Chapter 28 — A Nameless Shadow Emerges from the Ancient Wall
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 3
" The shadow shrouding the side hall suddenly grew still; then the hall's window lattices burst open, like two dark, sunken eyes, and Shen Mu felt as though a pair of terrible eyes had fixed upon him, an unnameable chill creeping through his bones.
Then the great door of the side hall slammed shut, and at once opened again of its own accord; in the interval between the closing and the opening, a rasping voice came: "The Great Freedom Mantra. You are a junior of my clan?
Pitiable indeed—your mantra has not received the true transmission. Has my clan truly sunk so low?
" Shen Mu probed, "Senior knows the true Great Freedom Mantra? " "Naturally I know it! " The door opened and shut, and a voice brimming with pride came through: "My clan's Great Freedom Mantra holds supreme power—a majestic power that hewed open the world, the power to attain great freedom!
What a pity that, once in your hands, it has become this!
Not the slightest shred of might!
Have this ape stand aside, and I will teach you the true mantra! " Shen Mu glanced at the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape; the Dark-Fanged Demon Ape shook its head and rumbled in a thick voice, "Believe him? A ghost! " "This senior is of my own clan; he will not harm me.
Go out and wait for me," Shen Mu said reassuringly.
The Dark-Fanged Demon Ape was still not altogether easy in its mind, but Shen Mu pushed it out.
The gate of the side hall opened and closed, and that demonic voice spoke: "The true mantra is the subtle mystery of moving one's power; within it is stored the might of gods and demons.
You have only the syllables of the mantra—you have neither its inner spirit nor the method by which its power is brought forth. That method is called the Great Perfection Seal, the core secret art of my clan! My strength is sealed within this hall and cannot last long. Watch carefully: I will teach you only once. How much you can learn will be up to your own ability!
" On the wall of the side hall, the black shadow shrank and shrank, until there appeared a modest shadow about Shen Mu's height; within that shadow line after line emerged, all in motion—the tracks of vital essence in circulation. That demonic voice said: "The Great Perfection Seal comprises four seals: the Demon God Divine Power Seal, the Heavenly Demon Freedom Heaven Seal, the Great Wisdom Brightness Seal, and the last of all, when the three seals merge into one—the Great Perfection Demon Seal!
This is the first seal, the Demon God Divine Power Seal! Your mouth must send forth demon syllables to unleash its might: Kikeduo! " Shen Mu watched without blinking, staring at the black shadow on the wall of the side hall, devoting all his mind to memorizing the path of the working; within his own body, his vital essence, too, began to run along that very track.
"Kikeduo! " The demon words burst from his mouth, and Shen Mu at once felt a terrible power surge up within him; that terrible power forced the five fingers of his hand into a strange seal and, beyond his control, thrust it forward!
Rumble!
A dull, heavy sound rolled out—with this one palm, Shen Mu had actually produced the thunder-peal he had dreamed of: his palm ringing with thunder! Shen Mu stood stunned, feeling it almost beyond belief.
The Demon God Divine Power Seal taught to him by the figure on the wall was astonishingly mighty; in the variety of its changes it could not match Old Master Huo's Thunderclap Eight Formulas, but in sheer force it surpassed them by a wide margin.
Yet this Demon God Divine Power Seal consumed vital essence at a tremendous rate as well—several times what the Thunderclap Eight Formulas used up!
The shadow on the wall writhed, as if seized by something, and was pulled back into the side hall against its will; gasping for breath, it said, "This side hall is too powerful; it presses down on me without cease.
I have not much time left. Watch closely—this is the second seal, the Dark Demon Freedom Seal!
Suomoye!