Chapter 576 — The Primeval War Talisman

The formation within this war talisman is of little use now; as a collector's piece, though, it is rather fine. " Shen Mu asked, perplexed, "How could a formation be of no use? " The white-haired elder handed him the war talisman.

"Perhaps the Great Dao of heaven and earth has changed; the formation within the talisman no longer accords with the Great Dao of heaven and earth, and so the formation has lost its power. This thing is exceedingly old, and at odds with the Dao — most likely it is a thing of several hundred thousand years ago. As to precisely which era, that is beyond my knowing. " Shen Mu put the war talisman back into the red box and stowed the red box in his Taotie Pouch.

Since the founding patriarch Wei Fengsui had left this red box and war talisman with the white-haired elder, it showed that the thing must be of the utmost importance; that he had sent Shen Mu here was most likely for the sake of the war talisman in the red box.

Shen Mu said, "This junior has been rude; I have not yet asked Senior's honored name. " The white-haired elder laughed. "I thought the descendants of the Shen family would long since have known who I am; I never expected you to be ignorant of it.

I originally attained the Dao from a dragon vein and cultivated into a divine dragon, and in those years I followed your ancestor.

Because I had only just been born and could not yet speak, and could only cry Maha, your ancestor gave me a name — surname Ma, given name Haqing — to make sport of me. " Shen Mu's expression turned strange. "Ma Haqing. .

.

" Jiang Miao poked his head out from behind Shen Mu and said timidly, "Maha—" The white-haired elder went on: "Later I held office in your ancestor's heavenly court. The heavenly court had four great heavenly palaces; I presided over the Azure Dragon Palace.

The sixty star-divisions of divine troops of the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace were under my command, and I was honored as the Azure Emperor.

I thought the title too overbearing, so I changed it to Qinghuang. Now the Kaihuang Heavenly Court has fallen, and the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace exists no more; you may simply call me Old Man Qinghuang. " Shen Mu saluted him once more and said, "Shen Mu, one hundred and seventh generation descendant of the Shen clan, pays his respects to Old Man Qinghuang. " Old Man Qinghuang said hastily, "Please rise.

The moment I saw you approach, I knew your bloodline and guessed that you were of the Kaihuang line.

You wish to learn the dragon tongue within this Divine Dragon's Lair?

I can teach you. " Shen Mu was overjoyed, thanked him again, and said, "I am much obliged, Senior. " Old Man Qinghuang led him into the Divine Dragon's Lair and said, "I see that your arts and divine powers have already achieved no small success, and that you seem to cultivate both the divine and the demonic — you appear to have opened the divine treasuries of the divine path and also the treasuries of the demonic path. Most peculiar. No doubt you have already found your own road; for you to learn the arts of my dragon race would be but icing on the cake.

It is this little dragon, rather, who should reap great benefit.

" Jiang Miao, in his little dragon form, followed on tiptoe behind Shen Mu; hearing this, he shrank his head and said, "Maha. .

.

" Old Man Qinghuang laughed. "No need to thank me — thank him. By the way, Shen Mu, I sense something very strange upon you, there at your neck, like a jade pendant, holding within it a very powerful sealing force. " "Does Senior mean this jade pendant? " Shen Mu took out the jade pendant and said, "This was forged by Tu Bo, to seal my demonic nature.

I was born in Youdu and was invaded by the stray demonic nature of Youdu, so Tu Bo forged this; so long as I wear it, it suppresses the demonic nature.

" Old Man Qinghuang glanced at the jade pendant and sneered. "Tu Bo sealed your demonic nature? What good intentions could he have?

Give me the pendant, and I will undo the seal for you!

" "This. . .

" Shen Mu looked troubled and said in a low voice, "Senior, King Yama once undid it, and was cursed by the jade pendant; and Fu Riluo of the demon race also tried to undo the seal, and was cursed as well — a most wretched fate. My master and King Yama both say that the seal within the pendant had best not be undone, and that the pendant must not even leave my body, or else terrible things will happen.

.

. " "A mere curse — what is there to fear? " Old Man Qinghuang laughed. "But if even the Schoolteacher says so, then there must be reason in it.

Come, let me expound for you the divine dragon arts within the dragon lair!

"