The Pioneer Emperor leaned back against his chair, spread his fingers wide, and smiled, "I want to hit you—this many times!"
Kaihuang Heavenly Venerable, why not hit ten times?
God-King Shu Jun felt awkward, but with only his giant head left, he couldn't brush Quinn's hand away.
"Put your leg down!"
Prince Hansen finally lost his composure, the veins bulging on his forehead as he hissed, "Your leg hair is showing! What kind of manners is this? And you aren't even wearing anything underneath!"
Quinn hurriedly put his leg down and sat up straight.
God-Queen Langwo chuckled softly and helped Quinn pull his red robe over his legs.
On both sides, the armies of Carefree Haven and the Creators bristled with killing intent, ready to go to war at any moment. But on the platform, the tension had eased.
Quinn grinned, "For my father's sake, I'll spare you some dignity—no fighting today. I'll come home for a visit in a while. Have my brother hurry up and forge the Beyond-Shore Netherworld, and I'll send Creators to help you."
Prince Hansen frowned, "Don't come home! You're not allowed back!" After speaking, he glanced at the Pioneer Emperor's expression.
Elena Cloud laughed, "Prince Hansen, don't be like that. Just now we were discussing matters between our two peoples—there's no harm in talking about family now. Since Shepherd Heavenly Venerable has wandered since birth, now that he's finally reached Carefree Haven, not letting him visit home would be unreasonable both emotionally and logically."
Quinn Shepherd smiled, "Celestial Teacher Ethan is right. I came here precisely to find Carefree Haven, to visit my parents and brother, and to see the Pioneer Emperor. How could I reach my doorstep and not enter?"
"Going home just to get beaten?" Prince Hansen grumbled, glancing again at the Pioneer Emperor.
Quinn Shepherd was unfazed. "I didn't lose last time, and I won't lose now. Right, Pioneer Emperor?"
The Pioneer Emperor stood and smiled warmly, "It's good to visit home. Today we've set the peace pact between our peoples, and I need a few days to prepare—have Fenix Greenwood Keane open the Beyond-Shore Netherworld and establish the cycle of life and death in the Beyond-Shore World. So, Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, when will you come to Carefree Haven for a family visit?"
Quinn replied politely, "In two months. Creating the Beyond-Shore Netherworld will take some time—it's a major undertaking. I'll work with God-Queen Langwo to mobilize the Creators and help my brother build Youdu."
The Pioneer Emperor replied just as courteously, "Then I'll await your arrival in two months. Celestial Teacher, Prince Hansen, let's go."
Quinn Shepherd and God-Queen Langwo saw them off, but the Pioneer Emperor quickly said, "No need to escort us. Carefree Haven is close—just a turn and we're there."
Quinn watched them leave the platform. Prince Hansen looked back and whispered, "Don't come home!" Then he left with the Pioneer Emperor and Elena Cloud, heading back to Carefree Haven.
"Sister, will making peace with Carefree Haven stir up discontent among the Creators?" Quinn asked the woman beside him.
God-Queen Langwo shook her head. "You're the Saint Baby. Your decision is the Creators' decision—and the Ancestor-Spirits' decision. They won't oppose you. Our Creator race, when you get down to it, are really just survivors hiding here. We have no great ambitions; we're all just seeking peace and survival."
She paused, then continued, "I'll use my divine sense to show them the future of the peace pact. Once they see the world after the Beyond-Shore Netherworld is established, they'll understand your actions. And those Ancestor-Spirit fragments that turned into fiends in Taixu will finally find peace—this will only deepen their respect for you."
Quinn Shepherd thanked her.
God-Queen Langwo saw his gaze lingering on the thirty-three heavens of Carefree Haven and knew he was homesick. "Are you really going to wait two months before entering Carefree Haven?" she asked.
Quinn Shepherd grinned, "Of course not. I'll sneak in ahead of time and see what Carefree Haven has been up to these past twenty thousand years."
