Chapter 849 — The Puffed-Up Youth

I understand the gravity of it. " The Qingyun Hierarch smiled and went on, "There is one more matter. That person who stole Qingyun Heaven's treasure, whatever his relation to Cult Master Shen, Qingyun Heaven will surely send men to hunt him down and recover our property.

For this too, I ask Cult Master Shen's forgiveness. " He sighed. "Hunting down this Shadow Thief and recovering the property, we have no confidence of success, but it concerns the face of Qingyun Heaven and the Dao Sect, and it must be done no matter what.

" Shen Mu's face reddened slightly, and he said awkwardly, "I beg the Hierarch to show mercy.

By the by, Hierarch, might you spare a mountain peak? " The Qingyun Hierarch asked a few questions, then laughed heartily. "A small matter.

Whichever mountain you fancy, rename it as you please and let that White Rift God go there. " Shen Mu thanked him, and he and Dao Master Lin Xuan and the rest left Qingyun Heaven, taking the Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin with them.

Near Lu County, Shen Mu made arrangements for the White Rift God, who was moved to tears with gratitude and hurried off to take up his post on the new Hundred Years Mountain by the river. By the riverbank, Shen Mu, Lin Xuan, Xiao Chunfeng, Yu Hongxiu and the others looked toward the Yong River; the waters of the Heavenly River rushed on, and the river's surface was vast as the sea.

"Cult Master Shen, we part here. " Lin Xuan and Daoist Cha packed their gear.

Lin Xuan tossed up his horsetail whisk, and it became a white dragon writhing in the air; the two sat upon the dragon's back, and Lin Xuan reached out and drew Yu Hongxiu up behind him, then said with a smile, "We return to the Dao Sect.

If Cult Master Shen wishes to learn the Taiwei Calculation Sutra, come find me at the Dao Sect. " Shen Mu nodded.

"The Yuan Realm is hardly peaceful now; take care on the road. Once I have found the Imperial Younger Brother, I will go to the Dao Sect.

" Lin Xuan looked down at Xiao Chunfeng.

"Brother Xiao, the Dao Sect is far. Let us make haste; come up quickly. " Xiao Chunfeng's gaze had rested on Shen Mu all the while, and he had not moved. Suddenly he laughed.

"Shen the Overlord Body, our battle was cut short by the Dao Ancestor before it ended. Do you not wish to know which of us is stronger?

You are Jingping's Overlord Body, but not the Heavenly Court's Overlord Body. " Cold sweat sprang out on Lin Xuan's brow; inwardly he groaned.

Yu Hongxiu's eyes flickered, and she said softly, "Dao Master Lin, do you not look forward to this battle? " Lin Xuan shook his head. "Brother Xiao is still a notch below Cult Master Shen; he is no match for him.

" "A single notch, and who will fall is yet unknown!

" Yu Hongxiu said excitedly.

"Besides, Brother Xiao is one of the very finest disciples of the Heavenly Court Dao Sect's younger generation, and he is a first-generation child of an ancient god, with an exceedingly high bloodline!

His fighting strength ranks among the foremost even within the Heavenly Court's Spirit Bridge realm!

This battle will be worth watching! " Dao Master Lin Xuan snorted, "A notch short means no fight to be had. Even after Brother Xiao learns the Taiwei Calculation Sutra there is no fight to be had.

Unless he can obtain every last fruit of Jingping's reforms would he have any chance to contend with Cult Master Shen. But that one is not him, it is Xu Shenghua — and Xu Shenghua as he stands now, not having learned the Heavenly River Divine Treasury, is also a notch below Cult Master Shen. . .

" Yu Hongxiu was about to speak when the river's surface glittered with broken light; Xiao Chunfeng stepped out, and in the next instant a spirit bridge spanned the Yong River. His primordial spirit emerged, standing upon the spirit bridge, pestle and axe in hand, his figure tall and imposing! Xiao Chunfeng's vital essence erupted, and a full moon rose out of the river's surface; countless calculation runes became stars revolving about the moon, like a river of stars winding around a vast moon, eclipsing even the radiance of the sun!

Xiao Chunfeng laughed long and loud. "Overlord Body of Jingping, do you dare fight? " On the white dragon's back, Yu Hongxiu clenched her hands in excitement and said to Dao Master Lin Xuan with a smile, "Brother Xiao is drawing on the power of his bloodline.

.

. " By the riverbank, Shen Mu stepped forward, and behind him a heavenly river descended from the sky, linking to the heavenly palace, vast and surging, and his primordial spirit stood upon that heavenly river.

Dao Master Lin Xuan sighed. In that instant, monstrous waves rose on the Yong River, smashing even space itself and tearing a great hole in the sky above the water!

Yu Hongxiu had only time to see the river of stars shatter and the bright moon break apart before the river's surface burst open, heaving violently a dozen times and more, then settling back into stillness.

The Dragon Qilin and the Water Qilin set foot on the riverbank, raced across the subsided battlefield, caught up with Shen Mu as he walked out from the falling waves, and ran toward the far shore.

That sapphire-blue Water Qilin even halted, peered down at the river's surface, and then hurried to keep pace with Shen Mu. After a moment, Xiao Chunfeng floated up from beneath the river, sprawled on his back upon the water as though he had been trampled a thousand times by countless wild bulls, his nose swollen and face bruised, his clothes in tatters, staring vacantly up at the sky.

Dao Master Lin Xuan sighed again and roused his vital essence; the white dragon let down a whisker, which curled around Xiao Chunfeng on the river's surface and lifted him onto its back. As Dao Master Lin Xuan treated his injuries, he muttered, "Cult Master Shen has less and less medical ethics by the day.

He used to heal the people he injured, though he charged a bit steeply.

Now he has puffed himself up and no longer deigns to look at such small change. . .

"