Chapter 664 — Invincible Under Heaven

Shen Mu changed into the official robes of Jingping and stepped out of his room, only to find that Ling Yuxiu had changed into an envoy's dress as well, and his eyes could not help brightening.

This visit to the Divine Son Chiming was made on behalf of the state of Jingping, and so they must wear court dress.

Jingping had many female officials; among its divine-power users women were no fewer than men, and even several of the first-rank grandees were women. The attire of a female official was a matter of much refinement, and the set Ling Yuxiu wore was just such dress: a purple robe, a jade belt wound about the waist, a skirt below as broad as a lotus blossom, and above, a snug bodice with narrow sleeves. Her gown's collar was cut in an inverted heart, baring two half-moons of breast on either side; over it she wore a thin outer robe and several floating ribbons, and once fed with vital essence those ribbons drifted at her waist and behind her head, most ethereally. Shen Mu looked twice more.

The court's female officials had many styles of dress, but those who could truly fill them out were, after all, few. The women of Jingping were bold in their ways; though they could not match the Western Land, in their dress they brought a woman's beauty into full display. Ling Yuxiu shot him a bashful glance and laughed, "And where are you looking?

" Shen Mu hastily drew back his gaze, then stole two more glances. Annoyed, Ling Yuxiu quietly tugged her collar a little higher. The First Ancestor, the Human Sovereign, came out and cleared his throat, startling them both.

He still wore the garb of before; he was, after all, no courtier of Jingping, and had no need to change into Jingping's official dress.

"Let us go.

Today is the day for a show of force.

" The First Ancestor walked out, saying in that lukewarm way of his: "We have tarried here long enough.

One month here is seven months in the outside world; this journey has taken far longer than we first reckoned.

" Shen Mu nodded and fell in beside him: "The Divine Son Chiming has trained Bangongcuo well these days. I went to see him: badly wounded as he is, his strength has risen by no small measure.

The fellow learns fast; he has brought the Flawless Combat Divine Art to the peak of mastery, and he has picked up a great deal from the divine-power users of the Xuankong Realm. That his wounds are so severe shows that the Xuankong divine-power users are formidable as well. Sister Xiu, not a few of them are your equal, and there may be some far stronger than you. " Ling Yuxiu stepped forward, and Shen Mu stole a glance at her, only to see that she had hoisted her chest wrap very high; he felt a little disappointed. "A moment ago she only tugged at her collar; now the wrap is up to her throat. .

. " Grandma had taught him since he was small that big-breasted girls were the prettiest, and so whenever he met one he could not help looking a few more times.

This was the aesthetic standard of Yincan Village, and not a thing to be sloppy about. The Alchemy Master had once said: "Shen'er, looking at breasts is not lechery; it is a consideration for one's own descendants, a most serious matter!

" Shen Mu had kept this firmly in mind. The First Ancestor, the Human Sovereign, said, "The Xuankong Realm has so many young masters; they are truly not to be made light of.

Shen'er, do not grow careless.

" Shen Mu smiled: "I have never made light of them. Even aboard the ship I was already pondering how to deal with them.

" Before long, a sonorous voice rang out across the plaza: "The envoys of Jingping, Princess Yuxiu and Grand Libationer Shen Mu, come to pay their respects to the Divine Son Chiming! His Majesty has prepared humble gifts to present to His Highness the Divine Son!

" The Divine Son Chiming and a host of three-headed, six-armed gods and demons all looked over. Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu came forward without haste; both envoys were young, the boy elegant as jade in the wind, the girl of dashing and heroic bearing, so that all who saw them could not help praising them inwardly.

"To think that one head and two arms could look so fine," one of the three-headed, six-armed gods murmured in admiration. A god beside him hastily warned, "Quiet. Mind the Divine Son hears you!

" The god's heart went cold; the Divine Son Chiming, like Shen Mu, had not taken the form of three heads and six arms, and fortunately the Divine Son seemed not to have heard, which set him somewhat at ease.

Shen Mu brought out the manual of the three fundamental sword forms, and Ling Yuxiu brought out the various treasures Emperor Yanfeng had given her.

A god came forward, received them with a bow, and ascended the long steps to present them to the Divine Son Chiming. The Divine Son Chiming paid no regard to Emperor Yanfeng's treasures; he picked up only the sword manual and leafed through it.

These three fundamental sword moves he had seen upon Bangongcuo more than once, yet still he found himself leafing through it as if moved by some spirit. Of all the gifts, the sword manual alone was worth the most!

"Rather more wondrous than my calculations allowed.

" The Divine Son Chiming closed the manual and smiled: "The Emperor of Jingping is thoughtful. Envoys both, please ascend and take your seats.

" Shen Mu and Ling Yuxiu started forward.

Suddenly one of the three-headed, six-armed divine-power users stepped out from the crowd and blocked their way; his six arms cupped in salute, he bowed and said, "Jingping, a petty little country beyond our borders, seeking an alliance with the Chiming Divine Dynasty, must surely possess some excellence beyond the common.

I am Hu Kang; I make bold to ask the envoys to instruct me.

" Shen Mu looked ahead, and on the plaza before him stood at the very least ten thousand three-headed, six-armed divine-power users; he could not help frowning. He looked up. The Divine Son Chiming sat high above, his face blank, saying nothing. Shen Mu said mildly, "How would I dare raise a hand before the Divine Son?

Would that not be a capital offense? " The Divine Son Chiming's voice came down from above: "Envoys, come up and take your seats, and we may talk at length.

" "Old fox.

" Shen Mu raised an eyebrow.

The Divine Son Chiming had not, as he had expected, declared him guilty of no offense; plainly he did not want Shen Mu striking to kill.

He had told Shen Mu and the others only to come up, and had said nothing of the thousands upon thousands of Xuankong divine-power users on the plaza withdrawing. Plainly, if Shen Mu and his companions wished to go up, they would have to fight their way up! "Brother Hu has crossed hands with the Great Venerable, I take it?

" Shen Mu smiled.

"The Great Venerable's strength is formidable.

" "The Great Venerable?

" Hu Kang was puzzled.

Shen Mu laughed: "I mean Bangongcuo. 'The Great Venerable' is my affectionate name for him.

When you two traded blows, did you win or lose?

" Not far off, Bangongcuo, standing behind Chixi, gave a muffled snort and muttered, "Affectionate? Screw your affection. .

.

" Hu Kang said, "I am one of the few who have beaten him, though that was ten days ago. Last time I fought him it took me several hundred moves to defeat him; now I could beat him in twenty or thirty.

" Shen Mu nodded lightly.

"The Great Venerable's cultivation is uncommon; that you could overcome him is indeed remarkable.

" Hu Kang said gravely, "I am of the Life-and-Death Realm.

What realm are you? I will seal my own Divine Treasury to contend with you; I will not take advantage. " "I am at the Seven Stars Realm now, though I have cultivated to the point of shattering the wall into the Heavenly Man level.

" Shen Mu thought for a moment, then said, "Divine Son, can you have everyone on the plaza seal themselves down to the Seven Stars Realm? " The Divine Son Chiming was surprised, and nodded.