Chapter 1715 — The Lotus Seed Returns to the Pond
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
"So it is Lingguan.
You have already set foot upon the seventeenth epoch? " From the mouth of Emperor Haotian, transformed into a woman, came a woman's voice, mocking him: "How pitiful — you do not even have a head!
In your wounds I see the residue of the Dao arts of Old Seven and Lord Shang.
.
.
" Scarce had she spoken when her features changed once more, reverting to the face of Emperor Haotian. Alarm showed on Emperor Haotian's face, and he said in a low voice: "Brother Lingguan, lend me your aid, quickly—" His features shifted again, and became the likeness of the Second Young Master, Wuji!
The Lord of the Lingguan Hall raised a hand and gaped at the sight: the faces of Emperor Haotian and of the Second Young Master of Miluo Palace turned back and forth without cease, and Emperor Haotian's body likewise switched endlessly between male and female!
The spectacle was monstrous beyond words, yet he dared not ask.
The Second Young Master of Miluo Palace was ruthless beyond measure; within Miluo Palace none dared offend her, and only the Master of Miluo Palace dared rebuke her.
The Second Young Master never forgave the least slight and carried all things to extremes, and by the close of the sixteenth epoch she had wrought slaughter that reached the heavens!
— nor did she kill common living things alone; she slew Dao-attainers as well, and even those of Miluo Palace who had attained the Dao! When the Second Young Master slaughtered her way through the four quarters, heaven after heaven collapsed inward into her body and perished, a sight that was the nightmare of every Dao-attainer.
Lord Shang, who had attained the Dao through killing, was notorious the world over, yet beside the Second Young Master he was as a small sorcerer before a great one.
There were even whispers in the palace that the Second Young Master had not gone mad and begun her massacre in the sixteenth epoch; in truth she had turned her hand against Dao-attainers long before that, only without ever being found out. Sweat soaked the Lord of the Lingguan Hall.
He rose quietly and drew back. The Second Young Master of Miluo Palace had descended in Emperor Haotian's flesh; not only could Emperor Haotian not withstand her — even if he himself struck, it would avail nothing.
"I have already offended the Seventh Young Master; if I offend the Second Young Master as well, then truly my doom is at hand!
" He retreated to the palace gate, when suddenly behind Emperor Haotian's head the phantom images of the Zixiao Hall and the Lingxiao Hall surfaced at once, and both treasure halls blazed with radiance. The power of the two halls was raised in an instant to its utmost: the Zixiao Hall shrank, came to Emperor Haotian's brow, became an inch in length, and clung there, guarding his flesh.
Emperor Haotian's body ceased its changes at once. The Lingxiao Hall remained within his celestial court, warding his primordial spirit, shielding it from the Second Young Master's invasion.
"Third and Fourth — the Master has withdrawn from the world, and you have grown so capable!
" The laughter of the Second Young Master came from Emperor Haotian's mouth: "Must you set yourselves against me?
" In Emperor Haotian's celestial court, the Dao of the Abyss of Return took the form of the Second Young Master: a woman of lovelier features than even the Empress, with a small black mole at the right corner of her mouth, like a bruise left by some wound.
She stood beneath the Southern Heavenly Gate, and Emperor Haotian's celestial court twisted about her; it seemed that the very space and time where she stood were collapsing toward her as their center.