Chapter 1432 — Crossing the Tribulation and Shattering the Pass
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
The Great Emperor obtained his Dao but never understood its cause; only Kai Huang opened up the method of the Dao realm, to the benefit of those who came after. ' Shen Mu smiled.
'Does the Divine Emperor envy his method? Envy Kai Huang?
' Divine Emperor Langxuan shook his head, hesitated, then nodded. With a rather proud air he said, 'Kai Huang opened up the Dao realm and made good the deficiencies of the Heavenly Palace and Heavenly Court system, but he set out from the Dao as his starting point; that does not mean the Heavenly Palace and Heavenly Court system is wrong. ' Shen Mu was slightly startled and looked at him, asking humbly, 'Why does the Divine Emperor say so?
' 'He attained the Dao through the Dao, using the Dao realm and the Dao heart to ceaselessly raise himself, until at last he could brand the Ultimate Void and cultivate the Great Luo Heaven of the Sword Dao. ' Divine Emperor Langxuan said unhurriedly, 'Just now I used my own strength to try to brand the Great Luo Heaven. Though I failed, I saw the hope of attaining the Dao. The Heavenly Palace and Heavenly Court system prizes power; cultivate to the realm of the Great Heavenly Court, and one may attain the Dao through power!
' His spirit soaring, he declared in ringing tones, 'No need to comprehend any damned heart of Heaven, no need to sense any "my Dao endures forever"!
Once I have cultivated the Great Heavenly Court, my power will be so overwhelming that I will simply stamp my brand upon the Great Luo Heaven — and to hell with whether the Great Luo Heaven likes it or not!
' Shen Mu was left staring, tongue-tied; after a moment he praised him. 'The Divine Emperor is a man of great talent. ' Divine Emperor Langxuan smiled slightly.
'Kai Huang is a man of great talent too, not inferior to me.
' Shen Mu laughed heartily. Divine Emperor Langxuan knew as well that 'not inferior to me' was his own catchphrase, and so he said it.
Shen Mu laughed a long while, then the laughter stopped abruptly and his tone shifted. Quietly he asked, 'When will the Divine Emperor kill me as a sacrifice? ' Divine Emperor Langxuan smiled. 'Why does Heavenly Venerable Mu speak such words?
When did I ever intend to kill you as a sacrifice to please some old monster from the last cosmic era? I am one of the Ten Heavenly Venerables, and I have glimpsed the possibility of attaining the Dao through power. Why would I kill you as a sacrifice?
' 'My Dao heart is transparent.
Anyone standing beside me need only stir the slightest murderous intent toward me, and it will be reflected in my Dao heart.
' Shen Mu said gravely, 'Just now, before that coffin, when the prehistoric being made his proposal, you were preparing to strike at me.
Your killing intent was refracted in my Dao heart.
' Divine Emperor Langxuan said curiously, 'The Dao realm can do such a thing?
Truly marvellous skill. Kai Huang was remarkable. ' Shen Mu smiled.
'Kai Huang's sword heart was luminous and clear. Strong as it was, it could not necessarily do what I have done.
' Divine Emperor Langxuan was faintly shaken. 'Then your invitation just now to walk about together and examine the mysteries of the Great Luo Heaven — it was so that, in examining the Great Luo Heaven and uncovering its mysteries, I would dissolve the killing intent in my heart?
' Shen Mu nodded.
Divine Emperor Langxuan sighed.
'So the Dao realm can go this far. It seems that cultivating only the Heavenly Palace and attaining the Dao through power will not suffice; to advance further, the Dao realm's aid is needed. Heavenly Venerable Mu, guess what means I would use to kill you?
' Shen Mu mused for a moment.
'Ordinary means can hardly kill me outright. My strength is no match for the Divine Emperor's, but I have many ways of preserving my life — the Unchanging Divine Art above all. When the Divine Emperor kills me, he must also guard against my dragging him with me into the great aberration where matter does not change.