Tales of Herding Gods

The great violence in the celestial heavens caused South Deity Vermillion Bird to come out of her palace. She looked up and saw the celestial heavens dragging a giant world while circling Ah Chou, who was walking forward with countless Great Dao shackles on him. She was insipid as she said, “The crown prince has gone overboard with this. However, without his condonation, he wouldn’t dare to do such things.”

She coldly laughed as she looked at the power center of the celestial heavens. “What are you planning, Emperor?”

“When you formed the celestial heavens, you already gathered us gods’ power and made it your own. Are you still worried about us?”

She quietly said to herself, “Yeah. Earth Count and Heaven Duke are too strong. They aren’t controlled by you. As long as you have their weaknesses, you can control them, right? Heaven Duke has been taught a lesson by you, and now it’s Earth Count’s turn.”

She quietly said bleakly, “Soon, it’ll be Mother Earth’s turn, then Heavenly Yin’s. Then, it will be us, the four deities’ turn, right? However, I won’t let it happen without doing anything!”

On that day, the celestial heavens’ weather was treacherous. Ah Chou’s attack on the celestial heavens caused the fall of ancient gods and half-gods. The army of the celestial heavens suffered countless casualties.

In the end, he reached the Jade Capital and was beaten down by Celestial Emperor, falling back to Youdu.

Celestial Emperor reached out with his palm and caught the baby girl falling from Earth Count’s shoulder.

At that moment, Celestial Venerable Yun and Celestial Venerable Hao escaped from Clear Sun Hall. They left with their loot without batting an eye at one another.

Soon, Qin Mu, who was one step behind, also rushed out of Clear Sun Hall. He changed his appearance along the way to dodge the palace maids of the chambers of concubines so that he could sneak into the Jade Capital. Soon, he put on Luo Xiao’s appearance to escape the city.

At the same time, the green bird rushed into Youdu, but it was too late.

Divine King Gong Yun saw Earth Count waking up. He opened his eyes in hell and looked up towards the celestial heavens. No emotions flowed from his eyes.

Earth Count wasn’t looking at them, yet he lifted his palm, and the ghost river’s torrent swept towards the bird and the palace on it.

His gaze was on Celestial Emperor’s hand, which had his daughter in it.

Divine King Gong Yun felt a chill down her spine. She was going to block it when the restraints on Da Hong burst open. He got out and became a large bird that flew up. He laughed and said, “Relax, my lovely wife. Earth Count won’t dare hurt you with me around!”

Gong Yun defended against the ghost river’s attack, and her soul was shaken from the hit. At that moment, a powerful force came in to block the ghost river. It was the Grand Emperor’s real body striking out despite not appearing.

Gong Yun knew that she had to rely on the Grand Emperor’s help to escape Youdu.

“The daughter of the most powerful devil god was born in the world of the living and not in Youdu.”

Celestial Emperor’s voice came from far above, yet it was clear when it entered Earth Count’s ear. “The daughter of the Netherworld is filled with the void. Thus, we shall call her Wei Xu. Youdu’s devil aura is too dense, so we shall let Xu stay in the celestial heavens. What do you think, Dao Friend?”

Earth Count looked down and saw his reincarnation, Ah Chou, plunging into further darkness without stopping.

“That’s a wise decision, Emperor,” he said.

Celestial Emperor smiled.

In the Jade Capital, Crown Prince Qi saw the scene where Celestial Emperor fought against Ah Chou and felt a chill down his spine. ‘It seems that I currently lack the power to get rid of my father. However, my father won’t tolerate me now that I struck out against Earth Count and caused such a big ruckus. I have to rebel now… I still have the half-gods, my mother, and many ancient gods on my side! I might not lose to Father!’

At that moment, Qin Mu walked through the celestial heavens, quickly moving towards the Vermillion Bird Celestial Palace. It drizzled. The rain came from the celestial heavens’ Rainbringer to wash the blood from the streets.

The gods who didn’t die were transporting the corpses of the dead.

Ah Chou Earth Count used Earth Count’s real body’s power and caused severe damage to the celestial heavens. Yet, Qin Mu didn’t feel bad, for he was heavily rewarded for his gamble. He didn’t ask for riches, but he got the Grand Emperor’s Grand Primordium Origin Stone.

