Consort Cherise's eyes sparkled as she said softly, "Does Your Majesty wish to come sit with me for a while?"
Quinn's gaze flickered. He stepped forward and shook his head, saying, "I'm tired. I need to return to the Hall of Nourishing Glory for some proper maintenance. I'll visit you another day, beloved consort."
Consort Cherise leapt lightly, landing in his palm. Looking up at the Heavenly Emperor's face, she was charming and coquettish, giggling, "Ever since the Ancient-God Heavenly Emperor's flesh fell, the rifts among us Ten Heavenly Venerables seem to be growing. If this goes on, it's dangerous. Do you really trust Shepherd Heavenly Venerable's words?"
She thinks I'm one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables—she has no idea I'm actually Shepherd Heavenly Venerable!
Quinn's heart stirred, but he kept walking and replied coolly, "Where there's smoke, there's fire. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable may be a cunning brat, and his words can't be trusted completely. But he has no reason to lie to us—Fire Venerable and Void Venerable are about to return. If you ask them, you'll know whether he's telling the truth."
Consort Cherise frowned and whispered, "Then who do you suspect is the Supreme Emperor?"
Venerable Consort
Consort Cherise lay down in his palm, reclining sideways with her arm propping up her delicate head, her curves alluring. She said softly, "The Heaven Alliance is restless, the Ten Heavenly Venerables suspect each other, the ancient gods are not pacified, the Supreme Emperor stirs up chaos, and rebel Qin Ye sits in Carefree Haven, influencing everything from the shadows. Right now, Heavenly Court seems stable, but it's riddled with wounds. I can't help but worry. I want to find a like-minded friend to face all this together."
Just outside the Hall, he ran into Venerable Vastflood, dressed in wide sleeves.
Venerable Vastflood wore a white robe, with snowy brows and beard. His robe was loose, giving him the air of a kindly elder—always smiling and gentle to all.
"Girl, is His Majesty inside?" Venerable Vastflood asked with a friendly smile.
Quinn raised his brows and said coolly, "Venerable Consort, are you here seeking a friend, or an enemy? Do you really want me as your foe?"
Venerable Vastflood waved his sleeve and walked into the hall.
Quinn breathed a sigh of relief and continued toward the Hall of Nourishing Glory, thinking, "Damn, I forgot something. The Ten Heavenly Venerables not only suspect each other, they also try to recruit one another. Cherise came looking for me—others will likely follow. I haven't been exposed yet, but that could change fast! I need to return this body as soon as possible!"
Fragrant Hall and Zaofu Palace are out of the question now. All I can do is hope to return the Heavenly Emperor's body before any other Venerables come looking for me—otherwise, I'll blow my cover.
After all, he's not one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables. (Ensure future references use glossary standards: 'Venerable Vast-Sky', 'Venerable Palace', 'Venerable Queen', 'Venerable Belle'.)
He quickened his pace, drawing closer to the Hall of Nourishing Glory. Just then, a voice laughed, "Where has Your Majesty come from?"
Inside the Hall of Nourishing Glory, Venerable Vastflood frowned at the emperor's body, its legs covered in wounds. He shook his head, "These people don't care at all. This body represents Heavenly Court's dignity... Who took it to the ancestral ground? Wait—that palace maid was suspicious! There shouldn't be only one maid attending the emperor!"
The speaker was Venerable Belle, one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables and a consort in the harem. She was dignified and elegant, holding a pure white cat in her arms, with more than a dozen maids attending her.
The white cat was spotless, lounging lazily in her embrace, eyes half-closed in a nap. Occasionally it stretched out its sharp claws, yawned, and then squinted at Quinn.
Yana looked pitiful and said, "Your Majesty dotes on Sister Cherise but neglects me. It makes me quite sad."
Venerable Vastflood suddenly withdrew his divine sense and laughed, "Fellow Daoists, did you think I was the Supreme Emperor? Trying to test me! The Ten Heavenly Venerables have always been united—since when did we start doubting our own?"
