Liana Flowersoul walked over, staring at the two "Absolute Dust" faces, momentarily stunned: "Two little wretches..."
Elaina Cloud also stared at Liana Flowersoul, coldly sneering in her heart, but her head felt three times heavier: "There are actually two wretches—so which one is real?"
Back when Langwo and Quinn Shepherd led two or three hundred people into Taixu, even before entering, Elaina Cloud had already noticed Liana Flowersoul, and Liana Flowersoul had noticed Elaina Cloud. Judging from each other's faces, both had their own suspicions.
But now, Elaina Cloud was no longer so sure.
Quinn Shepherd stood before the three women, his head aching. He thought to himself, "Hopefully God-Queen Langwo has some restraint and doesn't use her divine sense to probe Liana Flowersoul and Elaina Cloud. Otherwise, even I won't be able to protect her."
Those two are the Empress and Madam Yuanmu. Though they no longer possess their ancient-god bodies, they are Heavenly Venerables who broke free from the ancient gods' shackles and now hide among the Ten Heavenly Venerables.
If God-Queen Langwo doesn't restrain herself and probes their memories with her divine sense, she'll be met with the joint slaughter of two Heavenly Venerables!
God-Queen Langwo could handle Pioneer Emperor alone, but facing two Heavenly Venerables at once—especially ones wielding artifact-grade weapons—she would die a miserable death!
As the Creator race's God-Queen, Langwo is exceptionally skilled and cunning. She should know her limits.
"Heavenly Venerable Shepherd, who are these two sisters?" Liana Flowersoul gracefully greeted Quinn Shepherd and asked.
Quinn Shepherd sighed helplessly, "This is Elaina Cloud of the Cloud Clan, and this is Langwo. You three chat, I have other matters to attend to..."
"Heavenly Venerable, don't go!"
Elaina Cloud stepped forward and hooked his arm, pressing it to her chest with a playful smile: "I'm shy—Heavenly Venerable must stay. Besides, there's something else: Didn't you go to Taixu? When did you return? What happened there?"
Quinn Shepherd replied seriously, "You went to Taixu too. How could you not know what happened there? I really do have important matters..."
Elaina Cloud blinked and giggled, "Did you forget? We split up after entering Taixu, so I know nothing about what happened to you."
"Wretch!"
Liana Flowersoul snorted, then said coolly, "How did the Cloud Clan teach you? Such disrespect before a Heavenly Venerable."
Elaina Cloud shot her a look, then glanced at Langwo, secretly puzzled: "Liana Flowersoul's tone is just like my sister's—so who is this Langwo? Her presence is just as strong as that little wretch... Did some Heavenly Venerable create an Absolute Dust doppelganger to impersonate my sister?"
Suddenly, a divine official arrived to announce an imperial decree: "Heavenly Venerable Shepherd is summoned to the palace to meet the Emperor."
Quinn Shepherd breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a new tension: "The so-called Heavenly Emperor in Heavenly Court is just a fake, created by artifact magic—the real Emperor's flesh is trapped in Venerable Skysoar's time art. So which Heavenly Venerable is actually summoning me?"
The divine official said, "Heavenly Venerable fought bravely in Taixu—His Majesty commands that beauties and treasures be bestowed as reward." With that, attendants brought forth many palace maidens and jewels.
Quinn Shepherd called over Lina the Spirit Fox, instructing her to collect the jewels and maidens, then followed the official into the palace to meet the Emperor.
Elaina Cloud's eyes darted around, then she linked arms with God-Queen Langwo and laughed, "Sister Langwo, we look so alike—almost like long-lost twins! Sister, we must have a good chat, maybe we're truly separated siblings."
Liana Flowersoul snorted and said coolly, "Indeed. You're sisters—but sisters should watch their backs for a knife!"
God-Queen Langwo replied gently, "Why do you say that, Sister Liana? Seeing you both, I feel a deep kinship, as if we truly share the same roots. I can't help wanting to get closer to you."
Quinn Shepherd hurried his pace, quickly leaving the Heavenly Venerable Residence behind.
He followed the divine official into Heavenly Court's inner city. The official said, "This isn't court assembly time—His Majesty awaits you in the Hall of Nourishing Glory."
