Chapter 897 — The Only Path to Survival
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
He examined the peach-wood hairpin closely, then suddenly pinched it lightly; the hairpin shattered, yet the next moment it appeared in his hand once more. "So it is indeed Ling Tianzun's peach-wood hairpin.
It seems she has found you. " The remnant soul put the hairpin back into his hand and chuckled.
"I am tempted.
Truly, I am tempted. But Hao Tianzun has descended, and he is enough to settle everything.
I have no reason to descend. .
.
" He rose and paced to and fro, sighing. "My rebellious son holds all power in the court, and my own forces are far inferior to his. And if it were known that I am the Heavenly Emperor of old, they would surely join hands to destroy me. I have no reason to descend.
" Shen Mu's eyes lit up. "If Hao Tianzun cannot deal with the Yuan World, would Your Majesty then have a reason to descend? " The remnant soul was startled. Shen Mu said, "Then it depends on whether Your Majesty can bear to part with it.
" "You are a devil! Mu Tianzun, you truly are a devil!
" The remnant soul sighed, paced swiftly to and fro, and suddenly stopped.
"Whatever it takes, I must bear to part with it!
There is nothing left I cannot bear to part with!
What a pity for the Earth Mother Yuanjun. . . but this is the only chance that would let me descend. Only thus is there a thread of life!
" Yan Qiling too understood at once what they meant to do; her slender body trembled slightly, but she said nothing. "Qiling!
" Yan Qiling bowed.
"This disciple is here.
" The black sand of souls around the remnant soul surged, and after a moment a round bright mirror flew out of the black sand and landed in Yan Qiling's hand. The remnant soul said, "Go to the Earth Mother Yuanjun and let her see this mirror face to face.
" Yan Qiling silently put the mirror away. Lady Tianyin, standing to one side, had been silent all along.
She was simple-hearted and had never understood what Shen Mu and the remnant soul were talking about; but the moment the mirror appeared, she finally understood what it meant.
Only, she too grew even more silent. The remnant soul said, "Mu Tianzun, I am casting away the strongest and most capable general under my command. How do you find my sincerity?
" Shen Mu bowed.
"Your Majesty's sacrifice shall surely be repaid! " The remnant soul shook his head and smiled.
"Of course I mean to be repaid.
Come now and work your rites for me, that my souls may be remade; after that, you may go with Qiling to see the new Earth Mother Yuanjun. " Shen Mu was about to agree when Lady Tianyin coughed once. He heard it and knew what she meant, yet he acted as though he had not, and at once set up the altar and began the rites.
When he opened the Gate of Receiving Heaven and borrowed the power of Tiangong and Tubo, the two sensed it at once and gazed here across the worlds. Shen Mu bowed low and knocked his head to the ground before the two ancient gods. The two ancient gods bore a vast enmity toward the Heavenly Emperor and had meant to withdraw their power and lend him none; but when they saw him kneel and knock his head against the altar until it bled, the two ancient gods fell silent, their faces vanishing behind the Gate of Receiving Heaven, and they did not take him to task for stealing their power.
Shen Mu climbed to his feet and went on with the rites. How hard it was to shape souls for the Heavenly Emperor!
He labored until he spat blood, yet he clenched his teeth and persevered, carrying the rite through to the end.
When the Heavenly Emperor's two souls had been remade, Shen Mu's eyes went wide, and he fell straight backward, unconscious upon the altar. The Heavenly Emperor's earth soul and spirit soul gathered and took the form of a towering figure, which bent to look down at the altar and smiled. "Were you not still of use, and were I not still in need of your hand to find my body, I would truly like to dispose of you right now. Mu Tianzun, to let you keep growing is far too dangerous. .
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