Chapter 1568 — Deceiving All Quarters
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Why then ask such a question? " The Sun Ancient God hesitated, then said, "My sister and I discovered that our Dao-hearts had been sullied by the red dust, and that we were drifting ever further from attaining the Dao.
So we entered the world ahead of time, intending to temper ourselves amid the red dust and seek a way to break through. But when we found the Empress and Yuanmu and aided them in achieving the Dao, something went wrong. Thus we waver in our hearts, unsure whether we can attain the Dao at all. We beg you, Brother Dao, to instruct us. " Shen Mu said, neither hurried nor slow, "Yin and yang are the transformations of Taiji. You are not like the Empress and Yuanmu; the Empress and Yuanmu were born of destruction, opposed and incompatible. But when yin and yang converge, all things are begotten.
You need not worry. " Joy rose in the Sun Ancient God's heart, and he withdrew.
The Goddess Taisu drifted forward and said with a smile, "Brother Dao, this is the second time you and I have met.
Last time it was I who was in the wrong.
This time I have come both to make amends and to seek your teaching. May I ask, Brother Dao, how am I to achieve the Dao?
" Shen Mu did not answer. The Goddess Taisu asked again, and Shen Mu said, "You cannot achieve the Dao. " The Goddess Taisu gave a cold snort: "And why can I not achieve the Dao? " "Your foundations are too shallow. " Shen Mu said unhurriedly, "In your early years Gong Yun dug you out, and carried you as a dowry to the Juyu clan; the Great Emperor sealed you. When the Great Emperor fell, you passed into the hands of the two Xuanwu Emperors, ancient gods born of the Juyu clan's sacrifices, who refined you into a treasure and made of you the Glazed Azure Heaven Banner.
Later you fell into the hands of Heavenly Venerable Mu, and in the sixteenth universe you passed through the great calamity of destruction and were forced to emerge ahead of your time. Foundations such as these are truly shallow. And after your emergence, you met the wrong people and chose the wrong allies.
You have cleverness but not great wisdom, perseverance but not great perseverance, scheming but not great scheming, vision but not great vision.
Sooner or later you will come to ruin by them. " The Goddess Taisu's heart pounded wildly; she turned her head to look at Heavenly Venerable Hao. "When your very life is hard to preserve, what talk is there of achieving the Dao?
" Shen Mu brought down his verdict like a hammer.
The Goddess Taisu turned back and said with a sneer, "Brother Dao, how then do you think I may escape the doom of death and set foot upon the road to the Dao?
" Shen Mu said, "He who broke your foundations is also the one who can make them.
If you wish to achieve the Dao, you must seek him out, and then there may still be a chance.
" The Goddess Taisu fell into thought, and withdrew. Heavenly Venerable Hao laughed heartily, stepped forward, bowed slightly, and said in a ringing voice, "Brother Dao Taiyi, I did not come to pay my respects to you; I came accompanying my aunt. But hearing your words, I too have something to ask you. May I? " Without waiting for Shen Mu's answer, he went on: "Brother Dao, you know of the Ancestral Court Jade Capital, do you not? The Ancestral Court Jade Capital is the place forged by the Dao-achievers of the sixteen prehistoric universes. They are preparing to descend. Do you think we should resist them, or should we yield to them? " Shen Mu said, "Heavenly Venerable Hao, having become the Heavenly Emperor, do you wish to have a retired emperor above your head? " Heavenly Venerable Hao's gaze flickered.
Shen Mu continued, "When the prehistoric Dao-achievers descend, once you are Heavenly Emperor, above your head there will not be one retired emperor, but several thousand.
" Heavenly Venerable Hao laughed: "Brother Dao, your words strike straight to my heart.
I am instructed. Do you mean, Brother Dao, that I may become the Heavenly Emperor?