Chapter 1415 — Quite Brilliant, Upon Reflection
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
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Long Xiao's arts might be a million years out of date, but his cultivation was intact; if he landed a surprise blow, one would not come off lightly.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."