Tales of Herding Gods

When he was about to say the second thing… “Celestial Venerable Hao!”

The other youth heard Son of Heaven Yin’s call, and he turned his head back to look at every one. He revealed a smile and greeted, “Celestial Venerable Yu, these few friends sure have superior abilities! You have roped them in just like this?”

Celestial Venerable Yu laughed and said, “It’s not roping them in, Brother Qin and Brother Mu are both highly virtuous people, and they can’t be missing from this Jade Pool Meeting. I’m preparing to send a memorial up to His Majesty and request for two celestial venerable titles, they will be Nine Celestial Venerables with us. Celestial Venerable Hao, what do you think?”

Qin Mu examined this Celestial Venerable Hao. Celestial Venerable Hao was the founder of the Five Elements Divine Treasure, and he wore luxurious clothes that were embroidered with markings of birds, beasts, and fishes.

There was also a halo behind his head, and there were five stars in the halo. That should be the Five Elements Star. The halo behind Celestial Venerable Huo’s head was oval while his was circular.

His manner was different from the other celestial venerables Qin Mu had already met. Celestial Venerable Ling was focused on her studies and unkempt in her appearance. Celestial Venerable You had a weird child temper. Celestial Venerable Huo was straightforward and pure, Celestial Venerable Yu was smooth and slick, and everyone that he met couldn’t have a bad impression of him.

And the feeling that Celestial Venerable Hao gave Qin Mu was that his character was firm and fierce. He would strive hard for a goal and not care about the consequences. He would achieve his goal no matter what.

Compared to Celestial Venerable Yu, he was still lacking in the cultivation of interaction. However, because he was full of enthusiasm, he wasn’t to be underestimated.

Even though the nature of Celestial Venerable Yu had already reached such a perfect state, it was because of such perfection that he would have to be overcautious and lose out on opportunities.

‘However, from these few celestial venerables I’ve interacted with, they are all people with outstanding talent. They aren’t to be underestimated.’

Qin Mu thought to himself, ‘Isn’t this era too vast and grand to be able to give birth to so many outstanding talents.’

Celestial Venerable Hao’s gaze fell on Qin Mu’s face. Qin Mu nodded his head in acknowledgment, but Celestial Venerable Hao’s gaze instantly moved over to look at Founding Emperor and the old bull. “The title of celestial venerable, both senior brothers are indeed worthy. I have seen both senior brothers fight each other, and it was truly amazing. I’m full of admiration, but it’s hard to say if Celestial Emperor would approve Celestial Venerable Yu’s memorial. I have things to settle.” After he said so, he turned to leave.

Celestial Venerable Yu saw him off, and he said with a smile, “Celestial Venerable Hao is like this, don’t take it to heart.”

Son of Heaven Yin said, “Celestial Venerable Hao is actually a half-god…”

Celestial Venerable Yu shot him a glance and Son of Heaven Yin instantly shut up.

Founding Emperor asked curiously, “Why is Celestial Venerable Hao a half-god? Why is he able to open the Five Elements Divine Treasure and become a celestial venerable?”

Qin Mu asked, “Why are you so curious?”

Founding Emperor looked at him. “Aren’t you curious?”

Qin Mu snorted and turned to ask with a face full of curiosity. “That’s right, Celestial Venerable Yu. Why is Celestial Venerable Hao able to open up the Five Elements Divine Treasure even though he is a half-god?”

Founding Emperor resisted the urge to pull out his sword and slash him. He also looked at Celestial Venerable Yu.

Celestial Venerable Yu hesitated, and he explained, “There’s a reason within, Celestial Venerable Hao opening the Five Elements Divine Treasure was a test of the ancient gods. He is the son of an ancient god with a human.”

Both of them were slightly stunned.

Celestial Venerable Yu led them into Celestial Empress’ side palace, and this place was already filled with people. He pushed everyone aside and said, “Celestial Venerable Hao is half human and half god. He has the corporeal body of a human but the bloodline of a god. The reason why he is a test is mainly that after I opened up the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure, it invoked a change in the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth so everyone can cultivate. Back then, I discovered that there are still other divine treasures. Some ancient gods felt that since half-gods can’t cultivate, half-gods would be overshadowed by us, the divine arts practitioners, in the future. That was when they tried to find a solution for half-gods to cultivate as well and thus, Celestial Venerable Hao was born.”

Qin Mu and Founding Emperor followed him, and they were shocked when they heard what he said.

The appearance of Celestial Venerable Hao was probably a fight between the half-gods that acquired lifeforms.

Qin Mu asked, “If half-gods turn into humans, wouldn’t they be able to cultivate?”

