Chapter 1782 — The Might of a Single String
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 5
"Seventh Young Master, the Fengshu Five Elders are known as the Undying Monsters Beneath the Tree. The eldest is Feng Hualian; the second, Huang Tang; the third, Cang Yancui; the fourth, Yan Xiuge; and the youngest is called Li Shu — the one before you.
" The voice of the Hall Master of Joy came floating over: "These five monsters have always entrenched themselves beneath the World Tree, clinging to it in deathly defense, fearful that when the universe is destroyed they will have no place to occupy. They rarely leave the World Tree of their own accord. In past cosmic epochs, no matter when you went to the edge of the World Tree, you could behold that one great spectacle. " Li Shu, of the Five Elders, laughed and said, "The Hall Master jests.
Our abilities are meager; in any contest of strength we could never outgrab anyone else, so all we could do was go early and squat on the spot. When the great calamity of cosmic annihilation arrives, it will be convenient for us to stow away into the next epoch. " Perplexed, Shen Mu asked, "Then why, in this epoch, have the five of you left the World Tree to settle in the Heavenly Court?
" He cast a glance to either side and said unhurriedly, "This Heavenly Court imitates the Jade Capital of the Ancestral Court, the symbol of authority supreme. Just now I heard the Hall Master of Joy say that the five of you ought to be lofty hermits beyond the world, indifferent to fame and gain — so why, in this epoch, have you instead stirred with the lust for power?
" Li Shu replied in a fluster, "The Seventh Young Master misunderstands! We Fengshu Five Elders are five rats as timid as mice — how would we dare stir with lust for power? We dare not presume, we dare not presume!
We merely saw this place standing empty and so lodge here for a while. We would never, ever dare harbor thoughts of usurpation. When the master of this place arrives, we will simply yield it up. " Though he put on the air of an obliging old soul, everyone present had walked through wind and fire in their lives; who could fail to see through the Fengshu Five Elders?
Emperor Haotian laughed and said, "The Five Elders have simply seen that the Miluo Palace has not descended into this universe, and that its Master has withdrawn from the world, and so they believe they have seized every first move. Add to that the scarcity of powerhouses in this universe, and the Five Elders have stirred with the lust for power, fancying themselves able to grasp the whole cosmos and give full play to the ambitions of a lifetime.
Such a state of mind is common to everyone — why refuse to admit it? " Li Shu roared with laughter and shook his head. "We five worthless mice only know how to burrow and hide beneath the World Tree; we would never dare harbor such heretical thoughts. We seek only a place to shelter ourselves. If anyone would deign to toss us a mouthful of food, we would be grateful beyond measure.
" Emperor Haotian's eyes glinted. "I can give you that shelter! " Li Shu shot him a glance and chuckled, "Young fellow, you jest. You cannot make such decisions.
" Emperor Haotian's face darkened slightly, and he snorted.
Li Shu led them to the Lingxiao Hall of the Heavenly Court.
By then the Lingxiao Hall had been razed flat to the ground; only a colossal altar remained, upon which four elders sat upright, surrounded on all sides by prehistoric powerhouses who had stowed away from beneath the World Tree.
Li Shu smiled and said, "Gentlemen, we Fengshu Five Elders do not even possess a proper palace. You can see that we are merely lodging here for the time being, with no thoughts of fame or gain. " Shen Mu surveyed the heavy divine instruments arrayed on every side, trained upon them at every moment — wherever they walked, those great weapons swung to follow — and praised with insincerity, "All of you are of lofty character and impeccable integrity, poor as paupers; I admire it greatly.