Chapter 1480 — You Shall Die Where You Stand
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
The Heavenly Duke faced calamity, hard-pressed to save even himself, yet these people of Xuandu still prayed, hoping he would protect them.
The five bore the Heavenly Dao's blessing upon them, and the gods and demons of Xuandu guarding the city did not bar their way.
Shen Mu sped to the city's center; Zhe Huali drew his blade to cut down the Heavenly Duke's statue, but Zai Fu reached out a hand to stop him, shaking his head: "Let them keep a little hope. If you cut down the Heavenly Duke's statue, the hope in their hearts dies with it. " Zhe Huali wiped the blood from his face and snorted. "What damned use is that?
" Still, he lowered the demon blade Dragon Fang and did not cut down the Heavenly Duke's statue. Shen Mu came before the statue and bowed.
"Dao Brother, I have a matter to discuss with you. I beg you, Dao Brother, shrink your body and guide us to the Spirit Terrace!
" A moment passed, and the statue showed no sign of movement.
Yet the divine city suddenly began to shake violently; the earth quaked and the mountains swayed, and building after building collapsed and crumbled.
The city filled with wailing and cries; the people of Xuandu kowtowed to the Heavenly Duke's image all the more urgently, murmuring incantations, faster and faster, their expressions ever more devout. Heavenly Venerable Hong had taken action himself, leading the three great Heavenly Venerables in assaulting the Heavenly Duke; the destructive force of a battle among Heavenly Venerables had begun to reach even here.
With a man like Heavenly Venerable Hong, who knew the Heavenly Duke and the Heavenly Dao down to their very roots, it would not be long before all the Heavenly Duke's attacks were dismantled—and this place, too, would soon be destroyed! Shen Mu frowned and said in a low voice, "I come at the command of Dao Brother Tai Yi, with a matter to discuss!
Though the Heavenly Dao has swayed your actions and taken control of your body, I know your consciousness remains! Dao Brother, will you not grant even Dao Brother Tai Yi this face?
" A moment later, the Heavenly Duke's statue suddenly came to life, opening its eyes to look at him, and said with a smile: "Heavenly Venerable Mu, how transcendent is Dao Brother Tai Yi? That he is indifferent to all that happens in Xuandu is not true indifference—rather, nothing can stir his Dao heart. Even beings such as you and I are no more than faint ripples in his Dao heart, an unremarkable wave.
He would not have sent you here. " Shen Mu fixed his gaze on the statue's eyes. "You are not Tai Yi. Do not measure Tai Yi's thoughts by your own, or you will judge wrongly. " The statue fell silent.
Even fiercer shockwaves struck the place; the earth split open, houses toppled, and the people of Xuandu in the divine city wailed without end. Shen Mu did not blink, seeming blind to all around him, staring only at the statue's eyes.
The Heavenly Duke's statue sighed.
"Though I know full well you are deceiving me, I truly do not know Tai Yi's thoughts and cannot judge with certainty.
Very well—come and see me.
" Suddenly the Heavenly Duke's immeasurably vast body shrank. Heavenly Venerable Hong and the others attacking him were startled; the Heavenly Duke, who had filled nearly all of Xuandu, grew smaller and smaller, and in an instant the distance between them and him opened up, leaving an endless void between them—empty, with nothing at all!
"Heavenly Venerable Mu! " Heavenly Venerable Hong gave a cold snort, his great sleeves fluttering, and sped toward the Heavenly Duke. Shi Qiluo, the Divine Emperor Langxuan, and Heavenly Consort Qiang hurried to follow.
The three Heavenly Venerables exchanged glances, then looked toward Heavenly Venerable Hong ahead, their eyes flickering.
Even shrunk to the utmost, the Heavenly Duke was still immeasurably vast. Shen Mu led Zhe Huali, Zai Fu, and the others soaring into the sky, flying toward the Heavenly Duke's brow.