Chapter 92 — The Journey Through the Passes
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
After all that talk, he still had to pass trials before he could leave the village. The Village Head laughed. "And I am your ninth trial.
Shen'er, once you pass these nine trials, you will be counted an adult and may soar freely. " Shen Mu's face darkened further. The eight passes set by Old Huo and the others were already extremely hard, and the Village Head's pass felt to him like a towering mountain he could never climb.
How was he to get through these nine trials? Suddenly Shen Mu felt warm currents surging within the space between his brows, pouring into his four limbs and hundred bones; body and mind, soul and spirit, all felt at ease, and his vital essence began to circulate vigorously of itself. He could not help uttering a cry of surprise.
A subtle change came over the Village Head's expression; he sensed the youth beside him brimming with vital essence, and it felt to him as though a small sun were hidden between the boy's brows! "Shen'er, has your spirit fetus awakened? " the Village Head asked.
Shen Mu said, "It has.
My spirit fetus seems no different from before. .
. only my vital essence is somewhat unlike what it was. " The Village Head knew very little about the Overlord Body that he himself had created, and could do nothing to help with the difficulties Shen Mu faced. He consoled him: "A spirit fetus awakening four times — such a thing I have never encountered either. So long as it is a good thing, do not take it too much to heart.
Is the change in your vital essence a good thing?
" Shen Mu nodded again and again, and the Village Head smiled: "Then that is good.
" Hidden Maimed Village. The darkness receded, the morning sun rose. It was already the mild spring of the third month, yet the mornings still carried a touch of chill. Shen Mu rose very early, stripped to the waist, and drew up a bucket of cold water from the village well, pouring it over himself with a splash to wake himself up.
His vital essence burst forth and became Vermilion Bird essence, evaporating the water from his body; before long he was bright-eyed and full of vigor. "Shen'er, bring me a bucket too.
" The Butcher came over, propping himself up on both hands.
Shen Mu drew up another bucket and poured it over the Butcher's head.
"Ah, that's refreshing!
" Flames blazed all around the Butcher, turning the bucket of water into snow-white steam. Then he beckoned with his palm, and the Slaughtering Knife flew to him; seizing the great blade, he shaved his beard by the steam, scraping with a hiss and a rasp. Old Huo pushed open his door, lifted its two leaves off and set them to either side, and stretched, his bones crackling all over.
An Azure Dragon coiled about him. He raised a hand and sealed his divine treasuries — Five Luminaries, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Heaven-Man, Life-Death, and the rest — leaving only the Primordial Fetus divine treasury, and shouted: "Damned Lame One, are you up yet? " "Up. " The Lame Old Man limped out of his room, combing his hair with a little comb and dressing himself neatly, like a gentle, refined old fellow, and said with a smile: "Today is a great day; of course one must rise a little early. Is the Deaf Old Man up?
" "What is all the noise?
" The Deaf Old Man was in his study grinding ink and painting; iron plugs were thrust into both his ears, and he did not raise his head. The Silent Smith was pouring out furnace slag; Master Dan was at the window feeding a few fire-spitting birds. Then the birds flew to the Village Head's house and pecked at the window lattice, and from within came the Village Head's voice: "I know, I am awake. " Grandmother Zhu was at the stove stir-frying and steaming rice in a wooden bucket.
The Lame Old Man ran over and lifted the pot lid, and got a rap from Grandmother Zhu's spatula. She glared at him: "What is the hurry?