Chapter 1820 — The Precious Daughter Born of a Heavenly Venerable
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
" Shen Mu smiled faintly, his gaze shifting from the Long River of Chaos to Ling Yuxiu's face. "The one Third Brother invited to suppress the Long River of Chaos should be Second Sister Wuji," he said with a smile.
From time to time strange visions emerged from Ling Yuxiu's belly: the Guixu Lotus, at times a bud, at times a lotus platform, within which a baby could dimly be seen lying, joined to the mother by its umbilical cord.
Then suddenly the lotus would vanish and the vision of a sapling would appear, trailing a thousand strands of auspicious qi, with a baby beneath the tree — a most divine and wondrous sight.
Sometimes one could even see the wondrous sight of the cosmos at its first opening, the baby lying in the center of a river of stars, surrounded by countless celestial bodies. Lady Nanxiang marveled inwardly, not daring to say much.
By the time the World-Ferrying Golden Ship reached the Long River of Chaos of the Second Epoch, Ling Yuxiu's time drew nearer and nearer, and the child in her belly was like a Taotie, sweeping up the primal essence of chaos. Shen Mu proceeded with utmost care, using the Guixu Lotus and the World Tree to draw power from the Long River of Chaos, rendering its violent energies gentle before sending them into Ling Yuxiu's body.
Suddenly the World-Ferrying Golden Ship gave a slight jolt and came to a halt.
Shen Mu looked up and saw a Dao Tree barring the way ahead, blocking the golden ship's path. "Elder Brother Taishang. " Shen Mu went to the ship's prow and bowed in salute to the old man beneath the Dao Tree. "Why does Elder Brother block my way?
" he asked, perplexed.
The old man beneath the Dao Tree sighed.
"Junior Brother, you do things too completely, and that is not good for this child. If you entered the First Epoch and absorbed the power of the First Epoch's Calamity of Destruction, it might not prove a blessing for this child. Walk no farther; let this child be born in the Second Epoch.
Then he will suffer fewer trials in the years to come. " Shen Mu was momentarily startled. After a moment's thought he raised his head and smiled.
"Does Elder Brother Taishang think I cannot shield him from the tribulations? " Taishang shook his head.
"Chaos certainly has the power to withstand all tribulations, but that may not be a good thing for this child. When the moon is full it wanes; when water brims it overflows.
Seventh Young Master was not Seventh Young Master the moment he was born; there must be a process of growth.
Junior Brother, what do you think? " Shen Mu pondered a while longer, then smiled.
"Then I shall follow Elder Brother's counsel. " Taishang spoke no more; the Dao Tree withered and fell silent together with him, gradually sinking into the Calamity of Destruction, as though he had dissolved into the Dao.
Shen Mu gave a soft laugh and shook his head.
"He tries to imitate the Master, but he can never quite manage it.
" Nanxiang asked quietly, "Seventh Young Master, what is it that First Young Master imitates about the Master?
Every time I see him I am filled with unease, not daring to look him in the eye; I always feel as though I am seeing the Master. He truly resembles the Master.
Why does the Young Master say he does not imitate him well? " Shen Mu smiled. "He imitates the Master's death. The Master's Dao-heart was already dead; he dissolved into the Dao and entered extinction. Just now Elder Brother Taishang seemed to have a dead Dao-heart, to have dissolved into the Dao — and yet he cannot die no matter how he tries.
" Nanxiang clicked her tongue, her expression odd. "How did First Young Master come by such a peculiar affliction?
One could never tell back in Miluo Palace. . . " Though First Young Master Taishang had departed, Shen Mu did not seize the chance to enter the First Epoch's Calamity of Destruction; instead he had the golden ship remain upon the Long River of Chaos of the Second Epoch.