But the Divine King Langwan was different — she possessed an aloof, cold, and lucid air, more like the beauty of a god, giving one a sense of sacred solemnity and an untouchable remoteness.

The Moon Celestial Worthy had just finished dealing with the Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire when she caught sight of the Divine King Langwan arriving, and smiled, "Why has the Divine King come so late? It was you who informed me that the Shepherd Celestial Worthy had come and wished to see me, and yet you arrived after me.

" The Divine King Langwan said softly, "Bathing and changing clothes, preparing the carriage — it delayed me a while. To come before the Shepherd Celestial Worthy, one cannot but be dignified. " She bowed in greeting to Shen Mu and Granny Zhu, saying, "The Celestial Worthy sent men to deliver the Primordial Essence Liquid, freeing me from any worry behind me. My gratitude is beyond measure.

" The Moon Celestial Worthy smiled, "You always have these unnecessary formalities. Shepherd Celestial Worthy, I have made the Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire somewhat smaller. This Ancestral Ground restrains my Dao of Space, so I can only bind it to this degree.

You may simply carry it away. Beyond that, I cannot help you.

" The Divine King Langwan said, "The Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire requires a profound understanding of the Dao of Fire, though one may also use divine consciousness to activate the power of the Dao Fire. In that year, when the Creator made sacrifice to the Vermilion Bird, the Southern Emperor, it was by divine consciousness that the power of the Nine Heavens of the Ancestral Ground was roused.

" She instructed Shen Mu with great care, saying, "Enter the Ancestral Ground and try it for yourself; then you will know how to use divine consciousness to activate the Dao Fire. " Shen Mu thanked her, ascended the Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire, entered the Nine Heavens, and took out a divine weapon of a mighty one from a past universe, attempting to use divine consciousness to rouse the Dao Fire and smelt it. Whether the Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire could smelt it was only his conjecture; now he needed to verify it.

If it did not work, he would have to seek other means. Beside the Ancestral Ground, Granny Zhu chatted casually with the Moon Celestial Worthy and the Divine King Langwan. The two women knew she was Shen Mu's elder, and there was not the slightest negligence in their words.

Granny Zhu spoke of her worries about Shen Mu. The two women exchanged a glance, and the Divine King Langwan said, "The Shepherd Celestial Worthy is a man of surpassing talent and wisdom.

There is no need for Fellow Daoist Si to worry; in time he will naturally walk out of it. " The Moon Celestial Worthy said, "I think he still cannot be left idle.

Left idle, he will let his thoughts run wild, and imagine problems where there are none. " Granny Zhu agreed, and sizing up the two women, she came to a conclusion in her heart.

After a while, Shen Mu came out from the Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire. The three went to meet him, and Granny Zhu wore a look of inquiry.

Shen Mu said, "It can melt those divine weapons, but it requires me to expend divine consciousness to control the Dao Fire, and at the same time I must forge my divine sword, which makes it somewhat strenuous. " Granny Zhu smiled, "Leave this matter to Craftsman Mo — feel free to order him about like a beast of burden! You two ladies, we will trouble you no further; we must return to the Ancestral Court at once!

" The Moon Celestial Worthy said hastily, "You have only just arrived, and already you are in a hurry to leave? Since you have business, I will not press you to stay.

Shepherd Celestial Worthy, let me ask you one thing!

" Shen Mu halted his steps. The Moon Celestial Worthy hesitated a moment, but still asked her question: "How long do you think the Void of the Other Shore can hold? " The Divine King Langwan's heart skipped. She too had this question in her heart, only she had many misgivings and was not as forthright as the Moon Celestial Worthy, and so had not asked it.

Shen Mu pondered a moment, then said, "After Tubo dies, the Void of the Other Shore will be broken. The rolling tide of the greater trend cannot be stopped.

A mere Void Bridge, thirty-five layers of shattered void, cannot hold back the Ten Celestial Worthies of today. " The two women were deeply shaken.

The Divine King Langwan asked, "Then, Shepherd Celestial Worthy, how are the soldiers of my Void of the Other Shore to survive?

" Shen Mu glanced at the Moon Celestial Worthy and said, unhurried, "With the Moon Celestial Worthy here, you may retreat or withdraw.

" The Divine King Langwan let out a breath of relief and smiled faintly, saying, "Farewell to the Holy Infant. " Shen Mu stored the Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire within his divine treasury and rose to leave.

Granny Zhu followed after him and smiled, "Shen'er, which of these two girls do you think is better? " Shen Mu's head ached; feeling guilty, he said, "Which does Granny think is better? " "In terms of looks, naturally it is the Divine King Langwan.

Her beauty is beyond compare.

" Granny Zhu said, "But if we speak of being a wife, she is far inferior to the Moon Celestial Worthy.

The Divine King Langwan is a cold and lucid woman, and her bearing is held aloft.

The Moon Celestial Worthy, by contrast, puts herself on the level, and is a woman who can keep a home.

" Shen Mu could not help but be curious: "What do you mean by 'held aloft'? " "Held aloft — placed in the air, not touching the ground, elegant, noble, and refined, yet keeping others a thousand li away.

For instance, when she comes to see you, she must bathe and change clothes, put her attire and ornaments in order, have a carriage and precious palanquin, with maidservants attending on either side.

Dignified, yes, but not a person to live a life with.

" Granny Zhu said, "But the Moon Celestial Worthy, when she heard you had come, came rushing over swift as fire and wind. She wore some makeup, but had not deliberately refined it; she had no attendants about her, nor did she ride a precious palanquin or a fragrant carriage. You said you needed the Ancestral Ground of the Dao Fire, and the girl went at once to pick it down — and she was attentive, knowing the Ancestral Ground was too large to carry conveniently, and so she smelted it smaller for you.

Hers is the spirit of letting go.

She is a woman who can keep a home. " Shen Mu was filled with admiration. So there was even such lore in love and marriage — it was almost a Great Dao in itself.

No wonder that among the three hundred sixty halls of the Heavenly Sage Cult, one was called the Hall of Matchmaking. "If Langwan were your wife, going out to receive guests, feasting the assembled heroes — naturally you would gain great face and double the prestige. In her conduct before others, you could not find the slightest fault. She is born to be an empress. " Granny Zhu continued, "But for keeping a household, managing everything before and behind, the Moon Celestial Worthy is still better.

Shen'er, what do you think? Will you marry an empress, or marry a wife?

" Her words were asking after Shen Mu's future plans. To marry an empress meant that Shen Mu would take the throne; to marry a wife meant that his ambition did not lie in the imperial seat. Shen Mu asked humbly for instruction, "Granny, what of a woman like this?

In daily life she is careless and slapdash, spends money with both hands, never knows how to keep accounts, is a little absent-minded even in raising children, and always curses — 'your old lady' at every turn. When she is charming, she hooks the soul of every person under heaven; when she is shrewish, she can string a man up and beat him.

Could such a woman ever be married off? " Granny Zhu's face darkened at once.