Chapter 551 — The Two Realms Joined
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Imperial Teacher Jingping turned to look at the immensely complex spirit-energy translocation bridge and the altar, and praised, "Spirit-energy translocation—truly the Sect Master's creation. When I was in the Wasteland and suddenly saw the heavens change, an altar surge up from the earth, and a bridge of light like two funnels joined together, I thought some demon lord had pierced through the two realms and was coming to wreak havoc in the Wasteland. When I arrived at the altar and examined it, I found it truly exquisite—work of divine craftsmanship. The arts and calculations employed were extraordinary, likely using spirit-energy conversion and spirit-energy translocation. I grew suspicious and came in to look, and indeed it was the Sect Master. In this world, only the Sect Master could conceive of such ingenious ideas."
Shen Mu felt greatly satisfied and said modestly, "Imperial Teacher Jingping overpraises me. Much of the credit goes to Senior Brother Black Tiger."
He introduced the gods present to Imperial Teacher Jingping one by one, then said with deep meaning, "Imperial Teacher Jingping, the Woodcutter Sage is also here in Taihuang Heaven."
"The Woodcutter Sage!"
Imperial Teacher Jingping's heart surged. His reform movement had begun precisely because of a single phrase from the Heavenly Sage Cult's doctrine: "the common people's daily use."
The way of the sage was his lifelong pursuit!
To become a sage required establishing words, establishing teachings, and establishing merits—three accomplishments to attain sagehood—and this was exactly what he had done.
Never had he imagined that this legendary figure was here. How could his heart not surge with emotion?
He dearly wished to meet this senior who had set him on the path of reform.
Shen Mu rarely saw him so stirred and smiled, "The Woodcutter Sage is not here at present. He has gone with twenty-four deities to attack the demon clans. Imperial Teacher Jingping, you have just arrived and do not yet understand Taihuang Heaven. Let me explain it this way, and you will understand the wonder of building the spirit-energy translocation bridge."
Shen Mu said with deep significance, "The Daoist arts lineage of Taihuang Heaven has never been broken."
"What?"
Imperial Teacher Jingping wore an expression of disbelief and blurted out, "The Daoist arts lineage here has never been broken? You mean their cultivation methods and divine abilities are completely preserved? Impossible! Look at that sun in the sky—such a level of skill is a hundred thousand li behind Jingping. It is not even as good as the scholars of the Grand Academy!"
The Black Tiger God curled his lip and thought, "This sage who appears once in five hundred years is also a fellow whose mental state is far from cultivated. In a single moment he surges with emotion, trembles with excitement, and now his expression changes drastically—he cannot control his feelings. So-called sage—empty fame, hollow reputation!"
Shen Mu felt somewhat embarrassed and mumbled, "The sun is a bit hard on the eyes..."
Imperial Teacher Jingping sneered, "Hard on the eyes? It makes one want to take a blade up there and trim it into shape! If a scholar of the Grand Academy had produced such crude work, they would certainly be stripped of rank and sent back to redo it!"
Around them, the gods of Taihuang Heaven wore awkward expressions, looking at one another in silence.
Shen Mu was helpless and lowered his voice, "Imperial Teacher Jingping, keep your voice down. Though Taihuang Heaven's arts and calculations lineage has been severed, the Daoist methods and divine abilities have not. By my strength, among divine ability practitioners of the same realm in Taihuang Heaven, I can only rank in the top ten."
"Sect Master, you are being modest?" Imperial Teacher Jingping asked skeptically.