The Heavenly Dragon Imperial Palanquin rolled out from the Spirit-Energy World Bridge. Standing atop the carriage, Quinn Shepherd gazed into the distance—what met his eyes was a river of fire stretching millions of miles, dazzling and magnificent.
In the sky, the sun hung low, close to the ground. Flames streamed out from the sun like Vermilion Birds spreading their wings, sweeping across the land below.
There were also bird-headed, human-bodied gods weaving through the flames, soaring with broad wings. From the sky, long streams of fire constantly rained down.
For humans, a place like this would be a hellish nightmare. Yet for the gods who lived in Southern Extremity Heaven, it was comfortable and pleasant.
Quinn frowned slightly, looking at those gods chasing the sunfire currents. They weren’t Vermilion Bird clan at all—they were Heavenly Court gods.
And although the flames falling from the sky came from the sun, they weren’t natural solar flares. Those gods were borrowing the sun’s power with divine arts—to attack something!
"This technique is very similar to the Great Sun Star Lord’s divine arts!"
Quinn’s heart gave a jolt. "Great Sun Star Lord Dane Feng is the disciple of the Primordial God King, whose artifact, Imperial Heaven Venerable, is supposed to be in Xuandu. The Great Sun Star Lord shouldn’t be here. So whose army is this, able to wield the power of the sun?"
His eye twitched. Suddenly, the sky blazed even brighter—a gigantic sun descended from outer space above Southern Extremity Heaven, and from within it, enormous palaces flew out, like castles pouring with molten gold!
Drums thundered. Tens of thousands of gods stood before the palaces, pressing down toward Southern Extremity Heaven.
Those palaces, as vast as divine cities, hovered over Southern Extremity Heaven. Beneath each palace, enormous seals vibrated with a hum, shooting beams of light downward!
Quinn saw the light curtain descend, stamping Southern Extremity Heaven and making the continent quake violently. Thousands of mountain ranges sprang up, turning into seal-marks!
The scene was indescribably grand, yet deeply unsettling.
Not far from the World Bridge, squads of bird-headed gods stood in neat formation, guarding the bridge with strict vigilance.
The Heavenly Dragon Imperial Palanquin rolled out from the bridge, immediately alarming those gods, who came over to inquire. Dragon‑Qilin stepped forward: "Shepherd Heavenly Venerable is here to visit the Southern Emperor. Brother, what’s happening in Southern Extremity Heaven?"
The divine officer, hearing the name Shepherd Heavenly Venerable, dared not be negligent and quickly replied, "Reporting to Heavenly Venerable: the Southern Emperor has rebelled. Heavenly Court has dispatched troops to suppress the rebellion, and all the lords are attacking Southern Extremity Heaven. We are ordered to guard the World Bridge so the rebels don’t escape through it."
Quinn’s heart lurched. He hurried forward, demanding, "Southern Emperor Vermilion has rebelled? When did this happen? Are you sure she’s the one rebelling?"
The officer was startled, dropping to his knees with a thud. Trembling, he said, "Southern Emperor Vermilion led her army here, seized a Heavenly Court sacred artifact, rebelled and caused chaos, defied Heavenly Court. Heavenly Court is furious and dispatched troops to suppress her. I am only following orders..."
Annie panicked and tried to take flight, but Quinn’s divine sense swept out, trapping her gently. He said softly, "Annie, the situation isn’t clear yet. Hold on and let me investigate first."
He frowned. Southern Emperor Vermilion was nothing like Western Emperor White Tiger, who loved to charge recklessly. From Quinn’s few brief contacts, she was shrewd, knew when to advance or retreat, and was extremely clever. She would never do something like this unless the situation was dire!
Annie could only endure, transforming into a little blue sparrow perched on his shoulder, pacing back and forth and whispering, "My mother, she..."
Quinn lifted his hand, letting her stand on his finger and motioned her to stay silent. He asked the officer gently, "Which Heavenly Venerable’s artifact is being used to suppress Southern Extremity Heaven?"
"It’s Flame-Venerable’s artifact."
The officer said, "Flame-Venerable is personally guarding Southern Extremity Heaven."
Quinn’s eye twitched, his voice hoarse: "Flame-Venerable?"
The officer nodded.
Quinn steadied himself. "Flame-Venerable came in person?"
