Chapter 1234 — The Holder of the Heavenly Emperor's Throne

Shen Mu looked upon the countless monk Li Yourans spread across the Ark of the Other Shore, and felt much stirred. In that year, because Li Youran had given his heart to the Red Emperor Qi Xiayu, he had no mind for war, so that the Heavenly Artisan Godclan was all but exterminated, only Silent Craftsman surviving, having passed through endless suffering. Li Youran himself had taken refuge in the Buddhist gate and become the King Buddha Emperor Shitian, yet could not cut away the past, could not attain the voidness of the four elements, and in the end entered the dust of the world once more.

Now the selves within his dream had become monks, yet the monks did the work of heavenly artisans, repairing the Ark of the Other Shore; as for him, it seemed he was still caught in entanglement, in contradiction, hard put to find release.

He could not become Great Brahma Heaven. The doubles in his dreams were of no great wisdom, and so he had to take the field himself to instruct these selves of his; only thus could the Ark of the Other Shore be repaired.

Repairing the Ark of the Other Shore was a torment to him, and also a process of repairing his Dao heart.

Shen Mu stepped forward and saluted. "Are you now the King Buddha Emperor Shitian, or are you Li Youran?

" Emperor Shitian Li Youran returned the salute. "Celestial Venerable, I am Emperor Shitian; they are Li Youran.

" Shen Mu looked at those heavenly artisans toiling away and laughed. "King Buddha, you ought to say that you are Emperor Shitian and also Li Youran; only then will you attain enlightenment.

" Emperor Shitian Li Youran was slightly startled.

He thought for a moment, then laughed. "You come trading Zen riddles again.

Set that aside.

What brings the Celestial Venerable here?

" Shen Mu took out the astrolabe of the Ark of the Other Shore.

"I have come to return this. " Emperor Shitian took the astrolabe and silently put it away.

Shen Mu asked, "King Buddha, I too know a good deal about the Ark of the Other Shore. Do you need my help?

" Emperor Shitian shook his head.

"No need.

I wish to do it myself.

" Shen Mu laughed.

"Then let me stand guard for you.

" "Many thanks.

" Shen Mu sat down and closed his eyes to rest. How long passed he did not know, but the Ark of the Other Shore had by then been repaired almost to completion by Emperor Shitian, and great furnaces one after another had been smelted and brought forth.

Though Jingping had no few heavenly artisans, and possessed such a master as Silent Craftsman, to this day it had never smelted such towering furnaces. In precision and in the minute, Jingping's forging techniques had already surpassed those of the King Buddha Emperor Shitian; but in scale, the King Buddha Emperor Shitian still held first place.

Suddenly, all around grew dim. The vast seal, like blocks of a giant continent, ringed the Ark of the Other Shore to form a cube.

The mountains and forests gradually changed; above the Ark of the Other Shore, the earth slowly swelled and rose, becoming a vast face that hung down from the sky. The earth split open, revealing three enormous eyes that watched the nearly repaired Ark of the Other Shore with keen amusement.