One could even use the pieces to piece together a complete Grand Primordium Origin Stone!

Now, he only had to see South Deity Vermillion Bird and get one of her treasures. That, or he could tell her to split her soul for reincarnation so that she could avoid the impending death.

He sped up. When he went by the Pancavidya Celestial Palace, there was a figure behind the palace doors, who plainly said, “It has been a long time, Luo Xiao.”

Qin Mu’s heart shuddered, and he turned around to look at him. “It has been a long time, Celestial Venerable Yun.”

Celestial Venerable Yun gave a cold humph and entered the Pancavidya Celestial Palace before saying, “Enter, please. This place is the celestial palace of the five elements ancient gods. They already died to Celestial Venerable Mu, so this place is empty.”

Qin Mu suppressed his glee and followed him, planning to show his real self when he unintentionally saw Celestial Venerable Hao behind him.

Qin Mu’s heart fluttered, and he restrained himself.

They entered the Pancavidya Celestial Palace, and Qin Mu came to Celestial Venerable Yun’s side.

“I saw you die personally. You died on the celestial river, with your corpse washed away by it.”

Celestial Venerable Yun suddenly stopped and said, “You couldn’t have lived, yet I’ve seen you again.”

Qin Mu felt Celestial Venerable Hao entering too, and he said, “I was saved.”

Celestial Venerable Yun said, “You entrusted me with your eye and consciousness. I saw your people there, and I saw you becoming a spirit ancestor. I don’t know how your consciousness became a spirit ancestor while your corporeal body is still alive.”

Qin Mu said, “We are different. The death of our soul isn’t real death for us. Real death is the elimination of consciousness.”

“Perhaps.”

Celestial Venerable Yun nodded and said, “I went to your people and saw their cultivation techniques. It was peculiar and different. Your people don’t know how to scheme and lie. Their interactions rely on consciousness contact. With a light touch, people can understand each other like clean soil. I go there sometimes for tranquility, but you are different, you will lie to me.”

He suddenly felt something. He clearly felt Celestial Venerable Hao sneaking into the Pancavidya Celestial Palace. His consciousness might not be as strong as Qin Mu’s, but it wasn’t weak either. His consciousness was strong enough to be felt.

The Great Void Qin Mu told him about was something yearned for, but it was destroyed by the Grand Emperor. He was also not the honest Luo Xiao that he was pretending to be.

“I died on the celestial river. Where’s the beast that was following me?” he asked.

Celestial Venerable Yun said, “I sent it to the Great Void.”

Qin Mu sighed. The Grand Emperor knew where the Great Void was.

His consciousness waved as he transmitted information into Celestial Venerable Yun’s head. “I can’t return anymore. Please give the Grand Primordium Origin Stone to my people and help them build the Void Bridge and Paramita World. You should know the origin and use of the Grand Emperor’s seal and the Grand Emperor’s sacrificial altar. I’ll lend them to you. Return them to me in the future.”

He quickly turned around and swept his gaze towards where Celestial Venerable Hao was hiding, unleashing his consciousness.

Celestial Venerable Hao was stunned as everything in front of him disappeared. All that was left was an imposing ancient Celestial Emperor.

Celestial Venerable Hao felt a chill down his spine. He instantly realized that it was an illusion, so he bit his tongue and spat out fresh blood.

His blood contained the bloodline of two great ancient gods. It instantly melted Qin Mu’s consciousness illusion and broke Qin Mu’s consciousness divine art!

At the same time, Celestial Venerable Yun had a Grand Primordium Origin Stone, Grand Emperor’s seal, and Grand Emperor’s sacrificial altar with him.

He flipped his palm and stored the three objects. He then looked again, but Qin Mu had left.

Celestial Venerable Yun’s gaze was filled with confusion and doubt. This Luo Xiao was different from the one who had died on the celestial river. Although his consciousness was also strong, his personality was different.

Celestial Venerable Hao came and looked around. He was frustrated at being unable to find Qin Mu.

