Chapter 906 — Falling Behind Is No Crime; Being Weak Is the Sin
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Shen Mu's eye twitched violently, then his expression returned to normal. The Azure Emperor of the East laughed heartily. "Celestial Lord Mu, the very people you wish to protect—it seems they are not grateful to you at all. You protect a herd of livestock, dying and living again for their sake, even gouging out your own eye, casting aside your identity as a Divine Son of Youdu, leaving yourself with nothing but an undying heroic spirit. Was it worth it?"
Shen Mu sneered. "Get back, and find someone worth talking to!"
The Azure Emperor of the East gave a cold snort, rose abruptly to his feet, and was about to order the troops withdrawn—when suddenly a voice drifted over, leisurely saying, "Azure Emperor of the East, if you order the troops withdrawn just like that, where will the majesty and prestige of the Heavenly Court be? Withdraw, and the Heavenly Court's majesty will be swept to the ground. In the future, there will be even more treasonous rebels who resist the majesty of Heaven."
The Azure Emperor of the East was startled, and quickly knelt in worship.
With a clatter, countless divine beings turned and bowed. A "Celestial Lord Yu" of stature comparable to Shen Mu's strode forward, smiling. "Celestial Lord Mu truly knows how to make trouble for me. Jingping—a place the size of a pellet—and I must make the trip myself."
Shen Mu coughed violently twice. "Only because you, Daoist Brother, bully others too far."
"Celestial Lord Yu" smiled. "The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and Emperor Yanfeng need not die. But to defy Heaven and go against the Mandate of Heaven, and leave it unpunished, would be for the Heavenly Court's majesty to cease to exist. I can spare their lives and suppress them both—this gives Celestial Lord Mu face, and preserves the Heavenly Court's face as well. What do you think?"
Shen Mu said, "There must be a set term. Otherwise, Daoist Brother might as well kill them."
"Celestial Lord Yu" said coldly, "You press your advantage too far."
Shen Mu said no more.
After a moment, "Celestial Lord Yu" smiled. "The Primordial Realm has many treasonous rebels, and they cannot all be killed. I have been planning to build a great prison, so I will suppress them within the Great Prison of the Primordial Realm. I give you face—they shall be imprisoned for only two hundred years. No bargaining."
Shen Mu was about to speak when "Celestial Lord Yu" said calmly, "Though you can revive them, do not forget—the Heavenly Court has ways enough to prevent you from gathering their remnant souls. The wisp of Lan Yutian's remnant soul—did you not fail to find it?"
Shen Mu was greatly shaken, his gaze fixed upon him.
The true Celestial Lord Yu had always been muddle-headed, a wisp of his remnant soul suppressed within the Pixiang Hall of the Heavenly Court, so that he could never recover and return to what he once was.
The Heavenly Court indeed had ways to seal the souls of the Imperial Preceptor of Jingping and Emperor Yanfeng, leaving even him, a Great Master of Dharma, helpless.
"Celestial Lord Yu" came to the skies above the capital and fixed his gaze on Emperor Yanfeng, smiling. "Heaven has a virtue for sparing life. Your death sentence may be remitted, but your sentence of living cannot be escaped. You shall be suppressed forever within the great prison. Jingping cannot be without an emperor. Choose a successor."
Emperor Yanfeng turned and looked at his offspring. His gaze fell upon Ling Yuxiu, then moved away from Ling Yuxiu and fell upon Ling Yushu. He smiled. "Yushu, come up. After I am gone, you shall be Emperor of Jingping."
The Imperial Preceptor of Jingping understood his meaning, and his heart ached with bitterness.
Ling Yushu stepped forward and bowed, kneeling.
At that very moment, "Celestial Lord Yu" flicked a finger, and Ling Yushu's physical body instantly turned to powder, his soul scattered and dissipated.