Chapter 53 — Establishing Authority in Public
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
"So you mean to pass the Nether Demon Cult's supreme scripture, the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Sutra, to Shen'er?
" asked the Lame Elder. Granny Zhu nodded gently. "He is better than I. The Heaven-Creating Demon Art is but one divine power within the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Sutra.
When I used it to flay skin and make garments, it seemed somewhat sinister; but I never thought of using the Heaven-Creating Demon Art against the Sun-Soothing Divine Refinement in the Sky of the Thunder-Roaring Eight Techniques. He thought of it.
" Master Dan nodded. "Sealing the soul with the Heaven-Creating Demon Art to resist the Sun-Soothing Divine Refinement in the Sky — that is indeed a stroke of genius.
" Granny Zhu smiled. "So if he learns the Great Nurturing Dark Demon Sutra, who knows but he may carry the demon scripture to new heights and develop things we could never have imagined.
" The Silent Artisan gestured with his hands; Deaf Elder shook his head.
"Don't tell him. If we tell him, there is no fun in it.
" The old men and old women exchanged knowing smiles, all of them thoroughly pleased.
From within the Hidden Cripple Village came peal after peal of thunder. Shen Mu and Master Huo crossed paths, each unleashing the very same move — Nine Dragons Riding Wind and Thunder — against the other.
Boom!
The thunder rolled, deafening.
Shen Mu's fist met Master Huo's; he let out a muffled groan and stepped back in a staggered movement. But his footwork coiled like a divine dragon, seeming to retreat while actually gathering strength.
Within a few paces, Shen Mu's power reached its peak, and his body shot forward like an enraged dragon bursting from an abyss, charging at Master Huo! "You little rascal, you even altered the Heaven-Stealing Footwork I taught you! " said the Lame Elder in surprise. He could see that the steps Shen Mu had just used were like a coiling dragon contracting its body, ready to strike — though it was a retreat, it was actually a way of advancing through retreat, extraordinarily treacherous.
His Heaven-Stealing Footwork was exquisitely subtle, but the Lame Elder, from long habit, had always favored petty thievery and skulduggery; he had never bothered to enhance the footwork's power. His stepwork was meant for stealing things, fleeing, and ambushing — offense was never the strength of the Heaven-Stealing Legwork.
Shen Mu had only made slight changes to the footwork, unconsciously imparting to it the spirit of a divine dragon; his whole body now moved with draconic force, winding like a serpent. Bang bang bang — a rapid series of explosions rang out.
Shen Mu and Master Huo had exchanged only a single punch, yet forty-five enormous reports followed, a most peculiar thing. Shen Mu tumbled backward through the air.
Mid-flight, his body undulated like a dragon, dissipating Master Huo's force, and when he landed, he stood perfectly steady.
"Old Huo is still Old Huo," the Lame Elder said in admiration.
Master Huo said, "Shen'er, have you grasped the essence of this move? " Shen Mu's face showed astonishment, and he blurted, "Your fist's force is different from mine. In my fist there are forty-five dragons, but they are all the same kind of dragon; yours have forty-five different kinds of dragons, each with distinct energy!
" "You have perceived it.