Chapter 870 — An Elder of the Alliance

"I should long ago have realized that Your Majesty's soul-black sand was hidden in the Tianyin Realm. Because Your Majesty's soul was hidden here, Lady Tianyin died for it.

The reason the Yin Son of Heaven wished to control the Tianyin Realm was not to deal with Lady Tianyin, but to keep watch over Your Majesty's soul, scattered as it was. A pity Lady Tianyin never realized this — which is why the Yin Son of Heaven was able to take her unawares.

" Within the surging soul-black sand a figure could faintly be seen; when it spoke, the black sand was shaken outward in a swell, yet it could never escape its bonds.

"The Shepherd Heavenly Sovereign could revive Lady Tianyin, and can revive me as well. After you revived Lady Tianyin, I realized that my chance had come. A pity — the Shepherd Heavenly Sovereign is worthy of his name, truly so troublesome, always making a fool of me.

" The figure in the black sand said, "But you are right. I am, after all, a dead ancient god, and you are indeed qualified to haggle with me, qualified to form an alliance with me. " Shen Mu looked him up and down, then suddenly said, "Who gathered your soul? " The figure in the black sand was slightly taken aback, then laughed. "Why does my beloved minister say so?

" "The art of reviving souls was created by me; whether someone gathered your soul, I can tell at a glance. " Shen Mu said indifferently, "In all the world, those with the strength to revive an ancient god are few — only one, and that is me.

But those who can gather a soul are rather more numerous. Years ago I invited five here to organize the rune system of the Tianyin Realm: Yama, King of Fengdu; the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping; Xu Shenghua; the First Ancestor Human Sovereign; and the Woodcutter Sage. They perfected the rune system of the Tianyin Realm and branded the runes upon the cliffs by the sea.

Yet even with the Tianyin Realm's rune system, to deduce and derive the art of gathering a soul is no feat for an ordinary person. To gather a soul for the Heavenly Emperor requires a master among masters.

Who is this person?

" The Heavenly Emperor in the black sand did not answer.

Just then, a figure walked out from the Tianyin Palace and laughed.

"It was I. Shepherd Heavenly Sovereign, it has been a long time. Do you remember that flick of yours upon this poor Daoist's compass? " Shen Mu stared wide-eyed at the figure, and saw a slovenly old Daoist emerge, hair in wild disarray, unkempt and unshorn, a compass cradled in his hand. Though he looked aged and down on his luck, his eyes shone with extraordinary brightness, holding boundless wisdom. Shen Mu drew a long breath and laughed. "Dao Ancestor, it has been a long time. " The slovenly old Daoist stepped forward and saluted: "The old Daoist of the Heavenly Alliance greets the Shepherd Heavenly Sovereign.

" Shen Mu was greatly shaken; the corner of his eye twitched, and he cried out, "Dao Ancestor, you too are of the Heavenly Alliance?

" The slovenly old Daoist laughed. "The Shepherd Heavenly Sovereign has by now met the White-Browed Monk, I expect?

He too is one of the Heavenly Alliance's founding elders. " Shen Mu's head swam.

The Great Brahma Heaven King Buddha was also of the Heavenly Alliance?

A single incarnation of that great Buddha had been dwelling all along in the Shen Character Continent within his brow; though it slept and lazed, nothing that happened in the Shen Character Continent could escape its notice!

Could it be that they too had a hand in controlling the Heavenly Court?

Lady Tianyin came over and said, "Everyone, please come into the palace and rest a while.

" Shen Mu steadied himself and followed her into the Tianyin Palace, saying over his shoulder, "Fatty Dragon, Sister Yan'er, you stay outside. Imperial Brother, you.

.

.

you come in! " The Royal Heavenly Sovereign followed foolishly behind him into the palace; everyone took their seats, with no distinction of host and guest.

Shen Mu's mind settled, and he thought, "Worst comes to worst, I tear all pretense away, merge with my brother on the spot to become the Little Earth Lord, turn this place into the Nether Capital, and bring the Earth Lord in to thrash them all!

" At this thought he smiled and said, "Dao Ancestor led me to the Repository Pavilion and truly opened my eyes.

So when did the Dao Ancestor realize that the Tianyin Realm's rune system had been established? And when did you find your way here?

To cultivate a disciple like Yan Qiling is not the work of a year or two.

Even if you revived the Heavenly Emperor, he could not in so short a time have raised such an outstanding disciple. " The slovenly old Daoist laughed.

"The Heavenly Emperor still has one soul that has not scattered; it is hidden in the Heavenly Court. That soul too is one of the Heavenly Alliance's founding elders, and naturally it has taught many disciples. "