The officer replied with utmost respect, "Flame-Venerable descended in person, reclaiming his artifact and battling the Southern Emperor. They’ve already reached the Southern Forbidden Zone. Besides Flame-Venerable’s army, the Red Empress of Southern Heaven has also brought troops, the Divine-Might Guards are here to suppress the rebellion, and I’ve heard the Celestial River Fleet is nearly here too."
Quinn’s eye twitched. Flame-Venerable had come personally, with two Divine-Might Guards corps—two hundred thousand gods and demons, likely all Jade Capital or High Heaven Hall Stage experts. Add the Celestial River Fleet, and Flame-Venerable clearly intended to take Southern Extremity Heaven in one stroke!
Even as he thought, more suns were forcibly dragged overhead, powerful magnetic forces twisting space. Thousands of gods and demons descended from the sky, charging toward Southern Extremity Heaven to battle the Vermilion Bird Palace defenders!
"But why is Red Empress Claudia Qi here too?"
Quinn felt uneasy. Claudia Qi was Moon-Venerable’s secret disciple—more than that, she was also Southern Emperor Vermilion’s disciple, a mole planted by these two women inside Heavenly Court.
Claudia Qi would never betray the Southern Emperor.
Her personally leading Southern Heaven’s army here was very strange.
Still, Flame-Venerable had always hated evil and despised ancient gods. If he came to kill Southern Emperor Vermilion, he would never hold back!
"You Heavenly Venerable once said Flame-Venerable isn’t the same as before. Has he really changed?"
Quinn felt uneasy. Annie on his finger was nearly crushing it in her grip. Quinn endured the pain and kept asking: "How long has Flame-Venerable been suppressing the rebellion?"
The officer replied, "Four days now."
Quinn’s heart clenched. He said coolly, "Southern Emperor has rebelled—I’ll go personally to suppress the rebellion. Drake Piers, let’s go."
The officer hesitated. "Heavenly Venerable, the battlefield ahead is extremely dangerous. You’d be safer staying here."
Quinn said with a half-smile, "Who’s the Heavenly Venerable here, you or me?"
The officer jumped in fright and hurriedly waved his hand, ordering the celestial soldiers and generals around to clear a path.
Quinn returned to the palanquin. The Heavenly Dragon Imperial Palanquin sped toward the Southern Forbidden Zone—the Southern Emperor Vermilion’s birthplace. If Flame-Venerable had fought his way in, it likely meant the Southern Emperor was doomed!
"She can’t be that stupid. No way..."
Quinn set Annie down. The little blue sparrow darted anxiously around the carriage, poking her head out the window again and again.
Quinn had a thought. The palanquin’s windows and walls clanged, retracting into the body, giving a full view of the outside world.
The six Heavenly Dragons transformed into their full forms, each stretching for miles. The palanquin grew larger, radiant and majestic, speeding through the skies with overwhelming force.
"Don’t worry, Annie."
Quinn calmed the anxious little blue sparrow. "Your mother’s every bit as cunning as I am. If she really did rebel, she must have a reason. Besides, I’m the undying Grand Magus—if she dies, I can bring her back to life."
Annie stopped, shifting into the form of the little maid who served Moon-Venerable.
Quinn considered, then handed her Moon-Venerable’s lantern. "This is from Moon-Venerable—take it for protection. Once we enter the battlefield, stray attacks are inevitable. Guard the palanquin."
Annie suppressed her anxiety, gripping the lantern and standing at the front of the carriage. Its light rippled out in waves, enveloping the palanquin.
Powerful divine arts flew in from sky and earth, but as they touched the lantern’s light, they vanished—only to reappear thousands of miles away, their force exploding harmlessly.
Even the sunfire encountered on the road disappeared upon meeting the lantern’s light.
Even palaces flying from the sun, once they touched the lantern’s light, instantly appeared thousands of miles away, unable to approach the palanquin.
This lantern was a treasure Moon-Venerable gave Annie to pass to Quinn, to protect him in the Void. Quinn had never used it before, but now, seeing its wonders, he couldn’t help but praise Moon-Venerable’s divine skill.
With the lantern guarding the palanquin, they pressed forward. Annie called out directions to Drake Piers, who handled the reins and guided the Heavenly Dragons onward.
The six Heavenly Dragons roared, their voices rolling like thunder, summoning storms and speeding up faster and faster.
Yet Southern Extremity Heaven was vast, and the Forbidden Zone lay far ahead—it would take more than a day to reach it.
