Tales of Herding Gods

Chapter 931: To Ask About Dao From Toads and Ask for Dao From the People

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Dan Fenglai felt his limbs turn cold as he felt an animal-like scream emerging from his throat. Ancestral God King was Celestial Venerable Zu of the ten Celestial Venerables, and these people were all disciples under him. He had countless disciples all across the world, but Ancestral God King didn’t have the energy to teach every disciple.

Thus, the one who taught all of these junior brothers and sisters was actually Dan Fenglai!

They bore gratitude towards Dan Fenglai, who was their teacher, and they were also extremely respectful towards him. The sort of relationship they shared would be unimaginable to outsiders.

Now that so many junior brothers and sisters of the Ancestral King Palace were murdered here, he felt a pain in his heart that was akin to having it cut by a knife. Yet, he still steeled his heart and suppressed his scream, swallowing it back into his stomach!

Ancestral God King’s gaze landed on him, and he spoke in a composed manner, saying, “Celestial Venerable Mu commits all sorts of evil. He took advantage of my absence in the palace and murdered over two hundred of my disciples. My disciple Fenglai witnessed this personally. Was this what happened, Fenglai?”

Dan Fenglai bowed and replied numbly, “This is exactly what happened. I witnessed this personally.”

Ancestral God King nodded his head with satisfaction. He walked down from the Abyss Stage and pat him on the shoulder. “Things like the reform are extremely treasonous. You have also overheard some things about the Celestial River Divine Treasure, but your level of cultivation is already very high. I trust that you can recognize what is beneficial and what is detrimental and that you won’t act recklessly.”

Dan Fenglai agreed and replied without emotion, “Disciple understands. The reforms go against the ways of the ancestors, and it’s extremely treasonous. I deeply despise and abhor such shameless acts and want nothing more than to eliminate everything associated with it.”

Ancestral God King brushed past him and said leisurely, “Celestial Venerable Mu, that brat, after causing trouble for God Emperor Lang Xuan, he came to cause trouble for me. Which Celestial Venerable does he intend to cause trouble for next? When this rascal came to the celestial heavens, many thought that he would die without a doubt. But who would have thought that he was actually becoming more and more lively… Fenglai, go and settle these junior brothers and sisters. As for their families, reward them handsomely.”

“As you command.”

Dan Fenglai raised his head and watched him leave. He thought to himself, ‘My junior brothers and sisters died because of Celestial Venerable Mu. If he hadn’t imparted his techniques and spoke about Dao, Master wouldn’t have killed them! Celestial Venerable Mu, I have a deep grudge and great hatred towards you, and we cannot live under the same heaven!’

He dared not bear grudges against Ancestral God King, so his hatred could only be shifted onto Qin Mu.

“Celestial Venerable Mu, Celestial Venerable Hong is cultivating in seclusion. The Hong Celestial Palace is closed, and we won’t receive any outsiders.”

Yun Chuxiu had brought Qin Mu and the others to the Hong Celestial Palace. The god guarding the palace entrance said apologetically, “Regarding Celestial Venerable coming down to pay a visit… when Celestial Venerable Hong comes out of seclusion, I will inform him about it, and he will definitely repay your visit. Celestial Venerable Mu, please return.”

Qin Mu and the others could only leave.

When Yun Chuxiu brought them to Celestial Venerable Xiao’s manor, they received a similar reply.

When they came to Celestial Venerable Huo’s celestial palace, the god guarding the entrance said, “There is abnormal activity in the Great Void, and Celestial Venerable Huo has led all of his disciples to travel about and search for the reason behind it. It’s not known when they will return.”

At Celestial Venerable Xu’s place, a god said, “Celestial Venerable Xu and Celestial Venerable Huo have both brought their disciples to travel about the Great Void. She isn’t in the palace. Celestial Venerable Mu, please return.”

Yun Chuxiu sighed and questioned in bewilderment, “Could it be that all of the Celestial Venerables have run off?”

Yun Jianli’s gaze flickered, and he smiled and said, “Why don’t we go to Celestial Venerable Yan’s and Celestial Venerable Qiang’s to take a look?”

