Chapter 875 — Wicked Charm Overwhelming
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 2 of 4
The Duke of Wei glanced around and thought: "The young experts of the Northern Heavens are strong, but not absurdly so. Even if they all came at him together, I fear the Cult Master would slaughter them clean in a moment."
"Ha ha ha! The Jingping Overlord Body truly lives up to his name!"
Suddenly the bull-headed god-demon laughed aloud and declared in ringing tones, "We envoys have seen the Overlord Shen's peerless strength; he is qualified to contend with our Northern Heavens. We did not come to challenge the Overlord Shen — we came to deliver a letter of challenge."
At these words, the other gods and demons of the Northern Heavens all looked bewildered.
Had they not come thinking Jingping a soft persimmon, come to give it a squeeze, to bully this Jingping Overlord Body, and take Jingping for themselves along the way?
The bull-headed god-demon did not change expression, his bearing all righteous dignity: "When we first saw the strength of Jingping's divine-arts practitioners, we feared the Overlord Body was no more than that; but now that we have seen your ability, we judge you worthy to accept the letter of challenge of our Northern Heavens!"
The other gods and demons were suddenly enlightened: "So that is it. The divine-arts practitioners we brought are no match for this savage fellow; calling it a delivery of a letter of challenge saves face."
The bull-headed god-demon said gravely, "Our Northern Heavens are all united under the Great Black Heaven. Since the Overlord Shen has such strength, then let the Overlord Shen come to the Northern Heavens; we shall await your honored arrival!"
The other gods and demons nodded one after another: "We await your honored arrival!"
The Duke of Wei asked curiously, "And your letter of challenge?"
The bull-headed god-demon's expression did not change. "Jingping is a petty little state — why would a letter of challenge be needed? A verbal message suffices."
The Duke of Wei gave a cold laugh.
Thick-skinned beyond measure, the bull-headed god-demon said in a low voice, "The letter of challenge has been delivered. We return to the Northern Heavens, and ask the Overlord Shen to come at his earliest convenience. Let us go—"
He turned to lead the Northern Heavens' divine-arts practitioners away.
"Hold on." Shen Mu's voice came from behind them.
The muscles of the bull-headed god-demon's back went stiff; he turned hastily, lest Shen Mu strike him from behind.
Shen Mu smiled mildly. "The seniors of the Northern Heavens lack courtesy — you speak of delivering a letter of challenge and then do not deliver it. But we of Jingping cannot be without courtesy. I must return a letter of challenge. When you go back, let the heroes of the Northern Heavens have a look at it."
The bull-headed god-demon relaxed and said with a smile, "Overlord Shen, please!"
Zheng—
From Shen Mu's Taotie Pouch the Wuyou Sword flew out; Shen Mu thrust two fingers forward, and with a hiss the Wuyou Sword pierced the air.
He shifted his feet, his sword-fingers changing, stabbing again and again; the Wuyou Sword moved without cease, tracing in the air the figure of a youth with a long sword on his back, his bearing splendid and soaring.
Swiftly Shen Mu finished the sword-bearing portrait with the Wuyou Sword.
He was imitating the Sword God Bearing His Sword that the Deaf Elder had painted — only the figure in the picture was not the Village Head in his youth, but Shen Mu himself.
"This is my letter of challenge."
Shen Mu grasped the Wuyou Sword and flicked his wrist lightly, cutting the sword-bearing portrait down out of the air; he pressed it with his hand, and the portrait shrank to half a chi in length.