"Lord Bloom, are you used to the tribute wine from the imperial palace?"
In the elegant Listening Rain Pavilion at Flower Lane in the capital, the pipa’s urgent notes tangled with the zither’s gentle sighs and the xiao’s mournful wind, while several girls sang and danced. Quinn Shepherd poured wine for Victor Bloom, smiling: “This is imperial tribute wine brought by Princess Lynn Ling. I rarely drink, so I can’t really judge—what do you think of it?”
Lynn Ling, dressed in men’s clothing, glanced around with bright, curious eyes, her heart pounding with both anxiety and excitement. “That cowherd actually brought me to a brothel—if Father finds out, he’ll have his head for sure! So this is the capital’s most famous pleasure house, Listening Rain Pavilion? It doesn’t seem nearly as scandalous as the rumors say...”
Lina the Spirit Fox was already mingling with the girls of Listening Rain Pavilion, chattering away with old friends, while Quinn continued, "Victor, you may not know, but the legend of the Overlord Body is no ordinary thing. Tonight, I'll tell you the truth behind it."
Victor Bloom, though he set foot in this place of worldly dust, remained untouched by it. He sipped the wine lightly and replied, "The palace wine is pleasant, but it can't compare to High Heaven's spirits—ours are sharper, more fragrant, aged far longer. If you ever taste our wine, Cult Master Quinn, you'll know the difference." Quinn grinned, "Perhaps, but even High Heaven’s wine can’t match the flavor of a true Overlord Body’s fate."
Lynn Ling studied the youth across from Quinn, curiosity flickering in her eyes. Victor Bloom looked so perfect he seemed sculpted from jade—almost unreal, as if no mortal flaw could touch him. She remembered hearing that by age fourteen, Victor had no rival in High Heaven, and even his master’s sealed divine treasuries couldn’t match his depth.
His looks were flawless, as were his attire, manners, and words—there was nothing to criticize. Quinn, watching him, couldn’t help but sincerely admit, “You really are flawless, Victor. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you weren’t even human.”
Yet Quinn Shepherd, sitting opposite, was full of little flaws. Victor glanced at him and asked, half-joking, “So, Quinn, if you’re the true Overlord Body, what does that make me?” Quinn winked, “The rival fated to lose, of course.”
Quinn wasn’t as beautiful as Victor Bloom—though not bad-looking, he couldn’t compare. Quinn was sturdy, brimming with energy; even after days of exhaustion and little sleep, he looked lively as ever. Victor’s eyes grew serious, “So all these flaws are part of your Overlord Body technique?” Quinn laughed, “They’re proof I’m real.”
Victor Bloom, meanwhile, seemed reserved, steady—like nothing could shake him, his heart calm as still water. Quinn raised his cup, “Come on, Victor, let’s drink to fate—true and false Overlord Bodies alike.”
Quinn was sometimes excessively humble, sometimes arrogantly bold. Kind-hearted, but sometimes wicked; oblivious to romance, yet at times able to stir your heart like spring flowers bursting into bloom. Victor grinned, “If being flawed means being interesting, maybe I should envy you.” Quinn laughed, “You can try, but it’s harder than it looks!”
Sometimes Quinn acted with meticulous caution; other times, he was reckless and wild, often stirring up trouble. Victor raised an eyebrow, “So, the Overlord Body is also the troublemaker body?” Quinn clapped the table, “That’s right! Pour another cup!”
He could be brilliant, but his moments of foolishness could make you grind your teeth. Quinn opened another wine jar, pouring for both himself and Victor. “Let’s see whose head is clearer after a few more rounds!”
But none of these quirks could be found in Victor Bloom. He drank with perfect moderation, posture impeccable, every gesture refined—yet tonight, he met Quinn cup for cup, refusing to lose on any front.
Victor Bloom was like a flawless man, without a single shortcoming. Calling a man beautiful might seem excessive, but for him it fit perfectly. Lynn Ling frowned, “Quinn, don’t get too drunk—you’re about to duel for your life.”
That was just the kind of person Victor Bloom was—friend or foe, anyone facing him felt as if bathed in a gentle spring breeze. Quinn grinned, “It’s rare to drink with a ‘same kind’—we ought to get drunk while we can!”
"So flawless, it’s almost unreal," Lynn Ling muttered. She turned to Quinn, “There’s no more imperial wine left—the palace stores were sold off to refill the treasury. Even my jewelry and clothes are gone!”
