The Origin‑Root Tree flourished, its lush canopy stretching across the vast expanse of the Origin Realm. Countless heavens in the realm’s sky revolved around this colossal tree. From afar, it seemed unremarkable, but the closer one approached, the more breathtaking its scale became.
Even though Earth Mother Primordial Lady had died, the Origin‑Root Tree still pulsed with astonishing vitality.
Heavenly Court’s gods and men gathered divine metals from many heavens, building the most magnificent palace complex within the tree’s crown. Modeled after Heaven Palace itself, it boasted Jade Pool, Jade Capital, and thousands upon thousands of halls—collectively known as the Origin‑World Heaven Palace.
The Ancient‑God Emperor’s true body remained in Heavenly Court, but his ‘Heaven‑Guide Venerable’ weapon-body was left behind to suppress the Origin Realm, residing in the Origin‑World Heaven Palace’s Lingxiao Hall.
The Heaven Palace was opulent beyond compare, but at the roots of the Origin‑Root Tree lay the realm’s darkest place, where Heavenly Court’s armies had piled countless god and demon corpses as fertilizer for the tree.
Amidst mountains of corpses and seas of blood stood the Great Prison of the Origin Realm.
The Great Prison was built in the filthiest, most shadowed depths of the Origin Realm. Heavenly Court’s gods mortared its walls with white bones, forging cages to hold the realm’s worst offenders. No sunlight ever reached this place; cold winds howled, damp and bitter. The ground, thick with god and demon bones, was soaked in undrying divine and demonic blood. Monsters often spawned from this filth, rampaging through the prison’s halls.
Few Heavenly Court deities ever came here—only the wardens, jailers, and judges from Heavenly Court made this place their home.
These wardens, jailers, and judges all belonged to the Netherworld lineage—demon gods from Youdu. What was intolerable filth to others was comfort to them.
At this moment, the Great Prison had unusual guests. A young woman dressed in an exquisitely tailored court-lady gown frowned as she watched a warden lift a newborn monster, washing it in a blood pool until its whole body was slick with blood.
After cleaning the creature, the warden raised it, mouth yawning wide to swallow it whole as it squealed and splattered divine and demonic blood everywhere.
The young woman quickly turned her face away, unable to bear the sight.
“Senior Sister Yvonne Cloudbloom, these wardens are Netherworld-born demon gods. Monsters born from filth and shadow are their staple food. What disgusts you is a delicacy to them.”
Beside her, a gentle-faced youth smiled and added, “Especially the newborn ones—they’re the tastiest.”
Yvonne Cloudbloom covered her nose and mouth, frowning. “This Great Prison is barbaric—no place for people. Why hasn’t that Everpeace Overlord Body arrived yet? The sooner we finish him, the sooner we can report back.”
Just then, the warden’s eyes lit up. He grabbed another monster from the blood pool, dangling it before the youth and grinning. “Young Master Tao Jade, this one’s fresh. Want a bite?”
Tao Jade recoiled, waving his hands in refusal.
The warden sighed regretfully and went back to washing monsters in the blood pool. Suddenly, a burly man in a black round-collared robe strode over, grinning. “How can you pass up such a treat? Warden, once you’ve cleaned it, hand it to me—I love these.”
The warden cleaned the monster thoroughly and handed it over.
The burly man opened his mouth wide, his jaws like a blood pool, and swallowed the squealing monster whole.
Tao Jade and Yvonne Cloudbloom both frowned deeply. Yvonne snapped, “Vikram Jaya, that’s enough!”
Vikram Jaya swallowed the monster, wiped the blood from his mouth, and grinned. “You’re gods, but I’m a demon. This is what we eat. When in Rome, you should try it too!”
Tao Jade’s expression changed drastically. He quickly changed the subject: “That Everpeace Overlord Body is one of the Nine Heavenly Venerables—the Shepherd Heavenly Venerable. I heard that in the early Dragon‑Han era, he taught the God‑Making Method in place of Heaven‑Guide Venerable, letting mortals become gods. Once that method spread, mortals could stand alongside ancient gods, living long lives. Since we’ve been ordered to kill him, shouldn’t we…”
Vikram Jaya chuckled. “If he hadn’t taught the God‑Making Method, Heaven‑Guide Venerable would have. My master says Shepherd Heavenly Venerable just stole Heaven‑Guide Venerable’s credit. He’s a glory‑seeker who happened to land in the Dragon‑Han era, and the muddle‑headed Heavenly Emperor let him con his way into a Heavenly Venerable title…”
“Enough!”
Yvonne Cloudbloom glanced around warily. The number of experts waiting for Quinn Shepherd was staggering—four or five hundred at least, all young elites from Heavenly Court, a chaotic mix with eyes and ears everywhere.
These young elites were disciples from every major Heaven Palace in Heavenly Court. Sent to suppress the Origin Realm, they’d joined the army to battle and train, hoping to earn military merit and future promotions.