Yun Chuxiu glanced at him and smiled sweetly. “Brother, did you forget that these two Celestial Venerables are heavenly ladies, and they live in the chambers of concubines. How would we be able to meet them? Why don’t we pay Celestial Venerable Hao a visit? Celestial Venerable Hao couldn’t have also gone out, right?”

Yun Jianli smiled but stayed silent as he thought to himself, ‘Which Celestial Venerable is she exactly? Amongst the Celestial Venerables of the celestial heavens, other than Celestial Venerable Qiang and Celestial Venerable Yan, Celestial Venerable Gong and Celestial Venerable Xu are also female. However, these two Celestial Venerables are avoiding a meeting as well. I wonder which is Yun Chuxiu’s true form. Could it be possible that one of the sisters has become a man?’

Qin Mu said, “Let’s not visit Celestial Venerable Hao. There’s some conflict between us, and we aren’t on good terms. Even if we go, he will just chase me out the door. I heard that Dao Ancestor has returned to the celestial heavens, let’s go to the celestial heavens’ Dao Sect instead and pay this old Daoist a visit.”

Yun Chuxiu seemed to want the whole world to be thrown into chaos, but when Qin Mu said that they should visit Dao Ancestor, she seemed to be a little less excitable.

Qin Mu’s main goal was to pay Dao Ancestor a visit. It was just that he hadn’t imagined that so much would happen in between—them turning the Lang Xuan Divine Palace and Ancestral King Palace upside down and having the other Celestial Venerables avoid meeting him.

However, him going to the celestial heavens’ Dao Sect to visit Dao Ancestor wouldn’t seem as abrupt a gesture now.

The celestial heavens’ Dao Sect.

The Dao Sect seemed to not have expected that Qin Mu would actually pay them a visit, such that the old Daoist and divine beast guarding the mountain gate had watched them approach in a daze. It was only when the group reached the gate that they regained their senses and hurriedly dashed off to the Dao Sect to report their arrival.

After a short period, an old Daoist led a group of Dao Sect disciples to welcome them. He said in an apologetic tone, “Celestial Venerable has traveled here from afar, yet we didn’t receive you properly, please pardon us.”

Qin Mu looked at the old Daoist from top to bottom. This wasn’t the Dao Ancestor that he had met in the Dragon Han Era. However, from his voice alone, it seemed that he was that old Daoist who had entered the Guardian Pavilion with Celestial Venerable Huo.

“Celestial Venerable, this is the Dao Master of the Dao Sect,” Yun Jianli reminded him.

“Is Dao Ancestor around?” Qin Mu asked.

The celestial heavens’ Dao Master hurriedly replied, “Dao Ancestor returned to the Dao Sect a few days ago and is currently in seclusion. Why doesn’t Celestial Venerable come back another day?”

Qin Mu smiled. “No worries, I can wait for him to come out of seclusion.”

The celestial heavens’ Dao Master couldn’t do anything else but invite him into the mountains.

The Dao Sect of the celestial heavens took up an extremely vast piece of land, and it was countless times more extravagant than Eternal Peace’s Dao Sect. The Dao Sect resided in a celestial palace—the Jade Pure Celestial Palace.

The Dao Sect that Dao Master Lin Xuan was in charge of—even though the Kunlun Border was considered the Dao Sect’s territory—merely took over one of the mountains and a few scattered Daoist monasteries that didn’t have much incense.

In comparison, the celestial heavens’ Dao Sect was extremely extravagant and luxurious. The palaces were grand and magnificent, and there were tens of thousands of buildings and pavilions. Here, the Daoists were also not dressed in plain Daoist robes. They wore opulent clothing from head to toe and didn’t have the restrained appearance of Daoists. They even had maids and retainers who helped to take care of all their living needs.

In actuality, those that entered the celestial heavens’ Dao Sect weren’t actually Daoists. Daoists were people who cultivated the Dao and had very few desires. The disciples of the celestial heavens’ Dao Sect were actually only there to learn the techniques and algebra of the Dao Sect, and they considered it a place for them to study the paths, skills, and divine arts.

