Chapter 1568 — Deceiving All Quarters
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
Before coming here, Heavenly Venerable Hao, Heavenly Venerable Xiao, and the others had still harbored doubts, but once they had seen the skill of Taiyi's disciple Jiang Yunjian, once they had seen the Dao-pattern array Shen Mu had left upon the cliff, and once they had taken in the terrifying spectacle beyond the hundred thousand Black Mountains, together with Taiyi's Dao Tree, the doubts in their hearts vanished without a trace. Now, beholding this golden hall and the chaos qi within it, they were filled with even greater awe for the "elder" inside. This was one who had truly achieved the Dao, his divine powers immeasurable, unfathomable! Yet Shen Mu, within the hall, remained uneasy, his heart pounding.
If Heavenly Venerable Xiao, Heavenly Venerable Hao, and the rest were to test him, it would not even take Heavenly Venerable Hao; the Ancestral God King, Heavenly Venerable Xu, and their like alone could easily see through him! The reason he had sent Jiang Yunjian to lead them to the cliff, the reason he had stalled until dusk, was precisely to borrow the holy land's strange portents and Taiyi's Dao Tree to build for himself an image of invincibility, so that they would not dare to doubt him!
Whenever the sun set, apocalyptic visions appeared beyond the World Tree, heaven and earth destroyed, a thing of utter terror!
Indeed, if one were to leave the holy land at such a time, one would enter the destruction calamity of the sixteenth universe, with little hope of survival! And Taiyi, when he departed, had made a pact with him: each time night fell, his Dao Tree would appear and drip Dao dew, and Shen Mu could gather this dew to repair the Black Mountains that had been cracked by the shock. It was precisely on these two things that Shen Mu relied to dispel all doubt from the seven Heavenly Venerables and the two ancient gods. The news of Taiyi's fall must never get out!
Heavenly Venerable Xiao stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Brother Dao, you achieved the Dao so early, how joyous and admirable. But my own attainment of the Dao may be called arduous. On this visit, I beg you, Brother Dao, to grant me a few pointers.
" Shen Mu sat amid the chaos, his voice resonant: "Are you not about to achieve the Dao, fellow Daoist? Why then ask such a question?
" Heavenly Venerable Xiao was struck with awe: "Taiyi is indeed unfathomable, he knows I am about to achieve the Dao! " He grew even more humble: "Brother Dao, your powers are vast; you must know that the Dao-attainment I speak of is not the cultivation of a Heavenly Court.
" Shen Mu said unhurriedly, "The Dao-attainment you speak of is Taichu attainment. You wish to become a complete Taichu Ancient God. " "Pray instruct me, Brother Dao," said Heavenly Venerable Xiao with the utmost reverence.
Countless thoughts flashed through Shen Mu's mind.
He said leisurely, "How to achieve Taichu attainment, you have long had your plan, fellow Daoist.
Why ask me? " Delighted, Heavenly Venerable Xiao pressed on: "Brother Dao, if I but kill all the Creators, devour their divine consciousness, and gather all the Taichu primal stones, then I can cultivate the Taichu Great Dao and become a complete Taichu. The Creator race became Creators because of me and the Taichu ore vein; they stole my fortune.
If I am to become a complete Taichu, I must settle this karmic debt! Is this conjecture correct?
" Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly.
He was silent a moment, then said, "Your greatest enemies are the Juyu clan and yourself. Remember this, remember it well.
" Satisfied, Heavenly Venerable Xiao stepped back. The Sun Ancient God came forward and bowed: "Brother Dao, may I ask how I am to achieve the Dao?
" Shen Mu said, "Fellow Daoist, have you not long had your method of achieving the Dao?