Chapter 695 — A Bow Brings Death
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
With a whoosh, his primal spirit flew back and settled again behind him. Shen Mu's six hands rubbed lightly together; the long saber became a sword pill that floated before his brow. He paused a step, vital essence swept up the little box into his hand, and only then did he enter the great hall.
Clang.
Behind him the Heaven-Mourning Bell fell to the ground and rolled down the steps with a clanging, clanging, clanging. In the great hall, a demon-god sat in stern repose, cloaked in black, two curved crimson horns growing from his head, yet his eyes were black and white, distinct—like a man's eyes. This demon-god held a book and was studying it.
Shen Mu approached, carrying the little box, and the box clicked open a crack. The demon-god set down his book and looked at him, then chuckled: "The Tianyin Realm has not seen an outsider in a long while.
The last to enter this place was twenty thousand years ago.
Kaihuang, ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of earth, actually sent demon-gods to spy here. This time you come—can it be that some other reckless fool in the outer world wishes to overturn the heavens?
" Shen Mu held the box and bowed: "Kaihuang, one hundred and seventh generation descendant, Shen Fengqing, greets the elder of the Gloom Capital. " "So you are a descendant of Kaihuang, and still young.
" The demon-god laughed: "Is Kaihuang dead?
If he were not, he would have told you never, never to reveal your true name to another—especially not to one of the Gloom Capital. This little ghost has some skill, but he is still too young. Do you know who I am?
" He rose to his feet, his frame massive and tall, towering even beyond Shen Mu's ten-zhang primal spirit.
"The surname Kui is a great surname in the Gloom Capital; it has given birth to many demon-gods. And I am surnamed Kui.
" His voice was exceedingly resonant: "My Dao name is Kui Wuqu. Of course, that name too is false—though many still call me the Honored King Wuqu.
" Shen Mu's heart stirred slightly. "I once encountered two demon-gods surnamed Kui—one called Kui Wushen, one called Kui Qingpei.
Might they have some relation to the elder? " "Kui Qingpei is His Majesty's disciple, an outstanding genius of our Kui clan. " The demon-god, the Honored King Wuqu, laughed: "And Kui Wushen is my disciple—sent down from the Celestial Court to the Gloom Capital to take me as master. That you could meet them and not die shows you have some means. But since you have met Kui Wushen, you must know that he studied under me, and you must know how perilous it is to speak your true name before me.
" Shen Mu's face turned ashen; he hefted the little box. Wuqu laughed: "It is useless.
The God-Slaying Mystic Blade is remarkable—I am far from its match—but your God-Slaying Mystic Blade cannot land a hair's scratch on me.
In fact, when you dealt with the demon-gods of my Gloom Capital just now, I already saw the flaw in the God-Slaying Mystic Blade. You used it to slay many demon-gods under my command, yet you never used that blade against those whose bodies hide within the Gloom Capital. Against such ones, you always killed with your flying swords. What does that mean?
" He could not help but laugh aloud: "The God-Slaying Mystic Blade cannot cut into the Gloom Capital!
" Shen Mu's face was pale, without a trace of blood.
The Honored King Wuqu was well pleased, and said leisurely: "Just now I watched you slaughter my subordinates—why did I not show myself? Now I can tell you: I fear the God-Slaying Mystic Blade. The head of a sovereign-level power, its eyes like blades—that head has drunk the blood and slain the gods of countless beings.
I could not see through it, so I did not strike. But now the God-Slaying Mystic Blade has been seen through by me. You cannot harm me in the slightest.
" Shen Mu was lost and dazed, murmuring: "You watched your subordinates be killed by me and still held yourself back—you are too cruel.