Chapter 820 — The Imperial Guard's Crossing of the Boundary
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
" The ghost ship tossed ever more violently, and a great many hook-serpents snapped apart and perished miserably. The remaining hook-serpents hastily released their barbed tails, and the ghost ship sailed up the Star River, gathering speed. Seeing this, the village chief hesitated and asked, "What is that jade pendant of yours?
" Shen Mu said, "It may be the command tally that controls this ghost ship, though I cannot be sure. . . " The village chief gritted his teeth and said, "Let us go in and look!
This ship is surely no common thing, or it would not have drawn so many powers.
If I do not go in and see for myself, I will never sleep well again!
" Shen Mu did not know whether to laugh or cry.
The village chief's curiosity was even stronger than his own, and even if the tally were not the treasure that commands the ghost ship, he would still be unable to resist exploring.
His hesitation came chiefly from fear for Shen Mu's safety, which was why he had delayed deciding. Lord Huanlong hastened toward the ghost ship, and Shen Mu brought out the command tally, whose light drove back the black qi chains and allowed them to land upon the ship.
The two leapt down from Lord Huanlong's head, while Lord Huanlong turned into a dragon-headed god and warily surveyed their surroundings.
The ship's deck was broad and vast like a small landmass, complete with every manner of building, and there was even air here, for the river water had not invaded and the deck was quite dry.
"Shen'er, stay close to me and do not run about.
" The village chief had just said this when he saw Shen Mu already walking ahead of him, so he hurried after him and whispered, "Do not act rashly.
Follow me, I am an old hand!
" The ghost ship moved faster and faster, racing along the riverbed while dragon palaces and mansions in the river flashed past so that they could see nothing clearly. The hull creaked and groaned, and at such speed, and traveling underwater at that, the ship seemed ready to break apart at any moment!
"Where is this ship bound?
Why so fast? Shen'er, be careful!
" The village chief suddenly reached out and seized Shen Mu, warning, "There is a seal underfoot!
Do not step on it. " Shen Mu looked down to see a strange seal formed of black qi chains upon the deck, circular in shape and complex within, showing a tortoise and serpent entwined.
"This is.
. .
the Northern Emperor's seal!
" His heart chilled.
"There is a seal here too!
" Lord Huanlong cried.
When Shen Mu went to look, he saw that the seal Lord Huanlong had found was an Azure Dragon seal, likely left by the Eastern Emperor. "Here too!
" They soon found more seals upon the deck, some in the form of the Vermilion Bird and some in the form of the White Tiger, for the seals of all Four Ancient Emperors had appeared upon this ship.
"For all Four Ancient Emperors to join hands in sealing this ship, there must be something uncanny.
. .
" The village chief mused, "What is worthy of the Four Emperors' seals is surely no trifle. Let us try not to touch them.
" Just then a cry came from ahead, for the Ancestral Dragon King and his party had already undone one of the deck seals, and a jet-black coffin slowly grew out of the deck.