Chapter 1047 — The Vast Cosmic Star Map

Shen Mu smiled, and in that brief moment the muscles of his arms had already healed.

Emperor Xuan glanced at him, then addressed the Sword Gods of the Zhenwu Sword Academy: "Since you are willing to go, then make the journey to the Yuan World. But remember one thing: you are no longer the Sword Gods of the Northern Pole Heaven, nor are you my descendants. First, you must not act in my name, for you have been expelled from the Northern Emperor's line. Second, you have no backing and stand above no one; treat the people of Jingping, who are weaker than you, with kindness. Do you understand?

" Shen Mu found himself regarding Emperor Xuan with new respect. These instructions of his were most timely: if they did not act in Emperor Xuan's name, these Zhenwu Sword Gods would not draw the Heavenly Court's notice and would escape a great deal of peril, and even if they committed some offense, it would not implicate the Northern Pole Heaven. Having no backing and treating the people of Jingping well, they would have no quarrel with Jingping.

But if they presumed upon being of the Northern Emperor's blood, looked down on Jingping, and bullied the weak, it would only bring disaster down upon them, and Shen Mu, for one, would not tolerate them. With these two points observed, this batch of Zhenwu Sword Gods could blend into Jingping and become part of Jingping's reforms. Old ginger is the pungent one; Emperor Xuan saw it all clearly.

The Zhenwu Sword Gods assented.

Emperor Xuan stripped them of their surnames, and the leading Zhenwu Sword God said to Shen Mu: "Heavenly Worthy, we are now men without surnames.

We beg the Heavenly Worthy to grant us one.

" Shen Mu mused for a moment, then said: "Forty thousand years ago you entered the Dao through the sword and became gods through the sword, and now it is because of the sword Dao that you leave the Northern Pole Heaven and have your surnames taken back. Then let the sword be your surname.

" The leading Zhenwu Sword God smiled and said: "Then I shall be called Sword Wuji. " "I am Sword Sansheng.

" "I am Sword Yutang!

" Everyone burst out laughing.

Emperor Xuan could not help saying: "Heavenly Worthy Mu, these juniors of mine are not without ability, but they have seen little of the world and do not know its wickedness.

I beg the Heavenly Worthy to treat them kindly.

" Shen Mu nodded solemnly: "Rest assured, Emperor Xuan. My reputation in the Yuan World is excellent; I am called the conscience of Jingping.

Who among those who speak of me does not raise a thumb and praise me as a peerless good man? I will certainly not treat them shabbily. " Emperor Xuan said: "Yes, yes.

I too have inquired after the Heavenly Worthy's conduct, and he is praised by all. " With that he threw a glance at Sword Wuji and said in a low voice: "Keep your wits about you. Whatever you do, do not let yourself be sold and then count the money for the buyer!

" Sword Wuji felt a chill in his heart.

Shen Mu wrote a letter and handed it to Sword Wuji, saying: "You senior and junior brothers go first to Jingping in the Yuan World, and deliver my letter to Emperor Yanxiu; she will make the arrangements. Emperor Xuan, why not give them the hundred Five Thunder Gourds now, for them to carry to Jingping? What say you?

" Emperor Xuan nodded: "Sword Wuji, after you have fetched the hundred Five Thunder Gourds, go once more to the Zhenwu Dao Academy and fetch the six volumes of the Mystic Martial Dao Explication and the Fire Bell Divine Weapon scroll, and carry them to Jingping as a gift for Emperor Yanxiu. " Sword Wuji accepted the order and led the others away.

Emperor Xuan watched them go, then sighed: "A wild goose flying past gets plucked, and the Heavenly Worthy Mu plucks hard indeed.

Now the Heavenly Worthy can see my sincerity, surely? " Shen Mu bowed low to the ground and said gravely: "Emperor Xuan did not scorn me for my humble strength, but instead entrusted me with a heavy charge.

Mu is overwhelmed with gratitude. " Emperor Xuan hastily returned the courtesy and laughed: "Pray do not, Heavenly Worthy.

The very reason I value you is the Jingping Tribulation. In the Kaihuang Tribulation, Emperor Kaihuang led his elite away and abandoned his people, fleeing to distant lands; but in the Jingping Tribulation, you fought to the death, maneuvering among the various powers, seeking a way to live, and in the end you preserved Jingping. It is precisely because of that deed that I am willing to entrust them to you. " Shen Mu said earnestly: "Emperor Xuan has entrusted them to me with a loyal heart; in the future I will surely repay it. " Emperor Xuan laughed heartily: "I have already had a banquet prepared.

You and I are friends who forget the difference in age; we shall not go home until we are drunk.

" Shen Mu laughed too: "I was just about to impose on your hospitality.

" At the banquet, Emperor Xuan and Shen Mu drank themselves into a stupor, arms slung over each other's shoulders, becoming brothers, while Long Qilin and Yan'er kept them company, along with several high-ranking members of the Xuantian Palace, who inwardly grumbled: "Emperor Xuan and Heavenly Worthy Mu call each other brothers.

If they ever meet Emperor Kaihuang, how would the seniority be reckoned? " Host and guests were all delighted, though those keeping them company smiled with forced cheer. Emperor Xuan escorted Shen Mu out of the Xuantian Palace and said: "When you go to see the demoness, you must be careful; she is not easy to talk to. She surely knows you have come, and since you came to see me first, she will be jealous and will make things difficult for you.

" Shen Mu laughed: "My sister-in-law is surely not that sort of person.

Brother Xuan, there is something else I would like to ask: the divine artifact standing in the Northern Pole Heaven, the Heavenly Worthy Yu, whose weapon is it? " "It is the weapon of Heavenly Consort Qiang. " Shen Mu nodded and carefully committed it to memory, then asked: "May I ask whether the Northern Pole Heaven has a reverse side?

" Emperor Xuan's expression shifted slightly, and he smiled: "Why does my worthy younger brother ask such things? " Shen Mu did not answer, but said: "In the Great Void I encountered the Creator, and learned that the Creator's ancestral land is called the Ancestral Court.

May I ask whether Brother Xuan knows where the Ancestral Court lies?

" Emperor Xuan's face darkened, and he said in a low voice: "See the guest out!

" Shen Mu was taken aback.

He cupped his hands and was about to leave when Emperor Xuan sighed: "It is not that I am unfeeling; it is that the place the Heavenly Worthy inquires after is too shocking to the world. Heavenly Worthy Mu, I know you have always loved to delve into history, but there are some things it is better not to touch.

" Shen Mu nodded slightly, and taking Long Qilin and Yan'er with him, boarded the Heavenly Dragon Treasure Chariot and set off for the Wu Kingdom.

Emperor Xuan watched them go, his gaze flickering, and murmured: "The Creator's Ancestral Court. We sealed that place only with great difficulty. Whatever you do, do not unseal that dust-covered history.

.

. " "Emperor Xuan still let slip a good deal of information.

What he meant was that the Yuan World, Xuandu, the Four Poles, the Heavenly Court and other such places have no reverse side, and that this has to do with the Creator's Ancestral Court. " Shen Mu sat in the chariot, tapping the armrest lightly, as if speaking to Long Qilin and Yan'er, and as if talking to himself: "But these places should not be the Ancestral Court itself; otherwise the Divine King Langwan would surely have detected it.

Yet the reverse sides of these places are connected to the Ancestral Court. Now that is strange. . .