Chapter 1703 — A Sword in Hand, Alone Across Ten Thousand Miles
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
This Dao Fruit was bound up with his head: if he could erase the sword-dao power that Shen Mu had hidden within the Dao Fruit, he could draw on its strength to grow himself a new head. If he could not erase Shen Mu's sword-dao power, it might even invade his body and taint his other Dao Fruits and Dao Flowers. At this moment, full of confidence, he joined his Great Dao to the Dao Fruit and drew forth the sword-dao power that Shen Mu had hidden inside it.
Suddenly, upon the altar, sword light flashed in every direction, swift as light, quick as lightning; in an instant the heavens were filled with sword radiance, and heaven after heaven unfolded!
Palace Master Lingguan had ox horns sprouting from his shoulders, his guts coiled like a dragon, his spine like a serpent; within his body dwelt twelve hundred gods great and small, linked in breath to the twelve hundred Dao Lords of the Ancestral Jade Capital City, and his mighty power was boundless. His momentum was unmatched in that hour; carrying the force of the Grand Cosmic Rite, he met Shen Mu's sword-dao power head-on, straining every sinew to refine it away.
Clang, clang, clang.
Thirteen sword-notes rang out in succession from the altar; after a moment, the sword-filled heavens vanished, the sword light dimmed, and Palace Master Lingguan stood there, three Dao Fruits and one Dao Flower floating before and behind him.
The flesh at his shoulders writhed, and swiftly a new head grew forth.
"Many thanks, fellow Daoists, for your aid! " Palace Master Lingguan bowed, saluting the twelve hundred Dao Lords within the phantom of the Jade Capital City in midair; in that phantom the twelve hundred Dao Lords bowed in return, and their forms slowly dissolved.
The phantom of the Ancestral Jade Capital City vanished soon after, and the Grand Cosmic Rite was over.
Light of body, Palace Master Lingguan leapt down from the altar, and the vast altar of white bone collapsed at once into powder.
The spiritual power and spiritual energy of countless bones had been exhausted; a moment before, it had been sustained by Palace Master Lingguan's strength, and now that he had stepped down, it was bound to crumble away. "Heavenly Emperor, I had no intention of making an enemy of the Seventh Young Master, but who would have thought he would provoke me of his own accord and take a villain like Lord Shang under his banner.
" Palace Master Lingguan strode over and came before Emperor Haotian, his face dark with anger, his voice rolling like thunder: "The Seventh Young Master has no regard for feeling; he has damaged my cultivation, destroyed my Dao Tree, and made an enemy of me.
Since that is so, I need not keep up any pretense with him!
You wish to flatten Jingping, then I will lend you a hand: flatten Jingping, and blood-sacrifice the Yuan Realm! " Emperor Haotian laughed heartily, rose from his throne, and declared in ringing tones: "With the Palace Master's aid, what have We to fear?
Attendants, set the banquet!
Today We and Our beloved ministers and Palace Master Lingguan shall not go home until we are drunk! " And so a great feast was spread in the detached palace; the gods of the Heavenly Court passed cups and toasts back and forth, laughter and talk unceasing, and many holy ones came forward to drink to Palace Master Lingguan.
Palace Master Lingguan refused no one and drank deep with them all; and when holy ones, warmed by wine, stepped up and bowed to ask about Dao arts and divine powers, he was most forthcoming and answered every question.
For a time host and guests alike were merry, their laughter like thunder. When the wine was mellow and the ears were warm, Emperor Haotian turned and asked with a smile: "Palace Master, you are the elder; let me address you as Daoist Brother. May I ask, Daoist Brother, how many ways are there in this world to attain the Dao?