This round of poison refining consumed a tremendous amount of time and energy. Quinn Shepherd was concocting a multi-layered composite poison, which required repeated processes: first, he refined hundreds of basic toxic pills, then used those pills to feed poisonous creatures—venomous insects, toxic frogs, and gu worms. Afterward, he used the insects, frogs, and gu worms as fertilizer to cultivate poisonous mushrooms and toxic grasses.
Repeating this cycle several times, he finally refined a few poison eggs, which he implanted deep into the bone marrow of two legs. The shell of these poison eggs would not dissolve easily, but once exposed to active hematopoiesis in the marrow, they would hatch, ride the bloodstream throughout the body, rot divine organs, shatter the Primordial Spirit, and annihilate the soul.
Just as he finished refining this strange poison, Quinn set aside a few poison eggs for later use. Serena Yunxiang came to report, saying, "The elders from the Holy Cult and the experts in the Five Ghosts Relocation Art have arrived."
Quinn let out a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice, "Please invite them in."
Serena Yunxiang brought in the group from the Holy Cult. Quinn swept his gaze around and saw that, as expected, many of those who had come were generals from the army, still clad in iron armor that they hadn’t yet removed.
The Five Ghosts Relocation Art was not some supremely powerful spell; in fact, it was considered very low-grade, ranked at the bottom of the nine tiers of arts. Yet even the humblest spell could have astonishing power.
There is no such thing as a good or bad spell—what matters is how you use it.
If one were to storm the Fragrant Well courtyard by force, even if these people had mastered the most formidable spells and every one of them was at the Divine Bridge Realm, the casualties would be horrific—and they still might not be able to stop Blaise Rift from activating the Five-Thunder War Gourd.
Yet this lowest, most despised Five Ghosts Relocation Art could silently move the Five-Thunder War Gourd away—without a single death.
"Gentlemen!"
Quinn bowed deeply, his posture solemn. "We have no choice but to succeed this time. Failure means thunder calamity will descend upon Everpeace, and countless innocent lives will be lost in agony! Whether this works or not depends on everyone's skill and resolve!"
The crowd hastily returned the bow, voices ringing with duty: "This is our responsibility. We wouldn't dare accept such honor from the Cult Master!"
Quinn straightened, his voice low and intense. "The Five-Thunder War Gourd holds five elemental cloud-thunders—east, south, west, north, and center. Each one harbors a Fire-Bell divine weapon. Even shifting this artifact is like walking a blade's edge; one wrong move and its power could erupt. Does anyone here understand these five cloud-thunders?"
Uneasy glances flickered across the crowd. At last, an elder stepped forward: "Cult Master, I do know something of the five cloud-thunders and the Fire-Bell divine weapons. In my youth, I wandered far and wide, and once saw a strange book at the Black Tortoise Temple in the Great Ruins. It recorded tales about Emperor North Tortoise."
Quinn's expression flickered—a single mention of the Great Ruins could stir a hundred memories.
"The five cloud-thunders and Fire-Bell divine weapons were personally forged by Emperor North Tortoise."
That elder was Elder Craftsman of the Holy Cult. He continued, "Emperor North Tortoise—also called the Black Tortoise Great Emperor—was a master of thunder arts. The five cloud-thunders and Fire-Bell divine weapons were his signature creations, unmatched in might. At the Black Tortoise Temple, the book I saw was engraved into the shell of a colossal tortoise, cast entirely of iron. It took all my strength to pry open just two pages, and what I read was unforgettable: in the Pioneer Era, the founding emperor once hosted North Tortoise for a banquet, and the god demonstrated his craft—thunderclouds tearing through every realm, leaving the Pioneer Emperor dumbstruck. What secrets lay beyond those pages, I never discovered."
Quinn's eyes widened. So Emperor North Tortoise and the Pioneer Emperor really had ties? North Tortoise was once welcomed as an honored guest?
