Chapter 571 — The Youth Reflected in the Mirror
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Shen Mu stepped out of the Spirit Energy Transit Bridge with the little dragon Jiang Miao, glanced around, and could not help but show surprise.
The Spirit Energy Transit Bridge of the Wasteland stood right in the heart of the Wasteland. Two stone-paved avenues, each thirty-six zhang wide, ran past either side of the altar, while clustered around the bridge were ancient temples, shrines, and divine palaces, forming a city two or three times the size of Crimson Dragon City, bustling with people coming and going.
These temple relics had all been transported from the Wasteland to ward off its darkness. Countless stone statues were enshrined within them, receiving an unending stream of offerings.
Many villagers of the Wasteland had also been settled in the city, no longer living the desperate, life-risking days of old. Some had become merchants connecting the Central Land and the Western Land.
There were also academies here, with primary and advanced schools teaching cultivation arts and divine abilities, though none were sacred grounds on the level of the Four Great Academies or the Grand Academy.
Beyond these, there were vast clusters of ruins outside the city, presumably meant to give the nearby Wasteland beasts shelter from the darkness—a thoughtful arrangement.
In this new city, old and new structures were arranged in harmonious interplay, each setting off the other. Even from a cursory look, Shen Mu could sense that its builders possessed considerable cultural refinement and architectural talent, and a highly cultivated appreciation of beauty.
"Old trees putting forth new branches, the new branches setting off the ancient charm—it really is quite fine. Then again, perhaps I saw too many crooked buildings and suns in Taihuang Heaven, and returning to the Wasteland simply feels familiar..."
The Box came clattering out of the Spirit Energy Transit Bridge behind him. Shen Mu shook his head. The Box had always been clingy with him; ever since the Dragon Qilin and Snow Fox were taken to the battlefield by the Black Tiger God for training, the Box had followed him with unflagging persistence.
"Hierarch, I feel the divine dragon's call again."
Jiang Miao looked around and suddenly said, "Follow me!"
He transformed in a flash into a little dragon and sped off out of the city. Shen Mu followed with the Box, heading deep into the Wasteland.
Although the Imperial Teacher Jingping had built two great roads linking the Western Land, the Wasteland, and Jingping, the vast Wasteland still held endless reaches untouched by human feet, places as mysterious and unfathomable as ever.
Shen Mu followed Jiang Miao deeper and deeper into the Wasteland, crossing countless mountains and rivers, passing through one ancient ruin after another. When night fell, he let Jiang Miao lie on the Box while he himself walked into the darkness, the Box following close behind.
The Wasteland in darkness was utterly different from its daytime self. Walking through the dark, Shen Mu could see Taihuang Heaven transformed into darkness, along with countless demon clans.
Beyond Taihuang Heaven, he also saw demon monsters of unpredictable movement, drifting about, now leaping into trees, now hiding behind rocks, silently observing them, not daring to come close.
"These demon monsters aren't from Taihuang Heaven! The dark realm of the Wasteland is more than just Taihuang Heaven!"
Shen Mu was astonished. He had thought the demon monsters in the Wasteland's darkness might be demon clans from Taihuang Heaven, believed he had uncovered a secret—but now it seemed these monsters had no connection to Taihuang Heaven at all!
For when the people of Taihuang Heaven looked upon the Wasteland in darkness, they saw only hazy shadows. When Sang Hua had first seen Shen Mu, he was a dark boy, his body composed of darkness, dissolving like black sand when the time came.