Chapter 1497 — A Vow of Mutual Faithfulness
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
She accomplishes her ends by borrowing the strength of men, and has little power of her own. First she borrowed Taidi's strength, then Taichu's, and now she would borrow Celestial Venerable Hao's; yet all the while she is a petty schemer, never rising to anything great. If you suppose that one speech from her could make me bow my head and worship, and hand over the fate and future of the Creators to her, then you underestimate yourself — and you underestimate Langwo's judgment. " Shen Mu smiled, "It was my mistake. " Though God King Langwo dwelt always in absolute reason, to keep her company was a delight both to the heart and to the eye; whatever one spoke of with her was always a pleasure. "You should let me meet Celestial Venerable Gong.
Who knows — after I have talked with her, it may be that she fails to persuade me and is persuaded by me instead.
That is not impossible either," the girl said with a laugh. Shen Mu laughed heartily, "It is indeed possible. I was too anxious over gain and loss.
" God King Langwo heard the meaning in his words, but did not point it out. "Since your knot is untied, I am at ease.
Back then, when you and I captured Taidi's divine consciousness, it was split in three, and you, I and Shu Jun each took a share.
You have not yet used yours, have you? " Shen Mu was slightly taken aback. God King Langwo looked into his eyes, "My path of cultivation has reached its summit; there is little chance of advancing another step.
If you have no use for Taidi's divine consciousness, then may I trade you that treasure for the help I have given you this time?
" Shen Mu shook his head, "God King, you have already used Taidi's divine consciousness once. To use it again will make your attainment of the Dao all the harder in time to come! The reason Taidi could not be invincible, the reason he could not forge a true fruit of the Dao by means of his divine consciousness, is that he relied on the power of sacrifice to forcibly pile his divine consciousness up to the point of branding the Ultimate Void.
If I give you Taidi's divine consciousness, I do you harm. " God King Langwo smiled placidly, her bearing graceful beyond compare. "Do you think I still have room to rise? My cultivation and my gifts have been trained to this step, and it is the summit. For beings such as you and Kaihuang Shen Ye, there is still a road ahead; for me there is no road ahead.
Therefore, by whatever means, I must make the attempt. " Her eyes were pure and bright as stars and moon. She said softly, "Your cultivation and strength climb swiftly, and Kaihuang is more terrifying still. Once I could run neck and neck with him; now I am far from his match.
In time you too will catch up with me and surpass me, and my usefulness to you will grow less and less, my presence ever fainter. " Shen Mu opened his mouth, but said nothing. God King Langwo said, "Celestial Venerable Mu, I have spent a million years of my life cultivating to this step, and I know where my limit lies. Give it to me.
" Shen Mu fell silent for a moment.
The corner of his mouth moved; he forced a smile, took out Taidi's divine consciousness and handed it to her. God King Langwo received the jade bottle, "As an ally, I will not drag you down; and do not fail my Creator clan.
" Shen Mu nodded gravely.
God King Langwo drifted away. Shen Mu watched her figure vanish into the void, and only then withdrew his gaze and turned back to Lan Yutian's side.
Lan Yutian was at that moment in the midst of comprehending the Dao; the resonance of the Dao spread out from him, and all within the Heavenly Sea was still and serene.
The Way of Heaven moved dim and deep; in Xuandu the Way of Heaven had emptied, yet upon the Heavenly Sea the Way of Heaven rose again.
This was the heavenly phenomenon called forth by Lan Yutian; at this moment Heaven and man communed in him, and he was sacred and solemn as the Heavenly Duke of old.