They were, however, not at all interested in the Dao Sect’s core teachings.

They weren’t real Daoists, they were the descendants of the powerful and nobility of the celestial heavens, who had sent them there to get good reputations.

On the contrary, Eternal Peace’s Dao Sect still retained the actual core teachings of Dao Ancestor when he first formed the Dao Sect, and they did all they could to follow it closely. Whether it was the previous Old Dao Master or the present Dao Master Lin Xuan, they did a good job passing on the teachings.

Of course, in the celestial heavens’ Dao Sect, there were still some Daoists dressed in Daoist robes who were sage-like. However, there weren’t many of them.

Qin Mu had many sentiments since he first started his journey.

There were real and fake monks, and similarly, there were real Daoists and fake Daoists. If they merely wore a false appearance and didn’t have actual internal self-cultivation, they would just be fooling others with their appearances.

‘The true teachings of the Dao Sect aren’t within the celestial heavens.’

Qin Mu looked at some youths who were dressed flamboyantly and thought to himself, ‘No wonder Dao Ancestor doesn’t come back to the Dao Sect frequently.’

At this very moment, a Daoist ran over hurriedly and said something to the celestial heavens’ Dao Master in a low voice.

The Dao Master of the celestial heavens nodded his head gently and smiled. “Celestial Venerable, everyone, Dao Ancestor has come out of seclusion. Upon hearing that Celestial Venerable is here, he has ordered me to invite everyone over. Please follow me.”

Qin Mu was overjoyed, and he followed after him with the rest.

Yun Chuxiu smiled. “Celestial Venerable Mu went to visit the various Celestial Venerables, but none of them dared to meet him. Dao Ancestor is quite brave, seeing that he actually dares to meet Celestial Venerable Mu.”

The Dao Master of the celestial heavens quickly smiled in an apologetic manner. “Dao Ancestor is just the Dao Ancestor of our Dao Sect, how would he dare to be compared to the other Celestial Venerables? Celestial Venerable has come to pay a visit, Dao Ancestor wouldn’t dare to refuse the meeting.”

They came to the main hall of the Dao Sect. This main hall was positioned where the Numinous Sky Hall should be in the Jade Pure Celestial Palace, but it wasn’t built according to the architecture of the Numinous Sky Hall.

In contrast, this main hall was unexpectedly shabby looking. It was a Daoist temple that was built out of a straw hut and had a radius of six to seven yards around it. It was also not guarded by divine beasts. Qin Mu saw that there were two toads at each corner, on the left and right sides of the stone steps by the door.

The two toads seemed to have some intelligence. Upon hearing the sound of footsteps, their eyes bulged out of their heads, and they slowly opened their eyelids to glance at them as they croaked.

Following this, the two toads retracted their eyes back into their heads, covering them up tightly and flatly.

Yan’er leaped off of Qin Mu’s shoulder and used her beak to knock on the head of one of the toads.

The toad slowly bulged out its eyes again and asked in a leisurely manner, “What is it?”

“It can speak!”

Yan’er got a shock, and she jumped two steps back before asking vigilantly, “Are you monsters?”

The toad rolled its eyes and replied with displeasure, “Can’t you speak too?”

“I’m not the same. I’m a half-god, while you’re a toad!”

Yan’er hopped forwards and laughed. “If you are of a mortal species, then you shouldn’t be able to speak. Unless, of course, you have cultivated to become a demon.”

The toad replied, “I am Dao and not a toad, so naturally, I can speak.”

Yan’er was incredibly shocked. The dragon qilin pushed his huge head forwards and asked curiously, “You are Dao? Who told you that?”

“The old Daoist told me.”

The toad wore a serious expression and continued, “He said that Dao was toads and that he wanted to seek Dao and required our help. Thus, he brought us over here to guard his door. You won’t understand, retreat.”

Yan’er and the dragon qilin squinted at each other.

Qin Mu followed the celestial heavens’ Dao Master into the small rundown-looking temple. The Dao Master turned around and smiled apologetically to Yun Jianli, Qi Jiuyi, and the others. “Dao Ancestor will only see the Celestial Venerable, please hold your steps.”

