Chapter 841 — Blood Might Subdues
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
And the artificial stars and rivers of stars in the sky, their light having been gathered and focused, appeared from here many times larger than elsewhere—one could see with the naked eye alone, without activating any divine ability, the very patterns and palaces upon those stars. The stars were dazzling and richly colored, most wondrous. At this moment, in the main hall of the Daoist Palace, several dozen elderly Daoists sat upon rush cushions, floating in the air, auspicious auras swirling around each of them.
These old Daoists had an ancient and noble bearing, none knew how many years they had lived, their long brows and hair white as snow. They sat withered there, their dim old eyes open, expressions solemn. Though their eyes were dim, from time to time astonishing glimmers burst from their pupils—plainly their cultivation was unfathomable.
There were also some younger Daoists—young being a relative term, for these Daoists were likely of no small age as well, every one of them with graying hair, their Daoist robes washed so pale they were nearly white, some robes tattered and torn, the straw sandals on their feet worn through so that several toes poked out.
Shen Mu glanced around and took note of a few of the most brightly dressed figures. One was a middle-aged man wearing a yellow Daoist crown with a purple sash, a whisk in hand and a Daoist sword at his waist—this should be the Sect Master of Azure Cloud Heaven.
The others should be the guests from the Heavenly Court—very young, mostly boys and girls with delicate features, watching with curiosity as Shen Mu and Dao Lord Lin Xuan entered. Strangely, the Azure Cloud Sect Master was not seated on the highest seat, but rather on the step below, his position somewhat lower than those young boys and girls.
Nor were those youths seated on the highest seat—the highest was occupied by a statue of the Dao Ancestor, carved of wood, of immense antiquity.
The statue stood about ten zhang tall, depicting a slovenly Daoist with a whisk thrust into his back, holding a peculiar compass in his hand, his body bent forward, the compass extended before him, the slovenly Daoist's gaze fixed upon it. The wood carving was exquisitely lifelike and vivid. "It is indeed him.
" Shen Mu smiled.
This slovenly Daoist was the very one he had encountered at the Jade Pool Grand Gathering, who had attended alongside the young Great Brahma Heavenly Buddha. At that time the Daoist did nothing at all, studying numerology day in and day out, while Great Brahma begged for spirit pills to sustain them both—and Great Brahma had a temper: if offered too many spirit pills, he would refuse them outright, saying it would harm his cultivation.
"The Daoist sects of the lower realms were founded by castoffs of the Daoist Sect of that era. In the Kaihuang Era they aided Kaihuang and committed treasonous acts—in truth, they were guilty.
" The Azure Cloud Sect Master was seated high, looking down upon Lin Xuan and Daoist Cha as he explained the origins of the Jingping Daoist Sect. Unhurriedly he said: "My Azure Cloud Heaven, also called the Azure Cloud Sect, is the direct lineage transmitted by the Dao Ancestor, and has ever dwelt in this place.
When the rebel Kaihuang rose in rebellion and wreaked chaos, Azure Cloud Heaven was secluded among the heavens of the Origin Realm, ordered to seal the Jingping Sky Dome. By the laws of the Heavenly Court, the Jingping Daoist Sect was to be exterminated—it was I who petitioned the Heavenly Court and spared you.
Young friend Lin, you said earlier that my Azure Cloud Heaven was a branch of your Daoist Sect; now you know the truth of the matter, do you not? " A neighboring old Daoist sneered: "Young friend Lin, why do you not pay homage to the Sect Master?
" Dao Lord Lin Xuan bowed to the Azure Cloud Sect Master in greeting and said: "Senior Brother.
" The Daoists frowned and shouted one after another: "Insolent!