Chapter 1425 — Turning the Palm Brings Clouds, Flipping It Brings Rain
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 5
Yet Shi Qiluo had won the approval of the Ten Celestial Venerables and become the eleventh Celestial Venerable, and one could not help but sigh: "In the art of flattery, Shi Qiluo has cultivated himself a whole Heavenly Court. " The Heavenly Emperor's edict of investiture arrived at the Heaven Alliance assembly in good time, naming Shi Qiluo the Eleventh Celestial Venerable, to everyone's great delight.
Shen Mu invited Shi Qiluo to take his seat, and then announced the opening of the Ancestral Court and its reverse side, which caused a sensation throughout the myriad worlds. This matter touched the interests of the rulers of the myriad worlds; the profits of the Ancestral Court and its reverse side were immense, and they had always been held in the hands of the Ten Celestial Venerables and Shen Mu, with no one else able to claim even a share of the broth. Now Shen Mu announced that the Ancestral Court and its reverse side would be opened, and naturally hearts gathered to him, and all were delighted.
"Opening the Ancestral Court and its reverse side is one and the same matter as founding the Beast World, yet Mu Celestial Venerable splits it into two to buy men's hearts. This fellow is no longer someone we can knead at will.
" The Celestial Venerables exchanged glances and said silently in their hearts. When Shen Mu announced this, the hearts of the people naturally turned toward Shen Mu — such was the privilege of the Alliance Master.
But though Shen Mu might win over some hearts, power and status are built upon strength and influence; without strength and influence, all is empty talk. Nor were the rulers of those worlds fools; they would not throw themselves in with Shen Mu on that account.
Mere goodwill was worth little.
Shen Mu then announced the founding of the Beast World and called out Long Xiao, who was to explain how the Beast World would operate and what relation held between summoners and the ancient giant beasts.
This was naturally another sensational matter, and it stirred the rulers of the great worlds to a strange excitement — to summon ancient giant beasts to fight, and the boost that would give to the strength of divine arts practitioners and gods was easy to imagine! Once these two great matters were announced, the shock that the campaign against the Heavenly Duke had brought was at last dispelled somewhat.
Immediately after, Shen Mu announced before all that Crown Prince Mingya had thrown in with Xie Wuqi and betrayed the Heavenly Court, and that since the Heavenly Court now had no Crown Prince of the First Palace, His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor had invested Hao Celestial Venerable as Crown Prince of the First Palace.
This left everyone exchanging glances. A Crown Prince of the First Palace was of course no match for a Celestial Venerable.
How exalted a Celestial Venerable was: holding the reins of the Heavenly Court's government, dividing the world among themselves, with the myriad heavens swearing fealty and countless gods and men beneath their banners.
A crown prince had the name but not the power; his station was below a Celestial Venerable's, and to meet a Celestial Venerable was as to meet the Heavenly Emperor — he must bow and make obeisance. That Hao Celestial Venerable was a son of the Heavenly Emperor was no secret in the myriad worlds; yet that Hao Celestial Venerable should be willing to become crown prince — this could not but set men pondering the reason.
"Once the Heavenly Duke is disposed of, it will not be long, I fear, before the Ten Celestial Venerables move against the Heavenly Emperor.
" Someone who had seen the shape of things said to himself: "The Ten Celestial Venerables want to settle all the ancient gods once and for all and hold power in their grip!
But what baffles me is this: can His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor not see it?
Why then would he invest Hao Celestial Venerable as crown prince? Could it be that what Shen Celestial Venerable said is true?