Chapter 364 — The Azure Heaven Alliance

The measurement of the height and thickness of the sky dealt Shen Mu and the others a heavy blow, but it struck Daoist Master Linxuan hardest of all. The doctrines of the Dao Sect, its cultivation methods, its divine powers — all were founded on the principle that the Dao models itself on nature: to seek the essence of all things in nature, and so bring one's arts and powers, and even one's state of mind, close to nature and thus close to the Dao.

Suddenly he had discovered that the celestial phenomena of nature were false. No wonder his mind had collapsed! To comprehend a false nature — what great Dao could one possibly grasp from that?

Not a fart's worth.

Walking on alone, lost in himself, Daoist Master Linxuan's legs suddenly gave way; with a thud he dropped to the ground in a kneeling heap, his face blank, his eyes dull.

Several Daoists hurried forward to help him up, only to hear their Daoist Master murmur: "The Fourteenth Chapter of the Dao Sword has never been mastered by anyone. My master spent a lifetime comprehending the fourteenth sword; his talent was beyond all question, and yet he could not master it. . . So it was not that he could not master it — it is that even nature itself is false. Comprehend a false nature, and how could one ever master it. . .

cough, cough! " He coughed violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, every hope in him turned to ash. "The Dao models itself on nature" — this was the creed of the Dao Sect, and now nature itself was false; the blow to him could well be imagined.

Shen Mu looked at Xu Shenghua. "Is the sky of your High Heaven the same as the sky here?

" Xu Shenghua raised his head and looked at the sky, then nodded.

The same sky, the same stars.

High Heaven was no exception.

Shen Mu had called him one of the forsaken, and the words were no lie. The sky was a cage; whether High Heaven or the Desolate Ruins, all were birds in that cage — only the birds did not know they were caged.

Shen Mu steadied himself, walked to Daoist Master Linxuan's side, helped him up, and said in a low voice: "The truth is cold and hard to accept. It is best not to make it public. Daoist Master, catch up with those few Daoists who ran off and tell them not to spread word of it. We must leave people some hope, at least. " Daoist Master Linxuan stared fixedly at him, an odd look on his face, and said in a hoarse voice: "Do you think anyone would believe them if they told?

" Shen Mu smiled. "But people would believe you.

" "You are telling me not to speak of it?

" A self-mocking look came over Daoist Master Linxuan's face, and he laughed, heh-heh: "Every Daoist Master of my sect, countless Daoists down the generations, all wanted to unlock the Fourteenth Chapter of the Dao Sword.

They wasted untold effort comprehending heaven and earth and nature. The fourteenth sword of the Dao seemed an unclimbable peak, a riddle that could not be solved. And in the end, it was because the celestial signs were wrong. Heh-heh. Ironic. Ironic as hell!

" Though he was the Daoist Master of the Dao Sect, that holy ground, at heart he was still a youth, and could not help letting a few curses slip. Shen Mu said with meaning: "The Daoist Masters of old did not know where the error lay, and so could not master the fourteenth sword.

But you do know. Perhaps Daoist Master Lin will be the first to master the fourteenth sword! " Daoist Master Linxuan's heart gave a small jolt, and he looked at him.

"Crisis, crisis — danger and opportunity go together; it is both peril and chance.

" Shen Mu smiled.

"Ordinary men see only the danger, but the wise see the opportunity that comes with it — and only those with the ability can seize that opportunity. Which kind of man is the Daoist Master? " Daoist Master Linxuan's chest heaved violently.

A moment before, he had felt that the azure heaven was false, that the celestial signs were false, that a false heaven had locked the Dao Sect's arts and powers in place, so that no one could ever comprehend the ultimate mystery of the Dao Sword.

But Shen Mu's words had shown him an opportunity: if he knew it was false, then he could go and see the true; and then the Fourteenth Chapter of the Dao Sword might yet be mastered by him! "You as Human Emperor — I am wholly convinced. " Daoist Master Linxuan steadied himself and said: "I think the doctrinal quarrel between the Dao Sect and the Dark Demon Cult can be set aside for now.

" Shen Mu nodded. "It should indeed be set aside. I think we can form an alliance; when our strength is sufficient, we can poke a hole in this sky!

" Wang Muran came over, held out his palm, and said: "Wang Muran of Little Jade Capital is willing to ally with the Human Emperor and the Dao Sect!

" Shen Mu and Daoist Master Linxuan each held out a palm, and they stacked them together. Shen Mu turned to look at Xu Shenghua; Xu Shenghua came over and held out his palm: "Xu Shenghua of High Heaven is willing to ally with the Human Emperor, the Dao Sect, and Little Jade Capital.

But our alliance ought to have a name, ought it not? " Wang Muran laughed.

"Why not call it the Heaven Alliance! " The three said in unison: "Good!

The Heaven Alliance it is! " The four withdrew their palms. Daoist Master Linxuan bowed to them all with hands folded, and left with the many masters of the Dao Sect. "Lord Shen, should this matter be told to the Emperor?

" The Fire-Mountain Commandant stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

"Of course it must be told to the Emperor.

" Shen Mu said: "But only to the Emperor. Do not go babbling to anyone else, unless you want to lose your head.

" The Fire-Mountain Commandant nodded hastily, called over the other officials of the Bureau of Celestial Observation, and hurried away.

Wang Muran let out a foul breath and said: "Forgive me, Human Emperor, but I must tell Uncle-Master Qingyou of this!

" Shen Mu nodded. "Immortal Qingyou knows what should be said and what should not.

Tell him freely.

" Wang Muran said to Mu Qingdai: "Senior Sister, go find Senior Brother Long Yu and bring him back; I will go see Uncle-Master! " The two went their separate ways at once.

Now only three remained: Shen Mu, Xu Shenghua, and Jing Yan. Shen Mu glanced at Xu Shenghua.

"Brother Xu seems not in the least shocked. Even the Daoist Master could not help but pale and lose his composure; yet Brother Xu's expression is unchanged, which I admire.

I too lost my composure just now — in cultivation of the mind I am still somewhat inferior to Brother Xu.

" Xu Shenghua's expression did not change. "I am shocked. I am still in shock now. I had thought High Heaven sat high above, far from the filth of the mortal world; I never imagined it too was in a cage. The shock and the blow to me are beyond measure.

" Shen Mu studied him, unable to detect the slightest sign of shock, and said doubtfully: "Truly? " Jing Yan said in a low voice: "Sect Master Shen, this is exactly how my young master looks when he is shocked. At most he knits his brows. " Shen Mu frowned.

"And when he is not shocked?

" "The same. " Shen Mu was dumbfounded.

Xu Shenghua raised his head and looked at the sky, then suddenly said: "Brother Shen, what do you say lies beyond the sky?

" "I do not know.

" Shen Mu walked toward the capital. "When we have the strength, we shall go and see for ourselves.

" Xu Shenghua followed him.

The three entered the city; Xu Shenghua and Jing Yan returned as before to the blacksmith's shop, while Shen Mu went to the Grand Academy.