Chapter 1279 — That Cunning Senior
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 3
Shen Mu was struck dumb, gaping, speechless for a long while. And he was far from the only one. Friend and foe alike were shaken beyond words by the means with which Wentiange had shattered Lord Hao's arrangements — an awe that left them utterly thunderstruck.
Among them all, apart from the Woodcutter Sage's Black Tiger God, the Woodcutter was arguably the weakest; yet his wisdom was the mightiest, and even the seal Lord Hao had laid could not stump him.
"Old thief Wen, what cultivation realm have you reached now?" Lord Xi asked, his face frantic with alarm.
The Woodcutter's face twisted into a bitter grimace, and he said hoarsely, "Still the Yaotai realm."
"Then you are a Heavenly God?"
Lord Xi breathed a long sigh of relief and muttered, "Then I can rest easy — one puff of breath would be enough to blow the man dead... My lords, let us probe this canyon, find Lord Hao soon, and return to report!"
The others breathed easier as well. Qi Xiayu said, "We are all loyal ministers and righteous men; let us find Lord Hao, heal his wounds, and wish him long life unending, blessings equal to Heaven's own. There is no time to lose — let us go in at once!"
Lord Xi, Qi Xiayu, and the rest charged into the canyon first, while the Woodcutter Sage, the Creator Xiuzhong, and the others lagged a step behind. Yan Yunxi's gaze flickered, and he said in a low voice, "Woodcutter, you broke Lord Hao's seal. If they rush in and join hands with Lord Hao against us, what then?"
The Woodcutter Sage laughed. "Who says I broke the seal?"
Yan Yunxi was taken aback. He looked at the stone walls to either side of the Eighth Canyon, and saw that the divine light within the canyon had been turned by the Woodcutter into runes nailed upon the rock — plainly the very picture of the Woodcutter having broken Lord Hao's seal.
"It only looks as though it were broken."
The Woodcutter said unhurriedly, "My cultivation is too low; I have not the strength to break Lord Hao's seal. In a little while these runes will turn back into the rosy radiance of the seal. Everyone stay vigilant — be on your guard!"
Xiuzhong and the Silkworm Maiden hurried to their side. The Silkworm Maiden pointed at the Woodcutter. "You wicked old man..."
Xiuzhong said, "Thank heaven that back when we stood against the Carefree Land, it was Celestial Master Zixi and not the woodcutter."
Yan Yunxi laughed. "I was never his equal to begin with. Of all the Celestial Masters, I fear only the ancient Longshan the Wanderer and Yue Tingge could rival him in wit."
The Woodcutter was suddenly seized with panic and shouted in alarm, "Guard yourselves! Lord Hao's seal is about to reappear! Everyone protect me — I must not be wounded!"
The others were greatly displeased, yet still they shielded him at the center; and the Black Tiger God, being of low realm, was likewise taken under their care.
Upon the cliffs to either side of the canyon, countless magnificent Great Dao runes of the ancient gods burst forth of a sudden, transforming into streaks of rosy radiance that flooded the Eighth Canyon!
The might of the Heavenly Lord's seal erupted. Those walking in front — Red Emperor Qi Xiayu, Xi Muhong, Lord Xi, and the rest — at once sensed that something was badly amiss. Qi Xiayu and Lord Xi, decisive in the instant, summoned the treasures of their Emperor's Thrones to shield themselves.
Qi Xiayu's zither spun swiftly around them all, and the notes within its strings turned forthwith into barrier upon barrier of space.
Lord Xi's demon-quelling pestle quivered in the air, splitting one into two, two into four, four into eight, until in an instant the heavens were filled with pestle-shadows!
Other experts of the Yujing and Lingxiao realms likewise roused their divine weapons, but scarce had their power begun to spread when the divine radiance had already drowned them!
The zither spun faster still, its notes more urgent — sealing and closing, holding back the Dao-might of the restriction hidden in the radiance.