Chapter 619 — Master and Worthy Disciple

The Woodcutter Sage rapped Shen Mu sharply on the head with a knuckle and said angrily, "Where is your magnanimity? How could I lay a hand on such juniors? If I did, others could come and kill you, and then the elders would go on, you killing my disciple and I killing yours; in no time the younger generation would be wiped out to the last. That rule cannot be broken. " Zhe Huali and Qi Jiuyi both let out a long breath at these words, and as they watched Shen Mu being rapped on the head, their hearts were filled with satisfaction.

"Serves you right! " Shen Mu rubbed the swelling on his head and nodded.

"That is so. But Fu Riluo did make a move against me, and that Chi Xi just now was also going to make a move against us. " "So I split Fu Riluo's forehead with an axe.

He did not go too far either; he merely used his divine power to carry you off, never truly striking to kill. Otherwise you would not be alive now. " The Woodcutter Sage said unconcernedly, "I had originally planned to let you finish off those two boys, but I guessed that you could not beat them now, so I let Chi Xi go.

Chi Xi has no sense of rules. I fed him my blood, and he did not get his fill. He does not dare to provoke me, so he will go drink the blood of those two boys instead. " Zhe Huali and Qi Jiuyi turned ashen at these words. Shen Mu said with a smile, "Sage Master, there is no need to go on frightening them.

Better to let them leave this alien star.

" The Woodcutter Sage said with surprise, "Just now you wanted to use my hand to kill them and blood your blade. Why do you now ask me to send them away?

Chi Xi is a fugitive bearing a heavy task, so he will stop at nothing. He is sure to come after them and drink their blood. They are bound to die. To kill them by Chi Xi's hand neither breaks my rule nor misses your intention—why would you not do it? " Shen Mu said gravely, "I was merely frightening them just now when I said I would blood my blade, but I knew the Sage Master would never blood it on them. The Sage Master has the Sage Master's bearing; as the Human Emperor and Celestial Master of the Celestial Master Sect, I have my bearing as well.

Brother Qi and Senior Brother Li are my opponents, not the Sage Master's. If I am to kill them, it must be with my own hand. For the Sage Master to kill them by Chi Xi's hand would violate my Dao heart. " The Woodcutter Sage showed an appreciative expression and praised, "My talk of killing them by Chi Xi's hand was also a small trial for you. If you had agreed, I would have despised you. Good. I will send them back to Luofu Heaven.

" Shen Mu bowed to Zhe Huali and Qi Jiuyi, saying, "I will not see the two of you off. Although we crossed swords, I admire the abilities of the two of you. Today I do not want to kill you by anyone's hand. On another day I will take up the blade myself and escort the two of you on the final road.

" Zhe Huali and Qi Jiuyi returned the bow one after another. Zhe Huali said solemnly, "Brother Shen, such bearing. You killed my close friend; I will surely kill you. If you die under my blade, I will break the blade and weep long for you! " Qi Jiuyi thought for a moment, then tossed the nine flying swords over, saying, "No need to return that mirror.

One day we will settle it openly.

This time you won. I held myself back, not daring to take your life, only thinking to bind you in place. Next time I will not leave my hand!

" Shen Mu put away the swords; one by one the flying swords clinked into his sword core. He raised his hand and said, "Both of you, let us part here. When we meet again, do not spare me. " "We will not!

" the two answered together. The Woodcutter Sage flicked his sleeve.

Countless runes swirled up and formed a translocation divine art, wrapping the two in a stream of light that shot up from the alien star.

Shen Mu looked up. The stream of light bent beyond the sky and fled into the distance, vanishing into the unknown depths of the starry void. He imagined that when the light touched the ground, it would be Luofu Heaven.

The Woodcutter tossed the little box over. "Let us go see what else your Senior Brother left behind. " Shen Mu was taken aback, catching it in a fluster for fear of dropping it to the ground and letting the God-Slaying Mystic Blade inside escape.

No sooner had he steadied the box in his arms than countless runes danced all around them, and the Woodcutter, driving the translocation art, vanished with him. The Celestial Master Sect's translocation art originated from the Woodcutter.

Although the Woodcutter was not the most powerful man, he was a man of unmatched brilliance. He could create all manner of strange and marvellous divine arts.

One only had to look at the bizarre spells in the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Scripture to see his attainments in the Way and in divine arts. Nevertheless, his success came from breadth, and his failure came from breadth as well.

He was too broad in learning to perfect any one craft, and so his cultivation and strength never reached the very highest realm. By the time Shen Mu's feet touched solid ground, he found himself again before the temple on the God-Slaying Platform.

He had fled for a long time to get there, yet returning took but an instant. The Woodcutter Sage walked into the temple, and Shen Mu hurried after him, only to see the Woodcutter studying the All-Heavens Star-Killing Array left by the founding patriarch. After a moment, the Woodcutter nodded and said, "The message he left is indeed from three hundred and fifty thousand years ago.

What happened three hundred and fifty thousand years ago? " Shen Mu pointed at the mural on the wall.

"Sage Master, this is a chart of the heavens from three hundred and fifty thousand years ago. " The Woodcutter Sage came closer, studied the chart, and said in a contemplative tone, "This was drawn in the Southern Sea, within the southern part of the Wastes, observing the starry sky of three hundred and fifty thousand years ago. It should have been drawn by a survivor of the Chiming era, to guide a return home in the days to come.

" Shen Mu nodded. "This disciple has made the same guess. Those who wiped out the Chiming era should be the present Heavenly Court. I think Senior Brother was continuously tracing the past, seeking the truth of this Heavenly Court, which is why he left these clues for us. " "He wanted to earn merit and become a sage.

" The Woodcutter shook his head. "But he does not know how foolish a thing he is doing.

The closer he draws to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes. To put himself in harm's way like this is the height of imprudence. How can he become a sage that way? " The more he spoke, the angrier he became, and his voice unconsciously hardened. Though he seemed indifferent to his disciples, his concern was in fact hidden in the ordinary words and deeds of daily life; he merely seldom voiced it.

"You said he left more geographic charts. Where are those charts? " the Woodcutter asked. Shen Mu rummaged in his Taotie pouch and took out a few pieces of paper. "The chart Senior Brother showed was extremely complex, and fearing I would forget it, I later made copies.

This one is a chart of the Wastes, and the place marked is Dragon Village, where Old Man Qinghuang lives.

And this one is this alien star; here it marks the God-Slaying Platform. " The Woodcutter examined the two charts, then spread out the others and studied them one by one. After a while, his expression grew heavier and heavier.

"Wretch, wretch!

Why did he go to these places of peril? Even I do not dare set foot in these places! " He flew into a towering rage, rose, and paced around the hall.

The wind stirred by his sleeves filled the temple, and Shen Mu's gaze could hardly keep up with him.