Quinn Shepherd narrowed his eyes, thinking, "Hall of Nourishing Glory? Is it a female Heavenly Venerable controlling the Emperor's body this time? Which of the four female Heavenly Venerables could it be?"
Upon reaching the Hall of Nourishing Glory, the official gestured for Quinn to wait outside, then stepped inside: "Your Majesty, Heavenly Venerable Shepherd has arrived."
"Let him in," came the Heavenly Emperor's voice.
The official stepped out again, smiling to Quinn Shepherd: "Please, Heavenly Venerable."
Quinn Shepherd entered the hall and looked up. The Ancient-God Emperor sat on the throne in the Hall of Nourishing Glory, his flesh immense, eyes closed.
Many divine maidens held jade trays, each tray filled with spirit ointments, rare herbs, and treasures.
The maidens' colored ribbons floated as they circled the Ancient-God Emperor, gracefully applying ointment to his skin. Others wove through his hair, gently massaging and nourishing it with medicinal salves.
Some maidens sat at his feet, grinding herbs with jade pestles and spring water to prepare ointments for his care.
Others, delicate and refined, carefully traced spirit medicines along the rune marks exposed on the Emperor's skin.
Within the Hall of Nourishing Glory, silk and bamboo music drifted; from time to time, maidens struck chimes, producing melodious sounds.
"Please sit, Heavenly Venerable Shepherd." The Ancient-God Emperor opened his eyes and gestured; the maidens tending his nails hurriedly flew up to follow his hand.
The maidens tending his eyelashes were flustered as well, landing on his lashes to straighten each one.
Quinn Shepherd took his seat, still sizing up this Ancient-God Emperor.
Judging by appearance alone, the Ancient-God Emperor of Heavenly Court was indistinguishable from the one trapped in Venerable Skysoar's divine art. His bearing was like a master of all Dao, his charisma extraordinary—a true overlord of the cosmos.
Behind him, many divine maidens circled the Emperor's halo, carefully polishing it until it shone even brighter.
The Ancient-God Emperor also scrutinized Quinn Shepherd. After a moment, he spoke: "Heavenly Venerable Shepherd, you have labored greatly in the Grand Void. Do you know the whereabouts of Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void?"
"Your Majesty, Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void were trapped in Taixu, but have now escaped."
Quinn Shepherd continued, "In my exploration of Taixu, I discovered the whereabouts of the Creators and Carefree Haven."
The Ancient-God Emperor's expression shifted slightly, and even the halo behind his head wavered. The maidens tending it scrambled to keep up, flustered by the sudden movement.
The maidens tending his lips hurriedly flew away, lest the Emperor's breath blow them off or suck them in.
Quinn Shepherd studied the Emperor's face, but from his expression alone, it was impossible to tell which Heavenly Venerable was controlling this flesh.
"Speak in detail, Heavenly Venerable Shepherd," said the Ancient-God Emperor.
Quinn Shepherd bowed slightly and said, "Upon entering Taixu, I found the divine sense there in chaos, related to the ancient Creators. I also discovered traces of the Supreme Emperor, leader of the Creators. His flesh is trapped in Taixu—Your Majesty should be familiar with the Supreme Emperor, yes?"
He watched the Ancient-God Emperor's expression.
But the Emperor's face remained unchanged; Quinn truly could not discern the controller's true feelings.
"The Supreme Emperor is a rebel—he must be watched closely."
"Continue, Heavenly Venerable Shepherd," said the Ancient-God Emperor.
Quinn Shepherd composed himself and said, "I found the Supreme Emperor's flesh frozen in the Supreme Divine Sense Domain. His body is incredibly strong, his divine sense vast. Perhaps we could capture this villain's flesh and present it in Heavenly Court to display imperial might."
The Ancient-God Emperor neither agreed nor disagreed.
Just then, Quinn Shepherd sensed a fluctuation in the Emperor's aura—a new force had entered the imperial flesh!
The maidens seemed unaware, but Quinn's divine sense was keen enough to feel it clearly.
"Now, there are two Heavenly Venerables inside the Emperor's flesh!"
Quinn Shepherd raised his brows, but his expression did not change. He continued, "I have discovered more. The Supreme Emperor is not dead—the one slain and trapped in Taixu was only his flesh. His Primordial Spirit has escaped Taixu, and his divine sense is unimaginably strong. Part of it has also left Taixu, lurking somewhere in Heavenly Court or the myriad worlds."
