"God-Knife Logan? He's going to the Grand Void too?"
Quinn Shepherd frowned slightly. Logan Cross harbored deep hatred toward him—if Logan was also going to the Grand Void Expanse, the danger would be immense.
"What exactly is the Grand Void Expanse?"
Quinn discreetly slipped his arm out from Elaina Cloud’s embrace and couldn’t help but ask, “Ever since I arrived at Heavenly Court, I’ve heard about this place—it’s shrouded in mystery. Why do we need to explore it?”
“It’s all because of Carefree Haven.”
Elaina Cloud said, “Quinn Heavenly Venerable established Carefree Haven, moving the Pioneer Heaven Court there. The Pioneer Era may be gone, but the main force of the Pioneer Heaven Court still survives. This time, when Heavenly Court set out to punish the Origin World’s rebels, why didn’t they mobilize Nether City? It’s all because they haven’t found Carefree Haven.”
Quinn’s heart stirred.
Elaina Cloud continued, “After all, the Pioneer Emperor is Quinn Heavenly Venerable. He may have betrayed the Heaven Alliance, but he was still one of its five founding elders. As long as he lives, many people in Heaven remain uneasy. And he refuses to stay quiet—during this campaign against the Origin World’s rebels, rumor has it he’s been issuing orders from Carefree Haven, telling Nether City to avoid battle and go into hiding. Nether City’s skirmishes are minor, but Carefree Haven is Heavenly Court’s true menace.”
She studied Quinn’s expression carefully but found no sign of abnormality. Half-smiling, she said, “You’re remarkably calm, Shepherd Venerable. Quinn Heavenly Venerable—Quinn Ye—is your ancestor. Aren’t you the least bit curious about him?”
“Back in the early Dragon-Han era, I traveled with him through Heavenly Court. He was indecisive and never forthright, and there was always a rebellious streak at the back of his head. He actually dared to strike at Venerable Vast-Sky and even killed someone at Jade Pool, defying Madam Yuanmu! I could tell from the start he was destined to be a traitor—I despised his conduct. My flesh may be his bloodline, but my soul has nothing to do with the Pioneer Emperor’s lineage.”
Quinn straightened, righteous and resolute: “He’s a traitor now, and I am Shepherd Heavenly Venerable of Heavenly Court. Of course I must draw a clear line between myself and that rebel! If I see him in the Grand Void Expanse, I’ll spit on him for his betrayal! Your Majesty, have Flame-Venerable or Venerable Void found this renegade yet?”
Elaina Cloud carefully watched his subtle expressions, but still found nothing amiss—it truly seemed Quinn had severed ties with the Pioneer Emperor.
She shook her head and said, “There’s word that Carefree Haven might be inside the Grand Void Expanse. That’s why Heavenly Court has been searching it for years, trying to find Carefree Haven’s whereabouts and eliminate this threat. Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void split up after entering the Grand Void—they found many strange places, but everywhere in the Grand Void feels uncanny… Too many people make it even more dangerous. This time, as a Heavenly Venerable, you’ll lead the group—only three hundred are going.”
Quinn’s heart stirred. He asked, “Your Majesty, have you been to the Grand Void Expanse yourself?”
Elaina Cloud’s expression flickered—she was clearly recalling the past, but didn’t want to say more. “The Heavenly Emperor’s decree will soon arrive at Jade Pool. Wait to receive the edict, tidy up, and then head to the Grand Void Expanse to meet your death.”
Quinn’s eyes twinkled and he smiled, “Your Majesty, you’re not going?”
Elaina Cloud giggled, “Why would I go to a place like that? It’s dangerous and terrifying—I wouldn’t set foot in such a dreadful place.”
Quinn asked curiously, “Then why the rush to find me, Your Majesty? Surely it’s not just to deliver this news?”
Elaina Cloud’s expression shifted, and she suddenly sighed, “I want to go—but I don’t dare to go in person.”
Quinn was about to ask for details when Dragon-Qilin interrupted, “Cult Master, it’s time to eat.”
Quinn stepped forward, refining some spirit pills and handing them to Dragon-Qilin. Dragon-Qilin stared intently at his food bowl, seriously tackling the pills, then suddenly snorted and started laughing: “Cult Master, I heard a story from Young Master Cyrus Qi that nearly killed me laughing. Want to hear it?”
