Chapter 1413 — Co-Lord of the Heavenly Alliance

Pairs of eyes fell upon Shen Mu and Yun Chuxiu. Shen Mu smiled slightly and walked straight toward the five cushions at the main seats.

"Hold on."

Heavenly Venerable Hao's gaze shifted from Yun Chuxiu to Shen Mu. He said with indifference, "Heavenly Venerable Mu, many fellow Daoists have proposed bringing you into our circle of power. I can hardly oppose it. Once you take a main seat, you are one of us; our interests will be shared with you, and you'll have a share in the Ancestral Court and its reverse side. But since your contributions are few, from now on you'll bear all the Heavenly Alliance's blame. Think it over carefully."

Shen Mu laughed heartily and continued toward the cushions at the main seats. "Well said. My strength is lowly. If I didn't bear the blame, I'd truly have no right to share interests equally with you. The Heavenly Alliance's blame—I'll bear it!"

He came to the central cushion among the five, shook out his robes, and sat down. The vertical eye on his brow opened, casting a glance at each Heavenly Venerable present.

Heavenly Venerable Hong walked over and sat on his cushion, smiling. "Heavenly Venerable Mu is quick on his feet. A young man after all—nimble and deft."

Heavenly Venerable Hao said solemnly, "Since Fellow Daoist Hong has arrived, the Heavenly Alliance meeting may begin. Heavenly Venerable Xiao is absent. We have a new member: Shi Qiluo of the Zaofu Heavenly Palace. He possesses great talent and ambition, and his cultivation and strength are no weaker than ours. He may join. What say you all?"

Yun Chuxiu stood in the center of the hall, nine Heavenly Venerables to either side, scrutinizing gazes falling upon her.

Heavenly Venerable Huo sneered. "What virtue or ability does Lady Yuanmu have to deserve a Heavenly Venerable seat?"

Heavenly Venerable Hong coughed. "We Ten Heavenly Venerables do not ask about origins. If we did, I fear we could never have gathered a force capable of transforming heaven and earth."

Heavenly Venerable Huo raised his brows and snorted. "An ancient god joining the ranks of the Heavenly Venerables—I'm the first to object!"

Heavenly Venerable Hao said, "Yuanmu is my mother. Fellow Daoist Huo, please be tolerant."

Heavenly Venerable Huo hesitated, then bowed slightly. "I was rash. Since Lady Yuanmu has died, she is no longer an ancient god. Daoist Brother Shi Qiluo, I am a crude man by nature. I have given offense; please forgive me."

The Ancestral God King glanced at Yun Chuxiu and said indifferently, "I cannot agree with Heavenly Venerable Huo calling Shi Qiluo 'Daoist Brother.' Lady Yuanmu died at the hands of Heavenly Venerable Ling and became Shi Qiluo. Shi Qiluo is younger than all of us—how great could his cultivation be? The Ten Heavenly Venerables are not a club any down-and-out upstart can join. Letting Heavenly Venerable Mu, that down-and-out upstart, in was already an exception. No more exceptions. Heavenly Venerable Mu, I'm blunt by nature. This isn't directed at you."

Shen Mu smiled slightly and said leisurely, "I know you're blunt, so I won't take it to heart. I'm curious too—what can Shi Qiluo do?"

Yun Chuxiu looked around and suddenly laughed with a giggle. "My cultivation is naturally no match for any of you. But I have three divine artifacts, the Imperial Heavenly Venerables. Does that qualify me for a Heavenly Venerable seat?"

At these words, everyone present changed expression.

Lady Yuanmu had become Shi Qiluo and controlled the Zaofu Heavenly Palace. Over the years, he had likely cut corners, saving untold amounts of divine materials to forge himself three divine artifacts, the Imperial Heavenly Venerables!

The Zaofu Heavenly Palace undertook the construction of divine weapons and heavy artifacts, tower ships and great vessels, even heavenly palaces for the various armies of the Heavenly Court. Even when Heavenly Venerables wanted to forge heavy treasures, the early stages had to be done by the Zaofu Heavenly Palace.

In recent years, the Zaofu Heavenly Palace's wealth had become staggering. It farmed out the forging of divine weapons, tower ships, great vessels, and spirit-energy translocation bridges to Jingping at rock-bottom prices, yet reported doubled prices to the Heavenly Court!

Every Heavenly Venerable knew Shi Qiluo was greedy for wealth, but none had expected he had embezzled so much—enough to forge three divine artifacts, the Imperial Heavenly Venerables!

More terrifying still, he only said he had three. No one knew how many he had actually made!

The Ancestral God King suddenly laughed heartily. "I have no objection to Shi Qiluo taking a Heavenly Venerable seat."

The other Heavenly Venerables nodded as well. "No objection."

Heavenly Venerable Hao looked at Shen Mu and said solemnly, "What does the Alliance Lord think?"

Shen Mu smiled slightly and nodded. "Heavenly Venerable Shi, please take your seat."

Yun Chuxiu bowed and sat down.

Heavenly Venerable Hao said, "Heavenly Venerable Shi may take a share of the interests in the Ancestral Court. He may also take a share of the interests on the reverse side of the Ancestral Court. As for Long Xiao and the ancient giant beasts, what are your views?"

In the hall, the Heavenly Venerables each wore an intrigued smile.

Heavenly Venerable Hao coughed and said solemnly, "The matter of the Beast Realm was spread by the Alliance Lord. What does the Alliance Lord think?"

Shen Mu smiled. "It's an excellent thing. If the giant beasts remain on the reverse side of the Ancestral Court, the greatest benefit would only go to those with powerful divine consciousness. So it's better to establish the Beast Realm and teach summoning divine abilities."

"The Beast Realm is feasible," said Heavenly Venerable Gong with a smile.

Divine Emperor Langxuan praised, "The Alliance Lord is indeed exceptionally wise. I also think the Beast Realm is feasible."

The others all praised in turn. "Feasible, feasible."

Shen Mu asked again, "Is it feasible for Long Xiao to be lord of the Beast Realm?"

Heavenly Venerable Hong said, "The Beast Realm needs a divine sage to manage it, impartial and unbiased. If Long Xiao can do that, then letting him become lord of the Beast Realm is fine."

The other Heavenly Venerables nodded. Heavenly Venerable Huo said, "Long Xiao is unruly and hard to tame. He knows the Heavenly Venerables are formidable, but he may not be willing to serve us."

Shen Mu smiled slightly. "Long Xiao, come out!"

Behind him, the void suddenly split open, and nine massive dragon heads emerged. Long Xiao's eighteen eyes opened, blazing brilliantly, illuminating the Heavenly Venerable Hall in a sheet of white.

"Long Xiao, Ancient God King, pays respects to the Heavenly Venerables, pays respects to the Alliance Lord of the Heavenly Alliance!"