Chapter 1616 — The Source of Edification
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
His attention was drawn away by the little darlings of Long Qilin's household, and only then did Long Qilin breathe a sigh of relief; Shen Mu, it seemed, would not be taking him to task over that phrase, "old Cult Master. " Shen Mu took these little monsters — bird yet not bird, beast yet not beast, dragon yet not dragon — wandering all about the city, observing the customs and manners of Jingping, and with such little monsters to while away the tedium, the outing was rather easy.
One little fellow ran up onto his shoulder and peered this way and that into the hollow of his ear, full of curiosity. Two more burrowed into his hair and hid there, and before long came to blows over this "bird's nest.
" "Cult Master, the Beast Realm has grown quickly these years as well.
" Long Qilin kept him company as they walked.
"The Beast Realm is vast in territory; the beast tribes are thickest on the far side of the Ancestral Court, and I helped Long Xiao build many divine cities there.
On the far sides of the Yuan Realm, Xuandu, and the Nether Capital, no few cities have been raised as well. And also. .
. " He hesitated, then said: "I discussed it with the Emperor, and by the stratagem of fewer troops and more cookstoves we moved part of Jingping's population to the far side of the Yuan Realm, and built many divine cities there.
That place is called Little Jingping.
" Hearing this, Shen Mu let out a long breath.
Little Jingping in the Beast Realm was Jingping's road of retreat. "The fewer troops, more cookstoves plan keeps the Heavenly Court from noticing the dwindling of Jingping's population; add to that the erasure of every trace of their existence from the Book of Life and Death, and these people can go to the Beast Realm with neither god nor ghost the wiser, and open up a second Jingping. " Long Qilin said: "I hold no small power in the Beast Realm either, and these years I have been trying to awaken the wisdom of the beast tribes there.
Sage Lan, Lan Yutian, has a number of beast-tribe disciples, all of them ancient giants of old; that Little Jingping could be built this time was thanks to their help. " Shen Mu nodded, greatly comforted at heart. Lan Yutian had preached and taught in the Ancestral Court, and many ancient giants had followed him, their spirits and wits awakened, learning cultivation, evolving into a new race: the beast tribes.
After the Beast Realm was opened, Shen Mu had Long Qilin follow Long Xiao there, and these beast tribes followed Long Qilin to the Beast Realm as well; Shen Mu's purpose was to have Long Qilin manage affairs in the Beast Realm and establish another sphere of influence.
The Beast Realm lay on the dark underside of the myriad heavens and worlds, its environment harsh, yet should war break out, the Beast Realm would instead be the last pure land. The fewer who knew of this the better, and so Shen Mu had to send the one most worthy of trust to see it done well; that Long Qilin had not shown himself for so many years was because he had been managing this very matter.
"Using the divine art of reverse summoning, I and the mighty ones of the beast tribes summon the people of Jingping into the Beast Realm. Progress has been slow these years, for we must also guard against Long Xiao and keep him from learning of it, but happily we have achieved no small success.
" Long Qilin said with a smile: "When will the Cult Master go to Little Jingping in the Beast Realm and have a look? " Shen Mu said with a smile: "When you do a thing, I rest easy.
Pi, in my heart you long ago became one who can stand on his own. " Long Qilin's heart bloomed with joy; he dearly wanted to wag his tail, but these years his standing in the Beast Realm had been second only to Long Xiao's, and that standing had made him somewhat reserved.