Chapter 1814 — Tidings from an Old Friend
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
"A child that passes from conception to birth through sixteen cosmic epochs, and is then given its name by the Master himself."
Nanxiang Yuanjun glanced at Shen Mu and his wife. "Seventh Young Master, what do you two intend to do? Is your child fit to bear such a blessing?"
The long river ran on and on. Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu stood at the prow, gazing down at the vast, surging history of the Sixteenth Epoch. Shen Mu smiled. "The child is certainly not fit for it. But his father can make him fit."
Nanxiang Yuanjun's eyes flickered. "Then on this journey you and your wife will surely meet every manner of peril. I am beginning to regret agreeing to take you to the Miro Palace."
Ling Yuxiu took Shen Mu's arm and smiled. "Set your mind at ease, Daoist Nanxiang. We have walked through dangers past counting; there is little peril in this journey."
Nanxiang Yuanjun said no more.
Something stirred in Shen Mu's heart. A Guixu Lotus flew out from between his brows and drifted lightly into the Primal Chaos River. The lotus revolved, two or three of its leaves floating upon the water, moving along with the World-Ferrying Golden Ship as it sailed for the far shore.
He then called up the World Tree, which took root in the Primal Chaos River as well, letting the Guixu Lotus and the World Tree together draw upon the river's energy.
The World Tree's branches and leaves grew fuller by the day, its roots sturdier, and the Guixu Lotus more and more lusciously bright.
Wisp after wisp of barely perceptible dao light rose from the lotus pedestal and drifted into Ling Yuxiu's belly. At the same time a bud appeared upon the World Tree; vital essence drifted over, and, mingling with the dao light of the lotus pedestal, nourished the child in Ling Yuxiu's womb.
Nanxiang Yuanjun opened her mouth, hesitated, and at last decided to look the other way.
"I am only a Hall Master. What business is this of mine?"
She said to herself, "The Young Masters, and the old monsters beyond the Miro Palace, will never sit by and let this infant be born. This road will be fraught with peril."
The Southern Heaven.
Bai Yuqiong had quelled the chaos in the Southern Heaven, promoted education, and founded colleges and academies. In the war of the Southern Heaven she and Crown Prince Youming had joined forces and smashed the great army of the Heavenly Court; Shang Pingyin had fled, and the remnants of the Heavenly Court had risen in revolt on every side. It had taken Bai Yuqiong and Crown Prince Youming more than ten years to wipe out the rebel hosts one and all.
Even now, however, remnants of the Heavenly Court still lurked in the Southern Heaven; once in a while one or two revolts broke out, but no large-scale rebellion remained.
"Your Highness, I am going to Jingping to have audience with Emperor Yanfeng and report on the war in the Southern Heaven. The Southern Heaven has a hundred undertakings awaiting revival, and education above all has been so deeply poisoned by the Fire Celestial Venerable that it is hard to remedy. My purpose in going to see Emperor Yanfeng is to beg his aid."
Bai Yuqiong said to Crown Prince Youming, "Your Highness's abilities are extraordinary, but you are honest and true-hearted. This journey of mine will take a year or two before I return. Your Highness must beware of Shang Pingyin making a comeback."
Crown Prince Youming said, "Shang Pingyin has neither soldiers nor generals under him; he is not worth worrying over. If he is wise, he will hide himself away and never come out again, and he may yet live. If he comes to attack me, there is only one road for him: death."
Bai Yuqiong took the personal guards of Qionghua Palace, boarded the Heavenly Master's Treasure Carriage, and entered the spirit-energy transit bridge, bound for Jingping.