“Brother Mu actually knows about this?”

Celestial Venerable Yu’s heart shook violently, and he revealed a look of astonishment. Only after a moment did he say, “When half-gods transform into humans, they would be able to have divine treasures like humans, indeed they will also be able to cultivate. However, half-gods are a high race, and they would hold transforming into humans in contempt. Also, back then, they hadn’t discovered there was this method. Back then, there was also no technique for half-gods to become humans. Only until recently did Celestial Venerable Hao solve this problem. He has created a technique for half-gods to cultivate into humans. He still hasn’t announced this, yet Brother Mu actually knows about this, you are truly remarkable!”

Qin Mu was startled, and he grumbled to himself for giving the game away again.

In the future generations, techniques of other races to cultivate into humans was very common, thus it was why he was very bewildered. He completely forgot that this era didn’t have this kind of technique at all.

Celestial Venerable Yu didn’t probe, and he continued to say, “Ancient gods see further into the future, half-gods rely on growth, and when they grow into adults, their abilities are no inferior to ancient gods, but their lives aren’t long. They can’t jump out of getting old and dying of illness. I didn’t put my thoughts into opening up other divine treasures, and I was considering how to allow divine arts practitioners to be immortal like divine arts practitioners. Being immortal by myself isn’t the path to immortality, it is just Earth Count granting me immortality. I feel that I need to find a path of immortality for all the people. After dozens of years, only when Celestial Venerable Hao opened up the Five Elements Divine Treasure, did I come back to my senses. However, before I could research the Five Elements Divine Treasure completely, Celestial Venerable Ling opened up the Six Directions Divine Treasure.”

He looked at Celestial Venerable Ling and said with a smile, “Celestial Venerable Ling comprehended the Five Elements Divine Treasure with me at the same time yet she opened up the Six Directions Divine Treasure before I did, thus Celestial Venerable Ling is much more intelligent than me.”

Celestial Venerable Ling hurried him. “Quickly find a place for us to settle, I still want to comprehend divine arts with Brother Mu and Brother Qin!”

Celestial Venerable Yu led them through the side palace, and when they reached the backyard, they walked towards a building. “Afterwards, the divine treasures were slowly opened up one by one. When Celestial Venerable Yun opened up the Divine Bridge Divine Treasure, I suddenly came to enlightenment, and I finally found the way to allow everyone to achieve immortality, for them to be equal to gods.”

He exuded strong confidence and said with a smile, “Senior brothers, please stay here first in the Magnificent Floor, I will still have to receive other guests. However, this time, Celestial Venerable Hao is going to announce the technique to let half-gods cultivate, and I’m also going to announce the method to let humans become gods!”

He had a fervent gaze, and he said loudly, “This time, I will let the future lifeforms be able to stand side by side with the gods, to be on par with ancient gods! This is the golden age, and the arrival of two senior brothers has pushed the divine arts forward some more. You have shown me a vast period of prosperity! Brother Yin, let us go!”

He got up to leave. Qin Mu and Founding Emperor sent him off, but Qin Mu suddenly smiled and said, “Celestial Venerable Yu, you haven’t signed your name in my book.”

Celestial Venerable Yu laughed and raised the brush to write few words on Qin Mu’s book. He returned the brush to Qin Mu. “I hope two senior brothers will not be stingy and also take out your own paths, skills, and divine arts to assist this golden age to arrive sooner!” After he said so, he left with Son of Heaven Yin.

Qin Mu stood in front of the door to the Magnificent Floor and looked at the name on the small booklet. Even though it was ancient words, he still recognized it.

Lan Yutian.

That should be Celestial Venerable Yu’s true name.

He looked at them walking far away and suddenly said, “Qin Kai, what do you think about this Celestial Venerable Yu?”

Founding Emperor had a solemn face and said with a heavy tone, “If we were born in the same era, I wouldn’t dare to vie for supremacy over the world, I would submit to him.”

Qin Mu was stunned and said, “You lack so much confidence in yourself?”

Founding Emperor said solemnly, “Aspiration, boldness, ability, conduct, and handling matters, Celestial Venerable Yu is superior to me. I would be willing to become his subject.”

Qin Mu pondered for a moment and couldn’t not admit that Celestial Venerable Yu was charming. He was indeed extremely rare to find in both the past and the present.

Among the people he had met, many people had astonishing talents, many people had vast aspirations, many of them were very bold, and many of them conducted themselves and handled matters very well. However, there was none as perfect as Celestial Venerable Yu.

“In that case, what about Celestial Venerable Hao?” he continued to ask.

