Chapter 751 — The Fall of Sovereign Yu
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 5
The youth was invoking Youdu's divine art, reciting the ancient, ancient tongue of Youdu, trying to call back Sovereign Yu's soul, to summon his spirit from Youdu. His Youdu tongue was already quite good, but to Shen Mu's ear it fell somewhat short; after all, this Sovereign You had not yet entered Youdu, had not yet become the Benevolent Sage King of Tianqi of later ages. Sovereign You's eyes were blood-red; the Youdu words on his lips grew more and more disordered.
Though his face was calm, within him waves raged without cease.
His heart was in chaos, and his attainments were too shallow besides; even with a settled heart he could not have called Sovereign Yu's soul back from Youdu. "I still cannot do it.
. . " Sovereign You suddenly spat blood and fell to his knees, twitching as though convulsing, a whimpering sound in his throat, his teeth clenched.
"I still cannot do it! " He curled into a ball, his body racked with shudders, choking: "I still cannot do it.
I could not save my mother, and I cannot save my big brother either. I still cannot do it.
.
. " He was cold to everyone; even toward Sovereign Yu he had never shown a warm face.
Yet ever since his mother fell gravely ill, it was Sovereign Yu who had cared for him all along.
Long ago he had come to regard Sovereign Yu as his only kin in this world. Just then, a gentle voice sounded in his mind: "I speak, you recite.
" Sovereign You was startled, and then the voice in his mind rose again, unhurried: it was the tongue of Youdu, incomparably ancient and incomparably pure, expounding the vast principles of the way of souls, so profound, so subtle, that for a moment he thought Tu Bo himself had descended. Sovereign You rose again and, following that voice, recited the Youdu tongue.
Around him the demonic qi of Youdu came rolling in, and the floor of the Winding Corridor Pavilion suddenly turned dark, revealing a deep chasm of time and space.
That was Youdu.
His voice spread through all of Youdu, searching for Sovereign Yu's soul. Everyone in the Winding Corridor Pavilion looked over. At this moment Sovereign You no longer seemed a youth, but a god who held the rules of Youdu in his hand, calling the dead home! Kai Huang's heart stirred; he glanced at Shen Mu beside him.
He had sensed Shen Mu's mental fluctuations, a strange spiritual connection. He could tell that Shen Mu's spirit was linked with Sovereign You's! A moment ago Sovereign You's divine art had been crude and could not reach Youdu; now he could send his voice through all of Youdu.
Plainly this was not Sovereign You's doing; Shen Mu was secretly teaching him a profound Youdu divine art!
"He even understands the divine arts of Youdu, what else does he understand?
" Kai Huang had barely had that thought when, in the darkness, a gateway slowly rose: a heaven-bearing gate stood tall in the pavilion, giving off a heavy demonic qi. After a moment, Shen Mu sighed and cut the spiritual link with Sovereign You.
"Sovereign Yu's soul is not in Youdu. He.
.
. his soul has scattered. I know now what that man's divine art was for.
" His heart darkened: "It was for destroying his soul.
" Sovereign You suddenly gave a great cry, and, like a wild beast, snarled in a low voice, snarled again, then fell to the ground writhing, foam spilling from his mouth. Shen Mu stepped forward, his fingers flying as they tapped, steadying his spirit and soul; he helped him up and let him sit by the door.
"Thank you.
. .
" Sovereign You gripped his hand, staring blankly at the lake beyond the door, and said in a low voice.
Shen Mu was struck dumb for a moment. Sovereign You raised his head and looked at his face woodenly: "Thank you.
" In the Winding Corridor Pavilion, Sovereign Hao's voice came: "Sovereign Yu is dead. What is to be done about the Jade Pool Gathering now?
" Kai Huang came to stand behind Shen Mu and said quietly: "At this gathering, whoever spreads the way to godhood is the killer.