Chapter 947 — Hard to Tell the True Heavenly Venerable from the False

The two toads were lazy by nature; when talking with them, their eyes sank flat into their skulls. Only when Yan'er brought out spirit elixirs to tempt them did their eyes push up out of their heads. "Those two toads must be delicious," Qi Jiuyi said with a laugh.

Suddenly the two toads bulged their eyes and shot him a glance. Qi Jiuyi felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave; all the scenery before him vanished, leaving only four enormous eyes surrounding him. Shen Mu walked out of the little temple and glanced in surprise at Qi Jiuyi, whose body had gone rigid.

Only then did the strange vision before Qi Jiuyi's eyes disappear.

He could not help shivering several times, a flicker of dread in his eyes. The two toads' abilities were so high that he could not hope to match them. The Heavenly Court's Dao Lord saw them off, escorting them out of the Jade Pure Heavenly Palace. Shen Mu pondered for a moment, then said to Yun Chuxiu, "I hear the Heavenly Court has a Zaofu Heavenly Palace, and within it a Creation Artifact.

Would my dear sister take me to see it?

I mean to borrow Zaofu Heavenly Palace to build a few Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridges, to make travel between the Heavenly Court and the lower world more convenient. " Yun Chuxiu shot him a glare, then burst out laughing. "Calling me your dear sister.

. .

" Qi Jiuyi and Yun Jianli broke out in a cold sweat, staring at the two in alarm. This woman was either the Empress Consort or Lady Yuanmu—and Shen Mu dared to call her his dear sister.

"Does this Heavenly Venerable Mu, come up from the lower world, know how many ways there are to write the word 'death'?

" Yun Jianli's heart pounded. He thought, "That's right—I once called Yun Chuxiu my sister too. I too have no idea of death. .

.

I should head down to the lower world soon! " "Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge? " Yun Chuxiu asked curiously, "To make travel between the lower world and the Heavenly Court more convenient?

Is the Heavenly Venerable not afraid that the gods and demons of the Heavenly Court will descend and ravage the people of Jingping?

" Shen Mu's face was grave. "Jingping has already submitted to the Heavenly Court, is its subordinate, and is utterly loyal.

Dear sister, the Heavenly Court will not move against loyal ministers and righteous men!

" "Believe you? Only a ghost would!

" Yun Chuxiu burst out laughing, then her eyes rolled and her expression turned serious. "Give me the blueprints for the Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge, and I will help you build a few. Breaking through the world barrier between the Heavenly Court and the lower world is a matter of great importance.

You have not yet established yourself in the Heavenly Court; this is not something you can decide.

A Heavenly Venerable must give the nod. " Shen Mu took out the blueprints for the Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge and handed them all to her—blueprints like a mountain, vast in number. Yun Chuxiu pulled out a few sheets and saw the runes of calculation upon them, and could not help knitting her brows. Faced with so many blueprints, she grew impatient and flustered. "Better leave this to the Dao Sect—let them take the blueprints to Zaofu Heavenly Palace and build a few Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridges.

Brother—Heavenly Venerable—Brother Ninth, I shall go on ahead! " She flew swiftly away with the blueprints, back toward the Jade Pure Heavenly Palace, thinking, "These Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridges are truly of great use. They can connect the Heavenly Court with other heavens, not only the Yuan Realm. If I build such bridges, this palace can rule over many more heavens and worlds. . . " Shen Mu, Qi Jiuyi, Yun Jianli, and the others headed for the Jade Pool.

Yun Jianli was full of doubt; he held it in for a long while before finally asking, "Why did the Heavenly Venerable give the Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge to Yun Chuxiu? Such a bridge is of immense use. If it connects the Heavenly Court and the Yuan Realm, the gods of the Heavenly Court can descend whenever they please, giving the Yuan Realm no chance to react at all! The Heavenly Court's rule would only grow more secure! " Shen Mu nodded and smiled.

"Jingping is now merely a small vassal state under the Heavenly Court, and it is not rebelling. What is there to fear? " Yun Jianli's suspicions deepened. "I do not believe you are so dull as not to know the use of the Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge. What exactly are you planning? " Shen Mu did not answer, only smiled. "With the Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge, you can go to the lower world too.

You need not stay in the Heavenly Court. " He had set Jingping's future strategy, to break the eight prohibitions the Ancient God Heavenly Emperor had laid down against Jingping's reforms.

The most crucial of them was to have Jingping develop casting, to forge divine weapons and sharp tools for the Heavenly Court. And to do that, a trade route had to be opened.

Shipping goods from Jingping to the Heavenly Court—even with a Phoenix Ship, unmatched swift vessel under heaven—took a full year for the round trip. With an ordinary tower ship, a single round trip might well consume a century.

The Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge could open that trade route, greatly shortening the time of trade between Jingping and the Heavenly Court. In this way, Jingping's path of building the nation through casting could be greatly shortened as well. If Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridges spread throughout all the heavens and worlds, and trade flowed, the heavens and worlds would be squeezed out by Jingping—and the time of their rebellion would come greatly sooner!

But he could not build the Spirit-Energy Translocation Bridge himself.

If he proposed it, it would rouse the suspicion of the other Heavenly Venerables. The simplest and most effective way was to hand it to the Empress Consort and let her build it. Once the Empress Consort built one, the other Heavenly Venerables would build them too for their own gain, linking up all the heavens and worlds, and thus achieving his aim!

Before they reached the Jade Pool, a god suddenly blocked their path and bowed. "Heavenly Venerable Mu, Heavenly Venerable Hao requests that you attend a banquet at Haotian Palace. " Shen Mu's heart gave a lurch.

He sneered, "He and I are enemies. Nothing good can come of his banquet.

I will not go! " The god was taken aback. Shen Mu hurried away.

Yan'er, perched on his shoulder, saw a mass of fine gooseflesh rise on the back of his neck. "That wretch Heavenly Venerable Hao must have used the Creation Artifact to make another me.

Asking me to a banquet is really to kill me! " Before they reached the Jade Pool, another woman came forward and said, "Young Master Yun, Lady Yunxiao asks you to come back.

" Yun Jianli had never seen that person and was puzzled, but he obeyed and left with the woman. Not long after, a god under the Red Emperor of the Southern Heaven blocked their way and bowed.

"The Red Emperor misses the young master and asks him to come.

" Qi Jiuyi said in surprise, "My master has come? Is she not in the lower world?

Second Brother, come with me! " The Dragon Qilin looked at Shen Mu.

Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he said, "Go on ahead. " Qi Jiuyi and the Dragon Qilin left together with the god.

Shen Mu smiled. "Soon someone from the Vermilion Bird, the Southern Emperor, will come to invite Sister Yan'er to see the Southern Emperor.

" Yan'er was surprised and laughed. "How do you know?

" Shen Mu did not answer. After a moment, a goddess indeed came forward and said with a smile, "Princess Yan, the Southern Emperor misses you and sent me to invite you back for a meeting.

" Yan'er looked at Shen Mu.

Shen Mu nodded lightly.

"A mother and daughter meeting is a proper matter. It must not be delayed.

" Yan'er left with the goddess.

Shen Mu returned to the Jade Pool, back to the Manhui Corridor Pavilion.