Chapter 1621 — Cloud and Flame Converge

Elsewhere, the village chief escorted Celestial Venerable Yun toward the Ancestral Court, arriving first at the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge of Jingping's Lower Capital — a bridge that led to the Ancestral Court.

It was then that Celestial Venerable Yun saw Celestial Venerable Yue standing beside the Transfer Bridge.

Celestial Venerable Yue stood quietly, as though waiting for him.

The village chief spoke no more of Shen Mu's affairs. Celestial Venerable Yun stepped forward and smiled. "Yue, it has been a long time."

Celestial Venerable Yue could not hold back her tears, yet she smiled. "Yes, far too long. To see you again — that is truly good."

Celestial Venerable Yun found himself recalling the towering years of the Longhan era, when the human race was lowly and the mightiest of them were these very Celestial Venerables of humankind.

Yet after Celestial Venerable Yu died, the hope of the human race seemed to be severed at a stroke. Celestial Venerable You went to Youdu, Celestial Venerable Huo threw in with Celestial Venerable Hao, Celestial Venerable Shen and Celestial Venerable Mu vanished without a trace, leaving only the Heavenly Alliance — and the Heavenly Alliance was an empty shell.

In those days, the human race could see no hope at all.

He had wanted to do something, but at that time only Celestial Venerable Yue and Celestial Venerable Ling stood at his side, supporting him and walking on with him — until his downfall.

He had grand ambitions, but their strength was still too slight. Even though he was the first to cultivate the Emperor's Throne, in that age he still could not hold up the toppling heavens, still could not overcome the ancient gods, still could not overcome the demigods.

The Longhan era remained an age of unspeakable oppression and despair, and it was Celestial Venerable Yue and Celestial Venerable Ling who sustained him, who gave him hope and drive.

The village chief waited quietly as they reminisced. After a long while, Celestial Venerable Yue took her leave; the village chief stepped forward and walked with Celestial Venerable Yu into the Spirit Energy Transfer Bridge.

When they emerged from the bridge, they had come to the Ancestral Court.

Celestial Venerable Yun clicked his tongue in wonder, his heart brimming with emotion.

Such Transfer Bridges were bridges spanning different worlds, and their speed opened his eyes wide.

Along the way he listened to the village chief recount all manner of Shen Mu's deeds and came to know something of the man, thinking to himself, "Celestial Venerable Mu is a fusion of the nine elders of the Hidden Cripples Village — no wonder his temperament is so flighty, and his ideas so appalling."

Suddenly his pupils constricted and he halted.

The village chief started slightly and looked at him in puzzlement.

"Su Muzhe, you may go back."

Celestial Venerable Yun drew a long breath, gazed ahead, and said in a low voice, "An old acquaintance has sensed that I have descended into the lower world and waits for me on the road ahead. If you come along, you will not be able to save yourself."

The village chief followed his gaze, and his heart went cold, for ahead a sheet of fire rose between the two great mountains of the Ancestral Court.

That was Dao fire.

The firelight lit the two great mountains, and dimly within it a figure could be seen standing!

"Celestial Venerable Huo!"

The village chief's eye twitched, and he whipped out his sword.

Celestial Venerable Yun raised his brows, and before the divine sword could leave its sheath he pressed the village chief's hand down and slid the blade back. "Do not act rashly. You would not last a single move against him. He and I are old friends; there will be no danger. You may go back."

The village chief's hand still gripped the hilt steady. His aged flesh returned to youth, swiftly rising to the prime of manhood, his muscles tempered as though by great rivers and long seas, not an ounce of excess on him, and he said in a low voice, "Celestial Venerable Yun, if anything befalls you, I will have no way to answer to little Shen!"

Celestial Venerable Yun hesitated a moment, then stepped forward. "Follow me, say nothing, make no move. Think of yourself as blind, deaf, and mute."

The village chief followed at his heels, and the two walked in between the two great mountains.

The Dao fire parted, revealing a safe passage.

Celestial Venerable Yun came up behind that figure; the man turned, joy on his face, looking at him with an expression that was half smile, half tears.

"Celestial Venerable Yun, my comrade of a lifetime!"

Celestial Venerable Huo wept, and his tears turned into blossoms of Dao fire that drifted and circled about him. "We can finally meet again!"

Celestial Venerable Yun smiled and stepped forward. "Celestial Venerable Huo, we meet again."

Celestial Venerable Huo laughed heartily, his voice ringing loud through the valley.

"How laughable, that Celestial Venerable Ling is stubborn, Celestial Venerable Yue is witless, Celestial Venerable You is shut away, Celestial Venerable Shen is blind to worth, and Celestial Venerable Mu is a stone in a latrine! None of them understand me!"

Celestial Venerable Huo spread both arms and laughed. "Even Brother Yu, Lan Yutian, only commands my reverence — he cannot win my heart. Only Celestial Venerable Yun is my true confidant! Yun, you know me best, you understand me best. That you live again fills my heart with boundless joy!"