Dragon-Qilin wanted to be as calm and composed as Quinn Shepherd, to leisurely turn around, pat his rump with his tail, and stroll away from this place. But his four legs were trembling, and even his tail was refusing to cooperate.
Normally, he could easily flick his tail, but now it felt numb—only half of it managed to lift, while the other half dragged limply along the ground.
He had carried Quinn Shepherd for three months, trekking all the way from Jiangling to this place. Yet just as he finally steadied himself, everything was suddenly over.
But could it really end so simply, just like that?
Dragon-Qilin's legs were still shaky. The silence all around was suffocating—tens of thousands of gods and demons encircled Blackheaven Palace, looming above, their bodies and faces glowing with divine light in the darkness. Only heavy breaths could be heard; no one spoke.
Dragon-Qilin finally managed to turn around, forcing himself to stay steady—he couldn't let himself miss a step and tumble all the way down the mountain from Blackheaven Palace. Still, he wasn't entirely sure he wouldn't slip.
On either side of the stone steps stood towering gods and demons, their bodies like sculpted boulders, muscles twisted and faces even more ferocious, their savage gazes locked on him.
Dragon-Qilin lifted his foot, about to step down the stairs.
"Or maybe I'll just roll down," he thought to himself.
Just then, a demon god standing to his left snorted smoke from its nostrils and reached for the weapon at its waist.
The other gods and demons began to move as well, the clatter of weapons and armor echoing all around.
Dragon-Qilin finally steadied his nerves, his muscles tightening, ready to unleash all his strength and burst through the encirclement at any moment.
A moment ago, he had been a bundle of nerves, but now that it was do-or-die, his mind was clear. If it was time to run for his life, then he'd do it with everything he had.
This was something he was good at.
Just then, a voice came from Blackheaven Palace: "Wait."
At those words, the gods and demons of the Northern Heavens lowered their hands one after another.
Quinn Shepherd patted Dragon-Qilin on the forehead. Dragon-Qilin immediately understood, stopped in his tracks, and turned around.
Quinn Shepherd stared directly at the ancestor of demon Dao inside Blackheaven Palace.
Inside the palace, Lord Darksun rose and said, "Everpeace’s Overlord Body truly lives up to his name. The Northern Heavens have suffered a total defeat, and we accept it without complaint."
Quinn Shepherd smiled. "The gods of the Northern Heavens made the Little Earth Sovereign’s Pact with Woodcutter Celestial Teacher and Celestial Teacher Ethan. If they break the pact and try to kill me, they’d already be corpses by now."
The gods and demons surrounding Blackheaven Palace began to shout angrily at him, telling him to shut up.
Darksun's face darkened, and he said coldly, "The ones who should shut up are you!"
His voice instantly drowned out their curses, leaving the gods and demons of the Northern Heavens speechless.
Darksun slowly strode forward, his black sun halo gliding behind him, swallowing all the light from within Blackheaven Palace.
Soon, he stood at the front of the palace.
Quinn studied this ancestor of demon Dao. He'd heard tales about Darksun's origins.
It was said that Darksun was the first demon god born in Youdu, the land of the dead. Since death existed, Youdu came into being. Tu Bo was born from the Dao of heaven and earth, ruling over death, punishing evil and rewarding good.
Yet even Tu Bo had to act according to Youdu’s laws, not his personal whims.
As more and more souls gathered in Youdu, the negative emotions of the dead—resentment, greed, and more—bred a terrifying demonic nature. Incomplete souls and lingering spirits wandered the darkness, and the demonic aura grew ever deeper.
Thus, monsters of Youdu came into being. They had little self-awareness, formed from the filthiest, most corrupt thoughts condensed with Youdu’s demonic energy.
These monsters devoured each other and eventually became demon gods.
Darksun was born this way—Youdu’s very first demon god. Like the Netherworld Divine Son, he possessed extraordinary traits.
He emerged before the Dragon-Han era, before the Heavenly Court was established—an age of ancient wildness.
With his arrival, the demon race came into being.
—Some say that the true demon race was born of Tu Bo’s daughter, and that all so-called demons in the world are false. But few hold this view.
The demon race honors him as the ancestor of demon Dao, the ancestor of all demons, their king. In truth, the real founder of demon Dao and the demon race should be Tu Bo. But Tu Bo has few descendants, so the demon race is mostly descended from Darksun and the demon gods born in Youdu, not much related to Tu Bo.
Darksun was the first demon god born in Youdu, and it’s only natural that the demon race would elevate him to such heights.
Quinn noticed that Darksun even resembled Tu Bo, with two long, curved horns. But since Darksun hadn’t turned around, Quinn couldn’t tell if he had a cow’s tail like Tu Bo.
"You are all very bold."
Darksun swept his gaze around, looking pained. "You made the Little Earth Sovereign’s Pact with outsiders and still plan to break it—such nerve. Don’t you know that Ethan the Chicken Thief is one of the Four Pioneer Celestial Teachers, famous for only making rigged bets? If he proposes a wager, the only way not to lose is not to bet. You thought you were scheming against Everpeace, but he was scheming against the Northern Heavens. What should I do with you?"
All around Blackheaven Palace, not a sound could be heard.
