Chapter 1417 — The Banners Change Atop the City Wall
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 5
Shen Mu was about to speak; Kaihuang cut him off and went on, "I founded the method of the Dao Realm and taught the world how to cultivate the Dao Realm — may I not sit among the Heavenly Venerables? The innate Great Dao is limited in number, held fast in the hands of the ancient gods. The postnatal Great Dao is endless and without limit; I have transmitted to the world the method by which the postnatal overcomes the innate — may I not sit among the Heavenly Venerables? Heavenly Venerable Mu, you green-horned brat, you say I do not deserve to sit among the Heavenly Venerables: are my merit, my deeds, my Dao, my virtue enough to sit among the Heavenly Venerables? Enough to make me one of the five founding elders of the Heaven Alliance?"
Shen Mu's expression shifted a little; cold sweat rolled down his forehead, and he hurried to his feet to yield his seat, his manner full of reverence and dread, praising him, "I never knew Heavenly Venerable Shen possessed such a Dao, such virtue, such merit, such deeds; I took you for a seeker of empty fame, and so I slighted you. My own merit and virtue, great though they are, are still a notch below yours. You stand among the five elders of the Heaven Alliance, one of its leaders: I yield to you in heart and in word. Please, take the seat of honor; I shall sit below you."
Everyone present had not yet caught up with the turn of events; they sat dumbstruck.
A moment ago the two had been fierce in voice and countenance, Shen Mu raging at Heavenly Venerable Shen as though he would tear him apart with his own hands and cast him into a place of eternal damnation; and in the blink of an eye he was utterly convinced, prostrate in admiration.
The shift was dazzling beyond words.
Kaihuang came striding over with his sword in hand and said with a smile, "Heavenly Venerable Mu is broad of heart, established the Dao through divine ability, founded the Heaven Alliance, and holds the world in his breast; he is a holy king who transmits the Dao, an open and upright gentleman, and his deeds are in no way inferior to mine. I may have merit and virtue, but after all it was you who founded the Heaven Alliance; that you be the first leader I accept in heart and in word, and I can only take the second seat."
Shen Mu hurried into a round of courtesies, urging him toward the seat of honor; Kaihuang declined again and again; the two of them above were so earnestly yielding precedence to one another that the gods, sages, Great Emperors, and Celestial Masters of the second and first tiers of the Heavenly Court below all sat like so many wooden chickens.
The nine Heavenly Venerables frowned deeply as well, exchanging glances.
The two worked together flawlessly, as though they had rehearsed it beyond counting: Kaihuang Shen Ye had come in towering fury, looking for all the world as if he meant to wreck the Alliance council and fight to the death.
Shen Mu's words were ferocious, as though he would beat Kaihuang to death with his own hands, punish the wicked and rid the world of evil, ready to break the net and die with the fish.
And yet, as they talked on, it became mutual flattery — this rebel Kaihuang had turned into a great sage who had done service to the living beings of the world and service to the heavens and the altars of state.
What was more, in an instant Kaihuang had gone from rebel to one of the five elders of the Heaven Alliance, worthy of the name of Heavenly Venerable beyond all doubt, ascending in the blink of an eye to the seat of power in the Heaven Alliance with his title fully earned — was this not grotesque and inconceivable beyond all measure?
Shen Mu could not decline; he had no choice but to take the seat of honor, his face shining with glory: "I shall force myself, and with a thick hide, sit in the first seat. How shameful, how shameful! Hahahaha —"
Kaihuang took his seat, and the nine Heavenly Venerables, their faces cold and dark, all looked over at once.