Chapter 1469 — Grudges Melt Away Like Snow
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
Tian Shu was dumbstruck, and Shen Mu, Zai Fu, and the others all frowned deeply.
Di Qing laughed heartily. "By then, Tianfang City will become the fortress that overpowers the Heavenly Worthy and makes him bow his head!"
He was full of confidence, pointing at the mountains and rivers as though commanding the realm, his spirit soaring. "When the Lord of Heaven ordered us to descend to the mortal world and support you humans and other acquired races, I was actually somewhat displeased all along. Without relying on the power of you acquired races, with only the power of my Xuandu, we could already look down upon the myriad heavens and stand on equal footing with the Heavenly Court! Back then, when the Heavenly King came to lend aid, I was also very pleased."
Shen Mu was silent for a moment, then said, "Di Qing, will you truly not reconsider evacuating these women and children? If Tianfang City falls, these lives..."
Di Qing flew into a towering rage, his expression changing. He barked at his attendants, "Seize this man who disrupts the morale of my army and behead him on the city tower as a warning to all!"
Tian Shu hurriedly embraced him, smiling placatingly. "Calm yourself, calm yourself! We came to lend aid, after all—how can there be any logic in killing friendly troops to consecrate the flag the moment we arrive?"
Di Qing snorted, shook him off, and said coldly, "My Xuandu has strong soldiers and sturdy horses, and the protection of the Heavenly Dao. The Heavenly Dao has formed a supreme treasure to protect the divine city—we have no need of your aid. You four or five, masked and afraid to show your true faces, neither male nor female, neither decent nor respectable—just watch! Heavenly King, rest assured, when we win I will share a little of the credit with you."
Suddenly the sound of war drums came. Di Qing led his people away in haste.
Zai Fu sighed and said bleakly, "We came full of ardor, undaunted by the enemy, only to have a basin of cold water poured over us by Xuandu's garrison commander."
"Tian Dao, calm your anger. Di Qing did help the Kaihuang era a great deal. Kaihuang established the posts of Sun Warden and Moon Warden across the myriad heavens—that was in fact learning from Xuandu's system."
Tian Shu was also helpless regarding Di Qing. "But back when they came to help us, the bitter and heavy labor was all done by us; they only gave directions, and lorded it over us besides. Kaihuang tolerated it in many ways, until at last he could bear it no longer and they fell out. Di Qing, in a rage, led all the half-gods back to Xuandu, saying that without their help, your Kaihuang Kingdom could never develop into a great power of the Yuan Realm."
He smiled faintly. "Several hundred years later, the Kaihuang Kingdom leapt to become the hegemon of the Yuan Realm, and the Lord of Heaven sent him back again. Yet his temper had not changed—he was arrogant toward everyone in the Kaihuang Heavenly Court. Arrogant though he is, his heart is not bad, and his strength is formidable. His whole life he has pondered the Heavenly Dao, and has comprehended three to five different Heavenly Dao Imperial Throne techniques. With the Heavenly Dao here so flourishing, perhaps he truly can hold off the Heavenly Worthy."
Shen Mu shook his head. "If the Heavenly Dao were truly so strong, why would the Lord of Heaven need to scurry about like a rat, transforming into Hong Tianzun, and personally instigate this calamity of slaughter against the Lord of Heaven and against Xuandu?"
At these words, Tian Shu, Zai Fu, and the others could not help but shudder, their hairs standing on end, staring at him in alarm.