“I know the third person in the hall is you, Celestial Venerable Yun,” Celestial Venerable Hao leisurely said.

Celestial Venerable Yun plainly said, “I know one of them is you.”

Celestial Venerable Hao’s gaze flashed as he curiously said, “Who was the other person? I can’t believe that there’s a third person besides us who can precisely seize the opportunity of Ah Chou causing chaos in the celestial palace to loot the hall. This makes me curious.”

“There are countless extraordinary people in this world. Most of them are legendary figures. Did you stage the battle between Crown Prince Qi and Earth Count? Beautiful.”

Celestial Venerable Yun sincerely praised, “Well played, Celestial Venerable Hao. You managed to take advantage of Earth Count, Crown Prince Qi, and Celestial Emperor’s vault.”

Celestial Venerable Hao smiled and leisurely said, “I merely took advantage of the situation. I may be the leader of the half-gods in the Primordial Realm, but the leader of the half-gods of the other worlds is the crown prince. I’m but a small official like you. I just had to get some half-gods to tell the Crown Prince that Earth Count had reincarnated and that the chance was here. He would naturally strike. Besides…”

He revealed a playful smile. “Celestial Emperor doesn’t want the crown prince to live anyway. The crown prince’s ambition has grown to be too big, and he got too close with the other ancient gods.”

“After this, Crown Prince Qi has to rebel, and he’ll die from it. No one will be able to fight for the position with you after. However, no matter how good your scheme is, it’s still small in scale.” Celestial Venerable Yun looked at the Numinous Sky Hall and said, “You can’t go up against him.”

Celestial Venerable Hao felt the same as he stood with him to look at the Numinous Sky Hall. He whispered, “Every time I see him, I always feel too weak to fight against him. I know how terrifying he is. The more I know about him, the more I know about how invincible he is. He only has one weakness, and if he didn’t have it, then…”

He shivered several times.

Celestial Venerable Yun’s gaze flashed. “The only one worthy of my gaze in this era is you. You seem to come from a revered background, but you are an illegitimate child with no status. You experienced a strike that eliminated your Dao heart too, yet you stood back up and voluntarily gave up a seemingly extravagant and revered position in the celestial heavens to become a peasant in the lower bound.”

He put his hand behind his back and said, “I see endless ambition and desire from you. You befriended the half-gods, Celestial Venerable Huo, and Son of Heaven Yin. Even God Emperor Lang Xuan and Ancestral God King have many praises for you. In every war between the Dragon Heaven Celestial Heavens and Heaven Han Celestial Heavens, I saw your wisdom too. There are only two heroes in this world.”

He lifted his hand to point at Celestial Venerable Hao before himself.

Celestial Venerable Hao laughed before saying, “We have a common enemy. You need my power, and I need your wisdom. Yun, outside of Lan Yutian and Celestial Venerable Mu, you are the person I’m most impressed with. I can bring the most powerful half-gods, while you can bring the most powerful humans. We need careful planning.”

Celestial Venerable Yun nodded as the figure of that female master of creation named Lang Xuan appeared in his mind. He said, “I have an idea. We just have to wait for several more years until you all reach the Emperor’s Throne Realm. I’m prepared to strike after that. He only has one weakness, and we only have one chance. We have to be perfect in this!”

With a deep gaze, he said, “Before this, I have to deal with someone else first, another powerful being that is as strong as your father!”

Celestial Venerable Hao’s heart fluttered from such a thought. “Who may that be?”

“The Grand Emperor.”

Celestial Venerable Yun turned around, saying as he left, “We have to get rid of him to ensure that he doesn’t stir havoc after we get rid of your father. Otherwise, the Grand Emperor will become another Celestial Emperor, and all we would do is work for him! The Grand Emperor must die before your father!”

Celestial Venerable Hao watched him leave and couldn’t help praising him.

“Celestial Venerable Yun really is my strongest enemy. What I thought of, he did too. What I didn’t think of, he did. However, the final winner is determined by power.”

He walked out of Pancavidya Celestial Palace while saying, “The power of humans is worlds apart from the half-gods. After Crown Prince Qi dies, the half-gods will be under me. I’m more powerful, so the final winner will be me!”