Lynn Ling glanced at the two girls behind Victor, feeling a bit sorry for them. She could see their fiery affection for Victor Bloom, but clearly, they’d picked the wrong target—someone that perfect could never love them back, and even if he did, they wouldn’t dare accept it.
With someone as perfect as Victor Bloom, romance would only breed insecurity. Such love couldn’t last—it would be nothing but illusions, like flowers in a mirror or the moon in water. Quinn put down his empty cup and stood, “No more wine? Then let’s go settle this with our fists instead!”
Victor Bloom wiped his mouth, preparing to leave. Selena brought a damp towel for his hands, and Jade gathered up the wine jars and instruments. The group rose together, ready to step into the next scene.
"When we first met, I had no idea we would become enemies," Quinn said, pushing his empty wine cup toward Serena Vale. "Madam Serena, put the bill on my tab."
Quinn set down his wine cup, his eyes a little sad. "When I realized it, I was honestly disappointed. We could have been friends. But I suppose a world like ours needs an enemy like you." Serena Vale laughed, “Quinn, this is your own brothel—there’s no bill to pay!”
He smiled, “There aren’t many people like us in the world. If we were all friends, I’d be disappointed.” Lynn Ling’s eyes widened. Only now did she realize: the cowherd who brought her to a brothel actually owned the brothel himself!
Lynn Ling poked Quinn with her finger, whispering, “Cowherd, you could at least pretend to be humble…” As the group left, Lina the Spirit Fox scampered after them, and Jade and Selena followed, nervously clutching their instruments and wine jars.
Quinn laughed, “I’m just telling the truth.” Outside, the air was alive with the roar of furnaces and the pounding of mechanical giants forging cannon parts. The group made their way toward the foundry complex.
Behind Victor Bloom, Jade smiled sweetly, “The Human Emperor really is shameless. High Heaven isn’t the lower world, and Lord Bloom isn’t one of your mortals. How could you possibly compare yourself to him?” Jade and Selena exchanged uneasy glances, clearly anxious about being surrounded by Quinn’s people.
Victor Bloom shook his head, “The Human Emperor is worthy. The Human Emperor Hall has fought High Heaven for twenty thousand years—why shouldn’t its heir be compared to me? To insult him is to insult me.” Quinn led Victor through the foundry, gesturing at the colossal pill-furnaces and mechanical giants. “What do you think of Everpeace’s aura?”
Jade blushed. Victor studied the massive foundry, nodding with genuine admiration. “It’s exquisite. Ingenious. The craftsmanship here is extraordinary.”
Victor Bloom said, “I came down from High Heaven to eliminate the new Human Emperor. When I first met Quinn, I thought he was Dao Gate’s Dao Heir, but he turned out to be the Human Emperor I was searching for. Only later did I realize I’d missed my chance. Down here, I’ve met many outstanding young talents, sought their guidance, but none impressed me. In the end, Quinn was the one who amazed me most.”
Quinn poured Victor another cup of wine, smiling, “I promised you a drink, and here it is. After this, whether I kill you or you kill me, it’ll be a swift, happy fate—no regrets.” He picked up a massive cannon component, feeling the etched formations. “This cannon has cost me everything—countless experts, all of Everpeace’s treasure. In two months, it’ll be finished. If you survive, come see it again. This cannon is meant to kill gods.”
Victor Bloom raised his cup in salute; the two clinked their cups lightly and each finished their drink in one go. Victor paused, inspecting the tens of thousands of parts scattered across the foundry, his eyes filled with awe.
Quinn sighed, “We’re both Overlord Bodies, but there’s a difference between real and fake. You finding me wasn’t just coincidence—it’s the link between Overlord Body and False Overlord Body. We’re destined to be enemies, not friends.” He watched Victor closely, sensing the subtle shift in his mindset.
Quinn's expression grew solemn. "The Overlord Body is the strongest physique! Have you always found learning anything incredibly easy? Whatever you tried, you mastered at a glance, and could extrapolate to related arts? Before the Four Spirit Bodies could even finish learning, you had already completed it all?"
Victor Bloom nodded, surprised. "So that's the Overlord Body."
"Exactly!"
Quinn put down his wine cup, excitement in his voice. "And do you also feel that no one's cultivation matches your depth? That, given the same divine art, your power always surpasses theirs?"
