Chapter 1039 — The Divine Dragon Soars Through the Clouds
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 5
His form grew smaller and smaller until it vanished into the palace, and his voice reached Shen Mu's ear, laughing: "The Great Wizard comes to visit and never sent word ahead—you have made me lose face before the Great Wizard. Wait a moment, Great Wizard, and I shall bring my people out to welcome you!"
"This is a private visit; there is no need for ceremony."
Shen Mu's divine consciousness followed with a transmitted voice, "Your East Pole Heaven is full of the Heavenly Court's eyes and ears. Better that you and I meet quietly, without fanfare."
The East Emperor Azure Dragon flew into the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace, and Shen Mu set off toward it as well. After a time he came before the palace, where there likewise stood a Southern Heavenly Gate—only the Heavenly River did not pass through the gate, but flowed along beside it.
The divine dragons sporting in the Heavenly River surfaced and sprawled upon the bank, gazing curiously at Shen Mu and his companions as they came.
By the bank stood a man in a blue robe, with long, fine brows and a beautiful beard like dragon whiskers, of most elegant bearing. He came forward with a laugh. "Did Venerable Mu not come riding the Heavenly Dragon palanquin? Why is no palanquin to be seen, and you have walked here instead?"
"Greetings, East Emperor."
Shen Mu made his salute and said with a smile, "The East Emperor is the ancestor of ten thousand dragons. If I were to ride into the East Pole Heaven upon the strength of the East Emperor's own bloodline, would I not be giving offense?"
The man in blue was the East Emperor Azure Dragon in transformed shape. He laughed heartily at these words and extended a hand in invitation. "The Great Wizard is too serious. The Ten Venerables gave you that palanquin to make you offend every ancient god—how could I not know their sinister designs? Even had the Great Wizard come riding the palanquin, I would not have minded in the least. Please—"
Shen Mu walked shoulder to shoulder with him into the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace. "This is Yan'er, a princess of the South Emperor's house."
The East Emperor glanced at Yan'er. She looked hopeful, but to her disappointment his gaze did not linger—it slid away from her.
Shen Mu was puzzled, but he soon understood.
"Father God." The dragon gods guarding the Southern Heavenly Gate bowed in salute to the East Emperor.
"Father God!"
"Father God!"
As the East Emperor walked into the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace, every dragon god he encountered, great and small, bowed to him and called him Father God. The sheer multitude of this East Emperor's offspring was outrageous.
Most likely the East Emperor could not even recall that he had such a daughter by the South Emperor Vermilion Bird.
"Can it be that every god in the whole Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace is his child and descendant?"
Shen Mu felt rather dizzy. The divine dragons in the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace numbered at least a million, and there was even a great army of dragon gods.
If all these dragon gods were the East Emperor's children and descendants, then this ancient god emperor was far too prodigal with his affections.
He cursed inwardly, though he did not speak it aloud, and said with a smile instead, "The East Emperor's heavenly palace may truly be called impregnable. The Heavenly Court can infiltrate the East Pole Heaven, but it cannot infiltrate this place."
But the East Emperor was not pleased. He shook his head. "Great Wizard, even the son of the Lord of Heaven betrayed the Lord of Heaven and wished for nothing more than to take his place. Many sons though I have, I am not without my troubles. In this heavenly palace of mine there is no small number of Azure Dragon princes who would like to supplant me. Every family has its own scripture that is hard to read."
Shen Mu halted his steps. "May I ask, whose is that artifact Venerable Yu of the East Pole Heaven?"
"Four heads and eight arms—Divine Emperor Langxuan."