Old Ox followed behind the two, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his face. The qi between Quinn and the Pioneer Emperor kept shifting; though neither made a move openly, they were secretly contending with each other, neither willing to yield!
"Both of them are stubborn donkeys turned spirit!"
Old Ox kept wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, thinking, "I really shouldn't have listened to Master and taken Quinn to see Lady Umbral. I should've stayed by Master's side, sipping tea and puffing on a water pipe. If the Pioneer Emperor loses, that's bad; if Quinn loses, that's also bad. Either way, how will I explain myself when I get back? I can't just say I delivered Quinn to the ancient Heavenly Court and then he beat up the Pioneer Emperor..."
At this point, he really didn't know whom he should help.
If he went by closeness, he ought to help the Pioneer Emperor.
But Quinn was such a good kid, always treating him with respect, always calling him 'Senior Brother Sam.' Deep down, he actually felt closer to Quinn.
He was truly in a bind.
Still, he could tell that both Quinn and the Pioneer Emperor were geniuses. Their qi shifted in countless ways; every tiny movement of their bodies, every subtle fluctuation of their primordial spirits, every faint change in their vital energy would trigger a response from the other.
With every step they took, their bodies changed dozens of times. Because their vision and insight were so high, each shift targeted the other's weaknesses. The moment their qi collided, their steps became crooked and awkward, as if they were limping and staggering.
Both of them looked drunk—the further they walked, the more disheveled they became. But neither could stop; it was like riding a tiger and being unable to get off.
Fortunately, they were almost at the giant kun's head—just two or three more li and they'd reach Jasper Yin.
Jasper Yin was excitedly watching Lady Umbral's carriage approach. Many people had already gathered at the kun's head, all craning their necks to look up.
Quinn and the Pioneer Emperor stumbled forward, both drenched in sweat, their vital energy swirling ever more intensely around them as they marched on, seemingly unable to stop.
Jasper Yin suddenly felt something, quickly turned around, and saw Quinn and the Pioneer Emperor approaching. Instantly, he sensed two clashing currents of qi—one from Quinn, one from the Pioneer Emperor.
"Why are those two fighting? If they're at odds, that's actually good for me—I can make friends with both sides and they'll both be grateful to me!"
Jasper Yin was surprised, then grew excited: "The way they're fighting is really strange—I've never seen anything like it. Maybe I should step in and separate them so they'll both thank me!"
He burst forth with his qi, wedged himself between them, and said with a smile, "Brother Quinn, Brother Shepherd, let me mediate..."
But as soon as his qi entered the space between them, the clashing currents from Quinn and the Pioneer Emperor surged into him like a flood seeking release!
Jasper Yin didn't even finish his sentence—he was instantly overwhelmed by the pressure of those two currents, his mind going blank, unable to think at all!
He felt as if the world around him suddenly shattered and collapsed, and he was falling from the endless sky into a pit of darkness—an infinite, bottomless darkness!
He couldn't struggle, only keep falling, keep sinking. Slowly, he saw two colossal faces in the darkness—one was 'Shepherd Mark,' the other 'Kai Keane.' One on the left, one on the right.
The two faces were unimaginably huge, and he was tiny between them, plummeting into endless darkness.
Just then, Quinn's voice rang out: "Brother Yin! Brother Yin!"
The vision before Jasper Yin's eyes vanished. Gradually, Quinn's kindly face appeared, holding his left arm, while the Pioneer Emperor supported his right, keeping him from collapsing.
Jasper Yin was drenched in sweat, as if he'd just been fished out of water.
"Brother Yin, are you feeling unwell?"
Quinn said with concern, "I'm quite skilled in medicine—I could diagnose you, if you'd like. As they say, a doctor should care for patients as if they were family..."
The Pioneer Emperor smiled, "Brother Yin was just caught between us and got frightened—he's not sick. Medicine is three parts poison; if he takes your medicine, he'll get sick even if he wasn't before. Brother Shepherd..."
"Don't call me Brother Shepherd!"
