The Way of the Saint.
There are always those who hold ideals and convictions that their peers, or even their entire era, cannot match. Some carry passions and fighting spirit that set them apart, speaking words others cannot say and doing things others cannot do.
Perhaps in the eyes of their peers, their era, or those who come after, such people seem foolish—devoting their lives, even sacrificing themselves, for a belief that looks impossible.
Yet it is precisely these people, with their unwavering convictions and seemingly laughable dreams, who move history and drive the age forward.
On the altar, the Imperial Preceptor of the Everpeace Empire knelt to become a disciple. The Woodcutter Sage reached out and lifted him by the elbows, smiling: "Perhaps one day your achievements will surpass mine. When you look back on me in the future, you may become my teacher."
Quinn Shepherd ascended the altar, seeing the Imperial Preceptor standing in disciple's salute beside the Woodcutter Sage. Quinn smiled, "Teacher, Junior Brother, I've arrived a step late."
The Imperial Preceptor was stunned, then broke into a smile: "Second Senior Brother."
Quinn's face immediately darkened: "Heavenly King, just call me Cult Master Quinn. 'Second Senior Brother' sounds way too awkward."
The Imperial Preceptor burst out laughing.
Quinn was caught off guard, then broke into a smile himself.
He hadn’t known the Imperial Preceptor of the Everpeace Empire for very long; it was only after entering the Grand Academy that he first met him, and their real conversations came later.
In the past, the Imperial Preceptor was a stern man, unwavering in faith and dao-heart, willing to use any means to achieve his ends. His thoughts ran deep as the sea, and his face was always calm, betraying no emotion.
He seemed like a perfect god—no warmth, no human touch.
But after spending so much time together, Quinn gradually noticed the humanity emerging in the Imperial Preceptor. Bit by bit, he was changing from god to man.
And now, hearing the Imperial Preceptor laugh heartily, Quinn felt his dao-heart had suddenly stepped into another realm—a state Quinn himself couldn’t understand, neither god nor man.
He stood within the seven emotions and six desires of humanity, yet also outside them; within the absolute reason of the gods, yet also beyond it.
Quinn could no longer make sense of someone like that.
"The Imperial Preceptor’s talent and insight truly surpass mine. In just these few moments with the Woodcutter Sage, his state of mind has leapt to a new level. No wonder they say he’s a once-in-five-hundred-years saint."
Quinn consoled himself: "But at least I have the Overlord Body. As long as I work hard enough, I can unlock all its potential and still surpass him!"
The Woodcutter Sage said, "Quinn, you can return to High‑Emperor Heaven now. I need to speak with your junior brother at length."
Quinn hesitated, "What about the Black Tiger God and Granny Sue? Did their fight with Jade Raxa and Matthro Rook end yet?"
The Woodcutter Sage replied, "Matthro Rook put on that woman's clothes and was killed by the Black Tiger. Jade Raxa was rescued by Furylo. Both the woman and the Black Tiger have returned to High‑Emperor Heaven."
"Just as I thought," Quinn said with a smile.
The Woodcutter Sage opened a portal to High‑Emperor Heaven for him. Quinn dawdled, reluctant to enter, and said, "Teacher, I'll just listen from the side, I won't say anything. As senior brother, if my junior has any questions, I can help guide him. Right? Teac—"
The Woodcutter Sage grabbed him by the collar and shoved him into the portal. Quinn tried to run back to listen, but the portal had already closed.
The Imperial Preceptor smiled, "Teacher, why not let Senior Brother Quinn listen in?"
"He's not suited for it."
The Woodcutter Sage said, "His temperament actually isn't right for our path. What do you think your Second Senior Brother is like?"
The Imperial Preceptor pondered a moment, then said, "Playful, restless, can't sit still, charges ahead when his blood is up, but also sly, meticulous, and incredibly clever. He thinks of things no one else can, and often surprises even me. He's broad-minded, easygoing, and so self-confident it's almost mad—he always feels like he's number one in the world, though he jokes he's number two. But when it comes to confidence, he's truly the best in the world."
"You see right through him."
The Woodcutter Sage clapped his hands in praise. "You see him quite clearly, and I agree. He’s not suited to be a saint."
The Imperial Preceptor nodded. "Second Senior Brother truly isn’t suited. What about First Senior Brother?"
"Your First Senior Brother is a different sort entirely."
The Woodcutter Sage said, "He’s a man of tremendous perseverance and stability. Once he sets his sights on a goal, nothing can pull him away. But for that very reason, his grasp of the saint-path is a bit skewed. On the way of the saint, neither of your senior brothers matches you. If you study with me for a few years, I’ll pass on everything I’ve learned and realized in my life."
