Chapter 168 — The Old Men
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
The young Patriarch let out a breath of turbid air, his expression strange: "So that's how it is, so that's how it is... But the Mystic Body Three-Elixir Art really does have something to it. It's very uncommon."
"The Mystic Body Three-Elixir Art is the Essence-Drawing Art that can be found anywhere, true, but there really is something to it. Only, those who can cultivate this art to Shen'er's level are exceedingly few — one might well say Shen'er is the only one."
The Headman said gravely: "At the very least, I've never seen another. I suspect this art is from before the Wasteland became a wasteland. It should be no poor art; somehow it was passed down and became the most ordinary Essence-Drawing Art. But I can't be certain. Who could have imagined that this art would one day be cultivated to completion by someone?"
The young Patriarch's eyes flickered: "Perhaps one might say that before the Wasteland became a wasteland, ordinary people could still cultivate, and this Mystic Body Three-Elixir Art was the method by which ordinary people of that time cultivated. But because of some great upheaval, ordinary people lost the ability to cultivate, and the Four Great Spirit Bodies appeared after that, becoming the mainstream of today."
Master Dan's heart stirred: "If ordinary people cannot cultivate, how was Shen'er able to? It won't do to say it was merely that he worked a hundred times harder than others — there must be people in this world who work harder than he does. Nor will it do to say it was merely that he consumed a hundred times the resources of other ordinary people — there may be those willing to spend such vast resources to awaken a mortal body. So he must have something that sets him apart from ordinary people."
The Headman's heart skipped: "Perhaps he is an ordinary man from before the Wasteland became a wasteland."
The three exchanged a look, each agreeing with the thought. The young Patriarch said: "Then this ordinary man from before the cataclysm — where did he come from?"
The Headman and Master Dan said in unison: "Carefree Township!" The two looked at each other, both somewhat shaken.
Only Elder Protector's mind did not turn as fast as theirs; lost in the clouds, he could not get a word in.
"I feel like my thinking can't keep up with them..." Elder Protector had a natural sense of being excluded.
"Carefree Township?"
The young Patriarch's heart stirred: "May I ask where this Carefree Township is?"
The Headman smiled slightly: "I don't know. But if you're interested, daoist friend, tonight we can leave the village and go look for it."
"Leave the village?"
The young Patriarch turned his head and looked at the vast, boundless Wasteland, and suddenly felt a pang of alarm, and also of anticipation.
He had come to the right place.
He thought to himself.
It had been a long time since he'd felt this surging excitement. The old scoundrels of Hidden Remnant Village had given him back the adventure and impulse of his youth.
Two old men with one foot already in the coffin, plus one more old man, plus a half-aged Master Dan, setting off together to brave the depths of the unfathomable Wasteland — and to brave it in the darkness. The very thought of it was exhilarating.
On Mount Sacred Advent, Shen Mu instructed: "Ling'er, though this mountain is the holy ground of our Heavenly Holy Sect, this is my first time here as well, and I don't know what other dangers this place holds. Don't go running about. Once I've mastered the transmission method on this wall, I'll take you out of here."
Xue Hu'er answered and turned and ran out of the palace hall.
Shen Mu sat down before the wall and studied the transmission method on it carefully.
The transmission method on this wall was a way of refining a treasure; the various runes, formations, and divine powers in it could not be used separately. Only by refining them into a treasure could the effect of transmission be activated.