God-Queen Langwo was quite puzzled. "Why does everyone keep calling me Absolute Dust?"
After all, she was the sole God-Queen of the Creator race for a million years. Though she had only rarely interacted with the outside world, she was a match for Kaihuang and Carefree Haven in both wits and power. Her mind was deep and her schemes subtle; though she felt baffled, she kept silent.
Consort Cherise realized as soon as she spoke that she had made a mistake; even a single sentence could reveal much.
She immediately shut her mouth and fell silent.
Quinn Shepherd was left dumbfounded, his mind in turmoil, unable to speak.
Only a handful of Heaven Alliance leaders and the Heavenly Emperor himself who participated in the ambush against the Ancient-God Emperor knew of Absolute Dust.
Back then, the Heaven Alliance had to unite every force opposed to the Heavenly Emperor, so its composition was complex: besides the original Heavenly Venerables, there were demigod leaders, the son of Heaven Duke, the daughter of Tu Bo, and even the Supreme Emperor mingled among them.
Very few people would react so strongly to Absolute Dust. Excluding the Empress and Madam Yuanmu, the likeliest candidate was the Heavenly Emperor himself!
If Consort Cherise was actually the Heavenly Emperor, that would be quite the revelation.
Quinn immediately recalled a possible scenario from the Dragon-Han Heavenly Court era: to maintain his rule and prevent the Empress from consolidating the harem's power, the Heavenly Emperor might have split off a soul to become Consort Cherise, placing her in his own harem as a counterbalance.
The Empress and Madam Yuanmu stirred up trouble in the harem, and as Consort Cherise, he witnessed it all.
When he reincarnated in the lower realms to sleep with Madam Yuanmu in the guise of Absolute Dust, Consort Cherise remained in the harem.
At that time, the Heavenly Emperor's fleshly body still sat in Heavenly Court, but it was hollow, lacking the Emperor's divine soul.
Madam Yuanmu, together with the Heaven Alliance, killed the Emperor's reincarnation, scattering his soul. At that moment, Cloud-Heaven Emperor, Vast-Sky Emperor, and Absolute Dust raced to Heavenly Court, trying to seize the Emperor's body.
All these were things Quinn Shepherd already knew.
"But what if, when those three barged into Heavenly Court to seize the Emperor's body, they found it already occupied?"
Quinn blinked. "And what if the one controlling the Emperor's body was Consort Cherise?"
Who was the clam, who was the snipe, and who was the fisherman—the true victor of that era?
Of course, this was only his conjecture. But one thing was certain: if the Ancient-God Emperor wanted to protect his rule, he would have left a safeguard for his body.
The simplest way was to leave a part of himself in the harem. So, that soul fragment of the Emperor was very likely hidden there.
That meant Consort Cherise and Venerable Belle could both be vessels for the Emperor's soul, but Cherise's shock at Langwo made her the likelier candidate.
"But there's another matter—the true father of Vast-Sky Emperor."
Quinn's gaze stayed on Consort Cherise, his face wearing its usual honest smile as he thought, "Back then, the Emperor fancied his sister-in-law, Madam Yuanmu, and under the pretext of seeking a path to longevity for the demigod race, reincarnated as a human. As a man, he and the ancient-god Madam Yuanmu gave birth to Vast-Sky Emperor. After Vast-Sky Emperor was born, did this incarnation persist? Was it hidden among the Ten Heavenly Venerables? If so, the Emperor wouldn't need to become Cherise or Belle; he could simply leave a soul in that incarnation."
The true father of Vast-Sky Emperor had always been a secret; likely only Madam Yuanmu knew the Emperor's reincarnation's real identity.
If Madam Yuanmu exposed the Emperor's reincarnation, her own identity would be revealed too, so the two Heavenly Venerables maintained a delicate balance—neither would expose the other.
In the Emperor's harem, Quinn, Consort Cherise, and God-King Langwo sat in silence, the atmosphere razor-thin.
Only God-King Shu Jun seemed unconcerned by all this. He glanced around and said, "So this is the Emperor's harem? No wonder it smells so decadent."
His words snapped the three out of their thoughts.
Quinn's smile grew even more honest as he saluted Consort Cherise politely. "Greetings, Consort Cherise. Though I am a Heavenly Venerable, I've been so busy since arriving in Heavenly Court that I've never had the chance to pay my respects. I hope you'll forgive me."
Consort Cherise returned the gesture, smiling sweetly. "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable is too polite. I have always lived quietly in the harem and have never visited you either. Please forgive me as well."
After some polite exchanges, neither revealed the doubts in their hearts.
Quinn said, "We stumbled in here by accident and were lucky to meet Consort Cherise. Otherwise, this reckless fellow might've caused a huge mess."
Consort Cherise smiled, "The harem's paths are tangled and confusing. It's understandable for Shepherd Heavenly Venerable to end up here by mistake. If you can't find your way out, I'll have someone guide you."
Quinn thanked her. Cherise replied, "It's no trouble at all. I've heard rumors that you fought in the Grand Void and searched for Carefree Haven. Lately, word was you'd died in the Void and your whole army was lost, yet here you are, alive and in the harem! Are these two with you from Carefree Haven?"
Quinn laughed, "Of course not. Does Consort Cherise know my elder sister? Have you met before?"
Cherise gave a faint smile. "No, we've never met. Shepherd Heavenly Venerable has never come to the harem."
Quinn smiled, "I've never met Consort Cherise either."
Cherise nodded, gently clapped her hands, and summoned two palace maids. She whispered instructions to them, and they softly said, "Honored guests, please follow us."
The two palace maids led Quinn and his companions away. Cherise watched them go, frowned, and murmured, "Which of those two little sluts is she? Strange, very strange..."