“Criticizing the Heavenly Emperor—are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Yvonne lowered her voice. “If word of this reaches Heavenly Court, not even your master can protect you!”
Vikram Jaya laughed. “In Heavenly Court, my master never cared about the Heavenly Emperor. What’s the harm in talking? If we’d landed in the Dragon‑Han era, forget a Heavenly Venerable title—even the throne of Heavenly Emperor…” Despite his bravado, he lowered his voice too.
“Western Heaven Palace, Northern Heaven Palace, Qianyun Heaven Palace, Pisha Heaven Palace, Wuming Heaven Palace, Miluo Heaven Palace, Brightness Heaven Palace, Miaoyan Heaven Palace…”
Tao Jade whispered, “Almost every Heaven Palace in Heavenly Court sent their sharpest disciples. Dao Gate’s Jade‑Purity Palace may not win first merit if we’re late killing Shepherd Heavenly Venerable.”
“Shepherd Heavenly Venerable’s reputation is hollow. Rumor has it he’s half‑dead, soulless. Whoever strikes first gets the glory. If we’re late, we won’t even get scraps!”
Vikram Jaya said, “If you ask me, we should wait outside the Great Prison, lie in ambush, and grab the credit when Shepherd Heavenly Venerable arrives!”
Tao Jade hesitated. “I saw plenty of strong disciples from other Heaven Palaces already heading out. They clearly have the same idea. If we rush now, Shepherd Heavenly Venerable might already be dead.”
Vikram Jaya pressed, “Staying here gets us nothing! My master promised, if we get the credit, we’ll be recommended to Heaven‑Guide Venerable for thirty years of personal instruction!”
Yvonne Cloudbloom and Tao Jade gritted their teeth. The three of them immediately headed for the prison’s exit. At the same time, another dozen or so also left.
The trio grew anxious, each speeding up, dashing out like the wind.
They raced over a thousand li, finally leaving the other dozen Heaven Palace disciples behind. Just as they were about to speak, a patch of red light appeared ahead—shouts of battle echoed from its midst.
“Shepherd Heavenly Venerable is here!”
The trio’s spirits soared. Vikram Jaya dashed ahead toward the red glow, shouting, “Hurry! Someone’s already making a move—if we’re late, Shepherd Heavenly Venerable will be killed by someone else!”
He moved with incredible speed. As he ran, his body swelled, transforming in an instant into a towering demon-god, roaring and howling.
Tao Jade and Yvonne Cloudbloom lagged a step behind, both startled: “Since Vikram Jaya came down to the lower realms, his cultivation has skyrocketed! Just as Master said—only through slaughter can one grow quickly and grasp deeper Dao arts!”
They struggled to catch up, but suddenly witnessed something bizarre—Vikram Jaya’s head sprouted a hole, clean through from front to back.
The two froze, and a voice drifted over: “Fat Dragon, Sister Annie, I’ve found another use for the Origin‑Root Heartwood Staff. Look—it can shrink into a hair-fine wooden needle. If I use it as a sword, say with the simplest move—stab…”
Tao Jade’s sharp eyes spotted a needle as fine as a hair coming straight for his face!
Tao Jade roared, runes swirling as he constructed defensive arts with top-tier Heaven numerology. In an instant, hundreds of Black Tortoise god-shields stacked before him!
Hundreds of Black Tortoise shields were pierced by the needle in a flash, making only a soft pop.
The needle entered Tao Jade’s left eye and exited through the back of his head.
Tao Jade’s mind thundered; his Primordial Spirit shattered. With difficulty, he turned to Yvonne Cloudbloom and rasped, “Senior Sister… run…”
His left eye burst with blood, the pupil reflecting Yvonne Cloudbloom’s figure.
Yvonne Cloudbloom swung her Dao sword at the hair-thin needle, but a tiny hole appeared on the bright blade. The next moment, she grunted—blood sprayed from the back of her head in a fine thread.
Tao Jade’s vision blurred. He saw a colossal half-dragon, half-qilin beast walking on fire-clouds. Atop its head, a young man pinched a delicate wooden needle between two fingers.
On the young man’s shoulder perched a round, chubby bird, dropping a spirit pill into Dragon‑Qilin’s mouth as if feeding a pet.
“Shepherd Heavenly Venerable…” Tao Jade’s vision went black, his corpse falling.
Dragon‑Qilin strolled unhurriedly toward the Great Prison, frowning at the scene below: rivers of demon and god blood, filthy and writhing with worm-like monsters.
“So the Imperial Preceptor and Emperor Evan are locked up here?”
Dragon‑Qilin rumbled, “Emperor Evan’s fine, but the Imperial Preceptor’s a clean freak—can he stand this?”
Quinn Shepherd flicked his fingers, sending the needle silently flying at the dozen or so Heavenly Court elites charging their way. He said, “Emperor Evan doesn’t care about filth—he could sleep in a pigsty. But the Imperial Preceptor, he’s so fastidious, he probably can’t sleep at all.”
The needle flew back to his hand.