Chapter 979: Chapter 971: Divine Horse Heavenly King
The Xuanqing Star Lord hid in the inn, reading Journey to the West several times over; he then went searching in the city for books similar to Journey to the West, and ended up buying The Investiture of the Gods.
The Investiture of the Gods left the Xuanqing Star Lord utterly terrified.
How is this Investiture of the Gods so much like his Heavenly Dao Immortal Book?
He felt as if every step he took fell within Gu An’s foresight, and that filled him with awe toward Gu An.
As an Immortal God, he had never experienced such feelings, not even toward his own master.
His master’s cultivation was exceedingly profound, but even he could not fully comprehend the Heavenly Dao Immortal Book, not like Gu An, whose calculations bordered on the divine. Most crucially, he had heard that Journey to the West and Investiture of the Gods came into being even before Central Heaven was opened, and were written by Gu An in the Mortal World.
His heart was rife with both fear and excitement.
He had gathered more and more Merit Immortals, yet they failed to form a trend; chiefly, it was because no one could unite all the Merit Immortals. When he saw Li Ya struggling in the Celestial Court, he found himself starting to regret.
The Xuanqing Star Lord began to earnestly consider how to recruit and persuade Gu An.
Several days later.
The Xuanqing Star Lord came again to the Daoist Field of the Beginningless, but this time, Ghost Mother of Ephemera did not appear to greet him, so he began to force his way in.
He ended up flying for a long time within the spirit mist, yet still could not find the Mountain of No End, and several times ended up flying out, unable to grasp the correct direction at all.
At last, he returned to the edge of the forest, bowed deeply toward the front, and held still.
He was determined to move Gu An with his sincerity, convinced that Gu An could surely see his actions.
Days fell and moons rose, and day after day passed, yet Gu An never showed himself to the Xuanqing Star Lord. Still, the Star Lord was not anxious, and maintained his bowed stance.
He bent there for a hundred years.
One day, Blood Prison Great Saint came along the rear mountain path with more than a dozen disciples in tow. When they saw the Xuanqing Star Lord’s silhouette, all of them grew interested.
“Hey, how long are you planning to stand here?” Blood Prison Great Saint swaggered up and asked brashly.
The Xuanqing Star Lord turned to him and said, “Until the Ancestor Master is willing to meet me.”
From Fellow Daoist to Ancestor Master, this alone revealed his inward transformation.
Blood Prison Great Saint sneered, “Why would he want to see you? So you can take him up to Celestial Court and have him tend horses?”
The other disciples regarded the Xuanqing Star Lord with cold eyes; the incident from a hundred years ago had by now spread to the ears of every Wushiji Disciple.
The Xuanqing Star Lord did not straighten up, but replied with a bitter smile, “The Divine Horse Celestial Official is not at all the same as the Horses’ Fortune in Journey to the West, but in any case, such an Immortal Position does not suit the Ancestor Master.”
Blood Prison Great Saint snorted, “If you ask me, for my master to go to the Celestial Court, he should be made the Celestial Dao Venerable at the very least!”
The other disciples echoed in agreement; in their eyes, even the Celestial Dao Venerable could not compare to their Ancestor Master.
Hearing these words, the Xuanqing Star Lord felt even more helpless.
Could the Celestial Dao Venerable be something he could simply promise?
That was a status equal to that of his own master.
The Xuanqing Star Lord looked at Blood Prison Great Saint and asked, “Would you help this humble Daoist convey a message? I truly wish to meet the Ancestor Master again.”
Blood Prison Great Saint waved his hand, then led his disciples into the forest ahead; the spirit mist surged, veiling their figures.
The Xuanqing Star Lord did not follow but remained bowing in salute.
Time spun on, and yet more months passed.
One day, the spirit mist in front of the Xuanqing Star Lord cleared and he saw the figure of Ghost Mother of Ephemera appear, and his face instantly lit with joy.
“Come. My master is willing to see you again.”
Ghost Mother of Ephemera spoke expressionlessly. Even though the Xuanqing Star Lord had kept a humble stance over the years and shown much sincerity, she still looked down on him.
