Quinn Shepherd examined Indra King Buddha’s injuries, smiling as he said, “Though you’ve got plenty of broken bones, Warfist Celestial Teacher Warren Oxley was careful. None of your wounds are serious, and your soul remains untouched.”
Indra King Buddha’s expression was complicated as he looked at Quinn. He’d thought Quinn was just joking, but now realized that Quinn’s Divine Bridge Treasury had truly been shattered.
“He and I are old acquaintances. He wouldn’t kill me outright. But you…”
He sighed. “Your Divine Bridge Treasury has been ruined. What will you do now… That old bastard! He hit you so hard! Didn’t he know you’re a descendant of the Everpeace Empire?”
But Indra King Buddha also knew that Warfist Celestial Teacher Warren Oxley feared neither heaven nor earth, never cared about anyone’s reputation. Back in the day, when the descendants of the Pioneer Emperor broke the law, he would kill them without hesitation—and even the Pioneer Emperor never complained.
“Actually, this has nothing to do with you.”
Quinn circled around him, fingers flying as he formed lotus flowers, treasure vases, buddhas, and other mystical signs. Using Creation Divine Art, he set the broken bones. “It’s because I made a pact with him: he would guard the Everpeace Empire, and I would destroy my Divine Bridge Treasury and reforge it, once and for all solving the Divine Bridge problem for everyone in War-Ox Realm, the Great Ruins, and Everpeace. What I said about taking that punch for your sake—just a joke.”
Indra King Buddha still frowned. “But he destroyed your Divine Bridge Treasury directly. That’s a bit much.”
Quinn stopped, his arms blooming like a thousand hands, each forming a different Creation Seal and pressing it onto Indra’s body. Then, with a wave, the thousand arms vanished and the mystical signs faded. Quinn smiled. “Only by breaking the cauldrons and sinking the boats can one be truly brave. Only by cutting off all retreat can one move forward. I’m grateful he shattered my Treasury—it wiped away my doubts and left me with nothing to distract me!”
Indra King Buddha stood up, moved his body, and found most of his injuries had healed. He was amazed, secretly impressed, and shook his head. “You and he—both lunatics.”
“No madness, no life.”
Quinn steadied his breath, eyes growing deep. “I studied martial arts under Warfist Celestial Teacher Warren Oxley for a time. I didn’t learn his techniques, but I learned his martial spirit. What is martial spirit? Persistence! Once you have that spirit, you keep going, no matter what—see it through to the end! And besides…”
He smiled. “In ancient times, seven pioneers opened the Divine Treasuries from nothing and became the Seven Heavenly Venerables, establishing the cultivation system for all generations to come. They created something out of nothing. But I already know what exists—my task is easier than theirs. Divine Bridge Treasury—I will open it.”
His belief was unshakeable.
That belief didn’t come just from Village Chief’s talk of the Overlord Body, but from years of hardship and struggle.
Ever since he returned to the primordial era, arrived at the dawn of Dragon-Han, met the Seven Heavenly Venerables, and endured all the upheavals of that age, Quinn’s faith and confidence had only grown stronger.
At the Jade Pool assembly, when Heaven-Guide Venerable was assassinated, the God-Making Method at the Heaven Palace level—meant to be revealed by Heaven-Guide—was instead improvised and publicly expounded by Quinn himself!
He disguised himself as Heaven-Guide Venerable, and right there at the assembly, he created the Heaven Palace God-Making Method on the spot—and taught it to everyone at the Jade Pool!
His talent was second to none.
Indra King Buddha looked at him, eyes complicated; in this young man, he saw the shadow of another.
“Back then, the Pioneer Emperor was also courageous and bold, possessed great will and vision. That’s how he gathered so many talented, ambitious people.”
He thought to himself, “Quinn is more mischievous, less steady than the Pioneer Emperor, and quite unruly—but his will is even firmer, more tenacious, and he’s even more daring.”
He smiled. “So, what do you plan to do next?”
Quinn’s eyes sparkled. He grinned, “King Buddha, interested in visiting Earth Mother Primordial Lady?”
Indra King Buddha’s face changed slightly, clearly reluctant.
Quinn laughed. “You’re one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Pioneer Era—carried a big black cauldron and escaped the Buddha Realm, dodging Red Empress Claudia Qi’s pursuit. You weren’t afraid of her—how could you be scared of Earth Mother Primordial Lady, who’s already dead?”
“It’s not that I fear Earth Mother Primordial Lady—I’m afraid I’ll get you dragged into trouble.”
Indra King Buddha sighed. “You really shouldn’t get too involved with the Pioneer Era remnants. It’s dangerous for you. They’ve preserved a lot of power. Everpeace Empire isn’t on the Outer Heavenly Court’s radar yet, but with the Pioneer Era remnants added, they’ll have to pay attention. Woodcutter Celestial Teacher is the head of the Four Celestial Teachers, but even he has blind spots—like letting the Pioneer Era remnants help Everpeace. That’s a mistake, in my view.”
Quinn Shepherd grinned. “If it’s a mistake, it’s a glorious one.”
Indra King Buddha was speechless.
Quinn Shepherd stepped forward, and Indra King Buddha hurried to keep up. The two left the Everpeace Empire, heading for the place where Earth Mother Primordial Lady had fallen.
