Chapter 987 — As If the Gods Lend Aid
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
With her wisdom, Divine King Langwan had easily guessed as much. "You need not worry.
The third prophecy says a Holy Infant will descend into the world, but it does not say that he must be a Creator; perhaps you truly are the Holy Infant. " The chaplet at her brow gave off a soft pearl luster, and her voice continued in Shen Mu's mind: "Yet if a human becomes the Holy Infant and goes to the Realm of the Ancestral Spirits to meet the ancestral spirits of the ages, he will most likely be slain in their wrath. And even if they do not kill you, should my clansmen learn your true identity, they too will strike you down without mercy.
" Shen Mu blinked. Divine King Langwan continued: "But I can refrain from exposing you; and should your identity be exposed, my standing is enough to protect you — I can protect you even before the ancestral spirits of the Realm of the Ancestral Spirits.
Before that, however, you must pass the trials set by me and the other clan chiefs.
" Shen Mu gave a muffled snort.
He too had been arranged neatly by this woman. Having finished with him, Divine King Langwan said with a smile, "My lords, since a Holy Infant has descended into the world, then surely the Holy Infant possesses a divine consciousness beyond the common, a body beyond the common, arts of battle beyond the common, and wisdom beyond the common — only thus can he lead our people out of the Other Shore and back to the Ancestral Court.
I therefore hold that the trials should be divided into four stages. Considering that the Holy Infant is not yet two years old, the first stage, which tests divine consciousness, shall be against an adult Creator.
" Xiuzhong said to Shen Mu, "Did I not say it was not perilous? " Shen Mu let out a breath and thanked him. Divine King Langwan said, "The second stage tests the body, also against an adult Creator. The third stage tests arts of battle, likewise.
The fourth stage tests wisdom, and that I myself shall judge.
Have any of you objections? " Xiuzhong smiled at Shen Mu. "You see?
Four simple stages.
With the Holy Infant's abilities, he will pass them easily!
" Shen Mu was somewhat uneasy at heart. The trials of the body and of the arts of battle seemed ordinary enough, and yet of the Creators' techniques for bodily combat and for battle by visualized divine consciousness he knew truly little! The clan chiefs conferred in whispers and raised no objection. "I object! " Upon the throne, Shujun's great head gave a bound, and he chuckled.
"These four trials are far too simple.
The Holy Infant is, after all, my disciple — trials as trifling as these will be easy as turning a palm for him!
" Shen Mu was seized with fury: "This scoundrel means to make trouble for me! " Divine King Langwan smiled. "Divine King Shujun does not know.
These four stages seem simple, but in truth they are difficult.
The first stage tests divine consciousness, which is to say, the visualization of a creation. And it is not against one adult Creator, but against nine adult Creators.
The nine Creators will unleash their divine consciousness together to disrupt his visualization; if he can suppress the nine Creators and complete his visualization of the creation, then he passes.
" Xiuzhong's expression shifted slightly, and the faces of the other clan chiefs could not help but change as well.
Shujun chuckled. "Nine adult Creators disrupting his visualization — that is a contest of divine consciousness. One careless moment and the Holy Infant will be blasted into an idiot by their divine consciousness.
Now that is more like a trial.
It has some flavor to it. Disciple, are you afraid? " "Your disciple is not afraid. " Shen Mu showed a plain, simple smile, and his gaze settled upon Shujun's great head. Shujun felt a chill beneath that gaze and thought, "If I go back into the Origin Stone, this brat will surely not let me off; and yet who would lend me qi, blood, and divine consciousness to restore my body?