Veins bulged on Quinn's forehead as he fought down his impulse—after all, the Pioneer Emperor was his ancestor; how could he call him 'Brother'?
The Pioneer Emperor misunderstood, and said coldly, "My intention was to turn hostility into peace, but you refuse to accept it. Do you really think I'm afraid of you? Your skills are high, but not necessarily higher than mine!"
Quinn sneered, "Maybe my skills aren't above yours, but my dao-heart is. I wouldn't be as pathetic as you."
Jasper Yin had a splitting headache and quickly said, "Lady Umbral's carriage is here! Stop arguing—can't you two talk things over properly?"
A chorus of dragon roars echoed as enormous dragons, pulling an impossibly ornate sky-blue treasure carriage, approached. Each dragon was even larger than the giant kun beneath their feet, riding clouds and mist as they soared overhead.
The dragons were clad in azure armor, artifacts forged from Umbral Gold. Their bodies radiated dazzling treasure-light into the sky. The carriage itself was also made of Umbral Gold, adorned with clouds, with strings of pearls—each a condensed star—hanging from the canopy, refined down to just over ten zhang in size.
The clouds floated among the hanging pearls, and together they blocked everyone's view. All that could be seen was the faint silhouette of a goddess seated beneath the canopy.
Jasper Yin stared, utterly entranced, until the dragons drew the carriage toward the center of the Heavenly Court. Only then did he reluctantly look away, muttering, "When will I ever have such majesty?"
The people around them all burst out laughing.
Even the giant kun beneath their feet couldn't help but chortle, its laughter booming and deep.
Jasper Yin's face flushed bright red. Stammering, he said, "Don't laugh at me! One day, I'll be just as awe-inspiring and domineering! Just wait—someday, you'll all bow at my feet..."
[This chapter isn't over yet ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!]
The laughter grew even louder.
Jasper Yin's face turned even redder as he tried to argue, but the Pioneer Emperor said, "Brother Yin, there are countless people in the world, but only a handful will accomplish great deeds and be remembered by history. The rest only mock those with ambition. Don't let it bother you."
Jasper Yin felt truly grateful and said, "Swallows and sparrows can't understand the lofty ambitions of a swan. I won't stoop to their level."
Quinn glanced at the Pioneer Emperor, thinking, "Is he expressing his own ambition, or is he warning these people so Jasper Yin won't take revenge on them in the future? Maybe both. Now that I'm back in the past, can I really kill Jasper Yin and change the future?"
He hesitated inside.
The giant kun carried them onward, soaring over layer upon layer of palace complexes. Along the way, they passed several more grand carriages of ancient gods, each one drawing waves of envy.
At last, they arrived at the Jade Pool of the Heavenly Court.
The Heavenly Court was so vast that even at the kun's speed, it took a long time to reach the Jade Pool.
The giant kun slowed and docked beside a white jade terrace at the edge of the Jade Pool. Everyone disembarked. Jasper Yin paid Quinn's fare—actually overpaid, giving the kun extra Jade Dragon Pills. The kun wagged its head and tail, then soared up to the celestial river, diving in and swimming off into the distance.
Although the Jade Pool is called a 'pool,' to Quinn and the others it seemed more like a vast ocean within the Heavenly Court. Misty clouds drifted above, countless immortal mountains dotted the sea, and enormous sea turtles swam about, each carrying a sacred mountain on its back.
In the sea, there were lotus flowers so large they spanned hundreds of mu. Some were in full bloom, their red and white petals strikingly beautiful; others were still buds, standing tall in shades of green, white, and pink—altogether quite a sight.
Many cultivators played near the Jade Pool—most from the lower realms, and some were the so-called 'demigods' Jasper Yin had mentioned, appearing not in human form but as divine beasts.
—To people of later generations, these demigods were simply divine beasts, but to those of this era, they were demigods, possessing supreme bloodlines and status. Even cultivators treated them with utmost respect.
At the Jade Pool's edge, people summoned giant turtles from the sea, paid them spirit pills, then climbed onto the sacred mountains on their backs. The turtles carried these mountains deep into the Jade Pool.
