Chapter 518 — The First Primordial Spirit Council
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 5
"Why do you ask? " Shen Mu recounted what he had seen in the darkness of the Waste and the conjecture of the Demon King Dutian, then said, "The collision with the other world may happen tens of thousands of years from now, or it may happen tomorrow, so we must prepare early.
The more gods and demons Jingping has, the better; otherwise there will be no resisting them at all. " The Imperial Preceptor pondered a while, then said doubtfully, "You can enter the darkness? " Shen Mu hesitated, then told him the truth. "I was born in Youdu.
Yama says I can enter the darkness of the Waste and take no hurt from it.
I take him to mean that I may be half a Youdu demon. " The Imperial Preceptor did not ponder this deeply.
"If Heaven means to destroy Jingping, there is nothing to be done about it.
The Emperor has already crossed the Divine Bridge, and there are more than ten other deities within the realm. I told the Emperor that every god and demon must be recorded in the registers, and the Emperor has done so.
But against so vicious a demon world, Jingping will not have the strength to resist within several decades. If that day truly comes.
.
.
" He smiled, and said calmly, "I leave what comes after me to you. " Shen Mu was deeply shaken, knowing he had the resolve to die for his country. "The demon race has been attacking that other world in the darkness for twenty thousand years without breaking through; there is no reason it should be broken through tomorrow.
Do not take it to heart, Imperial Preceptor.
Building the road is what matters. " The two took their leave.
Shen Mu brought the dragon qilin and the chest to the Grand Academy, and found it more clamorous than ever, filled with divine-power adepts from every place, and not a few even from the grasslands and the ice plains.
Emperor Yanfeng had ordered the Four Great Academies established to share the Grand Academy's burden: the Jiangling Academy, the Yong River Academy, the Lan River Academy, and the Heavenly Sacred Academy. The Four Great Academies were thriving now as well, with a great many scholars, though compared with the Grand Academy they still fell a little short. "Sect Master Shen! " "Grand Libationer Shen!
" Word of Shen Mu's arrival spread through the Grand Academy at once. Soon Daoist Master Lin Xuan came with a great many Daoists, Ma Rulai with a great many monks, and Pei Wujiu with a great many scholars of the Grand Academy, while old friends of the Academy came forward too; Shen Mu hurried to return their greetings, and the Grand Academy was in an uproar.
"Grand Libationer Shen was once a scholar of the Scholars' Lodge of the Grand Academy. Even then I saw that he was no creature to stay in a pond, but would rise one day and become a true dragon!
" Pei Wujiu's face shone with glory.
"Who would have thought that the Scholar Shen of those days would become the Grand Libationer of the Heavenly Sacred Academy among the Four Great Academies?
I count myself honored as well! " Shen Mu laughed heartily.
"Lord Gu, I have come to study a second time; I am still your humble scholar!
" Pei Wujiu was much moved.
"Say no such thing, Lord Shen; this old man is truly unworthy. We have been old friends for many years.
When I first laid eyes on you at the Dragon Palace of the Xiong River, I knew you were no ordinary man, or I would never have given you the Chubao Sword. Truly, a keen eye knows a jewel and a fine sword goes to a hero: the bond between Lord Shen and me began at the Dragon Palace of the Xiong River!
Hahaha! " When the clamor had run its course, Shen Mu greeted Ma Rulai, Lin Xuan and the rest, and exchanged pleasantries with Wei Yong, Yun Que, Shen Wanyun, Yue Qinghong and the others; Zhankong the Dark Ape Demon was among them too, and the din was beyond measure.