Chapter 812 — The Ancestor of Ten Thousand Methods
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
" The old farmer's face changed dramatically, and off he went like the wind. Before long he had brought the Imperial Heavenly Venerable before the company. The youth stood ill at ease, stealing furtive glances at everyone, and murmured, "Brother, what has happened?
" The Imperial Heavenly Venerable had been drilled by the old farmer for over ten days; he had grown much thinner, a good deal neater and brighter for it.
Originally he had swallowed too many spirit pills, so that the medicinal potency had stacked up inside him unrefined; but the old farmer was the Martial Dao Great Emperor, and his method of drilling was ferocity itself. In just over ten days he had dissolved away all the excess potency in the youth's body.
To be sure, the Imperial Heavenly Venerable had plainly suffered no small hardship, though his physique had grown sturdier for it.
Formerly, with his memory lost, he had seemed somewhat timid and faint-hearted; now there was an air of budding heroism about him. He stood there ringed by the company, and they watched ring after ring of halo slowly revolve behind this youth's head—a truly extraordinary sight.
The four Heavenly Masters' expressions turned grave. They exchanged glances and said, "It is indeed the blessing of the gods, and exceedingly complete at that! " The scholar mused a while, then asked, "Shen'er, who could have obtained the blessings of all the ancient gods? What heaven-shaking merit did he perform?
" Shen Mu heaved a long sigh, and a solemn look came over his face.
Striding up to the Imperial Heavenly Venerable, he said in a deep voice, "I have not yet made the introductions to my masters and uncles. This is the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Methods for all post-heaven beings, the Venerable of Ten Thousand Daos—the first being of divine power, who established the Divine Treasury system and the Heavenly Palace system, the very first deity! Lan Yutian, the Imperial Heavenly Venerable!
" The four Heavenly Masters' minds roared; they stood dumbstruck as if turned to wood. The old farmer stuttered, "What did you say?
He's what? " Shen Mu said to the Imperial Heavenly Venerable, "Worthy brother, these four are my master and my uncle-masters.
" The Imperial Heavenly Venerable, dazed and muddled, saluted the four: "Greetings to you, Master; greetings to you, uncles. .
. " The four Heavenly Masters' faces convulsed, and they hurriedly stepped aside to avoid his courtesy. The woodcutter smoothed his garments in a flash and bowed low. "I am haughty by nature, feeling that there is no one under heaven worthy of my veneration—even with Kaihuang, I speak as a fellow Daoist. Yet you, sir, are worthy of the grandest rites!
" The scholar bowed as well. "I, Zixi the scholar, bow to no heaven and no earth.
But you are worthy of a bow!
" The fisherman and the old farmer bowed too, saying solemnly, "Ancestor of Ten Thousand Methods, Venerable of Ten Thousand Daos—it is fitting that we pay obeisance. We revere not your person, but your matchless deeds!
" The Imperial Heavenly Venerable stood blankly, at a loss.
"You all. . .
" A smile broke over Shen Mu's face, and he said softly, "Though there are many who would scheme against you, there are always some who are grateful to you. Imperial Heavenly Venerable, you are worthy of it.
"