God-Queen Langwo blinked her bright eyes, deeply curious about Quinn's plan.
"The Pioneer Emperor's reforms worked from the top down. After the gods and demons changed, they passed the fruits of reform down to the people."
Quinn Shepherd's eyes gleamed. "So in the academies and schools of Carefree Haven, they must teach the Kaihuang Heaven Court's best arts—doing everything possible to teach mortals, so they can become cultivators and gods. That's why, over the next two months, I plan to start my tour from Taihuang Heaven, to observe whether Carefree Haven's divine arts and Dao have progressed or regressed since the old days."
God-Queen Langwo laughed, "So you still want to fight Ye Greenwood Keane?"
He's Kaihuang Heavenly Venerable and I'm Shepherd Heavenly Venerable. A million years ago, we couldn't stand each other, but never settled the score. Now, even with kinship between us, we still rub each other the wrong way. So, it's better to fight it out. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you'll win every battle.
A sly light flickered in Quinn Shepherd's eyes. "These days, he's pouring all his energy into opening the Beyond-Shore Netherworld and calming the people and gods of Carefree Haven, helping them let go of old grudges. He has no time to worry about me, or study my Dao and divine arts. But I can piece together clues and uncover the mysteries of his Thirty-Three Heavens Sword Dao."
God-Queen Langwo hesitated. "I need to reassure the Creators and organize them to help Big-Headed Monster... help your brother create the Beyond-Shore Netherworld. I'm afraid I won't have time to go with you."
Quinn Shepherd felt a pang of regret.
He really liked having God-Queen Langwo by his side.
She was unbelievably clever—if she were an enemy, she'd have amazing ways to deal with you; but as a friend, she'd do everything she could to help.
God-Queen Langwo was stunningly beautiful, but unlike Elaina Cloud, she never made him feel pressured. With this goddess-queen by his side, Quinn always felt his mind worked better than usual.
Still, God-Queen Langwo had important duties to handle, and he couldn't force her to stay.
The three of them returned to the Creators' main camp. Quinn Shepherd watched her leave, while God-King Shu Jun remarked, "That goddess-queen is truly remarkable—her cultivation is formidable, much stronger than I ever was."
Quinn Shepherd sighed, "It's a pity she's just a product of visualization. There's no one that perfect in the real world..."
"A product of visualization?"
This is a basic sword technique.
The Pioneer Emperor wielded the Worryless Sword, demonstrating each move. "Before this move, there are four other basic sword techniques."
His sword light flashed, performing the eighteenth sword form, then the seventeenth, deducing the four basic sword forms created in the Everpeace Reform.
The Pioneer Emperor closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them, his gaze sharp as snow-light. "After Sword Nineteen, there must also be Sword Twenty!"
She could visualize, and she had opened divine treasuries and Heaven Palaces. By comprehending the Dao and divine arts of Carefree Haven, she evolved the Creators' divine arts.
Looking at it this way, she really isn't a visualized sacred being, but a living, breathing person!
Quinn Shepherd smiled, rubbing his hands, "I thought she was just a visualization..."
God-King Shu Jun didn't bother guessing his thoughts and urged, "How are we going to get into Carefree Haven?"
Quinn Shepherd was surprised, "You want to go too?"
God-King Shu Jun sneered, "Of course! Once I'm resurrected, I'm going to cultivate the God-Treasury and Heaven-Palace system. The best way is to follow you into Carefree Haven and see how they train!"
Quinn Shepherd hesitated, "But the way you look now..."
Wait a moment!
God-King Shu Jun took out a Taichu God-Stone, visualized for a moment, his big head shrank, a skinny body grew underneath, and soon he became a skinny youth with a big head. "This should do, right? This body is just for walking, like a person. Once my divine sense recovers, I'll rebuild my flesh."
Quinn Shepherd looked at his stubbled face and reluctantly nodded, "You look a bit old for your age—trying to act young makes you look weird."
