Chapter 720 — The Sage's Disciple

In the Dark Sea of the underworld, Yin Tianzi stood firm within the gateway of the Dark Capital Heavenly Gate. Though Lady Tianyin struck at him across the boundary of worlds, though Tian Shu wielded the Imperial Gate Divine Blade in his hand, though King Yan borrowed the power of Fengdu, none of it could wound him gravely, none of it could do him much harm. The Emperor Throne was simply too powerful. Since her resurrection, Lady Tianyin had learned the three hundred and twenty-four runes of the Tianyin Realm from the Woodcutter Sage and the others; the system of divine powers of the Tianyin Realm was now established, and her own might had risen in a straight line.

Add to that her innate divinity, and her battle strength surpassed even Tian Shu and King Yan.

Only, because she could not enter the Dark Capital and could attack only across the boundary, she could not inflict a fatal wound on Yin Tianzi. Tian Shu's strength was formidable as well, and the Imperial Gate Divine Blade was a blade forged specifically against the divine-power system of Youdu, which was why it could sever the Earth Lord's Horn, a pity that a single flaw had appeared in it during the forging. And Yin Tianzi was incomparably clever: through that one flaw he had already used his own divine powers to break the blade's power of devouring primal spirits. Tian Shu could now wound him only by the blade's raw force; he could not take his life.

King Yan, gathering the power of Fengdu and of all the gods of Fengdu, could also give battle, but the gulf between their realms meant he too could only wound Yin Tianzi. And with the Dark Capital Heavenly Gate, any injury, so long as his life was not stripped from him outright, Yin Tianzi could heal.

His Dark Capital Heavenly Gate possessed the wondrous power of passing through kalpas and reincarnation. As a powerhouse of the Emperor Throne, his arts and divine powers, though born of Youdu, had been set upon a new foundation and made to surpass Youdu itself! The three fought on and could not prevail; the wounds on Tian Shu and King Yan multiplied, and their advantage turned to disadvantage.

If this went on, none of them would escape. Suddenly the Dark Capital was thrown into chaos. Countless primal-spirit convicts imprisoned in the Dark Prison burst out and began a great slaughter.

Yin Tianzi's heart lurched: "This is bad! Many of the prisoners held deep in the Dark Prison are figures of no small consequence.

. .

" At the thought, his mind could not help but fall into disorder. "Shy of the sun, I hide behind my silken sleeve; / Weary of spring, too listless to make up. / A priceless treasure is easy to come by; / A heart-felt lover is hard to find.

" A woman's clear voice came from the direction of the Dark Capital's Dark Prison, and carried even across the Dark Sea, so distinct was it. Her recitation was full of quiet grievance, grievance that in this world there was no man of feeling and honor, so that with none to please her she had no heart to dress.

Yin Tianzi's mind was in turmoil; he took several blows in succession and was beaten until his flesh split and his skin broke, but thanks to the Dark Capital Heavenly Gate his wounds healed swiftly. Suddenly a bridal veil of purple gauze and red brocade came flying, drifting down above the Dark Capital Heavenly Gate. The veil was vast, and it covered the gate.

Yin Tianzi saw the male and female phoenixes embroidered on it in gold thread, neck to neck in flight, and his mind fell into greater disorder still.

Beneath the veil, within the gateway, the attacks of King Yan and Tian Shu grew fiercer, and at last they gained the upper hand; Yin Tianzi was wounded again and again.

Yin Tianzi steadied his mind and was about to counterattack when suddenly a phoenix crown flew in and settled upon his head. His scalp went numb, his hands and feet knew not what to do; then a rosy bridal cape flew to him and draped itself over his shoulders. Yin Tianzi covered his face and screamed. Tian Shu cut off both his legs with a single stroke, and King Yan seized the moment to drive his sword into his heart.

Yin Tianzi's two legs ran into the Dark Capital Heavenly Gate; his upper body sped in after them, and out from behind the gate came three Yin Tianzis, fleeing for their lives. Lady Tianyin's attacks followed hard upon one another.

The three Yin Tianzis spat blood, fell into the Dark Sea, and vanished. The Dark Capital Heavenly Gate rose into the air, about to sink into the Dark Sea along with him, when suddenly Di Yiyue, robed all in black, arrived with the Woodcutter Sage and the First Ancestor Human Emperor, and pressed her palm upon the gate.

The gate rumbled and shook, and tried several times to escape, but could not. The Dark Capital Heavenly Gate grew smaller and smaller, until at last it was some ten feet tall and moved no more. On the other side, Lady Tianyin turned the Heavenly Dipper about and set the Dark Sea afloat, trying to force Yin Tianzi out.

The Woodcutter Sage bowed and said, "Lady, there is no need.

He has been gravely wounded; he cannot still be in the Dark Sea, he fled long ago.

This is no place to linger. With a commotion this great, the Heavenly Court beyond the realms will surely send men to investigate.

If we do not leave, we will not be able to. " Tian Shu rose into the air, and with the Imperial Gate Divine Blade in hand he split open the world-barrier of the Dark Capital and fled through the void.

The Woodcutter Sage said to Lady Tianyin, "If the Heavenly Court beyond the realms presses the matter, I fear it will implicate Jingping as well. So this affair must be borne by you, Lady.

" Lady Tianyin laughed. "I raided the Dark Capital to avenge myself, my cause is just and named. I can bear it well enough.

I can also ask the Lord of Heaven and the Earth Lord to plead for me; the Heavenly Court, I think, will not press the matter.

Yin Tianzi will have to swallow a mute man's loss.

But you asked me to act, and that has cost one Tianyin Pearl; to ask me to bear the blame as well, you must repay me another Tianyin Pearl. " The First Ancestor Human Emperor took out a divine pearl. Lady Tianyin nodded; the pearl floated up and flew into the Tianyin Realm. Lady Tianyin faded from sight. Di Yiyue lifted the Dark Capital Heavenly Gate and said, "This treasure, I helped him forge it.

I know every function of the gate as I know my own hand.

A pity that the thing remains and the man does not. Great Heavenly Master, how do we return to the world of the living now?

" The Woodcutter said, "The Heavenly King is a dead woman, though her flesh still survives; it would be very hard for her to pass directly through the world-barrier back to Jingping. But we can return to the Wasteland through King Yan's Fengdu. And from the Wasteland back to Jingping. " King Yan bowed and said, "Greetings, Uncle-Master Imperial Preceptor. " Di Yiyue's gaze fell upon him, and she said in surprise, "You are His Majesty's adopted son?

Back then you were an honest little child.

I never thought that after so many years without seeing you, you would have become the lord of a whole realm!

" King Yan bowed his head. Di Yiyue walked into Fengdu and looked over this living realm of the dead, and laughed. "Fengdu is the Earth Lord's Horn.

A pity your understanding of the arts and divine powers of Youdu is not as deep as that faithless man's; this Fengdu is still some distance from the Dark Capital. I and the Northern Heavenly King could help you. Why did the Northern Heavenly King run off so fast just now?

" The First Ancestor Human Emperor said, "He has probably sobered up.

Now that he is sober, and it has come to him that he charged into the Dark Capital and fought a great battle with Yin Tianzi, he is most likely hiding somewhere, trembling with excitement. " Di Yiyue thought for a moment, then laughed. "That is his nature.