, but they taste pretty good..."
His speech was scattered and jumpy, but Quinn could easily follow—after all, they shared the same root, and Quinn's mind was just as quick.
"So how do you get to Carefree Haven?" Quinn asked.
"There are three houses there."
Fenix said, "The middle house is the road to Carefree Haven."
Quinn was puzzled—the middle house is the way to Carefree Haven?
Venerable Void and Flame-Venerable had already entered the middle house, so why hadn't they found Carefree Haven but instead run into enemies?
"Don't go in yet. First, close the door."
Fenix continued, "When Dad and Mom got there, they closed the door, opened and closed it several times, and then opened it—inside was Carefree Haven. I don't remember the exact sequence, so wait a moment, I'll go ask them!"
His figure vanished, presumably to ask Prince Hansen and Princess Consort Hansen.
Quinn stood in front of the middle house, peering inside. The room was brightly lit, but Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void were nowhere to be seen—only the sounds of divine arts clashing and the aura of both Heavenly Venerables could be sensed.
Quinn studied the room closely. Its layout was simple, and the light seemed to be visualized—a miniature sun floating in the center.
On the wall opposite the door was a mural; besides that, there was only a table with a bonsai on it.
The mural caught Quinn's eye. Looking closer, he realized it wasn't just a painting—it was a whole world!
The Creators aren't much for art—they mostly rely on visualization. But the mural was so vivid, with mountains and rivers as real as life, filled with countless people and giant beasts. Clearly, it wasn't painted by a Creator, but visualized as an entire world.
That world seemed to hang on the wall, but was vast inside. Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void must have entered the mural's world and run into enemies there.
"Naughty little brother, I found out!"
Fenix's projection reappeared in Quinn's Spirit Embryo Treasury, "It's not just the middle door—you have to close and open all three doors, in a specific order. First, check if there's a mural in the middle room."
Quinn nodded.
"Don't go in—inside is a Reincarnation World. If you enter, you'll be caught in endless cycles, friend and foe alike, and even allies will slaughter each other until rivers of blood flow."
Fenix seemed to listen to something, then continued, "Go to the left room now—see if there's a table and a candlestick inside."
Quinn entered the left room, looked around, and shook his head, "It's a boudoir, just a bed, and a sword hanging in front of it."
Fenix said, "Close the door, then open it. When you see a table and a candlestick, stop."
Quinn followed the instructions, closed the door, then opened it—and was stunned.
The scene inside had completely changed. Now, the sky of the Earth-Mother Origin World appeared, and outside the door stood the Origin-Root Tree, its trunk layered with palaces, many gods standing guard before them.
The gods saw the sudden portal open in their sky, panicked, shouted, and activated their divine weapons to attack.
Quinn quickly shut the door and opened it again—a gigantic eye blazing with demonic fire appeared before him!
The eye rolled, its gaze settling on Quinn. Then, from the depths of the demonic eye's great hall, the Earth Sovereign stepped out onto the platform, peering over with a look of confusion.
Quinn shut the door and opened it again—inside was another palace, with lakes, and beautiful goddesses bathing and playing in the water.
"There's a pervert peeping!"
The goddesses shrieked, leaping out, grabbing their clothes, and fleeing naked, leaving a flurry of pale backsides behind.
"It's Shepherd Heavenly Venerable peeping at us!"
"Outrageous! Doesn't he know this is His Majesty's harem? Daring to peep at the consorts bathing—report to His Majesty! Off with his head at the God-Slaying Platform!"
...
Quinn's face flushed red, his mind full of pale backsides. He quickly shut the door and opened it again—the scene changed: now a colossal Azure Dragon Emperor hugged a magnificent mountain, grinding his teeth on it.
The Azure Dragon Emperor seemed to sense something, startled, and opened his eyes—Quinn had already closed the door.
"This door is too strange—why does it connect to so many places? Was that the Azure Dragon Emperor just now?"
Quinn opened the door again—finally, a table and candlestick appeared inside.
Fenix's voice came, "Now go to the right room, open and close the door until you see a lotus flower, then close the door."
Quinn followed the instructions, went to the right room, closed the door, then opened it—inside came a cry, "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, shameless old man, peeping at the imperial consorts bathing—he's right there!"
Quinn saw a crowd of furious, flamboyantly dressed girls rushing toward him. He hurriedly shut the door, thinking, "Why is it still the Heavenly Emperor's bedchamber?"
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