Chapter 749 — You Tianzun Smiles Through Sorrow

"Do not take it to heart; You Tianzun has always had that child's temper."

Yu Tianzun said, "He lost his father very early, and was raised by his mother, but his mother was frail and sickly, long afflicted with grave illness. When I first knew him he was already a silent boy, only ten or so, caring for his mother, who lay paralyzed in bed. He told me he wished to create a method, a method that could keep his mother from dying. A few years later, he opened the Life-and-Death Divine Treasury."

Kai Huang said, "He is a filial son, but opening the Life-and-Death Divine Treasury could not save his mother's life."

Yin Tianzi, at the side, said, "I have heard that his mother died of illness before he opened the Life-and-Death Divine Treasury; You Tianzun grew even more withdrawn than before. Last time he even said he would go see Tu Bo and snatch back his mother's soul. Truly audacious beyond measure."

He shook his head.

Yu Tianzun said, "In truth, he has already met Tu Bo."

Yin Tianzi was somewhat taken aback, and Yu Tianzun went on, "When he was opening the Life-and-Death Divine Treasury, Tu Bo came to see him. He begged Tu Bo to take back the title of Tianzun, and asked not that Tu Bo grant him long life and deathlessness—he asked only that his mother live forever. But by then his mother had already died of illness, and her soul had entered Youdu. Tu Bo is just and impartial, and would not bend Youdu's rules for his sake. That is why he says he will one day enter Youdu and snatch his mother's soul back."

Shen Mu watched the drifting paper boat, but another figure rose in his mind—an old man who also rode a small boat, seated at the bow beneath a storm lantern.

Could he be that Heaven-Equaling Benevolent Sage King?

If he were, then how, step by step, had the You Tianzun of those days become the Heaven-Equaling Benevolent Sage King?

Had he saved his mother from Tu Bo?

The paper boat drifted on, silent, soundless, the youth upon it wearing a face that smiled through tears.

Shen Mu was lost for a moment, and thought of his own mother.

Yu Tianzun said, "Brother Mu seems troubled."

Shen Mu forced a smile. "Seeing You Tianzun, I thought of myself—fellow sufferers, commiserating."

Yu Tianzun pondered this, then smiled. "With Brother Mu's present abilities, to be called a Tianzun is only natural. I mean to report to the Heavenly Emperor; perhaps His Majesty will bestow upon Brother Shen and Brother Mu the titles Shen Tianzun and Mu Tianzun. Then there will be nine Tianzuns."

He laughed aloud.

Yin Tianzi's expression turned somewhat sour; dispirited, he could not help but feel a twinge of loss and envy.

Kai Huang shook his head. "The name of Tianzun is for those of great accomplishment; I am unfit for the title of Tianzun. Brother Mu and I..."

Shen Mu sneered. "Don't call me Brother Mu; I am unworthy of it!"

Kai Huang's brow twitched; he gave a humph. Behind them, the old ox, silent all this while, coughed heavily, a clear note of menace.

Yu Tianzun saw it all and smiled faintly. "These three are truly strange."

Kai Huang continued, "Though Mu Qing and I are not unskilled in divine powers and dao arts, we have no world-shaking innovations, and are unworthy of the title."

Yu Tianzun laughed heartily. "Brothers, if you are unworthy, then who is worthy? Your battle on the precious island of the Jade Pool—was it merely dazzling? It was world-shaking! To be honest, I have always thought my dao arts and divine powers not poor, and that in all the world the only ones who could surpass me were the ancient gods, the rest a crowd of mediocrities. But seeing you two, I learned the height of heaven and the depth of earth—I learned what true dao arts and divine powers are! You are the founders of dao arts and divine powers, the only two, and worthy of the name of Tianzun!"

He smiled. "If even you consider yourselves unworthy, then we seven Tianzuns should all resign the name and retire into seclusion!"

Shen Mu blinked. This Yu Tianzun was indeed a hero among men; in speech and in deed alike he made one feel as though bathed in a spring breeze—truly all things to all men.

Such a man was a born leader, one who made others take a liking to him without their knowing it!

Ahead, the Jade Pool Lodge had come.

Only upon arriving did Shen Mu understand what a "lodge" could mean.

The palaces here were splendid, as was only proper—this was, after all, the Empress's secondary palace—but what most took the breath away was that the palaces were simply enormous, impossibly vast!

The pillars before the gate alone stood over two hundred zhang high!

Everything here was hundreds of times, even a thousand times, larger than ordinary things!

One could imagine that the Empress who lived here must tower a hundred times over ordinary folk!

Yu Tianzun said, "After the Heavenly Court Grand Gathering, when the Heavenly Court's titles are settled, I will memorialize the Heavenly Emperor and ask His Majesty to bestow a title."

Shen Mu thanked him and smiled. "If I could bear the name of Tianzun, I would be endlessly grateful to Yu Tianzun!"

Kai Huang frowned. "This fellow called Mu Qing is truly a schemer!"

Beside them the old ox coughed again, and Kai Huang had to hold his temper in check, lest that god-devil fly into a rage once more.

Yu Tianzun laughed heartily. "Small matters, all of them—you deserve it; I am merely helping to argue your case. To be honest, at this Jade Pool Grand Gathering I wish to accomplish two things. The first is that I have found a path to long life and deathlessness, one that can let the divine-power wielders of the world advance a step further, to stand equal with the gods, their cultivation and strength growing ever higher. The second thing is..."