Chapter 508 — Passing the Torch

Later this place was breached by enemies, but from the fragmented records in the ruins I discovered that some still escaped alive and founded a new home. I wish to find them and have them join hands with the Land of No Sorrow—perhaps then we may plot great things again! " The Village Chief was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "In the most flourishing period of the Kaihuang era, you still could not overturn the heavens. Now, even if you find the old followers of the Supreme Emperor, their strength is far inferior to the Kaihuang's most flourishing period. When you were at your strongest you did not seek them to join in resistance; now that you find them, what use can they be? " The First Ancestor's face showed pain, and he said hoarsely: "I know!

But I know even better that hiding in the Land of No Sorrow and doing nothing can never bring hope! I must do something, must keep busy. The moment I am quiet, my mind runs wild—I see my comrades dying in battle before me, I see calamities destroying all living things, I see people struggling in hellish, terrifying scenes. I must do something. .

. " He was somewhat obsessive, his fixation deep, but the Village Chief understood his feelings and emotions: "I will go with you. " In Fengdu City, Shen Mu came to the dwelling place of the successive Cult Masters of the Heavenly Saint Cult. He looked around and saw many ghost officers and ghost attendants bustling about. Compared to the shabbiness of the successive Human Sovereigns of the Hall of Human Sovereigns, this place was far more bustling, ghosts coming and going, the palaces magnificent and extraordinary. Clearly the successive Cult Masters of the Heavenly Saint Cult all received offerings from the cult, unlike the successive Human Sovereigns of the Hall of Human Sovereigns, who—because their numbers were few and few came to tend their graves—were all poor as church mice. Only the First Ancestor, because he had petrified his own fleshly body and placed it in the Little Jade Capital, still received offerings from time to time, and so had some surplus grain at home with which to help out the Second Ancestor and Third Ancestor.

The palaces of the Heavenly Saint Cult stood one after another, row upon row, with green tiles and crimson ridges, carved beams and painted rafters, tiered towers and layered pavilions. Between the palaces the layout formed a formation, connected by passageways; long corridors linked one palace hall to the next.

Many little ghosts bore flower clusters and fruit platters, coming and going in a bustling throng, very lively. Shen Mu was filled with emotion—even as ghosts, their treatment was quite different.

He came before a palace hall and looked up. This was the Zuyang Hall. He thought: "Could this be the palace of Cult Master Zuyang? " Cult Master Zuyang was the Heavenly Saint Cult Master before Fan Xuanshu. Shen Mu knew little of his deeds; he only knew there was a Zuyang Hall on Sacred Peak Mountain, and had not expected there to be one here as well.

Before the hall, a youth-like figure was carving a guardian lion with a chisel, while some little ghosts gathered the broken stones nearby. Shen Mu was about to enter the hall when the youth hurriedly said: "What business have you? " Shen Mu smiled: "I have come to seek Cult Master Zuyang.

" The youth looked him up and down, then set down his hammer and chisel. At once little ghosts came bearing a jade tray to receive them; another brought a jade basin for him to wash his hands, and yet another ran up offering a face towel. The youth wiped his hands clean and said in surprise: "You have never seen Cult Master Zuyang? " Shen Mu said in astonishment: "You are Cult Master Zuyang? " The youth nodded and smiled: "I am.

I see you are all bones—you must still be alive.

But strangely, you are not Fan Xuanshu. Fan Xuanshu is my disciple; I would not forget him.

Are you the next generation's Cult Master? " His interest was roused, and he said excitedly: "Did you do away with Fan Xuanshu? " Shen Mu hurriedly shook his head: "Cult Master Li has already been scattered to the winds.

He fought Xing'an to the death, but could not defeat him. Though Cult Master Li's character was somewhat wanting, in the end he knew repentance, which is admirable.

.

.

" "Scattered to the winds? Good! " Cult Master Zuyang clapped his hands and laughed: "A good death!

In my later years I did not wish to abdicate, so this brat, while I was cultivating the Nine Witherings and Nine Flourishings Mystic Art and my qi and blood were withered, challenged me, gravely wounded me, and seized the position of Cult Master!

Wounded by him, I died of melancholy—and that bastard even shed false tears at my grave.

. . " Shen Mu was dumbstruck.

After a moment he said: "May I ask where the Heavenly Saint Patriarch is?

" "Who is the Heavenly Saint Patriarch? " Cult Master Zuyang was taken aback, then suddenly understood and laughed: "You mean my young martial uncle? A disciple my martial grandfather took in his later years.

My young martial uncle never served as Cult Master, and is a bit younger than me.

After I killed my master, he even reproached me. I wanted to do away with him, but feared the cult's gossip, so I gave him a sinecure, made him the Heavenly Saint Patriarch, and exiled him far away. . . Master, come here!

Our Heavenly Saint Cult's young Cult Master has come to see us!

" From the neighboring palace emerged a man in black robes, also handsome of feature, appearing thirty or forty years of age, dignified and extraordinary.

Hearing this, he walked over and said in surprise: "Young Cult Master? Has our Heavenly Saint Cult changed Cult Masters again? How did you die? " Cult Master Zuyang laughed: "The young Cult Master is not dead yet. Look, he is in skeleton form. He has come to find your junior brother—that is, my young martial uncle. " The black-robed man walked over, looked Shen Mu up and down, and smiled: "Indeed not dead.

Have you taken a disciple? " Shen Mu hurriedly saluted: "I have seen Cult Master Yulian. I have not yet taken a disciple. " "Do not take a disciple so early.

Take one early, die early. Look at me—I was killed by the treachery of my good disciple.

" Cult Master Yulian turned around, a sword lodged in his back, and kindly reminded him: "Look, this sword was thrust in by my good disciple. " Cult Master Zuyang said smugly, laughing: "Master, you still have the nerve to keep that sword?

What did you say when you treacherously attacked our martial grandmother?

" Cult Master Yulian said smugly, chuckling: "Your martial grandmother wanted to pass the position to my young junior brother. If I had not treacherously attacked her, how could I have become Cult Master and Holy Teacher?

And how could you, brat, have treacherously attacked me to become Cult Master? By the way, young Cult Master, whom did you treacherously attack to become Cult Master and Holy Teacher?

"