Chapter 868 — In the Shadows, the Sparrow Watches the Cicada

A voice came from behind him. "Heavenly Venerable Yu" turned his head and saw Xing An walking out of the darkness, a case in one hand, the other raised, five fingers spread, suppressing his dao fire by some means unknown.

Xing An's eyes were feverish. He set down the case; the case grew legs and feet and opened with a click, and he was greatly excited.

Yet Xing An's gaze did not fall on "Heavenly Venerable Yu" but on Shen Mu — he was guarding against Shen Mu.

Shen Mu said indifferently, "Xing An, the consciousness hidden in this body is of an origin greater than you can imagine. You want to collect this body — are you not afraid of death?"

From the case, arm after arm reached out, gripping the case's rim, and a monstrous thing crawled out: a many-armed, many-headed demon god bearing a person on its back — none other than Mu Qiubai!

Mu Qiubai had actually been captured by him and refined into a puppet.

Xing An narrowed his eyes and said softly, "A Heavenly Venerable? If even a Heavenly Venerable admires this body, then this body must be wondrous beyond measure — all the more reason for me to have it. Not only this body do I want; the Heavenly Venerable's consciousness too I want!"

His fingertips stirred, and slender flying needles in an instant pierced every part of "Heavenly Venerable Yu"'s body!

"Heavenly Venerable Yu"'s expression changed drastically, yet he could not move; even this wisp of his consciousness was sealed within this body, unable to be withdrawn!

"Junior of the lower realm, since when have you been so insolent?"

He was furious beyond measure. Shen Mu killing this body of his and the primordial spirit within it was one thing — Shen Mu was, after all, Heavenly Venerable Mu, one of the Nine Heavenly Venerables of old.

But what was this youth with the case? He actually wanted to take this wisp of his consciousness as well!

"I still want to collect a true Heavenly Venerable..."

Xing An narrowed his eyes, like a man-shaped venomous serpent staring at Shen Mu. "A true Heavenly Venerable — his fleshly body would be even more exquisite."

Shen Mu smiled. "Xing An, take your gains and be off, or I won't mind removing you along with him."

Xing An gave a cold hum, quietly spreading his five fingers; between them threads of faint light flowed. He said softly, "You fought him — you must be wounded too. I noticed his divine arts: overbearing beyond compare. You only caught him off guard with divine arts like the art of painting. His cultivation even surpasses yours."

Shen Mu said nothing. Behind him, with a hum, the Gate of Heaven-Bearing appeared.

Xing An's eye twitched; he hesitated.

"I'm back—"

From behind him came the Heavenly Dragon King's strange laughter. "I see you! Eat you, and I can grow my body back!"

Xing An's expression shifted slightly. At once the case moved forward and swallowed "Heavenly Venerable Yu," while the many-armed, many-headed demon god silently retreated with Mu Qiubai on its back, backing into the case, reaching out to pull the case's door shut.

Xing An lifted the case and vanished into the darkness.

Shen Mu let out a breath, then suddenly coughed up a mist of blood.

"I smell the scent of fresh blood."

Out of the darkness flew the Heavenly Dragon King's great green head, its bloody maw opening wide to bite at Shen Mu!

Shen Mu's body fell backward, turning into a black shadow clinging tight to the ground — yet the Heavenly Dragon King did not fly away. Suddenly two green-glowing eyes shone upon the shadow that Shen Mu had become.

"This corpse dragon — how has it gotten clever?"

Shen Mu's expression changed drastically. With a bang, the black shadow burst apart and fled as black smoke.

The Heavenly Dragon King howled after the darkness, opening its great mouth and drawing in hard; the black smoke was about to be sucked wholly into its mouth.

Just then the black smoke wavered and became a lotus flower; in the lotus sat Shen Mu, and the petals began to close, wrapping Shen Mu within layer upon layer.

The Heavenly Dragon King swallowed the lotus in one gulp. In the darkness far away, a lotus grew; it bloomed without a sound, and Shen Mu sat within the flower. He rose hurriedly, forced down the blood surging to his throat, and left in haste, thinking, "Great Venerable, my thanks. Next time I swear I won't beat you to death."

The Heavenly Dragon King, having eaten the flower and believing it had eaten Shen Mu, was overjoyed; it wandered here and there, searching for other prey.

Not long after, Shen Mu saw a red lamplight in the darkness. His heart stirred; he quietly drew near, and saw it was a woman holding a lantern, warily surveying her surroundings.

"Sister Yan'er."

Shen Mu let out a breath and staggered forward. Seeing him, Yan'er said joyfully, "Young Master, have you seen Long Pang? I've lost Long Pang!"

Shen Mu swiftly urged the Mystic Body Three-Elixir Art, repairing the damage to his body; "Heavenly Venerable Yu"'s Heaven-and-Earth Net divine art had battered him badly enough.

"Long Pang has most likely fallen asleep. No need to look for him; when the hanging coffin returns to the Valley of the Fallen Gods it will open, and then we'll see where he is. Xing An, are you still not leaving?"

He turned his head sharply. In the darkness two eyes appeared, and Xing An, case in hand, quietly withdrew.