Chapter 759 — Ten Thousand Ages of Time Return to Dust
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 3 of 4
At the front ran an old ox all covered in green scales, and astride its back sat a young farmer, mighty of limb, though not tall; behind them came a girl holding a folding fan, then an angler whose basket held two little red kun-fish peeping about, and last of all a woodcutter. They ran toward Kai Huang; the woodcutter ran slowest and gasped, "Wait for me, wait for me—" "Shen Ye, where did you get to? You had us searching high and low!
" The farmer leaped down from the ox's back and dealt him a fierce punch; Kai Huang staggered and yelped with pain. The farmer said hastily, "Don't put on that act.
We have brawled any number of times, and every time you beat me till I howled. You vanished for many days; the angler tracked you here, and then could find no trace of you.
" Kai Huang smiled. "I wandered by mistake into an inconceivable place and met with many bizarre happenings.
" The others crowded round, curious: "What sort of happenings? " Kai Huang's eyes went distant, then he suddenly shook his head and smiled: "Better not to say.
" The old ox beside the farmer spoke up: "Benefactor, that is hardly straightforward of you.
What is there you cannot tell us?
" At the sound of that voice, Kai Huang felt as though struck by lightning; a while passed before he came to himself, and looking at the old ox, he was seized by a sense of the absurd—and so said not another word about his adventures. Time flowed on. More and more people followed Kai Huang, and many who would later be renowned throughout the world—Di Yiyue, Tian Shu, Di Shitian—followed him as well. On this day the kingdom of Kai Huang was founded; upon the ruins of Shanghuang they raised a divine dynasty, and he was revered as Kai Huang.
After the enthronement ceremony Kai Huang was somewhat weary, and he dismissed the assembly and went to the imperial study to review the memorials.
Just then the door of the study opened, and a woman in blue robes came in.
Kai Huang raised his head, and at the sight of her in her blue robes his whole body shuddered violently.
"Heavenly Venerable Shen. " The woman smiled.
"It has been a long time. I have waited for you, and the waiting was bitter.
" Kai Huang rose to his feet, and tears burst from his eyes.
"Heavenly Venerable Ling! " "Heavenly Venerable Shen, founding elder of the Heavenly Alliance—welcome back to the Heavenly Alliance.
" .
.
.
What Shen Mu and Old Ox saw was much the same as what Kai Huang saw.
It was the second time Shen Mu had watched matter scatter like black sand, but for Niu Sanduo it was the first, and he could not help clicking his tongue in wonder.
The darkness dispersed, and Shen Mu looked about: they stood in the west of Taihuang Heaven, with the precipice a hundred li or so ahead.
"The Heavenly Court of the Ancient Gods of those years exists no more; only the Desolate Ruins remain.
In all likelihood the Ancient Gods' Heavenly Court lies buried deep beneath the Ruins as well.
" He bowed his head and looked at the ground beneath his feet, melancholy in his heart as he mourned the years gone by.
From the ancient Heavenly Court of the Ancient Gods, from the early years of Longhan down to this present, how many years had passed?
How many prodigies of overflowing talent had this long and ancient history buried? In the history that was past, they were like stars in the heavens, flaring bright and dim, passing away with the scattering of matter.
Ding-ling-ling.
The Sorrowless Sword drifted up, circling Shen Mu, spinning and dancing; the sword too had come back to the present with him, and it rang out briskly, as if waking from death, as if revived. The Sorrowless Sword had not gone with Kai Huang.
It belonged to Shen Mu's age, and would not depart with Kai Huang.
Shen Mu stroked the blade lightly; the Sorrowless Sword moved slowly under his fingertips, and he could feel the power stored in the spirit within the sword.
This sword of Kai Huang's had come alive.
"Senior Brother Sanduo, let us go.