Chapter 897 — The Only Path to Survival

Shen Mu walked out of Fengdu, and Yan'er transformed into a dragon sparrow and bore him and Long Qilin through the air toward the Tianyin World. In the Tianyin World, within the Tianyin Palace, Lady Tianyin and the remnant soul of the Heavenly Emperor in the black sand said nothing, while Yan Qiling stood behind the Heavenly Emperor's remnant soul.

Shen Mu waited quietly for the remnant soul's answer. After a long while, the remnant soul in the black sand said, "Mu Tianzun, do you know whose weapon the Yu Tianzun who descended to the lower world this time is?

If you knew, you would hide far away, the farther the better.

" Shen Mu was greatly shaken, and a guess formed in his heart. "It is none other than my rebellious son. " The remnant soul laughed. "It is none other than that Hao Tianzun whose plans you threw into disarray at the Jade Pool Gathering, and whom you wounded with a single sword before his own mother and all the heroes of the world.

Today his power and his arrogance have reached their zenith; in the Heavenly Court his word is law.

You.

. . " He shook his head. "You should hide far away. My rebellious son's strength has now reached the Heavenly Court realm.

Incomplete, it is true, but even so, such strength may be called the mightiest existence since ancient times. Never mind you; even if Kaihuang came, he would not suffice. Half a Heavenly Court realm, such power is no longer something a few Emperor Throne realm beings can withstand, and what is more, he wields a peerless weapon like Yu Tianzun. " Shen Mu smiled. "Your Majesty, you need someone to gather your souls and remake your spirit. That person can only be me. You cannot stand by and watch me go to my death.

" The remnant soul in the black sand stared at him fixedly, and only after a long while did he continue, "The descent of the strongest divine weapon this time is aimed not only at the Yuan World, but also at Xuandu, Youdu, and the Four Heavenly Poles where the Four Emperors dwell. This was not Hao Tianzun's idea alone, but the idea of every titan in the Heaven Alliance. Your one cause for rejoicing is that the strongest weapon did not descend to target Jingping, but the Earth Mother Yuanjun.

Though I too am a titan in the Heaven Alliance, I also nodded my head and approved their descent. " Shen Mu's brow twitched. "I cannot help you. " The remnant soul sighed. "Our alliance ends here. " Unwilling to accept it, Shen Mu said, "I can remake your soul and bring you back to life. " The remnant soul shook his head, smiling a half-smile. "Mu Tianzun, do you still not understand? There is no chance of victory.

Not the slightest shred of a chance.

Mu Tianzun, if I help you, I will be dragged in with you.

I may have only one soul left, but one soul I still have; if I help you, even that one soul will be gone.

" Shen Mu stood there woodenly. After a long while he suddenly burst into loud laughter, laughing so hard he stamped his feet.

"How absurd! These ancient gods are truly absurd! And I am even more absurd. I should never have placed my hopes in the ancient gods! " The remnant soul watched him quietly and said nothing.

Yan Qiling gave a cold snort. "What is Mu Tianzun laughing at? " "I laugh because the ancient gods are too naive! " Somewhat manic, Shen Mu clapped his hands and laughed.

"And because I am too naive as well!

" The remnant soul still watched him quietly and did not speak.

Yan Qiling stole a glance at him and said softly, "Why does Mu Tianzun say such things?

" "The Heavenly Court's strongest divine weapon did not descend to deal with Jingping; Jingping's plight is merely the fish caught in the fire that burns the city gate.

The strongest divine weapon descended to deal with the ancient gods.

" Shen Mu laughed until tears came.

"When the Heavenly Court moved against Tubo, Tubo took fright and dared not speak of war. When the Heavenly Court moved against Tiangong, Tiangong cringed and dared not stake his life on a single throw. When the Heavenly Court moved against the Yuan World, killed the Earth Mother, and wiped out the remnants of every age, Kaihuang too shrank back, and the heroes were helpless.

When the Heavenly Court moves against the Four Emperors of the four directions, the Four Emperors have no plan at all and can only stretch out their necks for the blade. The Heavenly Court means to root out the power of the ancient gods entirely, and the ancient gods' one-time sovereign can only hide here, chirping like ants in an autumn field, talking of gains and losses. How absurd I am, to have come seeking you. " Yan Qiling's expression changed drastically. "Insolence! Ants, is it? How dare you spout such nonsense before His Majesty? " The remnant soul raised a hand to stop Yan Qiling and smiled. "Let him go on. " Shen Mu sneered.

"When I revived an ancient god, it was only by borrowing the power of Tiangong and Tubo that I could revive Lady Tianyin. If Tiangong dies and Tubo dies, then even with heaven-spanning powers I will be helpless.

This time the Heavenly Court came to kill the Earth Mother Yuanjun, and you ancient gods made no response at all.

Next time they go to kill the Four Emperors, you ancient gods will again make no response at all, and then they will kill Tiangong, and then Tubo, and the ancient gods will be utterly extinct! The age of the ancient gods will end forever! And all of it is because Your Majesty does nothing. " Yan Qiling flew into a rage. "Bullshit! To dare speak to His Majesty like that, His Majesty should have your dog's head! My master is the Heavenly Emperor of the ancient gods, the first great emperor of all time past and present. Even if they stripped him of his power, even if they schemed him to death, he would never fall for your goading! " The remnant soul laughed heartily.

"Qiling, enough, enough. You need not speak for him. " Yan Qiling bowed, stepped back, and said angrily, "This disciple could not bear to see him insult my master, and so spoke in my master's defense. Ants chirping, indeed. This wretch deserves death ten thousand times over!

" Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, the remnant soul said, "Mu Tianzun, there is indeed some sense in what you say, but in the present situation, to move by force is the road to death. In such a situation, I have no way to help.

Tell me, what should I do? " "All Your Majesty need do is leave Jingping a single thread of life! " Shen Mu said in a low voice, "If Jingping is destroyed, the ancient gods, every age in history, all of it will come to nothing, including Kaihuang!

My one request is that Your Majesty muster every force at your command to preserve Jingping! " The remnant soul pondered, and still his face showed difficulty. He sighed. "Too hard.

I still see not the least hope.

" Still unwilling to give up, Shen Mu said, "I can borrow the power of Tiangong and Tubo right now and remake Your Majesty's two souls! " The remnant soul shook his head and sighed. "In another situation I would surely agree; the offer is far too tempting to me. But you do not know that even if I recovered all my souls, I could never again be the man I was.

" "Is it because of Your Majesty's body? " Shen Mu said suddenly.

The remnant soul in the black sand of souls was violently shaken. "What do you know?

" he said coldly. Shen Mu took out the peach-wood hairpin. "I know that Your Majesty's body is trapped within Ling Tianzun's divine art. " "Ling Tianzun's hairpin!

" The remnant soul reached out to seize the peach-wood hairpin, his expression greatly agitated.

Shen Mu opened his hand and let him take the hairpin. Only when the remnant soul had the hairpin in his grasp did he come to himself, and the violently trembling black sand of souls slowly grew calm again.

He examined the peach-wood hairpin closely, then suddenly pinched it lightly; the hairpin shattered, yet the next moment it appeared in his hand once more. "So it is indeed Ling Tianzun's peach-wood hairpin.