Chapter 1300 — Shifting the Calamity Eastward

Shen Mu's face was grim as he departed under the protection of the Empress's sisters' mortal bodies, the Taisu Egg cupped in his hand.

The Taisu Egg said in a low voice: "If the Emperor Venerable obtains the primordial stone, to what heights will he grow?"

"I do not know. But back then, to rid themselves of the Emperor Venerable, all the ancient gods joined hands, and even so it was only by Divine King Gongyun shattering the Taichu Primordial Stone at his brow that they managed it."

Shen Mu put away the Empress's sisters' mortal bodies and mused: "Even so, the Emperor Venerable did not die. It was not until later, when Heavenly Venerable Yun struck at him from the shadows, that his mortal body could truly be called slain."

Taisu within the egg was silent a moment, then said: "Then now that he has the primordial stone, is there anyone left who can master him..."

Shen Mu turned his palm over, and the primordial stone appeared in his hand. He stared at it and said softly: "There is. The primordial stone in my hand was never whole to begin with; the portion I gave the Emperor Venerable is only one half of the true primordial stone. The Emperor Venerable is not at his peak. That person can still hold him in check."

Taisu within the egg was slightly startled, but Shen Mu did not say who that person was; instead he stuffed the Taisu Egg back into the Shen-Character Continent.

A day later, Shen Mu arrived at the North Heavenly Gate of the Heavenly Court.

Outside the North Heavenly Gate, a great army formed of the demon race was making ready to set out. At its head stood a dark heavenly palace, darkness wholly shrouding it, a darkness that even light could not dispel.

"Heavenly Venerable Mu!"

The master of the dark heavenly palace was none other than Great Black Heaven, Demon Ancestor of the Yuan Realm. Seeing Shen Mu, he hurried out to welcome him.

Shen Mu did not enter his dark heavenly palace but stood outside it and asked: "Where is the Demon Ancestor bound?"

Though there was some grievance between Great Black Heaven and him, the other treated him with courtesy and considerable politeness: "Replying to the Heavenly Venerable, the Heavenly Court has sent word ordering me to hasten to the lands of the Great Void. I hear a demon tide has erupted there, wreaking havoc upon the world, heart-demons dancing in chaos. Because this humble servant is the ancestor of the demon race and possesses a way to restrain heart-demons, the Heavenly Court commands me to go and quell the rebellion."

Shen Mu pondered a moment.

As an existence of the Emperor Throne realm in the Yuan Realm, Great Black Heaven's cultivation and strength were both exceedingly high; moreover, he was the Demon Ancestor born in Youdu, begotten of Youdu's demonic nature and demonic qi, and so against the heart-demons of the Great Void he indeed possessed extraordinary ability.

That the Heavenly Court sent him to the lands of the Great Void was likewise because they valued him as the demon of demons.

Great Black Heaven studied Shen Mu's expression, and after a moment said: "The Heavenly Venerable knows the lands of the Great Void like the back of his hand. My journey is at hand; I wonder if the Heavenly Venerable has anything to teach me?"

Shen Mu said: "There is indeed one piece of counsel. Handle a few heart-demons in the rear and that will suffice; there is no need to go to the front lines. In the Youdu of the Great Void, the Yin Son of Heaven is matched against the Divine Son of Youdu. That Divine Son of Youdu has vast divine powers; you are no match for him. If you press deep into the front lines, you will surely come to harm by his hand."

Great Black Heaven thanked him: "I will keep the Heavenly Venerable's words firmly in mind."

Shen Mu nodded and watched him lead the demon army into the distance.

Before long, Shen Mu arrived before the heavenly palace of Heavenly Venerable Xiao.

The disciple guarding the gate quickly sought out Heavenly Venerable Xiao and presented the Taichu Primordial Stone: "Heavenly Venerable Mu bade this disciple deliver this treasure to the Heavenly Venerable, saying it was a thing borrowed in years past, and now it returns to its rightful owner; he begs the Heavenly Venerable not to take offense."

Heavenly Venerable Xiao gripped the primordial stone and said in astonishment: "He has such a kind heart, that he would part with this treasure and return it to me? This brat — has he come to his senses at last?"

To have the primordial stone lost and regained delighted Heavenly Venerable Xiao as well. He put it away and laughed: "Still, he has skimmed some off the top; he still has his selfish designs. What he stole back then was more than this. Where is Heavenly Venerable Mu?"

The disciple said: "Heavenly Venerable Mu has already left. Before departing, Heavenly Venerable Mu also bade this disciple tell the Heavenly Venerable that the Emperor Venerable has been reborn, and has snatched the remaining primordial stone from him."

Heavenly Venerable Xiao's face went black as iron. With a flick of his hand he hurled the primordial stone from him and cursed in fury: "I thought the wretch had grown a kind heart — but it was to shift the calamity eastward, onto my head! Bastard! Damn him! His whole clan should be exterminated!"

His rage turned to laughter, and his curses did not cease.

The disciple shrank his neck, not knowing by what means Heavenly Venerable Mu had once again provoked his master to such fury.

Heavenly Venerable Xiao rose to his feet and paced to and fro, his expression shifting between light and dark.

He walked to the Taichu Primordial Stone, hesitated a moment, and in the end picked it up again.

He would have the Taichu Primordial Stone by whatever means; even if it meant conflict with the Emperor Venerable, he would not shrink from it!

Shen Mu had sent him the remaining primordial stone intending to provoke a conflict between him and the Emperor Venerable, to use his hand to check the Emperor Venerable. Though he saw through Shen Mu's scheme, he had no choice but to follow Shen Mu's wishes and contend with the Emperor Venerable.

"Little wretch, scheming against me — ruthless enough, black-hearted enough!"

Heavenly Venerable Xiao suddenly burst out laughing. He waved a hand to dismiss the disciple and said in a low voice: "The Taichu Primordial Stone must be gathered together by whatever means. But when the stone shattered back then, the whereabouts of the other pieces were unknown. Those pieces must have fallen into the hands of those old fellows. They too are scheming against me, unwilling that I become the true Taichu, seeking to limit my power..."

He raised his head, his gaze flickering, and said softly: "The true Taichu is equivalent to my power plus the Emperor Venerable's power. How could it be limited by a mere Divine Treasury-Heavenly Palace system? How could it be limited by a mere Heavenly Court realm? A pity — the power of the primordial stone and of divine consciousness has in part gone to the Creator and the Emperor Venerable. Even if I search out every piece of the primordial stone, I cannot make myself whole. And that wretch the Emperor Venerable even struck at me from the shadows, having the Creator make sacrifice of me, cutting off my means of refining the primordial stone and drawing its power, so that I cannot grow into the true Taichu..."

"These years I have pondered a way to resolve it, and I have found one: to slaughter every last Creator, and let their divine consciousness return to heaven and earth."

Heavenly Venerable Xiao looked at the primordial stone in his hand: "To seize the Emperor Venerable and refine him and the Great Luotian of Divine Consciousness — that is the second. To gather all the primordial stones and refine them — that is the third. Accomplish these three steps, and I shall be the true Taichu."