Chapter 529 — The Dark Otherworld
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
A flash of radiance came flying in and landed in that divine hall. The Qingyou Hermit transformed into a red-haired, serpent-bodied god and said, "Human Sovereign Shen, the Hall of Five Qi is divided into the breakthroughs of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth — the five phases. Which phase will you choose this time?"
Shen Mu shook his head. "I have come this time only to look upon a true god's divine treasury. I beg Immortal Qingyou to grant me the convenience."
The Qingyou Hermit frowned, and the other four old immortals frowned as well. One of them said, "The founder of Little Jade Capital left the Hall of Three Primes behind to instruct those who came after and make up for their deficiencies — not so that they might admire his divine treasury."
An old woman frowned. "Never in all the years has anyone who entered here to take the challenge made so bizarre a request. Senior Brother Qingyou..."
"Human Sovereign Shen is no outsider."
The Qingyou Hermit pondered a moment and said, "He made the method of becoming a god public, and we have all received his grace. His request is one Little Jade Capital ought to grant. Besides, that founding patriarch who left the trial behind was also surnamed Shen."
The other four old immortals said no more.
The Qingyou Hermit said, "Human Sovereign Shen, you have only one chance at the challenge. Succeed, and you will gain the Divine Origin Five Qi — a great benefit to you, for it can fill in the gaps in your cultivation of the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury. Do you confirm that you wish to waste this chance merely to look upon a god's divine treasury?"
Shen Mu bowed. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. I am willing to forsake the Divine Origin Five Qi."
The Qingyou Hermit's face broke into a smile. "Good. I had thought Human Sovereign Shen's mind was unsteady and feared you had lost your reason and could not attempt the challenge. But your spirit compels even my admiration. If so — come up!"
A shaft of azure light poured down, and Shen Mu rose against his will, landing upon the Water Luminary star. The red-haired, serpent-bodied god that was the Qingyou Hermit led him into the divine hall and said, "Human Sovereign Shen, look your fill. How much you can comprehend will depend on your own ability."
Shen Mu thanked him and examined everything closely, observing the runes and seals upon the four walls of the hall, studying them with the greatest care.
Each of the five stars of the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury bore a divine hall, and the halls were formed by nature. Whoever cultivated divine powers to this realm would forge five stars within the Five Luminaries Divine Treasury, the five stars corresponding to the five phases.
The stars were naturally formed, and the palaces upon the stars were naturally formed as well. Yet different cultivation methods gave rise to different runes and seals, and in the end those runes and seals, joined with vital essence, would transform into the gods within the halls.
In any cultivator's Five Luminaries Divine Treasury, the five gods breathed out and drew in vital essence, and the nature of that vital essence changed with them — hence the name Five Qi.
Shen Mu's Five Phases Divine Treasury had already been cultivated to its limit, and it was hard to advance another step. But crossing blades with the First Ancestor Human Sovereign had made him realize that his own limit need not be everyone's limit.
He observed with great care, and the Qingyou Hermit was patient, waiting for him all the while.
How long passed, he did not know, until Shen Mu stopped looking and closed his eyes.
He opened his eyes and looked at the Qingyou Hermit. "Immortal Qingyou, I have an unreasonable request."