The place where Earth Mother Primordial Lady fell was a forbidden zone, filled with death and decay. Quinn Shepherd and Indra King Buddha traveled through the ruins, feeling a heavy, suffocating pressure.
Suddenly, a strange wind blew past, carrying the scent of blood and rot.
Indra King Buddha frowned and said, “This place is even more dangerous than before.”
Quinn Shepherd nodded. “After Earth Mother Primordial Lady died, her corpse was used by the Outer Heavenly Court to breed devil gods. This place is crawling with them now.”
Just then, a terrifying roar echoed from the depths of the ruins, and a gigantic, twisted devil god emerged, its body covered in festering wounds and writhing tentacles.
Indra King Buddha’s face turned pale. “That’s a devil god born from Earth Mother Primordial Lady’s corpse!”
Quinn Shepherd’s gaze sharpened. “Let’s fight our way through.”
He charged forward, Creation Divine Art surging around him, illuminating the darkness. Indra King Buddha followed, unleashing his own divine powers. The two fought side by side, cutting down devil gods as they pressed deeper into the ruins.
After a fierce struggle, the devil gods finally retreated. Quinn Shepherd and Indra King Buddha reached the heart of the forbidden zone, where Earth Mother Primordial Lady’s remains lay.
Her colossal skeleton was half-buried in the ground, surrounded by a miasma of death. Strange flowers bloomed from her bones, and devil gods lurked in the shadows.
Indra King Buddha whispered, “We’re here. What now?”
Quinn Shepherd stepped forward, his eyes shining with resolve. “I’m going to search Earth Mother Primordial Lady’s remains for clues to the Divine Bridge Treasury. If I succeed, I’ll be able to reforge my Treasury and solve the problem once and for all.”
Indra King Buddha nodded solemnly and stood guard nearby.
Quinn Shepherd approached the skeleton, carefully examining every bone, every flower, every trace of lingering divine power.
Suddenly, a glimmer of light caught his eye—a fragment of the Divine Bridge Treasury, hidden within Earth Mother Primordial Lady’s ribcage.
Quinn Shepherd reached out and grasped the fragment. Instantly, divine power surged through him, and visions of the primordial era flashed before his eyes.
He saw the Seven Heavenly Venerables opening the Divine Treasuries, saw the birth of the Divine Bridge Treasury, and understood the mysteries of its creation.
When the vision ended, Quinn Shepherd stood trembling, but his eyes shone with excitement. He had found the key to reforging his Divine Bridge Treasury.
He turned to Indra King Buddha and said, “Let’s go home.”
“The only one not inside the scheme is Carefree Haven!”
Quinn Shepherd drew a long breath, his gaze growing sharper. “As long as Carefree Haven stays out of this game, the Outer Heavenly Court won’t make a move. They’re waiting for the perfect moment—when Carefree Haven enters the board, that’s when they’ll strike.”
“Carefree Haven is the key to detonating everything.”
“Before Carefree Haven enters the scheme, the Outer Heavenly Court will let the four eras in the Origin World fight amongst themselves, waiting to reap the benefits.”
His eyes became brighter and brighter—this was a chance to grow!
A rare, hard-won opportunity!
And it’s the only flaw in the mastermind’s layout!
“Bruno, Lucas Jade, let’s go!”
Quinn Shepherd called for Dragon-Qilin and Heaven-Guide Venerable. Heaven-Guide was happily freeloading in the village, holding a huge bowl filled with steaming white rice and savory toppings, squatting with villagers by the wall to eat.
Heaven-Guide Venerable hurriedly wolfed down his food, bowing repeatedly to thank the villagers, then called for Water-Qilin to join him.
“Brother, where are we off to for our next meal?” Heaven-Guide Venerable asked.
Quinn Shepherd couldn’t help but laugh, bidding farewell to the villagers. “We’re going to Earth Mother Primordial Lady’s place to feast.”
Heaven-Guide Venerable’s eyes lit up. “What kind of delicacies are we getting?”
“All sorts of flavorful demigods!”
Quinn Shepherd burst out laughing, riding off on Dragon-Qilin toward the distance.
Water-Qilin’s face turned ashen when he heard they were visiting Earth Mother Primordial Lady, but then he suddenly realized something and broke into a grin. “If those demigods kill and eat them, then I won’t have violated the Little Earth Sovereign’s Pact—I’ll be free!”
He dashed forward, summoning a great river beneath his feet and racing along its flow.
Dragon-Qilin’s hooves blazed with qilin fire, surging forward even faster than Water-Qilin—thanks, no doubt, to the Old Farmer’s training over the past few days.
Quinn Shepherd told Dragon-Qilin to slow down, observing Water-Qilin’s divine ability. After a moment, he took out some herbs and refined a spirit pill tailored to Water-Qilin’s elemental qi.
Once the pill was finished, Quinn Shepherd handed it to the demigod. “How does it taste?”
“Delicious!”
Quinn Shepherd thought for a moment, tweaked the pill recipe, and refined another batch. Water-Qilin tasted it again and praised, “Even better!”
Quinn Shepherd finalized the recipe and taught it to Heaven-Guide Venerable, explaining how to make the spirit pills. “Even if I’m not around, you’ll be able to make them yourself so he won’t go hungry. Just don’t feed him too much, or he’ll get fat. Really, really fat…”