True Heaven Matron

The goddess's appearance was vaguely that of the wine-serving goddess in the mural—the one Quinn Shepherd had snatched wine from and kicked flying. She ran to a corner, turned behind a folding screen, and emerged as a woman whose appearance was now completely different.

This woman wore a round silver hat, a short black jacket, and a long black skirt; on her feet were high, pointed black shoes—her outfit was just like any ordinary woman from the Western Lands.

"That was close—almost got kicked back to my true form by that exile! But I still slipped up: all the gods and demons in the mural could only say simple words, like 'kill' or 'beast,' while I spoke a full sentence."

She quickly walked out of the True Heaven Palace's main hall. Sunlight fell on her clear, pretty face as she lowered her head and strode forward, thinking, "They didn't realize it at first, but if they think carefully they'll spot the trick! I have to leave at once—or get my hands on the Four Spirit Pearls first..."

Her steps were quick and light; up ahead were Quinn Shepherd and the Imperial Preceptor. Only then did she slow down, put on a calm face and smile, looking every bit the part of an ordinary noble girl from the Western Lands.

"Oh no!"

Suddenly, Quinn's face changed; he slammed his fist into his palm and exclaimed, "I know where True Heaven Matron is hiding!"

The Imperial Preceptor, brilliant as ever, instantly grasped the key point and blurted out, "She's in that mural with the missing corner! The wine-serving goddess!"

He spun around and dashed toward the main hall, saying rapidly, "We killed even the Heavenly Emperor in the mural, but none of them spoke a full sentence—only that wine-serving goddess did!"

He rushed into the hall, and after a moment emerged again, shaking his head. "The wine-serving goddess is gone from the mural."

Quinn imitated the goddess's tone from the mural, saying, "Where did this brat come from? This is divine wine for the high gods—can you touch it? That line is far too complex for a painted figure. The artist wasn't skilled enough to make anyone but the wine goddess speak like that. So the wine goddess must be True Heaven Matron! True Heaven Matron is truly cunning, hiding inside the painting—I underestimated her."

The woman approached them and saluted Quinn, saying, "Cult Master Qin."

Quinn's eyes flickered. He smiled, "Sister, why aren't you saluting the Imperial Preceptor?"

"Imperial Preceptor? I've never seen him. Is he that expert who killed Father Yu just now?"

The woman looked excited and quickly saluted the Imperial Preceptor, gazing at him with exaggerated admiration. The Imperial Preceptor shook his head, "No, that's not her. Since coming to the Western Lands I've rarely shown myself; most Western women wouldn't recognize me. I killed True Heaven Matron's false body—she would know my face."

Quinn nodded and asked the woman, "Did you see anyone come out of the main hall?"

She shook her head, "I was following my clan leader to try for the Vermilion Bird Pearl. We passed through here, but I didn't see anyone."

Quinn pondered for a moment, then waved his hand. The woman glanced at the Imperial Preceptor, lowered her head, and walked past them. Suddenly, Quinn grabbed her sleeve—True Heaven Matron's scalp tingled, and she nearly lashed out on reflex.

Quinn smiled, "Sister, what's your name? Which noble house are you from? Who is your clan leader?"

True Heaven Matron's face changed dramatically. With a thud, she knelt down, trembling, and kowtowed: "I'm just a disciple of True Heaven Palace! Please, Cult Master, don't kill me! If the other noble houses recognize me, my life won't be safe—please spare me!"

Quinn let out a sigh of relief and said to the Imperial Preceptor, "I almost thought she was True Heaven Matron. But True Heaven Matron is a goddess—how could she possibly kneel to mortals? She really is just a disciple of True Heaven Palace, trying to sneak out and save her own life."

The Imperial Preceptor waved his hand and said, "You handle it as you see fit."

Quinn helped True Heaven Matron up, smiling warmly, and said, "Sister, there's no need to be afraid. Don't listen to what others say—some call me the Heavenly Demon Cult Master, but that's just me putting on a front. I came to the Western Lands alone and called myself that to scare people. Actually, I'm the Heavenly Saint Cult Master. Our Heavenly Saint Cult is the gentlest sect—we never harm anyone, and I'm a good person too. Look, the Imperial Preceptor is even one of our Four Great Heavenly Kings. By the way, what's your name?"

