Inside the True Dragon Nest, Quinn Shepherd finally got his wish: he comprehended every Dragon Tongue inscription carved throughout the Nest.
The Azure Desolation Elder himself was a true dragon, and he recognized nearly every Dragon Tongue glyph. His cultivation was so profound that Quinn couldn’t even guess what realm he had reached.
Still, to have once ruled the Azure Dragon Palace—one of the Four Great Heaven Palaces of the Pioneer Heavenly Court—his skill must have surpassed even the Woodcutter Sage and Lord Hades.
The starry Heavenly Court is divided into the Five Heaven Palaces, collectively known as the Heavenly Court. The Azure Dragon Palace governs the sixty eastern stars; the White Tiger Palace rules the twenty-seven western stars; the Vermilion Bird Palace oversees the thirty-nine southern stars; and the Black Tortoise Palace commands the forty northern stars.
At the center stands the Heavenly Emperor Palace, ruling over the Heaven-Emperor star cluster.
Of the Four Great Heaven Palaces, the Azure Dragon Palace ranks highest after the Heavenly Emperor Palace. The Azure Desolation Elder’s prowess can be imagined.
When he interpreted the True Dragon Lord’s cultivation method, he didn’t decipher it character by character like Myles Jiang did. Instead, he directly transformed all the Dragon Tongue script within the Nest into a coherent cultivation art, teaching it to both Quinn and Myles from the basics up to its deepest secrets.
This cultivation art was called the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art. It utilized every aspect of Dragon Tongue, with dragon-roar vibrations refining the body and Primordial Spirit. Its yuanqi-cultivation method, divine-art training, and body-refining techniques were all hidden within the Dragon Tongue script.
For cultivators, this art advanced every facet of their being: its yuanqi was vast, its divine arts exquisitely refined, and its physical strengthening methods were all top-tier—worthy of being called a Dao Realm-level scripture!
If one could fully comprehend it, entering the Dao through its Supreme-Mystic Art would not be difficult.
This was the first truly complete Dao Realm-level cultivation art that Quinn had ever seen—and it was whole, without missing pieces.
The Dao Sword Fourteen Chapters from the Dao Gate sect were incomplete—the stars in the sky were fake, severing the path forward. The Fourteenth Chapter could never be fully understood, so the Fourteenth Sword could not reach Dao Realm.
The Grand Buddha Mahayana Scripture of Great Thunderclap Monastery could only refine one’s state of mind to Dao Realm, while cultivation level could reach only the Twentieth Heaven. Beyond the Great Brahma Heaven, no further scripture existed.
The Little Jade Capital’s arts could only bring one’s cultivation to the level of a god; beyond that, the path ended.
The Cult of the Heavenly Saint’s Grand Fostering Heavenly Demon Sutra reached even greater heights in divine arts, but also lacked any post-god cultivation scripture.
The Everpeace Empire’s cultivation arts suffered from historical gaps, resulting in innate flaws—every holy land’s scripture had major shortcomings.
Even in the Pioneer Era’s Heaven, where Quinn had met many gods and demon gods, he had never seen or heard of a scripture that could take someone directly to Dao Realm.
Even the true gods of the Pioneer Era’s Heaven could only reach Dao Realm in one particular aspect of their cultivation. To achieve Dao Realm in every facet required personal insight and grinding effort.
The scriptures of the Pioneer Era’s Heaven could not directly carry a cultivator to Dao Realm.
Only the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art could take one straight to Dao Realm. Training in this art could forge an Ancestral Dragon Primordial Spirit, elevate one’s mastery of dragon-clan divine arts to Dao Realm, and refine the body to that same pinnacle—a truly heaven-defying scripture!
He tried to embed the Ancestral Dragon Eight Tones into his yuanqi circulation; it required only a few changes: applying Guiding Tone when energy reached the heart, Adhesive Tone in the blood, Spiraling Tone in the Spirit Embryo, and so on.
While modifying his cultivation art in the True Dragon Nest, Quinn ignored everything around him. The Azure Desolation Elder and Myles Jiang were soon drawn by the commotion of his adjustments, their gazes settling on the diagram of his art's circulation.