"The book described some mysteries of North Tortoise's five cloud-thunders. I've studied thunder arts myself, though only a little."
Elder Craftsman said, "The great cloud-thunder arts have long been lost, but the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra preserves the Lesser Cloud-Thunder Method. That's what I've cultivated. Even just those two pages of the iron book advanced my mastery of the Lesser Cloud-Thunder Method tremendously. If the Cult Master trusts me, let me lead the Five Ghosts Relocation operation!"
Quinn nodded, saying, "The Lesser Cloud-Thunder Method is no small thing. Since that's your specialty, Elder Craftsman, why don't we exchange insights? You share your understanding first."
Elder Craftsman, in front of everyone, laid out his full comprehension of the Lesser Cloud-Thunder Method. Quinn listened intently, cross-referencing it with his own Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra. When Elder Craftsman finished, Quinn calmly delivered his own explanation, clear and methodical.
From childhood, he'd been guided by the nine elders of Oldridge Village. His theoretical foundations were already at a height few could imagine.
With the Woodcutter's stone scriptures, Hansen Keane's personal cultivation aboard the ark, and insights from Great Thunderclap Temple, the Dao Sword slabs, Little Jade Capital, and Qingmen Pass with the Imperial Preceptor—Quinn's vision and understanding, if not the very highest, surpassed nearly all his peers.
The Lesser Cloud-Thunder Method was a technique from the Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra. The Woodcutter's stone scriptures already contained profound commentary on it, and with Deaf's philological training and his own status as the founder of the Sixfold Primordial Spirit path, Quinn's guidance on Elder Craftsman's thunder arts was simply on another level.
When Quinn finished, the crowd was entranced, each person gaining their own realizations.
Elder Craftsman, listening, couldn't help but be awed. His heart was filled with admiration, and he praised, "Cult Master, your talent is truly heaven-sent—a born Holy Cult Master."
Though Quinn was only sixteen and still at the Six Directions Realm, his knowledge and insight were already enough to humble even Divine Bridge experts.
"Reflect on these insights carefully. In a few days, we must relocate the Five-Thunder War Gourd," Quinn instructed.
Quinn then asked Serena Yunxiang, "Where is the emperor now?"
Serena Yunxiang replied, "The emperor has just arrived in You Prefecture—still more than ten days' journey from here."
She continued, "His Majesty's instructions are to delay for ten days if possible; if not, then at least eight. After eight days, he'll position the Solar-Shooting God Cannon five thousand li away and fire on Blaise Rift."
Quinn shook his head. "Blaise Rift won't give us eight days. Three, maybe five at most before he makes his move. What's happening at Godsever Mountains?"
Serena Yunxiang frowned. "It's completely destroyed there. Divine-art shockwaves linger everywhere—even Heaven-Man experts can't enter. The emperor has already ordered the generals at Yan Frontier and Mizu Pass to retreat, abandoning both passes to avoid further losses. As for victory or defeat..."
She shook her head. "His Majesty sent the main generals from both passes to scout ahead, but no news has come back. No one has walked out of that battlefield."
Quinn's heart clenched. He exhaled slowly, eyes growing resolute. "Then let's settle the Blaise Rift problem first. I'll go in person—dead or alive, I have to see for myself! Elder Craftsman, you and the others have two days. Be ready. We can't wait for the emperor!"
Elder Craftsman and the others felt the pressure, hurrying off to rehearse their hundred-person casting formation. Two days to synchronize a hundred cultivators and move the Five-Thunder War Gourd without disturbing its power—a daunting task, but time was too short for more practice.
Suddenly, a Divine Bridge cultivator guarding the Fragrant Well courtyard arrived with a report: "Cult Master Qin, the honored god requests your presence!"
Quinn's expression shifted. He rose and headed forward. In the courtyard, Blaise Rift looked much improved—clearly, he'd spent the last two days refining pills and treating his wounds, recovering both his injuries and some cultivation.