He continued slowly, "My will has grown weary, and I cannot cross the knot in my heart. I’m always lost in memories of the Pioneer Era, and the Pioneer Emperor’s retreat is a puzzle I cannot solve. You’re different—you don’t have that barrier. If you master what I teach, you’ll step right over it. Then, you’ll be a true saint!"
His eyes shone as he smiled. "In the coming years, focus wholly on your comprehension. Don’t concern yourself with High‑Emperor Heaven or Everpeace; don’t get involved. Concentrate on crossing the barrier I could never cross."
The Imperial Preceptor answered, "Yes, Teacher."
The two sat facing each other atop the altar.
High‑Emperor Heaven. Demon territory, Hex City.
Hex City was once one of High‑Emperor Heaven’s sixty-four divine cities. After falling to the demon race, it was radically transformed. Countless demons lived here, building all manner of demon god statues and demon palaces.
This was the heartland of demon territory, one of the first places to fall. Demons packed the city, and human forces couldn’t reach it.
Yet the demons here lived in peace and plenty. Demon gods guarded the city, and countless humans had been captured and enslaved, forced to serve the demons—making the city rich.
When Chi Creek was teleported here, Hex City was celebrating the demons’ traditional Sacrificial Beast Festival. Countless young and strong demons paraded livestock through the streets, banging drums, dancing eerie dances to exotic music, while four-armed, four-breasted demon maidens swayed atop flower-floats, drawing waves of cheers.
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The sacrificial parade had to circle the city.
The parade danced and sang, leading livestock through the streets before carrying them up the city’s towering altars, where grinning demon gods watched the revelry.
At this time, strong young demons would lead their livestock and race up the altars, offering their sacrifices to the demon gods.
To be the first to ascend the altar with an offering was a tremendous honor.
And there wasn’t just one parade—hundreds or thousands of demon clans competed, making the festival a boisterous spectacle.
Suddenly, a beam of light dropped from the sky, and Chi Creek appeared atop one of the altars.
"That old schemer dared to set me up!"
His voice thundered through the festival, halting all the demons. Countless eyes turned to Chi Creek.
The demon god on the altar had been laughing, preparing to seize the offering from a young clansman, but Chi Creek’s sudden arrival caught him completely off guard.
At Chi Creek’s feet, the light of the teleportation rune faded. His three heads slowly lifted, gazing in every direction.
"Demons!"
The Chiming-era Monitor-Executioner erupted in fury. His three heads unleashed a world-shaking, grief-stricken roar: "Demons—"
"My people crossed billions of stars with me, braved countless death zones, endured endless hardship just to reach our ancestral land! It was the demons—"
"It was the demons who stormed our planet without warning! They slaughtered my kin, wiped out my race!"
His dry, yellow hair whipped up like thousands upon thousands of swords, sweeping out in every direction. The attack lasted only an instant—within a hundred-zhang radius, every demon clutched their throat.
Someone raised a hand and looked at their palm—it was warm with demon blood from clutching their throat.
Someone bowed their head, and their head suddenly slid off their neck and dropped to the ground.
In front of the altar, a flower-float’s tall, multicolored canopy slid down, the cut at the pole perfectly clean. A house suddenly tilted, its roof sliding off and crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom.
Next, the roofs of the great halls slid off one by one, and the roofs of houses followed suit.
Within a hundred zhang, heads thudded to the ground and blood sprayed skyward.
Countless streams of blood twisted into crimson threads, flying toward Chi Creek.
On the altar, the demon god had dodged the attack. Seeing the carnage, he roared in rage, snatching up two demon-god weapons and lunging at Chi Creek.
Chi Creek’s six arms raged like a storm, unleashing countless strikes in an instant, smashing the demon-god weapons to bits and shattering the demon god himself!
Other demon gods soared from their altars, howling as they attacked. One recognized Chi Creek and shrieked, "It’s him! He brought those star-planets down on Luofu Heaven, destroyed our realm, buried countless of our kin! He killed our former Sovereign King—"
"Kill!"
Hex City erupted with countless voices. Demon warriors surged toward Chi Creek, their fury boundless.
Soon, Hex City fell utterly silent.
Chi Creek’s six eyes blazed red as he panted, having absorbed enough blood-essence to restore his peak. He could have left, but he kept killing—until not a single living thing in the demon city could stand.
"I drifted with my people through the stars for centuries, centuries, just to find our ancestral land! It was you who killed my kin—now only I remain, heh, only me…"
He spread his six arms, reaching in all directions. The shattered demon-god weapons flew up, slamming together around him to form huge metal spheres.
Chi Creek’s three heads breathed fire, melting and refining the fragments into six blazing orange god-blades.
Chi Creek gripped the blades in his six hands, gazing into the distance—where more demon gods rushed from other cities.