Chapter 1022 — The Illusory Dream of Dutian

Crown Prince Mingya and the Three Dukes richly rewarded the Old Demon of Dutian for his valor, promoted him before the ranks, enfeoffed him as General of Loyal Valor with a divine office of the fourth rank proper, and gave him command of an army to follow the Crown Prince in war. The fighting in Taixu was exceedingly perilous, and yet the Old Demon of Dutian seemed to have the help of Heaven itself: he won wonder upon wonder, and his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, breaking through to the God-Slaying Terrace realm, then breaking through to the Jade Capital realm, and he won still more the appreciation of Crown Prince Mingya, who promoted him again and again. Unawares, a thousand years of war went by.

Under the Crown Prince and the Three Dukes, the Old Demon of Dutian met the counterattack of the Creator race, and time and again beat them back, earning merit of sweat and blood. Higher and higher rose his military merit, until he was enfeoffed as General of Returning Virtue. Then one day the Venerable descended upon the land of Taixu, preparing to exterminate the Creator race with all his strength and open the road to the Land of No Sorrow.

The Crown Prince and the Three Dukes handed in their military authority and returned with him in glory to the Heavenly Court, to receive the Heavenly Court's rewards.

The Heavenly Emperor summoned him in person to bestow them, and when he asked the Old Demon of Dutian what he desired, the Old Demon of Dutian knelt and said, "I beg only for one heaven, to be a dwelling for my people.

" The Heavenly Emperor and the hundred officials and gods all laughed, saying, "For such great merit, our good minister asks only for one heaven; truly he is simple and honest. " Whereupon he was rewarded with countless treasures, and two great heavens besides, and enfeoffed as a Marquis.

The Old Demon of Dutian's fame filled court and country, and he was about to go pay his respects at the residence of Venerable Mu, when the Crown Prince summoned him instead and said, "Venerable Mu has long harbored thoughts of rebellion; His Majesty has endured him a long while, only he cannot lay hands on proof. The Marquis is an old acquaintance of his; when you go to see him, he will surely be off his guard.

Hide this imperial robe and this imperial seal in his residence, and I will come to search; when the robe and seal are turned up, he shall be charged with treason and beheaded. Thus may His Majesty sleep without care! " The Old Demon of Dutian was aghast and dared not take the imperial seal and robe.

"You fear for your people? Dutian, once Venerable Mu is dead, your people are still yours.

" Crown Prince Mingya's face darkened, and he said with a cold smile, "Do not forget that I saw your worth and raised you up; it is I who promoted you, and only thus do you hold your present station.

It is time you repaid my kindness!

" The Old Demon of Dutian knelt on the ground and said, "Your Highness has shown me the kindness of one who knows my worth, but Venerable Mu too has treated me with kindness as weighty as a mountain.

That I cannot repay kindness with kindness is one thing; but I cannot repay kindness with enmity. I beg Your Highness to withdraw the order!

" Crown Prince Mingya flew into a rage, struck the table and rose, crying angrily, "To kill Venerable Mu, one must fabricate a charge against him; to kill you, not even a charge need be fabricated! Dutian, I give you two roads: either you walk once onto the God-Slaying Terrace, or you carry the imperial robe and seal into the residence of Venerable Mu.

Choose one! " The Old Demon of Dutian's mind roared; he struggled within himself a long while, and at last said, "Your servant is willing to ascend the God-Slaying Terrace. " The Crown Prince flicked his sleeve. "Then go and die! " On the God-Slaying Terrace the Old Demon of Dutian knelt, staring blankly as he thought over the fortunes of his life, his heart full of a thousand emotions, and he thought, "My people, over there with Venerable Mu, should be well enough. .

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" Two blades of light flashed, his head fell to the ground, and his primal spirit was slain as well; his soul scattered and his spirit dissipated, and he did not enter Youdu.

Before the Old Demon of Dutian's eyes fell a pure darkness. Just then he heard at his ear the call of that woman named Yan'er.

The Old Demon of Dutian hastily opened his eyes and looked about him, his mind in a daze, and he murmured, "Where is this? " "Dutian, why have you fallen asleep outside the Venerable's residence? " Yan'er said with a laugh.

"The young master is asking for you. " The Old Demon of Dutian said blankly, "Am I not dead? Where am I? Where is the God-Slaying Terrace?

Where is Crown Prince Mingya?

" Yan'er burst out laughing.

"What God-Slaying Terrace? This is the residence of Venerable Mu!

There is no Crown Prince Mingya here either.

I hear Crown Prince Mingya has fled, and none knows where he has gone.

Just now Fatty Long and I went to see the young master, and the young master bade me come out and call you in. Who would have thought you would be lying here asleep.

" The Old Demon of Dutian rose to his feet, still somewhat bewildered, and looked all around: the sunlight was bright and lovely, and this was indeed the residence of Venerable Mu in the Jade Capital City of the Heavenly Court; the passers-by of more than a thousand years ago had not yet walked far, as though only a brief moment had gone by.

And yet in his sleep a thousand years had passed; he had lived through countless savage battles in Taixu, had even returned in triumph to court and received the Heavenly Emperor's rewards, and in the end had been dragged onto the God-Slaying Terrace!

Yan'er led him into the residence, saying, "You must be exhausted, traveling so long a road, worn down by fatigue.

The young master does not like people to kneel to him, so when you meet him you must not kneel again. What elixir are you taking? " The Old Demon of Dutian shook his head.

"I take no elixir. " Yan'er pressed one on him, and the Old Demon of Dutian tasted it; the flavor was not bad. "Sister Yan'er, I fell asleep just now, and in my sleep a thousand years went by without my knowing it.

Every thing in that dream was vivid before my eyes, and it was all so terribly real. " Following her, eating the elixir as he went, the Old Demon of Dutian spoke of his dream: "I woke from that dream as though a whole age had passed, and I no longer know whether the dream was the dream or this is the dream.

" "Of course you were dreaming just now; you are awake now. " Yan'er could not hold back her laughter.

"How can the things that happen in a dream be taken for true?

For instance, in the dream you were a Marquis and had cultivated to the Jade Capital realm, while now you are only at the Yaotai realm.

If what happened in the dream had truly happened, could you not now break through to the God-Slaying Terrace realm with ease? " Hardly had she spoken when the Old Demon of Dutian's aura surged violently, and his primal spirit stood upon the God-Slaying Terrace of his heavenly palace, having endured the tempering of the God-Slaying Terrace and not died!

Yan'er started in fright and cried out, "How did you do that? " All four faces of the Old Demon of Dutian wore a look of blank ignorance; at a loss what to do with hands and feet, he murmured, "By the understanding I gained in the dream I broke through, for no reason I can name.

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. Sister Yan'er, was that really a dream? " Yan'er thought a moment, then laughed. "It must be that your store of accumulation has ripened, and so you broke through naturally and cultivated the God-Slaying Terrace.

Try again, and see whether you can step into the Jade Capital City of your heavenly palace. " The Old Demon of Dutian tried, and shook his head.

"I cannot enter.

" Yan'er laughed. "There, you see.