Quinn hummed in response, curious: “What funny story did Cyrus Qi tell?”
Dragon-Qilin replied, “There was once a man who was very lustful. Then he died. That’s the whole story. Isn’t it funny? Hahahaha—”
Quinn stared at him. Dragon-Qilin stopped laughing and went back to eating his spirit pills in earnest.
Quinn stood up, calmly saying, “That was a good story. Let me tell you one: there’s one poisonous pill in that bowl. My story’s done.”
Dragon-Qilin instantly stopped, staring at the bowl of pills, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Soon, a divine official arrived to deliver the edict, ordering Heavenly Venerable Quinn Shepherd to lead three hundred gods and demons into the Grand Void Expanse to rendezvous with Flame-Venerable and Venerable Void.
Quinn accepted the edict, and saw that behind the divine official stood three hundred gods and demons—the leader was Logan Cross, with a Prodigy Legion disciple at his side, also missing an arm. The rest varied in cultivation, likely disciples of other Heavenly Venerables.
The divine official stepped forward—it was the same one who had cleaned Jade Sea before. He smiled, “Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, the ship is ready. Please prepare and set out as soon as possible.”
Quinn looked out at the sea and indeed saw a tower ship. He smiled, “Is the baggage ready? Where’s the map of the Grand Void Expanse?”
The priest shook his head. "The Grand Void requires no supplies, nor are there any maps. Once you arrive, Heavenly Venerable, you'll understand."
Logan Cross and the others had already boarded the ship. Quinn Shepherd frowned slightly and said to Annie and Dragon-Qilin, "This journey is extremely dangerous. You two should stay behind, there's no need to come with me. After I leave, Annie, take Fat Dragon to meet the Southern Emperor Vermilion. With her protection, you'll be safe."
Annie hesitated, "Young master, of these three hundred gods and demons, at least two hundred harbor murderous intent toward you. If I stay, I can help protect you..."
"No need."
Annie thought for a moment, then took out a lantern. "Young master, take this treasure. Empress Elaina gave it to me for protection."
Quinn accepted the lantern and boarded the ark, only to find Elaina Cloud already aboard. He was surprised. "Empress, didn’t you say you weren’t coming?"
Elaina Cloud sighed, looking weary and troubled. "There are a hundred reasons I don't want to go, but I can't help wanting to see the Grand Void for myself—just once more, to uncover its true face."
The ark slowly lifted off, heading north toward Heavenly Court. Quinn probed, "Is the Grand Void really that terrifying? Empress, since you've been there, why not tell us about its dangers so we can prepare?"
Elaina Cloud continued, "Someone imagined being struck by thunder, and truly, cosmic lightning descended to destroy them. Someone feared a thousand-headed demon god, and that monster appeared. Others dreaded the sky collapsing, and so stars and planets rained down from above. Endless horrors assaulted us, until Heaven's strongest army was routed, forced to retreat without ever glimpsing the Grand Void's true heart. In the end, I alone walked out alive, though I was half-dead from my wounds. The two Celestial Teachers..."
Quinn Shepherd's heart skipped a beat. The Shenwu Army was one of the Ten Guard Legions of Heavenly Court, chosen from the strongest gods and demons, each a veteran of countless battles.
He had seen the generals of the Feathered Forest Army aboard the ghost ship before—each god and demon there was a terrifying existence, most at the Jade Capital Realm or even stronger!
For the Empress to personally lead the Shenwu Army into the Grand Void, their goal was surely not just exploration, but to seize control of that realm!
"The Grand Void is a relic zone in this universe—a belt of dazzling light. But once you enter, you discover it hides another world entirely," she said.
"The Heavenly Emperor. The true Heavenly Emperor," she replied.
Her brows furrowed. "We were attacked by all manner of bizarre events. The casualties were horrific—less than one in ten Shenwu soldiers survived. Even I and the two Celestial Teachers were gravely wounded. Only later did Celestial Teacher Yue suddenly comprehend the Grand Void's secret: what the heart imagines becomes reality."
Quinn Shepherd's heart trembled. "What the heart imagines becomes reality? So Celestial Teacher Yue realized..."
