Chapter 1782 — The Might of a Single String

"Seventh Young Master, the Fengshu Five Elders are known as the Undying Monsters Beneath the Tree. The eldest is Feng Hualian; the second, Huang Tang; the third, Cang Yancui; the fourth, Yan Xiuge; and the youngest is called Li Shu — the one before you.

" The voice of the Hall Master of Joy came floating over: "These five monsters have always entrenched themselves beneath the World Tree, clinging to it in deathly defense, fearful that when the universe is destroyed they will have no place to occupy. They rarely leave the World Tree of their own accord. In past cosmic epochs, no matter when you went to the edge of the World Tree, you could behold that one great spectacle. " Li Shu, of the Five Elders, laughed and said, "The Hall Master jests.

Our abilities are meager; in any contest of strength we could never outgrab anyone else, so all we could do was go early and squat on the spot. When the great calamity of cosmic annihilation arrives, it will be convenient for us to stow away into the next epoch. " Perplexed, Shen Mu asked, "Then why, in this epoch, have the five of you left the World Tree to settle in the Heavenly Court?

" He cast a glance to either side and said unhurriedly, "This Heavenly Court imitates the Jade Capital of the Ancestral Court, the symbol of authority supreme. Just now I heard the Hall Master of Joy say that the five of you ought to be lofty hermits beyond the world, indifferent to fame and gain — so why, in this epoch, have you instead stirred with the lust for power?

" Li Shu replied in a fluster, "The Seventh Young Master misunderstands! We Fengshu Five Elders are five rats as timid as mice — how would we dare stir with lust for power? We dare not presume, we dare not presume!

We merely saw this place standing empty and so lodge here for a while. We would never, ever dare harbor thoughts of usurpation. When the master of this place arrives, we will simply yield it up. " Though he put on the air of an obliging old soul, everyone present had walked through wind and fire in their lives; who could fail to see through the Fengshu Five Elders?

Emperor Haotian laughed and said, "The Five Elders have simply seen that the Miluo Palace has not descended into this universe, and that its Master has withdrawn from the world, and so they believe they have seized every first move. Add to that the scarcity of powerhouses in this universe, and the Five Elders have stirred with the lust for power, fancying themselves able to grasp the whole cosmos and give full play to the ambitions of a lifetime.

Such a state of mind is common to everyone — why refuse to admit it? " Li Shu roared with laughter and shook his head. "We five worthless mice only know how to burrow and hide beneath the World Tree; we would never dare harbor such heretical thoughts. We seek only a place to shelter ourselves. If anyone would deign to toss us a mouthful of food, we would be grateful beyond measure.

" Emperor Haotian's eyes glinted. "I can give you that shelter! " Li Shu shot him a glance and chuckled, "Young fellow, you jest. You cannot make such decisions.

" Emperor Haotian's face darkened slightly, and he snorted.

Li Shu led them to the Lingxiao Hall of the Heavenly Court.

By then the Lingxiao Hall had been razed flat to the ground; only a colossal altar remained, upon which four elders sat upright, surrounded on all sides by prehistoric powerhouses who had stowed away from beneath the World Tree.

Li Shu smiled and said, "Gentlemen, we Fengshu Five Elders do not even possess a proper palace. You can see that we are merely lodging here for the time being, with no thoughts of fame or gain. " Shen Mu surveyed the heavy divine instruments arrayed on every side, trained upon them at every moment — wherever they walked, those great weapons swung to follow — and praised with insincerity, "All of you are of lofty character and impeccable integrity, poor as paupers; I admire it greatly.

" His gaze fell once more upon the altar. The altar was exceedingly strange, its patterns and construction unusual, carrying an air of recondite mystery unlike the traditions of the Miluo Palace.

The divine ores and divine metals used in it were the finest grade taken from the Ancestral Court; in so short a time Shen Mu could not make out its purpose. Shen Mu praised, "The five of you are truly of pure and lofty bearing, treating gold as dung and sitting right upon it. " Feng Hualian, at their head, coughed once and said, "The Seventh Young Master jests.

Young Master, Hall Master of Joy, Envoy — please ascend the altar and speak. " The altar was plainly fishy, yet Emperor Haotian was not in the least afraid.

Head high and chest thrust out, he mounted the altar first, walked to its center, saluted the Five Elders, and said, "I have come by the command of the Third and Fourth Young Masters to pay my respects to the five fellow Daoists. " Feng Hualian nodded and said, "So you are His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor of this cosmic epoch.

Please be seated.

" The Hall Master of Joy's Dao tree drifted over and entered the altar as well, saluting the Five Elders. The Five Elders rose to return the salute and said, "The Hall Master's fame resounds far and wide.

We rustic recluses of the wild hills may hold some small name in the martial world, but compared to an existence of orthodox origin like the Hall Master, we are nothing but children playing at houses. That the Hall Master, maimed in body yet firm in will, should have won so great a reputation — even we five old bones are filled with admiration. " The Hall Master of Joy's expression changed slightly, knowing that these five old relics were mocking the fact that, after descending into the seventeenth epoch, the Hall Master had had both legs severed by someone.

Shen Mu stepped forward and mounted the altar.

The Five Elders hastily saluted him, and Feng Hualian said, "The Seventh Young Master has come from afar. We five old bones feared that he would ransack our household, and so we did not dare rise to welcome him. We beg his forgiveness. " "You are too kind, too kind. " Shen Mu's face was wreathed in smiles as he raised a hand.

"The five of you are venerable seniors of high virtue; there is no need to remain standing. Please, be seated.

" The Fengshu Five Elders hastily thanked him and each took a seat. Shen Mu also sat down, and after exchanging courtesies said, "In past universes I lived in mutual respect and affection with you five elders. To you, those matters are of the past; to me, they are of the future, not yet come to pass.

Our encounters are so extraordinary and strange that I cannot help heaving sighs of emotion.

" With that, he burst into laughter. The Fengshu Five Elders exchanged glances but could not laugh.

Emperor Haotian coughed and declared in ringing tones, "The five seniors are all exalted ones who have attained the Dao.

The Miluo Palace is about to descend, and the Third and Fourth Young Masters have ordered me here to join hands with the five of you in the great plan of the Miluo Palace's descent. What say the five of you? " He came straight to the point, stating his purpose in this journey, giving all present the impression that he came bearing the full momentum of the Miluo Palace, crushing others with that momentum, forcing the stowaways to submit and swear allegiance to the Miluo Palace. Cang Yancui, an old crone, cackled at this and said, "The Miluo Palace puts on quite the airs!

A mere running dog from its gate, and already he shouts orders at us left and right.

Do you truly take us Fengshu Five Elders for figures pinched from mud? " "Third Sister, do not forget your manners. " Huang Tang smiled and said, "This little friend has only lately won his master's appreciation; naturally he wags his tail and yaps a time or two to claim credit and beg reward.