To have Gu An be made Divine Horse Celestial Official was not just to offend Gu An but to bring humiliation upon all those who followed him as well.
Having finished, Ghost Mother of Ephemera turned and left; the Xuanqing Star Lord hurriedly went after her.
Following behind Ghost Mother of Ephemera, the Xuanqing Star Lord felt the surrounding environment was utterly different from when he had explored alone–like two entirely separate places–which only made him more curious about the Ancestor Master Wushi’s abilities.
Without speaking along the way, they once again ascended Mountain of No End; the Xuanqing Star Lord’s mood was completely changed.
Where before there had been only hope and curiosity, now came anxiety and tension, as well as a resolve to win at all costs.
Such vast merit, together with such unfathomable divine skills–this kind of being must be made a Merit Immortal!
The Xuanqing Star Lord’s gaze grew even more resolute.
As before, Ghost Mother of Ephemera led him to the courtyard gate, gestured for him to enter on his own.
Shen Zhen still sat meditating before the artifact refining cauldron, yet she did not look at him.
The Xuanqing Star Lord approached Gu An’s door and bowed respectfully.
“Ancestor Master, after much deliberation, I see that the Divine Horse Celestial Official truly does not suit you. However, I wish to know: can you see the future of myself and the Merit Immortal?”
The Xuanqing Star Lord asked earnestly, a touch of trepidation in his heart.
“Yes, indeed I can.”
Gu An’s voice came from inside the house, and the Xuanqing Star Lord’s expression instantly changed.
As expected!
Journey to the West and Investiture of the Gods were warnings directed at him.
If he persisted in his arrogance, his Merit Immortal project might well bring calamity upon the Celestial Court. And as for the Heavenly Dao Immortal Book–appearing as a supreme merit treasure, in truth it could bring catastrophe.
At last, he understood his master’s admonition: opening the path to the Merit Immortal was by no means simple.
“Ancestor Master, do you believe the Merit Immortal can change the Heavenly Dao, can change the Celestial Court?”
The Xuanqing Star Lord pressed on, his manner growing tense.
“Any being might achieve such a thing, but the aim of the Merit Immortal should not rest only within the Celestial Court.”
Gu An’s words made the Xuanqing Star Lord frown deeply.
Could it be the threat from Chaos was soon to return?
The Xuanqing Star Lord inhaled deeply, realizing this was not the right time to press such matters. After a moment’s silence, he said, “Ancestor Master, I am willing to yield the seat of Divine Horse Heavenly King to you. As Divine Horse Heavenly King, you may reside in the Twenty-Seven Layers of Heaven; in future, there will be hundreds of Divine Horse Celestial Officials below you, all under your rule as to assignment and belonging.”
“Divine Horse Heavenly King is a Supreme Immortal, exalted in rank and power, utterly worthy of your talent. As for the even higher Celestial Dao Venerable, that is a blessing beyond my reach.”
At these last words, the Xuanqing Star Lord showed a wry smile.
To be a Star Lord and able to determine a Supreme Immortal position was already incredible. Since descending to the Lower Realm, Immortal Gods from within the Celestial Court had all vied for his favor, but he ignored them all.
That he possessed such authority was only because he had two mighty powers behind him: one, the Eastern Pole Emperor, ranked as Celestial Dao Venerable; the other–Heavenly Dao’s Heaven itself!
Gu An did not reply, and once more his heart sank into despair.
When he began to regard Ancestor Master Wushi as a being on equal height with his master, he realized that even Supreme Immortal would not necessarily suffice.
The Xuanqing Star Lord gritted his teeth and said, “Ancestor Master, how about giving me a chance, that I may return to the Celestial Court and petition the Emperor of Heaven on your behalf.”
Celestial Emperor!
Shen Zhen, hearing these words, opened her eyes. She was very curious–what attitude would Gu An take when faced with the Celestial Emperor?
For what reason did Gu An remain secluded–who, after all, was he hiding from?
Within the Heavenly Dao, the strongest was surely the Celestial Emperor. If even the Celestial Emperor did not daunt Gu An, then she could not fathom who or what could inspire such dread in him.
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