"Don't bother."
The Azure Desolation Elder shook his head and said to Myles, "You won't be able to learn it. This person is almost monstrously clever—his foundation and wisdom are already beyond your understanding. I'll explain the mysteries of the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art for you."
"Maha."
"You don't need to be afraid of me."
Myles Jiang mustered his courage, transformed into human form, and stood obediently to the side.
The Azure Desolation Elder explained the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art to him, making the lessons as simple as possible so Myles could understand.
The explanation lasted four or five days. At last, Quinn managed to integrate the Ancestral Dragon Eight Tones into his Overlord Three-Core Art. When he activated it, his yuanqi naturally produced the Eight Tones, tempering his body, Primordial Spirit, yuanqi, and dao-heart.
Even when he used his divine arts, the Ancestral Dragon Eight Tones resonated, tempering his powers.
Quinn roamed the True Dragon Nest, unleashing divine arts one after another. Dragon roars echoed continuously, and his techniques grew ever more powerful, filling him with delight.
Clang—
He drew two butcher's knives and unleashed the Rainy Night Battle at the City—yet as soon as the technique began, both knives shattered in his hands!
Stunned, Quinn pulled a bamboo staff from his gluttonous pouch and thrust it forward—only for the staff to crumble to dust.
The power of the Ancestral Dragon Eight Tones is overwhelming; ordinary spirit weapons simply can't withstand it.
He took out his sword marble; the flying swords within flowed like water, forming a long blade. Quinn grasped it, split it in two, and performed the Boundless Line of Heaven—horizontal and vertical.
Blades flashed and intersected, their power far greater than before, nearly slicing through the dragon pillars in the nest. Quinn quickly withdrew his technique, just barely avoiding wrecking the nest.
He examined the two long blades, then tossed them into the air, where they broke apart into flying swords that slowly orbited around him.
Quinn inspected them closely, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and said with satisfaction, "Fortunately, my flying swords are well-refined—otherwise, I'd truly have no weapons left."
He fell into thought again; aside from the Eight Tones, the divine techniques within the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art were also worth learning.
The Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art contained many unpredictable divine arts—some could be transformed into Buddhist arts, some into Daoist arts, and even as demonic arts, they would be formidable!
He also realized that many of these divine arts could be adapted into sword techniques, and if used as saber techniques, they would be equally powerful.
Among them, the movement arts were especially exquisite, and the eye techniques were equally astonishing.
The deeper he delved, the more exceptional the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art appeared. He could only regret that he was not of dragonkind and could not push these divine arts to their utmost.
When he finally returned to himself, the Azure Desolation Elder and Myles Jiang were no longer in the True Dragon Nest. Quinn hurriedly leaped out and saw Myles practicing the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art outside the village.
The youth had transformed into a treasure-blue chi-dragon, gliding as he cultivated, displaying the Ancestral Dragon Supreme-Mystic Art's combat techniques. In just a few days, Myles's strength had advanced dramatically, his movements vigorous and fierce.
Quinn couldn't help but praise him. He saw that many young men and women from the village were watching Myles train, cheering him on enthusiastically.
Quinn walked forward and noticed a girl who looked about his age—perhaps even a year or two younger. He smiled and asked, "What's your name, little sister?"
The girl's face flushed. "My name is Qingya. Don't call me 'little sister'—I'm already three hundred years old. How old are you?"
Quinn's face reddened. He looked to the boy next to him, who seemed about his own age, and ventured, "And you, brother...?"
"I'm six hundred and thirty-seven years old," the boy replied, blinking.
Quinn groaned inwardly. Every one of these 'youths' was terrifyingly old.
A middle-aged man nearby chuckled, "I'm twenty-eight thousand years old."
Quinn stopped asking about their ages. Suddenly, he perked up and smiled, "Have any of you been to Everpeace? I'm the Cult Master of the Cult of the Heavenly Saint, and we're in need of talent right now..."
