Chapter 853 — The Great Completion of the Wondrous Classic of Rearing Humans
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Shen Mu's cultivation was nearly spent, so he had no choice but to halt his teleportation divine art and let the Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin carry them onward at full speed. The blind elder gritted his teeth against the pain and said, "The Earth Dragon is still pursuing us.
It's fast.
" Within his body, roots still writhed one after another, though not as lively as before, their strength much diminished—clearly, having strayed too far from their host, they were gradually losing their vitality. Yet as the Earth Dragon drew nearer, the power of these roots swelled once more, and their vigor grew stronger and stronger.
Soon the blind elder was bound into a wooden cocoon. Yuchenzi said in alarm, "These roots must be pulled out, or the Earth Dragon will follow the resonance between them and overtake us!
" "How do we pull them out?
" Shen Mu asked. "Qingyuntian has dealt with the Earth Dragon before.
Long ago we crossed blades with him several times.
" Yuchenzi took out a medicine bottle containing some powder and said, "When the Earth Dragon attacked Qingyuntian back then, our losses were grievous.
His attacks are ferocious, and he is impervious to blade and spear—it is all but impossible to sever his body or wound his true form. The Daoists of Qingyuntian had roots driven into their flesh, and many died in unspeakable agony. Fortunately we captured some of the Earth Dragon's limbs and trapped them with formations, and little by little studied how to deal with him. This powder is what counters him. " Shen Mu hastily took the bottle, sniffed it, and said, "This isn't a spirit medicine? " Yuchenzi said, "Most medicines are made from plants.
Using spirit medicine against him would only nourish him.
The Earth Dragon is transformed from the roots of the Earth Mother Sovereign and fears no plant-based poison, so we use the poison of metal and stone. It cannot kill him, but it can force his roots out of the body. The powder is taken orally, and some must also be sprinkled into the divine storehouse. " Shen Mu administered it to the blind elder. Before long after he swallowed the medicine, the roots began to unfurl and slough away, drawing out of his body one by one.
Shen Mu used his vital essence to control the roots, keeping them from touching flesh, and then flung them far away. The moment those roots touched the ground, they transformed into root dragons six or seven *chi* long, croaking on the earth.
The Dragon Qilin turned and spat out a mouthful of sacred fire, yet those root dragons leaped and capered in the flames, utterly unafraid of being scorched by his qilin sacred fire.
Startled, the Dragon Qilin bolted at once, fleeing far from the spot.
"This powder has certain side effects on the body and easily provokes allergic reactions, but after relieving oneself, it is expelled from the body. So one must drink plenty of water.
" Yuchenzi said, "The reason I dared bring Qu He the Divine Constable along, intending to let the Earth Dragon swallow him, is that I carry this medicine.
If the Earth Dragon swallows me, I will sprinkle this powder all over my body. The Earth Dragon will find me unpalatable and expel me from his body.
Dirty as it may be, at least I won't die. " "Brother Yuchen, your wit and talent are wasted on Qingyuntian. I can see the scheme by which you cleared Qingyuntian of suspicion—it is a chain of interlocking snares, one that lets Qingyuntian shake off every last suspicion. " Shen Mu smeared dragon saliva on the blind elder's wounds, shot him a glance, and praised, "A captain of the Divine Constables' Camp is, after all, a seventh-rank official among the Heavenly Court's divine functionaries.
His death here will surely draw powerful figures of the Heavenly Court to contend with the Earth Dragon. The Earth Dragon is doomed beyond doubt. Captain Qu was a man of rare ability, and the Earth Dragon is a being comparable to the Lingxiao realm—yet both are to die at your hands.