Yun Jianli and Qi Jiuyi quickly replied, “It’s fine. Dao Master, please go ahead.”

They were all aware that although this Dao Master of the celestial heavens’ Dao Sect looked like a subservient and mindless old Daoist, he actually had immeasurable abilities and was an existence that was only inferior to Dao Ancestor within the Dao Sect.

However, Yun Chuxiu was a little unhappy, as she wanted to enter and listen to Dao Ancestor and Qin Mu’s conversation. Yet, the celestial heavens’ Dao Master guarded the door with a smile on his face. It was evident that he didn’t intend to let anyone else other than Qin Mu inside.

‘This sloppy Daoist is acting all mysterious and sneaky, what exactly is he up to?’ Yun Chuxiu snorted coldly.

Qin Mu walked into the straw hut and saw a sloppy-looking old Daoist sitting by a green lamp. Upon seeing him, the old Daoist stood up and smiled. “Celestial Venerable Mu, it’s been a long time since we last met.”

Qin Mu smiled. “It’s been a long time.”

The old Daoist took off his wooden hairpin to pick at the lamp wick as he smiled. “There are ears everywhere, Celestial Venerable, let’s have our conversation in the lamp.”

A flower made of light with blinding radiance burst out of the green lamp. When the light reverted to its original state, the old Daoist and Qin Mu had already vanished without a trace!

When Qin Mu’s vision was restored, he realized that they had already arrived within a heavens that was within the wick. The entrance to the heavens was a flame in the shape of a candle flame. This flame was thousands of yards tall, and it was incredibly astonishing.

Dao Ancestor was right beside him, and he said leisurely, “The outburst of the Eternal Peace Calamity, the interception of the reforms of Eternal Peace, and Celestial Venerable Mu coming to the celestial heavens. When I heard about all of this, I hurried back here, intending to help out so as to repay the enlightenment you once gave me. I didn’t expect that Celestial Venerable would have such great abilities and would actually be able to resolve the danger around you so easily. It’s just that the actions of Celestial Venerable have caused disruptions to the peace of the heavens. Celestial Venerable, you have caused chaos within the celestial heavens. Are you aware of how many people and how many gods and devils in the celestial heavens will die because of your actions?”

Qin Mu laughed coldly. “Dao Ancestor is benevolent. Do you know how many people died during the calamity of Eternal Peace? Less than one in ten survived! Billions of human lives became ash and smoke just like that! Has Dao Ancestor ever felt any sympathy for them?”

Dao Ancestor sighed. “I was also helpless to do anything during the outburst of the calamity of Eternal Peace.”

Qin Mu replied, “The Dao Sect advocates inaction, however, with the affairs of the world today, inaction will result in deaths! You were unable to save the lives of this world, yet you still wish to criticize me for creating chaos in the celestial heavens and causing the deaths of some disciples of a few Celestial Venerables?”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Dao Ancestor said, “It’s just that flowers, grass, trees, and wood are all lives…”

“Foolish! Hypocrite!”

Qin Mu shook his head. “Dao Ancestor, you helped the celestial heavens research the ancient gods’ Great Dao divine arts. Do you know how many are dead because of you? You are also guilty in regard to the innumerous deaths during the Eternal Peace Calamity. Are these human lives inferior to the flowers, grass, trees, and wood that you speak of? I have merely caused trouble for the Lang Xuan Divine Palace and the Ancestral King Palace, and you’re already holding me accountable. Who will hold you accountable? You say that the Dao is a toad, but toads don’t understand Dao, people do! Not only do people understand Dao, but they can also create Dao.”

“Dao Ancestor, you are blinded in your pursuit of Dao! You wish to achieve Dao, but it cannot be done through studying and asking about Dao. Instead, you have to create a Dao that belongs to you! One who can create Dao, only then is it the real Dao!”

He yelled out, “To ask for Dao from Dao, you might as well ask for Dao from the people!”

Dao Ancestor felt a tremble in his head, and he replied solemnly, “Back then, I was enlightened by Celestial Venerable, and today, I have once again been enlightened by Celestial Venerable. I have benefited from your advice.”