God-King Shu Jun's face darkened, looking even uglier.
Quinn Shepherd quickly said, "The Creators will move the dead star belt around Carefree Haven, and the gods of Carefree Haven will help. It'll be chaotic, so when they shift the stars, we'll sneak in. But first, I need to change—this bright red robe and bellyband are too conspicuous."
As he expected, after God-Queen Langwo and the Pioneer Emperor announced the peace pact, the Creators soon began moving the dead star belt around Carefree Haven.
The gods and demons in Carefree Haven flew out—some piloted ships, others used great power to push the stars away from Carefree Haven.
Quinn Shepherd and Shu Jun took the opportunity to slip into the lowest of Carefree Haven's thirty-three heavens—Taihuang Heaven.
At the same time, the Pioneer Emperor's orders spread. Each department in Heaven Court worked in concert, preparing to help Fenix Greenwood Keane open the Beyond-Shore Netherworld and establish reincarnation.
Carefree Haven's greatest advantage over the Creators is that the Pioneer Era's bureaucracy survived. The Pioneer Emperor only needs to set direction and give orders, and the state machinery will achieve his goals.
This system was designed by the Woodcutter Sage, one of the Four Celestial Teachers, for the Pioneer Emperor. Under it, everyone fulfills their role, gods and demons help build the nation, but still have time to cultivate and improve themselves.
The Woodcutter Sage, head of the Four Celestial Teachers, made indelible contributions during the Pioneer Era.
"Ethan, you've fought Shepherd Heavenly Venerable. How is his sword art?" The Pioneer Emperor summoned Elena Cloud and asked.
Elena Cloud's eyes sparkled and she smiled, "Your Majesty really wants to spar with your descendant? That's not very imperial."
The Pioneer Emperor shook his head, "It's not about descendants, but Shepherd Heavenly Venerable versus Kaihuang Heavenly Venerable. We're kin, but our philosophies differ, and that can breed deeper resentment than hatred itself."
He gently stroked the Wuyou Sword, lost in thought, then said, "Rather than let our philosophies clash and become irreconcilable, it's better to settle who's stronger now. For people like us, reason isn't spoken—it's fought out."
He drew the Wuyou Sword, studying the divine blade that had grown with him. "It was this sword, in his hands, that shone so brightly and showed me the wonders of swordsmanship, convincing me to make the sword my Dao."
He swung the Wuyou Sword, its cold light swirling through the air. "This sword passed from my hand to his, letting him grasp unparalleled sword techniques. This sword links us—across a million years, across forty millennia. I want to know how much he's improved. You're the one who's seen his sword art most recently in Carefree Haven, so you know his secrets. That's why I ask you."
"Shepherd Heavenly Venerable's sword art has been unmatched for a million years!"
Elena Cloud drew her sword and said gravely, "Your Majesty's Sword Dao is also at its peak for a million years! I once met him in the Origin Realm and asked him about his Tribulation Sword technique. Please watch, Your Majesty!"
She activated her divine sword, its light dancing as she mimicked Quinn Shepherd's Tribulation Sword, performing the nineteenth sword form.
The Pioneer Emperor's eyes gleamed. Back then, Quinn Shepherd performed the Tribulation Sword at Jade Pool, breaking Lady Yuanmu's projection, stunning the world. He hadn't had time to watch closely then.
Elena Cloud performed the move before him. Even as a master at the Lingxiao Realm's pinnacle, she found it difficult to fully show its essence. "In his hands, this move is even more refined—so many variations, I can't block them all."
This is a basic sword technique.
The Pioneer Emperor wielded the Wuyou Sword, demonstrating each move. "Before this move, there are four other basic sword techniques."
His sword light flashed, performing the eighteenth sword form, then the seventeenth, deducing the four basic sword forms created in the Yankang Reformation.
The Pioneer Emperor closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them, eyes shining. "After the nineteenth sword form, there's a twentieth!"