Quinn glanced back; Cherise had already put her smile back on, and they exchanged distant, knowing nods.
Following the maids, Quinn noticed they clearly recognized him. They exchanged glances but dared not speak.
Quinn smiled, "How long have you two been serving Consort Cherise?"
One maid stifled a giggle, "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, you're shameless. Not long ago you peeked at the consorts and us bathing together, and now dressed up you pretend to forget."
Quinn's face flushed red, and he didn't dare ask further, sneaking a glance at God-Queen Langwo.
Langwo's expression remained unchanged, utterly calm.
Shu Jun perked up, asking, "Ladies, which consort was bathing that day? Was it Consort Cherise just now?"
Quinn's face turned dark as iron.
The maids didn't dare answer; saying anything would be a death sentence.
Back then, when Quinn twice opened a void gate into the Emperor's harem, it caused a huge scandal. The consorts suppressed the news and executed a batch of loose-tongued maids; these two survived and are understandably anxious.
The Heavenly Emperor's harem was vast. The two palace maids led them through side doors and back paths, avoiding crowds, and finally escorted them out through a rear gate.
Quinn glanced back and murmured, "There are quite a few secrets hidden in the Heavenly Emperor's harem..."
God-Queen Langwo replied with a half-smile, "And plenty of girls bathing all the time."
Quinn fell silent.
Shu Jun nodded, "Last time the Saint Infant opened the door, we just happened to walk in on the consorts and maids bathing. There were so many, all pale and bare."
Quinn shot Shu Jun a look, making him shiver as if falling into an abyss.
Quinn smiled, "God-Queen, this is Heavenly Court. You wanted to see the ancestral court of the Creators—now your wish is fulfilled, isn't it?"
Langwo looked around. Overhead, streams of light flowed like two funnels joined together—a strange sight.
Those were the energy transfer bridges Quinn had designed, but Langwo didn't recognize them.
Now, there were several times more energy bridges than when Quinn left; they likely linked all heavens and realms—even Youdu and Xuandu—making travel and the Heavenly Court's rule easier than ever.
God-King Shu Jun shook his head. "This is the Ancient-God Heavenly Court, not the ancestral court of us Creators. God-Queen Langwo is still young and probably hasn't been there. The ancestral court isn't here."
Quinn was startled. "Heavenly Court isn't the ancestral court?"
Shu Jun shook his head. "No, it's not."
Langwo said, "I didn't think so either. The elders always said the ancestral court was vast and sacred, with endless mountains, rivers, and divine mines. There were all sorts of treasures. This place is rich, but it doesn't match their descriptions."
Quinn frowned. He'd always assumed the Creators' ancestral court was the Heavenly Court, but clearly he'd been wrong.
"This should be the birthplace of the Ancient-God Heavenly Emperor."
Shu Jun sniffed the air. "I caught a whiff of that fellow's Dao here. His birthplace hides great secrets, and from the scent, it's somewhere in the harem."
Quinn looked at him in surprise. "You can smell the Dao? Is Shu Jun's nose built differently? Still, if the Emperor's birthplace is in the harem, that's an earth-shattering secret! If only I could sneak back in..."
He shook his head. Even though Venerable Consort had them escorted out kindly, getting back into the harem would be nearly impossible.
"Yaner and Fat Dragon are still at Vermilion Palace. I'd better fetch them first."
Quinn considered, thinking, "I have no property in Heavenly Court, nor money to buy one. That’s a real headache..."
He led the two toward the Southern Emperor Vermilion Bird’s palace in Heavenly Court. The Southern Emperor used to have her own palace here called Vermilion Palace, but later moved to the South Pole Heaven, leaving only a residence here, still called Vermilion Palace, though it was now just an ordinary palace.
Arriving, Quinn found Vermilion Palace modest in size. Next to it stood a grand, resplendent palace—Qi Xiayu’s residence in the southern part of Heavenly Court, called the Hall of Righteous Submission, signifying allegiance to justice.
Qi Xiayu, the Red Emperor, was not originally the Heavenly Court’s Red Emperor but surrendered during the fall of the Shanghuang Heavenly Court, so her residence was named the Hall of Righteous Submission.
The Hall of Righteous Submission was much more luxurious and imposing than Vermilion Palace.
Quinn arrived at Vermilion Palace and found its doors closed. He asked the gatekeeper, who replied, "So it’s Shepherd Heavenly Venerable. Princess Yan and Young Master Pi left long ago and returned to the Venerable’s Residence."
Quinn was surprised. "The Venerable’s Residence?"
"You didn’t know, Heavenly Venerable?"
The gatekeeper smiled, "The Venerable’s Residence was bestowed by His Majesty, right in Jade Capital City. Please, Heavenly Venerable, follow me and I’ll escort you there."
Quinn frowned, uneasy. "I’m penniless in Heavenly Court. How could I afford such a mansion? I’d better live in Jade Pool and rely on the Empress for food. Otherwise, I can’t even cover daily expenses..."
The god escorted them to Shepherd Heavenly Venerable’s Residence in Jade Capital City. The estate was enormous and lavish—every five steps a tower, every ten steps a pavilion, like a miniature Heavenly Palace.
Quinn was bewildered, then heard Fox Ling’er’s voice from inside: "Hurry up! Decorate everything before Young Master returns... This is the Venerable’s Residence, after all. It needs to look the part—we’re not short on money... Fat Dragon, come here, this is your palace..."
Quinn entered, hearing Fox Ling’er’s voice getting closer: "...Do you want it arranged as a dragon’s lair or a qilin’s den? Do you need chains to sleep? Maybe I’ll have the craftsmen in Yankang forge you a solid gold chain?"
—The double monthly ticket event is ending soon, brothers! Check if you still have any tickets left and vote for Shepherd’s Record as soon as possible!