Chapter 1070 — A Sudden Upheaval
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 5
" Just as he feared, the battle above the Yuan Realm's Heavenly River did indeed raise a vast commotion. The fight lay upon the Yuan Realm's Heavenly River, and Earth Mother Yuanjun, dwelling upon the Yuan Tree, was watching it, while to the Heaven Duke enthroned high in Xuandu, the battle likewise could not escape his ears. The gaze of Tubo of Youdu likewise fell upon the battle at the Heavenly River. Yet as if by the same unspoken accord, they chose alike not to meddle in the battle at the Heavenly River, but watched the fighting in silence. The Five Luminaries Star Lords were ancient gods sent by the Celestial Emperor to Yuan Realm, Xuandu, and Youdu to watch over them.
Of this they were well aware, and so chose to look on. The slaying of the Five Luminaries was to them also a welcome thing. Moreover the battle came swiftly and ended swiftly. Before the Celestial Court could react, the fighting was already over and the five ancient gods dead one after another.
Even had the Heaven Duke, Tubo, and the others wished to intervene, they would have come too late. Yet the deep meaning of this battle could not but give the Heaven Duke, Earth Mother, and Tubo pause.
Mu Tianzun, who had once run riot in the Jade Pool, reappeared after a thousand odd years already possessed of the strength to slay ancient gods. "Civilization begins when mortals step by step master the power of gods. " In Xuandu, the Heaven Duke's brows and eyes were snow white, his long eyebrows bright snowy light rippling through Xuandu and gently stirring brilliant suns one by one, his voice booming and echoing through Xuandu. "At first, men learned the language of gods and could commune.
Later they learned to use tools and to make tools.
" "Still later, they mastered runes and mastered divine arts. " "And now, they begin to master the Great Way.
" The Heaven Duke's emotionless face showed a flicker of feeling as he said, "Ancestral God King, this is civilization. A transformation to replace the ancient gods has already begun.
I see the coming decline of the ancient gods, the step-by-step passing of the ancient god age. " The Ancestral God King floated before the vast and boundless face of the Heaven Duke and bowed, saying, "Father God, since the human race has built a civilization and seeks to overthrow the rule of the ancient gods, why not destroy it? Your son will go down to the lower realm at once to see to it!
" The Heaven Duke said unhurriedly, "You are wrong, Ancestral God King, my son.
As master of Xuandu, a god born of the Heavenly Way, facing the changes of the world you should have neither joy nor anger, nor make choices of like and dislike.
The Heaven Duke cannot aid, nor meddle, but quietly watches this change.
That is the Heavenly Way. " The Ancestral God King protested, "Must we wait until they alter the workings of the Great Way and weaken the Heavenly Way before Father God acts?
" The Heaven Duke said, "Even should they alter the Heavenly Way, gods born of the Heavenly Way should not meddle. We govern the movement of the heavens and the tracks of a hundred million stars, and should regard the changes of the world with a heart neither glad nor sorrowful, giving civilization unto the years.
That is joy within stillness.
" "Father God is pedantic!
" The Ancestral God King turned, his cloak snapping in the wind and hiding half the Heaven Duke's face, "The ancient gods have grown heedless of divine glory and let mortals trample it. You can endure it. I cannot!
I go down to the lower realm now! " With that he gave a shout, and upon the Heaven Duke's colossal body countless god clans rose flying to follow the Ancestral God King down to the lower realm. The Heaven Duke looked on coldly and did not stop them.