Chapter 1461 — A Lonely Moon Shines on the River's Clear Ripples
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
"This time the Heavenly Dao, seeking to preserve itself—once we reach Xuandu, when the Heavenly Dao senses our Dao hearts, with its blessing our strength will rise another step.
It is not impossible that we survive!
And with the aid of such powers as Kaihuang, Langwan, the Moon Heavenly Venerable, and the Nether Heavenly Venerable, we will surely turn peril into—" Before the word "safety" could leave his mouth, Shen Mu's gaze went blank as he stared ahead. The others hurried to look. A middle-aged man with a sword at his waist was walking along the Heavenly River toward them—none other than Kaihuang, Shen Ye. Kaihuang came to the boat and halted. Zaifu and the others hastily paid their respects, while Tian Shu hid himself in the cabin, not daring to show his face. Shen Mu quickly brought the boat to a stop and leaned half his body out.
"Aren't you going to Xuandu?
What are you doing here? " Kaihuang's face was calm.
"You told me to come to the Ancestral Court, saying that comprehending the Dao realm there could help me break through to the Ultimate Void. So I came.
" Shen Mu said angrily, "At this point you should be preparing for Xuandu, not the Ancestral Court! What were you doing earlier?
" Tian Shu's face turned ashen at these words. In all the world, Shen Mu was likely the only one who dared speak to Kaihuang so. Ever since Kaihuang had wounded several Heavenly Venerables with his sword at the Heaven Alliance Council, even the Ten Heavenly Venerables likely treated him with courtesy.
Kaihuang took no offense. "Earlier the Ten Heavenly Venerables were all here; I had no chance.
Now that they have hurried to Xuandu, I have my chance to walk the Ancestral Court. " Shen Mu was about to speak when Kaihuang went on, "It takes time to travel from the Heavenly River to Xuandu. If I go after comprehending the Ancestral Court, I will still be in time.
You hold them off first. " Shen Mu ground his teeth and watched helplessly as Kaihuang walked toward the Ancestral Court. "Shen Ye, remember to collect my corpse!
" he shouted at Kaihuang's receding back. "Very well," Kaihuang said blandly. Shen Mu pulled off his shoe and hurled it with all his strength.
Kaihuang tilted his head; the shoe missed, then flew back and slipped itself onto Shen Mu's foot.
"Wait—since you're going to the Ancestral Court, do one thing for me!
" Shen Mu put his shoe back on, and a ripple of divine consciousness passed into Kaihuang's mind, conveying the matter.
Kaihuang paused and turned his head. "That will be somewhat difficult.
" Shen Mu said in a low voice, "Can you manage half of it?
" "It can be tried. " He lifted his foot and departed.
Shen Mu snorted and said grimly, "We hold them off!
" The others looked at one another.
Tian Shu poked his head out of the cabin too.
"How do we hold them off?
" Shen Mu gritted his teeth.
"With our heads!
" Tian Shu hastily pulled his head back in. The cheerful mood aboard the boat had vanished without a trace. Everyone was breathing hard. Zaifu scooped up a mouthful of Heavenly River water and whetted his blade at the boat's edge, laughing. "One Kaihuang raises the way of the sword to the thirty-fifth heaven, while we few rough fellows who wield the saber can only reach the thirtieth. Is the way of the saber inferior to the way of the sword?
Gentlemen, it is all up to us! " Yet for all his words, they still could not set their hearts at ease. Just then a faint strain of zither music came from ahead, its melody lovely and stirring, so that even the Heavenly River seemed to leap and dance with it.
Shen Mu soared into the air and looked ahead. The vast Heavenly River was like leaping notes of music, murderous intent hidden within. In the waves that sprang up with the melody, strange divine abilities merged with the river water, ready to strike out at any boat, so that killing intent lurked beneath the river's surface. "It's the Moon Heavenly Venerable's zither!