Chapter 822 — Two Empresses Stand Side by Side
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
Zulong Wang was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. "It should not be him. The Longbo King is said to be one of the most powerful beings in existence; how could he possibly have merged with this ship? It cannot be him."
Suddenly, not far off, a youth with his hands clasped behind his back spoke leisurely: "Longbo was captured and suppressed upon this ship, and afterwards the ship vanished from the Heavenly River. Perhaps that raving old dragon really is Longbo."
Zulong Wang's long dragon whiskers drifted. Displeased, he said, "And you are?"
The youth smiled. "I come from the Heavenly Court."
Zulong Wang frowned and sneered, "The Heavenly Court? There was a Heavenly Court in the Crimson Emperor era, and two or three in the Shanghuang era. The Heavenly Emperors have been changed one crop after another. Which Heavenly Court do you come from?"
The youth laughed heartily. "Zulong Wang, your ancestor Longbo styled himself 'Bo' to claim equality with ancient gods like Tubo, the Heavenly Duke, and the Earth Mother, and so founded the Longbo Kingdom. Yet in the end he was still captured by the Yulin Army of the Heavenly Court—how utterly shameful. Why must you keep gilding his face?"
Zulong Wang's expression darkened, and killing intent surged all around him.
The youth paid it no mind. Two god-men behind him suddenly stepped forward, one to each side, guarding him in their midst.
The youth waved a hand. "A demon dragon of the lower realm, ignorant of the height of heaven and the depth of earth—that is forgivable. No need to hold it against him. What interests me is that in this Right General's account of the Empress's attack, someone saw two Empresses."
He revealed a playful smile. "But the Empress in the Heavenly Court has always been there, and I have never heard that the Empress died. What is the reason for that? On this ship, the Empress's corpse kept within the coffin—is it truly the Empress? Or is something else concealed? And the Empress in the Heavenly Court..."
The two god-men beside him looked worried, and said in low voices, "Your Highness the Prince, there are many people here and ears everywhere. You must not speak of that existence in the palace."
The youth smiled. "True or false Empress—the matter is grave, and must be examined. The Empress died here, and yet there is still an Empress in the Heavenly Court. Truly bizarre. Since the Empress's coffin is right here upon this ship, we may as well go find it and open it to see the truth of the matter..."
He did not, however, continue—no doubt also worried about many people and loose tongues.
"The imperial family—every one of them is filthy," Feng Qiuyun sneered in a low voice.
The youth looked toward her and said leisurely, "The maidservant of Earth Mother Yuanjun, Feng Qiuyun? Which of Earth Mother's household, then, do you think is clean?"
Feng Qiuyun sneered and did not answer.
Crimson Bright Divine Son smiled. "This prince comes from a Heavenly Court beyond the realm? May I ask how you are called?"
"Hiding all the while in the Xuankong Realm, never daring to reveal yourself—Crimson Bright Divine Son?" The youth smiled. "I have heard that the Crimson Bright Divine Son inherits the fortune of the entire Crimson Bright era. Since you embody the fortune of the Crimson Bright era, why are you still so mediocre, so powerless and without achievement?"
Crimson Bright Divine Son, robed in purple, did not change expression at these words. He smiled. "There is no Crimson Bright Divine Son in this world. The reason I am called the Crimson Bright Divine Son is merely to give my people a little hope, so that they will not sink and perish in despair."
The youth was filled with solemn respect. "The Divine Son actually told the truth—your breadth of mind and spirit are indeed great, and you are worthy of the name Crimson Bright Divine Son. I am Prince Qiuming of the Heavenly Court. I greet the Crimson Bright Divine Son."