Crown Prince Yooming carried the Eight-Trigram Mirror and tucked away the Serpent-Skin Pouch as he walked out of Xuan-Heaven Palace.
He was about to turn back for one last look when Xuan-Emperor's voice rang out: "Until you enter the Earth-Mother Origin World, do not look back. Go forward, and do not take the World Bridge—the World Bridge leads into Heavenly Court. Travel by the Celestial River to Origin-Capital. You are my son; the waterway is slower than the World Bridge, but it only adds a year or so to your journey."
Crown Prince Yooming silently pressed on and, upon reaching the World Bridge, happened to see Quinn Shepherd's Heavenly Dragon Imperial Palanquin about to enter the bridge.
Crown Prince Yooming hurriedly bowed in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Heavenly Venerable, for speaking well of me before my parents and helping me escape my predicament."
Quinn Shepherd stepped out from the palanquin, helped him up, and smiled, "It was nothing—just a small favor, not worth mentioning. Where are you headed, Your Highness?"
Yooming replied, "My parents, the two gods, have ordered me to go to the Earth-Mother Origin World to see more of the world." He then recounted Xuan-Emperor's warning that he must not look back.
Quinn Shepherd thought for a moment, then smiled, "I know why you can't look back, and I also know who you'll encounter on your journey. Don't worry—I'll give you a divine art. Even if you meet that person, you'll be able to escape."
Yooming was surprised and asked, "My father is skilled in fate-calculation; is Heavenly Venerable also a master of this art?"
Quinn Shepherd laughed, "Xuan-Emperor never taught me fate-calculation. I just pieced things together from what you said."
He cast a divine art, his ten fingers shifting through countless forms, and with a gentle tap, pressed Yooming's brow, smiling, "Your Highness, look at the eye in my brow."
Yooming gazed at the vertical eye on Quinn Shepherd's brow and asked, "Heavenly Venerable, what kind of divine art is this?"
The vertical eye in Quinn Shepherd's brow shone brilliantly. He smiled, "You'll understand in time. For now, Your Highness may proceed."
He returned to the palanquin, and the six Heavenly Dragons pulled it onto the World Bridge.
Yooming shook his head and continued forward. Soon, he reached the depths of the Celestial River, leapt in, and transformed into a giant dragon-headed tortoise. With a flick of his dragon tail, he sped away underwater.
Worthy of being the son of the Black Tortoise, his speed in the water was astonishing. His massive body surged through the river, making the Celestial River's surface rise dramatically.
Before the World Bridges existed, the Celestial River was crowded with ships coming and going between the heavens, mostly merchant vessels. But after the World Bridges were built, the number of ships dwindled.
Yooming swam freely all the way, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease. After being suppressed for six hundred thousand years, shedding his shackles now made him feel lighter than ever.
Yet as he traveled, he was surprised to see so few ships along the way.
He traveled for more than two months, the journey endlessly dull, and the earlier feeling of freedom had long since faded.
There were many aquatic gods and demons in the water, as well as dragon kings, but none recognized the Crown Prince of Northern Extremity Heaven. And because he was so fast, most water-dwellers barely caught a glimpse before he vanished.