Chapter 710 — Overlord of the Nether Capital and Sovereign of the Underworld
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
The three men and Long Qilin sat in the boat, and the little craft swung round and bore them into the measureless dark.
"Brother Tian carries the title of Heavenly King as well?" Long Qilin asked curiously.
Tian Shu gave a snort, and with a look of panic glanced this way and that, saying nothing.
By now Qi Jiuyi had shaken off every trace of wine. He sat between Long Qilin and Tian Shu, restless and unable to settle, so flustered he might have been a young bride new to the bridal chamber, waiting for her groom. "The title Left Junior Minister of the Kaikhuang Divine Dynasty is known to few, but mention the Heavenly King of the Nether Capital and a great many know it."
Shen Mu's curiosity was stirred as well. "Where does the title Heavenly King of the Nether Capital come from? Has it some connection with the Black Emperor of the Nether Capital?"
Qi Jiuyi's face shifted between light and gloom. He stole a glance at Tian Shu, and seeing him cowering in the boat, shivering, more frightened than himself, he took heart and said, "I once heard the Red Emperor speak of the title Heavenly King of the Nether Capital. At the time the Red Emperor was sending me to the Nether Capital to take a master and learn its arts, and he told me of its many taboos—above all, that one must never utter the name Heavenly King of the Nether Capital."
Shen Mu glanced at Tian Shu. "Why is that?"
"The Black Emperor and the Heavenly King of the Nether Capital are enemies."
Qi Jiuyi steadied himself. "The title Heavenly King of the Nether Capital was in truth conferred by Tu Bo. I heard the Red Emperor say that Brother Tian's mastery of the arts of the soul was exceedingly high—he could come and go through Youdu as he pleased, and he won a resounding name there. Tu Bo therefore thought highly of him and named him Heavenly King of the Nether Capital. The Red Emperor said too that Tu Bo's intentions were not entirely kind; his aim was to set the Heavenly King and the Black Emperor at each other's throats, to let them fight."
The old netherworld courier said, "Do not think so ill of Tu Bo. Tu Bo merely felt that he, like the Black Emperor, was a man who had gathered into himself the whole system of Youdu's divine powers, and that his future attainments would be no weaker than the Black Emperor's. Of course, there was a little of the intent to sow discord in it as well."
Qi Jiuyi said, "After that, the heirs of the Black Emperor's line went looking for trouble with the Heavenly King of the Nether Capital, and Brother Tian killed a great many of their disciples."
Tian Shu could not conceal his satisfaction. He grinned. "I am a Heavenly King after all, a being whose name stands beside the Black Emperor's. How could I be inferior to the Black Emperor's disciples?"
Shen Mu's expression turned strange. He studied Tian Shu and could not for the life of him see how this drunkard, who would trade his life for a cup of wine, could be so famous—could stand on equal footing with the Black Emperor, the Yin Son of Heaven.
"Almost all the Black Emperor's disciples were killed by him. Even his eldest disciple died at the Heavenly King's hand, and so the Black Emperor came to his door in person."
Qi Jiuyi hesitated a moment. "The Red Emperor said Brother Tian was defeated, but the Black Emperor could not kill him—he escaped."
Tian Shu's face was all smiles. "Heh heh. I may not have been his match, but I am a Heavenly King after all. Killing me was never going to be easy."
"And afterwards Brother Tian fell out with Tu Bo," Qi Jiuyi went on.