"He realized that the terrors attacking us, killing the Shenwu Army generals, were actually the great fears lurking in our own hearts. Whatever we dreaded, the Grand Void made real," she explained.
Quinn ignored her provocative posture, smiling lightly. "What I think is, in that environment of extreme terror, the surviving Shenwu Army generals had already lost their reason, consumed by panic. You couldn't know what anyone else might imagine, so the safest course was to kill everyone else, so they couldn't think anymore. In the Grand Void, what the heart imagines becomes reality—if they're dead, they can't imagine anything."
His gaze was cold and fixed on the Empress's lovely face. "So you killed them. You didn't trust the two Celestial Teachers either, so you killed them too. That's how you walked out of the Grand Void alive."
Quinn Shepherd closed his eyes for a moment.
Elaina Cloud's story was truly terrifying. Was the Grand Void really such a dreadful place?
"What was the great terror that wounded you so badly?" Quinn asked.
Elaina Cloud explained, "Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought allows one's mind to remain in a state of faint, indeterminate thought, so the Grand Void cannot seize on anything definite to manifest. This technique was pioneered by Great Brahma Heaven. Have you learned it?"
Elaina Cloud's face showed a trace of fear, her voice hoarse. "Though I killed him once, he remains what I fear most. In the Grand Void, he appeared again, trying to kill us. I was terrified..."
She shivered, goosebumps rising on her arms.
Quinn suddenly asked, "Then how did the two Celestial Teachers and the other survivors die? If Celestial Teacher Yue had already realized the Grand Void's secret and told everyone to empty their minds, beings of their level should have managed it, right? Why did only you survive?"
Elaina Cloud revealed a pure, innocent smile, so beautiful it made one's heart race. She straightened her chest, her blouse straining against her curves as she laughed, "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, what do you think?"
"With my God-Blade in hand, I fear nothing," Logan Cross replied coolly.
His gaze was cold and fixed on the Empress's lovely face. "So you killed them. You didn't trust the two Celestial Teachers either, so you killed them too. That's how you walked out of the Grand Void alive."
Elaina Cloud burst out laughing, her chest heaving with delight. "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, we truly are the same kind of person! You guessed my method at once—perhaps you and I are truly a pair!"
Quinn ignored her flirtatious look, replying coolly, "Empress, we are not a pair, nor will we ever be the same kind of person. I would never abandon my companions, let alone kill them. I can deduce your method only because I've seen enough darkness to understand your serpent-like heart."
Elaina Cloud sneered, "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, you're too idealistic. They weren't my companions, just slaves and tools. If they didn't die, it would have been me. So of course they had to die! When you reach the Grand Void, facing the same dilemma, you'll make the same choice. You and I are the same, even if not now, one day you will be!"
Quinn frowned.
The ark sailed out through the Northern Heaven Gate, gliding over the Celestial River. Below, the vast barracks of Heavenly Court sprawled—Beiluoshimen. Countless gods, demons, and warships gathered there, surrounded by a ring of minor heavens that supplied Beiluoshimen with endless grain and resources.
Quinn gazed out at the military camp, divine light surging, stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Heavenly Court was too powerful. Even a single camp like Beiluoshimen could wipe out the Everpeace Empire tens of thousands of times over, let alone the Ten Guard Legions.
"Ever since I revealed the Grand Void's secret, Heavenly Court has developed countless techniques to suppress thought. Of these, the Buddhist 'Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought' state from Great Brahma Heaven is the most famous," Elaina Cloud said.
Elaina Cloud explained, "Neither Thought Nor Non-Thought allows one's mind to remain in a state of faint, indeterminate thought, so the Grand Void cannot seize on anything definite to manifest. This technique was pioneered by Great Brahma Heaven. Have you learned it?"
Quinn shook his head.
Elaina Cloud smiled mysteriously, gazing at a patch of hazy light in the dark starry sky.
Logan Cross approached, his voice low: "Then, Heavenly Venerable, what do you fear most?"
Quinn turned to look at him, smiling, "I have the Overlord Body. There's nothing I fear. What about you, God-Blade Logan?"
"With my God-Blade in hand, I fear nothing," Logan Cross replied coolly.