Chapter 1021 — Reunion with the Old Demon of Dutian
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
The ten Venerables each fell silent, and the atmosphere grew somewhat heavy.
By rights, now that the trail of the Land of No Sorrow had been found, they ought at once to raise troops and march there; even at grievous cost, they must eradicate the Land of No Sorrow and do away with Kaihuang. Yet now, none of them had any such intention.
Comparatively speaking, the Land of No Sorrow was but a scabies of the skin, while Taidi, hidden among them, was the malady of the heart.
Whichever Venerable committed his own forces to the campaign against the Great Void would face the resistance of the Great Void's Creators and the Land of No Sorrow; his own side would lose troops and commanders, and his power would wane.
The Ten Heavenly Venerables of the Heavenly Court were no longer as they had once been. If one's own power declined and one then fought Kaihuang Shen Ye to the death, one might well not die by an enemy's hand, but by a cold arrow from one's own side!
After all, there was the precedent of the Great Sun Star Lord.
"The Land of No Sorrow must be attacked," said the kindly-browed Venerable Hong with feeling. "This old man had thought the Land of No Sorrow where Venerable Shen dwells was a carefree paradise; I never expected it to be such a perilous place. For such a wretched spot to be named the Land of No Sorrow—how laughable.
To attack it, one must first pass through all the perils of the Great Void.
Better to let the children go first and scout the road.
Once the perils outside are cleared, we shall go and have a meeting with Shen Ye and those Creators. " The other Venerables nodded in agreement, saying, "Let the children of the various heavens go first and clear the road; we shall deal with Shen Ye after that.
" Venerable Huo frowned. "My friends, for ordinary gods and demons to go to the Great Void is of no use whatsoever—it is simply to go and die! " The other Venerables laughed one after another.
"Venerable Huo has disciples beyond count and mighty men thick as clouds beneath his banner—why not lead your troops to the Great Void yourself and subdue Shen Ye?
" Venerable Huo was enraged.
He flicked his sleeve, rose, and stormed off: "I entered the Great Void, braved death a hundred times, and brought back word—and you sit here bickering among yourselves. Fools! I am ashamed to be counted among you! " "Venerable Huo still has that fiery temper," the others said, shaking their heads. The residence of Venerable Mu. Xue Hu'er had already descended to the mortal realm, while Shen Mu remained in the Venerable's residence, studying day after day that eggshell within his eye, pondering the runes and marks upon it, and occasionally joking and romping with Yun Chuxiu and the Divine King Langwan.
Yun Chuxiu had taken up residence in the Venerable's residence, occupying a room and unwilling to leave; Lian Huahun came by from time to time as well, with the Divine King Langwan keeping them company—the three women were a great clamor. When the three women were together, Shen Mu did his best not to join in.
Soon word came that the Heavenly Court had decided to send troops against the Great Void and was conscripting gods and demons from the various heavens into its ranks. Xue Hu'er also sent word by messenger, saying that the Heavenly Court's Zaofu Palace had assigned Jingping a great deal of work, rushing to forge the divine weapons and sharp instruments the war would require.
"Venerable, a poor relation has come up from the mortal realm, saying he has come to throw himself on your mercy," a palace maid reported. "A poor relation?
" Shen Mu was surprised and laughed despite himself. "What poor relations do I have? They are all quite rich.
Show him in.
" After a moment, an eight-armed demon god came forward, led by the palace maid.