Chapter 1183 — Concluding a Segment of Good Karma

On the altar of the Taiji Vein, around that divine egg, two qi, one black and one white, flowed and slowly revolved, and then upon the outer shell there rose one after another most peculiar patterns, as though they were conversing with Shen Mu. Some of the patterns on the shell resembled writing, yet every character was round, black and white sharply divided, some with more black, some with more white, and the different places left blank bore different meanings.

Shen Mu smiled, inclined himself slightly, and said, "Fellow Daoist, my learning is shallow; I cannot read your writing. " The divine egg quivered faintly, and several more patterns surfaced upon the shell.

Shen Mu studied them closely, yet still could not grasp the mystery within such writing, and said, "Why not do this: let our divine senses touch, and we shall each understand the other's intent.

" His divine sense flew out and lightly brushed against the divine egg. At once a Taiji diagram took shape in Shen Mu's mind, yin and yang qi flowing within it, and a man's voice sounded: "Fellow Daoist, greetings to you. " Leaning on his sword, Shen Mu inclined himself slightly and said, "This outsider has come rashly and disturbed you, fellow Daoist; I am deeply sorry for it.

" Then a woman's voice came from within the diagram: "The strangeness of this place was not wrought by us of design; rather, the Taiji divine stones here twist the yin and yang qi, barring outsiders and foreign things from entering.

We sensed your arrival, fellow Daoist, and only then suppressed the disturbances of this vein. On this point, we ask you to judge clearly.

" Shen Mu's heart stirred faintly.

Within this egg there were, astonishingly, two ancient gods! That the female ancient god claimed it was not they who drove the Taiji Vein to attack Shen Mu and those who entered here -- this, Shen Mu did somewhat believe, for the Taichu Vein was the same. The Taichu Vein was the first vein ever mined; to enter a vein was to brave the gravest peril. That the Heavenly Emperor Taichu had eight ancient gods carry the coffin of Divine King Gongyun into the vein, and that those eight ancient gods died for it, made plain enough that a vein will attack any who dare to enter it.

This was one manner of self-protection of the ancient veins.

In those years, no one knew how many of the Creators who mined the veins perished for the same cause.

Of course, Shen Mu did not wholly believe their words. The Taiji Vein was likewise terrifying; even Shen Mu had escaped death by a hair, and in the end had to rely on the divine ability of Venerable Ling Tian to flee the killing calamity.

Had the two ancient gods within the egg truly wished to save him, they could have done so the moment he stepped into the vein. Yet they waited until the Taiji Vein could no longer kill Shen Mu, and only then suppressed the vein's disturbances to show goodwill. In truth, whether or not they suppressed the strangeness of the Taiji Vein mattered nothing to Shen Mu; he had already been wholly confident of reaching this place.

This, Shen Mu knew perfectly well.

The Taiji diagram flowed, and the male ancient god's voice came: "Fellow Daoist from afar, there is one matter you may perhaps not know.

In the ancient times there were five veins in all, which gave birth to five divinities.

Whoever disturbs these five veins, no matter how mighty, comes in the end to no good death. " The female ancient god's voice followed: "Though we are still within the egg, we know all things here as though they lay in our palm.

We do not mean to frighten you; there is cause for our words. The Creators of this place mined the five veins, so that the race of Creators vanished from this world.

" The male ancient god's voice sounded again: "The Great Emperor mined the Taichu Vein. Though his divine ability was vast, he met with calamity upon calamity and was again and again near death.

And what ruined his dynasty was the Taichu he mined.

" Before Shen Mu could speak, the female ancient god's voice came: "This is an immense karma. Fellow Daoist from afar, whether it be the Taiji divine stones or the Taiji primal stones upon the altar, are their uses to you truly as great as you imagine? " "This time the Great Emperor has returned to the Ancestral Court; he has come to realize the terror of the five veins, and so the precious vein land he chose was not one of the five, but an exceedingly rare divine vein.

" "In this world, apart from the five great ancient veins, there are other veins, rich in divine gold, pearls, and jade -- things that should serve you better. " The two ancient gods spoke back and forth, one after the other, making all things clear; as to whether it was true or false, Shen Mu must judge for himself. Shen Mu pondered a moment, then said, "You two who cultivate in purity, I ought not to have disturbed you.

For your guidance I am also grateful. It is only that I am rather curious about your way of yin and yang, and likewise most curious about the uses of the Taiji divine stones and the Taiji primal stones.

If. . .

" He hesitated, then said, "If you two could grant me one primal stone and a hundred divine stones, I will leave at once. " The two ancient gods were about to speak, when Shen Mu at once added, "I mean to borrow them; in the future I will surely return them to you two.

" In his mind, the Taiji diagram suddenly dispersed, and the ancient gods within the egg withdrew their divine senses. From the divine egg rose two voices, one male and one female, speaking in a language exceedingly ancient and obscure, of meaning unknown.

Shen Mu sat quietly upon the altar, waiting for them to finish their counsel.

After a moment, strange patterns surfaced upon the divine egg. Shen Mu released his divine sense and made contact with the egg. Once more a Taiji diagram appeared in his mind, and the male ancient god's voice sounded: "We are still far from emerging into the world.

We may lend you one primal stone and a hundred divine stones.

But in the future you must surely return them to us.

" "If you do not return them, in the future you will surely meet calamity.

" The female ancient god said, "As for our way of yin and yang, there is no need to ask us; comprehend it yourself.

The Taiji primal stone will let you comprehend the mystery of the transformation and generation of yin and yang.

" Shen Mu gave thanks, and saw that among the eight primal stones encircling the divine egg, one suddenly loosened and rolled to rest before him.

Shen Mu picked up this primal stone and examined it closely.

Unlike other ancient veins, this vein actually held many primal stones, not like the Taichu Vein, which possessed only one Taichu primal stone. Shen Mu pondered a moment, then said, "Since you two know the Ancestral Court so deeply, you must surely know which veins, apart from the five great ones, are most precious. I ask you two to tell me.

" The Taiji diagram turned slowly; after a moment, the male ancient god said, "When you leave this star domain.

. .

" "Star domain?

" Shen Mu said in surprise.

"Yes. This is the Taiji Star Domain.

" The male god continued: "When you leave, you will understand. After you depart this star domain, go north.

At your speed it will take about ten days.

After ten days you will see a black wood, vast in extent.

Beneath the black wood lies a rare treasure -- the finest treasure in the Ancestral Court apart from the five veins.