Quinn Shepherd sprinted at full speed, his yuanqi growing ever stronger. He had run for countless li, yet the villagers of Oldridge Village kept pace with him. Even Grandpa Blind, staff in hand, moved as if walking on flat ground, steadily keeping up with the group.
Just as Quinn barreled into a stretch of forest, a pitch-black figure suddenly rose from the trees, roaring: "Little brat, die—"
The one roaring was the Demon Ape. Seeing the 'little brat' trespass into its territory again, it was furious. Grandpa Mark, one-armed, shot the enraged beast a cold glance. The Demon Ape shuddered, abandoned its territory, and bolted away without hesitation.
Just now, Grandpa Mark's gaze held not a trace of emotion, striking terror into the massive creature. It seemed certain death awaited in the next instant, so the Demon Ape dared not act out and fled at once.
The others paid it no mind. Quinn kept racing ahead, his yuanqi surging mightily. Only when he finally reached Oldridge Village did he snap out of his trance, realizing he was covered in grime—a thick layer of filth caked on his skin, uncertain whether it was black blood or greasy fat.
Granny Sue ordered, "Quinn, go wash up by the river. Grandpa Blind, you go with him—make sure the river monsters don't snatch him away."
Grandpa Blind, leaning on his bamboo staff, followed Quinn to the riverbank. Quinn stripped and dove straight into the water, scrubbing away the grime. Grandpa Blind lightly tapped the river with his staff—a huge fish lurking near Quinn was startled and leapt ten zhang away. It was a massive green fish, over two zhang long, its whiskers trailing like eight tentacles.
After washing, Quinn gazed at the rippling river. Suddenly, a surge of heroism rose from his young chest, burning like a raging fire.
His yuanqi instantly grew restless, rushing forth in torrents and shooting straight up his throat. It was as if a celestial treasury of music had flung open—an immense, resonant howl burst from his throat!
His long howl echoed through the forest, sending ripples across the river!
With a long, soaring howl, Quinn leapt from the water and suddenly broke into a wild sprint, his feet pounding across the river's surface!
As his foot landed on the water, the power stored in his sole fused with the condensed vital energy within him. The two forces merged and erupted, sending water exploding in all directions beneath his step!
Before the splashes could settle, Quinn's body had already shot forward more than ten feet, his other foot slapping down onto the river's surface.
Thud-thud-thud-thud—
A crisp, rhythmic series of footfalls echoed across the river as Quinn dashed along the surface, quickly covering more than two li before anyone could blink.
His howl grew ever more exuberant—free, unrestrained, like heavenly music drifting down, celestial bands playing, dragon and phoenix harmonizing. His stride was bold and uninhibited, wild and joyous, sprinting madly across the river as if nothing could hold him back!
Ripples danced across the water, stirred by a gentle breeze. The youth’s steps were astonishingly swift; in a flash, he raced from one bank of the Yong River to the other, then back again.
Grandpa Blind stood at the riverbank, bamboo staff in hand, his white hair fluttering in the wind. Listening to Quinn's howling echo from the river’s heart, the old man nodded gently, a smile spreading across his face. Suddenly, he burst into song: "On both banks the apes cry without end, the cold wind whips my crotch so thin! Quinn, you're streaking across the river with your bare butt, swimming naked—aren't you cold out there?"
A startled cry rang out from the middle of the river as Quinn tumbled into the water with a splash.
A moment later, the youth swam to shore, cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he dried himself off and hurriedly put on his clothes.
He had just experienced a flash of insight by the river, swept up in excitement, completely forgetting that he was stark naked as he leapt out and ran atop the water. The whole way, he dashed wildly across the river, cool and refreshed, his bare bottom skimming the waves.
"Thank goodness Grandpa Blind can't see..."
Quinn quickly put his clothes back on. Suddenly, he looked up and saw Grandpa Mark, the Mute Smith, Deaf Uncle, and the rest all standing in the woods by the riverbank. Even Granny Sue was there, and the Village Chief had been carried over on his stretcher.
Quinn's face flushed red. Stammering, he asked, "Granny, when did you all get here?"
Granny Sue chuckled, "Quinn, we've seen your bare butt plenty of times—what's there to be shy about? We heard your howl just now, so full of yuanqi, and came to check on you."
The Village Chief coughed. "Quinn, come here. You were chased by five Spirit Embryo–realm fighters—there might be hidden injuries. Let the Apothecary examine you."
Quinn stepped forward. The Apothecary examined him carefully and shook his head. "Nothing serious, just superficial wounds."
The Village Chief also checked him over and signaled that he was fine to leave. Immediately, the Butcher pulled Quinn aside for more saber training.