Victor nodded again. "By fourteen, I had no rivals left in High Heaven. Even my master, after sealing his own divine treasuries, couldn't match my power."
Quinn looked at him with sincere eyes. "That is the Overlord Body!"
Victor murmured, "So that's the Overlord Body... But why do you say you're the true Overlord Body and I'm the false one? How do you tell the difference?"
He looked genuinely serious.
Quinn's expression grew solemn. "The Overlord Body is the strongest physique! Have you always found learning anything incredibly easy? That whatever you tried, you mastered at a glance, and could extrapolate to related arts? Before the Four Spirit Bodies could even finish learning, you had already completed it all?"
Victor Bloom nodded, surprised. "So that's the Overlord Body."
"Exactly!"
Quinn put down his wine cup, excitement in his voice. "And do you also feel that no one's cultivation matches your depth? That, given the same divine art, your power always surpasses theirs?"
Victor nodded again. "By fourteen, I had no rivals left in High Heaven. Even my master, after sealing his own divine treasuries, couldn't match my power."
Quinn looked at him with sincere eyes. "That is the Overlord Body!"
Victor murmured, "So that's the Overlord Body... But why do you say you're the true Overlord Body and I'm the false one? How do you tell the difference?"
He looked genuinely serious.
Quinn poured another round, smiling. "If you can't beat me, then you're the false Overlord Body. Come, as fellow Overlord Bodies, let's drink a full jar!"
They both raised their wine jars and drank them dry. Victor shook his head. "We haven't fought yet—how do you know who wins or loses? Maybe I'm the real one, and you're the fake. Fate itself decides. You want to steal my destiny and become the true Overlord Body."
Quinn was stunned, scratching his head. "Maybe that's possible too. Come, let's drink another jar for the true Overlord Body!"
He cracked open two more jars, setting one before Victor and grabbing the other for himself, drinking deeply with his head thrown back.
Victor frowned. He'd drunk before, but always in moderation—never like this. Still, with Quinn guzzling his jar, Victor could only lift his own and drink it down.
Lynn Ling poked Quinn again, whispering, "Cowherd, you're getting drunk—stop drinking!"
Quinn finished his long drink, now visibly tipsy. He laughed, "It's rare to meet a kindred spirit—of course we should drink till we're done! Sis, go grab more wine from the palace."
"There's none left. These last three jars are all I could bring—the tribute wine from the palace was ordered sold by my father to refill the treasury."
Lynn Ling shook her head. "Even my jewelry and clothes were taken and sold by my father."
Quinn burst out laughing, slamming his jar onto the table. He stood up tall. "I was hoping to get properly drunk, sleep it off, and then duel with Victor. Turns out there’s no more wine—just half-drunk. Victor, let’s go."
Victor set down his jar and stood. Selena hurried over with a damp towel. Victor wiped his hands and mouth, then said, "Let’s go."
The two walked out together. Quinn glanced back. "Serena, put it on my tab."
Serena Vale laughed. "Cult Master, you’re joking—Listening Rain Pavilion is your own business. What tab?"
Lynn Ling’s face darkened. "That damn cowherd actually owns a brothel! I knew he was taking me to a brothel—turns out it’s his own!"
She hurried out, Lina the Spirit Fox scampering after her. Jade and Selena followed, carrying a pipa and jade bottles.
Outside the capital came the clang of hammering—the foundry was forging parts for the Solar-Shooting God Cannon. Quinn and Victor walked side by side out of the city, arriving at the works.
Jade and Selena grew nervous. This was Quinn’s territory, full of his people—they worried he might order his experts to take Victor out on the spot.
Quinn led Victor to the foundry. "Victor, what do you think of Everpeace’s aura?"
"It’s extraordinary."
Victor studied the pill-furnaces and mechanical giants in the foundry, unable to hold back his admiration. "Ingenious craftsmanship!"
Quinn picked up a massive component, running his hand over the etched patterns and inspecting the forging—no flaws. "This cannon has cost me dearly. I gathered countless calculation experts and drained Everpeace’s treasury. In two months, it’ll be finished. If you survive, you have to come see it. This cannon is built to kill the gods of High Heaven."
Victor’s heart trembled. He studied the patterns carefully, his face growing serious as he moved to the array lines on another part.
Quinn let him observe, hands clasped behind his back, waiting quietly. "Letting your heart be disturbed before battle—you’ve already lost. Victor, you haven’t seen enough real life-and-death fights!"