Chapter 1201 — Heroes, Old and Young
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 3
Leaving the Tianyin Realm, Shen Mu walked toward the capital of Jingping, carrying a lantern. Suddenly he felt a stir in his heart and turned to look: there stood the Yuan Tree, lush and towering, at the very center of the Yuan Realm.
The celestial palace of Celestial Venerable Xiao drifted among the canopy of the Yuan Tree, and beside it was Xiao's divine artifact, Yutianzun, keeping the Yuan Realm suppressed. At that moment, the divine artifact Yutianzun was looking at him.
Shen Mu smiled slightly and bowed in greeting; Yutianzun inclined its head, then withdrew its gaze.
Shen Mu was about to head back to the capital when a swallow flew down, landed, and transformed into Yan Qiling.
She stood gracefully before him and saluted. "My master ordered me to come to Celestial Venerable Mu and say that if he cannot hold the Ancestral Court's domain, my master is willing to help, for he has many mighty experts under his command. " Shen Mu stopped and said, "Go back and tell him that I can hold my own domain. He need not trouble himself.
" Yan Qiling looked deeply at him and said, "This time my master has commanded me to go to the Ancestral Court, to guard the Primordial Ore Lode and mine Primordial Divine Stones. " Shen Mu said, "Take care.
" Yan Qiling paused for a moment, then smiled. "I will.
" With that, she turned and left.
When Shen Mu returned to the capital of Jingping, the Pill Master, the First Ancestor, the Human Sovereign, and the Human Sovereigns of every generation had already been there for some time, along with the Blind Old Man and the Silent Artisan.
The Silent Artisan had brought a dozen or so gaily dressed girls, Heavenly Artificers under the Western Emperor, and there was also a group of Jingping's younger generation, an impressive gathering of talents. Shen Mu scanned the crowd and saw many familiar faces among the young. One was Jiang Yunjian, son of Jiang Baigui, the former imperial tutor of Jingping, now grown into a handsome young man in his twenties. Jiang Yunjian hurried forward to greet Shen Mu and called him Uncle.
Shen Mu was a little displeased and said gravely and earnestly, "Yunjian, your father is older than I am, so do not call me Uncle. " Jiang Yunjian hesitated.
"Foster Father. . .
" Shen Mu flushed crimson and brushed the young man aside.
Jiang Yunjian said timidly, "Godfather.
. . " Off to one side, there was a big-headed youth, none other than Shujun, skulking in the crowd, terrified that Shen Mu would see him.
But his head was too big, and Shen Mu caught sight of him, dragged him out, and demanded angrily, "Are you going to the Ancestral Court too? " Divine King Shujun said with a fawning smile, "Why can't I go to the Ancestral Court?
The Ancestral Court is the Creator's ancestral court, not yours. " Shen Mu's expression changed, and Divine King Shujun hastily added, "I know the Ancestral Court well. At least I am one of its native lords, so I can certainly be of use to you! Besides, what would I do there—raise a rebellion against you? The Creator has already declined. I have not a single Creator under my command; even I myself no longer seem like a Creator but rather more like a mortal human.
I am now a rising young talent of Jingping, with quite a reputation! " Shen Mu hesitated and said, "I am afraid that when you recall your former glory, you will not be able to resist stirring up trouble.
Your territory has already been occupied by the Supreme Emperor.
" Shujun said carelessly, "Then I'll take it back in the future.
" Shen Mu had no choice but to allow it. As the party prepared to depart, Ling Yuxiu ordered the Directorate of Works to send a swift vessel.
Everyone boarded it. The swift vessel was not large—only a little over ten zhang from stem to stern. Ling Yuxiu saw them off and handed Shen Mu a taotie pouch.
"Inside is a spirit-energy transfer bridge.