Chapter 818 — The Dragon Lord of the Star River
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
"So the Heavenly Venerable Mu is this aloof."
The Emperor of Heaven's obscure spiritual fluctuations came through, murmuring, "How many years has it been since I bestowed upon you the title of Heavenly Venerable? And yet the Heavenly Venerable Mu endured until now before opening my decree. Such forbearance commands admiration. You have met Yan Qiling by now, have you not? She reported your affairs to me. I was truly astonished, yet also greatly gratified. The Heavenly Venerable Mu is indeed worthy of my regard. Your appearance has clarified many things for me."
"Hmph!"
The black pig panicked, then bolted at full speed, plunging into the mountains, rooting and crashing through the dense forest.
"Hmph?"
The Emperor of Heaven's spiritual sense registered some surprise. He laughed. "Is that the only word the Heavenly Venerable Mu has for me? You avenged the Heavenly Venerable Yu, which earned you no small measure of my appreciation. I conferred upon you the title of Heavenly Venerable Mu because your divine arts surpass the Longhan era, because you have accomplished something of a genesis. Even today, the Heavenly Venerable Mu still deserves the name of Heavenly Venerable; your divine arts abound with ingenious notions. I have been waiting for an opportunity—an opportunity to purge traitorous ministers and villains. It was the Heavenly Venerable Mu who revived Lady Tianyin, was it not? And the Earth Mother Primordial Sovereign sought you out so that you might revive her as well, was it not?"
The black boar ran wild, ramming this way and that with snout and tusks, yet it could never shake off that strange voice in its head.
Before long the pig demon found its old den and hid there among a brood of piglets and sows. Then the voice came again: "...You cannot escape me. I need you to perform the great rite of revival for me. I died in Yuandu, and my three souls are scattered throughout Yuandu. Performing the great rite of revival for me will be no trouble to you."
"Oink oink oink oink..."
"Heavenly Venerable Mu, you are courting your own suffering! You likely do not yet know what dread is. I can show you true terror!"
...
"You have felt terror now, have you not? Do you still dare to put on that aloof air?"
"Oink oink..."
"You spurn the wine of courtesy and will drink the wine of punishment! Cooperate with me, and I will make you the highest of ministers, with wealth and honor beyond measure, and make you a Heavenly Venerable without peer! Yet you are so proud and arrogant—I will make you regret it beyond remedy!"
"Hmph..."
...
Shen Mu sat atop the dragon qilin's head, continuing to explain to the Human Emperors how to sense the power of the Heavenly River. The Human Emperor of Qikang and the Human Emperor of Yishan were listless, drinking medicine as they listened.
The other Human Emperors had already made their decision, and without the slightest compunction they had sold out the two, letting the First Ancestor destroy their divine bridges and divine treasuries.
The First Ancestor's hand was far gentler than the Martial Heavenly Master's, but even so, their injuries were grave. They were not, after all, possessed of bodies as mighty as an ox's—not like Shen Mu. With their divine bridges and divine treasuries destroyed, their vital essence was severely diminished.
Fortunately, Shen Mu was at their side and could heal them at any moment.
Though the dragon qilin was swift beyond measure, the journey to Yongjiang would still take months. Shen Mu looked ahead at a towering mountain. Its pillar spanned three thousand li around, vast beyond reckoning, thrusting straight into the sea of clouds, which hung at its midsection, as did the layer of thunder.
A single mountain contained all four seasons—snow and blazing sun alike. Rivers flew suspended upon it, and lakes and seas dotted its peaks like sapphires.
Looking higher still, one could faintly see that this towering mountain had pierced the sky of Jingping, propping the heavens up high.