"The man from a million years ago has returned."
Heavenly Court glittered with gold and jade, teeming with gods and spirits. Countless divine beings dwelled in this lavish world. Normally, Heavenly Court was peaceful—at least on the surface. Even when the Heavenly Court Grand Army descended to the lower realms, crushed Earth Mother Primordial Lady, and flattened the Origin World, not a ripple was stirred within Heavenly Court itself.
Yet now, the once-calm Heavenly Court was like a still lake struck by a stone, sending ripples spreading outward.
Rumors spread in all directions, not only reaching the inner palaces but also the ears of the Heavenly Venerables, becoming the hottest topic sweeping through Heavenly Court.
That man has returned.
In the early Dragon-Han era, a million years ago, that man was appointed Heavenly Venerable by the Heavenly Emperor, becoming one of the Nine Heavenly Venerables. With unmatched Dao and divine arts, he dominated an entire age.
He preached in place of Heaven-Guide Venerable, establishing the Heaven Palace cultivation system for the world, and gravely wounded Venerable Vast-Sky, leaving him bedridden for many years without recovery.
But now, the Heavenly Emperor is aloof from worldly affairs, and Venerable Vast-Sky holds supreme authority over Heavenly Court, reigning above all.
The one who gravely wounded him vanished without a trace, disappearing from the world for a million years.
More news arrived: when Venerable Vast-Sky wielded the strongest weapon to suppress rebellion in the lower realms, that man used Earth Mother Primordial Lady's hand to deal a devastating blow to Vast-Sky's Primordial Spirit.
Other rumors said that man was the Netherworld Divine Son, who suffered a heavy blow from the Four Emperors of Heavenly Court.
There were also whispers that he gouged out his own soul, becoming a man without a soul—now so weak he couldn't even lift a chicken.
Yet more news arrived: in the Origin World, that man killed many of Heavenly Court's young elites—countless ancient gods and disciples of the Four Emperors fell to his hand.
Some gods and devils returning to Heavenly Court from the lower realms said that man's aura was faint—his life hanging by a thread.
Countless people discussed his arrival, spreading tales about him. An uncanny atmosphere pervaded Heavenly Court—surface calm masking turbulent undercurrents.
"The Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird's ship arrived at Heavenly Court today—could it be related to him?"
"I heard the Eastern Emperor left the Eastern Pole, and the Western Emperor left the Western Pole too."
"There's strange movement in the Celestial River—the water level keeps rising. Some suspect the Northern Emperor Black Tortoise has secretly arrived in Heavenly Court!"
"I also heard the Four Emperors of Heavenly Court petitioned the Heavenly Emperor, saying they'd return to Heavenly Court soon. Supposedly, the Black Emperor has already arrived!"
"I've heard many ancient wilderness gods have come to report in at Heavenly Court. The Great Sun Star Lord and others are here too! Word is, even Dao Ancestor, missing for years, has returned to the Heavenly Dao Sect, and Great Brahma King Buddha—who slept for ages—has awakened and gone to see Dao Ancestor immediately!"
"The situation in Heavenly Court is getting strange."
"I heard that man went to Jade Pool, saying he wants to pay respects to Her Majesty the Empress! Such outrageous nerve! A million years ago, he wounded Venerable Vast-Sky right here at Jade Pool!"
"Her Majesty the Empress allowed him to stay at Serpent Maze Palace—the very place where Heaven-Guide Venerable was assassinated!"
"I personally went to Jade Pool and saw him. His aura was withered, his bones gaunt, his complexion terrible, and his yuanqi leaking away every moment. I suspect he came to mourn the dead and seize a chance to die—just waiting to see who can't resist killing him and will then bear infamy for all eternity!"
"Who would dare kill him? Aren't they afraid of being attacked by political enemies?"
"Plenty want him dead, and there are plenty of ways to kill him. Afterward, just find a few scapegoats to take the fall."
"Heavenly Court now isn't the one he knew back then."
...
Jade Pool Sacred Realm, Serpent Maze Palace.
Quinn stood by the window of Serpent Maze Palace, gazing out at the giant lotus flowers blooming across Jade Sea, and the divine turtles carrying sacred mountains on their backs as they roamed the waters—just like in the old days.
His body was a little gaunt, his complexion not too healthy, and returning to this place stirred up countless emotions.
Today’s Heavenly Court may look the same as in the early Dragon-Han era, but in truth, much has changed.
Back then, the Thirty-Six Heaven Palaces and Seventy-Two Treasure Halls stood nearby, but now most of them have been relocated throughout the cosmos to suppress the universe. Only a handful remain here.
Even so, Heavenly Court is far grander than before, with thousands of towers and palaces, all impossibly luxurious.
Jade Pool has also been rebuilt. It was already vast in the past, but after a million years, it’s become more like a Jade Sea—holy scenery beyond imagination.
It was here that he attended the Jade Pool Grand Assembly and experienced a great upheaval—one that changed the course of history for a million years.
He and the Pioneer Emperor both dazzled that era by ‘cheating’—using knowledge a million years ahead of Dragon-Han’s beginning. Had they been born back then, they might’ve been nobodies in that turbulent age.
That’s why many young people in Heavenly Court look down on him. They think if they were sent back to the early Dragon-Han era, they’d do even better.
Annie came over, carrying a plate of fruit. “Young master, the palace maids picked some fresh fruit. I had Dragon-Qilin and Young Master Cyrus taste it first—since they’re still alive, it’s probably not poisoned.”
Dragon-Qilin and Cyrus, following behind her, both turned pale at those words, feeling a pang in their chests.
The Phoenix Ark dropped them off outside South Heaven Gate, then immediately returned to the Origin World. Only Cyrus stayed behind, worried for Dragon-Qilin’s safety.
News of Quinn’s arrival in Heavenly Court spread quickly. He requested an audience with Her Majesty the Empress, but she did not appear in person—instead, she had him lodged at Jade Pool, in the very Serpentine Palace where Heaven-Guide Venerable was assassinated.
All the palace maids here serve the Empress; each is a goddess, radiant and stunningly beautiful.
Still, Annie worried someone might try to poison Quinn, so every dish was first tasted by Cyrus and Dragon-Qilin. Only if they survived would she let Quinn eat.
“No need to be so cautious, Sister Annie. I’m skilled in medicine—poisoning me through food wouldn’t be easy.”
Quinn smiled. “Besides, Heavenly Court wouldn’t bother with something as crude as poison. They have far subtler means.”
Cyrus’s eyes flickered as he glanced around. “So this is where Heaven-Guide Venerable, head of the Nine Heavenly Venerables, was killed?”
Quinn nodded gently. “This place is also where the chain of calamities began—from the Dragon-Han era to Everpeace.”
Cyrus said, “I heard the Heaven Alliance started here—Venerable Skysoar, Cloud-Venerable, and Moon-Venerable founded it in this palace, together with Shepherd Heavenly Venerable Quinn. That’s how the five founding elders came to be.”
Quinn raised his eyebrows. “By then, I’d already left.”