Chapter 667 — The Crimson Emperor Beneath the Seal
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
The First Ancestor's eyes remained shut; he did not move.
Thud.
The Divine Son Chiming's footfall landed, and the mountain range shuddered. Hearing his steps draw nearer, one by one, Shen Mu rose to his feet and smiled. "You let us into the holy hall to touch the Crimson Emperor's thought, Divine Son—and it seems your intentions were not kind. You've left my First Ancestor, the Human Sovereign, in a dead faint.
" The Divine Son Chiming's face was indifferent. "It was my fault.
I did indeed mean for you to fall into the thought labyrinth and never find your way out. " Shen Mu's heart tightened.
For the Divine Son Chiming to say such a thing meant his resolve was set—he would never let Shen Mu go! The Divine Son Chiming was a man of transcendent wisdom, but he had one habit: when an evil thought stirred in him, he would let slip certain secrets.
When they entered the holy hall, he had let slip the secret of his identity and origins to Shen Mu and the First Ancestor—and then the First Ancestor fell unconscious, and Shen Mu narrowly escaped falling into the Crimson Emperor's thought labyrinth. Now he had let slip the thought he had just held, a secret of his own body as well.
This was the omen of his intent to kill! "If Libationer Shen can hand over the Crimson Emperor's thought, I can let this matter go as if it never happened," the Divine Son Chiming said indifferently.
Shen Mu was briefly taken aback, then smiled. "The Divine Son is so accommodating?
To tell the truth, I don't know why the Crimson Emperor's Brain went dark, and as for handing over the Crimson Emperor's thought—I wouldn't even know where to begin. If the Divine Son knows, why not speak plainly? " The Divine Son Chiming said softly, "The Crimson Emperor's Brain is the vessel of the Crimson Emperor's thought.
When the thought leaves the brain, the brain's light goes out. And now the Crimson Emperor's thought has entered your mind. " Shen Mu turned his mind inward.
There were indeed many strange images and sounds in his head—but many as they were, they could never contain the Crimson Emperor's thought. He smiled. "There are indeed some strange images and sounds in my mind. But how am I to return the Crimson Emperor's thought? Extracting thought from a brain—I have never seen such an art, nor even heard of it. I beg the Divine Son to enlighten me.
" The Divine Son Chiming's stiff face managed to squeeze out a sliver of a smile. "Very simple. The Crimson Emperor's thought is eternal and indestructible. His thought is too strong; even if the host is destroyed, his thought cannot be. Therefore the simplest method is to cut off the host's head and pound that head to pieces, bit by bit.
Then the Crimson Emperor's thought will reveal itself. " He said gravely, "Afterward, I will lift up the Crimson Emperor's thought and return it to the Crimson Emperor's Brain. Libationer Shen, how would you like to be buried? I can grant you a grand funeral, with the rites of kings and nobles, generals and ministers. I can even cast you a head of the finest divine gold, so lifelike it will be utterly without flaw.
" Shen Mu's face went ashen. He retreated a step at a time, forcing a smile. "The Divine Son must be joking, surely? I don't feel the Crimson Emperor's thought in my mind.
If I had it, I would already be another Crimson Emperor. Divine Son, think twice. . . " The hem of the Divine Son Chiming's slim purple robe drifted slowly upward.
He said in all seriousness, "This is the most effective method I can think of at present.
Libationer Shen may also try to flee—as far as you like. But do you think you can escape the Void Realm? You had best stand still, cut off your own head, and let me examine it properly.
" Shen Mu turned and bolted, tearing down the mountain in a single streak. The Divine Son Chiming's face was cold. The lid of the third eye at the center of his brow parted slowly to either side.