Chapter 345 — Heaven Collapses, Earth Splits
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
A roar went off in Shen Mu's mind.
Thoughts came crowding in from every direction, a chaotic jumble, and a buzzing hum filled his ears. What Sage Qingyou had revealed was truly terrifying — and more than that, the information bound up in it was staggering!
Little Jade Capital, the Heavenly Sage Cult, and the Human Emperor Hall had all sprung from one source, created by people who had walked out of the same age, the same place; and more than that, all three holy lands were fragments of one and the same place! He turned and looked at Li Zheng. Li Zheng's expression was as usual, his emotions utterly unruffled; it seemed that though Sage Qingyou's words shook heaven and earth, they still could not stir his heart.
Or perhaps he had long known of the bond between the three holy lands, and so it was hard to shock him. Old Tathagata and the Old Dao Lord, however, wore faces of utter shock — clearly the former masters of these two holy lands had not known the story behind it all. The origins of these two holy lands were more ancient still, but some histories had never been written down.
Sage Qingyou drew his gaze back from Li Zheng and looked at Shen Mu.
He paused slightly, then smiled. "It seems the Old Human Emperor did not tell you the inside story.
Nor have you ever been to the Human Emperor Hall.
Young Human Emperor, you ought to make the journey there — it will reveal many secrets to you. " Shen Mu steadied himself and said in a low voice, "I beg Immortal Qingyou to speak plainly! " Sage Qingyou looked again at Li Zheng, whose face was as calm as an ancient well without a ripple. Sage Qingyou laughed.
"If you will not speak, then I must overstep my place and do it for you.
Human Emperor, please follow me.
" He walked down the mountain.
Shen Mu followed, and Li Zheng too rose silently into the air, floating along behind the two of them. Xiong Xiyu hesitated, then caught hold of Xiong Qi'er and shook her head. "The affairs of the Central Plains are not something we should involve ourselves in too deeply.
" Xiong Qi'er was rather puzzled, but Xiong Xiyu had her own misgivings: the affairs of the Western Lands' True Heaven Palace already gave her enough of a headache, and the affairs of the Central Plains were more terrifying still. She had keenly sensed that there were some secrets it was better for her not to know. The Old Dao Lord and Old Tathagata exchanged a glance.
The Old Dao Lord smiled. "Free of burdens, light of body — we are already immortals of Little Jade Capital. Best not to learn more secrets, lest they spoil our state of mind.
" Old Tathagata glanced at him. "What is recorded in that Golden Book and Precious Scroll is the method for connecting to the Divine Bridge.
Does it not stir your heart, my friend?
" "And what of it?
" The Old Dao Lord said unhurriedly, "The one who created the method for connecting to the Divine Bridge — where is he now? " Old Tathagata was taken aback, then burst out laughing, and gave up any thought of following.
"Every generation of Human Emperor has failed.
There is no need for us to join in the clamor.
" As for the dragon qilin, it did not follow either; it lay sprawled to one side, asleep, snoring like thunder. "You'll be eaten," Xiong Qi'er leaned close to its ear and whispered.
The dragon qilin hastily raised its head and warily looked around.
Finding that Shen Mu was not there, it said to the little girl, "I'll sleep a little longer, then get up to train. " Xiong Qi'er believed it.
Shen Mu followed Sage Qingyou across a long rope bridge, around several immortal mountains, until they came to an immortal mountain floating in the air. Sage Qingyou led them to the great hall at the mountain's summit. The hall was exceedingly ancient, and seemed to have fallen into disrepair with the passage of years: its walls were broken, and several pillars no longer propped up the roof, as though it had been ravaged by war.