The Butcher was dissatisfied that it had taken more than five thousand cuts for Quinn to defeat Senior Brother Kurt—and even more displeased that he'd finished the fight with a sword instead of a saber. He was determined to drill Quinn even harder.
"Did the Village Chief notice anything?" The Apothecary walked over to the Village Chief's stretcher, watching Quinn spar energetically with the Butcher, and asked in a low voice.
"His yuanqi cultivation is advancing at a frightening pace."
The Village Chief didn't hide anything. "It's unbelievably fast! From yesterday until now, his progress is beyond imagination. That howl just now was produced by yuanqi resonating with his throat—a sound only possible through such resonance. I could faintly hear both god-sound and devil-sound in it. Even Spirit Embryo–realm fighters can't achieve god-devil resonance, let alone someone who hasn't broken the Spirit Embryo Wall! If I were an ordinary person like him, it would take me twenty years to reach this level of yuanqi."
Quinn's long howl on the river was the result of his yuanqi and throat resonating together, but without realizing it, he'd also woven in the demonic chant he heard at the Canyon Ruins.
Even more strangely, while pondering the dark demonic chant last night, he'd also listened closely to the goddess-like hymn from the ruins, memorizing every subtle fluctuation.
So, naturally, his howl ended up infused with the divine hymn as well.
To others, the sound was nothing special—no one could hear the secret within—but to the Village Chief, it was extraordinary; he heard it clearly and unmistakably.
"God-devil resonance?"
The Apothecary was startled. "How did he do it? And to gain twenty years' worth of cultivation in a single night—that's terrifying. Could it really be the Four Spirit Bloods?"
The Village Chief shook his head. "The Four Spirit Bloods can strengthen his body and yuanqi, but not at such a monstrous rate."
The Apothecary mused, "Maybe Quinn's a born prodigy? Maybe he was made for cultivation?"
The Village Chief frowned. "If he were a prodigy, why would he still have an ordinary constitution? Geniuses should have Spirit Bodies. And god-devil resonance—what genius could ever achieve that?"
The Apothecary asked, "Is the god-devil resonance in his howl a blessing or a curse?"
"No idea."
The Village Chief said, "I heard god-devil resonance in his howl—the god-sound and devil-sound warring fiercely. But whether it's good or bad, I can't say."
The Apothecary's eyes flickered. "That god-devil resonance in his howl—where did the god-sound and devil-sound come from?"
"No clue!"
Both the Apothecary and the Village Chief were left with splitting headaches. It had been a long time since something had stumped them this badly. Ever since they'd taken in Quinn, the little boy who drifted down from upstream, mysteries had only multiplied.
Night fell. Oldridge Village quickly sank into darkness. Quinn slept in the outer room, Granny Sue in the inner room. Around midnight, a dark demonic chant rose in Quinn's mind, soon followed by the divine hymn. The god-sound and devil-sound clashed, growing louder and louder.
The sound of god-devil resonance gradually became a battle between darkness and light in his mind, waging a brutal war. Quinn felt his body vanish, his soul floating high above the struggle, watching the clash between darkness and light below.
The war between darkness and light looked just like what he'd seen last night at the Canyon Ruins, only far more grand and immense. Night lashed out like tentacles, piercing the light again and again, while the light erupted in retaliation, sweeping away the darkness.
After a while, Quinn saw clearly what the darkness and light truly were. The darkness was an endless horde of demon gods, surging forward like a tide—the demonic chant was not just a single sound, but the roar of countless demon gods!
The light was the same—an ocean of gods clad in golden armor, locked in fierce battle against the oncoming demon gods!
He was floating so high above that these gods and demons looked like tiny droplets of water, impossible to make out clearly. At first, he thought it was simply a conflict between light and darkness, but now, seeing the truth, he was shaken and terrified.
Quinn jolted awake, drenched in sweat. He opened his eyes to find his head filled with the pounding god-sound and devil-sound, so loud it felt like his skull was about to split.
Just then, the Jade Pendant on his chest floated up, drifted to his brow, and settled gently. Quinn felt a cool current wash over him—instantly, the god-sound and devil-sound vanished from his mind.
He sat up with a start, gasping for breath, heart pounding in confusion. He had no idea what had just happened.
After a while, he stepped outside into the night, studying the Jade Pendant in the eerie glow cast by the ancient stone statues around the village.
Outside the village was pure darkness, but the Jade Pendant glowed faintly. Quinn stared, mesmerized, his gaze lingering on the little pendant, unable to look away.
Behind him, Granny Sue quietly appeared, witnessing the scene. Her heart ached: "Though we've raised him, Quinn never truly belonged to Oldridge Village. He's just a child we took in—one day, he'll have to leave..."
She steeled herself. Her eyes shone. "The world outside is far more dangerous than the Great Ruins. He still doesn't have enough strength!"