The Ancient-God Emperor smiled kindly. "Heavenly Venerable Shepherd's discovery is truly astonishing. Such a rebel as the Supreme Emperor must be found and executed to uphold imperial might. Do you believe the Supreme Emperor is hiding in the myriad worlds, or within Heavenly Court itself?"
Quinn Shepherd replied solemnly, "I dare not speculate."
Just then, yet another faint aura entered the Emperor's body.
A third Heavenly Venerable had arrived!
"The Supreme Emperor still lives. This matter is grave and must not be ignored. Ha, how laughable—there are always traitors coveting My throne!"
At this moment, the Emperor's tone changed again—it was clearly the third Heavenly Venerable speaking. "Now that peace has just returned to the myriad worlds, more trouble arises. Do these traitors truly believe I dare not unleash a slaughter?"
Suddenly, another aura slipped into the Emperor's body, and his expression changed again. He laughed softly, "Heavenly Venerable Shepherd, you have labored greatly and discovered the Supreme Emperor. But regarding Carefree Haven and the Creators, why not speak of them as well?"
Quinn Shepherd replied calmly, "In Taixu, I discovered traces of the rebel Ye Greenwood Keane. He and Flame-Venerable fought, both suffering heavy wounds."
The Emperor's face shifted rapidly through various expressions, leaving the maidens tending his features bewildered.
Quinn Shepherd observed this, secretly sneering, and continued, "Ye Greenwood Keane is the bandit chief of Carefree Haven. He haunts Taixu. Flame-Venerable has already left Taixu and should soon return to Heavenly Court. As for the exact location of Carefree Haven and Ye Greenwood Keane, Flame-Venerable knows better than I."
Just then, another aura quietly entered the Emperor's body. "What of the Creators? Any new developments?"
Quinn Shepherd replied, "The Creators are not extinct. I found remnants of their clan in Taixu, carving out a new void for themselves and migrating there. Their ambitions are dangerous—they plot a counterattack. Yet my strength is limited, so I dared not investigate closely. However, I did see Venerable Void head there to track down the Creators' remnants."
A sixth aura surged in, vanishing into the Emperor's body.
The Emperor's demeanor grew almost charming. "Heavenly Venerable Shepherd, you have endured much. What of those who followed you into Taixu?"
Quinn Shepherd sighed, "Heaven is jealous of talent. Only Elaina Cloud of the Cloud Clan and Liana Flowersoul of Venerable Vast-Sky's line survived and walked out of Taixu with me. The others all perished within Taixu."
"Did God-Knife Logan die as well?"
Quinn Shepherd shook his head. "I lost contact with God-Knife Logan upon entering Taixu. His whereabouts are unknown."
The Ancient-God Emperor sighed. As he did, yet another aura surged in—now seven Heavenly Venerables controlled the imperial flesh!
"God-Knife Logan is Heavenly Court's foremost saber master. I had hoped he would one day found the Knife-Dao Heavenly Duke, but to think he would fall in Taixu—how tragic, how lamentable."
The Ancient-God Emperor asked, "Heavenly Venerable Shepherd, you truly did not find Carefree Haven?"
Quinn Shepherd replied gravely, "I did not find Carefree Haven, but I traversed all of Taixu and mapped its geography in detail."
"Present it!"
Quinn Shepherd produced the map of Taixu; a divine maiden stepped forward to receive it and presented it to the Ancient-God Emperor.
The Ancient-God Emperor unrolled the map and studied it in silence.
Suddenly, an eighth aura surged in, entering the Emperor's body and scrutinizing the map as well.
Quinn Shepherd's eyes flickered. Suddenly, he said, "I suspect the Supreme Emperor is hiding right here in Heavenly Court—perhaps even among the Heavenly Venerables themselves!"
Chaos erupted within the Emperor's body; every strand of hair stood on end, his robes fluttered, and the halo behind his head spun wildly.
Quinn Shepherd watched with a smile. The eight Heavenly Venerables within the Emperor were surely probing one another at this very moment!
——Belated blessings: Happy birthday to Alliance Leaders Lan Xiaoyi and Wangchuan!