Chapter 583 — Those Silly Roe Deer
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Dao Lord Lin Xuan and the others were overjoyed. Daoist Cha took the crown from his head and gently turned the yin-yang taiji diagram upon it, drawing out from within a number of texts, a trident, and several stone slabs marked with sword scars. The trident was likely his divine weapon. "These books have been kept with me all this while," he said. "They are filled with strange symbols. I cannot make sense of them either.
" Stiff white hair grew on the crown of his head, running from brow to nape, while at his temples it was black. He was unlike the other Daoists, who wore their hair in topknots; his was cropped flat, the white hair on his scalp trimmed neat and even, which gave him a brisk and vigorous air. The close-cropped Daoist slid the trident back into the crown, sealed it with the taiji sigil, and put the crown on again. Dao Lord Lin Xuan leafed through the texts and examined the sword scars on the stone slabs.
His heart pounded wildly. Tears came to his eyes despite himself.
"My master and every Dao Lord before him spent their lives in bitter study of the Fourteenth Sword," he said, "and never once comprehended it fully. And now it turns out the mystery lies not in the sword but in the movements of the heavens. If my master were still in this world, he would be so gratified. . .
" At this the many Daoists thought of the former Dao Lord and wept aloud.
Dao Lord Lin Xuan passed the texts around for all to read: the later heart methods of the Innate Great Mystery Art, and other volumes recording Daoist Tianqing's insights into the sword techniques that followed the Dao Sword. Daoist Tianqing's records were meticulous and his calculations exceedingly precise; no wonder Daoist Cha had been unable to understand them. Wang Muran said in a low voice, "Uncle-Master Qingyou, do we in Little Yujing have no profound legacies of our own?
" The Mountain Sage Qingyou shook his head. "No.
" Wang Muran said angrily, "Is Little Yujing not the foremost holy land of Jingping? The Daoist Sect and the Great Thunder Temple both have higher legacies.
If Little Yujing has none, how are we to contend with them?
Even the Heavenly Sage Cult has a Heavenly Master. Does Little Yujing have no mighty one like a Jade Emperor who handed down god-tier teachings? " "Little Yujing keeps aloof from the world's strife. We have never contended for the title of foremost holy land. " The Mountain Sage Qingyou said patiently, "That is an empty name the world has given us.
Better to do without it.
" Wang Muran was left speechless with frustration, and at last, having no other recourse, he turned to Daoist Cha and asked, "Daoist, may I ask where Sect Master Shen has gone? " "Sect Master Shen?
A great many people came looking for him today, all of them strange sorts, and one who rode an ox. He is not in Li City at present, however; he has gone out.
He said he was heading toward the demon race's lands, to give his mount some training. " Wang Muran was startled. "He went alone into the demon race's territory? " "Not alone.
Our Taihuang Heaven has already carved out a stretch of territory on the demon side.
We have built a watchtower in the ruins of Wuwang City, and the Venerable God Sangye is stationed there. Many power-wielders of Taihuang Heaven and Jingping are scouring the land for demon stragglers. " Daoist Cha said, "There has been no war of late, and things are quiet enough for the time being. Neither side has sent out great armies; it is only demon and human power-wielders testing one another along the edges of the battlefield.
Sect Master Shen will come to no harm. " He was speaking of an unwritten rule of Taihuang Heaven. The martial spirit flourished here; demon and human alike revered strength.