"The Star Sand refined by First Senior Brother is far too heavy—I can't even begin to activate it!"
Quinn tossed aside the great cauldron and turned to dash straight for the main hall. Myles Jiang saw him rushing back in a panic, leaped onto the body of the divine dragon, and had no idea what he was trying to do.
Quinn tried to activate the Dragon-Raising Codex, but the divine dragon was already dead, its Primordial Spirit devoured by a Youdu 'fierce ghost'—he couldn't borrow any of the dragon's power. If he could, he might still stand a chance against Aiden Starr.
Quinn looked at Myles Jiang and shook his head. "His cultivation is too weak—worse than mine. Even with the Dragon-Raising Codex, I can't borrow much power... Teleportation spell!"
Runes swirled around him as he prepared to escape with Myles Jiang. But with his current strength, he could only teleport them a few dozen li away—barely a blink for Aiden Starr.
Before he could trigger the teleportation runes, they suddenly froze in midair, suspended and motionless.
Not only the teleportation runes—even Quinn and Myles Jiang were immobilized, unable to move a muscle.
Aiden Starr strode in from outside the hall, face dark, hand outstretched with blood still dripping from his fingers. After completing his Divine Bridge and ascending to godhood, his power had surged again—now, with a casual gesture, he could lock Quinn in place.
He was badly wounded in the Ten-Mile Star Sand Tribulation Array, but as a true god, his abilities were unfathomable. Even with only a fraction of his power, he could easily trap Quinn.
Cold sweat broke out on Quinn's forehead. He forced a weak smile. "Senior Brother Starr, I'll give you back the chest..."
Starr grabbed the dragon, straightened it out, and wrapped it around his waist like a belt. Suddenly he said coldly, "Luli, get out of my Life-and-Death Treasury!"
The beautiful woman beneath him grew furious. "You dare speak to me like that? You think a mere god can escape my control?"
"My Treasury isn't for your chatter! Get out—"
Starr roared, and his primordial spirit suddenly appeared in his Life-and-Death Treasury. Instantly, a great sun, moon, five luminaries, and seven stars shone within, the light forcing the woman to retreat.
"Starr, if you defy the high god, I swear I will—"
"Out!"
Divine might surged around Starr, his robes billowing, black hair flying. The light from his treasuries illuminated the Life-and-Death Treasury, finally forcing her out, sending her back to Youdu!
Starr's breath calmed, his hair settled on his shoulders, his clothes stilled. He looked at Quinn and asked, "Where's my chest?"
Quinn hesitated, then took out the chest hidden in the Glutton Dragon Pouch. The chest landed and rolled toward Starr, then turned to 'look' at Quinn before rolling to Starr's side.
Starr turned and walked out of the hall, saying coolly, "Doctor Quinn, don't let me see you again."
Quinn suddenly asked, "Why don't you kill me?"
"Why would I kill you?"
Starr stopped, turned his head, and said, "I have my own principles. The Bridge of Magpies, Profound Guidance, and Divine Crossing arts you released helped me ascend to godhood and escape death. Our grudges are settled. I sought you out to fulfill my agreement with Luli. Now that's settled too. You're a grandmaster—do you think I can't practice what I preach? You underestimate me."
Quinn was stunned, then smiled. "I really did underestimate you before."
Starr caught sight of his smile, twitched at the corner of his eye, snorted coldly, and turned to leave the hall. "Don't smile at me. I'll come for you again. You created many things—Sword Eighteen, Primordial Spirit Guidance—which make me admire your talent. But when your body reaches a standard worth noticing, I'll come for you. I want an Overlord Body."
Quinn was dumbfounded, watching him leave.
Starr walked to the great cauldron, his eyes flickering. Just as he was about to take it, the Star Sand inside began to move, rising and forming a sand sculpture of a young man.
Starr was startled, dodged away, and sped through the Ten-Mile Gorge.
He was still afraid, worried the Ten-Mile Star Sand Tribulation Array would erupt again.
Quinn led Myles Jiang out of the hall and saw a sand figure standing in the cauldron, Star Sand flowing constantly over its surface.
"First Senior Brother?"
Quinn probed, "Founding Patriarch of the Cult of the Heavenly Saint, I'm the current Cult Master, and recently met the Woodcutter Sage. First Senior Brother, are you still alive?"