But with one leg cut off, escape was impossible. Now Quinn's main worry was that Blaise Rift might attempt a mutual-destruction move—after all, the god's hand never left the Five-Thunder War Gourd.
"Little friend, we've had quite a few guests lately," Blaise Rift said, his single horn glowing atop his head, rings of light swirling down from its tip and flowing over his body as he smiled.
Quinn studied the light radiating from the horn on Blaise Rift's brow. He realized the god was using a body-tempering technique—the light rings vibrated through his flesh, refining out bad blood and accelerating his recovery.
Previously, Blaise Rift had been beaten so badly he couldn't even flee. But after two days of recovery, he'd regained some cultivation and was now trying to restore his physical strength.
"All these visitors are minor figures—no threat to an honored god, right, Senior Brother?"
Quinn smiled, "I see your power is recovering fast, honored god. Naturally, that makes me a little concerned. I'm only afraid you'll go back on your word. We've already waited six or seven days—why not sign Tu Bo's Pact now? No need to put it off any longer."
"What promise? Did I ever make you a promise? Hahaha!"
Blaise Rift burst into thunderous laughter, his voice echoing across the city. "I'm just joking. Look at your face—you're so pale! Since we've waited this long, why not wait a bit longer? Didn't you say you'd graft my divine leg back on? I still haven't gotten my leg yet. Let's do the soul-oath after the surgery!"
Quinn's face darkened, his tone icy. "If I restore your leg now, with your power recovered, you'll trigger the Five-Thunder War Gourd and escape. I'd be the one to bear the guilt for Everpeace's annihilation. That leg can wait until after we sign Tu Bo's Pact—no exceptions."
Blaise Rift calmly placed his palm on the gourd, smiling slyly. "So, you're Qin Mu, right? I've asked the spell-casters outside. You're the Holy Cult Master, and also the Human Emperor. Quite impressive—you crippled me and probably killed Victor Bloom. Senior Brother Qin, come here and attach my divine leg, or I'll trigger the Five-Thunder War Gourd right now."
Quinn's expression changed sharply. He called, "Flood-Dragon King!"
Watery radiance surged behind him—the Flood-Dragon King manifested, bowing low: "Flood-Dragon King, at your service, my lord!"
Blaise Rift sneered, "Don't get reckless, Cult Master Qin. My hand's still on the Five-Thunder War Gourd."
Quinn's eye twitched. Suddenly, the razor edge of his Spring Wind and Rain face vanished, replaced by a bright laugh. "Senior Brother Blaise, you're as shrewd as ever. Fine—I'll attach your leg. Flood-Dragon King, stand down. Servants, bring my medicines! Senior Brother, which leg did you choose?"
Blaise Rift tossed over the shorter divine leg, smiling, "This one's too short. Bring out the other two legs—I want to choose again."
Quinn's smile froze, his face twitching involuntarily.
Blaise Rift stood on one leg, wearing a faint smile. "Cult Master Qin, any objections?"
Quinn took a long breath, gritted his teeth, and produced the other two divine legs. His voice was stiff: "No objections. Senior Brother Blaise, please choose."
Blaise Rift glanced at him, seeing Quinn's iron-blue face. He laughed, "Youngster, you still can't hide your nerves."
With a surge of magic, Blaise Rift rolled up the two divine legs and inspected them thoroughly. He found no sign of tampering—Quinn's poison eggs were hidden deep in the marrow. Satisfied, he picked one. "Cult Master Qin, Divine Physician Qin, come graft it on for me."
Quinn swallowed his anger. "Please lie down, Senior Brother."
Blaise Rift reclined, his palm still resting lightly on the Five-Thunder War Gourd. "Don't try anything clever. If my hand so much as twitches, the gourd will erupt—its thunderclouds could wipe out the world in a heartbeat. North Emperor's artifact already turned the Pioneer Emperor's homeland into the Great Ruins. Destroying Everpeace would be child's play. Heh heh!"