Chapter 1013 — Breaking Into the Heavenly Lord's Inner Court Again

Not only were the million gods and demons fixed where they stood; the common folk in their respective divine kingdoms were frozen too, and birds and beasts alike were held motionless.

Strangest of all, the birds in the sky still hung there with wings spread in flight, the running leopard leapt in midair and did not come down, and even the droplets of a halted waterfall floated in place!

Stranger still, when they stopped fighting, all things in that world began to grind and sputter back into motion — though the motion remained stiff and halting.

The gods and demons who had fought beside them on the battlefield flickered left and right, drifting and unstable; some were even split between upper and lower body yet still charged ferociously at their foes — a horrifying sight!

They saw an even stranger scene: a bird flying in the sky suddenly had its two wings fly off, leaving the body behind — unspeakably dreadful and absurd!

Only at this point did they realize that this world was not real. Yet the Creator had tampered with their memories, and the two of them still could not recall who they were; so together they sought a way to break the world open.

They searched long and found nothing, and at last resolved to fight a great battle and utterly crush this uncanny world.

That battle left both Heavenly Venerables gravely wounded, but at last they escaped the world of reincarnation.

In the instant they leapt free of that world, both recovered their memories — yet before they could rush out of the room, they saw Shen Mu outside shut the door in their faces, and a chill of dread ran through them!

Fortunately, once they opened the door they could finally leave that uncanny room; but Shen Mu and the two beside him were nowhere to be seen.

"While we were trapped, could the Heavenly Venerable Mu have already entered the Worry-Free Land?"

The Void Heavenly Venerable said indifferently, "There were a man and a woman beside him. Yet before we entered the room, only Luo Wushuang was with him. Where did those two come from?"

The Fire Heavenly Venerable shook his head. "That I do not know; only by asking him could we find out. He must have walked into the room."

Both turned their eyes to the three rooms at the end of the Void Bridge, and the corners of their eyes twitched. These three rooms truly made their hearts quail; they had no wish to set foot in them again.

The Creator's strength might not surpass their own, but this manner of assault upon the divine consciousness left them unable to guard against it!

The Void Heavenly Venerable frowned. "With our strength, I fear we cannot find our way to the Worry-Free Land. Since the Fire Heavenly Venerable once encountered Kaihuang here, the Worry-Free Land must be hidden in this place. The question now is how we are to get back."

Suddenly something stirred in the Fire Heavenly Venerable's heart. He shut the door and opened it again, and there in the doorway appeared another world — a world of darkness, filled with chaotic demonic nature.

A huge demonic eye appeared deep in the darkness, immense beyond measure, and with a gurgling roll it turned and swept its gaze over them!

The corner of the Fire Heavenly Venerable's eye twitched. He was about to shut the door when the Void Heavenly Venerable pushed his hand aside and walked into the room, saying coolly, "The Void Heavenly Venerable of the Heavenly Court pays her respects to the Earth Lord."

The Fire Heavenly Venerable hesitated, then steeled himself and followed; the door closed behind them.

Meanwhile, Shen Mu set foot on solid ground. He had not walked far when he saw before him orioles flying and grass growing tall, green willows casting shade, and a crystalline lake appearing before his eyes.

The corner of Shen Mu's eye twitched, and he thought to himself that this boded ill. He turned quickly, meaning to return to the end of the Void Bridge, only to find that the door had somehow closed by itself.

Cold sweat broke out on Shen Mu's forehead. Just then a sweet, pleasing voice came to his ears, saying with a laugh, "Some days ago I heard that the Heavenly Venerable Mu had peeped at the consorts of His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor while they bathed — truly shameless. This palace did not believe it, yet who would have thought I would actually meet the Heavenly Venerable Mu!"

Shen Mu turned and saw a noble consort walking toward him, dressed in crimson and white with her shoulders bare, her cloud-like hair piled high, the white swell of her breast half revealed, and on her feet cloud-treading boots with soles some four inches high that clacked as she walked.

Something stirred in Shen Mu's heart. This woman was Consort Qiang of the palace, and also the Heavenly Venerable Qiang among the Ten Heavenly Venerables. He had once suspected that this consort was the Empress or Lady Yuanmu.

Behind Consort Qiang, ribbons turned and drifted slowly. Her brows and eyes were bright as snow. Her gaze fell first on Shen Mu, then was drawn to God King Langwan, and she stared at her fixedly, unable to look away.

God King Langwan grew uneasy under that stare, took out a mirror and looked at herself, but could see no difference between herself and her usual appearance.

"Jue — Jue Wuchen!"

Consort Qiang was utterly distraught, and cried out in shock, "Jue Wuchen, you dare to show yourself?"

"The Heavenly Venerable Qiang is not Lady Yuanmu, nor is she the Empress. Lady Yuanmu is Jue Wuchen, and the Empress knows this too. If Consort Qiang were either of them, she would not have said such a thing."

Shen Mu was suddenly struck dumb. "Then who is Consort Qiang? Could she be..."

An absurd notion rose in his heart.