Chapter 1040 — Self-Willed and Deaf to Counsel
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
When the profit is not, whether Venerable Mu lives or dies is no concern of mine.
On the contrary, at such a time, killing Venerable Mu and claiming the merit would best serve my profit. " Yan'er's heart went cold.
She had always held her father, the Eastern Emperor, in the highest esteem. Though the Eastern Emperor was cold to her, in her heart she had taken him for a great hero.
But now that she had truly come into contact with the Eastern Emperor, the father in her heart collapsed in an instant, leaving her both terrified and unable to accept it. Shen Mu admired the scenery of the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace, his gaze coming to rest on the Jade Pool in the palace, and he smiled.
"Eastern Emperor, do you still remember what happened on the ghost ship? " The Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace had a Jade Pool of its own, and the water in it seemed more sacred even than the water of the Heavenly Court's Jade Pool.
This Jade Pool brimmed with vitality. Shen Mu was well versed in the healing arts, and a single glance told him that the Eastern Emperor's sacred water was no small thing — it could bring the dead to life and restore bone from flesh, its medicinal power exceeding even Long Qilin's dragon saliva. The water of the Jade Pool also held a strange energy, one that could heal souls and primal spirits.
Clearly, the Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon was not so simple as he appeared on the surface.
The heaven-and-earth treasures here were even more numerous than those of the Earth Mother Primordial Sovereign — this Jade Pool, this Lingbao Mountain, were all exceedingly rare treasures! The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon nodded. "Naturally I remember.
Venerable Mu helped us Four Emperors break free, but without the Four Emperors lending you our magic power, you could not have escaped either. So in escaping the ghost ship we each used the other; neither owes the other anything. And as for debts of gratitude — do not forget, when you went alone into the Heavenly Court, it was we ancient gods who preserved your life, and I lent a hand in it. " Shen Mu drew his gaze back from the Jade Pool and frowned. "How does the Eastern Emperor wish to test me?
" "Without Tian Gong and Tu Bo to lend you strength, how will you resurrect anyone? That is what I mean to test.
" The Eastern Emperor Azure Dragon said: "Beyond that, I must know whether, if most of the ancient gods are slain in battle, you have the strength to protect yourself. These two tests: the first tests your ability.
Borrowed strength is never your own. When there is no strength to borrow, you are still the Great Mage — that is why we ancient gods support you without reservation. " "As for the second test, it is to see your potential for growth. In the worst case, if you cannot even protect yourself, then the Heavenly Court need only kill you to cut off our ancient gods' last road. Therefore I must see whether Venerable Mu is worthy of the title Venerable, and whether he is worth my staking my fortune and my life on him.
" Shen Mu nodded. "I understand. " The Eastern Emperor smiled, snapped his fingers lightly, and a painted pleasure boat drifted over the Jade Pool. On the boat, a god with a dragon's head and a man's body bowed and said: "Father God. " At the Eastern Emperor's invitation, Shen Mu led Long Qilin and Yan'er aboard, and the boat drifted toward the center of the Jade Pool.
Yan'er was listless and dejected.
She had not taken human form, nor had she become a dragon finch; she remained a small green finch perched atop Long Qilin's brow. The Eastern Emperor summoned the dragon god who steered the boat.
That dragon god said: "What does Father God command? " The Eastern Emperor flicked a finger, and a thunderclap burst in the dragon god's mind, shattering his primal spirit to powder.
In an instant his soul scattered, and his spirit fled away as dark sand. A blank look came into the dragon god's eyes.
His corpse swayed and toppled.