Chapter 836 — The Moon Mirrors the River's Heart as the Rusted Banner Flies

At that time, Shen Mu had killed Prince Qiuming in a matter of moves precisely because the Prince, in his duel with Zhe Huali, had exposed his arts and divine abilities. Now the Prince plainly had not used those three Emperor's Throne arts, and Zhe Huali could not help but worry for Shen Mu.

The First Ancestor Human Sovereign was startled and said in a low voice, "The Emperor's Throne art of the Golden Emperor of the Western Heaven of the Heavenly Court—the Scripture of Azure Blood and the Rusted Banner!"

The Village Chief asked in alarm, "Is it that formidable?"

The corner of the First Ancestor's eye twitched; his voice came out somewhat hoarse. "The Martial Celestial Master was defeated by this art—defeated by the Golden Emperor of the Western Heaven."

The Village Chief's heart sank, and he sent a voice transmission to the First Ancestor. "If Shen loses, you hold off those two experts from the Heavenly Court, and I will pull him free!"

The First Ancestor Human Sovereign nodded slightly.

Scarcely had the two finished their council when Prince Qiuming struck.

Blood dyed the firmament; moonlight filled the river; the moonlight shone upon the rusted banner.

The instant Prince Qiuming made his move, the Yong River all but ceased to flow. Its surging waters flew upward, standing erect like a cliff.

Prince Qiuming slashed downward. The rusted banner swept across the sky and blotted out the sight of all. From within that great banner countless rust-stained flying swords shot out, gathering into a torrent, drowning Shen Mu.

Just then a streak of sword light flew out, cleaving through countless rusted swords, and in the next instant arrived at Prince Qiuming's brow.

Prince Qiuming tilted his head; the sword light flew past his cheek. And in that very instant he saw radiance leap behind him—Shen Mu's figure had already appeared at his back, reaching out to seize the sword light.

Startled, Prince Qiuming had the great banner in the air descend and wrap around him, and he tore through the air away.

In the very blink of the banner's descent, Shen Mu raised his sword and thrust, driving it into the great banner.

That sword light turned into countless flying swords, and were likewise caught up in the banner.

The furled banner flapped and roared, crossing a hundred li in an instant, planting itself upright on the river surface a hundred li away—so swift the naked eye could scarce follow.

Shen Mu's teleportation divine ability was fast enough already, yet Prince Qiuming's Azure-Blood Rusted Banner was not much slower, drawing a chorus of admiration from the crowd on the river. "Truly an Emperor's Throne divine art!"

No sooner had the rusted banner landed than it unfurled with a swish, and countless flying swords, like tiny silver fish, flew out from the rusted banner, whistling toward Shen Mu.

Shen Mu raised a hand, and a ceaseless ringing of ding, ding, ding followed as the little flying swords struck and merged one after another, becoming a single precious sword that he gripped in his hand.

Shen Mu rubbed it between his palms, kneading the precious sword into a sword pill, which he stuffed into his Taotie Pouch. Then he drew a stick of incense from the pouch, blew gently upon it, and the incense lit, trailing wisps of fragrance as it flew toward the great banner.

And on the river a hundred li away, blood and shattered bone streamed ceaselessly down the face of the rusted banner, dyeing a stretch of the river red.

The incense flew over and planted itself in a hole in the rusted banner.

"Prince Qiuming, do you now know what the Hegemon Body is?"

Shen Mu's voice came across. "Accept this stick of incense for now. On this day next year, I will come to visit your grave."

The great banner slowly sank into the river, was swept away by the current, and vanished without a trace.

The river surface was utterly still. No one spoke. The air was oppressive beyond bearing.

The Village Chief, the First Ancestor, and the rest had not yet come to their senses—nor had the two visitors from the Heavenly Court.

"A single move..."

Zhe Huali sighed. He had long known it would end this way, and was in fact the calmest of them all. He thought, "Only one move. Aboard the ship, he used four or five..."

Luo Wushuang looked at him and said in a low voice, "Zhe Huali, you knew all along. Why did you not speak?"

Zhe Huali did not answer.

"You killed the Prince..."

Suddenly the two visitors from the Heavenly Court said in trembling voices, "You killed Prince Qiuming!"

Shen Mu said politely, "Seniors, if I did not kill him, was I to bare my neck for the blade? And there is no need for the two of you to seek him in Youdu or Mingdu—you will not find him. When I strike, I always pull up the roots. Prince Qiuming's soul has already scattered."

The two divinities from the Heavenly Court suddenly shrieked in unison, their divine might erupting as they lunged at Shen Mu together.

The First Ancestor Human Sovereign and the Divine Son Chiming sprang up at the same moment, blocking the two, one to each side.

Luo Wushuang's eyes flickered; a soft sound came from the scabbard at his back, and the divine saber was about to leave its sheath. Just then Shen Mu abruptly undid the willow leaf at his brow and roared, "Brother, time to kill!"

An incomparably terrifying aura burst from within him. Luo Wushuang was shaken to the core; the divine saber snapped back into its sheath with a crack, and the little boat beneath his feet swung sharply about and went howling away along the river.

Zhe Huali suddenly leaped from the boat. Luo Wushuang, heedless of his own escape, at once halted the boat and shouted, "Zhe Huali, get on, quickly!"

"Master Luo!"

Zhe Huali knelt upon the river and bowed. "After today, Master Luo no longer has this disciple. Here I kowtow in thanks for your teaching! When next we meet, I fear the divine saber must turn against you."

Luo Wushuang was stunned for a moment. Then he abruptly drew the divine saber, cut off his sleeve, and flung it into the river, and the little boat sped away.