Chapter 1045 — The Twin Emperors of Xuanwu
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
The divine artifact, the Heavenly Worthy Regent, was overbearing beyond measure; streams of light flowed before and behind him like drifting ribbons, brilliant in hue.
He held his fingers in the orchid gesture, as though smiling while plucking a flower, one toe touching the ground, the other foot raised and resting upon the knee of the opposite leg. That was why Shen Mu had called him seductive.
Unlike the Heavenly Worthy Regent of the Eastern Pole Heaven, this one was ringed about by continents that floated on every side of him, wreathed in cloud and mist, graced with clear mountains and bright waters, and upon those continents gods and demons dwelt, mustered into armies and drilling day and night. Shen Mu gazed into the distance and saw that the Northern Pole Heaven seemed rather gloomy; oddly enough, it was only on arriving here that he felt a measure of warmth. Among the distant mountains stood a peak like a pillar, and several green vines clambered up it, growing in winding coils, lending it a touch of green.
The God King Langwan looked far off at those few green vines, and a look of surprise came over her face. "Sister, are you also going to see this divine artifact, the Heavenly Worthy Regent?
" Shen Mu asked. The God King Langwan hesitated a moment, then nodded lightly.
"Those green vines must likewise be things from the Ancestral Court.
" The next moment, she vanished from the carriage.
Gazing at the vines from afar, Shen Mu thought, "The things that grow in the Creators' Ancestral Court are truly enormous. " The carriage drove on, heading for the green vines, and after a long while they came before the pillar peak.
Shen Mu looked up, and saw that the vines were in fact gourd vines; their leaves were immense, and they covered the whole mountain.
Some azure gourds hung upon the mountain, their bodies like green jade throughout, each about five or six zhang tall.
The gourds were not many, and women were flying to and fro, threading among the vines — they were there to catch insects. The insects on the gourds were strange and vicious, two or three zhang long, covered in bristles, with sharp fangs and cruel mouths, spitting thunder and fire. When they could not win, they would shake their bodies, and the bristles would shoot out like exceedingly keen steel spears!
The women wove among the vines, striving to catch the insects, yet again and again they met with peril; whenever danger came, they transformed into soaring serpents to evade it, coming and going in a flash, swift beyond compare.
"Could it be that the Five Thunder Pot is the treasure borne by this gourd vine, able to hold the five great cloud-thunders and refine the Fire-Bell divine weapons?
" Shen Mu clicked his tongue in wonder. "To think there are such huge insects in this world! Are these, too, insects from the Ancestral Court?
" Suddenly the mountain peak rumbled and shifted some hundred li, and Shen Mu started in fright; peering closer, he saw that beneath the mountain there was an old turtle. The old turtle's frame was vast beyond measure; he bore a whole continent on his back as he walked, but he walked too slowly, shifting a single step in half a day's time — yet one step carried him some hundred li!
Bearing the mountains of a continent upon his back, he walked through that boundless marsh, panting and gasping, seemingly at great effort. The Heavenly Dragon carriage drew up before the old turtle, and he slowly turned his dragon head, his gaze like two suns fixed upon the carriage.
Shen Mu stepped out of the carriage and made his salute.
"Elder. " The old turtle's dragon head bore snow-white whiskers; he was very aged, even his brows snow-white.
"Heavenly Worthy Mu, pray forgive me for not returning your salute. I beg your pardon.
" His voice rolled like thunder, exceedingly loud. "You know me?
" Shen Mu said in surprise. "Heavenly Worthy Mu of the Heaven Alliance — who does not know him?
" said the old turtle.