Yana's eyes sparkled with hope as she said softly, "Your Majesty, my Long-Joy Palace is just nearby. Won't you come sit with me for a while?"
Venerable Vastflood frowned slightly, thinking, "Their interference let that strange maid get away. That maid must've been the one controlling the emperor's body to the ancestral ground—so secretive, I fear for the ancestral ground..."
Quinn hesitated. "I still need to return to the Hall of Nourishing Glory for maintenance, so I won't visit Long-Joy Palace today."
When he arrived, he saw Venerable Vast-Sky, Venerable Palace, Venerable Queen, Venerable Consort, Venerable Belle, and others already there.
Quinn's heart chilled: "So it was Yana who summoned me in the Hall of Nourishing Glory! She was the first Venerable to question me about the Grand Void and Carefree Haven—her information is sharp, faster than the others!"
Yana looked at his feet, spotting bloodstains. She smirked, "So you went to Sister Cherise and came back covered in blood. You really do need some maintenance. I didn't expect Cherise to be so fierce, so I won't disturb Your Majesty further."
Quinn chuckled, "Don't worry, beloved consort. I'll call on you in a few days." With that, he continued toward the Hall of Nourishing Glory.
Yana watched him leave, then suddenly laughed, "Bold enough to tease me, aren't you? Little Seven, who was hiding in this body just now? I'm curious what they wanted in the Heavenly Emperor's ancestral ground."
The white cat in her arms leapt down, took a few steps, and though it was a cat, it moved with the stride of a dragon and tiger—powerful and graceful.
A man's voice came from the white cat's mouth, deep and puzzled: "He's not any of the Heavenly Venerables."
Yana froze, exclaiming, "Little Seven, you mean the one inside the Heavenly Emperor's body just now wasn't one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables?"
The white cat called Little Seven said, "He's definitely not one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables. I've never seen him before, can't tell who he is, but if I see him again, I'll recognize him."
Yana blinked, puzzled. "Could it be Shepherd Heavenly Venerable? But he shouldn't be able to control the Heavenly Emperor's body. If it's not him, then who?"
The white cat's body slowly grew, then suddenly stood upright, transforming into a silver-armored, white-robed general—handsome and heroic. "I can follow him and find out who he is."
Yana reached out and smiled, "This person isn't ordinary. Anyone who can control the Heavenly Emperor's body isn't weak. If you chase him, you might be in danger. Come back to me."
The handsome general dove into her arms, turning back into a white cat. He nudged her gently and settled in for a lazy nap.
The palace maids around Yana seemed unfazed, following her back to Long-Joy Palace.
Quinn returned to the Hall of Nourishing Glory. As soon as he entered, he saw Vast-Sky Venerable standing there, hands behind his back, waiting.
Quinn's heart skipped a beat. He ignored Vast-Sky and walked past him, appearing calm though his heart was pounding.
Quinn sat down steadily and asked, "Vast-Sky Venerable, what brings you here?"
Vast-Sky Venerable raised his head and said coolly, "Lucan went to see you, and you took him to the ancestral ground. You were in there for ages—what were you up to?"
"Lucan?"
Quinn was momentarily stunned, then smiled. "So Lucan is the Eastern Palace Crown Prince's name. Good to know."
He sat upright, saying leisurely, "Crown Prince Lucan is a descendant of the Heavenly Emperor. It's no problem for him to visit the ancestral ground. Vast-Sky Venerable, you and I are both Venerables—do I need to report everything I do to you?"
Vast-Sky Venerable snorted, "Don't forget—without me, none of you would have your current positions. Who among you could have defeated Cloud Venerable, Skysoar Venerable, and Moon Venerable? It's because of me that you all rose to power!"
Quinn laughed, "And it's because of you that the Supreme Emperor was able to sneak into the Ten Heavenly Venerables, becoming a hidden threat. Vast-Sky, your influence is great, but mine isn't small either. Don't talk down to me!"
Vast-Sky clenched his fists and stared at him; Quinn fought off his fear and stared back.
