Chapter 1046 — True Martial Sword Pavilion
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
Emperor Xuan entered the Xuanwu Heavenly Palace with him, summoned a tortoise-backed divine being, took out a divine whip, and instructed, "Prince Youming was too talkative and cost me ninety-nine Five-Thunder Jars. Take my whip and go bestow ninety-nine lashes upon him. " The tortoise-backed divine being accepted the whip with both hands, turned, and departed.
Shen Mu hesitated for a moment but did not plead for Prince Youming.
Dragon Qilin and Yan'er exchanged baffled glances.
Yan'er said softly, "Why did you not plead for Prince Youming, Master? At least he showed us the way, and he had a good temper. Now, instead, he is going to suffer ninety-nine lashes.
" Dragon Qilin whispered, "The Master is of low station, so his words carry little weight.
.
.
" Shen Mu gave him a glare, and Dragon Qilin hastily fell silent. Ahead stood a stone statue that bore a resemblance to Kaicheng Shen Ye.
Shen Mu stepped forward and studied it—it was indeed a statue of Kaicheng, but of a much younger man, carved in spirited high resolve, not the seasoned and settled expression he wore now. "Kaicheng's relationship with our Northern Pole Heaven was not bad," said Emperor Xuan.
"In the early days of the Kaicheng Era, before the Kaicheng Heavenly Court was established, he came here. Around this statue there used to be a sword academy, founded by him, called the True Martial Sword Academy. He opened it here and took disciples; many of the younger generation of my Northern Pole Heaven entered his school and learned swordsmanship from him. I exchanged ideas with him, learning his sword path, while he asked me about formations. Nearly forty thousand years have passed, yet my Northern Pole Heaven still has many masters of the sword path, known as the True Martial Sword Sect. " He walked Shen Mu around, and Shen Mu indeed saw many foundation stones of the True Martial Sword Academy.
The academy had been vast; he imagined thousands of Xuanwu disciples studying there back then. "But after the Kaicheng Era came to an end," Emperor Xuan went on, "the Heavenly Court ordered the academy demolished; only this statue was preserved. If the disciples of the True Martial Sword Academy heard that you had come, they would be very pleased.
Shen Ye also brought two girls and a woodcutter—one was called Di Yiyue, one Yan Yunxi, and the woodcutter was called Wen Tiange, a very courteous man. Di Yiyue studied the grand way of Xuanwu with me; Yan Yunxi practiced formations with me; and the woodcutter studied numerology with me.
They were all exceedingly clever, and later their accomplishments surpassed mine. I learned a great deal from them as well. " Shen Mu asked, "Celestial Master Zixi and Teacher Woodcutter were also here? " His mind stirred. "Did Kaicheng go to the Eastern Pole Heaven? " "Naturally he did," said Emperor Xuan.
"In those days Shen Ye also established an academy in the Eastern Pole Heaven, called the True Dragon Dao Academy, which was very famous.
It is said the one who cultivated at his side was a true dragon called the Azure Emperor, transformed from the dragon vein of the Kaicheng realm.
" Shen Mu pondered a moment.
He had seen no traces Kaicheng left in the Eastern Pole Heaven; presumably the Eastern Emperor had erased them completely. From this one could see the different temperaments of the Eastern Emperor and Emperor Xuan. The Eastern Emperor was stubborn and overbearing, with a stronger need for control; what he could not control, he erased entirely.
Emperor Xuan, by contrast, cherished old ties. Even after Kaicheng had fallen and the Kaicheng Era was gone, he had still kept the statue, and many in the Northern Pole Heaven still practiced the sword path.