Founding Emperor was in high spirits and said with a smile, “I have only met Celestial Venerable Hao once, and I can see this person is obstinate and self-opinionated. If I met Celestial Venerable Hao, I would fight with him to make claims as an equal, and I would seize the power of the world and gather the hearts of the people. We won’t know who will emerge the winner.”

Qin Mu suddenly said with a smile, “What if you meet me?”

Founding Emperor stared at him and didn’t speak for a long while.

Qin Mu revealed a look of anticipation and kept staring at him.

Founding Emperor coughed and said, “Your… your personality has too many flaws. You seem to have flaws all over your body, leaking air from everywhere…”

Qin Mu’s face was black as charcoal, and he had a gloomy expression.

Founding Emperor said with a smile, “Don’t be angry, if we are from the same era, I don’t think we will be opponents but friends instead. You might have a weird temper and always target me, but I don’t feel any ill intention from you. Instead, there’s a kind of, a kind of…”

He had a weird expression. “A feeling of anger that I’m not striving for more.”

Qin Mu was speechless.

Founding Emperor continued, “Your aptitude and talent aren’t inferior to me, but you haven’t settled down yet. You haven’t kept yourself in control and become truly wise. This is where you are inferior to me, maybe you can do even better than me in the future, but now you still haven’t done that.”

Qin Mu nodded his head gently and looked at him with a complicated expression. He thought to himself, ‘Actually, you are the person I’ve been learning from, I want to be like you but not completely like you.’

“Let us go into the building.”

Founding Emperor said, “Celestial Venerable Ling is waiting for us.”

Qin Mu sorted out his feelings and walked into the building with him.

Celestial Venerable Ling was ineffably excited, and she said with a smile, “We are finally free from that troublesome stuff, now we can focus on the research. I hate networking the most, if it wasn’t for Celestial Venerable Yu’s invitation, I would be too lazy to even come! Let’s quickly start!”

Qin Mu said with a smile, “Sister Ling, you will take charge and we will only assist you. Whatever you don’t understand or can’t calculate, we will solve it for you. I can’t say about the rest, but in terms of creation divine arts and other learnings, we are both very strong. At the very least, we are stronger than everyone in the world!”

Founding Emperor hesitated and finally made a decision. “Even though Mu Qing might be a little too haughty, but it is indeed what he said. In this universe, whether it’s ten thousand years forward or backward, no one can be smarter than both of us. Celestial Venerable Ling, sort out your thoughts, we will help you perfect them.”

Celestial Venerable Ling was delighted.

The three of them immediately started to get busy. Celestial Venerable Ling was trying to create a divine art for substances to remain still forever. She had already figured out the direction and took the first step, but the knowledge involved was simply too much and too messy. Creation divine art was merely one of the areas.

Luckily, what Qin Mu and Founding Emperor learned was everywhere, and their attainments in algebra were also rare in this world. Celestial Venerable Ling’s questions were solved by them one after another.

Once they started their research, half a month passed by unknowingly as they lost track of time. The old bull had a good temper, and he stayed around to drink tea and smoke his water pipe. He would feel bored occasionally and think to himself, ‘The side palace of Celestial Empress is truly wretched, why doesn’t it have several fields? After not plowing the land for several days, my bones feel lazy…”

More and more divine arts practitioners came to attend the meeting, and those days, there were also numerous divine arts practitioners sitting in the vicinity of the Magnificent Floor. When they were tired, they just laid under the trees to sleep.

The old buff puffed a few rings of smoke and looked leisurely at the divine arts practitioners that were discussing the paths, skills, and divine arts. Numerous half-gods had also come to the Jade Pool, and some of them were even flying in the sky. They didn’t land on the ground.

Right at this moment, a commotion broke out as countless people spread the news. “The Seven Celestial Venerables are ready to give a lecture!”

“I heard Celestial Venerable Yu is going to tell us the method to become gods, let us go to the main hall of the side palace!”

“Go there early to secure a good seat! If you’re late, you can only stay outside to remain cold and hungry!”

Uproars broke out in the surroundings as everyone flooded towards the hall. The old bull hurriedly got up, and he thought to himself, ‘I need to inform Founding Emperor and Qin Mu about this meeting. They have been talking about it for a long time…’

Just as he thought until here, he suddenly heard a world-splitting racket coming out as countless people gave off heart-wrenching shrieks.

The voices were too noisy, so the old bull didn’t know what they were shouting.

‘Aren’t these fellows too noisy, the people of the ancient times are also short-sighted people.’

The old bull shook his head and continued to walk into the building when the shouts gradually become clearer.

Someone was crying loudly outside.

“Celestial Venerable Yu is dead!”