Chapter 1648 — Fire Venerable's Merit Archway
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
"So it is the newly elevated Azure Dragon Heavenly Venerable.
" The Fire Heavenly Venerable cast a glance at the East Emperor Azure Dragon striding toward him. The East Emperor Azure Dragon was plainly in the highest of spirits, peering about on every side, curious about everything in the Southern Heaven.
"Azure Dragon Heavenly Venerable," the Fire Heavenly Venerable said flatly, "you were once the East Emperor, ruler of the Eastern Pole Heaven. Now that you have become a Heavenly Venerable, the Eastern Pole Heaven has been handed directly into Emperor Haotian's control.
At present you possess nothing, holding only the empty title of Heavenly Venerable. Do you think it was worth it?
" The East Emperor Azure Dragon laughed heartily. "I still have my life - that alone makes it worth it. The Eastern Pole Heaven, the sacred ground of the Eastern Pole - I hand them to His Majesty. So long as His Majesty trusts me, I shall not die. Long ago I formed an alliance with Mu Heavenly Venerable, but he proved truly useless and was defeated in the end.
For the sake of my own life, this was the only road open to me. " The Fire Heavenly Venerable showed a trace of disappointment and shook his head. "With such allies as you ancient gods, no wonder Mu Heavenly Venerable was defeated. You ancient gods were of little help - you only dragged him down.
Had it not been for you ancient gods, Mu Heavenly Venerable might not have lost.
" The East Emperor Azure Dragon laughed.
"And had it not been for the Fire Heavenly Venerable, Mu Heavenly Venerable might not have lost either. " Their gazes met, and both faces revealed looks of loathing. At that moment, a procession came beating gongs and drums, bearing a coffin.
An old man of sixty sat inside the coffin, dressed in red and green, beaming with joy, clasping his hands in salute to the people all around and thanking them without cease. The procession reached the Fire Heavenly Venerable and the East Emperor Azure Dragon, and seeing that they blocked the way, halted.
The East Emperor Azure Dragon lifted the old man out of the coffin, hefted him, sniffed at him, then set him down again. The old man, seeing the emperor's striking countenance, called out in a voice that rang like a great bell: "Exalted god, please dine!
" The East Emperor Azure Dragon shook his head. "You are a bit thin," he said, "and far too old.
Fire Heavenly Venerable - what do you think of forty? You humans marry in your teens, produce children at twenty, and by forty are already holding grandchildren. At that age the flavor is just right - fit to be offered to the demi-gods and ancient gods. " The Fire Heavenly Venerable looked at him with an expressionless face. The East Emperor Azure Dragon's towering frame crouched down, and he smiled at the procession: "The Fire Heavenly Venerable will not speak, so you shall answer for him.
Tell me - do my words make sense?
" The people hastily set down the coffin and prostrated themselves on the ground, crying in one voice: "What the master says is right! Then let it be settled! " The East Emperor Azure Dragon cast a glance at the Fire Heavenly Venerable and suddenly grinned.
"Forty is still a little too early. Say thirty, then.
What do you all think? " The people chorused: "What the master says is right.
Then let it be settled.
" The East Emperor Azure Dragon cast the Fire Heavenly Venerable another glance and said with a sly smile: "By thirty a mortal's qi and blood have already begun to wither and decay. Better make it twenty. You humans can marry and have children before twenty, and once they have children, they can offer themselves willingly to the ancient gods and demi-gods. " The people hesitated.
The old man in the coffin said tremulously: "Exalted lord, twenty is too young. I beg of you, master, grant a few more years - let them raise their children a little before offering themselves to you. Would that not do?