The sand figure opened its mouth but couldn't speak; suddenly it collapsed, and Star Sand flowed on the ground, forming a pattern.
Quinn hurried over and saw the ground pattern was a map, showing mountains and rivers in vivid detail.
The terrain in the map kept changing. Quinn memorized it carefully. The Star Sand changed over ten times, then flowed back into the cauldron. Quinn frowned—the maps, except for the first, were unfamiliar; none matched the mountains of the Great Ruins.
The first map showed part of the Great Ruins, but the other thirteen maps matched neither Everpeace nor the Western Lands, nor did they resemble High-Emperor Heaven.
"What is First Senior Brother trying to say?"
Quinn narrowed his eyes. The Cult's Founding Patriarch must have sensed the divine dragon's death and Quinn's accomplishment, so he used Star Sand to manifest and observe the situation. But he probably wasn't in the Great Ruins or Everpeace—he must be in another world, unable to speak.
He used Star Sand to arrange the map, likely to guide Quinn to find him.
"These fourteen maps are so complicated—where am I supposed to look for him?"
Quinn suddenly realized, "My experience is limited, but the Woodcutter Sage is widely traveled—he must recognize these maps! As for the first map, maybe I can find some clues there. I should go check it out first."
With that thought, Quinn felt relieved and smiled. "Myles Jiang, let's go!"
Myles Jiang agreed immediately.
Quinn suddenly doubled back, grabbed the cauldron, and struggled to lift it. Myles Jiang scratched his head. Quinn barked, "Aren't you going to help?"
Myles Jiang hurried over. Both flushed red with effort but couldn't lift the cauldron an inch. Myles Jiang panted and suggested, "Cult Master, maybe we should give up? Your First Senior Brother is too skilled—even Starr didn't dare take the cauldron. We definitely can't move it..."
Quinn had to give up, but then spotted the dragon-locking chains and his eyes lit up. He rushed over, saying, "Taking a few chains isn't bad either! These chains can hold a divine dragon, so the materials must be top-grade! Even melted down for artifact refining, they'd be the best of the best!"
Myles Jiang followed along, and together they struggled to drag a massive chain out of the hall.
Quinn opened the Glutton Dragon Pouch, trying to stuff one end of the chain inside, but it was too thick and massive to fit. The other end was buried deep in the cliff and wouldn't budge.
The two stared at each other, out of ideas. Quinn stormed off, "Some First Senior Brother you are—stingy!"
Myles Jiang quickly caught up. Quinn, face dark, flew up and scouted the area, then led him toward the direction marked on the first map.
Two days later, they arrived at a small village—the very place marked on the map.
Quinn and Myles Jiang entered the village, looking around. It seemed ordinary enough, except everywhere were statues of gods with dragon heads and human bodies.
"Why did First Senior Brother send us here?"
Quinn was puzzled. He saw an old man with white hair sitting in front of a straw hut, weaving a fishing net. Quinn hurried over, bowed, and greeted him. "Elder, what is this place?"
The old man squinted up at him, surprised, and smiled. "I handed the Imperial Disc to the Ling family—why is it with you?"
Quinn stared wide-eyed, speechless.
The Star Sand refined by First Senior Brother is far too heavy—I can't even begin to activate it!
Quinn tossed aside the great cauldron and turned to dash straight for the main hall. Myles Jiang saw him rushing back in a panic, leaped onto the body of the divine dragon, and had no idea what he was trying to do.
Quinn tried to activate the Dragon-Raising Codex, but the divine dragon was already dead, its Primordial Spirit devoured by a Youdu 'fierce ghost'—he couldn't borrow any of the dragon's power. If he could, he might still stand a chance against Aiden Starr.
Quinn looked at Myles Jiang and shook his head. "His cultivation is too weak—worse than mine. Even with the Dragon-Raising Codex, I can't borrow much power... Teleportation spell!"
Runes swirled around him as he prepared to escape with Myles Jiang. But with his current strength, he could only teleport them a few dozen li away—barely a blink for Aiden Starr.
Before he could trigger the teleportation runes, they suddenly froze in midair, suspended and motionless.
Not only the teleportation runes—even Quinn and Myles Jiang were immobilized, unable to move a muscle.