Chapter 1415 — Quite Brilliant, Upon Reflection

In the Hall of the Heavenly Venerables, every Venerable felt a chill at heart: Long Xiao had been at Shen Mu's side all along, and had slipped into the Hall with him!

Not one of them had sensed him. This Long Xiao truly had some skill!

Venerable Hong's expression shifted slightly. He suddenly recalled how, at the Jade Pool, Shen Mu had struck at him — so Long Xiao had been hidden at Shen Mu's side even then!

Which meant that if Long Xiao had launched a sneak attack on him, he would surely never have escaped.

Long Xiao's arts might be a million years out of date, but his cultivation was intact; if he landed a surprise blow, one would not come off lightly.

Seated in the high place, Shen Mu took in the bearing of each Venerable and could not help reflecting that there were, after all, some advantages to sitting on the League Lord's throne.

His seat was the highest. Sitting here, he could take in all ten Venerables at a glance, and there was a feeling that everything lay within his grasp.

Of course, he could not yet grasp the whole board — but he could at least play as a player, matching wits with these Venerables.

Long Xiao had been brought here by him, and had to be brought.

The matter of the Beast Realm involved far too much. With Long Xiao absent, the Venerables could never be easy in their minds; therefore Long Xiao himself had to declare his stance.

There was another point: bringing Long Xiao along was a talisman. After all, Long Xiao had promised him three things, and should he truly meet a peril he could not resolve, Long Xiao could still protect him.

Beyond that, Long Xiao's coming with him also served to swell his prestige.

"Brother Daoist Long Xiao, have you any objection regarding the Beast Realm?" Venerable Hao asked.

Long Xiao lowered his nine heads and saluted the Venerables. "I shall do whatever the Venerables arrange," he said. "I will carry it out with all my strength, and dare not defy a single word."

His words were shrewdly chosen: he was seizing the chance to make clear to the Venerables that he did not belong to Shen Mu's faction, but to the faction of the Ten Venerables.

Venerable Hao nodded slightly. "The far side of the Ancestral Court is a matter of grave weight. The primordial beasts are not suited to living there. The Venerables and I will join forces to open up the far side of the myriad heavens and worlds, where you and the primordial beasts may dwell. We must also lay down a rule — concerning the summoning of the beasts, and their return to the Beast Realm."

The others nodded one after another.

Long Xiao's nine heads looked about, and he soon took the measure of each one's authority within the Hall. He thought: 'This Venerable Hao is the leader among the Venerables. It is he who speaks, and the rest agree or object — but they seldom oppose him. He is the one who truly holds power among the Venerables!'

After he had spoken, Venerable Hao glanced at Shen Mu. "What does the League Lord think?"

Shen Mu's face was all smiles. "This is naturally excellent. I have no objection."

Long Xiao thought: 'As for Venerable Mu, this League Lord of the Heavenly League, he is mere decoration, put up for show. In truth he has no power to decide anything.'

Venerable Hao nodded. "Since the League Lord has given his assent, let it be done so."

Venerable Huo suddenly said in a heavy voice: "Now Crown Prince Mingya of the Heavenly Court has turned traitor. He harbors seditious designs, has thrown in his lot with Xie Wuqi, and has joined hands with the Benevolent Sage King of the Dark Capital, plotting treason. His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor no longer attends to affairs of state, yet the Heavenly Court cannot go a single day without a crown prince. In my view, a crown prince should be established at once."

At his words, the Divine Emperor Langxuan and the Divine King Zu nodded in agreement. "His Majesty does nothing; only a crown prince can act. A crown prince should be established early, to soothe the army and the people."

Venerable Huo spoke out in a ringing voice: "I nominate Venerable Hao as His Highness the Crown Prince! Venerable Hao is an elder of the Heavenly League, a Venerable of the early Longhan years, a man of merit to the realm — and he is His Majesty's eldest son. Even the seat of Crown Prince of the Heavenly Court is beneath him!"

The Divine Emperor Langxuan and the Divine King Zu nodded. "For Venerable Hao to become crown prince is indeed somewhat beneath him, but extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Brother Hao must bear the indignity."

Venerable Hao shook his head. "I fear the other brothers will not agree. What does Venerable Hong think?"

Venerable Hong, his face shining with glory, laughed. "I naturally raise both hands in assent!"

Venerable Hao looked next toward Celestial Consort Qiang, Celestial Consort Yan, and the others. Consort Qiang said with a smile: "Earlier it was Mingya who was crown prince; now it is to be Venerable Hao. I fear that is rather unsuitable as regards seniority, is it not?"

The moment she spoke, the Hall fell silent.

Everyone in the Hall save Long Xiao knew that Crown Prince Mingya was Venerable Hao's son. For Mingya to be stripped of the crown prince's place and the father to take his seat did indeed invert the proper order.

Venerable Hao gave Consort Qiang a long, deep look. "Your words seem to carry a meaning, Consort. You may as well explain yourself clearly."

Consort Qiang laughed hastily. "I am a clumsy speaker; it was said offhand. Let the Venerable Hao not take it to heart. I do approve of Venerable Hao as crown prince."

Venerable Hao gave a light snort. "And what does Celestial Consort Yan think?"

Consort Yan's lovely eyes flickered, and she smiled. "It seems that no one who sits in the crown prince's seat comes to a good end. This palace is somewhat worried for Venerable Hao."

Her words had a mark to hit: she was in truth speaking of how Venerable Hao's scheming had left her son, Xie Wuqi, no choice but to rebel. In those years it was the Heavenly Emperor who struck Xie Wuqi down into the Dark Capital, but in fact Venerable Hao had played a most disreputable part in the affair.

Venerable Hao smiled. "I thank you for the reminder, Consort. Venerable Gong, Venerable Xu, Venerable Shi — have the three of you any objection?"

Venerable Xu shook his head.

Yun Chuxiu gave a cheer and raised both hands in assent.

Venerable Gong glanced at the Divine Emperor Langxuan, then slowly shook his head. "I have no objection."

Venerable Hao looked again at Shen Mu. "What does the League Lord think?"

Shen Mu's face was wreathed in smiles. "This matter is naturally excellent. I have no objection."

Long Xiao thought: 'Venerable Mu really is an ornament. Still, from the way these ten Venerables have behaved, there seem to be rifts among them all — yet they are split into two camps. Hao, Huo, Lang, Zu and Xu are one faction; Hong, Gong, Yan and Qiang are another, and are likely of a piece with that Venerable Xiao who has not appeared. And Yun Chuxiu, that Venerable Shi, is a weathercock.'

Venerable Hao sighed. "Since you all do me such honor, I shall not decline. The fourth matter is the suppression of the Lord of Heaven. The Lord of Heaven was begotten of the Way of Heaven, yet he has connived at the havoc wrought by the Earth Mother Yuanjun, and slaughtered gods and demons in Xuandu by the millions — a crime beyond measure!"

Venerable Huo said coldly: "The Lord of Heaven is charged with overseeing the workings of the heavens, yet now the heavens abound in calamity, disasters unceasing, and the Lord of Heaven turns a blind eye. He is unworthy of the title and deserves to be put to death!"

The Divine King Zu ground his teeth. "The old villain may be my father, but I hate evil as my enemy; for the greater good I must put aside kinship!"

Venerable after Venerable added their voice, recounting the Lord of Heaven's crimes, until Venerable Hao turned to Shen Mu. "What does the League Lord think?"