The Azure Desolation Elder strode over with a fishing net and a dark face. "Don't try to recruit anyone from our village! I've taught you the art—it's time for you to go!"
Quinn hurried to explain, "Senior, there's a war raging in the Pioneer Heaven right now, and my master has gone to help..."
The Azure Desolation Elder said, "Qingya, see them out."
The girl named Qingya reached out, unleashing an utterly terrifying burst of yuanqi that instantly immobilized Quinn.
With her other hand, Qingya grabbed Myles. "Don't move, you two. I'll send you a thousand li away!" With that, she breathed out a cloud, and Quinn and Myles found themselves flying through the mist at incredible speed.
"Such terrifying cultivation?"
Quinn jumped in fright and shouted, "Senior, I still have something to say..."
Suddenly the mist cleared, and they landed atop a mountain. Quinn stared, unable to see the village anywhere in the distance.
He hadn't even finished his sentence before the girl, who looked his age, had sent him a thousand li away.
"Maha!" Myles said, full of envy.
"You'll be that strong too one day," Quinn reassured him.
Quinn sighed. Suddenly, the True Dragon Nest came whistling through the air and landed before them. Quinn's face changed—this nest was impossibly heavy. He was about to dodge when it stopped and gently settled atop the mountain. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, even more awed than before. "Could Qingya have thrown the True Dragon Nest as well? Her power is just too much. My own magic can only send a few hundred pounds of flying swords two hundred li away, but she can send the entire True Dragon Nest a thousand li..."
"Maha!" Myles said, still envious.
Quinn shook his head and said, "Myles, you can speak normally, you know. Strange, I'm not some disaster star—so why won't the Azure Desolation Elder let me stay...?"
The girl's face flushed. "My name is Qingya. Don't call me 'little sister'—I'm already three hundred years old. How old are you?"
Quinn's face reddened. He looked to the boy next to him, who seemed about his own age, and ventured, "And you, brother...?"
"I'm six hundred and thirty-seven years old," the boy replied, blinking.
Quinn groaned inwardly. Every one of these 'youths' was terrifyingly old.
A middle-aged man nearby chuckled, "I'm twenty-eight thousand years old."
Quinn stopped asking about their ages. Suddenly, he perked up and smiled, "Have any of you been to Everpeace? I'm the Cult Master of the Cult of the Heavenly Saint, and we're in need of talent right now..."
The Azure Desolation Elder strode over with a fishing net and a dark face. "Don't try to recruit anyone from our village! I've taught you the art—it's time for you to go!"
Quinn hurried to explain, "Senior, there's a war raging in the Pioneer Heaven right now, and my master has gone to help..."
The Azure Desolation Elder said, "Qingya, see them out."
The girl named Qingya reached out, unleashing an utterly terrifying burst of yuanqi that instantly immobilized Quinn.
With her other hand, Qingya grabbed Myles. "Don't move, you two. I'll send you a thousand li away!" With that, she breathed out a cloud, and Quinn and Myles found themselves flying through the mist at incredible speed.
"Such terrifying cultivation?"
Quinn jumped in fright and shouted, "Senior, I still have something to say..."
Suddenly the mist cleared, and they landed atop a mountain. Quinn stared, unable to see the village anywhere in the distance.
He hadn't even finished his sentence before the girl, who looked his age, had sent him a thousand li away.
"Maha!" Myles said, full of envy.
"You'll be that strong too one day," Quinn reassured him.
Quinn sighed. Suddenly, the True Dragon Nest came whistling through the air and landed before them. Quinn's face changed—this nest was impossibly heavy. He was about to dodge when it stopped and gently settled atop the mountain. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief, even more awed than before. "Could Qingya have thrown the True Dragon Nest as well? Her power is just too much. My own magic can only send a few hundred pounds of flying swords two hundred li away, but she can send the entire True Dragon Nest a thousand li..."
"Maha!" Myles said, still envious.
Quinn shook his head and said, "Myles, you can speak normally, you know. Strange, I'm not some disaster star—so why won't the Azure Desolation Elder let me stay...?"