"Tai Yi is still unfathomable," he said, setting down the iron bucket, unable to suppress a sigh of emotion. Then he began to contemplate the Dao of Tai Su, intending to cultivate the Tai Su Heavenly Palace.

He rarely had such peace and quiet.

Over the following days, by day he repaired the shattered black mountains, and by night he carried the iron bucket to the crown of the World Tree, catching the Dao dew dripping from the ultimate void.

After several days, he successively opened the Tai Su Heavenly Palace and the Tai Ji Heavenly Palace.

But when he came to open the Tai Chu Heavenly Palace, Shen Mu suddenly froze slightly, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. "The eggshell of Heavenly Emperor Tai Chu — my World Tree devoured it!

" More beads of sweat seeped from his forehead. Those two pieces of eggshell were treasures he had prepared to rescue Sovereign Ling!

He had intended to carry the Tai Chu eggshell into that vanished heavenly river which had already transformed into Bu Yi matter, and use the Bu Yi divine power to seal the Heavenly Emperor's physical body within the eggshell! He had planned to seal it together with the Tai Di primordial spirit parasitic within Heavenly Emperor Tai Chu's body!

And the World Tree having devoured and refined the Tai Chu eggshell meant he had lost his greatest reliance! If he went to rescue Sovereign Ling, he would have to face the Heavenly Emperor Tai Chu's physical body, controlled by the Tai Di primordial spirit!

"This time, it's troublesome!

" Shen Mu steadied himself and continued contemplating the Tai Chu Heavenly Palace.

Since he could not seal the Heavenly Emperor's body and the Tai Di primordial spirit into the eggshell, then a better understanding of the Dao of Tai Chu was the proper path to dealing with Tai Di and the Heavenly Emperor! Several more days passed, and he opened the Tai Chu Heavenly Palace.

Yet when he came to open the Tai Yi Heavenly Palace, he encountered a problem.

Although he had learned something of the Dao of Tai Yi through the World Tree, this Dao was truly obscure and abstruse.

Moreover, Tai Yi had already absorbed all the divine stones, raw stones, and primordial liquid of the Tai Yi mineral vein — not a drop remained.

This time, it was only because the World Tree had devoured and refined the Tai Yi eggshell that he had come to understand the Dao of Tai Yi.

To comprehend it thoroughly would require great perseverance, great enlightenment, and great fortune! Furthermore, the World Tree in his God Treasury had indeed, as Tai Yi had said, stopped growing.

Shen Mu's God Treasury was not a true universe — it lacked the nutrients to let this tree continue to grow.

The current World Tree was still only a sapling. Though its roots continued to gradually strengthen, the tree itself had not grown taller, nor had it produced more branches or boughs.

Shen Mu counted: the World Tree had five main trunks and nineteen branches, which corresponded to the Great Daos he cultivated. Among them, the five main trunks represented the five Primordial Ultimates, while some of the other branches were still subdividing into different twigs — for instance, the Demon Dao Heavenly Palace had sixty-four branches, which should represent the sixty-four Great Daos of Youdu.

Shen Mu temporarily set aside the notion of continuing to delve into the Tai Yi Heavenly Palace. His heavenly palaces now numbered twenty-three, and his cultivation had risen considerably once more.

What he considered more important was to use the opportunity granted by the World Tree to push himself further along the path of the Dao realm! Over the following months, Shen Mu caught Dao dew, repaired the shattered black mountains, and quietly comprehended the Dao.

The people of the Hundred Thousand Holy Mountains had been somewhat astonished at first, but gradually grew accustomed to it, letting him go about his busy work. Only occasionally would Shen Mu rouse himself from this busy state, a doubt rising in his heart: "Tai Yi is leaving this place for half a year — what is he going to do?

" The Ancestral Court, Jade Capital City. Tai Yi, possessing a body, observed the great cauldron Wei Suifeng had left outside the city.

Within this cauldron was a stick of incense. The incense had nearly burned down to its base, yet it still moved about on its own within the cauldron, tracing out a winding route map.

Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun were still alive, and the two were preparing to cross the river.

That Chaos River ahead — none knew how wide it was, nor how long. They advanced cautiously along the riverbank. Shu Jun stubbornly believed they had come from the opposite shore, and thus wished to find a path across.

But this great river had no bridge, nor was it possible to fly across its surface. From time to time, terrifying skeletons floated up from the Chaos River, emanating overwhelming Dao might that even the Chaos River could not erode away!

They even saw the skeletons of Dao achievers radiating Dao light, baleful and exceedingly dangerous rays darting across the river's surface.

Now and then, twisted vengeful spirits also surfaced on the river, struggling, howling, clutching at anything they could grasp — like drowned ghosts seeking substitutes. Even if Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun were bold beyond measure, they dared not cross this great river.

The two could only continue their bitter search for a way out.

Just then, a white-haired old man leaning on a cane appeared from somewhere and stopped before the two, saying: "You have taken the wrong path. " "Could you be Brother Tai Yi? " Wei Suifeng asked hurriedly.

The old man Tai Yi nodded and said: "If you cross the river, you truly will not be able to return. All around here is perilous ground. The opposite shore is the dwelling of the Master of the Miluo Palace.

Even if you could cross the river, it would be a dead end.

" The two felt a chill in their hearts. Shu Jun said politely: "Senior, could you lead us out of here?

" The old man Tai Yi shook his head: "I must cross the river.

I have no time to escort you away. " Shu Jun was somewhat disappointed.

Wei Suifeng hastily said: "Brother, is my junior brother looking for us?

Did he find the geographical map I left behind? " "No. " The old man Tai Yi said: "This place is too dangerous.

Do not wander about at will.

I saw the geographical map of your route outside the city just now, and that is how I found this place.

If you continue forward, you will surely die with no place for burial. Nor should you retreat — the Chaos River is constantly changing.

If you go back, you will not find your original path either, and will only throw your lives away for nothing.

" The two cried out in distress. Wei Suifeng hastily asked: "If we stay here without moving, will we be safe? " The old man Tai Yi observed the river's hydrology and said: "In another half day, this place will be submerged by the Chaos River. " Shu Jun said decisively: "Please, Senior, have pity and lead us away! " Wei Suifeng also hastily said: "Brother, have mercy!

" The old man Tai Yi was helpless and said: "I am going to see the Master of the Miluo Palace.

This journey is also exceedingly perilous — whether I can return alive, I have no confidence.

That person's divine powers are vast, even above my own.

Following me will only be more dangerous.

If there were no danger, I would not have deceived Sovereign Mu into guarding the Great Black Wood for me for half a year. " There was one more thing he did not say aloud: if he could not return alive, then Shen Mu would not merely guard the Great Black Wood for half a year — he would have to guard it for the long ages to come. At that time, Shen Mu would become Tai Yi's successor, never able to leave. Wei Suifeng and Shu Jun, unaware of the inside story, smiled apologetically and said: "What person could possibly trouble you, Senior?

Brother, do not jest. My junior brother has never been one to follow a map to rescue me.