Vast-Sky relaxed his fists and said coldly, "You believe that brat Quinn Shepherd when he says the Supreme Emperor is among us? He's just trying to divide us and spark infighting. That he survived the Grand Void surprised me, but his words are half-truths and full of secrets."
Quinn lounged on the Heavenly Emperor's throne, drawling, "His words are half-truths, but Fire Venerable and Void Venerable should be back soon, right? Once they're here, we'll know if Quinn Shepherd was lying."
Vast-Sky's gaze fell to the wounds on his legs, pupils narrowing. "You took Crown Prince Lucan into the ancestral ground to use his bloodline to steal treasures? Those treasures belong to my family—you won't get them!"
Quinn smirked, "Vast-Sky Venerable, you seem awfully concerned about Crown Prince Lucan—more than mere brotherly affection."
Vast-Sky swept his sleeve and left, his voice echoing, "Restore this body properly. And Lucan is my brother—if you lay a finger on him, no matter which Venerable you are, I'll make sure you die without a grave!"
Quinn snorted, watching him go, then finally relaxed, almost collapsing onto the throne.
"Vast-Sky and Crown Prince Lucan's relationship seems unusual. Lucan doesn't feel like a brother—more like a son..."
The Heavenly Emperor's brow split open and Quinn slipped out, his expression odd. "The imperial family's relationships are a mess. I can't stay in this body—it's too risky. If I linger, I'll be exposed! I need to leave the Hall of Nourishing Glory now!"
He twisted his form and turned into a palace maid, heading for the exit.
Just outside the Hall, he ran into Vastflood Venerable, dressed in wide sleeves.
Vastflood wore a white robe, with snowy brows and beard. His robe was loose, giving him the air of a kindly elder—always smiling and gentle to all.
"Girl, is His Majesty inside?" Vastflood asked with a friendly smile.
"Reporting to Venerable, His Majesty is still recuperating." Quinn replied, bowing gracefully.
Vastflood waved his sleeve and walked into the hall.
Quinn quickly slipped away, turning the corner in the corridor and morphing into a snake that slithered into the bushes. Reaching the pond ahead, the snake dove in and transformed into a giant koi, swimming down the harem's waterways.
He swam to the Imperial Garden, changed into a frog, hopped ashore, and after a few steps behind a tree, a raccoon-cat appeared, darting along the palace walls before leaping up and running between the halls.
Soon, the raccoon-cat jumped down from the wall, landing in the shadows below.
A shadow slid along the ground and walls, moving through the darkness. When it reached the outer city of Jade Capital, Quinn emerged from the shadow and headed for Shepherd Heavenly Venerable Residence.
Inside the Hall of Nourishing Glory, Vastflood frowned at the emperor's body, its legs covered in wounds. He shook his head, "These people don't care at all. This body represents Heavenly Court's dignity... Who took it to the ancestral ground? Wait—that palace maid was suspicious! There shouldn't be only one maid attending the emperor!"
He unleashed his divine sense, scanning the hall and its surroundings for the maid's whereabouts.
His divine sense was so powerful that it caused a commotion—other divine senses erupted from afar, colliding with his!
Thunder and lightning roared around the Hall of Nourishing Glory—the collision of several Heavenly Venerables' divine senses had caused this phenomenon!
Vastflood suddenly withdrew his divine sense and laughed, "Fellow Daoists, did you think I was the Supreme Emperor? Trying to test me! The Ten Heavenly Venerables have always been united—since when did we start doubting our own?"
The divine senses in the air scattered, and calm returned to the surroundings.
Vastflood frowned slightly, thinking, "Their interference let that strange maid get away. That maid must've been the one controlling the emperor's body to the ancestral ground—so secretive, I fear for the ancestral ground..."
He hurriedly left the Hall, rushing to the Heavenly Emperor's birthplace.
When he arrived, he saw Vast-Sky, Palace Venerable, Queen Venerable, Yana Venerable, and others already there.
Everyone looked grave, gazing at the glowing mass of purple mist in the ancestral ground—there, a piece of the eggshell was missing.
"Who took it?"
Vast-Sky said coldly, "Hand it over now, and I'll let bygones be bygones!"