True Heaven Matron was skeptical and probed, "My name is Tiana Raines. You really won't turn me in?"

The Imperial Preceptor urged, "I have to go read the imperial edict—no time to linger here."

Quinn took True Heaven Matron by the hand and followed the Imperial Preceptor, saying, "I'm looking for someone—a young man named Ben Coates, also called the Grand Venerable, leader of Loulan Golden Palace. He once visited your True Heaven Palace. Sister Tiana, have you seen him?"

True Heaven Matron, led by the hand, glanced at the Imperial Preceptor ahead and dared not pull away. "I've seen him. I only knew him as the Grand Venerable—he was close to Elder Yu Qinchán. But he's not in the palace now. When he saw Cult Master Quinn attacking True Heaven Palace, he ran off."

"Classic Grand Venerable."

Quinn sighed, then smiled. "Sister Tiana, stay with me so you won't get killed by others. By the way, Western Lands tracking arts are unmatched—your cultivation must be extraordinary. You should be able to track Ben Coates, right? If you help me find him, I'll protect you from harm. How about it?"

True Heaven Matron's eyes lit up. "Deal! It's a promise?"

Ivy He, Mina Frost, and the others looked uneasy. Raina Bear knew she could not truly rule the Western Lands, and with the other two pearls already taken, she decided to present these two as a way to restrain the ambitions of the great clans.

The Imperial Preceptor accepted the Black Tortoise Pearl and said, "The Palace Mistress still needs a treasure to guard the West. You should keep the Azure Dragon Pearl."

Raina Bear thanked him and rose with Kira Bear.

After the ceremony, the Imperial Preceptor urged Quinn to hurry, saying, "You leave behind a trail of romantic entanglements you can't clean up—be careful, or you'll end up infamous like the Jade-Faced Poison King, forced to cut off your own face. Finish up quickly; let's go find the Grand Venerable."

"I'm not romantic at all..."

Quinn braced himself and bid farewell to the women. Ivy He gazed at him with deep emotion and whispered, "Cult Master, won't you stay a few more days? There are still things left unfinished."

Mina Frost was much more forthright, laughing, "Go on, little man, leave if you want! Next time I visit the central lands, I'll climb through your window!"

Raina Bear, holding Kira Bear, parted reluctantly. "If not for meeting you, my daughter and I would have died long ago, our bones lost who knows where. You have shown the Bear clan immense kindness. From now on, True Heaven Palace will obey any command you give."

Quinn smiled, "You don't need to dwell on it. I simply did what felt right, true to my heart. Mistress, Kira, farewell." With that, he turned and left.

Raina Bear was overcome with emotion, watching him leave True Heaven Palace. Suddenly, she called out loudly, "Righteous man!"

Quinn paused, turned, gave her a smile, and waved.

The title 'righteous man' was not given for saving the mother and daughter—he simply couldn't bear to let Kira Bear die in True Heaven Palace. But now, he truly deserved that name.

Quinn leapt onto Bruno's back and pulled True Heaven Matron up behind him, then asked the Imperial Preceptor, "Preceptor, the Western Lands are a fascinating world. How will the emperor treat them?"

The Imperial Preceptor strolled through the air, calm-faced. "The emperor will treat the West as he treats you—with magnanimity and ambition. That's his temperament. When I advised him to conquer the West, I didn't bring the Everpeace armies, fearing they'd disrupt the peace and harm these beautiful women. I told the emperor: 'I won't bring a million soldiers. I'll recommend one man who equals a million troops.' That man..."

He turned to Quinn and smiled. "Is you. In this world, only Cult Master Quinn can sweep through the Western Lands alone."

Quinn was taken aback, then burst out laughing. "Preceptor, you're just flattering me! Sister Tiana, don't you think so?"

True Heaven Matron smiled but said nothing.

Quinn pressed the Black Tortoise Pearl into her hand and said cheerfully, "Sister Tiana, use your arts—let's track down Ben Coates as quickly as possible."

True Heaven Matron gripped the Black Tortoise Pearl and glanced at the Imperial Preceptor. She saw the middle-aged man walking with one hand behind his back, fingers forming a sword mudra.

——Did everyone watch the Yuewen gala? Is Zhai Zhu not chubby at all? Handsome or not?

(No translation needed—irrelevant system message omitted.)