Chapter 884 — Conquering Myriad Realms

I see a good many Daoists from the Azure Cloud Heaven have come.

Why not go and ask around?

" Yuchenzi shot him a glance and went off, sulking. The Imperial Preceptor said, "Senior Brother, the Heaven Diagram's skies are in disorder, day and night reversed.

Do you know the cause? " He looked into the Moon Palace. "It looks as though someone is living here.

" Shen Mu cleared his throat.

"I too have only just escaped the Great Dark Heaven and come here.

I do not know what has happened. " The Imperial Preceptor said, "Some days ago I heard you had fallen into the Palace of the Great Dark Heaven, and the Supreme Emperor's Sword Goddess was greatly concerned for you and came to seek you.

Did she find you?

" Shen Mu was about to speak when Bai Qu'er suddenly appeared from another direction. "Young friend Jiang," she said, "I meant to slip into the Dark Heaven Palace through the Heaven Diagram and rescue Sect Master Shen.

The deities in the Heaven Diagram were cleared away by me.

But the formations here are somewhat intricate; I may have brushed against one without meaning to, and thrown the skies into disorder. Now that I see Sect Master Shen has returned safely, my heart is at ease.

" The Imperial Preceptor held her in the deepest respect and said gravely, "You have labored, Senior. I had meant to clear the Heaven Diagram myself, but had neither the time nor the strength. " He nudged Shen Mu quietly and whispered, "Senior Brother, will you not pay your respects?

This is the Supreme Emperor's Sword Goddess, our senior!

" Shen Mu was taken aback. "In earlier years she gave guidance to Master Woodcutter and other Celestial Masters. My master said she also spoke to Kaihuang of the Supreme Emperor's creed that human life outweighs Heaven — a great help to the age of Kaihuang!

" The Imperial Preceptor whispered, "Such a senior, such an ancient worthy — hearing you were in peril, she came of her own accord to save you.

She is owed all reverence!

" Helpless, Shen Mu could only perform, in proper form, the salute due a senior; the Imperial Preceptor still felt that the first salute had been too slight.

Bai Qu'er said hurriedly, "There is no need for such ceremony. I set little store by rites; even the Wentian Pavilion does not stand on ceremony with me.

" "You are worthy of it, Senior. " The Imperial Preceptor said solemnly, "Even my master must salute you when he meets you.

" Yuchenzi came flying over, slowing to land before the Moon Palace; he looked at Bai Qu'er in surprise, then peered suspiciously into the palace. Shen Mu cleared his throat. "Yuchenzi, what does the Azure Cloud Heaven say? Is the Heavenly Court still investigating the death of its envoy? Will a new Heaven Diagram still be forged?

" Yuchenzi drew back his gaze and pressed down his misgivings. "The Heavenly Court has indeed sent down masters of the Divine Constabulary to investigate the envoy's death.

The Earth Dragon has been captured and hauled up to the Heavenly Court's God-Slaying Platform.

" Shen Mu's heart lurched.

The Heavenly Court's Divine Constabulary had masters who could take the Earth Dragon? That Earth Dragon was likely a match for the mighty of the Jade Capital and Lingxiao realms, and even it had been seized by the Constabulary and dragged to the God-Slaying Platform to die!

"How do the Constabulary's deities come down into the world?

" Shen Mu asked. "I hear the Divine Constabulary has a unique treasure that can pass between the worlds, to run down fugitives," said Yuchenzi.

"Someone has seen that treasure — it looks like a three-legged golden crow. The Constabulary rides it to the various worlds to investigate cases and enforce the law.

" "A three-legged golden crow?

Could it be the body of the Great Sun Star Lord?

" Shen Mu was startled. The Great Sun Star Lord had been chief among the true gods of the celestial stars, master of the Net of Heaven and Earth, commander of the Heavenly Court's army of stars, overseer of all the heavens — a being of immense power. Could his corpse have been refined into a treasure after his death and sent to the Divine Constabulary? Yuchenzi went on, "The Heavenly Court has sent people down again to oversee the forging of the new Heaven Diagram.

The Azure Cloud Heaven is to design it, while the forging is entrusted to the Yingzao Heaven. " Shen Mu frowned. "The Yingzao Heaven is.

.

.

? " "The Kaiwu and the Yingzao are the two great heavens under the Heavenly Court charged with refining tools and treasures; the gods there smelt and forge precious things.

They have some connection to the Heavenly Artisan God Race of Kaihuang's age, and resemble Jingping's Heavenly Artisan Hall.

The new Heaven Diagram will certainly be forged, to replace the old one — it cannot be avoided.

" Something stirred in Shen Mu. "How strong are the Yingzao and Kaiwu heavens?

" "These two heavens are called the war heavens; they have been forged into war machines.

In Kaihuang's day the Taiming Heaven was where the Heavenly Artisan God Race dwelt, but beside these two it falls short. To destroy them, a million gods and demons, with the Emperor's Throne thrown in, might not be enough!

" Yuchenzi said, "My Azure Cloud Heaven often helps these two war heavens design great treasures.

Over a million years of growth, they may well have come alive, and become world-destroying divine weapons of dreadful power! " Shen Mu and the others clicked their tongues.

The Heavenly Court's might was terrifying!

"The Shakra Heaven-King Buddha is Kaihuang's king of artisans and of war, yet he alone may not be able to slip into the Yingzao Heaven and wreck the new Heaven Diagram. " Shen Mu could not help but fret, thinking, "Once the new Heaven Diagram is made and spread across the sky, Jingping is finished. " The Imperial Preceptor said suddenly, "When the new Heaven Diagram is made, the ones with most to fear are not Jingping, but the two Earth Mothers, the Great Dark Heaven, and other mighty ones of Yuandu. " Something stirred in Shen Mu, and he nodded slightly.

"Only if the Earth Mothers, the Great Dark Heaven and their like surrender or die will the new Heaven Diagram be hung in the sky.

" The Imperial Preceptor said with a smile, "So we need not worry over the new Heaven Diagram. As for this old one, it could well serve Jingping — only there is no mighty one to guard this treasure. . .

" Bai Qu'er said with a smile, "I am not used to the clamor of the mortal world. I mean to stay here in the Moon Palace of the Heaven Diagram. " The Imperial Preceptor hurriedly bowed his thanks.

Shen Mu said, his manner earnest, "I would like to ask the Supreme Emperor's Sword Goddess about a few knotty points of swordsmanship, if I may.

" Bai Qu'er was quite grave.

"I would not presume to be asked. The Sect Master may stay here a few days, and we shall exchange views for a few days.

" Shen Mu was overjoyed and followed her into the Moon Palace.

The Imperial Preceptor and Yuchenzi watched the two go in; then they saw Shen Mu make to take the Sword Goddess's hand, and Bai Qu'er slapped it away. The two men stared at each other.