Darksun sighed. "The three hundred and sixteen Northern Heavens were won by the hard fighting of my soldiers. Yet you, for a moment’s gain, would hand them over to outsiders. Ethan the Chicken Thief truly has skill!"
"Can we just break the pact?" a demon god asked, voice trembling.
Darksun glanced at him, and the demon god’s face turned ashen.
"Break the pact, and you’ll face the Little Earth Sovereign directly."
Darksun said calmly, "I’m not afraid of him, but doing so would ruin what’s left of my reputation. People would laugh at me for being untrustworthy. I came from ancient times, and under my rule the demon race grew strong, but never truly prospered. Later, I realized it was because I was too cunning, always breaking my word. Now that I’ve achieved greatness, it’s time to change."
He fixed his gaze on Quinn and smiled. "Everpeace’s Overlord Body, how about a wager? Do you dare accept?"
Quinn looked up at this towering emperor-level figure and asked, "If I refuse your wager, what will you do?"
"I absolutely won’t abandon the three hundred and sixteen Northern Heavens. I’ll let the Little Earth Sovereign devour them instead."
Darksun declared, "If these fools die, I can always cultivate new gods and demons to rule the heavens."
Quinn smiled. "If it were me, I’d do the same. These heaven-lords are just servants guarding the heavens for Darksun. If they die, so be it. Population is what matters most. With enough people, you’ll always have new geniuses and strong cultivators to train, and your rule will endure."
Darksun laughed. "So, do you accept?"
Quinn replied calmly, "How does Darksun want to wager?"
"If I keep my word and you win, all three hundred and sixteen Northern Heavens will belong to Everpeace."
Darksun said, "If I win, the old pact is void."
Quinn couldn’t help but laugh. "No bet."
Darksun frowned. "Why not?"
"If I win, Darksun could still break his word without hesitation. If I lose, the advantage Woodcutter and Ethan gained for Everpeace will be wasted."
Quinn smiled. "Which matters more, the three hundred and sixteen Northern Heavens or Darksun’s reputation?"
Darksun stared at him for a moment. "The three hundred and sixteen Northern Heavens matter. My reputation is worthless. Over countless ages, I’ve long since lost it!"
Quinn grinned. "That’s exactly why I won’t bet."
Darksun furrowed his brow, then suddenly asked politely, "May I ask, Everpeace’s Overlord Body, who is your teacher?"
Quinn replied solemnly, "Ethan the Chicken Thief."
Darksun’s expression changed, then he burst out laughing. "So it really is him! No wonder you saw through my little scheme at a glance. In that case, let’s change the wager. I’ll bet your life."
He said coolly, "If you win, I’ll let you leave the region within ten thousand li of Blackheaven Palace alive. Once you’re outside, I’ll allow the gods and demons of the heavens to hunt you freely. If you lose, you’ll die along with the three hundred and sixteen heaven-lords who broke the pact."
At those words, the faces of the heaven-lords changed dramatically.
Darksun was ruthless and decisive, clearly resentful that they’d made the Little Earth Sovereign’s Pact with Ethan on their own. Now, he was resolved to use their lives to break the pact!
Quinn paused and looked around, but saw nothing in the darkness.
Darksun laughed. "Looking for Ethan the Chicken Thief? He hasn’t entered Blackheaven Palace. If he took even one step into the darkness, I’d sense him."
Quinn broke into a smile. "So Darksun plans to fight me himself?"
Darksun shook his head. "Normally, I’d do it myself, but I still care about my reputation. Your opponents will be chosen only from my disciples or gods no older than you. Rest assured."
Quinn let out a breath and said seriously, "Then, Darksun, lay out the rules!"
Darksun laughed heartily, swept his sleeve, and turned away. "Excellent! Everpeace’s Overlord Body, stay here a few days and watch my Blackheaven Palace elites!"
Quinn stepped down from Dragon-Qilin’s head and followed him into Blackheaven Palace, smiling. "Darksun, you’re my senior..."
Darksun shook his head. "Senior? I’m not your senior. I’ve long known your origins. You probably don’t realize—the Four Netherworld Marshals are all my juniors."
Quinn’s heart skipped a beat, and he squinted.
So Darksun knows I’m the Netherworld Divine Son. Then why does he insist on making this wager?
Dragon-Qilin nervously followed behind, peeking at the sides of Blackheaven Palace. The lanterns flickered, and it seemed countless monsters lurked in the shadows.
"I’ll get you an extra meal later," Quinn said.
With that promise, Dragon-Qilin’s fear vanished, and he strode forward boldly, chest out, looking fierce and majestic.
Darksun summoned a demoness. "Take the Overlord Body to a guest room in the rear palace. Treat him well."
The demoness bowed and led Quinn to the rear, arranging a side room. Her eyes were soft and affectionate. "Young Master Quinn, you’re an honored guest. If you need anything, just ask me. I can do anything..."
She was beautiful, her eyes sultry and gaze burning with desire.
Quinn’s eyes lit up. "Sister, you can really do anything?"
The demoness blushed shyly and nodded.
Quinn handed her an alchemy recipe. "Then please refine a few hundred furnaces of spirit pills for me. Dragon-Fatty, you’re in luck!"