Chapter 1292 — The Youth Meets Taichu
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 3
Taishi in the Egg sneered: "These so-called Dao-wounds of yours are nothing in our eyes. Taisu has form and substance but no body; to heal such Dao-wounds is child's play for her."
Shen Mu's heart sank. He pressed on: "Then what of the cultivation Hao Tianzun has lost? Hao Tianzun had twenty-six heavenly palaces destroyed, and those I wore myself out breaking apart. Surely she cannot restore all of them to him in a single breath? In my judgment, Taisu does not possess that kind of strength!"
"Indeed, Taisu does not possess that kind of strength."
Taishi in the Egg sighed. "Her present strength falls far short of a Heavenly Venerable. Present company excepted, of course."
Shen Mu let out a breath. Unpleasant as the ancient god's words were, at least Taisu could not restore Hao Tianzun, and a Hao Tianzun who had not returned to his peak was a cripple; finishing him off would be no trouble.
"When the Celestial Emperor Taichu was born, he was already incomplete; even so, he might be reckoned the most complete of the egg-born ancient gods, Taiyi alone excepted."
Taishi in the Egg said: "Today the strength of the Ten Heavenly Venerables has drawn close to what the Celestial Emperor Taichu possessed in his day. Such strength surpasses Taisu by a wide margin. Taisu's strength is a little above the Four-Colored Great Emperors and a little below the Four God-Emperors."
Shen Mu's heart tightened. Even so, that was nothing to be taken lightly.
The Four-Colored Great Emperors — Yin Tianzi, the White Emperor, Qi Xiayu, and the Green Emperor of the East — were all forces to be reckoned with, and the Four God-Emperors were beings that only a Heavenly Venerable could stand against!
Taisu's strength lay between the two, roughly the equal of a minor Celestial Court expert who had cultivated a dozen or so heavenly palaces.
"But Taisu can restore Hao Tianzun's palaces."
Taishi in the Egg went on: "She can control the energies running wild inside Hao Tianzun and quickly bring his nine heavenly palaces back. As for the other twenty-six, for her it is merely a matter of time."
Shen Mu mused a moment, then said: "How much time, do you think?"
Taishi in the Egg considered, then said: "Without diminishing her own strength, a hundred years."
Shen Mu said flatly: "Then within fifty years, Hao Tianzun can return to his peak!"
Taishi in the Egg thought it over and nodded: "You are right. Once Hao Tianzun's nine palaces are restored, he can cultivate on his own and perfect them; add Taisu's restoration, and fifty years should about bring him back to his peak."
Shen Mu paced around the Egg of Taishi. The egg sat there, tranquil and motionless.
"Hao Tianzun can restore only nine palaces in the short term, which means that in the short term he is nothing to worry about. I had meant to flee for my life; now it seems there is no need. His strength is not yet recovered, so he will surely bide his time and hide his edge, lest others catch a sign of it."
Suddenly Shen Mu stopped and looked at the Egg of Taishi: "Taisu grants whatever is asked. What if Hao Tianzun asks for a thirty-sixth heavenly palace? Could Taisu give him a thirty-sixth palace?"
Taishi in the Egg pondered: "It is not impossible..."
Shen Mu shuddered several times over.
Taishi in the Egg continued: "Were it so, Hao Tianzun would then be controlled by Taisu far too deeply, and could only become her puppet. Taisu's granting of whatever is asked is not done without price; the more one asks, the more one comes under her control."
Shen Mu blinked: "What do you mean?"
Taishi in the Egg said: "If Taisu gave Hao Tianzun a thirty-sixth palace, then Hao Tianzun would not truly be at the Celestial Court realm, and could not reach the summit of the heavenly palace and Celestial Court system. His Dao-path would be like Taidi's, always falling a little short. The Celestial Court system prizes power alone, but in power Hao Tianzun should be unable to reach the absolute summit."