Chapter 619 — Master and Worthy Disciple
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Shen Mu looked up. The stream of light bent beyond the sky and fled into the distance, vanishing into the unknown depths of the starry void. He imagined that when the light touched the ground, it would be Luofu Heaven.
The Woodcutter tossed the little box over. "Let us go see what else your Senior Brother left behind. " Shen Mu was taken aback, catching it in a fluster for fear of dropping it to the ground and letting the God-Slaying Mystic Blade inside escape.
No sooner had he steadied the box in his arms than countless runes danced all around them, and the Woodcutter, driving the translocation art, vanished with him. The Celestial Master Sect's translocation art originated from the Woodcutter.
Although the Woodcutter was not the most powerful man, he was a man of unmatched brilliance. He could create all manner of strange and marvellous divine arts.
One only had to look at the bizarre spells in the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Scripture to see his attainments in the Way and in divine arts. Nevertheless, his success came from breadth, and his failure came from breadth as well.
He was too broad in learning to perfect any one craft, and so his cultivation and strength never reached the very highest realm. By the time Shen Mu's feet touched solid ground, he found himself again before the temple on the God-Slaying Platform.
He had fled for a long time to get there, yet returning took but an instant. The Woodcutter Sage walked into the temple, and Shen Mu hurried after him, only to see the Woodcutter studying the All-Heavens Star-Killing Array left by the founding patriarch. After a moment, the Woodcutter nodded and said, "The message he left is indeed from three hundred and fifty thousand years ago.
What happened three hundred and fifty thousand years ago? " Shen Mu pointed at the mural on the wall.
"Sage Master, this is a chart of the heavens from three hundred and fifty thousand years ago. " The Woodcutter Sage came closer, studied the chart, and said in a contemplative tone, "This was drawn in the Southern Sea, within the southern part of the Wastes, observing the starry sky of three hundred and fifty thousand years ago. It should have been drawn by a survivor of the Chiming era, to guide a return home in the days to come.
" Shen Mu nodded. "This disciple has made the same guess. Those who wiped out the Chiming era should be the present Heavenly Court. I think Senior Brother was continuously tracing the past, seeking the truth of this Heavenly Court, which is why he left these clues for us. " "He wanted to earn merit and become a sage.
" The Woodcutter shook his head. "But he does not know how foolish a thing he is doing.
The closer he draws to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes. To put himself in harm's way like this is the height of imprudence. How can he become a sage that way? " The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and his voice unconsciously hardened. Though he seemed indifferent to his disciples, his concern was in fact hidden in the ordinary words and deeds of daily life; he merely seldom voiced it.
"You said he left more geographic charts. Where are those charts? " the Woodcutter asked. Shen Mu rummaged in his Taotie pouch and took out a few pieces of paper. "The chart Senior Brother showed was extremely complex, and fearing I would forget it, I later made copies.
This one is a chart of the Wastes, and the place marked is Dragon Village, where Old Man Qinghuang lives.
And this one is this alien star; here it marks the God-Slaying Platform. " The Woodcutter examined the two charts, then spread out the others and studied them one by one. After a while, his expression grew heavier and heavier.
"Wretch, wretch!
Why did he go to these places of peril? Even I do not dare set foot in these places! " He flew into a towering rage, rose, and paced around the hall.
The wind stirred by his sleeves filled the temple, and Shen Mu's gaze could hardly keep up with him.