Chapter 1023 — The Snow-White Cat

Fatty Dragon, come quickly—a wildcat has gotten into the house! " Dragon Qilin pricked up his ears and rushed over, shouting, "Brother Dutian, come and help!

" Demon King Dutian hurried after him, laughing. "Sister Yan'er is a master of unfathomable depths—can she not catch a single wildcat in the Heavenly Court? " Something stirred in Shen Mu's heart.

"Yan'er is in the Lingxiao realm and has been taught by Heavenly Venerable Yue since childhood—how could she fail to catch a wildcat? The Heavenly Court is full of gods and demons; where would a wildcat come from?

There is something strange about this cat! " Even as he thought it, a great clamor rose from the residence.

Yan'er had transformed into an azure sparrow and was flying to and fro, and Dragon Qilin and Demon King Dutian, with a crowd of palace maids, closed in from every side—yet still they could not catch the wildcat. Shen Mu looked closely. It was a white cat, its movements ghostlike, coming and going like a phantom, always just barely slipping past the crowd.

Even with Yan'er and Dutian, two great masters, joining hands, they could not catch it. Yan'er was shouting at the top of her voice: "This cat has fine moves, and look at those muscles—it is sure to be tasty! " "It looks like Heavenly Venerable Yan's cat!

" Shen Mu was briefly startled and turned to look at Divine King Langwo. Divine King Langwo said in a low voice, "Dead or alive? " Shen Mu was about to speak when Divine King Langwo's expression abruptly changed.

In a low voice she said, "A Heavenly Venerable is here!

" Scarcely had she spoken when a palace maid hurried into the garden.

"My lord, Heavenly Venerable Yan is here to visit!

" Shen Mu was about to rise and go out to welcome her when Heavenly Consort Yan's laughter arrived ahead of her: "Heavenly Venerable Mu, there is no need to come out to greet me.

This Heavenly Venerable's residence of yours is quite splendid—His Majesty gave you a fine place. " Shen Mu went up to meet her, smiling.

"What brings Your Highness the Heavenly Consort here? " Heavenly Consort Yan said with a smile, "I was passing by your honored residence, and my cat ran off.

I thought perhaps it had run into the Heavenly Venerable's house, so I came to have a look—and before I could even be announced, I heard the sound of a cat being beaten in the residence. This cat is my precious darling, so in my fluster I intruded without permission. I beg Heavenly Venerable Mu's forgiveness.

" Even as she spoke, there was a flash of white light, and the white cat leaped into her arms and burrowed against her.

At the sight of the azure sparrow and Dragon Qilin closing in, it bared its teeth, every hair on its tail standing on end. Heavenly Consort Yan rubbed its head, and only then did the white cat calm, eyes half-closed, from time to time taking the measure of the azure sparrow, Demon King Dutian and the rest, and giving a low, threatening growl. Shen Mu said mildly, smiling, "Your Highness's cat is lively indeed—even a great master of the Lingxiao realm cannot catch it. " "A cat from a Heavenly Venerable's house naturally has some skill. " Heavenly Consort Yan glanced at Divine King Langwo and at Yun Chuxiu, who had come over at the news, and looked surprised.

She smiled. "And who might these two sisters be? " Divine King Langwo said nothing.

Yun Chuxiu paid her respects and said with a smile, "I am Yun Chuxiu of the Yun household. Greetings, Heavenly Consort Yan. Rather than staying in the inner palace, Your Highness has come running to Heavenly Venerable Mu's residence—is that not a lapse of imperial propriety?

" Heavenly Consort Yan's eyes flickered, and she said softly, "Sister Yun does not understand. I may be a Heavenly Consort, but I am also a Heavenly Venerable.

Heavenly Venerable Mu is one of the five elders of the Heavenly Alliance, and so he is my senior.

For a junior to come and visit a senior is no lapse of imperial propriety. If I were to meet Heavenly Venerable Mu in secret every day and never go home, that would be a lapse of propriety.

" Yun Chuxiu was suspicious at heart. "Heavenly Venerable Yan speaks with such assurance—can this little slut really be my sister? " Ever since she had discovered that Lian Huanhun was Her Majesty the Empress, she had been prone to seeing plots everywhere. Heavenly Consort Yan took her leave, smiling.

"Now that I have found my cat, I am easy. I will not disturb Heavenly Venerable Mu's cultivation. After all, I am a Heavenly Consort; if I linger here too long, it will give rise to gossip. Another day I shall send a formal card first, and then come to visit. " Shen Mu escorted her out. "Your Highness, in a few days I mean to leave the Heavenly Court.

I fear Your Highness will not be able to find me. " Heavenly Consort Yan said in surprise, "Heavenly Venerable Mu has only just returned from the Great Void a few days ago, and has barely rested, and already means to leave?

Where does the Heavenly Venerable intend to go, and when will you return?

" Shen Mu said with feeling, "It was only after I came to the Heavenly Court that I learned how vast heaven and earth are. So I wish to wander about and see the world. I mean to roam the four extremes and visit the Four Emperors, to climb the highest places and visit Tiangong, and to descend to the deepest places and visit Tubo. As for when I can return—that I do not know.

" Heavenly Consort Yan looked envious. With a sigh, quite forlorn, she said, "I too would like to be as free and untrammeled as Heavenly Venerable Mu.

But since I married into the imperial family, I can only move about within these deep palace walls. The farthest I have ever gone is Jade Capital City. It is desolate, when you speak of it.

I truly envy the Heavenly Venerable, free to roam heaven and earth. Farewell, Heavenly Venerable—pray stay. " Shen Mu escorted her to the gate, where an imperial carriage stood, with many palace maids keeping watch beside it. Two girls parted the pearl curtains of the carriage; Heavenly Consort Yan climbed in with the white cat in her arms, seated herself upright, and nodded lightly to Shen Mu. Shen Mu bowed in return.

The two maids let the pearl curtains fall, the carriage set off, and drove away from the Heavenly Venerable's residence. Shen Mu turned back into the house, and at once wrote out a memorial, preparing to send it into the court to inform the Heavenly Emperor that he was leaving to wander the world. "I am coming too! " Yun Chuxiu cheered, hopping with delight. Shen Mu's brows knit deeply. He thought, "Last time, it was only in the Great Void that I could have killed her without alerting Yuanmu's true body—and even then it took a ruthless sort like Luo Shendao to strike the blow.

Now she wants to tag along again. How am I to kill her this time? Better to go to Jingping first, find Luo Shendao, and have him cut this little fox-spirit down.

.

.

" In the carriage, Heavenly Consort Yan gently stroked the cat's head. The white cat licked its paw and said unhurriedly, "Your Highness guessed right.

The one who piloted the Heavenly Emperor's body that day and stole the Heavenly Emperor's eggshell was Heavenly Venerable Mu.

He can hide it from the others, but not from me. " Heavenly Consort Yan smoothed the cat's tail; the white cat lifted its tail and enjoyed it thoroughly. "Now this is interesting. " Heavenly Consort Yan laughed softly. "Heavenly Venerable Mu's cultivation is not high, yet he can control the Heavenly Emperor's body.

Even if you gave him a Lingxiao-realm cultivation, he might not manage it. So how did he do it? The Great Emperor should have that kind of ability—his divine consciousness is incomparably powerful, and he can use divine consciousness in place of vital cultivation. By that reasoning, Heavenly Venerable Mu must have met a Creator in the Great Void and had some great stroke of fortune, so that his attainments in divine consciousness soared.