Hearing that voice, Quinn couldn’t help but feel both startled and delighted. He called out loudly, “Indra King Buddha! Leo Yoran!”
That self-pitying voice suddenly fell silent. After a moment, Indra King Buddha’s wary voice came: “Who’s there?”
"Me! Quinn!"
"A demigod—Dragon-Qilin!"
After a moment, Indra King Buddha walked out from the ruined city, still looking like a young monk—barefoot as ever. Even on this devastated wasteland, he remained spotless.
It’s true there are plenty of handsome men in the world, but few can surpass Indra King Buddha.
This monk was strikingly good-looking, with layers of radiant halos blazing behind his head, his appearance dignified and majestic.
"So it’s you, Quinn."
Indra King Buddha let out a breath and smiled. “What are you doing here? Just now the Great Ruins underwent a huge upheaval—folded spaces popping up everywhere. Was this your mischief?”
Quinn shook his head. “Not me. It was Granny Sue from our village who did it… Granny Sue used Primordial Magnetism Divine Arts and startled the remnant soul of Earth Mother Primordial Lady. So the ancient Origin World reappeared.”
Indra King Buddha relaxed and smiled. "Saving lives and easing suffering is the Buddha's duty. I'll come with you, no question."
Quinn blinked, his smile pure and innocent. “Why are you here, King Buddha? Just now I saw Red Empress Claudia Qi’s Phoenix Ship and heard her zither music coming from the city. Claudia Qi seems to be reminiscing about the old Pioneer Era days.”
Quinn's face darkened.
Quinn continued, “Claudia Qi chased you from the Buddha‑Realm’s Twenty Heavens all the way to the ruins of the Pioneer Era’s Thirty‑Three Heavens. I thought for sure you’d be tormented and humiliated, but you’re not even scratched—looking radiant, in fact. I’m honestly amazed.”
Indra King Buddha replied, “Back in the Pioneer Era, that White family girl once came looking for a sword‑mastering youth surnamed Qin. Sadly, she never found him, and even the Pioneer Emperor couldn’t help her.”
Quinn said, “Why do lovers entwine their necks like mandarin ducks, soaring side by side? King Buddha, have you returned to secular life lately—gone back to being Leo Yoran?”
Ethan Lan listened in total confusion, like a monk lost in a fog.
Though these two seemed close, the moment they met it was like rivals crossing paths—they gleefully ripped open each other’s scars, hurting and laughing all at once.
At last, Quinn and Indra King Buddha stopped picking at old wounds, shared a laugh, and were back to being as close as when they first met.
“King Buddha, how’s that black pot you’re carrying?” Quinn asked with concern.
“Still carrying it.”
Indra King Buddha said, “Good thing it was Claudia Qi chasing me—she left me some room to survive. But I hear the Heavenly Court is sending new powerhouses, determined to capture me and pry the Brahma King’s Emperor’s‑Throne method from my mouth. The old Buddha stuck this black pot on me, and it’s rock solid. How’s your pot?”
“Picked up a few more,” Quinn replied.
The two couldn’t help but feel a sense of mutual sympathy—kindred spirits bound by shared troubles.
“Claudia Qi chased me all the way here. Luckily, that White family girl scared her off, or she really would’ve caught me and ruined half my cultivation.”
Indra King Buddha glanced at Ethan Lan, curious. “And who is this young benefactor?”
“This is Ethan Lan.”
Quinn didn’t elaborate. “Another Overlord Body, very clever—almost as sharp as me. I promised to look after him and guide his cultivation. He learns fast, and his progress is astonishing. King Buddha, I’m heading into the Great Ruins to find old friends and rescue villagers. Since you’re here, want to join me? Maybe teach Ethan a few basic Buddhist runes?”
Indra King Buddha hesitated. “Will I know any of these old friends you’re seeking?”
Quinn shook his head. “No, just some ordinary villagers from the Great Ruins.”
Indra King Buddha relaxed and smiled. "Saving lives and easing suffering is the Buddha's duty. I'll come with you, no question."
Quinn let out a breath of relief. The three set off together, and as they walked, Indra King Buddha taught Ethan Lan the basics of Buddhist runes. After a while, he couldn't help but marvel, "Quinn, is this Ethan really an Overlord Body? He learns the basics faster than you do!"
Quinn's face darkened.
The more Indra King Buddha watched Ethan Lan, the more he liked him. "If the old Buddha were here, he'd gladly teach him the Emperor's-Throne method. Why do you only let me teach him basic runes? I've learned the Emperor's-Throne method myself—I could pass it on."
Quinn hurried to stop him. "No way. That would ruin a good seedling. You can't teach him any method, not even a single divine art! Spirit Embryo, Divine Treasuries, Heaven Palace—none of it! Just teach him the principles."
Indra King Buddha was puzzled, but he stuck to Quinn's instructions and taught Ethan Lan only Buddhist runes.
The Buddhist runes, called Brahmic script, were a language system founded by Great Brahma King Buddha. Every sound and character carried a Dao-rhythm, not unlike ancient god-script.
Ethan Lan picked it up in no time, grasping one and inferring ten more. Indra King Buddha was amazed.
But soon, Indra King Buddha noticed that while Ethan Lan was clever, he was also a little naive.
"It's like something's missing from his soul."
As they left the ancient battlefield, the ground suddenly shook violently. The earth split open, and a stone statue of a divine beast surged up from below, rising higher and higher. Springs burst forth, swelling until a great river formed ahead of them.
As they left the ancient battlefield, the ground suddenly shook violently. The earth split open, and a stone statue of a divine beast surged up from below, rising higher and higher. Springs gushed forth, swelling until a great river formed ahead of them.
The divine beast's statue was half-submerged in the spring, half exposed above.
"A demigod—Water Qilin!"
"A demigod—Dragon-Qilin!"
Quinn stopped in his tracks. In the river, the demigod's stone statue was shedding its stone skin at lightning speed. Flesh and blood returned in an instant. It shook its head, fluffed out its mane, and vaulted skyward atop a torrent of water!
The river below surged up with the demigod, landing beneath his feet as he rode the current.
The Dragon-Qilin demigod stood atop the airborne river. Ripples shimmered across his body, and in the next moment, he straightened up, transforming into a qilin-headed, human-bodied demigod. His mane became a flowing blue robe, wild aura radiating from him.
"Earth Mother calls us! Hurry to her!"
The Dragon-Qilin's furry ears twitched. Just as he was about to leave, he spotted the three, grinned, and said, "After all this time, I haven't had a decent meal. I'm starving! You three may be small, but you'll do for a snack!"