Just then, Quinn heard faint music ahead. He stood up and looked into the distance.
A Phoenix Ship sailed in from outer space, its massive prow piercing the atmosphere. The Phoenix Ship spread its wings, and countless Southern Heaven soldiers steered smaller tower-ships down from it. From those tower-ships, countless feather-blades flew out, plowing the land and mountains like an endless field!
Wherever the feather-blades swept, mountains and rivers shattered!
Quinn’s eye twitched. The gods and demons under Red Empress Claudia Qi were showing no mercy to Southern Extremity Heaven—this was beyond anything he expected!
Claudia Qi was a military genius. At the end of the High Sovereign Era, she personally led troops into battle and slew the then Southern Heaven Red Emperor of Heavenly Court!
Her army was fearsome—wherever she went, few would be left alive.
"Drake, approach the Phoenix Ship!"
Drake Piers obeyed, steering the carriage closer. The Heavenly Dragon Imperial Palanquin drew near the Phoenix Ship, whose guardian was a woman. Behind her floated the Nine Phoenix spirit—formidable and fierce. She called out from afar, "Is that Shepherd Heavenly Venerable aboard? Heavenly Venerable, halt!"
Drake Piers quickly stopped the carriage.
Quinn sat inside and asked, "Is the Red Empress aboard?"
The woman general bowed. "Her Majesty the Red Empress has gone to Vermilion Bird Palace to suppress the rebellion—she isn’t aboard."
Quinn waved his hand, and the Heavenly Dragon Imperial Palanquin rolled onward. Soon, they finally saw Vermilion Bird Palace.
Vermilion Bird Palace was the oldest of the palaces. Now, it lay battered and full of holes—countless halls had collapsed, massive buildings falling from the sky like mountains to smash the earth.
A nine-headed phoenix, colossal beyond measure, was tearing Vermilion Bird Palace apart with every beat of its wings. Its nine heads spewed radiant light in all directions, sweeping the gods and demons of Vermilion Bird Palace.
Atop one of the phoenix’s heads stood Claudia Qi, barefoot, cradling a long zither. Her robes fluttered as her fingers danced—music rang out, sharp as the keenest sword-qi, slashing down and scattering the Vermilion Bird Palace defenders.
Corpses fell like rain around her—none could withstand a single blow.
All around, divine maidens soared and fought, wielding magic and slaying any survivors. Sometimes they took human form, sometimes they became phoenixes, wings unfurled in flight.
Among the palace’s strongest, Claudia Qi’s power rivaled even Black Emperor Lord Umbral!
"Young master..." Annie turned to Quinn, her eyes pleading.
Quinn gritted his teeth. He truly couldn’t fathom what Claudia Qi was aiming for.
"Red Empress!"
Quinn’s divine sense surged, his voice booming out. Claudia Qi turned, tapped her toe, and the phoenix’s head beneath her wavered, transforming into another Claudia Qi. This avatar flew toward the palanquin, bowed, and said, "Your servant greets Shepherd Heavenly Venerable."
Quinn’s gaze was complicated. It was only an avatar—her true body was still attacking Vermilion Bird Palace, showing no sign of mercy.
"Red Empress, Heaven cherishes life. When mercy is possible, show mercy—why wipe everyone out?" Quinn said gently.
Claudia Qi looked at him deeply. Suddenly, her true body shimmered, splitting into eight phoenixes. Their unmatched wings swept over Vermilion Bird Palace, flames blazing, melting the ancient palace and burying countless gods in phoenix fire!
The eight phoenixes merged, forming an eight-headed rainbow phoenix, which turned and flew toward the palanquin. With a flash, it merged into the avatar before Quinn. Behind Claudia Qi, the Nine Phoenix spirit spread its wings, filling the sky with fire!
The Nine Phoenix spirit folded its wings and slowly vanished.
Annie glared at her, teeth clenched. "I raised you when you were little! How could you treat me like this?"
Claudia Qi boarded the palanquin, bowing at the front. "Heavenly Venerable, why did the Southern Emperor send her daughter away at birth? Don’t you understand? There’s no one left for her in Vermilion Bird Palace. I’m only helping her out."
Quinn asked, "Then where is the Southern Emperor?"
"In the Forbidden Zone."
Claudia Qi pointed into the distance. "If you hurry, you might still see her one last time."
——Recommended: A fun new book, 'Turns Out I’m a Second-Generation Demon,' by Newsboy Young Master!