Chapter 1381 — The Crown Prince and Dragon Mountain

Taiyi was now bent and withered with age, his whole person suffused with a strange and pristine air of antiquity, as old and weathered as the Dao itself, and within that oldness lay inexhaustible new vitality.

Shen Mu's heart stirred faintly, and he smiled. "Daoist brother, are you ready to see the Heavenly Duke and the Earth Earl?

" Taiyi was haggard of countenance, his eyes empty and remote, revealing nothing of what passed within, giving one a feeling of utter stillness and vacuity.

"I can see them now," he said.

Shen Mu heaved a sigh of relief and bowed. "I have put you to trouble, Daoist brother. " Taiyi shook his head.

"I am not seeing them for your sake.

I have designs of my own. I wish to borrow your palace to receive them.

" Shen Mu nodded.

"Daoist brother, please use it as you wish. " He went to the edge of the Hundred Thousand Black Mountains and worked his divine art; a Mystic Gate of Heaven and Earth rose abruptly from the ground.

After a moment, the gate's portal was pushed open from within, and the Earth Earl's primal spirit stepped out, offering Shen Mu a salute.

Shen Mu bowed in return. Next, the Heavenly Duke's primal spirit stepped out and likewise saluted Shen Mu. Shen Mu returned the bow.

"Daoist brother Taiyi is already waiting for you both.

" The Heavenly Duke and the Earth Earl exchanged a glance, observed the rites of disciples, and entered the Hundred Thousand Black Mountains with the utmost reverence, following Shen Mu toward the center of the Great Black Tree. Suddenly, as though a bell of the age that sundered heaven from earth were ringing out, Shen Mu, the Heavenly Duke, and the Earth Earl looked up, their hearts and minds shaken to the core.

There they saw a tree of inconceivable antiquity, verdant and luxuriant, floating in the midst of the cosmos. Beneath the tree, a great hall blazed with gold and jade, ten thousand rays of divine glow, while Dao-light gushed like springwater, bearing the hall aloft.

Each of the three marveled, and with pilgrim hearts they came to the foot of the hall, mounted the steps, and climbed upward, their ears catching all manner of Dao tones—now like the Yellow Bell, now like the Great Chime.