Chapter 289 — The Fourteen Techniques of the Dao Sword

Shen Mu's heart gave a slight jolt, and he at once guessed why the Dao Lord had been so certain that he was the Human Emperor of this age.

Of the Village Head's sword diagram he had mastered only two moves, and he had used them but seldom: apart from displaying them before Emperor Yanfeng and Imperial Preceptor Jingping, he had shown them only to Ban Gongcuo and Lin Xuan the Daoist Heir. When Lin Xuan the Daoist Heir had followed Danyangzi to blockade the gates of the Grand Academy, it was beneath the first move of the sword diagram, Sword Treads Rivers and Mountains, that he had been defeated. After returning to the Daoist sect, he must have tried to demonstrate Shen Mu's Sword Treads Rivers and Mountains to the Dao Lord; it was most likely then that the Dao Lord learned Shen Mu's swordsmanship came from the Village Head—yet he could not be certain that Shen Mu was the Human Emperor of this age.

His tone had been so sure only because he was testing him. Shen Mu was a man of fine sensibilities himself.

Though he had guessed the Dao Lord's thought, he did not deny it; he merely scooped up some water to pour over the Solomon's seal and said with a smile, "The Dao Lord's powers are vast and his wisdom surpassing. " The Dao Lord and Lin Xuan the Daoist Heir cupped water in leaves, while he simply used his vital qi to draw up the spring water—more convenient, and far quicker. Seeing him use his vital qi, the old Dao Lord said, "The Dao follows nature.

Why must the Human Emperor be in such haste?

" Shen Mu said, "To follow nature purely, and to learn in order to apply it. If the Dao Lord does not use it, why learn it at all? " The Dao Lord frowned, then his brows smoothed again, and he smiled.

"The differences between our two faiths are all matters of how to conduct oneself in the world; I will not argue with you over the doctrines of the Daoist sect and the Nether Demon Cult. The Human Emperor has not appeared in the world for several hundred years.

This time, surely he has some aim in coming forth?

" Shen Mu divided and directed the streams of water with his vital qi, watering the Solomon's seal, and answered in all earnestness, "What aim could I possibly have?

The Village Head of our village says the Human Emperor is a responsibility. Even now I cannot see what is so fine about being Human Emperor—no authority, no power, and a load of responsibility besides. If the Dao Lord is willing to take the post, I will yield it to you.

" The Dao Lord, who was watering with a leaf, paled slightly and hastily shook his head. "I cannot bear it. " So the two of them watered the Solomon's seal—one cupping water in a leaf, the other drawing it by art. Watching this, Lin Xuan the Daoist Heir shook his head inwardly: old and young alike, both were somewhat obstinate in their own views, stubborn to the bone. After the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Shen Mu, being quicker, had watered all the Solomon's seal.

The old Dao Lord likewise planted the leaf he had used to cup water into the soil, straightened his back, and sighed.

"I am old; this frame of mine is good for nothing now.

Since the Human Emperor is the Cult Leader of the Nether Demon Cult, the Daoist sect cannot be his enemy. I have come to see the Human Emperor this time to designate my successor to him.

Lin Xuan paid his respects to you just now; after I die, he will be the Dao Lord. " Shen Mu saluted Lin Xuan, who hastily returned the courtesy, saying, "I am not yet the Dao Lord; I dare not accept such a salute. " The old Dao Lord laughed. "Even after you become Dao Lord, you will be half a generation his junior; when you salute, you must lower your hands by half. " Lin Xuan was startled. The old Dao Lord went on, unhurried, "Twenty thousand years ago, we who refine qi received a kindness from the first Human Emperor, and so we all revere him as Human Emperor.

Every clan and every sect brought out the finest treasures of that time and forged the Human Emperor's Seal. Therefore the rites must be observed and no disrespect shown.

May this old Daoist ask to see the Seal?

" Shen Mu took out the black lump that was the Human Emperor's Seal and tossed it to him offhand.

The old Dao Lord caught it in a fluster, the skin of his face twitching, and said again and again, "How can you toss it? How can you toss it? This old Daoist bathed and changed his clothes before coming to see the Human Emperor; I washed my hands many times over, reverent and daring no disrespect—how can you toss the Human Emperor's Seal to me so carelessly? " Puzzled, Shen Mu said, "The Village Head tossed it to me just like that.

I did not even want it and threw it back. He insisted on pressing it on me; I could not beat him, so I had no choice but to accept. " The old Dao Lord's face turned bitter. Holding the Seal in both hands, he examined it over and over, confirmed that it was indeed this Seal, and said, "Human Emperor, pray take it back. " With that he stepped forward and, with both hands, reverently raised the Human Emperor's Seal.

Only when Shen Mu had taken the Seal did the old Daoist step back and lower his hands. To Lin Xuan the Daoist Heir he said, "Remember: this is how the Human Emperor's Seal is received.

The rites must not be disordered. " Lin Xuan the Daoist Heir assented—then saw Shen Mu casually toss the Human Emperor's Seal into the Taotie pouch. Lin Xuan did not dare speak.

"He is the Human Emperor; he may be irreverent. We may not. " The old Dao Lord, in all earnestness, said, "This Seal was forged by the ancestors of our sects and clans from the finest treasures and offered to the Human Emperor, honoring whoever holds it as the common emperor of the human race.

Therefore our Daoist sect must revere it.

But this Seal is our gift to the Human Emperor, and so the Human Emperor may be irreverent toward it.

Do you understand? " Lin Xuan the Daoist Heir nodded. "This disciple understands. " Shen Mu could not help feeling moved. The old Dao Lord's allotted span was nearly spent; within a few years at most his life would reach its end, and yet he still did all he could to guide his disciple.

Such traditional master-disciple bonds were more apt to produce talents of outstanding caliber.

The old Dao Lord was old now; surely he hoped that in his last few years he could cultivate the Daoist Heir to take up his mantle. "Aside from wishing to see the Human Emperor's Seal, does the Dao Lord have anything else to say on this visit?

" Shen Mu asked with a smile.

The old Dao Lord gave him a long, deep look. "The Human Emperor should understand that the revolutionary reforms of Imperial Preceptor Jingping and Emperor Yanfeng are not the true way; they will bring down the wrath of Heaven.

This snow disaster is a warning. For the sake of the common people under Heaven, the Human Emperor ought to put a stop to these reforms.

" Shen Mu shook his head. "The great tide of the world rolls on in flood; thus it passes, never resting day or night. Whoever dares to stand in its way will surely be crushed. I can only go with the tide, go with the flood.

Senior Brother, you have already suffered much; will you still cling to your delusion? " The old Dao Lord sighed. "I will not argue with you. Argue back and forth as we might, the quarrel is still over the doctrines of our two houses, and it is very hard to convince the other; better not to argue at all.

Since you are resolved to support Imperial Preceptor Jingping's reforms, I will say only this: the Dao follows nature, and to reform is to alter the Dao, to alter nature. The gods are born of nature, transformed by the Great Dao; if you would alter the Dao, you know the stakes. The Wasteland stands as a warning from the past; the Human Emperor must not fail to consider it. " Shen Mu was slightly taken aback. The Dao Lord clearly knew more of the hidden story behind all this. But the Dao Lord was unwilling to say more.