Chapter 1043 — Nine Farewells to the Heavenly Worthy

The East Emperor narrowed his enormous dragon eyes and stared at him. After a moment he chuckled. "You have passed, more or less. The Heavenly Worthy Mu has great potential and great latent power—in the future he will not be inferior to the Ten Heavenly Worthies."

Shen Mu let out a breath and smiled. "Fortunately I have not disappointed Your Majesty. I wonder about that Lingbao Mountain..."

The dragon mouth opened and closed, and the East Emperor laughed. "I promised you, so of course I will give it to you. Only, Lingbao Mountain is very heavy. I wonder whether you can lift it."

Shen Mu's face was all smiles. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will certainly find a way to take it away! The purpose of my coming to the Eastern Pole Heaven was to meet with the East Emperor and renew our bond, lest we grow distant. And now I have troubled you for nearly a month; I had best not impose on my host any longer."

The East Emperor pressed him warmly to stay. "Will the Heavenly Worthy Mu not remain a few more days?"

"No, no."

The two exchanged pleasantries, and Shen Mu ordered Long Qilin and Yan'er to pack their things. The East Emperor, meanwhile, flew to Lingbao Mountain and wrenched off a whole peak bodily, leaving the gods and demons of the Heavenly Court at a loss, each secretly lamenting: "Does the East Emperor mean to carry off all of Lingbao Mountain? Where will we go in the future to seek the Dragon Tooth Saber?"

Fortunately, the East Emperor had carried off only a single peak; there were eight others still.

This peak was incredibly dense and weighty. Though it was not all of Lingbao Mountain, it was still no trifle. As the East Emperor brought it over, its powerful geomagnetic force pressed space itself out of shape.

The corner of Shen Mu's eye twitched. To the East Emperor this mountain was not large, but to him it was too tall, too big, too heavy—he could not move it or lift it at all.

The East Emperor transformed into an emperor in azure robes and stood in the air, holding up Lingbao Mountain with one hand. "Heavenly Worthy Mu, here is Lingbao Mountain—catch it!" With that, he hurled Lingbao Mountain over!

Long Qilin and Yan'er shivered with dread. This peak was too large; even if they fled for their lives, in so short a time they could not escape its crushing weight.

Shen Mu smiled faintly. He reached up and plucked the vertical eye from between his brows, then tossed it into the air.

His third eye flew to meet Lingbao Mountain. Its pupil seemed to rotate, and a curtain of light shot toward Lingbao Mountain.

The curtain of light swept from the mountain's peak down to its base, and Lingbao Mountain vanished into thin air.

That sacred pupil flew back and settled into Shen Mu's brow; flesh and blood grew of their own accord, nerves reconnected.

The eye in Shen Mu's brow blinked. Finding that a single peak had little effect, he smiled at once. "Many thanks, Your Majesty. Your Majesty need not see me off."

The East Emperor too was startled for a moment. He descended from the sky and, leading the civil and military ministers of the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace, saw him off with great fanfare and full ceremony, saying, "The Heavenly Worthy Mu need not take it to heart—the two trials were merely jokes. The Heavenly Worthy need not brood over them."

Shen Mu said, "Having damaged so many of the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace's halls, I feel quite uneasy."

"The Heavenly Worthy need not reproach himself. My Eastern Pole Heaven has no shortage of divine dragons skilled in construction—we need only rebuild what is broken."

The East Emperor was warm and gracious, no trace of his earlier aggressive manner remaining. Walking shoulder to shoulder with Shen Mu, he smiled. "When you came, I did not welcome you; when you leave, I must certainly see you off. Heavenly Worthy—here is the Southern Heavenly Gate."

"Pray stay." Shen Mu turned and bowed.

The East Emperor bowed in return. "Take care on your journey, Heavenly Worthy."

Shen Mu called Long Qilin and Yan'er and walked outward.

After traveling some thousand li, they saw behind them divine light filling the heavens and heavenly dragons dancing in confusion. The East Emperor had again come with his civil and military ministers, laughing heartily. "My first farewell to the Heavenly Worthy left me unsatisfied, so I have come to see him off again!"

Yan'er and Long Qilin were startled. They thought: "Could it be that the East Emperor, having lost face and been taken advantage of by the young master—the Cult Master—has come to silence them and seize back his treasure?"

Shen Mu jumped down from Long Qilin's back, his face showing emotion, and sighed. "Your Majesty's first farewell already overwhelmed me with favor; a second would make me blush with shame. Your Majesty, I accept your kindness in my heart—please stay."

The East Emperor sighed. "Meeting the Heavenly Worthy has stirred me deeply. If I do not see you off, my heart cannot bear the parting."

Shen Mu bowed with hands clasped; the East Emperor returned the salute and personally helped him onto Long Qilin's back. "A smooth journey!"

"Your Majesty, please stay."

Long Qilin ran forward. Glancing back without thinking, he saw the East Emperor in his azure dragon form, leading the many divine dragons of the Eastern Pole Heaven, still standing in midair and watching from afar—truly deep in feeling.

Long Qilin was about to open his mouth to question Shen Mu when divine light surged and the East Emperor again came with his followers, calling loudly, "Heavenly Worthy Mu, stay!"

Shen Mu had Long Qilin stop, and jumped down. Beside them dragon maidens held trays bearing fine wine and golden cups. The East Emperor poured the wine himself and raised his cup. "On this visit of the Heavenly Worthy, I never once drank to drunkenness with you. That is my fault. At parting, I toast the Heavenly Worthy a cup."

Shen Mu took up his cup and drank facing him, smiling. "I am a poor drinker—Mu is already tipsy. A single cup of Your Majesty's fine wine surpasses a thousand jars of good brew. Your Majesty, please stay."

The East Emperor watched him mount Long Qilin and waved farewell.

Bearing Shen Mu and Yan'er, Long Qilin came near the Heavenly Worthy Yuyuan, when they saw the East Emperor leading the many experts of the Azure Dragon Heavenly Palace approaching once more. The East Emperor ordered dried fruits presented, saying shamefacedly, "The Heavenly Worthy came to my Eastern Pole Heaven, and I never fully played the host. I specially present some fruits and vegetables."

Shen Mu had Yan'er accept the dried fruits and said, "Your Majesty's great kindness leaves Mu overwhelmed with awe."

The East Emperor waved him off once more, bidding farewell most attentively.

After traveling another thousand li, Long Qilin reached the edge of another divine city, when they saw the East Emperor again come with his followers to see them off. The East Emperor choked and wept, saying, "Parting from the Heavenly Worthy Mu today, I know not when we shall meet again. Let me escort the Heavenly Worthy a little farther."

Shen Mu too could not help shedding tears, choking out, "For the East Emperor's great kindness, Mu could grind his bones to powder and still struggle to repay it!"

The two embraced, then parted, each wiping his tears.

The gods and demons in the six divine cities within the Heavenly Worthy Yuyuan's palm watched this scene, whispering among themselves.

Shen Mu set out on the road again. Long Qilin, full of questions, had no time to ask before he saw the East Emperor once more arriving with his followers, again bidding farewell with great attentiveness.

The East Emperor and his party saw him off nine times in a row, escorting Shen Mu all the way to the side of the heavenly dragon treasure carriage. The East Emperor himself harnessed the heavenly dragons for Shen Mu, helped him up into the carriage, and watched as Shen Mu took his seat.