Some of the giant lotus flowers even housed tiny kingdoms, and many visitors went there to play.
"To the ancient gods, this is the Jade Pool; to us, it's the Jade Sea."
Jasper Yin said, "For this grand gathering in the Heavenly Court, many have come from the lower realms to see the world—these are just ordinary folk. But Venerable Yu and several others are different; their ambitions are great. They've used this occasion to invite heroes from the lower realms and host the Jade Pool Assembly. We may not be ancient gods, but we must still make our mark!"
His eyes sparkled. Quinn noticed and thought, "Jasper Yin was once an idealistic, ambitious youth. No wonder he achieved so much in the future, becoming one of the rare Emperor Seat powerhouses—he truly had talent."
Jasper Yin summoned a giant sea turtle and said, "We are here at Venerable Yu's invitation, attending the Jade Pool Assembly."
The old turtle said, "Venerable Yu instructed us not to charge spirit pills for those attending the Jade Pool Assembly. Please, go ahead."
Quinn was surprised and asked, "Is Venerable Yu highly ranked here in the Heavenly Court?"
Jasper Yin laughed, "Venerable Yu is the leader of all us lower races, so of course his status is high. Even the ancient gods call him 'Dao-friend' and see him as the one who advanced Daoist arts and divine powers."
They climbed onto the sacred mountain atop the turtle's back. The old turtle immediately swam into the depths of the Jade Pool, surrounded by scenery so lovely it defied description.
"Venerable Yu was the first to open the Spirit Embryo Treasury. Cultivation of the treasuries began with him. When he opened it, the Dao of heaven and earth changed—truly shocking the world. Ancient gods projected themselves down, surrounding him and praising him as the inaugurator of a great era."
Jasper Yin said, "Heaven Duke gave him the title Venerable Yu, Tu Bo granted him immortality. But others are equally renowned: Venerable Vast-Sky opened the Five Luminaries Treasury; he isn't surnamed Hao, but has 'Hao' in his name, so the ancient gods gave him the title Venerable Vast-Sky. Then there's Venerable Skysoar, who founded the Six Directions Treasury; Moon-Venerable, who opened the Seven Stars Treasury; Flame-Venerable, who created the Heaven-Man Treasury; Nether-Venerable, who opened the Life and Death Treasury; and Cloud-Venerable, who founded the Divine Bridge Treasury. They're honored as the Seven Heavenly Venerables—each time one succeeded, the Dao of heaven and earth shifted, and the Heavenly Emperor recognized their titles."
Quinn murmured, "What an awe-inspiring era. Those who established the treasury cultivation system truly deserve the title 'Venerable.' Even if future generations innovate, it's hard to surpass them..."
The Pioneer Emperor felt the same way and said, "To meet the Seven Heavenly Venerables—this trip is worth it."
The two exchanged glances, then each gave a cold snort and turned away.
Old Ox, stuck between them, felt twice the pressure and secretly groaned, "Both of these guys are stubborn mules turned spirit—let's hope they don't cause any more trouble, or it'll be tough to be an ox..."
Up ahead, a cluster of palaces gleamed with golden light, resplendent and imposing. The old turtle carried the sacred mountain to the front of these sea palaces and said, "We've arrived at the Jade Pool secret realm."
Jasper Yin hurried ahead, calling loudly, "Venerable Yu, your little brother Yin Chaojin has come to join the assembly!"
Quinn and the Pioneer Emperor also moved forward, while Old Ox squeezed between them, determined to prevent any trouble. He thought, "As long as they don't start a bloody fight, that'll be my greatest achievement!"
Inside these palaces, crowds bustled back and forth—there must have been countless cultivators from all realms, invited to attend the assembly.
Quinn's heart surged with excitement: "How many of these people will become legendary figures who astonish future generations?"
Suddenly, he was startled to see a monk—and beside him, a Daoist priest.
[Author's note: Just a thousand more votes to surpass last month's record! Breaking my own monthly record is worth celebrating—please vote!]