Chapter 1042 — One Sword Shakes the Eastern Pole

The Eastern Emperor raised an eyebrow, deeply displeased. Shen Mu's words had struck a nerve, yet they were not wrong: he truly could not fathom Shen Mu's divine arts.

A Passing Guest Among the Purple Blooms.

Beneath a snowy sky, the third-watch moon upon the bough; on which tier of the jade terrace does the man stand?

This was the fifth move of Shen Mu's Dao-entering divine arts, profound in conception. He had created it after gaining the wisdom of the Creator race of the Primal Spirit Realm; it fused his foundations, his vision, and his insights, encompassed a vast wealth of knowledge, and bore his own originality. The Eastern Emperor was an ancient god, bound by his own great Dao. Though he could recognize many of the divine arts and Dao methods contained in that move, to actually learn those methods and comprehend those arts would be immensely difficult.

That ancient gods were bound by their own nature was common knowledge. Apart from the Heavenly Emperor, the vast majority of ancient gods could only walk the great Dao that had given them birth, and could scarcely transcend it. So it was with Heaven Duke, so with Earth Count, and so with the Eastern Emperor, the Azure Dragon.

Though many ancient gods sought a path to break through the shackles of their own great Dao, and many tried again and again through reincarnation, they discovered that there was only one road out: death. Only through death, casting off the original flesh, casting off the original great Dao, could one leap free.

Thus a reincarnated body could not free them from the bonds of their original great Dao.

Such was the case with Earth Count's Achou. "My reincarnated body is still wandering the great thousand worlds beyond, and will not arrive in the Eastern Pole Heaven for several days yet. " The Eastern Emperor chuckled. "Great Master, wait a few days.

I will have someone arrange lodging for you. " Shen Mu said, "I am accustomed to staying at the Jade Pool.

Your Majesty need not trouble yourself; I will stay on Dragon Island in the Jade Pool. " The Eastern Emperor nodded.

The painted barge sailed toward Dragon Island, where his offspring lay upon the ground, still without the strength to move. The Eastern Emperor frowned, summoned many dragon servants, and had them tidy the place, clearing out the largest palace on the island.

Shen Mu took up residence. Seeing the palace's carved beams and painted rafters, adorned with all manner of treasures, he could not help praising it: "Unmatched luxury.

" The Eastern Emperor said, "Great Master, stay a while. When my reincarnated body returns, we will proceed to the second trial.

" Shen Mu smiled. "The longer it is delayed, the more eagerly it is awaited. Your Majesty has already held the first trial; I too am stirred beyond measure at the thought of the second, and I wish your reincarnated body would arrive at once!

I will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty! " "Not disappoint me.

. .

" The Eastern Emperor's heart gave a lurch. He laughed heartily. "Great Master, I am busy with affairs of state, so I will not disturb your rest. " Shen Mu saw him off, saying earnestly, "Your Majesty must surely feel my ardent anticipation.

May your reincarnated body arrive soon.

" The Eastern Emperor departed, returning to Lingxiao Hall in the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace, where he summoned the civil and military officials of the palace. These officials were all his offspring; no outsiders were present.

The dragon sons and grandsons looked up at the Eastern Emperor upon his throne and saw his face dark and joyless, and doubt filled their hearts. The eldest prince cleared his throat and bowed.

"Father God, why is your face clouded with worry?

" The Eastern Emperor heaved a long sigh and recounted the whole affair. "Only now do I realize that I do not understand this Great Master at all. Of his divine arts I know almost nothing, and so I was overconfident.

His arts are wondrous beyond counting.

That Dao-entering move, A Passing Guest Among the Purple Blooms, even I could not discern its mystery or its flaw. If that is so with A Passing Guest Among the Purple Blooms, then of his other arts I know even less, and so I fear I will lose the second trial at his hands. " The officials were aghast. The second prince stepped forward and bowed. "Father God, if you lack confidence, why not cancel the second trial? " "He cornered me with his words and seized my weak spot. " The Eastern Emperor's brow remained knit. "He is bent on defeating me and crushing my prestige, and I cannot afford to back down.

I can only make the pretext that my reincarnated body is traveling abroad and hurrying back, and stall for a few days.

" The princes flew into a rage. "This Heavenly Venerable Mu is utterly unreasonable!

He does not even know to leave a little face, to give Father God a chance to back down gracefully!

" They deliberated and hit upon a plan. "Father God, do not worry. Heavenly Venerable Mu beat our younger brothers and sisters, so if we go to reclaim face for them, we will have a just cause.

If we force him to display his other divine arts and secret techniques, and you watch in secret and find a way to counter them, then when you fight him, victory will be assured! " The Eastern Emperor was overjoyed.

"My sons, in sharing my burden, you comfort my old heart. " The princes departed one after another. Outside the hall, the third prince said, "Father God treats this as if facing a great enemy. It seems this Heavenly Venerable Mu's arts are indeed formidable. In fact, besides forcing him to reveal his arts, there is another way: beat him soundly every few days, until he has no choice but to leave the Eastern Pole! " The eldest prince said, "Father God still needs Heavenly Venerable Mu, after all, and does not wish to tear all pretense.

When we go, we will say only that we are seeking justice for our younger brothers and sisters, and force him to display his signature arts.

That will suffice. " The second prince said, "Eldest Brother is of the Emperor Throne realm, so let him hold the line while the rest of us go first. Remember, we are here to vent anger for our younger brothers and sisters. Hold to that point and mention nothing else! " Their plan settled, they rode wind, clouds, thunder, and lightning, arriving at Dragon Island in the Jade Pool with menacing momentum.

Many divine dragons coiled upon the clouds, looking down at the island. One dragon son descended from the clouds, declaring that he would vent anger for the younger brothers and sisters on the island, and demanding that Heavenly Venerable Mu come out and fight. After a moment, a somewhat charming girl walked out.

"The young master is resting. He sent me to deal with you. " The dragon son laughed in fury.

"Has Heavenly Venerable Mu grown eyes on top of his head? To send a maidservant, what insolence!

" Yan'er sneered. "I am not the young master's maidservant.

I merely enjoy serving others. Say one more foolish word and I will tear your mouth apart!

" The dragon son was enraged. He transformed into a dragon-headed, human-bodied form, took up a coiling-dragon halberd, and shouted, "First I will beat this maidservant, then Heavenly Venerable Mu, and seek justice for my younger brothers and sisters!

" Yan'er leaped into the air, and the two fought in midair. After a few exchanges, the dragon son's mouth was torn apart, and he was beaten until he involuntarily reverted to his true form, falling into the Jade Pool and passing out.

Fortunately, the waters of the Jade Pool were filled with life energy, so that he could hardly die even if he wished to. "You struck my eighty-seventh brother! " Another dragon god charged in, crying, "I will avenge my eighty-seventh brother!

" Yan'er showed no fear. She went straight to meet him and beat the dragon god half to death. The other dragon sons came forward to challenge her one after another, and without exception they were defeated.