Chapter 869 — Two Supremes in Standoff

Shen Mu was surprised. He withdrew his sword core and laughed: "Sister Yan Qiling, I greatly wish to meet the Heavenly Emperor."

Yan Qiling was taken aback. She raised a hand and pulled the great tree up by the roots; the great tree became once more a small branch three cun in length.

"Heavenly Venerable Mu..."

Shen Mu hurriedly waved his hand, setting the dragon qilin to chase the Heavenly Dragon King, and turned his head with a laugh: "Sister Yan, there's no need for such formality — just call me Sect Master Shen. 'Heavenly Venerable Mu' is but a joke; the Heavenly Emperor may not have taken it seriously, and neither did I. The people of Jingping, friend and foe alike, all call me Sect Master Shen."

Yan Qiling hesitated, then stepped forward to follow him, saying: "Sect Master Shen was originally quite hostile to the Heavenly Emperor — you even gave His Majesty's imperial edict to a pig demon, and avoided His Majesty at every turn. Why is it that this time you instead seek an audience of your own accord?"

The dragon qilin ran to the front of the Heavenly Dragon King; this corpse-transformed great head at once turned its eyes green with light, corpse-fluid drooling from the corners of its mouth as it pursued them.

Shen Mu said gravely: "Not an audience — a meeting between equals. If the Heavenly Emperor still regards himself as lofty beyond measure, then this meeting is unnecessary."

Yan Qiling's brows knitted slightly.

Shen Mu laughed: "The Heavenly Emperor once wished to control me, to possess me — how could I let him have his way? That is why I avoided him at every turn. If His Majesty can be a partner, an ally, then we can meet, and we can talk."

Yan Qiling sneered: "Sect Master Shen, what is your cultivation, that you dare haggle terms with the Heavenly Emperor? Never mind you — even if all of Jingping were bound together, it would not have the qualifications to haggle terms with His Majesty!"

Shen Mu smiled faintly: "I am Heavenly Venerable Mu, and also the Divine Son of Youdu, holding in my grasp the power to revive ancient gods. Why can I not haggle terms with him? Moreover, he is dead and I am alive. Without me to draw the thread, would the Earth Earl tolerate him? The first to want him dead would likely be the Earth Earl! And with me drawing the thread in between, the Earth Earl might perhaps spare him. You cannot make this decision — go and consult the Heavenly Emperor."

Yan Qiling hesitated, then suddenly gritted her teeth and said: "I will return and report this matter to His Majesty..."

"No need."

Shen Mu's gaze fell upon the halo behind her head, and he smiled: "Why need you return? Has not the Heavenly Emperor been monitoring this place all along through his blessing? Isn't that so, Your Majesty?"

Yan Qiling's heart gave a start. The halo behind her head abruptly trembled faintly, and within the halo a face emerged, saying softly: "Heavenly Venerable Mu, we meet at last."

Shen Mu let the dragon qilin lead the Heavenly Dragon King's great head onward, and laughed: "Then may I ask Your Majesty, are you willing to talk with me?"

The face in the halo behind Yan Qiling's head was silent for a moment, then said: "The Tianyin Realm. I will speak with you in detail there."

Shen Mu's heart quivered slightly. He nodded and said: "Two months from now, we meet in the Tianyin Realm."

The face in the halo behind Yan Qiling's head dispersed like blue smoke.

Yan Qiling let out a breath of relief, her gaze somewhat wary.

Shen Mu smiled gently: "Do not be too guarded against him — beware lest you die for no apparent reason."

Yan Qiling steadied herself and made a graceful bow: "Many thanks for your instruction."

She straightened, transformed into a swallow, and fluttered away, vanishing without a trace.

Shen Mu looked ahead. Another ruin appeared before him; all around the ruin there was not a trace of human habitation, not even a half-god to be found — clearly they greatly feared this place.

"Let us hope this place can trap the Heavenly Dragon King."

In the Heavenly Court's Hall of Archives, the Dao Lord of the Heavenly Court Dao Sect came to the top floor and cut down a piece of fine jade; within the jade was the figure of Heavenly Venerable Yu, constructed from countless runes.

"Didn't the Heavenly Court manufacture several Heavenly Venerable Yus some time ago?"

The Heavenly Court Dao Lord shook his head, rather perplexed, and carried the fine jade down from the Hall of Archives, murmuring: "Why manufacture another one now?"

Heavenly Venerable Huo was waiting below. Hearing this, he said: "Manufacture several Heavenly Venerable Yus? When was this?"

The Heavenly Court Dao Lord hurriedly smiled: "Last time Your Venerable came and had me send the Heavenly Venerable Yu runes to the Creation Divine Artifact, several ancient existences came afterward, saying they too wished to manufacture a few Heavenly Venerable Yus to play with."

Heavenly Venerable Huo was taken aback, then sneered: "These old things — not one of them is content to keep still!"

The Heavenly Court Dao Lord dared not say more, and smiled: "Shall this piece of jade also be sent to the Creation Divine Artifact?"

Heavenly Venerable Huo nodded, his gaze flickering: "Who came to you to demand it?"

The Heavenly Court Dao Lord hastily said: "Your Venerable, spare this old man a way to live."

Heavenly Venerable Huo frowned and did not press further, saying: "Once they are manufactured, send them to my palace... How many in total did they manufacture?"

"Nine. Together with the one manufactured before, ten in all."

The Heavenly Court Dao Lord smiled: "If Your Venerable's is added, that makes eleven."