Chapter 841 — Blood Might Subdues

And the artificial stars and rivers of stars in the sky, their light having been gathered and focused, appeared from here many times larger than elsewhere—one could see with the naked eye alone, without activating any divine ability, the very patterns and palaces upon those stars. The stars were dazzling and richly colored, most wondrous. At this moment, in the main hall of the Daoist Palace, several dozen elderly Daoists sat upon rush cushions, floating in the air, auspicious auras swirling around each of them.

These old Daoists had an ancient and noble bearing, none knew how many years they had lived, their long brows and hair white as snow. They sat withered there, their dim old eyes open, expressions solemn. Though their eyes were dim, from time to time astonishing glimmers burst from their pupils—plainly their cultivation was unfathomable.

There were also some younger Daoists—young being a relative term, for these Daoists were likely of no small age as well, every one of them with graying hair, their Daoist robes washed so pale they were nearly white, some robes tattered and torn, the straw sandals on their feet worn through so that several toes poked out.

Shen Mu glanced around and took note of a few of the most brightly dressed figures. One was a middle-aged man wearing a yellow Daoist crown with a purple sash, a whisk in hand and a Daoist sword at his waist—this should be the Sect Master of Azure Cloud Heaven.

The others should be the guests from the Heavenly Court—very young, mostly boys and girls with delicate features, watching with curiosity as Shen Mu and Dao Lord Lin Xuan entered. Strangely, the Azure Cloud Sect Master was not seated on the highest seat, but rather on the step below, his position somewhat lower than those young boys and girls.

Nor were those youths seated on the highest seat—the highest was occupied by a statue of the Dao Ancestor, carved of wood, of immense antiquity.

The statue stood about ten zhang tall, depicting a slovenly Daoist with a whisk thrust into his back, holding a peculiar compass in his hand, his body bent forward, the compass extended before him, the slovenly Daoist's gaze fixed upon it. The wood carving was exquisitely lifelike and vivid. "It is indeed him.

" Shen Mu smiled.

This slovenly Daoist was the very one he had encountered at the Jade Pool Grand Gathering, who had attended alongside the young Great Brahma Heavenly Buddha. At that time the Daoist did nothing at all, studying numerology day in and day out, while Great Brahma begged for spirit pills to sustain them both—and Great Brahma had a temper: if offered too many spirit pills, he would refuse them outright, saying it would harm his cultivation.

"The Daoist sects of the lower realms were founded by castoffs of the Daoist Sect of that era. In the Kaihuang Era they aided Kaihuang and committed treasonous acts—in truth, they were guilty.

" The Azure Cloud Sect Master was seated high, looking down upon Lin Xuan and Daoist Cha as he explained the origins of the Jingping Daoist Sect. Unhurriedly he said: "My Azure Cloud Heaven, also called the Azure Cloud Sect, is the direct lineage transmitted by the Dao Ancestor, and has ever dwelt in this place.

When the rebel Kaihuang rose in rebellion and wreaked chaos, Azure Cloud Heaven was secluded among the heavens of the Origin Realm, ordered to seal the Jingping Sky Dome. By the laws of the Heavenly Court, the Jingping Daoist Sect was to be exterminated—it was I who petitioned the Heavenly Court and spared you.

Young friend Lin, you said earlier that my Azure Cloud Heaven was a branch of your Daoist Sect; now you know the truth of the matter, do you not? " A neighboring old Daoist sneered: "Young friend Lin, why do you not pay homage to the Sect Master?

" Dao Lord Lin Xuan bowed to the Azure Cloud Sect Master in greeting and said: "Senior Brother.

" The Daoists frowned and shouted one after another: "Insolent!

Why do you not kneel? " Lin Xuan's bow was one of equals.

By the rules, it should have been the grand kneeling ceremony of a junior before a senior—three kneelings and nine prostrations! Shen Mu laughed: "We come from the same Daoist Sect, so we are fellow disciples. To kneel and prostrate before a fellow disciple—you are not the Dao Ancestor.

Can you bear it? " "I bear upon my person the three treasures transmitted by the Dao Ancestor: the whisk, the Daoist shoes, and the Daoist crown.

They represent the Dao Ancestor. Naturally I can bear young friend Lin's prostration. " The Azure Cloud Sect Master's gaze was bright as he looked toward Shen Mu. "The Heavenly Sage Sect Master of Jingping, also called Overlord Physique Shen Mu. Young friend Lin is a fellow disciple, and I acknowledge him as my junior brother—he need not bow. Why do you not bow to me?

" Shen Mu could not help but laugh: "This bow of mine—not to mention you, even if the Dao Ancestor himself came, he could not bear it.

My bowing to you would shorten your lifespan.

" The Azure Cloud Sect Master waved his whisk and said serenely: "Jingping is a small nation.

My Azure Cloud Heaven governs twenty-four divine kingdoms below; any one of them is no smaller than Jingping. You are the sect master of a small sect in a small nation.

I can bear your bow. " He smiled faintly: "Those behind me are the Heavenly Court's envoys, come representing the Heavenly Court, symbolizing the authority of the Heavenly Emperor—they too can bear your bow.

Overlord Physique Shen, you may kneel and pay homage. " The young Heavenly Court boys and girls seated on treasure thrones behind him watched Shen Mu with keen interest.

Shen Mu laughed heartily and shook his head: "Since the Sect Master insists that I bow, then I should first bow to the Dao Ancestor. Little ghosts of the Heavenly Court, withdraw—do not block the Dao Ancestor!

" The Azure Cloud Sect Master frowned and rose from his throne. The Heavenly Court youths chuckled softly and also left their seats one after another.

Shen Mu stepped forward and looked up at the wooden statue of the slovenly Daoist, laughing: "Old Daoist, Mu has come to see you. Your disciples and grand-disciples want me to bow to you. Then I shall bow!

" He had just lifted his robe when suddenly the wooden statue of the Dao Ancestor gave a thunderous crash and split into pieces! In the Daoist Palace, all the old Daoists were startled.

After the statue split open, Dao-fire suddenly ignited and swiftly burned it to ashes!

Shen Mu laughed heartily, did not bow, and turned toward the Azure Cloud Sect Master, calling out in a loud voice: "Old Daoist, your disciples and grand-disciples want me to bow to your Daoist crown, your Daoist shoes, and your whisk—to bow to these three treasures is to bow to you. Then you shall bear my bow!

" He made as if to bow, and the Daoist crown on the Azure Cloud Sect Master's head suddenly exploded with a crack, the whisk in his hand burst into flames, and the Daoist shoes on his feet instantly turned to ash!

Shen Mu straightened up and looked at the flustered Azure Cloud Sect Master with a half-smile: "Sect Master, now you know—you cannot bear my bow, and neither can the Dao Ancestor.

Put away your arrogance. " The Azure Cloud Sect Master's hair was disheveled, he threw down the whisk burned to ashes, and stood barefoot, utterly at a loss.

The other old Daoists were horrified and bewildered: "Is the Overlord Physique truly so formidable?

Even the Dao Ancestor dare not receive his bow? "